The Ben Joravsky Show

Rich guys sucking up to Trump to get favorable rulings receive a surprise--apparently, the recipe to win him over includes an ingredient they overlooked. Ben riffs. Jacob Kaplan talks Democratic slating. Why Hynes got slated over Kaegi. And Croke over Villa. And what is the party's position on Gaza. And redistricting fights--will Illinois retaliate if Texas follows Trump's command to redistrict Democratic seats into Republ...

A year ago, Democratic political activists like Kina Collins were the only people urging congress to stop unconditionally arming Israel. Now even mainstream reporters are singing this song. Ben riffs. Kina Collins returns to talk Dems, Israel and Gaza. Once again, a major Epsteingate story breaks mid recording. In this case, Ghislaine Maxwell gets moved to a minimum cell prison after meeting with Trump's Justice Department...

South Park's creators show there are other ways to deal with King Donnie--other than kissing his ring. Ben riffs. Kevin Blackistone talks about the impact of media mergers on media independence. Also, the latest on Washington, DC football arena. Trump orders the Washington Commanders to change their name to the Redskins or he won't let them build a new arena. Mayor Bowser walks a fine line as she tries to keep the stadium ...

Mayor Rahm and Governor Shapiro have harsh words for Zohran Mamdani, but silence as kids starve in Gaza. Ben riffs. Miles Kampf-Lassin talks Gaza, Israel, Dems and Mamdani. And why Netanyahu telling Trump he's nominating him for a Nobel Peace Prize just may be the the most cynical act of suck up in the history of politics. Also, a few words about Epsteingate. Miles is in the middle of talking conspiracies when a passing th...

Apparently, Trump's Justice Department and Ghislaine Maxwell are playing footsie--got nothing but nice things to say about each other. Ben riffs. Monroe says what he thinks they're saying without them coming right out and saying. If you dig what I mean. Get ready for Espteingate to transform into pardongate. In the middle of our recording, the Wall Street Journal breaks another about Trump and Epstein story. "Justice Depar...

Another day, another story links Trump to Epstein. Ben riffs. Joanna Klonsky talks creeps in politics.. Trump being the face of this type. And Bill Clinton. Speaking of which--why do Dems still suck up to Clinton? And why didn't Merrick Garland release the Epstein files? What is the playbook pols follow to divert attention from their misbehavior? What does Mayor Rahm mean when he tells Megyn Kelly he will be the "strong ma...

Ben & Dr D cruise all over the place as they survey a week's worth of news. Including...Cleveland, where Mayor Johnson meets with other mayors. And Springfield, where Governor Pritzker runs for president and governor. And Kerry Wood Field, where aldermen play police in softball. And CTA trains, where Mayor Johnson tries to crack down on smoking. And MAGAland, where Megyn Kelly records her show. And a Chicago landfill, ...

Zohran Mamdani plans to build a grocery store in a food desert--mainstreamers lose their minds. Ben riffs. Mueze Bawany returns! And promptly compares Mayor Johnson to the Z-man. And explains why he's going to New York City to campaign for Mamdani. Also, he tries to convince Ben to give millennials a break--even if they no nothing about the parking meter deal. What's the worst sports deal in Chicago history and what's the ...

Trump tries to bamboozle MAGA on Epstein by asking the court to unseal grand jury testimony. Is MAGA so dumb as to fall for this ruse? Ben riffs. Rummana Hussain weighs in. Also, "good" versus "bad" Muslims. A few words about Zohran Mamdani who answers the intifada question--again! Why do capitalists hate socialism so much? Finally, Ben welcomes Yuki Kawamura to the Bulls. Rummana is a columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times.

S...

Espteingate rises from the swamp--again. Ben riffs. David Faris offers his thoughts. Is there a list of clients? Did Epstein try to blackmail the rich and powerful deviants who flocked to his perverted world? Did he get murdered? Also, the cognitive dissonance of MAGA cultists who simultaneously despise the crimes of Epstein and worship the man who hung with him. Finally, did King Donnie really use the word enigma in a bir...

Ben and Dr D return! Just in time to talk nepotism. Or meet the new alderman—same name as the old alderman. And Comptroller Mendoza says she's running for mayor. Sorta. And JB selects a running mate--Christian Mitchell. Who may be acting Governor Mitchell, should JB run for president. Speaking of running for president, Mayor Rahm rewrites more history. And Raja leads in the money race in the senate campaign. And Ben apolog...

In the name of budget reform, Michael Madigan’s favorite alderman messes with Mayor Johnson. Ben riffs. Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette returns to explain the ins and outs of Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill Act.” How it impacts Medicaid, taxes, the deficit, food stamps, state and municipal taxes, ICE and military spending. Dylan is the vice president of Policy and Government Affairs for the Project On Government Oversight.

See Privacy P...

Trump sues federal judges because he disagrees with their rulings. Ben riffs. Jim Coogan explains the difference between appealing a judge’s ruling you disagree with and suing the judge for making that ruling. One is constitutional. The other is not. Unless, of course, the Supremes say—ah, the hell with the constitution, let’s give the boss what he wants. Also, the Emil Bove threat. And governors versus Trump on the nation...

Speaking for corporate Dems everywhere, Lawrence Summers says he's "profoundly alarmed" about the future of our country in light of Mamdani's victory--as if being alarmed isn't strong enough. Ben riffs. Marc Sims talks about the "Iron Law of Oligarchy." That's Marc Andreesen's theory about democracy. Which is taken from a book Andreesen once read. Andreesen is a fabulously wealthy venture capitalist. His theory basically s...

Zohran Mamdani, the young lefty, beats Andrew Cuomo, the old centrist, in the NYC Democratic mayoral primary. Ben riffs. Monroe talks about the irony of Mayor Eric Adams, a Black man, running an updated version of Bernie Epton's vote-for-me-before-it's-too-late campaign. Earthquake makes his Ben Joravsky Show debut--sorta. On how MAGA believes anything Trump tells them--even if it contradicts whatever he told them the day ...

Ben riffs on what has changed and what remains the same since George Floyd’s murder. And Troy LaRaviere, president of the Chicago Principal’s Association, talks about getting arrested and thrown in jail by police defending Trump Tower from protestors. Also, what defund-the-police activists can learn from the Charter school crowd. Recorded in June of 2020

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy...

Mainstream Dems seem madder at Mamdani than they are at Trump. Ben riffs. David Faris explains his latest theory, the Trump cycle. And how it applies to the bombing of Iran. Also, the fallacy of bombing as an alternative to negotiation. The MAGA split. The post hoc MAGA rationalization Machine for whatever stupid thing Trump comes up with. David is a professor of political science at Roosevelt University and a columnist fo...

It was roughly ten years ago that Trump announced he was running for president. Everyone laughed. Turns out the joke was on us. Ben riffs. Ray Hanania explains the essence of Trump. Or at least what Trump wants. Then it's Ray on Israel, Iran, Gaza and why Arabs in the Middle East say they like Trump. A few words about Alderman RayLo. And another round of the ageless Ben/Ray debate--is a politician a racist if he "only" exp...