Chomsky’s wisdom helps explain America’s illogical take on immigration and deportations. Ben riffs. Marc Sims explains everything all at once. Including…why Americans are so illogical about crime, immigrants, Trump’s behavior and deportations. A shout out to Atlanta. Why are Chicagoans so unfriendly? And more. Marc is a podcaster in Chicago.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Bari Weiss hits the jackpot, showing millennials how to play the game. Ben riffs. Laurie Glenn contemplates the ability of people to find a justification to embrace policies and politicians they once abhorred. Also, the Democrats and their governmental shutdown strategy, or lack thereof. How about that kid in Texas? That is—State Senator James Talarico. A great debate about Mayor Johnson. Laurie is a political consultant and strategist.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Sun-Times shows much love for Alderman Marty Quinn. Ben riffs. Mark Whitaker talks about his new book, The Afterlife of Malcolm X. Which is about what the title says—how the legacy of Malcolm X lives even 60 years after his assassination. So much to discuss so little time. Why is Malcolm as relevant today as he was when he was alive? Was the FBI complicit in his murder? Why did it take so long for two men wrongfully convicted of murdering Malcolm to get exonerated? Why didn’t America care about who killed Malcolm, even as he was revered as an icon? And more…including, Mark’s riffs on Alex Haley, Dr King and Spike Lee. Mark is the former editor of Newsweek and a contributor to CBS Sunday morning.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The New York Times fact checker bends over backwards to avoid calling Trump’s lie a lie. Ben riffs. Trump is so autocratically demented, it takes two journalistic legends to explain it all. Jack White joins Monroe to break down everything from the memorial speech to the Tylenol denunciation to the broken United Nations elevator to Kimmel’s stance. And more…See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dave Portnoy, who made his name being politically incorrect, says Jimmy Kimmel went too far. Ben riffs. Holly Kim explains why she’s running for state comptroller. And what she will do if she wins. Get ready for the TIF debate. Holly Kim is treasurer of Lake County, See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dems start to realize they have to get out of their comfort zone to take back the country. Ben riffs. Kevin Lamm explains how it can be done. What are the issues that rally red district voters? What's the lesson from Catelin Drey and Debra Shigley? How they apply to the 16th congressional district in Illinois--one of the reddest districts in the country. Kevin is a candidate for state Democratic Committeeman in the 16th. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Joe Rogan finally weighs in on Jimmy Kimmel and free speech. Ben riffs. Kat Abughazaleh talks about getting thrown to the ground by ICE thugs. If you think it’s bad outside an ICE facility, imagine the horror of what goes on inside where it can’t be seen. How to confront fascism? Hint—don’t take bad-faith arguments in good faith. Speaking of bad-faith arguments, Trump on Tylenol. Kat is running in the Democratic primary for Congress in 9th congressional district. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Ben and Dr D have so much to discuss and so little time in which to discuss it. Starting with Brendan Reilly going a little MAGA to try to beat Toni Preckwinkle. Is a little MAGA like a little pregnant? And Chicago is going to the dogs—if Lincoln Park gets its way. And Raja wins big in Rock Island. And Juliana says she doesn’t need corporate pac money cause she has JB’s money. Well, she didn’t say the last part. And Robin talks gun control. And DB makes it official. He’s running for governor again and this time he promises to be nice to Chicago. We shall see. Anything else? Oh, yes—Ben buys a chocolate-colored tux! For real…See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Have we finally, at long last, reached the beginning of the end of the MAGA craze, when America says, you know, maybe it's not a good idea to let a demented authoritarian run the country. With Trump playing the role of Senator McCarthy and Jimmy Kimmel playing the role of Edward R. Murrow? Ben riffs. Congresswoman Robin Kelly explains why she thinks progressives should vote for her in the Democratic primary to replace Senator Durbin. Also, Robin's take on the congressional leadership of Congressman Hakeem Jeffries and Senator Charles Schumer. And her position on gun laws and health care. And her thoughts about Trump--and more. Robin Kelly is the congresswoman for the second congressional district and a candidate for U.S. Senate.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Mayor Johnson's political enemies take a poll and guess what? It discovers that nobody likes Mayor Johnson. Funny how that works. Ben riffs. Asha Ransby-Sporn makes her debut, discussing how the mayor's opponents work the press against the mayor. It doesn't hurt that the mainstream press is more than happy to go along for the ride. Get ready for lots of local political conversation--as well as some national talk. Cause Ben can't help himself. Asha is a writer, activist and political strategist whose organizing work helped elect Mayor Johnson.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Breaking news! As the recording starts, word arrives that a judge has dismissed Trump's $15 billion defamation suit against the New York Times. Ben riffs. Denali takes the long view--to understand what Trump is doing as president today, you need to go back in time to the Biden years, when MAGA was preparing to seize control. So she takes the deep dive on a particularly ugly campaign waged in Georgian by white moms against a Black educator. That leads to the question--what do people mean when they say "just a mom"? A few words about Kirk, Kamala and other things. Denali is an activist in Chicago.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The week’s news gets personal for Ben and Dr D, as you shall see. But first! A roundup of the week’s events, including Aurora and the flag, Kevin Ryan’s plea, JB in London, and then…Ice comes to Dr D’s neighborhood. And one woman’s courageous stand.