Episodes

Mark Epstein clarifies—the bubba Trump blew was not Bill Clinton. Got that, America? Ben riffs. Steve Krafft returns with an update from swing-state land, aka, Arizona. Hear the latest on Democrats chances to oust MAGA. Right now Steve says it’s about 50-50 that our fragile democracy survives. Steve is a longtime political reporter and a member of the Nichols Jr High Quiz Bowl Hall of Fame.

MTG talks big, then capitulates to Trump. Ben riffs. Mick Dumke offers up some Bible lessons and then takes off on Trump’s propaganda blitz. Bovino’s Rambo shtick. Pritzker’s mixed message to resisters. And a few words of love in memory of Tony Adler. Mick is an editor and writer for Block Club.

Epstein’s emails confirm what we already suspected about Trump. Ben riffs. Evanston’s Mayor Daniel Biss covers almost every topic. Including…why he’s running for Congress, as opposed to staying on as mayor. What he thinks about AIPAC, Israel, Mamdani, the Democratic filibuster busters, and the role local law enforcement plays in dealing with ICE. Hint—time to indict the ICE lawbreakers. Daniel is running in the Democratic primary for Congress in the 9th district.

One little snowfall and suddenly ICE is leaving Chicago for warmer climes. Ben riffs. Kalman Resnick explains the legal fight he’s waging on behalf of Chicagoans swept off the street by ICE’s masked and armed goon squad. Including, his case on behalf of Ruben Torres Maldonado, whose daughter is undergoing cancer treatment. And Diana Santillana Galeano, the teacher snatched from a north side daycare center. These fights are in the courts but the larger struggle is at the ballot box. Kalman is a l...

Dems cave to Trump—or did they? Ben riffs. Charles Henderson talks about the struggle to convince people to vote Democrat, knowing that push come to shove the Dems will let them down. Also…Trump’s VA cuts. Are boomers worthless? Mamdani and the Black vote. And Charles turns the tables and asks Ben a tricky Mayor Rahm question. Charles is an Army vet and peace activist in Chicago.

Trump appeals a judge’s SNAP ruling. Ben riffs. David Faris gives the good and bad news from Tuesday’s elections. The good news—America hate Trump. The bad news—he’s still in charge. Also, envy as a political force. Americans are philosophical conservatives and policy liberals. What if SNAP were like Social Security—open to all? Would rich guys Donnie and Musk take it? You know they would. David is a political science professor at Roosevelt University and a columnist for The Nation and Newsweek....

Ben and Dr D pull themselves away from watching the Bulls long enough to talk about a week’s worth of news, including…Chuygate! Congressman Jesus Garcia pulls a move so outrageous it has Ben and the Tribune seeing eye to eye. Also, the gift room returns. And should JB apologize for cussing out Boss Donnie? Ben says—hell no! Goodness gracious—so sorry for that outburst of profanity. And more…

In one stupendous night, Dems crush Donnie and Bulls win—Ben’s cup runneth over. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson joins the celebration. Talking about Mamdani, Sherrill, Spanberger and Prop 50. Also, some love for JB, Kwame and Brandon. Monroe weighs in on Chuygate—“it’s not playing fair, it’s playing to win.”

Congressman Jesus Garcia hands his crown to his chief of staff—democracy be famned—showing he’s learned a few tactics from the Chicago Machine. Ben riffs. Kina Collins talks Chuygate, why she’s running for Congress, JB, Brandon and more. Including her election predictions. Hint, Mamdani wins big. Kina is running in the Democratic primary for congress in the seventh district.

JD Vance lies about SNAP cuts. Ben riffs. Rummana Hussain says—hey, wait, what about Kamala confessing she shoulda gone on Joe Rogan’s show? Thus, a Kamala deep dive. Before we get down to the Usha/JD/Kirk triangle. Is Usha Vance the Stephen of her husband’s political career? Stephen being Samuel Jackson’s character from Django. The similarities between Bill Clinton and JD Vance. Rummana is a columnist for the Sun-Times. Her views are her own.

Hakeem Jeffries wants to squeeze another Democratic seat from Illinois. Ben riffs. Anthony Driver, Jr on why he wants to go to Congress. And how Chicago police tactics compare with ICE’s. And how his high school, named for one of the country’s greatest novelists, turned its library into a detention center. Anthony is a Democratic candidate for Congress in the 7th district and executive director of SEIU Illinois State Council. His views are his own.

A podcaster is upset cause Kat walked off her show. In the category of laughing to keep from crying, Ben riffs. Miles Kampf-Lassin details Trump’s terror campaign against America. He shuts down SNAP, obliterates health care and invades Chicago, using ICE goons to terrorize trick or treaters. ICE feasts on federal dollars while children go hungry. A “capital strike” in New York. And a little love for Mayor Johnson. Miles is editor and writer for In These Times.

