The Ben Joravsky Show

Trump says: “Let them take out Los Angeles; let them take out San Diego.” Ben riffs. Monroe explains the essence of mainstream journalism as it’s practiced in America. “News is what’s happening in an editors backyard.”Also, Monroe sticks to his election predictions. 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 much on their mind. Starting with…the Hegseth firing squad. The senate debates in Michigan, Georgia and Maine. Will the wave be blue? And the latest in the Chicago Mayoral Race. Hello, Phoenix and Atlanta! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Colorado must choose between funding schools or allowing climate-change fires to ravage the state. Ben riffs. Maya returns! Which means the Injustice Watch voters guide to judges is out. Maya explains the choices voters will have in November’s judicial retention elections in Cook County. And she talks about her experiences covering domestic relations court. Also, what makes a good judge. Maya...

President Obama endorse El Sayed—finally. Ben riffs. Mick returns to talk Michigan politics and Chicago parking meters. Two of his—and Ben’s—favorite subjects. Mick is an editor/reporter for Block Club. And, among other things—Rummana Hussain’s husband. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Ben has an existential crisis—for once he may see eye to eye with a majority of voters. David Faris explains the situation. With just a few weeks before the elections, Dems are winning. And here’s why. David is a political science professor at Roosevelt University and a columnist for The Nation. His views are his own.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Not...

The Sox move on, the Cubs go home and Ben riffs about tribalism in Chicago. Ishan Daya and Jimmy Rothschild talk about the Institute for Public Good’s report on donations to mayoral candidates. Sure looks like the old Daley/Rahm band is getting back together for Alexi G. Ishan is policy organizer for the Institute for Public Good. And Jimmy is an organizer for the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs....

Looks like MAGA’s still making it up as they roll along, as they accuse jack Smith of perjury. Ben riffs. Rummana Hussain catches us up on everything. Including Trump, El Sayed, Mayor Rahm, and Mamdani. Ben admits Rummana was right. Rummana is a columnist for the Sun-Times. Her views are her own. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/pri...

Twenty-nine aldermen take a stand against themselves. Say what? Ben riffs. Sarah Tang explains “categorical exclusion”—a policy weaponized by Trump to allow developers to do what they want without oversight. In this case, moving a railroad maintenance facility to Bridgeport, so a billionaire can build a new Sox stadium in the vacated land. Sarah is director for programs for the Coalition for a Bet...

Bridgeport residents are refreshingly unafraid to say what they think about the proposal to replace Sox Park with a railroad maintenance facility. Ben riffs. Miles takes the deep dive on the high-tech fascists who want to end democracy and replace us with robots. Also, the difference between Trump and Vance. Miles is an editor/writer for In These Times. Do yourself a favor and read his latest essa...

Forty percent of voters still trust Trump on the economy even though the man’s clearly lost his mind. Ben riffs. Miranda Spivack makes her debut! A decorated investigative journalist, she talks about the secrets the government keeps from you about things they should be telling you. Like…chemicals in the drinking water. It’s government by NDA. It’s all in her latest book—Backroom Deals In Our...

One of the more obscure mayoral candidates concocts a clever idea to win—bump Alexi G off the ballot for running for two offices at once. Ben riffs. The great guitar player Mike Allemana returns to talk jazz! He takes the Allemana Challenge. In this case, involving Charles Earland, Miles Davis and Aretha Franklin. Will Ben stump him again? Mike will be playing with Chico Freeman at the Jazz Showca...

Anthropic warns the world that their product may destroy civilization as we know it—while racing to raise the billions needed for their I.P.O. Ben riffs. Daniel Biss takes us from A to Z on AI. Much of which is frightening. Also, what government can do about it, even when the president declares our concerns are a hoax. Daniel is the mayor of Evanston and the Democratic candidate for congress in th...

Want to know how much white northwest siders hate Mayor Johnson—just read one alderwoman’s campaign flyer. Ben riffs. Denali returns, talking trauma. How she survived a plane hijacking. Living through 9/11. The myth of 9/11 versus the reality. And the trauma of Furious. Why there’s an important distinction between the vigilantism of Furious and Dirty Harry. Denali is a researcher and former alderm...

