Episodes

Alderman Matt Martin (47th) discusses ethics in Chicago. More specifically, his attempts to chair the city council’s ethics committee. Also, why it’s prudent, practical and ethical for the council to hold off on approving the Com Ed deal. And which mayoral candidates are doing well in his north side ward. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Political scientist David Faris has a lot of questions on his mind. Will Republicans oust Trump from their party? Well, we know they won't. But can they devise a nice way to encourage him to move aside so he won't destroy the party? Not sure about that either. Can they find a place for George Santos, a brazen liar? Why not, they already found one for Trump. Which begs this question: who's the bigger liar, Santos or Trump? Depends what you mean by liar. And a few words about the 2024 senate race in Arizona--Ruben Gallego v. Kari Lake v. Kyrsten Sinema. You heard it hear first, folks. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mayor Lightfoot comes in third, misses the mayoral runoff. Ben riffs. And veteran journalists Monroe Anderson and Derrick Blakely break down Tuesday’s election results. Why did Lightfoot disrespect Willie Wilson? Can Brandon Johnson win? What happened to Chuy? Why do white people love Paul Vallas so much? And more… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mayor Lightfoot rips the city council for asking for more time to consider her Com Ed deal. Ben riffs. And Emma Tai, executive director of the United Working Families, returns to talk aldermanic and mayoral politics. Specifically, is Chicago ready for democracy? And what she means when she says: “I play to win!” See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis eliminates Advanced Placement African-American history cause he's afraid the truth will upset white children. That's just one of the issues Sun-Times columnist Rummana Hussain discusses. Also, a word or two or three about President Obama, Gwyneth Paltrow, and MAGA's using Martin Luther King Jr., or at least one phrase from one speech, as a weapon to destroy all the things he believed in. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben & Dr. D have gambling on their mind as they take a look back on the week that was. Specifically, why does Chicago think it's a good idea to fund government with a casino? And, how did Sam Bankman-Fried convince the Lightfoot administration to take FTX money to run a program intended to teach lessons about finance to low-income people? And why did Congressman Garcia take campaign contributions from FTX? And what will relatively normal people in Chicago think of the mayor's latest commercial? ...

Vincent E. Norment & Victoria Williams—the pride and joy of Englewood—return to talk Bball. Specifically. Ben’s beloved Bulls. Stumbling into the all-star break with six straight losses, it looked bleak for the Bulls. Then they signed the energy man, Patrick Beverly (Marshall High , ‘06) and suddenly things are looking up. Also, a few words above KD & Kyrie & LeBron. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Comedian Pat Whalen joins Ben to talk about the week that was. Which includes…the Vallas surge. The Axe is back. Campaign signs. Madigan’s and Burke’s aldermanic candidates. Why MAGA is so happy. Hint, Vallas speaks to them. And a few words about the Sunday morning talk shows. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Block Club investigative reporter Mick Dumke stops by to pick up the conversation on politics that he and Ben have been having since about 2005. Join them for the deep dive into the mayoral and aldermanic elections. Could Chicago actually replace autocracy with democracy? The safe bet is on autocracy when it comes to Chicago. People just love their Bosses. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wisconsin gets ready for an all-important Supreme Court election. Ben riffs. In These Times editor Miles Kampf-Lassin deconstructs “strategy voting” in the mayor’s race and Paul Vallas’ thoughts on CRT. Also, the CTU gamble. And he makes a prediction yiu can take to Vegas. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mayor Lightfoot celebrates the opening of the police & fire training academy. Ben riffs. And Denali Dasgupta, 39th ward aldermanic candidate, makes her debut. Talking budgets, property taxes, TIFs, public safety, and why her 17-year-old son wants to be a police officer. She’s a rarity for Chicago politics. Super smart and funny. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The mayor wants city to consider Com Edison deal in the midst of an election campaign. Ben riffs. And state Rep. & mayoral Kam Buckner weighs in on all the issues. Including…Com Ed deal, police community relations, education, school CEOs and funding the Bears. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new poll and a taxing proposal by Brandon Johnson. Ben riffs on the latest news from the mayor's race. And state Rep. Bob Morgan talks gun control. Specifically, the bill he sponsored in the wake of last summer's shootings in Highland Park. The resistance he faced. The compromises he made. The final vote. The opposition in the aftermath. And the evolving attitude about Americans on the issue of guns. The dynamic, he says, is changing. