The Ben Joravsky Show

Stacy Davis Gates said something that has some people in a tizzy. Ben riffs. And Dave Glowacz, editor of Inside Chicago Government, takes a part the City Council. Well, not literally. He and Ben riff on clips of recent council debates. Including…migration aid, Alderwoman Taylor’s stand, rule 16. And more… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art1...

Sarah Garza Resnick, chief executive officer of Personal Pac, talks about Chicago’s role in the fight for abortion rights. Especially after judge’s ruling against abortion pill. Also, why Personal Pac endorsed Brandon Johnson. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Rachel Hinton, reporter from the Illinois Answers Project, joins Ben to break down a week's worth of news. Mayor Lightfoot's texts with Kim Foxx. Brandon Johnson's transition. The convention comes to Chicago. And the Justins of Tennessee. And more... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

A few weeks after her unsuccessful campaign for 39th ward alderwoman, Denali Dasgupta returns to talk budgets. Or the narrative of budgets created by Mayor Daley, emulated by Rahm and Paul Vallas, should he win. In this world, private is better than public and taxes spent on poor people is seen as a “waste of money”. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at...

Sun-Times editorial writer/columnist has a few things to say about Gwyneth Paltrow and woke. Specifically, Paltrow's remarkable ability to get her fans to buy stuff they can't really want. And you almost have to give MAGA credit. They've managed to sorta turn a virtue into a vice. As they try to turn woke into something people should be ashamed of. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy a...

Mayor-elect Johnson picks his transition team filled with lefties. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson addresses J Marie's question--are Black voters progressive? Also, Monroe explains why Clarence Thomas is not an Uncle Tom. More like a Stephen. And can Senator Scott with the Republican presidential nomination? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19....

Roosevelt University Political Science professor David Faris returns from his paternity break early to discuss the indictment of Trump. Including…why does MAGA love him so much, what the indictment means for DeSantis and how it puts Republicans in a trick bag? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

As tech high rollers get their government bailout, Chicago southwest siders cheer for Paul Vallas. Hmm, wonder what that’s about. Ben riffs. And Andrew Schneider talks about running for first ward alderman in the age of law ‘n order. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

April 3, 2019. We're in the time capsule, returning to the day after Mayor Lightfoot defeated Toni Preckwinkle. Trump's drunken uncle speech at the BIG Republican dinner. The Lori Lightfoot landslide and Ben's wishes for our new Mayor elect. Legendary Chicago Journalist Monroe Anderson talks Trump and the runoffs! Chicago Reader Publisher Tracy Baim on Chicago's LGBT political history and Film Pro...

Brandon Johnson wins. Everyone gives him advice. Ben and Pat Whalen--comedian/talk show host--go through a week's worth of news. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Recent polls show Paul Vallas with around 46 percent of the vote, causing MAGA to jump for joy at the thoughts of their guy running Chicago. Ben riffs. And 20th ward Alderwoman Jeanette Taylor returns! She talks Mayor Lightfoot, migrants bill, council racists, the time she saw the mayor cry, Vallas and predicts that Black women will come to the rescue—again. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com...

WBEZ editor Alden Loury wrote a column last week, noting that Paul Vallas’s law-and-order campaign plays best in low-crime mostly white neighborhoods. Hmm, what’s going on here? He and Ben discuss. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Brandon wins! Ben riffs. And Monroe Anderson & Delmarie Cobb explain what happened and why. The Black vote. The Bernie vote. The lakefront is sorta liberal vote. The MAGA vote. And more. Also, Trump talk. As promised. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

By day, Jamie Daniels is an actor. But at night, he turns into Bob Dylan in a tribute band based in Los Angeles. This may be as close as Ben gets to interviewing the enigmatic Bobby D. Stick around for a couple of songs. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Three years ago, movie-man extraordinaire Steve James directed City So Real, a brilliant documentary about the 2019 mayor's race and the turbulence of the summer of 2020. He returns to talk about what the 2019 race has in common with this election. And what's different. Specifically, why Mayor Lightfoot lost. Willie Wilson's role, then and now. And the transformation of Paul Vallas. Plus a few wor...

Ben & Kina Collins, activist & Justice Democrat candidate, talk the week’s worth of news. Including…Trump’s indictment, Paul Vallas connection to FOP, gun violence in Chicago & Nashville and Bernie’s visit to Chicago on behalf of Brandon Johnson. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Stacy Davis Gates, president of the Chicago Teachers Union, returns. She's got a few things on her mind. Number one, don't come to her with questions about the Brandon Johnson mayoral campaign. Number two, if you don't take chances, you'll never succeed. And number three--Abbott Elementary is more real than you realize. As any teacher can tell you. And more... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.c...

In the not-so-wee hours of the morning, the City Council reorganizes itself. Ben riffs. In These Times writer/editor Miles Kampf-Lassin talks all things politics. Including...Bernie backs Brandon, Durbin goes with Vallas, and why centrists like some unions and not others. Just imagine a city in which the mayor supported, say, Starbucks workers who are organizing a union. See Privacy Policy at http...

Last night was mayor debate round 1. Ben riffs. Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez talks mayoral debate. Beating the Mell Machine—again. Why CTU is not a Machine. City Council reorganization. And more… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Ja'Mal Green is trying to decide who to endorse in the mayor's race. Ben riffs. Activists Kiara Hardin and Dixon Romeo talk Obama Center community benefits agreement. And more... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Senator Durbin joins a few others in endorsing Paul Vallas. Ben riffs. Abortion rights activist Terry Cosgrove talks Wisconsin Supreme Court, why he’s for Brandon Johnson and what it will take to pass sane gun laws. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Jessie Fuentes is a 32-year-old first time candidate for alderwoman of the 26th ward. No one thought she could win Tuesday's election out right--without a runoff. Well, at least Ben didn't think she could do it. And guess what? She proved Ben wrong. She won. No runoff required. Jessie explains how she did it and what she overcame. Most particularly, a nasty mailing about her past. See Privacy Poli...

For years, listener Frank was the political junkie who stayed up on the news. Feeding Ben the latest political updates—local, state & national—as they broke. Then he had a nasty illness that scared one and all. He relates the story of how he came to dying. And how he came back as strong as ever. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/...

Injustice Watch reporter Kelly Garcia joins Ben for an update on a week’s worth of news. Starting with…Alderman Tom Tunney’s up-is-down assertion that the richest parts of Chicago are being neglected in favor of the poorest parts. Say what? Then it’s on to Riot Fest & Lolla & NASCAR & Taste of Chicago. And the passive aggressive games public officials when it comes to redacting in...

Everyone is comparing Johnson v Vallas to Washington v Epton. Ben riffs. And Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa explains why he supports Brandon Johnson. Why he thinks the politics of fear won’t work. And why he thinks Election Day was good news for lefties. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .