The Ben Joravsky Show

Governor Pritzker suggests he may not run for re-election. Chicago voters express their love for Mayor Lightfoot. Illinois Republicans cry like the hypocritical babies that they there are. Ben & Dr. D riff on these and other stories from the week that was. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

The state senate takes a teeny-tiny step towards replacing the appointed school board with an elected one and corporate & editorial Chicago loses its collective mind. Ben riffs. Also, Grace Pai on the need to teach Asian-American history to grade schoolers. And Micah Uetricht--Jacobin editor--talks about Democratic Socialism and Chicago politics. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy...

The New York Times prophesized tough times for Democrats in New Mexico. And then Melanie Stansbury mopped the floor with her Republican opponent. Ben riffs on how the Times handled it. Also, Kina Collins talks about running against Congressman Danny K. Davis. She must be doing something right. No sooner had she announced her candidacy, then FOX TV ripped her as a dangerous radical, right up there...

Democrats all over the country are saying they're tired and burnt out on politics. Poor babies. While Republicans are as fired up as ever. Ben riffs. And WVON talk show host David Seaton returns to talk everything from health care to voter suppression to Naomi Osaka. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Barbara Arnwine--president and founder of the Transformative Justice Coalition--discusses the challenges facing our democracy as Republican legislators pass voter-supression bills in states throughout the country. The Republicans are trying to discourage Blacks, Latinos, younger voters and women from voting in next year's midterm elections. Arnwine explains what can be done to stop the MAGA power...

Ben & Dr. D discuss the weeks news. That includes various bills in the General Assembly; Mayor Lightfoot's on-and-off-again proposal to limit liquor sales; and the mayor's beach reopening. Plus, so much more... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

The Republicans think they've embarrassed Bernie Sanders. Ben riffs. And Marc Sims returns to talk everything, including crime in Chicago. And Harish Patel on why we need to expand the earned income tax credit. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Ben has some fun analyzing Mayor Lightfoot’s latest PSA. He loves those bits, ladies and gentlemen. And Monroe Anderson returns to talk about absolutely everything. Including anti-Semitism in America. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

It's the one-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd. Ben riffs on the divisions in our country. Technologist Freddy Martinez, the activist who helped catalogue and promote the hacked emails of Mayor Lightfoot on, makes his debut on the show. He discusses hacking, redactions, transparency and why public officials keep secrets from the public. Finally, Vincent E. Norment, owner of the Mariju...

Activist/researcher Saqib Bhatti explains the efforts by activists to convince Mayor Lightfoot not to spend about $485 million in federal COVID relief on paying back the banks. Apparently, President Joe Biden is with the activists. At the moment. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Sun-Times editor/columnist Rummana Hussain returns to discuss the issues of the day. Including cancel culture from the right cancelling Sinead O'Connor and Emily Wilder. Also Israel and Palestine. And Mayor Lightfoot's decision to give preference to reporters of color. Mayor Lightfoot must be doing something right if she's got Tucker Carlson and Tulsi Gabbard mad at her. See Privacy Policy at http...

So much weekly news to cover--much of it having to do with Mayor Lightfoot. Ben & Dr. D take the deep dive on the mayor's Lolla commercial, her decision to give Black reporters a priority over white ones, and a whole bunch of other stuff. Including yet another reference to ongoing saga of La Russagate. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art...

Even sports fans are talking about White Sox manager Tony La Russa and his "unwritten rules" of baseball. Ben and sports podcaster Miles Porter take the deep dive. And then Peter Cunningham--former advisor to Mayor Daley and Arnie Duncan--returns to talk crime, policing, education and mayoral issues. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com...

Atiba Buchanan--co-host of Buchanan & Seaton--returns to talk all things politics. Including Republicans, Trump, January 6 and Biden and Israel. And a word or two about Mayor Lightfoot. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Mayor Lightfoot announces she'll be giving journalists of color priority when it comes to doing one-on-one interviews. Ben says great idea. Now how about doing that when it comes to doling out economic development dollars to neighborhoods of color? Also, Sun Times reporter Tom Schuba takes us from A-Z on the hacked mayoral emails. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Priv...

Political strategist Delmarie Cobb returns to talk all things politics, including the Clintons, Mayor Rahm, police, Mayor Lightfoot, Bobby Rush and more. She's a political junkie, just like Ben. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Republicans in Illinois want to end unemployment benefits because they say it's a disincentive to work. But when it comes to taking handouts for themselves, well, that's another story. Ben riffs. Also, 17th ward Alderman David Moore talks about his candidacy for secretary of state, his efforts to rename the outer drive for DuSable, and dealing with Mayor Lightfoot. See Privacy Policy at https://ar...

Longtime California political strategist Bruce Williams breaks down the attempt by MAGA to recall Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. Bruce explains the differences between this recall and the one in 2003 that replaced Gray Davis with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Also, the risks and rewards of the Democratic strategy not to field a candidate. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California...

April 2, 2019. It's election day. Who will be our next mayor: Lightfoot or Preckwinkle? The Joe Biden allegations are not going away. Monday's Kim Foxx protest and Lori and Toni's last minute mayoral strategies. Runoff talk with the Chicago Reader's Maya Dukmasova. Remembering Chicago Legend Studs Terkel with Former Director of the Studs Terkel Archive. Tony Macaluso and Benny J takes the deep div...

Roosevelt University political science professor David Faris returns, but this time our focus is on the breakout of war in the Middle East. He reviews the history of the conflict and explains how it plays out politically in the United States, Israel and Palestine. 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 take a deep dive into the freaky week of leaky leaks that it was. Hackers hack Mayor Lightfoot’s emails. The mayor gives journalistic advice to Chicago’s journalists. Most of whom ignore it. As they should. And much more... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

On the eve of Saturday's Save Local News Rally, Ben explains the importance of the Tribune to Chicago. Yes, Ben, praises the Tribune. Speaking of the Tribune, Gregory Pratt, city hall reporter and president of the Tribune's union, returns to explain why he opposes the Alden hedge fund buying the Tribune. Finally, Heidi Henry & Murri Briel--aka, The Heartland Mamas--return to talk Kinzinger, Ch...

The day began with Trump's Republican cultists in Congress punishing Liz Cheney for joining them in repeating Trump's lies about the election. Ben riffs. Also, Maya Dukmasova talks about the hacking and publishing of emails from Mayor Lightfoot's staff. Turns out one of Maya's emails was in the bunch. Finally, Monroe Anderson returns to talk about Liz Cheney and the Trump cult that's become the Re...

Demographer Rob Paral discusses the latest census numbers and what they mean politically. Where is Illinois experiencing the most population loss and growth? How will that impact the political map? And Ben riffs on how the Right play games with the census numbers. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Thursday March 28, 2019. The latest 2020 Democratic POTUS poll, ANOTHER Mayoral Debate?? The latest ad from Toni Preckwinkle, Chicago Sun-Times Deputy Managing Editor Kathy Chaney, Union Man Ryan Kelly AND Striking Chicago Symphony Orchestra member Steve Lester! Download Thursday's Ben Joravsky Show!! The Ben Joravsky Show LIVE Tuesday - Friday 1-3p(CT) chicagoreader.com chicago.suntimes.com See P...