Episodes
Rummana Hussain—Journalism in Chicago
Rummana Hussain breaks the news! Actually Shia Kapos broke this particular item. MAGA man John Kass made like best friends with Kim Foxx at a boozy Christmas Party for Chicago’s media and political elite. Did he really mean it when he bashed her for years as an Soros lefty, or is he just a fraud? J…
Juan Gonzalez—Colonial Soldiers
Juan Gonzalez explains almost everything you need to know about the migrant “crisis” in Chicago. Starting with…it’s not a crisis! It’s an opportunity for a city whose population had been falling. Then he explains the causes of recent migration—federal economic warfare against Latin America. So the …
James Risen—Secret Agent Men
James Risen explains everything you need to know about Senator Frank Church and his 1975 senate investigation into the dirty tricks of the CIA. Including… assassinations of foreign leaders, spying on American citizens and connivances with mobsters. Also, did the CIA kill Sam Giancana? James Risen i…
Chris Scott—Looking Ahead
Apparently, deal cutting is out the window. Ben riffs. And strategist Chris Scott offers political reports from Ohio and Texas. The 2024 showdown is here. Chris is Co-Founder and President of Advance the Electorate PAC. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice …
David Faris—Nate’s Game
David Faris takes a closer look at polls that have Trump winning in 2024. Specifically, a NYT poll by Nate Cohn that’s left liberal boomers in a fetal position. Is it as bad as Cohn suggests? Also, Trump’s dystopian vision for his second term. Speaker Mike Johnson bends. And why do so many national…
“Oh, What A Week!” with Adolfo Mondragon
What a week. And what guest to talk about it. Adolfo Mondragon returns to talk about the lame “the architect did it” defense advanced by Ed Burke’s lawyer. What to expect when Danny Solis takes the stand. The pathetic response by America’s college presidents. The point they should have made. And Am…
Marc Sims—The Crab Barrel Syndrome
A chance encounter in the line to pay property taxes offers Ben a moment of revelation. Ben riffs. Podcaster Marc Sims explains why Chicagoans have no objection to rich people getting handouts but will cry like babies if a Venezuelan immigrant gets a tent. Hint: it’s explained in the Bible. And is …
“Oh, What A [Past] Week” with Delmarie Cobb
Delmarie Cobb joins Ben to discuss the news of Chicago. Including…immigration; the brainwashing of Chicagoans; Blacks and Hispanics; Alders Ramirez-Rosa and Mitts; the power of the gavel; and who should Mayor Johnson select as his floor leader. Delmarie Cobb is a political strategist and proud sout…
"Six Inches of Gravel" and Monroe Anderson
A First Tuesday defense of Mayor Johnson and the Brighton Park site. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson explains the difference between eight feet and six inches when it comes to gravel protecting children from mercury poisoning. A few words about the Burke trial. And Trumps threat to be a dictator for on…
State Senator Lakesia Collins—Listen Up
State Senator Lakesia Collins comes from the same political movement as Mayor Johnson. And she has no sympathy for the mayor’s city council adversaries. But she thinks the mayor’s allies have done a disservice to Alderwoman Emma Mitts. And she asks—when are people going to stop disrespecting Black …
Flint Taylor—The Execution of Fred Hampton
As I write this sentence, it was 54 years ago to the day that the Chicago police. acting in concert with the State’s Attorney and the FBI, killed Fred Hampton and Mark Clark as they were sleeping in their beds. That was December 4, 1969. Flint Taylor was a young lawyer when he went to court on beha…
Dave Glowacz—Sanctuary City
Evanston says ok to NU in its own Evanston way. Ben riffs. Dave Glowacz brings in recordings from a particularly contentiousness city council meeting. To show you how Chicago handles its democracy. Hear Alders Beale, Harris, Waguespack, Lopez, Mitts, Ramirez-Rosa, Ervin and Hadden on council decoru…
“Oh, What A Week” with Joanna Klonsky
What a week! The Ed Burke trial. George Santos expelled. NBA players behaving badly. A high basketball coach discovers a unique way to dodge a reporter’s question. Political strategist Joanna Klonsky tries to help Ben make sense of it all. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Cali…
Alders Lee and Manaa-Hoppenworth—Live!
Ben and Maya went to Maria’s in Bridgeport to host First Tuesdays with Alderwomen Nicole Lee and Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth. Topics for discussion included the rising political power of Asian-American voters in Chicago. And immigration—as in why so many Chicagoans are hostile to the Venezuelan immigran…
Pushkar Sharma—Fragile Peace
Ben gets love from the Tribune editorial board in regards to his Alderman Carlos coverage. Well, sorta. Actually, not at all. Ben riffs. And Pushkar Sharma takes the deep dive on the war between Israel and Palestine. The roles of Netanyahu and Hamas. And the political fallout in the US. Pushkar was…
"Ed Burke Tapes" and Monroe Anderson
The corruption trial of Alderman Burke kicks into gear. Ben riffs. Then Monroe riffs. Then the tie start riffing about Burke, corruption, Chicago, racism, Trump versus Haley, Hunter Biden and Jimmy Carter. Here’s today’s question—why does Chicago have so much love for grifters like Burke? Also, a r…
Miles Kampf-Lassin—Tesla Next
Mayor Johnson takes a page from the Mayor Rahm playbook to undercut his opposition. Ben riffs. And Miles Kampf-Lassin returns to talk immigration, UAW successful strikes, the Tesla challenge for labor and the Democratic Party’s response to Gaza. Miles is an editor and writer for In These Times. S…
David Faris—Ceasefires and Pauses
David Faris explains the difference between a “humanitarian pause” and a ceasefire. Also, the difference between Democrats and Republicans on Israel and Palestine. And the difference between speakers Mike Johnson and Kevin McCarthy. David is a political science professor at Roosevelt University, …
Anderson and Sawyer—No Mercy
Alderman Brendan Reilly goes for the jugular--Mayor Johnson's jugular. Ben riffs. Then Rod Sawyer riffs on Ben's riff. Then Rod and Ben break down what went down at yesterday's city council meeting on the vote to censure Alderman Ramirez-Rosa. Then Monroe Anderson says Mayor Johnson should hire Ro…
“Oh, What A Week” with the Joravskys
The day’s paper brings an interesting take on the relative poverty of single-parent families. It’s Betty Friedan’s fault. Ben riffs. Then Rachel riffs. Then they riff on MAGA’s efforts in Ohio to undo the referendum on abortion rights. Once again MAGA tries to overturn an election result. Then. Few…
Stacy Davis Gates—Political Protocol
Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa apologizes for his behavior at last week’s special council meeting. Ben riffs. Then Stacy Davis Gates riffs on Ben’s riff. And the conversation goes on to cover Alderman Lopez, city council protocol, Alderwoman Mitts’s speech, Trump, MAGA and more. Stacy is the presiden…
"Gratitude Thursday" and Michael Gerardi (sorta)
It’s Thanksgiving—time to be thankful. So Ben expresses gratitude. But while saying thanks, one thing leads to another and he winds up on a rant. Blame it on Michael Gerardi. But, really—much thanks! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com…
"Peace In The Middle East" and Monroe Anderson
Well, it’s not really peace. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson talks Biden and Netanyahu; Tribune and Black people; “traitors” and much more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
“Oh, What A [Past] Week” with Adolfo Mondragon
It was a week of “sanctuary” and Burke. That’s Alderman Ed Burke, set to face federal trial on charges of corruption. His protégés. Aldermen Raymond Lopez and Anthony Beale, led the charge for Chicago to take a stand against our Sanctuary City status and little libraries. Though not in that order. …