So much news to discuss, and so little time to discuss it. So Ben and Dr Dive get right down to it. Bears beat Packers. Indiana makes its move for the Bears. Packers fan Mike Quigley dips his toe into the mayoral waters. For mayor of Fond du Lac? No, Chicago. Yes, he loves Matt LaFleur but he wants to be mayor of Ben Johnson City. Will he take the plunge? As long as Mayors Daley or Rahm aren’t running, he just might. JB meets the media. And more… 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

MAGA Senator Lindsey Graham momentarily told the truth about Trump’s election lie—and he was under oath. Ben riffs. Kevin Ryan returns! Talks campaign spending reform, reining in Trump’s military powers, why some voters “hate” Democrats, why ICE should be abolished. Also, his thoughts on religion and politics. A Marine Corps veteran and school teacher, Kevin is running in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On the eve of the NFL playoffs, Mike Quigley announces he plans to run for mayor of Chicago while rooting for Green Bay to beat the Bears. Ben riffs. George and Alejandro Verdin—uncle and nephew—welcome Ben to Boyle Heights in East Los Angeles. Where they sit at a back table in the El Tepeyac Cafe and talk all things politics. Including the rise of L.A.’s Chicano movement, the ICE invasion, and who is the godfather of Hispanic politics in Los Angeles. Hint, it’s not George, despite what Ben insists. Alejandro is a political consultant and founder of the Nineteen Sixty Campaigns. George is an immigration lawyer.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The new year was supposed to be better, so let’s hope it’s just a case of things always being darkest before the dawn. Ben riffs. David Faris on the murder by ICE of Renee Nicole Good, Venezuela lunacy, and the upcoming midterms. The sad statement of Trump’s regime—“people are eager to be told what to do by a strong man.” David is a political science professor at Roosevelt University and a columnist for The Nation. His views are his own.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A few days after Stephen Miller says Trump can do what he wants cause “the real world” is “governed by force,” ICE shoots and kills Renee Nicole Good and then lies about what happened. Ben riffs. Denali Dasgupta returns to talk about Venezuela, Minnesota, the performance of power (as opposed to the exercise of power), and why Ben should stop watching state-run TV. Also, a few words about Zootopia 2 and corporate America. Denali is an activist in Chicago.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Stephen Miller—Trump’s Rasputin—says if Boss Donnie wants to take Greenland, he will take it and no one can stop him cause might is right and that’s how the real world works. Ben riffs. Sam Fuqua gives the state of the state—Colorado, that is. Meet Tina Peters, Jared Polis, and Lauren Boebert (well, you already know her). Hear about Trump’s might-is-right retaliation, pulling federal money for a water project, unless Colorado releases Peters from jail. Sam is a longtime newsman in Colorado.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After Trump kidnaps Maduro, the NYT takes a stand against swallowing government handouts. Ben riffs. Adolfo Mondragon runs through all of the alleged reasons Trump’s operatives concocted to justify the invasion and kidnapping. Drugs? Please. The Monroe Doctrine? Stop. Restoring democracy? Ha, ha, ha. Will MAGA fall in line even though they’re supposed to be against regime change wars? And what would George Carlin say? Let’s listen. Adolfo is a lawyer in Chicago and an expert on gangster moves—which this definitely is.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Sun-Times decides it’s a good idea to illustrate a front-page story about Chicago’s declining murder rate with a picture of police investigating a murder. Ben riffs. State Senator Graciela Guzman breaks down the significance of Mayor Mamdani’s inauguration. Including…Mandy Patinkin singing Somewhere Over The Rainbow. The Jadakiss shoutout. The pledge to govern as a Democratic Socialist. The Bernie Sanders torch pass. And why We Gonna Make It is her favorite song by Jadakiss. That’s the one that starts—Forget That Frail Stuff. More or less. Graciela is the state senator from the 20th district in Chicago. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Seymour Hersh documentary shows how much has changed and how much has stayed the same over the last 60 years. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson explains how some rules of journalism are not written down. But reporters follow them just the same. Also, Tina Peters is MAGA’s Joan of Arc. What Jesse Jackson meant when he told Monroe—I want you to be my friend. And will the Bears move to Gary? Hint…no way. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new year’s arrived, but Ben would rather talk about an old one—1963. So onto the show comes Peter Orner to discuss The Gossip Columnist’s Daughter, his latest novel. It tells the story of the death of Cookie Kupcinet, daughter of Kup, a legendary Sun-Times gossip columnist and TV host. Was it suicide or murder? What role, if any, did Sidney Korshak play? But it’s also a tale about the complicity of “honorable” men in the corruption of Chicago. Great book. Listen to the show and run out to read it.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.