We talk about Paul Vallas. Or brother Michael does. Vallas has left everything he touches in shatters and now he wants to be Mayor of Chicago. Oy vey. Most of the hour is spent talking with Aaron Goldstein, 33rd Ward Democratic Party Committeeman and candidate for Illinois Attorney General. A real progressive.

On this episode of Hitting Left on the eve of the second Women's March, we welcome disabilities advocate and activist, Amber Smock.

Delia Ramirez, community activist, is running for state rep from the 4th district in Chicago's Humboldt Park. We talk Trump, what is a Progressive and her vision for equity.

CTU political organizer, radio commentator and now candidate for the Cook County Board of Commissioners, Brandon Johnson, joins us for the third time on Hitting Left with the Klonsky Brothers. What does the County Board do? Why is it important who sits on it. And how do political radicals and progressives use political office to build a street movement while creating a progressive governing coalition providing results to constituents? We talk about this and more.

Teacher, union activists and member of the Democratic Socialists of America, Kenzo Shibata joins the Klonsky brothers for a wide-ranging conversation about politics in the Trump/Rauner era. And socialism as an alternative.

This week the boys are back in town and chatting with Emma Tai, the Executive Director of Chicago United Working Families. They kibitz about the Democratic party, the elections in Chicago, Illinois and Alabama and Fred announces his switch to becoming a member of the hard-right Republican Freedom Coalition.*

This is the penultimate episode of 2017 as Lumpen Radio's on holiday break next week, so why not listen to this one twice? Jerry would do it. Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas, etc!

*Jamie's joking about this last one.

The Klonsky Daughters come in and upend this entire show with their whip-smart takes on, well, just about everything. Jamie's thinking of sacking the other two guys and just having Joanna and Ann do this show from now on, and after you listen to this one, he's pretty sure you'll agree.

Delmarie Cobb is a long time political strategist, consultant and media person. She advised the Hillary Clinton campaign. She is now organizing the Ida B. Wells Legacy project to encourage Black women to seek political office.

We are also joined on record from the strike lines at Columbia College. P-fac president Diana Vallera, and adjuncts Andrea Dymond and Prexy Nexbitt.

This week, The Klonskys talk to Fritz Kaegi about his candidacy for Cook County Assessor. The boys talk about sports a little bit too, which is a shame since everyone knows Jamie's the sportswriter. Jerry's back in the chair, guess he didn't quit after all. And don't come here looking for a new show next week: Lumpen Radio is closed for Turkey Day.