Episodes

Roosevelt University political science professor David Faris breaks down the political ramifications of the latest rulings from the MAGA Six on the Supreme Court. Apparently it’s discriminatory for universities to want a diverse student body. But it’s ok to discriminate against gays. How out of tou…

Music writer Mark Guarino explains the roots of Jason Aldean’s controversial song, Try That In A Small Town. Does Aldean really hate Black people or is he pretending to in order to sell records and make more money? How is the song different than Merle Haggard’s Okie from Muskogee? And more. Mark kn…

Chicago’s favorite gambler Brendan Shiller joins Ben to discuss a week’s worth of news. Including… Public education. Will north siders go to venues south of Roosevelt Road? UFOs. How to discern truth from lies. Should Mayor Johnson have said nice things about Mayor Rahm? Should the city raise the m…

Sergio Vicente, host of the Fight podcast, analyzes the weird bravado coming from Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. They say they want to get into the ring and fight. What insecurities gnaw at the psyche of these billionaires that makes them want to such ridiculous talk trash? What doubts are they try…

Marie Collins l-Wright is an activist and longtime resident of the Southside and she’s got a big question for the Chicago Bears. Why don’t they build their stadium at 83rd and Lake Michigan. On the 400 or so acres of what used to be the South Works steel mill. Better yet, why won’t the powers that …

President Biden announces memorial to Emmett Till as MAGA attempts to rewrite the history of slavery, Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson talks about the legacy of Till. And John Johnson. And Ebony . And Jet. And a trip he made to Mississippi with Curtis Mayfield in 1973. And then it’s on to Hunter Biden,…

Tribune City Hall reporter Gregory Pratt just finished his biography of the Mayor Lightfoot years and it’s a classic. Everything you want to know about Lightfoot but were afraid to ask. Listen here, if you want to know. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice…

Bas Hendra, host of Historical Homos, joins Ben to discuss the week that was. Including…insanity from MAGA Supremes. As Alito and Thomas see it, Helping Black people is bad, discriminating against gays is good. Also, a word about billionaires and the submersible. And more… See Privacy Policy at ht…

Teenagers party in Lakeview—Chicago loses its mind. Ben riffs. And political strategist Denali Dasgupta returns! Talking affirmative action, Supreme Court ruling against Harvard, Chicago’s attitude toward segregation, how Rocky feeds racial concepts and much more. That’s Rocky, the movie. As oppose…

Terry Cosgrove makes his first visit to the show since retiring from Personal PAC, the reproductive rights organization. And, man, does he have a lot to say. Starting with...Ohio. The August referendum is a proxy fight for a bigger battle in November which is itself a proxy for 2024. You snooze, yo…

Roosevelt University political science professor compares and contrasts three of the leading political lunatics of our time: Robert Kennedy Jr, Joe Manchin and, of course, Donald Trump. Each has his own distinct brand. The first two are essentially enablers for the third. And it all could have been…

Community organizer Dixon Romeo joins Ben for a week’s worth of news. Including…the city council’s conservative caucus. Is there one? The Obama Center community benefits agreement. Will it be adopted? The latest MAGA editorial in the Tribune. Does anyone read this drivel besides Ben? Northwestern h…

Canadian forest fires fill Chicago’s air with smoke. Will the mainstreamers figure out a way to blame this on Mayor Johnson? Ben riffs. Lefty firefighter Sam Holloway talks pensions, Greyhound station, capitalism, property taxes, Bears and more. Way more… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/p…

Mayor Johnson shows some love for democracy. Ben riffs. Criminal defense attorney April Preyar talks about the No-cash—bail law. It has, she says, some flaws that its boosters overlooked. And April uses a murder “confession” in Waukegan to explain why her motto is “shut up, lawyer up”. See Privacy…

Executive director of Rust Belt Rising, Paul Kendrick knows a thing or two about Democrats winning elections in the key Midwest states—Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio. And let’s not forgot Pennsylvania. He breaks it down, including the distinction between persuadable and unreliable voters. Also, a wor…

The Northwestern football scandal keeps getting worse. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson ties it together—it’s the Age of Cynicism. Plus, Trump updates. As Jack Smith prepares to indict Trump for his role in the insurrection. At some point, Trump may be on trial in four states at once. See Privacy Polic…

Aundra Thompson has been a bus driver for the CTA for years. So it might be a good idea to listen to what he says should be done to make the service safer and bring back more riders. Here’s a starter—bring back the train conductors. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California P…

The experts dismiss the old South Chicago steel mill site as suitable for a new Bears stadium. Ben riffs. And political strategist Delmarie Cobb makes the case for a stadium to go there. She asks the question—why do the powers that be have such disdain for the south side? Then it’s on to Trump and …

Sun-Times columnist Rummana Hussain asks the question—why are so many men behaving so badly? From football players and coaches to movie stars and producers. Perhaps cause they usually get away with it. And why do so many people pretend that bullying doesn’t bother them? See Privacy Policy at https…

Everyone in Chicago bemoans the fact that things are political. Like politics is a dirty word. Ben riffs. And political strategist Peter Cunningham talks—what else?—politics. Including police, police chiefs, and more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice a…

Attorney Jim Coogan breaks down the federal classified documents case against Trump from top to bottom. The charges. The venue. The motive. The judge. The co-defendant. And the strategy, on both sides. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.…

Northwestern takes a page from Jaws to deflect attention from their hazing, weirdly racist football program. Ben riffs, eventually. Monroe Anderson talks about the latest Clarence Tomas scandal, NU football, “affirmative action” doctors and Trump’s tactics. Stick around to hear Joyce Owens make her…

Darren Bailey battles Mike Bost for Trump’s blessings. Ben riffs. South Bend council member Henry Davis Jr returns to talk about his recent run for mayor. How Dems take Black people for granted. How Trump feeds nihilism to Black voters. And why it’s crazy to give handouts to sports teams, owned by …

Roosevelt University political science professor David Faris debates Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz on trump’s indictment. The verdict is in…Faris mops the floor with Dershowitz. It’s like watching Muhammad Ali fight Jerry Quarry. No contest. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privac…