Episodes

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…

The Wall Street Journal rushes to Justice Samuel Alito’ s rescue after he’s caught taking freebies from a billionaire. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson explains the difference between Democrats and MAGA on ethics. Mainly, MAGA has none. And more, including Chicago’s curious attitude about the south side.…

School teacher and political activist Mueze Bawany joins Ben to talk about the news of the week. Including…the Machine is dead! Even as it lives on as a metaphor. Also, Mayor Johnson’s school board. Nihilism among millennials and Zs. And a word or two about what Mueze would do if he ran the Bulls. …

On June 6, Ben and Maya brought First Tuesdays to the Night Hawk in Albany Park. Our guests were state Rep Kam Buckner and activist Lynda Lopez. We were talking CTA. Things got interesting when several bus drivers, with years in the system, explained what’s really going on. If only Chicago’s leader…

Dems better realize Trump plays by no rules. Ben riffs. Political strategist Andrew Ellison—aka, Steve Kornacki II—breaks down the electoral map. For Prez and senate races. It’s not as gloomy as Dems think, unless, of course, they fall back asleep. But first a word or two about what worked in Michi…

The media’s attempt to make it seem like anyone in Chicago gave an hoot about NASCAR is straight out of Chomsky. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson talks affirmative action and the gaslighting of Black Americans. Also, an update on Trump’s rally in South Carolina. Has MAGA become a fascistic version of Dea…

Lincoln Yards developers seek bailout from Chicago teachers. Ben riffs. And professor Lance Williams talks about his latest book: King David and Boss Daley. As he explains it, Chicago’s violence, segregation and hate is in the city’s DNA. So don’t act surprised by what’s going on. See Privacy Po…

The Chicago Bears prove that meritocracy is dead as they extend their paw for a handout. Ben riffs. And Dave Glowacz from Inside Chicago Government joins Ben to break down the latest city council maneuvers. Including Scott Waguespack farewell as committee chair. See Privacy Policy at https://art1…

The smoke from the Canadian forest fires forces Ben to stay inside, where he spends his time catching up on the Robert Kennedy Jr presidential campaign. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson makes another bold prediction regarding Trump. As he and Ben analyze the latest Trump secret recording. A few thoughts …

Comedian Rachel Joravsky and Ben break down a week worth of issues. Including…Taylor Swift comes to Chicago. She is welcomed. Asylum seekers are not. Matty Healey and the Edgelords. Senator Mullin’s very woke attitude about reading to children. What’s in Trump’s woke brain. And more… See Privacy P…

Roosevelt University political science professor David Faris confronts the spectacle of Ron DeSantis’s spectacularly bad presidential announcement. And his efforts to win over MAGA be being worse than Trump. And the lure of Republican sloganeering. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy …

Sun-Times columnist Rummana Hussain tells us everything we need to know about India Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Washington, DC. Including what it says about the dangers of being too cynical regarding geopolitical strategies. Also, an analysis of the guest list at the White House …