The Ben Joravsky Show

Vance throws a hissy fit over Abdul El-Sayed. Ben riffs. Dr Thaer Ahmad returns to talk about, among other things, the documentary, American Doctor. It tells the story of three courageous U. S. doctors who go to Gaza to treat the wounded. One is Thaer—now the Israelis won’t let him return. The conversation turns to politics. So much has changed in American attitudes toward Israel and Palestine in the last three years. And, sadly, so much is the same for the Palestinians. Thaer is an emergency room doctor in the Chicago area. His views are his own.

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At age 70, having made more money than he can even count, Bill Gates decides to take a stand against unbridled capitalism. Ben riffs. Maggie Wunderly explains what Democrats have to do to win in purplish suburban districts. Also, vote blue no matter who should be a two-way street. Maggie is a co-founder of Illinois Progressives, who are holding a fundraiser on September 13 in Aurora.

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Another day, another scandal in Trump land. Ben riffs. David Faris catches us up on the latest political news. Including a riff or two on “reactionary Centrists” in the Democratic Party. Who are convinced that the only way to win back Congress is to abandon all principles. Also, a few words on polls and the senate elections. David is a political science professor at Roosevelt University and a columnist for The Nation. His views are his own.  

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NBC 5 asks Mayor Brandon Johnson if he plans to run for re-election. His response was…interesting. Plus! Ben and Dr D talk about the 2026 Illinois State Fair. And Alexis G’s movie double. And JB’s latest commercial. And more…

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Meta dips into petty cash to get rid of a nasty legal headache. Ben riffs. Mike Allemana tells you everything you need to know about this year’s Chicago Jazz Fest. Get ready for riffs on George Freeman, Ahmad Jamal, Cannonball Adderley, Robert Glasper, Paquito D’Rivera, Robert Irving, Miles Davis, Darryl Jones, Dee Dee Bridgewater and more. 

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The political news out of Michigan is promising—at least at one man’s house. Ben riffs. Peter Cunningham returns! Finally. And he’s got a lot to say about the Democratic message in the stretch run to November. On everything from abortion to guns to climate change to Israel and so forth. Peter is a political strategist who worked for Mayor Daley and President Obama.

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Data center lovers scoff at NIMBY to justify putting one in somebody else’s backyard. Ben riffs. Grey Lucas goes A to Z on the Quantum Center that the state’s building on the old steel yard at 87th and the lake. Starting with…what is a quantum center? Why put it there as opposed to anywhere else in the universe? Will it bring with it a data center? And more. Grey is an investigative reporter whose work on the quantum center is in the Chicago Reader. Originally posted August 3, 2026.

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Michael Cohen and Trump break up to make up—again. Ben riffs. David figures out where Cohen—and Lindsey Graham—fit in the pantheon of fools who flock to Trump. Selling their souls for what? Money? Power? Access? A pat on the head from the boss? Updates on Trump’s war in Iran. And the congressional vote on funding Israel. “The party is dedicated to a policy its base despises.” David is a political science professor at Roosevelt university and a columnist for The Nation. His views are his own. Originally posted on July 20, 2026.

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Former 2019 Mayoral Candidates Troy LaRaviere and Willie Wilson join us in studio. Originally posted March 5, 2019.

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So many lessons to be learned from Francesca Hong’s Thanksgiving Tweet. Ben riffs. Rachel Hinton returns with the latest on the book backup at the Chicago Public Library. What does it say about Chicago that its leaders won’t adequately fund the public libraries? Also, mayor race updates. And a few words about Pope Hat night at Sox Park. Rachel is an investigative reporter at Block Club.

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