The Ben Joravsky Show

The aftermath from yesterday's chaos. Hear what our elected leaders in Illinois (left and right) have to say about the time Trump supporters stormed the nation's capitol! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben gives his thoughts on Georgia's election. The rift between the Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools continues. Meet Governor Pritzker's new Downstate Czar.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben was getting ready for his weekly chat with Monroe about relatively mundane things like the Democratic victories in Georgia, when the shit hit the fan in D.C. MAGA protesters stormed the capital and seized control of Speaker Pelosi's office. What follows is the escalating disbelief of two old friends, who thought they'd seen it all.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Trump's call to Georgia. Mayor Lightfoot meets AnJeanette Young. The Mayor and the Chicago Teachers Union start the new year on a bad foot. Troy LaRaviere delivers a powerful message to the CPS. Dave Glowacz returns with a review of December's Chicago city council meeting.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sun-Times editor/columnist Rummana Hussain returns for a special Rummana Rundown. The good and the bad of 2020. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The great Craig Hodges talks Bulls, Jordan, Krause and pretty much everything else in the basketball universe.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Albert Berger has produced such great movies as Cold Mountain, Little Miss Sunshine, Nebraska, Election and Ruby Sparks. He and Ben cover everything from the future of movies to Cooley High. One of the greatest movies--ever!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Which news story will capture the coveted honor of most Hellish Story for 2020? There's only one way to find out! Let the countdown begin...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Author of The Edge of Sports blog and sports editor for The Nation, Dave Zirin joins Ben to talk about the year that was. Also, Zirin explains why he finally decided enough’s enough and walked away from his once beloved New York Knicks.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Monroe Anderson has been talking Trump, Trump, Trump for the last four years. Are we coming to the end of the Trump era? Doesn't look like it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Are the Republicans going to pull a coup next week to snatch the election from Biden and give it to Trump? Also, Ben riffs on the Big Three.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Stacy Davis Gates--vice president of the Chicago Teachers Union--asks the big question: Should Chicago's public school teachers trust CPS to get it right when it comes to reopening the schools in a pandemic? Also, SDG on MJM.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The president says dance and the Republicans start tapping. Ben talks about the control one Donald John Trump has over the Republicans. Also, what happened to Mayor Lightfoot's meeting with Anjanette Young?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mick Dumke & Ben take the deep dive on Chicago and its mayors. Can't-miss conversation from two political geeks, who probably know too much about Chicago politics.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dan Savage is superstar columnist who's specialty is advice on sex. But the man also knows his politics. National and local. He grew up in Chicago. He's funny and brash and really smart.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Political strategist Delmarie Cobb breaks down the top stories of 2020 and looks into her crystal ball to predict what's coming around the bend. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's our countdown of the top 10 Chicago/Illinois stories of 2020. Numbers 10-6. Be the first to know!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Comedians Rachel Joravsky (Ben's daughter) & Cody Wilkins talk comedy in the pandemic, and their new podcast "Ain't Nobody Checkin' For Me". What's so funny about 2020?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Right before the holiday season, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker delivered a COVID-19 press briefing and learn more about this year's 10 ten local news countdown.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Has Trump lost his mind? Or is there a purpose for his madness? Monroe Anderson--Chicago's foremost authority on all things MAGA--weighs in. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is President Trump channeling his inner lefty with his stimulus check demands? Mayor Lightfoot hires an investigator to investigate herself. All part of her attempt handle the political fallout of the Anjanette Young video.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The red line extension in Chicago has made a significant step toward securing about 1 BILLION dollars in federal funds. Learn more about our 2020 countdown special "The Ten Gates of Illinois Hell"See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is William Barr the worst attorney general in U.S. history? Hard to say--the competition's fierce. Trial lawyer Jim Coogan returns to the show to makes the case by running through some of Barr's most egregious maneuvers on behalf of Trump. Starting with his handling of the Mueller Report.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Seriously, 600 dollars?? More fallout from the release of the Anjanette Young video as Top Chicago Lawyer Mark Flessner resigns.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If Democrats want to build support beyond cities and suburbs, they should listen to activists like Sarah Bingaman of Indivisible Illinois, who tried to win over voters in Trump country where "Pritzker sucks" signs reign. Speaker Michael Madigan's not too popular either.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"In These Times" Writer Miles Kampf-Lassin on Mayor Lightfoot and the release of the AnJanette Young video, the future of the Democratic Party, dastardly Republicans and more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dan Mihalopoulos returns to explain Madigangate! The time utility big wigs com-ed admitted to arranging jobs, contracts and payoffs to the associates of democratic Illinois House Speaker Michael Joseph MadiganSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We go LIVE from the Thompson Center for Governor Pritzker's COVID-19 update! Also, what do 3 Chicago Alderpeople have in store for the Mayor after the release of the AnJennette Taylor video??See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben reminds us of a fact we all know...lefties get no love in politics! Mayor Lightfoot admits she was aware of the CPD body cam video of Anjenette Young. Will the President of the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police be fired??See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rumored Secretary of State candidate Alexi Giannoulias put out a video criticizing Washington for not getting stimulus checks to struggling families and businesses.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alderman Sigcho-Lopez talks about his heated city council exchange with Mayor Lightfoot on the police raid on Anjanette Young's house. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben takes jabs at Donald Trump Jr. Mayor Lightfoot apologizes after the release of the Anjanette Young video and a Chicago alderman pushes back. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

