The Ben Joravsky Show

No sooner does one campaign end, then another one starts. In this case Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez had no sooner defeated the Iris Martinez/Richard Mell Machine, then the new Machine had started a campaign against her ally Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez. Rossana talks about both campaigns. She is the alderwoman and Democratic committeewoman of the 33rd ward. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/p...

Rummana Hussain and Ben talk flag burning in Chicago. Why is Alderman Sigcho-Lopez being punished for something he didn’t do? And a few words about Nickelodeon. Rummana is an editorial writer/columnist for the Sun-Times. Her views and opinions are her own. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Steve Krafft explains the the bizarre devolution of Kari Lake, the TV anchor he worked with for years in Arizona. She’s gone full MAGA and is running for senate in Arizona. Desperately trying to win some moderate independents and moderate Republicans, like the McCains. Also a few words on the ethics of hiring paid consultants. Steve covered politics in Arizona for over 20 years. See Privacy Policy...

Atiba and Ben cover it all…flag burnings, migrant gaslighting, Trump selling bibles, homelessness, and why Atiba retains a Monroe like confidence in a Biden victory. Atiba Buchanan is the host of The Afternoon Show, a political talk show on WVON. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Loss aversion is in the news. Ben riffs. Former Governor Pat Quinn talks about his proposal to ask Chicago voters if they want to fork over billions in tax dollars to the Sox and Bears. Speaking of losses you’ll want to avert. Pat also answers the “Frank question” and admits that Ben was right and he was wrong about Mayor Daley’s Olympics. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Califo...

Former Governor Pat Quinn thinks the public should have a say on handouts for Bears and Sox. Ben riffs. Then Monroe Anderson riffs. From there they talk Alabama special election, MAGA craziness in North Carolina, Ronna McDaniel and more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Mick Dumke tells the story of Fred Mitchell, who moved to Chicago from the south in the 1930s. He first joined and then took on the Daley Machine (that’s the real Mayor Daley, Richard J). Mitchell fought against segregation, police brutality, redlining and plantation politics. He died recently at the age of 93. Mick’s profile of him ran in Block Club, where Mick is an editor and writer. See Privac...

Governor Pritzker comments on proposed Sox handout. Ben riffs. Alder Nicole Lee talks all things Sox stadium. Including…whether taxpayers can afford to subsidize Sox and Bears. How 78 impacts her ward. What to do with Sox park if Sox leave. Why we shouldn’t hate the players but the game. Say what? And a few words about her ceasefire vote. Nicole is the alderwoman of the 11th ward in Bridgeport. Ho...

Graciela Guzmán explains how she defeated the incumbent in last Tuesday's Democratic primary. Even though the incumbent had more campaign money. Some helpful advice for other lefty hopefuls. Graciela is now the Democratic nominee from the 20th senate district on the city’s northwest side. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-...

It was Election Week in Illinois. Though you’d hardly know it as relatively few people voted. Rachel Hinton and Ben break down the results. Including…tough night for Iris Martinez and helping the homeless. Though those two things are unrelated. What do results in the state’s attorneys race say about attitudes towards law and order. Also, the police arbitration case and the Democratic Convention pr...

Voter turnout for yesterday’s primary in Chicago was around 20 percent. Pathetic. Ben and Monroe don’t know whether to laugh, cry, cuss out the voters or all of the above. Monroe explains why the mainstream media enjoys bashing Mayor Johnson, and then it’s on to Trump and his anti-Jewish rhetoric. Also, shoutout to senator Schumer. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Pri...

It’s Election Day, but everyone wants to talk about Justin Fields being traded. Ben riffs. Tom Shaer exhorts Chicagoans to learn to read between the lines of news stories in general and about the Bears lakefront stadium plans in particular. He believes the Bears still want to build a stadium in Arlington Heights. Ben and Tom gently spar a bit over politics before agreeing on this—Trump’s got to go...

