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The Ben Joravsky Show

Ben Joravsky

Chicago journalist Ben Joravsky starts each show by riffing on the news of the day with his celebrated humor, insight, and honesty. Then he talks politics with activists, elected officials, journalists and all sorts of political know-it-alls. We talk Chicago, Illinois, national (lots of national), international and lefty politics. Find The Ben Joravsky Show wherever you download podcasts.

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a few times a week
Avg 58 min
English

Episodes 68

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#2608
Yesterday · 1 hr 3 min
Steve Krafft—Feral Greatness
Trump gets mad at Alina cause—why? What she did was unethical or cause she didn’t cut him a piece of the unethical pie? Ben riffs. Steve Krafft returns! With midterm predictions, updates on ‘zona politics, low-information voters and more. Steve was a TV reporter covering politics in Arizona for years. He and Ben have been friends since 1967. Go, Nichols Jr High! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#2607
Friday · 59 min
Sheerine Alemzadeh--Survivor Genius
Alaska’s very own Sullivangate reminds one listener of the time Libertarians in Illinois considered nominating a man named Jesse White to run for Secretary of State. Ben riffs. Sheerine Alemzadeh talks about rape culture in politics and on campus—Ohio, Cornell, Maine and the White House. Sheerine is co-founder and co-director of Healing in Action and author of a new book, Survivor Genius. Her views are her own. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#2606
Wednesday · 1 hr 5 min
Mueze Bawany--Chiocracy
Anti-Johnson aldermen want to “chip away” at a $36b pension obligation with $75m—only in Chicago. Ben riffs. Mueze Bawany returns! Talking politics—Michigan, Ohio and Chicago’s school board. Also, a few words about the Bears & the Bulls. Hey, lefties, remember this name—Caleb Wilson. Mueze is a football coach, teacher, activist, and socialist, though not necessarily in that order. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#2603
Monday · 1 hr 4 min
David Faris—Mean And Dirty Tricks
Trump’s Justice Department sues to overturn Alaska’s senate election, but only if the Democrat wins. Say what? Ben riffs. With less than two week’s before the election, David Faris explains who will win and why. A few words about MAGA’s gutter-racist campaign against El-Sayed and Ramaswamy’s I’m-with-the-rapist commercial in Ohio. And what’s going on in Montana? David is a political science professor at Roosevelt University and a columnist for The Nation. His views are his own. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#2605
October 24 · 41 min
Oh, What a Week—Mayor Johnson’s Campaign Budget
Ben & Dr D explore Maine, Michigan, Ohio and Chicago’s own City Hall. The midterms broken down. And a lesson in how a mayor crafts a budget during a reelection campaign, knowing the aldermen will never pass it cause they want him to look bad. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#2602
October 23 · 1 hr 8 min
Jim Coogan—False Framing
Vance and Ramaswamy take the side of the indicted child molester in Ohio. Ben riffs. Jim Coogan talks about Trump’s version of “Justice.” Including…his lawsuit against the BBC. His pay to play with pardons. And concealing select parts of the Epstein Files. Give ‘em hell, Katie Phang. Jim is managing partner of Coogan Gallagher. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#2601
October 21 · 1 hr 2 min
Mark Wallace--Going Back In Time
The greatest mathematicians in America confront their fears that AI is rendering them obsolete. Ben riffs. Mark Wallace returns to talk the midterms, undoing Trump’s damage and why he thinks Stephen A Smith is a moron. Also, a few words about the mayoral election. Mark hosts The People’s Show, a podcast based in Chicago. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#1895
October 19 · 1 hr 9 min
Shiller and Grimshaw--A History Lesson About Harold
Former Alderwoman Helen Shiller brings on the legendary Jacky Grimshaw to teach a couple of youngsters a history lesson or two about Mayor Harold Washington. So they will understand why he’s the GOAT. Ok, so one of the youngsters is Ben. Who hasn’t been a youngster since Harold was mayor. And the other is Brendan Shiller, poker player and criminal defense lawyer. Jacky Grimshaw is a political strategist who helped devise the tactics that resulted in Washington’s triumphs. Helen’s latest book is Daring to Struggle, Daring to Win. Originally dropped February 6, 2024. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#51
October 16 · 43 min
Chicago Legend—Ken Davis
After 9 years as Host, Ken Davis announced that he is ending his Chicago Newsroom on CAN TV. Join us as we look back at the highlights with the man himself. It's our dear friend Kenny D. Originally ran May, 2019. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#1322
October 14 · 51 min
Anat Shenker-Osorio--Winning Words
