Episodes

What is it that people love about Chicago? The lake? The jazz fest? The edge? Rummana Hussain examines it. Also, the Vivek Ramaswamy phenomenon as explained by Rummana, who broke his Vhicago story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/…

Mayor Rahm wants the world to know he saw Barbie. Ben riffs. And Steve Krafft, retired Fox-news reporter from Arizona, makes his debut. He’s got the inside scoop on Kyrsten Sinema, Kari Lake (they shared a make-up mirror) and other Arizona politicians. Most pols try to win elections in purple state…

Every day brings big and small examples of gun crazy. Ben riffs on a couple small examples. Then Monroe Anderson talks the rise and fall of Rudy G. Willful blindness. Why MAGA thinks Trump will win. And his love for MSNBC. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Noti…

Retired Northwestern University employee David Keown and Ben try to figure out what NU was up to with the way they handled the hazing schedule. The key is straight outta Deep Throat. Follow the money… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19…

Ben and Maya bring First Tuesdays to the Blanc Gallery in Bronzeville to talk all things Chicago Public schools—what with the new school year about to start. Joining them are CPS high school teacher Mueze Bawany, parent activist Megan Franklin and Ling Young, chief of staff to alderwoman Jeanette T…

Edna Navarro-Vidaurre is on a mission—to get all the children in Chicago in school at an early age. All the kids. From every neighborhood and background. She explains why that’s so important and why it’s so challenging. Edna is the Regional Council Manager for Birth to Five Region 1A. See Privacy …

Sun-Times Columbia Rummana Hussain calls out the double standard regarding Sinead O’Conor, who died this week. Why is it blasphemy when you’re offended, but. Hey, it’s free speech when someone else is offended? And a word or two about media coverage for Beyoncé and Taylor Swift. See Privacy Poli…

White Sox do a squeeze play. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson talks GOP debate, Trump indictment in Georgia, and the Trump chumping of Mayor Rudy G. Also, Dems let MAGA follow Pritzker’s Darren Bailey strategy. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art…

Mayor Johnson tells reporters--don’t rush me! Ben riffs. In These Times writer Miles Kampf-Lassin talks MAGA insurrection, Trump indictment, MAGA’s curious take on the First Amendment and labor. A much needed view from the left. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privac…

Congress held a hearing on UFOs. Ben riffs. Damien Perdue, host of the radio show, Think Theory Radio, joins Ben for the deep dive. Why don’t people believe government? Maybe it’s cause government lies so much. UFOs, Baby Bobby Kennedy, TIFs and so on. Then the truth about Hispanos and Oppenheimer.…

Trump polls at 54 percent. Ben riffs. And CTU president Stacy Davis Gates weighs in on all the issues. Including…Mayors Johnson and Rahm’s sorta BFF moment. The principal’s union. Rubber stamp school boards. Ben’s back-to-the 90s shirt. And more… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy an…

Gordon Mantler just wrote a book about Mayor Harold Washington and Ben can’t stop talking about it. Every logical person agrees that Washington is the greatest mayor Chicago ever had. But why? What obstacles did he have to overcome? What lessons can Mayor Johnson learn from Washington? How did Pres…

Roosevelt University professor David Faris considers the question of the week…What’s more pathetic, CNN’s attempt to boost ratings by giving Trump an hour of prime time, or CNN’s attempt to convince us they did it for a larger public good? Also, a plea to Biden to invoke the 14th on debt ceiling. A…

Attorney Adolfo Mondragon joins Ben to riff on the news of the week. So naturally they begin by talking about Jackie Brown, a movie that came out in the 90s. Then it’s on to Chicago’s search for a police chief, affirmative action, racism in sports and Benno Schmidt. See Privacy Policy at https://a…

Theresa Runstedtler, a history professor at American University, talks about her latest book, Black Ball. It’s the story of basketball in the ‘70s, when it was transformed by Black players, such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Oscar Robertson. Kermit Washington. Every step of the way, the NBA owners fought…

Ben has got Oppenheimer fever. He can’t stop talking about the man and the movie and what it all means. Block Club reporter Mick Dumke returns to talk CHA and the billionaire. Mayor Johnson and Mayor Rahm—BFF? Harry Truman. Oppenheimer. And the NU hazing scandal. See Privacy Policy at https://art1…

Over 30 years ago, Sun-Times sports columnist Rick Telander wrote The Hundred Yard Lie, an expose of corruption and exploitation in college football. Well, with the recent hazing and racism scandal involving the football team at Northwestern University, he could add another chapter to his book. Ben…

The Montgomery brawl has political implications. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson talks Montgomery, Fani Willis, Cheseboro memo, Ohio referendum and the latest lunacy from MAGA. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-inf…

Chicago gets ready to hire a police superintendent. Ben riffs. Newly elected fifth ward Alderman Desmon Yancy talks development. Specifically, what can be done to give ordinary South Shore residents the same sort of protections that billionaires get from the free market. Also, a word or two about t…

Mayor Johnson ousts the old school board and names a new one. Ben riffs. And on the eve of his participation in the World Series of Poker, Brendan Shiller returns to talk politics and a whole bunch of other things. Including…imposter syndrome, the MAGA 6, and Mayor Johnson’s long game. Can the new …

It’s a week’s worth of news so let’s talk about it with mark Wallace, podcaster and activist. Starting with…Ben cuts a deal with Mayor johnson. Say what? And Trump gets arraigned. And DeSantis rewrites the history of slavery. And it’s Lolla versus MJ. And more… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.…

Northwestern University fires its football coach after details of the team's hazing scandal publicized. Ben riffs. Environmental justice activist Oscar Sanchez talks about running for alderman, serving on Mayor Johnson’s transition team and the cost of water. Then he says a thing or two about build…

You know what we’re talking about. Trump indicted—again! Monroe and Ben take it from A to Z. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Candis Castillo, political director of SEIU Healthcare, hadn’t been on for awhile. But she makes up for lost time talking about police, asylum seekers, affirmative action, the MAGA 6, the difference between Republicans and Democrats and more. Welcome back, Candis. See Privacy Policy at https://ar…