The Ben Joravsky Show

Richard Wallace—activist and rapper—talks about the challenges in making sure that the booming cannabis industry is opened to Black people.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Political activist Sameena Mustafa talks about the struggles of Joe Biden and his campaign.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben analyzes Joe Biden’s interview on the Morning Joe Show about Tara Reade’s accusation that he sexually assaulted her in 1993. And Rummana Hussain—Sun-Times editor/columnist—returns to talk about all the news of the week.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben talks the latest stay at home order lawsuits against Illinois Governor Pritzker, Hillary Clinton endorses Joe Biden and union man Ed Maher talks labor, Trump and more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Steve James—director of Hoop Dreams—talks basketball, Isiah Thomas, and, of course, Jordan & the Bulls.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben riffs on the COVID mixed messages, including efforts by Illinois Republicans to turn Governor Pritzker’s stay-at-home regulations against him. Also, Dani Brzozowski, Democratic candidate for Congress in the 16th, on running as a proud progressive in a district that went for Trump.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

City Hall reporter David Glowacz and Ben take the deep dive on Mayor Lightfoot’s successful effort to win control of COVID-related expenditures.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben breaks down Trump’s handouts for only rich people and explains why Trump thought it was a good idea to take Lysol as medicine. Also, political strategist Peter Cunningham talks about Biden‘s challenge, among other things.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s Trump, Trump, Trump—Biden—and more Trump as Monroe Anderson, the legendary Chicago journalist, tells it like it is about the worst president this country has ever seen. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Miles Kampf-Lassin—In These Times journalist—offers a leftist take on Biden, Trump and the recovery legislation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Attorney Jim Coogan returns for another segment of How Is This Legal? A question we apply to, among other things, the Supreme Court possibly allowing Donald Trump to hide his tax returns. Also, what is Brett Kavanaugh up to?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben compares and contrasts COVID briefings by Donald Trump and Governor Pritzker. Also, Sergio Mims, co-founder of the Black Harvest film festival, returns to talk politics.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben wrestles with the great question: Should the council grant Mayor Lightfoot even more contract and budget power than she already has? And young Ken Davis returns to discuss the abysmal shape of the environment.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kevin Blackistone—Washington Post columnist and panelist on Around The Horn—talks about Michael Jordan’s rookie season. No one imagined that Jordan would wind up being the subject of a ten-part ESPN series, especially Kevin & Ben, who were watching Jordan from the nose bleed seats at the old Chicago Stadium.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"Joe Biden Kool-Aid Wednesday" Jill Wine-Banks & Leni Manaa-HoppenworthSee 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 talks about the curious contrast in attitudes towards pets and people in the pandemic. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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

Dr. Gronemeyer, our favorite downstate physician, makes a return visit to discuss the impact of the pandemic in her community and to make the case for single payer health care.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Washington Post & Reader writer Mark Guarino on the life and songs of the great John Prine.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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

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

Ben riffs on Operation Gridlock protestors in Michigan, who want to reopen the economy from the relative safety of their cars. Rose Colacino & Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth of indivisible Illinois talk the Democratic win in Wisconsin.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Monroe riffs on Trump’s “clown show” briefings, and recounts his Facebook battles with the best & brightest minds in the MAGA hat movement.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben imagines the conversation in which Barack convinces Bernie to support Biden. Also, Loreen Targos, activist & scientist, talks about the city’s decision to allow a developer to demolish a smokestack in the middle of a pandemic.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben, Lisa Solomon & Mills McQueen talk CBD, THC, the NFL and many other cannabis related topics.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben gives a shoutout to Wisconsin voters for putting their lives on the line to get and vote for Jill Karofsky. Plus, the real deal on Bernie & Obama endorsing Biden. Also, Ben revises Chicago Magazine's list of the 50 most powerful women in Chicago. And Dr Crystal Cash makes her Ben Joravsky Show debut.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 urges Democrats to champion Bernie’s programs, even without Bernie in the race. If they want to beat Trump, that is.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Comedian Scott Duff gives his take on Joe Exotic, Carole Baskin and many of the other bizarre characters from Tiger King. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Ehrman explains what Illinois & Chicago leaders should be doing to protect the public, and presses the Democrats not to abandon a single payer health plan.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben follows the MAGA-hat logic of a John Kass column. And Laurie & Juanita talk about who they want Biden to select as VP, among other things.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Cannabis Conversations: With Lisa Solomon & Sonya HarperSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben talks about the New York Times sudden love for Bernie—now that he’s conveniently out of the race—and gives his top five VP picks for Biden. Also, union man/pension guru Jeff johnson on the dangers front line public employees face 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.

WVON talk show host Atiba Buchanan talks Bernie, Biden and Wisconsin—or Trump’s attempt to win re-election by making it more difficult for Black people to vote.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben mourns the end of Bernie’s campaign and tries to get excited about Biden, while ranking his Top Five Democrats to replace him. And Terry Cosgrove, president of Personalpac, talks about the election debacle in Wisconsin.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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

Ben riffs on the mixed messages our elected officials—Trump and Mayor Lightfoot included—are sending about the virus. And Troy LaRaviere talks schools, education, Bernie, Trump and more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mick Dumke, Pro Publica investigative reporter, and Ben take the deep dive on Bob Dylan’s recently released epic poem/song, Murder Most Foul. Is Dylan saying that LBJ was in on the conspiracy to kill JFK?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"The Rummana Rundown" With Rummana HussainSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Miles Kampf-Lassin, political reporter for In These Times, talks about Biden’s strange strategy to woo Bernie backers by bashing them. And much more...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben, Lisa & Steven Gough, president of Onsen Labs, discuss the pros and cons and dos and don’ts of vaping.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben goes “Jimmy Dore” on the View, offers advice to Chicago’s new police chief, and points out the difference between Republicans and Democrats when it comes to fundraising 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.

It’s “Leni time” on the Ben Joravsky as political activist Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth brings on her allies. Laura Swinand talks about the Supreme Court election in Wisconsin. And Elizabeth Harz talks about Sittercity.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben and Dennis ask: Are Whoopi Goldberg and her colleagues on The View anti- Bernie? Union man Ed Maher on the stimulus bill. And, of course, more Tiger King talk!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 weekly interview with legendary Chicago journalist Monroe Anderson. He tries to convince Ben that Biden has a smart strategy for beating Trump.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben riffs on using Tiger King to dull the pain of existence. And political scientist David Faris explains what Democrats have to do to save the country from the madness of Trump and his Republican allies.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Maya explains the rights of renters in these hard times. And then she points out some of the more bizarre voting patterns from the March 17 primary.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben riffs on the insanity of these times—from Falwell in Virginia to Tiger King on Netflix to Trump in the White House. Dennis on Lori’s PSAs—is she channeling her inner Benny J? And Dr. Howard Ehrman returns for a COVID-19 update.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Neill Mohammad—Jeopardy contestant and congressional candidate—explains how Trump is trying to use the pandemic to his political advantage.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hoopsters—need a b-ballfix cause the season’s suspended? Well, we have a fix for you! Ben talks one-on-one with Sun-Times Bulls writer Joe Cowley. What's next for the Bulls now that Gar Forman is “scouting in Siberia”? Will Zac LaVine leave town? These basketball questions and more on this Benny J Bonus Interview.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chicago Reader Publisher Tracy Baim tells us about The Chicago Reader coloring book & Hosts of the Heartland Mamas Podcast, Heidi Henry & Murri Briel, return to talk the 2020 POTUS race and more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.