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Turns out there are divisions in MAGA—who knew? Ben riffs. Mayor John Laesch explains what's going on in Aurora. Specifically... why he ordered flags flown at full mast after Trump ordered all flags everywhere lowered to half-mast to commemorate Charlie Kirk. Turns out Trump isn’t the absolute Boss of everything everywhere—though he thinks he is. John is the mayor of Aurora..See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Trump sues the New York Times for defamation. Ben riffs. Kevin Ryan talks about his long-shot campaign for the U.S. Senate. He’s a 33-year-old southwest side, Marine vet, public school history teacher, bartender, self described New Deal Democrat who wants to take money out of politics so billionaires don’t control the process. And what’s so wrong with that? Kevin’s taking his case to the voters, driving from one end of Illinois to the other—MAGA counties included—in a converted school bus inscribed with quotes from great thinkers, like Dr King.. All the experts scoff he can’t win. Here’s why you might want to vote for him anyway. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In the spirit of peace and reconciliation, Ben gives a shoutout to a Tribune editorial. “If Americans cannot speak without fear of being shot, then democracy is dead.” David Faris talks about Charlie Kirk’s legacy. Was he the Jordan Klepper of the right? A modern day William F Buckley? A descendent of Joe McCarthy? Is being open minded a sign of political weakness? Do militants on the right believe in free speech for all? Or just for themselves? And more, including a few words about Ezra Klein…See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Ben and Dr D have so much to discuss. The Sky. The Jackal’s Mistress. What movie made Dennis cry? Hint—it starts with an R but it’s not Rocky. Brendan takes on Toni. Meet Scotty G, the Antioch Republican. Not to be confused with Teddy D, the Wilmette Republican. Why DB will beat them both to win the Republican nomination to face JB. Also, could Kevin Ryan be Ben’s Daiber? Finally, a shoutout to Kenny D’s shoutout to the late Bruce Dumont. It took a conservative Republican to put an anti-Daley leftie on the mic.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
MAGA ties itself into knots trying to dislodge Trump from Epsteingate. Ben riffs Monroe talks Epstein, Biden, Kamala and Roger Taney. Who? He’s the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who wrote the opinion that slavery is legal. Is the current Supreme Court worse? Monroe advances that argument. How For the Love of Money by the O’Jays is misunderstood. And why its theme applies to the Bears. In the middle of our recording, word breaks from Utah that Charlie Kirk has been shot. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Supremes say its okay to round up people for no crime other than the crime of being Hispanic, which is no crime at all. Ben riffs. Then Natalie Hopkinson connects the dots, so to speak. How Trump manipulates our stereotypes and prejudices to scare people into cheering or at least tolerating authoritarianism. And how the media helps him, frightening white America with sensational images of Black people. Also, the parallels between Smollettgate and Big Balls' story. Funny, Trump didn't send the guard to Chicago after Jussie said he was mugged by white guys in MAGA hats. A few words about Trump as an FBI informant. And Mayor Bowser's predicament. Natalie is an associate professor of Media, Democracy and Society at American University.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dennis decided to start collecting comedy albums and Ben was kind enough to join him to talk all about it. It’s the first episode of I Find That Funny. Stick around for Marlon—one of Dennis’s oldest friends—to make his debut.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Clever investors devise a scheme to make money off of tariffs--oh, those capitalists. Ben riffs. Meredith Shiner picks up where she left off with her latest essay in The New Republic--Trump's war on cities. Especially D.C. You know, real people live in D.C. As always Dems left their most dedicated voters hanging by allowing the District to be used as a bargaining chip. A few words about MAGA's hatred of government. And Chicago as an avatar. Meredith writes for The New Republic. She covered Capitol Hill for years.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Alex LaBee
hi, I'm very concerned that IDOT will rebuild an expressway along the lake instead of a world class park with world class public transit. can y'all have an episode on that? Senator Mike Simmons and Kam Buckner are currently working on it. it'd be great to shed some light on this process of modern day expressway building in Chicago.
Alex LaBee
hi y'all, I think the perception that electric bikes, skateboards,unicycles as being similar to cars is wrong. ebikes require a lot less resources to make and are substantially lighter then electric cars. electric cars are super heavy and go super fast. when you consider a car going 40mph has a 90% chance of killing someone vs 20mph being 10% the issue is obvious. we need to transition away from cars and more into mass transit and bike Infastructure. an ebike is a valid form of commuting and transportation! what is a city without safe efficient transportation. cars just cause problems 😵💫
Alex LaBee
you guys should interview the mayoral candidate/Chicago state rep Kam Buckner! he's got a good campaign going! would love to hear an experienced Chicago journalist do an interview with him!!!
Alex LaBee
wow, I had no idea there was a plan for a nature conservancy where the casino is going. what is wrong with these people? it's just heartless, shortsighted and cold. casino over a genuine piece of beauty and more than likely a more sustainable source of revenue for the community. what an atrocity.
Alex LaBee
I disagree, I'd say most people would want more prairie. the # of people with ambition and power who don't probably outnumber those who want to preserve it though.