A Cook County Judge bounced Trump from the Illinois ballot. Ben riffs. State Rep Kelly Cassidy talks about MAGA trolls. They wanted to scare her from endorsing Clayton Harris for state’s attorney. It didn’t work. She explains why she proudly endorsed Harris. Also, should Sox and Bears get a handout? Short answer—NO! Longer answer—Hell, no—and here’s why. Also, the impact of Alabama’s anti-IVF ruli...

One day before the bears traded Justin Fields, Mueze Bawany explained why it’s a really dumb idea to trade Justin Fields. And why it’s just one more reason the Bears should not get a handout for their proposed stadium—wherever they build. Mueze is a high school football coach and one of the city’s foremost authorities on all things football. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Cali...

Rummana Hussain and Ben catch up on…President Biden and Muslim and Arab-American voters. Director Jonathan Glazer’s acceptance speech at the Oscars. The wimpy spouse in movies. And more…Rummana is a Sun-Times editorial writer and columnist. Her views are her own. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

So much breaking news, so little time. Ben and Mark Wallace get right at it. Starting with…Fani Willis ruling in Georgia. Real estate settlement on broker fees. Bring Homs Chicago. The U.S Supreme Court’s gift to Trump. And the Illinois Supreme Court’s gift to Ed Burke. Mark is a Podcaster, activist and businessman. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at h...

Jim Coogan dissects the $355 million ruling in New York City against Trump for business fraud. Who’s the victim, what was the crime. What Trump hopes to accomplish by attacking the judge. Then it’s on to the Stormy Daniels hush money case. AKA, Michael Cohen’s revenge. Jim is a trial lawyer in Chicago and host of the podcast, Coogan Knows the Law. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy an...

The Civic Federation weighs in on Bring Chicago Home. Ben riffs. Alderman Matt Martin returns to talk the issues. Everything from Bring Chicago Home to TIFs to Mayor Johnson’s affordable housing proposal to Sox and Bears stadiums to dealing with crime. Matt is alderman of the 47th ward. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-no...

The Sox look for TIF money. Ben riffs. Miles Kampf-Lassin explains the war on unions being waged by Amazon, Trader Joe’s, Musk and other powerful interests. They’re suing to dismantle the NLRB. In essence, repealing the New Deal. Also, the Teamsters play footsie with Trump, Miles is a writer/editor for In These Times. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at...

The Hyde Park Herald has a scoop—interviewing William Baude, the conservative U of C law professor who figured out that Trump was ineligible to run for prez cause he’s an insurrectionist. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson offers his theory about why the Illinois Supremes recused themselves on Burke, demonstrating that Monroe is he even more cynical than Ben. After last week’s state of the union speech, M...

In 1992, a Republican challenged stood up for abortion rights. Yes, you read that right. A pro-choice Republican challenged a Right Winger in a Republican primary. And won! Okay, it took two tries after the first election ended in a tie. Yes, you read that right, too. See, what happened is…oh, just listen to Patrick Wohl tell the story of Rosemary Mulligan versus Penny Pullen. Patrick wrote the bo...

Steve Krafft returns with the view from Arizona and the border. Kari Lake, Kyrsten Sinema, Ruben Gallego and the hypocrisy of Arizonans who rely on undocumented while contending there is a crisis, and a great debate with Ben about open borders. Also, a sense that Biden will prevail. Steve is a retired TV news reporter who spent years covering Arizona politics. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.c...

Joyce Owens died last week. She was a brilliant artist, loving mother and wife, political junkie, and fabulous conversationalist. And Monroe’s wife for almost 40 years. Monroe pays tribute to Joyce. And then in her honor—cause that’s what she would have wanted—talks some politics. Rest in peace, Joyce. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.c...

Speaker Chris Welch is supporting an opponent to longtime south side state representative Mary Flowers, who’s been in office since 1985. Rep Flowers tells her side of the story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Super Tuesday has come and gone and David Faris asks—what do we have to show for it? Biden, Trump, Haley and a Supreme Court too afraid to confront the end of democracy. Oh, yes Kirsten Sinema won’t run for re-election. So all the news is not bad. David Faris is a political science professor at Roosevelt University and a columnist for Slate and Newsweek. His views are his and his alone. See Privac...