Ben & Dr D welcome Atlanta and Phoenix to the fold. What’s up, Dominique & Tom Chambers! Then it’s down to business. As they plunge into a week’s worth of news. Including…Trump endorses DB. DB says—Donny who? To which JB says—“Donny Trump, DB. You know, the hugely unpopular president you adore. Don’t act like you don’t know him.” Also, Mayor Johnson announces—finally. And more. See Privacy...

Ben confronts, sorta, a grumpy old, white guy at the Jazz Festival. Oh, Chicago, why must you be the way you are? Meet Debby Pope, candidate for school board in district 2B on the north side. Think Bernie Sanders running for school board. Hear about her journey from Erasmus High School—in Brooklyn—to Chicago, where she was a public school teacher for many years. See Privacy Policy at https://art19...

In the category of—wow, that’s some really serious passive aggressive behavior, Congressman Bost blows Darren Bailey’s cover. Ben riffs. Alderwoman Nicole Lee tells you everything you need to know about the monstrosity of a proposal that would put a rail yard in Bridgeport and build a new Sox stadium in the west loop. One of the dumbest ideas since the parking meter deal. Speaking of which—Nicole...

The Hulu show Furious is Dirty Harry for liberal millennials. Ben riffs. David talks Furious, oligarchs, AI, MAGA’s midterm convention, Trump’s ongoing insanity, and the state of John Fetterman. Also, Trump’s latest promise to give us money. David is a political science professor at Roosevelt University and a columnist for The Nation. His views are his own.  See Privacy Policy at https://art1...

With another Bears season upon us, Ben makes a pledge—if the Bears move to Indiana, he will call them the Hammond Bears. Forever and a day. Tim Shaer talks Bears and brings Ben back to earth—they ‘re aren’t moving to Hammond, people. But first, they get sidetracked on a tangent about Jerry Krause. Yes, two Boomers talking ancient sports history. Stick around for the great White Sox stadium debate....

Mayor Mamdani has a unique strategy for dealing with the legacy media—he bypasses them. Ben riffs. Hilario Dominguez makes his debut, explaining why he’s running for school board president and his position on everything from school closings to school lunches to TIFs and dealing with powerful mayors. Hilario is a former special ed teacher, CTU political director and proud graduate of Whitney Young...

Untold billions in dark money is funding MAGA efforts to hold on to the Senate. Ben riffs. Jessica Biggs makes her debut. Talking about her candidacy for school board president. How she was punished by Mayor Rahm’s school flunkies for daring to speak out for clean schools. And the need to be independent of the mayor—even an all powerful one like Daley or Rahm—on TIFs. Also, a few words about chart...

Caleb & Caleb & PCA, it’s magic time in Chicago sports. Unrivaled since, dare I say, 1984. Ben riffs. Miles Porter takes the deep dive on the Cubs and Sox as they head into the final days of the regular season. The good news is they’re doing better than anyone expected. The bad news is—well, let’s not think about the bad news. Miles co-hosts the baseball podcast, Blue Line Radio. See Priva...

One week before Mayor Johnson announced he’s running, Ben’s source tells him he’s running. Yes, Ben has a source. Ben riffs. Podcaster Marc Sims explains all. Including…why so many white people just can’t bring themselves to vote for Mayor Johnson. And what Abdul El-Sayad needs to do to win the Black vote. And what is the Democratic Establishment. And why do fools fall in love. Ok, maybe he has no...

Ben and Dr D have all the news, including…Charles Barkley tells the truth about Democrats. Capitalists love socialism. JB’s epic bus ride. And Mayor Johnson announces he’ll make an announcement—next week. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

When it comes to Mayor Johnson, falling crime doesn’t appear to matter to white liberals. Ben riffs. Monroe adds his two cents. From there they talk Hoosier Republicans and Hammond Bears and who’s to blame for no power in Gary. Also, the great debate on Jewish and Black MAGA. Finally, Monroe’s fearless predictions on Democratic victories in Florida, Texas and Kansas. Yes, Kansas. Talk about b...

Vance throws a hissy fit over Abdul El-Sayed. Ben riffs. Dr Thaer Ahmad returns to talk about, among other things, the documentary, American Doctor. It tells the story of three courageous U. S. doctors who go to Gaza to treat the wounded. One is Thaer—now the Israelis won’t let him return. The conversation turns to politics. So much has changed in American attitudes toward Israel and Palestine in...