An early IL gubernatorial challenger trolls online and Governor Pritzker's appearance in a social media adSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the final episode of our series on City So Real, radio show host Maze Jackson explains why he's the star of the movie. On a more serious level, Maze explains the similarities between how Rahm Emanuel handled the release of the Laquan McDonald video and how Mayor Lightfoot handled the release of the Anjanette Young video. It seems as though Chicago's mayors are determined to never learn from the past. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben congratulates Joe Biden's transportation pick! The latest on the CPD footage of Ms. Anjanette Young. The mayor's city council meeting and Governor Pritzker talks budget cuts! Legendary Chicago journalist Monroe Anderson returns to talk Trump, Trump and TrumpSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot accuses two city council members of taking advantage of--horrors--"aldermanic prerogative"! And, the Michael Joseph Madigan Show--a political theater staged by Illinois Republicans--has an early curtain fall.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Reader writer Maya Dukmasova returns to talk about the shocking case of how police treated Anjanette Young. Also, "computergate"--Chalkbeat's scoop on how one Mayor Lightfoot donor got a no-bid, $1.6 million contract to sell computers to the Chicago Public Schools. And not one word about Joseph Epstein's obsession with not calling Jill Biden Dr. Jill Biden.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben gets Trump’s latest fundraising email. And then he analyzes the latest “offer” from CPS to the teachers union.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In part four of our five-part series on City So Real, Katie & Tim Tuton--co-owners of the Hideout--talk about TIFs, Lincoln Yards and trying to run a music club in the pandemic. And, of course, they also talk about City So Real...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

State Rep. Andrade and David Feller (aka, The Northwest-Side-Political-Know-It-Alls) passionately defend Speaker Michael Joseph Madigan. Aka-the Maddog! They also try to shame other Democrats into doing the same. Are you convinced? Gotta listen to find out...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

David Faris wrote the manual--It's Time to Fight Dirty--on what Democrats should do to stop being the Republican patsies. Now he explains why the Dems won the White House but not the Senate. And what they have to do to win those senate seats in Georgia. Pay attention, Dems!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Six Democratic legislators write a "confidential" letter supporting Speaker Michael Madigan. Ben takes it from there...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alderman Tunney and his Cinnamon Roll Speakeasy, MAGA tries to vacate the votes of Black people, and renaming LSD for DuSable are just some of the topics discussed by Rummana Hussain, editor/columnist of the Chicago Sun-Times.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben Joravsky predicted something correctly?? The Chicago Teachers Union release their list of demands should they go back to the classrooms during the pandemic.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Democratic state Rep. Will Guzzardi, the pride and joy of Hipster Land, explains why the Fair Tax lost. Then Ben weighs in...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Vincent E. Norment, owner of the Marijuana Hall of Fame, speaks his mind on everything from the Bears prejudice against Black quarterbacks to the racial inequities in the cannabis trade to Vince Vaughn wimping out and not taking a stand against racism. Also, Ben & Vincent continue their great Ice Cube debate.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben tries again to step into the mind of a Donald Trump supporter. The Chicago Mayor is disappointed with Alderman Tom Tunney as another episode of "A Mayor and Her Aldermen" begins. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A COVID-19 vaccine is on it's way to Chicago and Mayor Lightfoot announces the city's distribution game planSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Somehow or other Congresswoman-elect Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Qanon believer, feels qualified to weigh in on whether Raphael Warnock is qualified to be a U.S. Senator. Monroe Anderson explains...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben knows a scam when he sees one. With longtime Secretary of State Jesse White not seeking re-election, who are the politicians looking to take his seat??See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.