The Ben Joravsky Show

Trump nominates Matt Gaetz for AG. Ben riffs. Then he riffs about the Sun-Times article on the Latino bloc. Then Denali riffs on the curious attitude voters have for women candidates. And then they’re off, searching for meaning in the illogical behavior of voters. Also, a brief look at elected school board results. Denali is a political analyst who knows a thing or two about running for office cause she ran for one.

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Biden welcomes Trump to the White House. Oh, what a difference between MAGA and Dems. Ben riffs. Monroe already looking forward to 2026 midterms. Will Senate Republicans have a backbone? Only if votes are private. The great debate—did Saturday Night Live roll over? When will Mayor Johnson ever learn? And is Ben a closet Packers fan?

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Trump picks the governor of South Dakota to police the border with Mexico. Ben riffs. Miles Kampf-Lassin assesses the election and what will follow. Will Sean O’Brien use his clout with Trump to stand up for labor? Stop laughing, people. Will Joe Rogan use his clout with Trump to keep Trump from locking up lefties and journalists? Stop crying, people. Miles is an editor and writer for In These Times.

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Michael Madigan really has left the building, as he’s not running for re-election as committeeman. Ben riffs. And cinematographer Michael Crommett talks about filming the January 6 insurrection. Michael was there that day. First at Trump’s rally. And later on the steps of the Capitol, where he filmed the siege. He was the cinematographer for Unprecedented, Alex Holder’s documentary about Trump’s re-election campaign. His January 6 footage is featured in that film. Also, check out Ben’s conversation with Alex Holder.

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The MAGAzation of America hits the airplane boarding lines. Ben riffs. Kelly Cassidy joins the riffing and broadens the conversation to Yankee fans. Is America as anti-women as MAGA thinks? Will Kelly’s home state of Florida vote Kamala? And a few words about MJM, or Michael Joseph Madigan. Kelly is a state representative from Rogers Park.

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The Dems swore they wouldn’t go back. But back they went—to 2016. David Faris tells you everything you need to know about what went down last Tuesday. While Ben tries to stay sane. David is a political science professor at Roosevelt University and a columnist for Slate and Newsweek. His views are his own.

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Rummana Hussain and Ben discuss the curious refusal of Americans, including leftists, to acknowledge that hatred of women, especially Black women, prompted millions of voters to vote for a criminal over Kamala Harris. It is a betrayal of Black women. Even if America refuses to admit that. Ben says a demented Joe Biden, running in all his f-bomb-dropping demented glory would have defeated Trump. Does Rummana go that far? Rummana is an editorial writer/columnist for the Sun-Times. Her views are her own.

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Clearly, the abortion rights movement did not lead to a Democratic triumph. Ben riffs. Julie Lynn elaborates. Bottom line—the strategy of using state by state referendums to lead the charge benefitted Trump. Just like Julie said it would. And if voters think these referendums will protect abortion rights they are seriously misguided. Just like Julie told you. And it’s pointless to vote yes on abortion rights and then vote for a candidate who will take that right away. Just like Julie told you. Julie is a political activist and strategist with a specialty in the politics of abortion.

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The day-after comments of Dems and Trumpers reveal—again—that MAGA plays the game of politics by its own set of rules. Ben riffs. Kina Collins offers her views on what went down in the election. As much as she wanted Kamala to win, she saw it coming. A few words about misogyny. And much more. Kina is a political activist and strategist in Chicago.

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When it came to election predictions, Ben got everything wrong. Ben riffs. Then legendary journalist Jack White join Ben and Monroe in breaking everything down. Including what to do next.

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