Hitting Left

Newly elected Chicago alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez joins us for a talk about Chicago politics, Mayor Lori Lightfoot, her campaign against the Mell Machine and her view of socialism.

Chicago Friends of the Parks executive director Juanita Irizarry and 1st Ward Alderman Daniel LaSpata join us to talk about equity, privatization and Chicago's parks.

Rachel DeWoskin grew up spending a lot of years in China. She is a professor at the University of Chicago, teaching writing among other things, and has just published Someday We Will Fly, a story of a family of Polish Jews who during WWII find refuge in Shanghai, China.

Fred's in Brooklyn. But Susan Klonsky is co-host with Mike Klonsky and guest Elizabeth Todd-Breland. Dr. Todd-Breland is author of A Political Education: Black Politics and Education Reform in Chicago since the 1960s.

Singer, musician, teacher Mark Dvorak joins to for song and stories celebrating Pete Seeger's 100th birthday.

Veteran activists Mickey and Dick Flacks join us to talk about their joint memoir, Making History, Making Blintzes. How Two Red Diaper Babies Found Each Other and Discovered America.

Steve Rhodes, the Beachwood Reporter (read his blog), has been following Chicago politics and culture for years. Ra Joy is part of the transition team for Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot.

Professor Kate Phillippo, author of A Contest Without Winners. How Students Experience Competitive School Choice. We are also joined by Sol, A CPS student.

Chicago Inspector General Joe Ferguson joins us for a lively hour of history and speculation about Chicago. On Tuesday we will elect a new mayor who takes office the end of May. Joe has been IG for a decade and we discuss the culture of corruption, the systems that facilitate the corruption and how to change it.

Flint Taylor is with us to discuss his new book, The Torture Machine. Racism and Police Violence in Chicago.