You’ve heard of the Chicago 7? Now there’s a Chicago 6 as Trump’s Justice Department trumps up a case against local activists. Ben riffs. Heidi Henry returns to give a perspective on how ICE’s invasion is playing in her neck of the woods—LaSalle County. Also, Trump’s impact on farmers. The difference between corporate and family farmers. A word of warning to Dems—every step to the center is a step to the right. Heidi is one of the founders of Illinois Valley Indivisible, a horse trainer, a Heart...

Gregory Pratt—ace reporter for the Tribune and the pride and joy of Little Village—stands up for his city. Ben riffs. Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez takes a moment to express her gratitude to Chicago for its resistance. While pointing out—there is no upside to the ICE Invasion. A few words about Bad Bunny. Rossana is the alderwoman of the 33rd Ward.

Trump sends in the wrecking crew—literally. Ben riffs. David Faris talks about Trump’s attack on cities and states whose residents dared to vote for Harris. How to respond? The case for a general strike. The No Kings March. And a few words about Platner v Mills in Maine. David is a political science professor at Roosevelt university. Read his essays in The Nation. His views are his own.

Ben & Dr D spare no details in their examination of a week’s worth of news. Including…SDG and the IFT, JB and BJ, Pritzker and Trump, Benny and the Bulls, Gambling and the NBA, Rahm and Rahm and more. Stick around to discover the Doctor’s favorite movie.

MJ is back, sorta. Ben riffs. Adolfo Mondragon explicates the ICE invasion of his beloved southwest side and makes the case against calling people illegals. And not cause he’s a snowflake. Which spurs an exchange about snowflake as a weapon of destruction. Word of warning to pot heads—you’re also “illegal”. Adolfo is an attorney, who hosts Voices of the Mexican Song—every Thursday from 4-5 pm on WHPK.org

Trump seeks $230m from taxpayers as compensation for what? Leading an attempted insurrection? Ben riffs. Jim Coogan on the weaponization of the Justice Department. The fictitious weaponization—imagined by MAGA—versus the real one, led by Trump. Also, the Erez Reuveni whistleblower suit. Stephen A Smith’s false framing. And the Dirty Harry influence on due process. Jim is managing partner of Coogan Gallagher.

Houston’s Mayor John Whitmire says he knows how to deal with Boss Donnie—suck up to him. Ben riffs. And get out your paper and pencils to take notes as Ishan Daya and Julie Dworkin tell you everything you need to know about Mayor Johnson’s budget. Also a word or two about TIFs. Don’t get Ben started. Ishan and Julie are co-founders of the Institute for Public Good, a budget-analysis think tank in Chicago.

Trump erects a white-people-only sign on the USA. Ben riffs. Antonio Correa answers your MAGA questions. Why Latinos voted for Trump? What do they say about that now? Where is the don’t-tread-on-me-crowd when we need them? Do they really mean tread on them not me? What would he do if ICE came after him? Finally, how did he find his ocean waves? Antonio is a former Marine and a senior digital strategist for Heartland Signal. His views are his own.

Ben and Dr D confront a week’s worth of lunacy. Starting with…reporters giving grief to Mayor Johnson for spending property tax dollars on schools. Silly mayor, don’t you know that TIF money—which are property tax dollars— are for rich guys? Updates on the ICE invasion. Will any of the mayoral wannabes criticize Trump? Or will they pretend he doesn’t exist? And Governor Pritzker wins $1.4 million at a Vegas blackjack table. Proving, among other things, that life isn’t fair. Also, a shout out to ...

ICE invades the Southeast Side. Ben riffs. Jen Sabella on the state of journalism in the age of Trump’s invasion of Chicago. Reporters tear gassed or shot with pellets. Officials deny what you see with your own eyes. FOIA requests ignored. Basic info withheld. In short, the Trumpers make Chicago’s mayors look like paragons of transparency. America’s not free, if its press is shackled. Jen is cofounder and executive editor of Block Club.

Trump sulks cause he didn’t get the Nobel for bringing “peace” to the Middle East. Ben riffs. Monroe reconsiders his opposition to Trump in the hopes of making big bucks like Steven A. Smith. Then decides—nah, too late for that. Also…the government shutdown, racist young Republicans, Democratic strategists, and the Bears and their stadium. Monroe is a longtime journalist and truth teller.

Trump’s prosecutorial puppet prosecutes Leticia James. Ben riffs. David Faris runs down the stages of autocracy. We’re currently in the competitive authoritarianism phase. Thanks in part to John Roberts and his Supremes. Imagine a president named, oh, Pritzker behaving like Trump. The Gaza truce. David is a professor of political science at Roosevelt University and a columnist for Newsweek and The Nation.