The Ben Joravsky Show

When Trae Crowder met JD Vance it was the early days of Trump. And JD came across as a relatively sane moderate who thought Trump was awful. As any normal person would. Then Vance obviously concluded to get along you gotta…well, let Trae tell you everything you need to know about the deal that Vance, now Trump’s running mate, must have made with the MAGA devil. Trae is a comedian known as the Libe...

Sergio Vicente explains why MAGA hates Imane Khelif, the Algerian boxer who just won the gold medal. Basically, they don’t like strong women. Speaking of strong women—a word or two about Kamala. And some advice for his beloved left. Sergio hosts The Fight, the world’s greatest combat sport podcast. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/p...

Rummana Hussain asks what it says about American politics for everyone to assume that Vice President Harris must select a white male running mate. Also, a few words about the insistence of a New York Times liberal columnist that women not be excited to elect a woman president. Why are liberals so scared to be liberals? And more. Rummana is an editorial writer and columnist for the Sun-Times. Her v...

Fifty years ago today, President Nixon resigned. Ben riffs. Steve Krafft gives the state of the state of Arizona and the country post Biden stepping down. A different world. Other topics include…The difference between Republicans and MAGA. The pressures on FOX TV to call the election for Trump. Baby Bobby voters. What’s wrong with local TV news. And a word about disco. Steve was a longtime TV repo...

In a moment of uncharacteristic giddiness, Ben likens Cole Hocker’s come-from-behind win in the Olympics 1500 meter race to what Kamala will do to Trump come November. Litesa Wallace explains why she’s not as optimistic. Speaking from personal experience from her days in the Illinois legislature, Litesa analyses MAGA’s hatred for feeding school children. Also, a few words about who Litesa wanted K...

Tim Walz makes his debut. But Ben's still fixated on some insane tweet from Trump. Does this bode well for MAGA? Monroe weighs in from an undisclosed hangout. He's talking Kamala, Walz, Shapiro, Trump and the inside story of what happened last week with Trump at the National Association of Black Journalists. Also, does Monroe agree with the gloom-and-doom crowd? See Privacy Policy at https://art19...

Gregory Pratt talks mayors. In particular…is everyone from the CTU to corporate Chicago treating Mayor Johnson differently than his predecessors? Duh. Well then—how? Also, Greg compares Mayor Lightfoot to President Biden. Greg is a political reporter for the Chicago Tribune and author of the book: The City is Up For Grabs. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Noti...

Four years ago, Toni Oh came on this show to explain why he, a decorated Marine, did not stand for the national anthem. It's one of our most popular episodes. Now he explains why and how he's changed his attitude about standing for the anthem. And why he's sick and tired of MAGA cultists claiming that they're the real patriots. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy...

Alderwoman Nicole Lee talks all things politics, including...the Asian-American community in the USA is not a monolith. Something the Dems need to understand as they move forward. Also, why she endorsed Kamala Harris before just about any other Illinois Democrat. And a word or two or three about the White Sox stadium. Nicole is, after all, the alderwoman of the 11th ward which is where the current...

David Faris examines the state of MAGA. Are they losing their minds or is this a carefully choreographed political strategy designed to win the election? Case in point...Trump's declaration that Kamala Harris was Indian before she was Black. If it's a strategy--as opposed to deranged racism--it's probably bound to fail. David explains why. David Faris is a political science professor at Roosevelt...

Governor Pritzker makes his move to convince Kamala to select him as VP. Ben riffs. Pat Whalen riffs on Ben's riff. Then they're off, covering everything from MAGA disarray to Trump's racism to who Kamala should select as VP. Ben's answer to the that is--anyone but Shapiro. Pat's answer is...oh, just listen, lazies. Also, why Ben wishes Shannon Sharpe or Stephen A. Smith or Monica McNutt was on th...

Trump comes to Chicago to speak to Black journalists. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson talks about MAGA’s attacks on journalism, Black journalists in particular and Black America in general. Having said all this—should the National Association of Black Journalists invited him to speak to their convention? Also, a few words about weird versus dangerous. And white dudes for Harris. See Privacy Policy at h...

