South Park's creators show there are other ways to deal with King Donnie--other than kissing his ring. Ben riffs. Kevin Blackistone talks about the impact of media mergers on media independence. Also, the latest on Washington, DC football arena. Trump orders the Washington Commanders to change their name to the Redskins or he won't let them build a new arena. Mayor Bowser walks a fine line as she tries to keep the stadium deal alive without selling out everything she believes in. Finally, a few words about RG3, who apparently figured out what a sports talking-head must do to make a name for himself. Hint--it's the opposite of what the South Park's creators did. Kevin is a columnist for the Washington Post, a journalism professor and proud alumnus of the Chicago Reporter.

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Mayor Rahm and Governor Shapiro have harsh words for Zohran Mamdani, but silence as kids starve in Gaza. Ben riffs. Miles Kampf-Lassin talks Gaza, Israel, Dems and Mamdani. And why Netanyahu telling Trump he's nominating him for a Nobel Peace Prize just may be the the most cynical act of suck up in the history of politics. Also, a few words about Epsteingate. Miles is in the middle of talking conspiracies when a passing thunder storm shuts down Ben's computer. Cue the X Files music. Miles is an editor and writer for In These Times.

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Apparently, Trump's Justice Department and Ghislaine Maxwell are playing footsie--got nothing but nice things to say about each other. Ben riffs. Monroe says what he thinks they're saying without them coming right out and saying. If you dig what I mean. Get ready for Espteingate to transform into pardongate. In the middle of our recording, the Wall Street Journal breaks another about Trump and Epstein story. "Justice Department told Trump in May that his name is among many in Epstein files." Damn, Murdoch's not scared. Tulsi Gabbard attacks Obama on behalf of King Donnie. Let's see how MAGA spins this stuff.

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Another day, another story links Trump to Epstein. Ben riffs. Joanna Klonsky talks creeps in politics.. Trump being the face of this type. And Bill Clinton. Speaking of which--why do Dems still suck up to Clinton? And why didn't Merrick Garland release the Epstein files? What is the playbook pols follow to divert attention from their misbehavior? What does Mayor Rahm mean when he tells Megyn Kelly he will be the "strong man" America needs? There's so much to talk about, we don't get to WNBA players making their move to get paid more. Next time. Joanna is a political and communications strategist.

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Ben & Dr D cruise all over the place as they survey a week's worth of news. Including...Cleveland, where Mayor Johnson meets with other mayors. And Springfield, where Governor Pritzker runs for president and governor. And Kerry Wood Field, where aldermen play police in softball. And CTA trains, where Mayor Johnson tries to crack down on smoking. And MAGAland, where Megyn Kelly records her show. And a Chicago landfill, or wherever Mayor Rahm buried the Laquan McDonald video. And Kumbaya, a song Mayor Rahm swears he does not know. Though he also swears he never saw the Laquan McDonald video before he buried it. And the Sky bandwagon, which Ben jumped aboard, after he saw them get clobbered the other night. Proving that Ben will support any Chicago team, especially if it's losing.

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Zohran Mamdani plans to build a grocery store in a food desert--mainstreamers lose their minds. Ben riffs. Mueze Bawany returns! And promptly compares Mayor Johnson to the Z-man. And explains why he's going to New York City to campaign for Mamdani. Also, he tries to convince Ben to give millennials a break--even if they no nothing about the parking meter deal. What's the worst sports deal in Chicago history and what's the worst political deal in Chicago. Why Chicagoans love bad mayors. And why Mueze is optimistic about the Bears. Mueze is a school teacher, a coach and an activist.

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Trump tries to bamboozle MAGA on Epstein by asking the court to unseal grand jury testimony. Is MAGA so dumb as to fall for this ruse? Ben riffs. Rummana Hussain weighs in. Also, "good" versus "bad" Muslims. A few words about Zohran Mamdani who answers the intifada question--again! Why do capitalists hate socialism so much? Finally, Ben welcomes Yuki Kawamura to the Bulls. Rummana is a columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times.

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Espteingate rises from the swamp--again. Ben riffs. David Faris offers his thoughts. Is there a list of clients? Did Epstein try to blackmail the rich and powerful deviants who flocked to his perverted world? Did he get murdered? Also, the cognitive dissonance of MAGA cultists who simultaneously despise the crimes of Epstein and worship the man who hung with him. Finally, did King Donnie really use the word enigma in a birthday card to Epstein? On a different front--the utterly wretched budget bill. Trump "punishes" the elite by giving them a big tax break. David is a political science professor at Roosevelt University and a columnist for Newsweek. His views are his own.

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Ben and Dr D return! Just in time to talk nepotism. Or meet the new alderman—same name as the old alderman. And Comptroller Mendoza says she's running for mayor. Sorta. And JB selects a running mate--Christian Mitchell. Who may be acting Governor Mitchell, should JB run for president. Speaking of running for president, Mayor Rahm rewrites more history. And Raja leads in the money race in the senate campaign. And Ben apologizes to Laura Fine for saying she's from Wilmette. Not that there's anything wrong with being from Wilmette. And more...

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In the name of budget reform, Michael Madigan’s favorite alderman messes with Mayor Johnson. Ben riffs. Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette returns to explain the ins and outs of Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill Act.” How it impacts Medicaid, taxes, the deficit, food stamps, state and municipal taxes, ICE and military spending. Dylan is the vice president of Policy and Government Affairs for the Project On Government Oversight.

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