Anat Shenker-Osorio is a left-of-center political strategist who has spent many years studying messaging. That is--why certain messages resonate and others don't. Not surprising, she's determined that the right is more effective at the left at message. Why is that? She explains--with examples. She's the principal of ASO Communications and hosts her own podcast, Words to Win By.originally dropped Aoril12, 2022. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#2597
October 12 · 1 hr 2 min
Monroe Anderson—Take Out LA
Trump says: “Let them take out Los Angeles; let them take out San Diego.” Ben riffs. Monroe explains the essence of mainstream journalism as it’s practiced in America. “News is what’s happening in an editors backyard.”Also, Monroe sticks to his election predictions. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#2598
October 10 · 53 min
Oh, What a Week—The American Debate
Ben & Dr. D have much to say about many things. Starting with…the Hegseth firing squad. The senate debates in Michigan, Georgia and Maine. Will the wave be blue? And the latest in the Chicago Mayoral Race. Hello, Phoenix and Atlanta! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#2596
October 8 · 48 min
Maya Dukmasova—Wise Judges Wanted
Colorado must choose between funding schools or allowing climate-change fires to ravage the state. Ben riffs. Maya returns! That means the Injustice Watch Judicial Election Guide is out. Maya explains the choices voters will face in November’s judicial retention elections in Cook County. And she talks about her experiences covering domestic relations court. Also, what makes a good judge. Maya is an investigative reporter for Injustice Watch. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#2595
October 7 · 1 hr 2 min
Mick Dumke--Obama Goes To Michigan
President Obama endorses Abdul El-Sayed—finally. Ben riffs. Mick returns to talk Michigan politics and Chicago parking meters. Two of his—and Ben’s—favorite subjects. Mick is an editor/reporter for Block Club. And, few words about life’s distractions. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#2594
October 5 · 19 min
David Faris—Is That Wave Blue?
Ben has an existential crisis—for once he may see eye to eye with a majority of voters. David Faris explains the situation. With just a few weeks before the elections, Dems are winning. And here’s why. David is a political science professor at Roosevelt University and a columnist for The Nation. His views are his own. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#2593
October 3 · 1 hr 11 min
Ishan Daya and Jimmy Rothschild—Mayoral Money
The Sox move on, the Cubs go home and Ben riffs about tribalism in Chicago. Ishan Daya and Jimmy Rothschild talk about the Institute for Public Good’s report on donations to mayoral candidates. Sure looks like the old Mayors Daley/Rahm band is getting back together. Ishan is policy organizer for the Institute for Public Good. And Jimmy is an organizer for the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs. Their views are their own. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#2592
October 1 · 1 hr 10 min
Rummana Hussain—It’s Worse Than We Thought
Looks like MAGA’s still making it up as they roll along, as they accuse Jack Smith of perjury. Ben riffs. Rummana Hussain catches us up on everything. Including Trump, El-Sayed, Mayor Rahm, and Mamdani. Ben admits Rummana was right. Rummana is a columnist for the Sun-Times. Her views are her own. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#2591
September 30 · 47 min
Sarah Tang—Saving Chinatown
Twenty-nine aldermen take a stand against themselves. Say what? Ben riffs. Sarah Tang explains “categorical exclusion”—a policy weaponized by Trump to allow developers to do what they want without oversight. In this case, moving a railroad maintenance facility to Bridgeport, so a billionaire can build a new Sox stadium in the vacated land. Sarah is director for programs for the Coalition for a Better Chinese-American Community. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#2590
September 28 · 1 hr 5 min
Miles Kampf-Lassin—High-Tech Fascists
Bridgeport residents are refreshingly unafraid to say what they think about the proposal to replace Sox Park with a railroad maintenance facility. Ben riffs. Miles takes the deep dive on the high-tech fascists who want to end democracy and replace us with robots. Also, the difference between Trump and Vance. Miles is an editor/writer for In These Times. Do yourself a favor and read his latest essay—Tech Authoritarian Doomsayers. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#2586
September 26 · 51 min
Miranda Spivack—Government Secrets
Forty percent of voters still trust Trump on the economy even though the man’s clearly lost his mind. Ben riffs. Miranda Spivack makes her debut! A decorated investigative journalist, she talks about the secrets the government keeps from you about things they should be telling you. Like…chemicals in the drinking water. It’s government by NDA. It’s all in her latest book—Backroom Deals In Our Backyards. Which you should buy or check out of the library. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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