Advertise on podcast: The Ben Joravsky Show

Trump said he could shoot someone on 5th Avenue, and MAGA would let him get away with it—but will they stomach the new Melania movie? Ben riffs. Antonio Correa returns. Talking Hispanic ICE agents. “They think they’re in the elite club.” And fools with badges, guns and face coverings. And much love for Marimar Martinez and Mayor Johnson. Antonio is a former Marine and a senior digital strategist for Heartland Signal. 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.

Not long before we start recording, news broke that Don Lemon has bee arrested by agents of Trump for the high crime of practicing journalism. Ben riffs. Media critic Jennifer Schulze talks journalism in the Trump era. The Lemon arrest. The Ellisons and Bari Weiss trash CBS News. And a shoutout to local journalists. Jennifer is a former television journalist who writes [Indistinct Chatter], a column on Substack.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The picture of an unarmed Minneapolis woman, standing in her doorway as ICE goons approach, brandishing their weapons tells you all you need to know. Ben riffs. Miles Kampf-Lassin covers the state of the country. Including…wimpy Senate Dems. Also, who’s in charge to the White House—Trump Or Miller? And the power of ideology—“it’s a helluva drug.” Finally, a bball break from the horror. Who’s Chicago’s greatest—MJ or D Rose? Miles is an editor writer for In These Times. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The feds sorta tell the truth iabout the execution of Alex Pretti. Ben riffs. Nick Uniejewski returns to talk about his campaign in the Democratic primary against longtime incumbent state Senator Sara Feigenholtz. It’s the first time that district’s incumbent has had a primary challenge since—hold on—1972. Among other things, Nick talks about what the state can do to protect its residents from ICE. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Worried about upsetting Boss Donnie, the NRA waters down its response to the public execution of Alex Pretti by agents of ICE. Ben riffs. And as Mayor Rahm tries to bamboozle Democratic voters into nominating him as their presidential candidate, Nora Flanagan and Jarrett Dapier revisit Persepolisgate—when Mayor Rahm’s flunkies ordered teachers to remove Persepolis from the classroom. A blast from his past that Mayor Rahm will not be talking about on the campaign trail. Nora is a former CPS English teacher and Jarrett is a librarian and co-author of Wake Now In The Fire, a recently published graphic novel about the Persepolis book banning.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Seven House Dems vote with Trump to fund ICE. Ben riffs. Joey Ruzevich explains why he’s challenging 6th district Congressman Sean Casten in the Democratic primary. He talks Gaza, health care, the limits of government approved protest and the choice voters face between “fighters versus folders.” Aside from being a candidate, Joey is a software engineer and former college bssketball player. Yes, there’s basketball talk.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Posters for the Melania “documentary” show up in Hispanic neighborhoods hit hard by ICE. Ben riffs. Monroe talks Amazon deal with Melania, Trump’s senility in Davos and Indiana’s peculiar proposal to the Bears. And more… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Trying to stay sane in an age of madness, Ben turns to sports as an escape—it almost works. Ben riffs. Charles Henderson tackles the tough topics. Including…the devil’s deal military recruiters offer Hispanics. Sign up and we won’t deport your parents—maybe. Also Charles turns the table on Ben, asking him the “regret” question. Charles is an Army vet and peace activist.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

MAGA ranchers in Colorado forgive Trump even after he kills their much-needed water project out of spite. Ben riffs. Cook County Commissioner Jessica Vasquez explains why Chicago is a model for the Democrats to emulate—at least in her part of town on the northwest side. Also, the difference between the city council and the board of commissioners. And why she doesn’t support funding for a new Bears stadium, as much as she loves the team. Jessica represents the 8th district and is running for re-election. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the news of the weird, clueless ICE agents round up Native Americans on the grounds that they are illegal aliens who have to be deported to the country they came from. Ben riffs. Heidi Henry gives an update on politics in the Heartland. Data center passes for development. A toxic radium site still not cleaned up. A clueless Democratic Party. And on the positive side—Kevin Ryan got it right. Heidi is one of the founders of Illinois Valley Indivisible, a horse trainer and a proud leftie.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

So much news to discuss, and so little time to discuss it. So Ben and Dr Dive get right down to it. Bears beat Packers. Indiana makes its move for the Bears. Packers fan Mike Quigley dips his toe into the mayoral waters. For mayor of Fond du Lac? No, Chicago. Yes, he loves Matt LaFleur but he wants to be mayor of Ben Johnson City. Will he take the plunge? As long as Mayors Daley or Rahm aren’t running, he just might. JB meets the media. And more…  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

MAGA Senator Lindsey Graham momentarily told the truth about Trump’s election lie—and he was under oath. Ben riffs. Kevin Ryan returns! Talks campaign spending reform, reining in Trump’s military powers, why some voters “hate” Democrats, why ICE should be abolished. Also, his thoughts on religion and politics. A Marine Corps veteran and school teacher, Kevin is running in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On the eve of the NFL playoffs, Mike Quigley announces he plans to run for mayor of Chicago while rooting for Green Bay to beat the Bears. Ben riffs. George and Alejandro Verdin—uncle and nephew—welcome Ben to Boyle Heights in East Los Angeles. Where they sit at a back table in the El Tepeyac Cafe and talk all things politics. Including the rise of L.A.’s Chicano movement, the ICE invasion, and who is the godfather of Hispanic politics in Los Angeles. Hint, it’s not George, despite what Ben insists. Alejandro is a political consultant and founder of the Nineteen Sixty Campaigns. George is an immigration lawyer. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The new year was supposed to be better, so let’s hope it’s just a case of things always being darkest before the dawn. Ben riffs. David Faris on the murder by ICE of Renee Nicole Good, Venezuela lunacy, and the upcoming midterms. The sad statement of Trump’s regime—“people are eager to be told what to do by a strong man.” 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.

A few days after Stephen Miller says Trump can do what he wants cause “the real world” is “governed by force,” ICE shoots and kills Renee Nicole Good and then lies about what happened. Ben riffs. Denali Dasgupta returns to talk about Venezuela, Minnesota, the performance of power (as opposed to the exercise of power), and why Ben should stop watching state-run TV. Also, a few words about Zootopia 2 and corporate America. Denali is an activist in Chicago. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.