The Ben Joravsky Show

Plus - Ben talks Wisconsin's (moderate) democratic gubernatorial candidate; The latest claims involving Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch. Willie Wilson also running for mayor. And much more.

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Dems rejoice over David Crowley’s win in yesterday’s Democratic primary. Ben riffs. Kelly Cassidy on Speaker Welch, Harry Benton, Michael Madigan and sexual harassment in the General Assembly. Somethings never change. Also, a few words about data centers. And Kelly updates Ben’s Helen Shiller Theory about Chicago politics. Kelly represents the 14th district on the north side.

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MAGA has fallen head over heels in love with Sophie Cunningham and apparently Sophie Cunningham has decided to return the favor. Ben riffs. Jim Coogan talks Trump “Justice.” Jeanine Pirro bails on the reflecting-pool case. Todd Blanche’s confirmation as AG. And the prosecution of a cop in California for secretly recording the racist conversations of his fellow officers. Jim is managing partner Coogan Gallagher.

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Centrist Democrats pledge to defeat Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed—hey, Dems, what happened to vote blue no matter who? Ben riffs. Miles adds his thoughts—many centrists would rather defeat progressives than defeat Trump. So much for the resistance. A few words about congressional candidate Will Lawrence. Finally, Ben and Miles are overjoyed by the prospects of Chicago’s other Caleb—Wilson of the Bulls. Miles is an editor and writer for In These Times. 

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar speaks the truth about Trump’s nonstop racism. Ben riffs. Gave Wilkins & Torrence Stagger, podcasters extraordinaire, talk LeBron, Bulls, Kwai, Ballmer and other issues of the NBA. Ben says Caleb Wilson reminds him of another Bulls rookie from 1984. The others say—hmm? Gave and Torrence co-host The New Twenty Four, aka TNTF. 

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Lefties win big in Michigan’s Democratic primaries. Ben tries not to gloat. Laurie Glenn tells Dems what’s wrong with their party. Also, what’s wrong with bullies in the workplace. Why guys who think they’re big power players aren’t so big after all. And the difference between diverting from or reframing a question. Laurie is CEO of Thinkinc, a communications and political strategy operation.

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It must be election time—lefties are suddenly discovering the Black vote. Ben riffs. Delmarie Cobb talks Michigan Democratic primary. And Alexi G’s explanation for why he’s running for two offices at once. And she makes another pitch for a south side Bears stadium and third airport. Delmarie is a political strategist in Chicago.

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Chicago mayoral hopefuls begin gathering petitions; Mayor Rahm has words for Mayor Mamdani; Is Alexi running, and more

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Dr. Fauci decides it’s a good idea not to answer Rand Paul’s questions about COVID. Ben riffs Monroe and Jack cover all the issues. Including Fauci, Paul, Trump’s war in Iran, White House journalists dinner, Johnny Cochran and The Odyssey. Monroe is—well, everyone knows Monroe. Jack was a writer and editor for Time.

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NYT reporters call Trump’s election-theft conspiracies what they are—tenacious lies Ben riffs. Robert Vargas separates truth from fiction in the matter of crime. If crime in Chicago has gone down during Mayor Johnson’s tenure, why do so many people think it’s gone up? Ben says it’s cause Chicagoans have been brainwashed. Robert says it’s more nuanced than that. Robert is a sociology professor at the University of Chicago. His views are his own.

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