Episodes
Alderman Andre Vasquez—Mic Drop
Property tax bill are coming out. Ben freaks out. And 40th ward Alderman Andre Vasquez talks about building coalitions, running for re-election, Harold Washington, rap battles, lefties going at each other's throats, budgets and a whole bunch of other stuff that is on his mind. Special bonus--he dro…
Miles Kampf-Lassin—Everything’s Local
In These Times editor/writer Miles Kampf-Lassin has a lot on his mind as he reviews the post-midterm political landscape. In particular…think local, lefties. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Stacy Davis Gates—No Time For Kingmakers
Some cronies of Mayor Rahm are kicking in money to elect what they call "workhorse aldermen" as opposed to "showhorse aldermen". Ben riffs. And Stacy Davis Gates, president of the Chicago Teachers Union, returns. She's got a lot on her mind, including...the aforementioned cronies of Mayor Rahm; Bra…
Enrique Limon—From There To Here
It’s Thanksgiving! Much love and thanks for all our friends & family. Enrique Limon, Reader editor, makes his debut. Describes his journey from a kid in Mexico to one of the top jobs in alternative journalism. One stop along ...
"Relatively Normal Chicagoans” and Monroe Anderson and LeAlan Jones
As Gregory Pratt points out, many people in Chicago aren't obsessively paying attention to the mayor's race. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson talks Republicans and the Mark Meadows tweets. And journalist/activist LeAlan Jones talk about the life and legacy of Lloyd Newman--LeAlan's writing partner on the…
Angela Clay—Work To Do
Ben asks the question most are too afraid to pose…Do the millennials who are running Mayor Lightfoot’s re-election campaign realize they took a line from the Isley Brothers? And 46 ward aldermanic candidate Angela Clay talks Uptown politics then and now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/pr…
“Rose Garden Chuy” & Kelly Garcia
Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia hasn’t been elected mayor yet, and he’s already acting like an emperor. Ben riffs. And Reader writer Kelly Garcia talks FOIA law and aldermanic petition challenges and police district elections. And more… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Californi…
Oh, What A [Past] Week: "Brandon Runs, Whalen Walks”
Brandon Johnson announces he’s running for mayor. Chuy Garcia continues to think about running for Mayor. Mayor Lightfoot sorta makes things up as she goes along. And Pat Whalen explains why everyone is feeling so much anxiety. Just some of a week’s worth of news discussed by Ben, Dr. D and Pat. S…
Rummana Hussain--Sundown State
Chicago Sun-Times columnist Rummana Hussain talks MAGA's attitudes toward Black voters. Or what does it say about MAGA's attitude toward Black voters that MAGA thought Black voters would vote for Herschel Walker? Also, Alito and his MAGA comrades on the Supremes try to concoct a legal justification…
Carlos & Rossana--Rules Of Order
Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa & Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez take the deep dive on Bring Chicago Home. That's a proposal to put a binding referendum on the ballot asking voters if they support slapping a tax on the sale of wea...
Marc Sims—Chicago Explained
Yesterday was day one for mayoral candidates to file nominating petitions. Ben riffs. Podcaster Marc Sims talks mayor’s race, Thomas Sowell, Dave Chappelle and more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Alden Loury--Black Migration
Mayor Lightfoot's drivers get caught parking in a bike lane, while the mayor ducks into a bakery to buy some doughnuts. Ben riffs. And WBEZ journalist Alden Loury returns to discuss his latest Sun-Times column on low voter turnout. Have Chicagoans become nihilists? Also, demographics in Chicago. If…
David Seaton—Center Lane
Trump makes it official. Ben riffs. And WVON talk show host David Seaton talks Trump, MAGA, Black Trump supporters and more. Much more… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
David Faris—Before The Wave…
Political scientist David Faris makes his midterm predictions. And a word or two about MAGA’s bizarre approach to fighting inflation. And the New York Times obsession with John Fetterman’s stroke. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/p…
Eric Zorn—Two Old Guys Yelling At Each Other
Chicago's Police union endorses a man named "Don Bailey" for governor. Ben riffs. And columnist Eric Zorn returns to discuss all the burning issues of the day. Like...whether Ben & Maya were unfair to pull First Tuesdays from...
Dave Glowacz—City Council Antics
There's a battle raging as the GOP's "right flank" challenges Kevin McCarthy's bid for speaker. Right flanks implies there's a left flank. Ben riffs. Devin Thompson, singer extraordinaire, talks about his upcoming concert. Dave Glowacz, of Inside Chicago Government, examines recent city council mee…
Anderson & Kaplan—Before It’s Too Late
Ben travels to a place he's never been on election night--MSNBC. He weighs in with what he saw. Monroe Anderson returns to say the "Red Wave" turned into a "pink trickle". What happened, MAGA? And Jacob Kaplan, executive director of the Cook County Democratic Party, examines the statewide election …
Oh, What A [Past] Week: "Mayoral Doughnuts"
Oh, what a week, indeed! Ben & Dr. D riff on the news, most of it out of Chicago. Starting with...Donoughtgate. Is Doughnutgate worse than Cinnamon Rollgate? Hmm, tough, tough question. And then it's on to the mayor's race, s...
Rummana Hussain: Told Ya’ So…
Sun-Times columnist Rummana Hussain asks the question. If women have a right not to wear hijabs, doesn't that also mean they have a right to wear them? Also, Rummana does a victory march on Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West. She hates to say I told you so, but...she told you so. And a wor…
David Faris—Waves Of Blue
The midterms were supposed to be a Red Wave, doing with votes what the insurrectionists couldn’t do on January 6–giving MAGA control of Congress. David Faris takes the deep dive on why that didn’t happen. How the pollsters and pundits minimized abortion rights. How the Democrats finally learned to …
Oh, What A [Past] Week: “Voters Speak & Chuy Chooses”
What a week of politics for Ben & Dr. D to riff about. The Red Wave turns into a Blue one, at least in Illinois. New York Dems are clueless. Give Speaker Welch credit—he knows how to play the mapmaking game. Congressman “Chuy...
Anderson & Balanoff—Political Junkies
Mayor Lightfoot & George Cardenas pull an Eddie Haskell. Ben explains. Shoutout to Gregory Pratt for another great scoop. And Clem Balanoff talks Jesus Garcia—he’s going to run for mayor. Monroe Anderson is skeptical. Then th...
Peter Cunningham—Naked City
It's official--Congressman Jesus "Chuy" Garcia is running for mayor. Ben riffs by answering a question from V-Train. Also Peter Cunningham--political strategist, speech writer & rock `n roll guitarist--takes the deep dive on....
LeAlan Jones--Monday Morning Quarterback
Football coach/analyst LeAlan Jones has an unique take on the Chicago Bears. He thinks they're making smart moves that will bring them a Super Bowl Championship. He explains why he believes that and why the "experts" are so c...