Episodes
"Mayor King?" and Monroe Anderson & LeAlan Jones
.Alderwoman Sophia King announces she's running for mayor. Ben riffs. And then Monroe Anderson returns to talk about the FBI raid at Mar-a-Lago. What are they looking for? With the Donald Trump and his many crimes it could be one of a number. And then LeAlan Jones returns to talk about the crimes o…
Aurie Pennick--The Garland Debate & More
Activist, lawyer, philanthropist and proud graduate of Englewood High School, Aurie Pennick has been pushing for social justice almost from the days Dr. King came to Chicago in 1966. She's staying strong in the face of the MAGA challenges--occasionally chastising Ben to be just a little less judgme…
David Faris--Manchin Returns As Yang Leaves
Political scientist David Faris talks about Senator Joe Manchin's recent conversion back to being a Democrat. As the senators suddenly, and without much explanation, signed on to Biden's Build Back Better--oops, I mean, his anti-inflation bill. The conversation turns to Andrew Yang's announcement t…
Oh, What A [Last] Week: "Lolla, Lori, Bailey & the Bears"
Time for Ben & the Doctor to talk a week's worth of news, starting with...The Forward Party? Wasn't expecting that. And then Lightfoot & Lolla. And Darren "DB" Bailey puts on his dancing shoes to duck and dodge questions on T...
Anthony Joel Quezada--The Kids Are Back
Suddenly, MAGA's obsessed with truth in journalism--as they try to cover up cruel abortion laws in Ohio. And what's with Glenn Kessler at the Washington Post? Ben riffs. And Anthony Joel Quezada makes his debut. A Democratic Socialist, he was the winning candidate in the recent Democratic primary f…
Ken Davis--Won't Get Fooled Again!
Veteran newsman Ken Davis talks about that moment, when he was still a young man, where he learned the hard way that our political system is not what it seems. To put it mildly. That it's not legit. The year was 1972, and Ken was a young man working in California for George McGovern and, well, you …
Rummana Hussain--MAGA Obsessions
Rummana Hussain--Sun-Times columnist/editorial writer--talks guns and abortion. Specficially, MAGA's strange and contradictory obsession with each. Every fertilized egg is sacred. But living human beings? Expendable, if you shoot them. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Californi…
"Oh, What A [Past] Week" & The Joravsky Column Chronicles
Time to riff on a week's worth of news. Including...another alderman quits mid-term. Royko's kid runs for alderman. JB v. D.B. And more. Plus, Dr. D leads us on a trip to the vault of columns by Ben going back to the 80s. Featuring one from 1989 about segregation in Chicago. Somethings haven't chan…
Rob Martwick--Listen Up, Dems
State Senator Rob Martwick was up against the best MAGA had to offer in one of the city's more conservative northwest side districts. And yet he won the recent election with over 60 percent of the vote. Get our papers and pens, Dems, if you want to learn how to run races in districts that could go …
"DB Travolta" and Monroe Anderson & Mark Wallace
MAGA Man Darren Bailey--the Republican candidate for governor--puts on his dancing shoes as he dances around questions about Donald Trump and Congressman Kinzinger. Is he a bigger fraud/chicken than Richard Irvin? Ben riffs. And Monroe Anderson returns to talk insurrection. He predicts Merrick "the…
Mick Dumke--Mr. G's Money
The first pictures come in from the James Webb Space Telescope. And it's official--Chicago is in the universe. Ben riffs. And Mick Dumke, ProPublica investigative reporter, returns to talk politics. Specifically, his excellent article about how much Kenneth Griffin saved by beating the Fair Tax. Al…
"Domed Chicago" & Maya Dukmasova
Mayor Lightfoot unveils her latest great idea. Spending money we can't afford to put a dome over Soldier Field. Ben riffs. And Maya Dukmasova, reporter for Injustice Watch, returns to discuss abortion rights in Illinois. It will be the topic at our August Hideout show. And the strange case of the v…
Dave Glowacz--The City Council Tricks
Did Governor Pritzker use President Nixon's re-election strategy? Ben riffs. And Dave Glowacz--of Inside Chicago Government--returns with his Fabulous City Council Reviews. As he and Ben break down the mayor's parliamentary maneuvers to defeat her opposition. Hard to call this "reform" even if the …
David Faris--Old Dems
Political scientist David Faris surveys the madness that is America today and it's not as bad as it looks. Though it might get worse. And by the way, it's time the Dems turned things over to the next generation. Or at least an old timer with a little pep. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/pr…
Oh, What A [Past] Week: "Lori's Campaign Cash & Blame it on the Bribe…
July 8, 2022: Ben & Dr. D have another week's worth of news to disrespect--I mean, discuss. Starting with...NASCAR in Chicago? Is that a joke? And a roof on Soldier Field? Is that another joke? And the mayor raises a couple o...
"Under Siege" and Mark Wallace
MAGA has successfully moved the center of discourse so far to the right, that people who call themselves Democrats claim both parties are run by "extremists". Ben riffs. Activist Mark Wallace returns to talk speed cameras. Specifically, yesterday's City Council vote in which the mayor got her way. …
Benji "The Bookie" Hall--Summer League!
It's summertime and that means...NBA Summer League! Just in time to offer a little diversion from the madness of MAGA. Benji "The Bookie" Hall (not really a bookie) returns to assess the early results. Who are the best rookies? How are the Bulls faring? Is Marko Simonovic really as good as he was i…
"NASCAR In Chicago" & Monroe Anderson
After months on insisting we needed tougher laws to keep Chicagoans from speeding, Mayor Lightfoot announces--hey, good news! I'm bringing NASCAR to Chicago. Ben riffs. And Monroe Anderson returns to talk Trump. Particularly, why he's a law-and-order, lock-`em-up man when it comes to Trump's failed…
Gaylon Alcaraz--The Long Fight
Activist Gaylon Alcaraz has been in the trenches for abortion rights since the `90s. She's seen and heard it all. Including this line from a woman who was about to get an abortion: "I'm against abortion. But I can't have a baby now." At times, the inanity of America's confusion on this issue can ma…
Jim Coogan--The MAGA 6
The Highland Park shootings were one of many deadly gun attacks on the Fourth of July. Ben riffs. Attorney Jim Coogan returns to analyze the recent rulings of the MAGA 6 on the Supreme Court on abortion, guns and the EPA. Apparently, you have a constitutionally protected right to destroy the world …
Miles Kampf-Lassin--Timid Dems
Mick Dumke and Paul Kiel of Propublica write an expose about how Kenneth Griffin, formerly Illinois's richest resident, spent money to save money. Ben riffs. And Miles Kampf-Lassin, editor/writer for In These Times, considers these questions: Are Dems too timid? Should lefties challenge Biden in 20…
Best of Ben: Meredith Shiner & Joanna Klonsky
August 24, 2019: Meredith Shiner is a former correspondent for Politico, Roll Call and Yahoo News. She is currently a communications professional based in Chicago. Joanna Klonsky is a political strategist and worked for the Lori Lightfoot mayoral campaign. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.co…
Oh, What A [Past]Week: Trains & Planes
June 17, 2022--Time for Ben & Dr. D to run through a week of news. There's a blast from the past--an update on Rahm and his love for trains. Was Ken Davis correct? Also, an analysis of Governor Pritzker's curious election str...
Sarah Bingaman--MAGA Brainwashing
Mayor Lightfoot drops the F-bomb. Chicago reels. Ben riffs. And progressive political activist Sarah Bingaman talks politics in Trump Country. What's the fall out to the end of Roe? The brainwashing of young minds by MAGA. The curious attitude MAGA has toward free expression. They have the right to…