Mark Zuckerberg waves the white flag as he surrenders to Donny. Ben riffs. Monroe says it's all about sucking up to Big Daddy in order to make even more billions. Then it's on to the latest lunacy from Trump--whales, windmills, and various invasions. Monroe makes like the dairy farmer in South Dakota. He doesn't believe Trump will do the stuff that Trump swears he plans to do. Helluva way to run a country. Finally, a few words about Mayor Johnson and the press. Having spent over a year disparaging him as incompetent, the mainstreams now view him as the second coming of LBJ. As they blame him for killing Pritzker's Hemp Bill. Make up your minds, people!

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News from “the world” has Baby Donny visiting Greenland. Ben riffs. Adolfo Mondragon returns to explain the logic of the illogic to Ben. Including…why Dems don’t riot when they lose, like MAGA does. Why corporate Chicago loves Pedro Martinez. Why MAGA likes Mexican cuisine but dislikes Mexicans. Why free speech apparently does not apply to Washington Post cartoonists who criticize the boss. And more. Adolfo is a lawyer in Chicago.

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Alden Loury tells you everything you need to know about property taxes. Including…why we need them. Why we hate them. Why they’re unfair and not up for the task we demand of them. How they force people to leave their neighborhoods. Ben adds a few words about TIFs. Which are property tax hikes. Even if corporate Chicago and all their city council flunkies pretend they aren’t. Alden is a writer and editor for WBEZ and one of Chicago’s foremost demographers. His views are his own.

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Ben doesn’t want to talk about all the bad news that happened last night. But he does so anyway. Kevin Blackistone returns to take us from A to Z on the Congressional land-transfer bill that enabled Washington to take control of land in Washington. It makes no sense until you realize that DC is treated more like a colony than a free state in the United States. In fact “Chocolate City” is not a state at all. Get ready for a twisting saga starring Mayor Muriel Bowser and featuring Elon Musk, Utah Senator Mike Lee and several other MAGA creatures. Kevin is a columnist for the Washington Post, a professor of journalism at the University of Maryland and a panelist for Around the Horn. His views are his own.

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Producer-director Michael Tollin has made movies about Michael Jordan and Hank Aaron. Now he’s producing a movie about Dick Allen, one of the greatest baseball players of the 60s and 70s. Michael’s love for Allen goes back to when he was playing for the Phillies. Ben loves him for his years with the White Sox. Hear them bicker over whether Allen’s true greatness was in Philly or Chicago. Proving that sports fans will argue over anything. And, yes, Michael’s movie about MJ was The Last Dance.

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As the re-election of Speaker Johnson happens in the background, Pat Whalen explains the Trump-MAGA playbook. And, as one of the only Chicagoans who actually watches the George Stephanopolous Show, he discusses ABC’s decision to cut a deal, uhm, settlement, with Donnie. What’s the Trump library include a book? Also that’s not the show’s real name. And a shoutout to Nick Sposato. Pat is a comedian, actor, podcaster and impresario.

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Congress elects Mike Johnson speaker by a few votes. Contrast that to Mayor Johnson’s four-vote budget victory. Ben riffs. Greg returns! He talks Mayors Lightfoot, Johnson, and Rahm. Also, journalism. Specifically, what constitutes a puff piece. Ever heard of a “beat sweetener”? Well, stick around for Greg’s explanation . Greg is a writer for the Chicago Tribune. And the author of The City Is Up For Grabs. His views are his own.

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Pension propaganda disguised as policy analysis—only in the NYT. Well, actually, it’s standard brainwashing in the mainstreams. Ben riffs. Mick Dumke riffs on Ben’s riff. Then they’re off—talking Jimmy Carter, Trump, Reagan and Bob Dylan. Yes, they both saw the Dylan movie. In the first show of 2025! Mick is a writer for Block Club. His views are his own.

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Ben shares his New Years Resolution for 2025. If you know Ben, you know, it's a BIG ONE! Now the main issue is…what’s the over under before he breaks that resolution?

Start the new year off right, by catching all the latest BennyJ Shows on your favorite podcast platforms.

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

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Crime falls in Chicago. Does Mayor Johnson get credit? Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson explains…only white mayors get credit for good things. Musk v Bannon! Apparently, the MAGA bosses think the great mass of MAGA voters are stupid. Which makes sense cause they voted for Trump. A few words of praise for President Carter.

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