The Ben Joravsky Show

Sun-Times editor/columnist Rummana Hussain returns to talk about the Covid out break in India, Anti-Vaxxers, Kim Foxx and corruption in Chicago. Plus, the problem with Two Distinct Strangers. 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 explore the week's news, including a run down of the resignations from Mayor Lightfoot's administration. And there were a bunch, starting with Janice Jackson, CEO of the Chicago Public Schools. Ben plays City Hall Human Resource director, and offers survival tips to incoming mayoral appointees. Hint: Suck up to the mayor. Also updates on Pritzker v. Lightfoot, Kim Foxx and much, mu...

Ben can't believe he's about to say what he's about to say. But...Congresswoman Liz Cheney is right. And Dave Glowacz--from Inside Chicago Government--returns with more action-packed recordings of the Chicago City Council. Yes, the time has come for Ben & Dave to take the deep dive on what the city council and Mayor Lightfoot are up to. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Calif...

Between MAGA's claim that the election was stolen and Janice Jackson's assertion that the teachers union brought politics to Chicago's schools, Ben feels he's being gaslit. Also, Reader writer Maya Dukmasova talks about her expose on carjacking in Chicago. And Stacy Davis Gates--vice president of the Chicago Teachers Union--returns to discuss the politics of Janice Jackson, the outgoing CEO of the...

In These Times writer/editor Miles Kampf-Lassin on labor's agenda. The Republican attempt to portray themselves as the party of the working class. And a riff or two about Chicago. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

April 4, 2019. Trump's tax returns are back! Lori lightfoot hits the ground running and ProPublica Journalist Mick Dumke talks Tuesday's election. Union Man and Pension Guru Jeff Johnson returns and striking UIC Grad Student Anne Kirkner discusses her strike. Download Thursday's Ben Joravsky Show! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/pr...

United Working Families organizer Dixon Romeo returns to turn the tables on Ben--asking him the questions. The conversation ranges from suburban Republicans dictating whether Chicago has an elected school board to mayoral control of COVID relief money to LeBron James to Mortal Kombat. The latter being a subject Ben knows nothing about. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California...

Ben & Dr. D riff on the news of the week. Which includes...two aldermen indicted, including a Daley. Oh, Chicago, you are special. Also, the Bears actually draft a Black man to play quarterback. And just when we thought it was safe to go outside--Bruce Rauner talks about running for governor. Plus, all the other news of the week. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California P...

Ben riffs on President Biden's state of the union. Jacob Kaplan, of the Cook County Democratic Party, talks redistricting. And Daryl Jones of the Transformative Justice Coalition champions the John Lewis Day of Action, analyzes the impact of Republican election laws on Black voters, comments on Senator Tim Scott's "rebuttal" to Biden's state of the union, and manages to get in a dig or two about B...

Looks like California Governor Gavin Newsom will face a recall. Leading Ben to lament why his beloved Dems have to be so arrogant. Also, Eee-Bow on geting cuffed and busted for--as far as we can tell--the high crime of driving while Black. And everyone's favorite former governor, Pat Quinn, returns to talk about the issues of the day. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California...

The U.S. Census released the numbers. So, Ben riffs on what it means politically, Hint: Republicans up to no good. Also, Jaquie Algee of SEIU Health Care and Pastor William Fleshman talk about the John Lewis May 8 day of activism. And Martha Shockey of Indivisible in Georgia gives the lowdown on Republican efforts to regain their senate seats by undoing the good work of Congressman John Lewis. See...

It's sort of fun to hear someone's Oscar's predictions after the fact. Sergio Mims--co-founder of the Black Harvest Film Festival--is never afraid to speak his mind. So we're not surprised to hear that he may be in trouble with Twitter again. Also, he breaks down this year's Oscar race, slamming the year in movies and picking the winners. As always, he has a thing or two to say about the north sid...