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s been a wacky week. So Ben turned to a comedian to help explain it—Rachel Joravsky. Hmm, that last name is familiar. Ben and Rach riff on the news, including…the anti-Vallas strategy. Fox personalities reveal what they think of MAGA. Abortion insanity. And a word or two about Tunney & Vallas & DeSantis. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Columnist/political scientist David Faris talks about the latest bit of insanity from MAGA--gas stove panic. Also, an analysis of Speaker Kevin McCarthy's precarious hold on MAGA in congress. David offers advice for Dems and asks—what were security documents doing in Biden's garage? And more... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For the last seven years, activist Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth joined forces with Indivisible members throughout the state to battle Trump and Trumpism. Now she’s shifted her sights to the local front, running for alderwoman of the 48th ward. She explains her strategies, reasons and aspirations. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Paul Vallas smiles while Mayor Lightfoot and Ja’Mal Green attack Brandon Johnson. Ben riffs. And Monroe Anderson analyzes a mailer he received from the Vallas campaign. Is Vallas The great White Hope? Then it’s on to national MAGA news. Specifically, Mike Pence’s attempt to convince MAGA he won’t “snitch” on Trump. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Juanita Irizarry, executive director of Friends of the Parks, returns with an only in Chicago story. A prominent museum, headed by a man who used to be an alderman, somehow doesn’t realize you need permission to build a big building in a park. In this case, Humboldt Park. Now the issue is will the Park District make them take it down. Also, a few words about putting a roof on Soldier Field. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben moderated last night's aldermanic forum in the 30th ward. Democracy lives. Podshow host Marc Sims returns. And he's on fire. Keep the kiddies away from this episode! He shares his thoughts on race, the N-word, self hate, why Mayor Lightfoot may not make the runoff, and why he's probably going to vote for her anyway. And much, much more... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Four years ago, political strategist Laurie Glenn voted for Lori Lightfoot for mayor and then came on the podcast to urge Ben to be less critical. She explains why she's changed her mind about Mayor Lightfoot. And why she's urging people to vote for Congressman Jesus "Chuy" Garcia. Also, why the prospect of "Mayor Vallas" frightens her. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Advocacy Director for the Chicago Neighborhood Policing Initiative, Micole Jordan-McBride has been pushing for police reform for years. As she sees it, it looks as though Chicago might finally be ready to change its approach to policing. Maybe... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Comedian Pat Whalen joins Ben to go over a week's worth of news. Starting with...Palos Hills! Or is it Palos Heights? Whatever it is, that's where Paul Vallas lives. Or maybe it's his wife who lives there and Paul lives in Bridgeport. Does it matter if the mayor of Chicago lives in Palos Hills? Or Palos Heights? Can anybody in Chicago tell you the difference between Palos Hills and Palos Heights? In other news...what's the difference between lying and embellishing? Time to contrast the stories of Republican congresspeople George Santos and Anna Paulina Luna. Finally, Elon Musk stands up for free speech by firing an employee who told him something he didn't want to hear. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mueze Bawany, CPS high school teacher and aldermanic candidate in the 50th ward, analyzes "extracreditgate". That's the breaking scandal in which a Mayor Lightfoot campaign aide sent emails to teachers promising that their students would get extra credit if they volunteered for the mayor's re-election effort. Questions: did the aide get the email addresses from CPS? Did Mayor Lightfoot know about the solicitation in advance? Who are they to decide what teachers decide is extra credit? Did they think teachers would want to help the mayor? And do you believe anything the mayor says on the topic? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Indiana AG Todd Rokita, who wants to lock up doctors who perform abortions on 10-year-old girls who have been raped, takes a stand on our inalienable right to own a gas stove. Ben riffs. And Kelly Garcia from Injustice Watch returns to talk mayoral politics. Is Chuy moving right? Is Mayor Lightfoot going to skate free from extracreditgate? Why does Paul Vallas love police unions and hate teacher unions? And more… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.