Episodes

MAGA weighs in on bombing boats and killing people in the Caribbean. Ben riffs. Sarah Bingaman—Western Illinois’s voice of the people—returns to describe the challenge of building a Democratic base in rural Illinois. You have to listen to people. Don’t be needlessly argumentative. You’d be surprised by what you have in common. And for goodness sakes, don’t assume you will lose—you can win! Sarah is a political activist in Lee County.

A NYT headline about Obamacare is absurd even by NYT standards. Ben riffs. David Faris defends the voters, sorta. As he covers Trump’s gas guzzling energy policy and Trump’s get rid of healthcare policy. Also, a few words about Hegseth, Fox News and what’s it gonna take to win an election. David is a political science professor at Roosevelt University and a columnist for The Nation. His views are his own.

Ben & Dr D decide it’s time to tell you what you need to know. Including…what gas station in Springfield squeezes the most money from the suckers who play video gambling. Hint…it’s not Quick ‘n Easy. There’s got to be a better way to fund government. On to Chicago…a crew of Mayor Rahm flunkies try to scare voters against Mayor Johnson by invoking the name of Byron Sigcho Lopez. Apparently, Mamdani’s name was taken. And Toni Preckwinkle releases a poll.

Want Boss Donnie to do whatever you want him to do? It’s easy. Just call him—Your excellency. Ben riffs. Laurie Glenn does not hold back—extended riffs on this age of hate and madness and the need to stand strong. Hear that, Dems? On a personal note—her 30-year fight against cancer. There is no courage without fear. And all power to Jewish girls with long, curly hair. Laurie is a political activist and strategist and CEO of Thinkinc.

The “reformers” tag team with the Bright One to keep TIF money out of our schools. Ben riffs. Mueze Bawany delivers his takes on Mayors Mamdani and Johnson. Why Trump likes one but not the other. Hint…it’s cause one is a “model minority” and the other is not. Trump’s anti-Blackness. A close-out riff on the Bears, including a bold prediction for Sunday’s Packers game. Mueze is an activist, high school teacher, football coach and proud union man. As in the CTU.

It’s one battle after another in the fight against fascism. Ben riffs. Paul Nolley talks about running for Congress against MAGA man Darrin LaHood. The issues are jobs, health care and SNAP. Just like in Chicago. It’s time Dems stop conceding rural voters to MAGA. Paul is the Democratic candidate for Congress in the 16th district.

Bubba and Donnie share Epstein’s love. Ben riffs. Joshua Smyser-De Leon talks everything Bad Bunny. Who he is. Why he’s great. His role in Puerto Rican politics. Where he fits on the Mt Rushmore of Puerto Rican musicians. And why his selection as the Super Bowl halftime performer blows MAGA’s collective little brain. Joshua hosts The Paseo Podcast.

The Trump administration tries to figure out its stance on whether swastikas are bad. Ben riffs. Pat Whalen explains how everything in contemporary politics is like a scene from One Battle After Another. Oh, yes—Happy Thanksgiving, everybody! And thank you Paul Thomas Anderson for directing and writing such a great movie. Ben and Pat geek out over their favorite scenes. Finally, what to do if your Uncle MAGA shows up at your turkey day table, spouting nonsense like Stephen A Smith. Pat is a come...

A Thanksgiving thanks, Chicago for standing strong. Ben riffs Michael Horton returns to talk about growing up around Cabrini and playing and coaching basketball and confronting and overcoming demons. No pun intended. Skeet’s is a CPS high school guidance counselor and basketball coach and author of Hoop ‘til It Hurts, his newly published book.

The country that elected Trump also elected Obama—how is that possible? Ben riffs. Denali Dasgupta adds her thoughts. “We don’t live there anymore.” The there in that sentence being America in the age of Obama. Denali tells you what you need to know about Trump’s $2,000 health care scam. Ben tells the story of how Studs Terkel got kicked out of a Chicago public library. And a Thanksgiving shoutout to everyone on the Group W Bench—love you, Arlo!

What’s the news across the nation? Ben and Dr D offer this…Congress rebukes Chuy, Brad Schneider weighs in, El Dragon breaks the Bubbagate story and Governor Pritzker has a busy week, dropping $25M on his re-election campaign, throwing Mayor Johnson’s head tax under a bus and hanging with the pope. Shoulda given him a “Not even the pope can save the Sox” T-shirt, JB.

If you can overlook the pain and cruelty Trump’s inflicting on the people he hates, life in MAGA America is absurdly, darkly and perversely funny. Sorta. Ben riffs. And Monroe Anderson—America’s foremost authority on white people—helps Ben make sense of Epsteingate. Good luck with that.

The city council makes its big stand defending rich people. Sigh. Ben riffs. Miguel Alvelo-Rivera explains why he’s running for state representative, why we need progressive taxation and why he still has faith in the people. And Ben explains why he, Ben, is not cynical even though so many people say he is. Stick around for Miguel’s exposition on Boricua en la Luna by Juan Antonio Corretjer—song by Ray Brown. Miguel is running for state rep in the 40th district on Chicago’s northwest side.

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.