Episodes

Several aldermen vote against accepting a federal grant to help cover the cost of taking care of asylum seekers. Ben tries to explain the inexplicable. Monroe Anderson talks Jann Wenner, West Point affirmative action, Hunter Biden and Republicans on UAW strike. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.…

The first Republican presidential debate was a case study in cowardice and deceit. And Roosevelt University political scientist David Faris has a field day, breaking it all down. Including their dancing, dodging denials on climate change, Trump’s coup and abortion. What a bunch of clowns. See Pri…

MAGA has a presidential debate last night, without the emperor. Ben riffs. Alderman Carlos Ramírez Rosa, Mayor Johnson’s city council floor leader, discusses the first 100 days of Mayor Johnson’s Administration. Including the Bring Chicago Home referendum, treatment not trauma, when he will reopen …

Two Chicago lefties—Mueze Bawany and Matt Ginsberg-Jaeckle—talk Bears. And it’s not good. Cause the Bears are awful. And Mueze is in pain over that cause he’s a lifelong fan. And Matt is delighted because he’s a—dare I say…he’s a Packers fan. He’s so happy that he composed a song special for this e…

Criminal defense attorney April Preyar joins Ben to run down the week’s with of news. Has Stacy Davis Gates replaced Kim Foxx as the Black woman MAGA loves to hate? No cash bail goes into effect Monday—what will happen? Does Jussie Smollett have a point? Yes, he’s back in the news. And liberals are…

Sun-Times columnist Rummana Hussain ponders the summer’s big question: Why do men hate Barbie so much? Well, not all men. But MAGA men and MAGA wannabes, like Bill Maher. Is Barbie’s success a precursor of a Democratic victory? And does the Bear’s success indicate people have a healthier attitude t…

Basketball analyst D’Frantz Smart returns to talk all things hoops, including…the WNBA’s strange attitude toward pregnant players, why the Lakers got swept, and the saga of Ja Morant. And more… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/priva…

Reader music writer Leor Galil explores the issue few Chicago leaders want to face—is Lollapalooza worth the time and trouble of turning over prime lakefront park space for a four-day music festival? Who benefits from the festival? Who pays the price? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/priv…

Traditionally, the city’s northwest side has been controlled by an alliance of conservative Democrats and Republicans. Michael Rabbitt is trying to change that by challenging Jim Gardiner for Democratic committeeman of the 45th ward. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California …

Shia Kapos, Politico columnist, drops in to join Ben for a run down on a week’s worth of news. Including…Mayor Johnson’s back-to-back public appearances—one crowd leaned left, the other right. And Stacy Davis Gates’ school choice. And Darren Bailey tries to bring in Trump to beat Mike Bost. And her…

Did you know that two conservative law professors wrote a law review article pointing out that Trump is ineligible to run for president? Now you do. Ben riffs. And alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez talks treatment bot trauma, Dr. Arwady, Columbus Day and Prager U. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.co…

Mayor Johnson is the guest at First Tuesdays. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson explains what's white peoples mean when they say Black people are playing the race card. And what they mean when they say Mayors Daley and Rahm were smart but Mayors Lightfoot and Johnson are nasty and slow. A few words about …

Mainstream Chicago works the refs. Ben riffs. Attorney Jim Coogan returns to talk Trump crimes. Including…Trump’s claim of a two-tier system. His outlaw persona. His inside connections. And a word or two about the suggestion Trump’s too big to prosecute. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/pr…

Roosevelt University political science professor David Faris makes sense of the senseless. Trump’s arraignment for attempting a coup. Jack Smith’s indictment, laying it out for anyone to see. Unless they willfully close their eyes. Merrick Garland’s cautiousness. Mike Pence’s calculations. And more…

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.…