Tuesday March 26, 2019: Are conservatives celebrating the Mueller report too early? The latest Lightfoot/Preckwinkle poll numbers, a mini Aldermanic deep dive with our Chicago Reader Colleague Maya Dukmasova. Former Illinois Lieutenant Gubernatorial Candidate Ra Joy talks the Mayoral runoff AND Teacher Anthony Clark weighs in on ALL things politics! Download Tuesday's Ben Joravsky Show The Ben Jor...

Sun-Times Editor/Columnist Rummana Hussain returns to cover the news of the day. Shootings in Chicago. Kim Foxx. LeBron James. And Caitlyn Jenner... 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 the deep dive on all the news of the week, starting with...rumorgate. Lefties lose their minds over allegation that Mayor Lightfoot will step down, but Lori lovers overplay the victim card. As the mayor takes a page from Mayor Daley and shuts off Alderman Sigcho Lopez' microphone. Also, how Michael Madigan used his invincibility to make him even more invincible. Will Speaker W...

Alderman Ed Burke wins the coveted shameless-politician-of-the month award. Ben explains why. And the downstate pathologist, Dr. Pamella Gronemeyer, returns to talk about the movement for Medicare for All and other medical stuff. Including--why people resist the vaccine. Hint, the runner-up for shameless-politician-of-the month brainwashed them. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and...

Republicans play the "victim card," blubbering like babies about Congresswoman Maxine Waters. Ben riffs on that. Also, legendary Chicago journalist Monroe Anderson and attorney Jim Coogan return to talk about the guilty verdict in the trial of Derick Chauvin for killing George Floyd. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-s...

Over the weekend, gossips in Chicago lost their minds over a fabricated rumor about Mayor Lightfoot. Ben takes the deep dive. Also, Senator Paul Strauss--the shadow senator for Washington, D.C.--explains why it's morally, ethically and politically necessary to make D.C. a state. Finally, Comptroller Susana Mendoza returns to talk about the state of state finances and her take on the shooting of Ad...

From May 2019. WBEZ Reporter Linda Lutton has a new beat...Chicago Neighborhoods! Hear about her journey to WBEZ, her history with Ben Joravsky and her latest work on South Side neighborhoods. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

With the footage of Adam Toledo getting killed by a Chicago police officer on everybody’s mind, we thought it would be a good idea to bring on Troy LaRaviere. He does not hold back. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

President Joe Biden announces the end of the forever war in Afghanistan. Ben talks about the price we've paid for that war. Vincent E. Norment--owner of the Marijuana Hall of Fame--drops in to continue the conversation on the different ways police treat Black and white motorists. And Matt Ginsberg & Cheryl Miller, mental health activists, talk about the reluctance of Mayor Lightfoot to re-open...

Whenever a policeman shoots a civilian, you can take it to Vegas that someone will say—well, he’s no angel. Ben riffs on that message. Also, Adolfo Mondragon returns to talk about his campaign expenditure lawsuit. And Alderman Sigcho Lopez and housing activists--Lamont Burnett and Noah Moskowitz-- on the need for affordable housing in Chicago. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Ca...

Ben riffs on the modern day Civil War. A mystery guest stops in to correct something Ben said about the Democratic Party. And Keith Kelleher, former president of SEIU Healthcare, examines what went wrong and right in the unsuccessful effort to organize Amazon warehouse workers in Alabama. Keith knows a thing or two about building unions--he's been doing that for most of his adult life. See Privacy...

Sun-Times sports columnist Rick Telander pays tribute to the late great boxing champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler. It was 1990. Rick was writing for Sports Illustrated. He was in Italy, covering the World Cup. And...oh, let Rick tell the story. Also, what is it about our attraction to violence that draws so many people to boxing? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy...

The day was Wednesday, April 10, 2019. One week after Lori Lightfoot was elected mayor. And Ben unloaded on the Lincoln Yards TIF deal. How much home grown marijuana is too much home grown marijuana? Monroe Anderson talked Trump, Trump and Trump, the Bernie Sanders question AND Ben unloaded on Lincoln Yards again with James Muhammad of SEIU Healthcare and Grassroots Organizer Amisha Patel. See Pri...