The Ben Joravsky Show

Traditionally, the city’s northwest side has been controlled by an alliance of conservative Democrats and Republicans. Michael Rabbitt is trying to change that by challenging Jim Gardiner for Democratic committeeman of the 45th ward. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Shia Kapos, Politico columnist, drops in to join Ben for a run down on a week’s worth of news. Including…Mayor Johnson’s back-to-back public appearances—one crowd leaned left, the other right. And Stacy Davis Gates’ school choice. And Darren Bailey tries to bring in Trump to beat Mike Bost. And her encounter with Don Jr at the GOP debate. And more… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy a...

Did you know that two conservative law professors wrote a law review article pointing out that Trump is ineligible to run for president? Now you do. Ben riffs. And alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez talks treatment bot trauma, Dr. Arwady, Columbus Day and Prager U. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Mayor Johnson is the guest at First Tuesdays. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson explains what's white peoples mean when they say Black people are playing the race card. And what they mean when they say Mayors Daley and Rahm were smart but Mayors Lightfoot and Johnson are nasty and slow. A few words about Little Richard and Coach Prime. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privac...

Mainstream Chicago works the refs. Ben riffs. Attorney Jim Coogan returns to talk Trump crimes. Including…Trump’s claim of a two-tier system. His outlaw persona. His inside connections. And a word or two about the suggestion Trump’s too big to prosecute. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Roosevelt University political science professor David Faris makes sense of the senseless. Trump’s arraignment for attempting a coup. Jack Smith’s indictment, laying it out for anyone to see. Unless they willfully close their eyes. Merrick Garland’s cautiousness. Mike Pence’s calculations. And more… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/...

What is it that people love about Chicago? The lake? The jazz fest? The edge? Rummana Hussain examines it. Also, the Vivek Ramaswamy phenomenon as explained by Rummana, who broke his Vhicago story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Mayor Rahm wants the world to know he saw Barbie. Ben riffs. And Steve Krafft, retired Fox-news reporter from Arizona, makes his debut. He’s got the inside scoop on Kyrsten Sinema, Kari Lake (they shared a make-up mirror) and other Arizona politicians. Most pols try to win elections in purple states by moving to the middle. Arizona Republicans are trying to win by going full MAGA. Steve explains t...

Every day brings big and small examples of gun crazy. Ben riffs on a couple small examples. Then Monroe Anderson talks the rise and fall of Rudy G. Willful blindness. Why MAGA thinks Trump will win. And his love for MSNBC. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Retired Northwestern University employee David Keown and Ben try to figure out what NU was up to with the way they handled the hazing schedule. The key is straight outta Deep Throat. Follow the money… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Ben and Maya bring First Tuesdays to the Blanc Gallery in Bronzeville to talk all things Chicago Public schools—what with the new school year about to start. Joining them are CPS high school teacher Mueze Bawany, parent activist Megan Franklin and Ling Young, chief of staff to alderwoman Jeanette Taylor, chair of city council education committee. As you all know, Maya Dukmasova is an investigative...

Edna Navarro-Vidaurre is on a mission—to get all the children in Chicago in school at an early age. All the kids. From every neighborhood and background. She explains why that’s so important and why it’s so challenging. Edna is the Regional Council Manager for Birth to Five Region 1A. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-...

Sun-Times Columbia Rummana Hussain calls out the double standard regarding Sinead O’Conor, who died this week. Why is it blasphemy when you’re offended, but. Hey, it’s free speech when someone else is offended? And a word or two about media coverage for Beyoncé and Taylor Swift. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-m...

White Sox do a squeeze play. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson talks GOP debate, Trump indictment in Georgia, and the Trump chumping of Mayor Rudy G. Also, Dems let MAGA follow Pritzker’s Darren Bailey strategy. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Mayor Johnson tells reporters--don’t rush me! Ben riffs. In These Times writer Miles Kampf-Lassin talks MAGA insurrection, Trump indictment, MAGA’s curious take on the First Amendment and labor. A much needed view from the left. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Congress held a hearing on UFOs. Ben riffs. Damien Perdue, host of the radio show, Think Theory Radio, joins Ben for the deep dive. Why don’t people believe government? Maybe it’s cause government lies so much. UFOs, Baby Bobby Kennedy, TIFs and so on. Then the truth about Hispanos and Oppenheimer. First the government erased them from their land and then the movie erases their erasure. See Privac...

Trump polls at 54 percent. Ben riffs. And CTU president Stacy Davis Gates weighs in on all the issues. Including…Mayors Johnson and Rahm’s sorta BFF moment. The principal’s union. Rubber stamp school boards. Ben’s back-to-the 90s shirt. And more… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Gordon Mantler just wrote a book about Mayor Harold Washington and Ben can’t stop talking about it. Every logical person agrees that Washington is the greatest mayor Chicago ever had. But why? What obstacles did he have to overcome? What lessons can Mayor Johnson learn from Washington? How did President Obama try not to emulate Washington? Gordon is a professor of writing and history at George Was...

Roosevelt University professor David Faris considers the question of the week…What’s more pathetic, CNN’s attempt to boost ratings by giving Trump an hour of prime time, or CNN’s attempt to convince us they did it for a larger public good? Also, a plea to Biden to invoke the 14th on debt ceiling. And the lies of George Santos. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy...

Attorney Adolfo Mondragon joins Ben to riff on the news of the week. So naturally they begin by talking about Jackie Brown, a movie that came out in the 90s. Then it’s on to Chicago’s search for a police chief, affirmative action, racism in sports and Benno Schmidt. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Theresa Runstedtler, a history professor at American University, talks about her latest book, Black Ball. It’s the story of basketball in the ‘70s, when it was transformed by Black players, such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Oscar Robertson. Kermit Washington. Every step of the way, the NBA owners fought against allowing players to have more power, freedom and money. Nothing came easy. Nothing ever does...

Ben has got Oppenheimer fever. He can’t stop talking about the man and the movie and what it all means. Block Club reporter Mick Dumke returns to talk CHA and the billionaire. Mayor Johnson and Mayor Rahm—BFF? Harry Truman. Oppenheimer. And the NU hazing scandal. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Over 30 years ago, Sun-Times sports columnist Rick Telander wrote The Hundred Yard Lie, an expose of corruption and exploitation in college football. Well, with the recent hazing and racism scandal involving the football team at Northwestern University, he could add another chapter to his book. Ben and Rick run through the scandal in all of its sleaziness. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/p...

The Montgomery brawl has political implications. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson talks Montgomery, Fani Willis, Cheseboro memo, Ohio referendum and the latest lunacy from MAGA. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Chicago gets ready to hire a police superintendent. Ben riffs. Newly elected fifth ward Alderman Desmon Yancy talks development. Specifically, what can be done to give ordinary South Shore residents the same sort of protections that billionaires get from the free market. Also, a word or two about the Kenwood connection. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice...