Episodes
Sam Holloway--Money Hoarders
The leftist firefighter, Sam Holloway, returns to talk about the C word--capitalism. He starts with banks lending billions to Elon Musk to throw out $44 or so billion dollars on Twitter and goes from there. "The government loves to give money to rich people." And "billionaires are like crazy hoarde…
David Faris--MAGA Goes For The Jugular
Ben's got three topics on his mind and political scientist David Faris riffs on them all...Kick Joe Manchin out of the Democratic Party. The anti-abortion lunatics in Ohio telling teenage girls to look on the bright side of getting raped. And the political implications of Elon Musk buying Twitter. …
"Aldermen Have Jokes" & Teresa Cordova
Alderman Walter Burnett says it's either casino revenues or property tax hikes. Ben points out that the casino will raise your property taxes. Cause someone has to pay to build it. Guess who that someone will be. And Teresa Cordova, director of the Great Cities Institute at the University of Illino…
Keith Kelleher--Union Organizing 101
"So Scared." Have you noticed everyone's trying to scare you these days? Ben riffs. And Keith Kelleher returns to talk unions. Specifically, all the hurdles workers have to clear to form one. As the employees at Starbucks & A...
Micah Uetricht--Fighting The Parking Meter Deal
The Bulls stun the Bucks last night thanks to Mr. DeRozan. Ben riffs. And then appeals, again, to Len Goodman to save the Reader by transferring control to the not-for-profit. Micah Uetricht returns. Yes, the editor/writer for Jacobin magazine has moved to New York City where he will be the Ben Jor…
Rummana Hussain--Why Are They Cheering?
Rummana Hussain, Sun-Times editorial writer/columnist, returns to explain the inexplicable. In this case, why are so many people so happy about taking off their masks on a plane? Also, a word or two about interviewing Kim Foxx. Yes, a Jussie question was asked. And guess who asked it? Finally, the …
Saul Rodriguez--Sox `n Cubs
Co-host of the At Bat podcast, Saul Rodriguez makes his debut to talk Chicago baseball. Or to talk Ben off the ledge. Lousy starts by the White Sox & Cubs have convinced Ben that it will be another year of futility. Not so, s...
Kerry Reid--Free `n Freaky Reader
Reader theater & dance editor Kerry Reid tells the strange story of the "impasse" that might kill Chicago's oldest alternative newspaper. It has to do with Leonard Goodman, the man who wanted to save the Reader, and now will ...
Maya Goldberg-Safir--Free Brittney!
Freelance writer Maya Goldberg-Safir makes her Joravsky Show debut, talking about Brittney Griner, the world's greatest women basketball player, who's been locked in a prison in Russia for several months. Why won't Putin let her out? Why is there so much silence about her imprisonment? And what can…
"Burke Map" and Monroe Anderson & LeAlan Jones
Aldermen blame everything bad on Ed Burke. Ben riffs. And Monroe Anderson talks Trump. Particularly, a New York judge's ruling that Trump be held in contempt and fined $10,000 a day. Ben's convinced Trump won't pay the money. Monroe disagrees. And then LeAlan Jones--Green Party candidate for U.S. S…
David Faris--Wealth Worship
Political scientist David Faris surveys the political scene, which at the moment is bleak for Democrats. As David explains, the time has come for Democrats to stand up for their core convictions and stop apologizing for the values they believe in. Also, a word or two about the worship of wealth. S…
"Still Here" & Maya Dukmasova
Word breaks that the Reader will live. Ben riffs. And Maya Dukmasova returns to talk ward maps, Reader & Twitter. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-n...
Alderman Raymond Lopez Explains His Tucker Carlson Connection
They hold a public meeting for the casino. Guess what? Nobody wants it in their backyard. Ben riffs. And 15h ward Alderman Raymond Lopez returns to talk about why he's running for mayor. Why he goes on Tucker Carlson's show. Why he's against TIFs. And much more, including policing, casinos and an e…
Best of Ben--A Love Letter to Chicago Journalism with Ken Davis, Mick…
August 23, 2019. Yes. Pritzker signed another bill. A legal marijuana update. Grading Lori Lightfoot's first 100 days and MORE from the Chicago Reader and their "Love Letter to Chicago Journalism" Streaming Telethon. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at …
Stacy Davis Gates—Fighting Back
Stacy Davis Gates--president of Chicago Teachers Union--returns to talk all things politics. Specifically, the Republican assault on Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. The bizarre case of Richard Irvin. And Brittney Griner, locked in Putin's prison. And a word or two in defense of Isiah Thomas. See Pr…
Dave Glowacz Rounds Up The City Council
The great Estelle Harris died. She played George Costanza's mother in Seinfeld. Ben riffs. And Dave Glowacz--from Inside Chicago Government--returns to review the last few meetings. Casinos. Rules. Mayoral control. It's hard not to be cynical in Chicago. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/pri…
Sameena Mustafa--MAGA Misogynists
Political strategist and podcast host Sameena Mustafa returns to discuss one of her latest projects--a study of political candidates who are women of color. Or, more to the point, the violence and anger they face from the left as well as MAGA. The question is--why are men threatened by women in pow…
"Didn't Work" & Monroe Anderson
Yesterday, Ben appealed to Len Goodman to do what he had to do to save the Reader. That appeal didn't work. So Ben tries again. And Monroe Anderson returns to talk masks, Trump judges, MAGA & Putin and more. See Privacy Polic...
Delmarie Cobb--MAGA Spins The Media
Willie Wilson announces he's running for mayor. But he won't say if he voted for Trump. Ben riffs. And political strategist Delmarie Cobb makes her long-awaited return to talk all things politics. Including, why she wants people to vote for David Moore. And how Republicans show their contempt for B…
"Ben Gets A Massage" & Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa
Ben goes to California and gets a massage. What a story. And Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa--the dean of the council Democratic Progressives--returns and he's got a lot on his mind. Ward Map. Casino. Danny Solis. Elon Musk. Mayor's race. And who's got the biggest gas-giveaway card--Mayor Lightfoot o…
Alaina Hampton & Dave McKinney @ The Hideout
On April 5, 2022, Ben & Maya returned to The Hideout for First Tuesdays. On topic--former House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, the good, the bad & the ugly. Out guests were two people who know a lot about the man people call Mad...
Miles Kampf-Lassin--Worshipping Rich Guys
In These Times editor/writer Miles Kampf-Lassin returns and we start talking about Jeff Cramer's breakdown over the successful unionizing effort at the Amazon warehouse in New York and wind up talking capitalism. Specifically...
"Oh, What A Week: "Dennis Has The Willies"
Ben & Dr. D riff on a week's worth of news. Pritzker & Bailey & Irvin & Poor Jesse Sullivan. And then Dr. Dr makes the case for Willie Wilson. Ben is skeptical--to put it mildly. And much more. See Privacy Policy at https://a...
Marc Sims--Free Gas
Podcaster Marc Sims returns and the conversation turns to Willie Wilson and Richard Irvin. Will Chicago voters elect Willie Wilson as their mayor because he give out free gas? As for Richard Irvin, he's the more or less cent...