This week we're in Chicago, city of big dreams and big politics. Historically, Chicago was a machine town. Democratic bosses prevented reformers and radicals from getting anywhere near power, but that's changing fast. This year, Chicago elected a city council that is ready to push the boundaries of status quo politics, how far? 10% of the new council members are Democratic Socialists. We'll talk today with one of them, Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez, who just beat an incumbent city council member whose family has held the same seat for the better part of 50 years. We talked to her just 45 minutes after the incumbent conceded.

SHOW NOTES:

How a Group of Unapologetic Progressives Won Big in Chicago’s Election The Nation, Will Tanzman, April 5, 2019

Chicago’s Political Revolution In These Times Miles Kampf-Lassin, February 12, 2019

The Battle for Paradise: Puerto Rico Takes on Disaster Capitalists by Naomi Klein, 2018

Rossana's favorite political songs: 

We the People by A Tribe Called Quest

Police State by Dead Prez

This episode of Next Left was produced and edited by Sophia Steinert-Evoy. Our executive producers are Frank Reynolds, Erin O’Mara, and Katrina vanden Heuvel. Recording help this week from Phoebe Petrovic and Jackson Roach. Our theme song is "Deli Run" by Ava Luna.