Illinois MAGA discovers the CTU has appealed its property tax assessment. Ben riffs. Nicole Cantello briefly riffs on Ben’s riff. Then she explains what Trump wants to do to federal employees. And that is—fire them and replace them with MAGA flunkies. Time to learn about Schedule F, folks. Nicole is president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 704. In Ben’s world, they’re kno...

With the Freak Show having just ended, Meredith Shiner turns her attention to the shit show that’s ongoing. That is, MAGA’s twisted cult-like convention is over while the Dems frantic efforts to convince President Biden to step down continues. Meredith is a communications consultant and longtime Washington DC political reporter. It's fun to listen to what the world was like--just ten days ago. See...

The mainstreams give JB credit for a mega-south side project—Mayor Who? Ben riffs. Jasmine Wright talks about returning to her hometown to write a feature on Mayor Johnson. She also takes the deep dive on Vice President Harris, who she covered for years at CNN. Jasmine is a politics reporter for NOTUS. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.c...

Kamala calls JB re V.P. Ben riffs. Marc Sims talks Kamala, Black Trumpers, identity politics, conspiracy theories, crime, self hate and more. Marc hosts the podcast Just A Few Questions. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Elon Musk says he's not really giving $45 million a month to Trump. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson explains Musk to Ben. Also explains Alderman Bill Conway and JD Vance and Lincoln Park liberals and Nikki Haley and Haley for Harris and few other things. Also, an I told you so about Kamala Harris replacing Biden. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://a...

Tom Near is a professor of Evolutionary Biology at Yale University—and the chair of the department. But back in the 1980s, he was a gang member in a rough-and-tumble neighborhood near Diversey and Clybourn on the North Side. Yes, kiddies—there was a time before gentrification on the North Side. Tom talks about how he and the neighborhood changed. His views and opinions are his own. See Privacy Pol...

Maya Goldberg-Safir and Alissa Hirsh talk all things WNBA, including…the difference between men and women as sports fans. Male fragility in the press box. And where the league is going. Maya blogs about the Sky. And Alissa covers the Sky for The Next. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Rummana Hussain explains Usha Vance's role in the Trump/Vance campaign. That is--she's using her background as an Indian-American woman to convince voters her husband, Senator JD Vance, is not a racist even if he's running with Trump. Good luck with that. Also, the roles of spouses in the campaigns of their spouses. Don't get Ben started on Bill Clinton and Hillary.. Rummana is an editorial writer...

With all eyes on the presidential race, Ben shifts his attention back to Chicago. At least for today. Brendan joins Ben to talk…Musical committee chairs in the council. Why do some alders hate on Byron Sigcho Lopez? What does the zoning committee chair do and why do we need a mayoral ally to do it? Aldermanic privilege— myth or reality? And the showdown between Mayor Johnson and his school board....

Gotta give JD Vance credit—he’s a great apple polisher. Ben riffs. Jim Coogan riffs on Ben’s riff. Meet Peter Thiel. On other topics… Is a case of COVID President Biden’s exit excuse? Jim explains how the MAGA Supremes teamed up with Judge Cannon to enable Trump to avoid trials until after the election, if he faces trials at all. Jim is a trial lawyer and host of the podcast, Coogan Knows The Law....

Alderman David Moore camps out in a tent in his ward as a tactic to fight violence. Ben riffs. And Alderman Moore explains what he’s doing with that tent and why. Also, he talks ShotSpotter and his defer-and-publish showdown with Alderman Daniel La Spata. And he offers a parable about the Lion, the Jackass and blue grass that’s especially relevant for Chicagoans. Plus, much more. See Privacy Polic...

Mueze Bawany takes on all the issues. Talking…Biden and Dems. Fascism and Trump. Bears on the eve of the season. Men and women as basketball fans. And Ben’s beloved Bulls. A high school football coach and unapologetic lefty, Mueze is Chicago’s foremost authority on football. Aside from his inexplicable attraction to the Knicks, he also knows a thing or two about basketball. See Privacy Policy at h...

David Faris spares no details pointing out the ripple effect if Trump beats Biden in a landslide—the White House, House and Senate. And the Supreme Court, which MAGA already controls. In short, Trump’s coattails. David is a political science professor at Roosevelt University and a columnist for Slate and Newsweek. His views are his own. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Californi...