Nick welcomes Monica Eng from Axios back to break down the latest Chicago election results, including the surprises, the clear winners, and the people who didn’t have a great night. Monica also shares a moment she’d probably like back, mispronouncing a Led Zeppelin song on TV, and tells the story of her “Dempster Dive,” where she worked her way down four miles of Dempster Street sampling food from 20 different cultures. She also talks about seeing “Madama Butterfly” at the Lyric Opera and gets into the realities of being a tipped worker in the city.

Esmeralda Leon joins Nick later and the conversation turns to some of the worst excuses people have ever given for missing work. Things get ridiculous fast, with stories involving a vomiting llama, a swarm of bees, and plenty of other excuses that probably didn’t hold up. It’s news, food, opera, and complete nonsense, all in one episode. [Ep 439]