The Ben Joravsky Show

Roosevelt University political science professor David Faris breaks down the political ramifications of the latest rulings from the MAGA Six on the Supreme Court. Apparently it’s discriminatory for universities to want a diverse student body. But it’s ok to discriminate against gays. How out of touch are the justices with America? The answer to that question could determine the outcome of the 2024 elections. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Music writer Mark Guarino explains the roots of Jason Aldean’s controversial song, Try That In A Small Town. Does Aldean really hate Black people or is he pretending to in order to sell records and make more money? How is the song different than Merle Haggard’s Okie from Muskogee? And more. Mark knows as much or more about country music as anyone in Chicago as he just wrote a book called Country and Midwestern:: Chicago in the History of Country Music and the Folk Revival. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chicago’s favorite gambler Brendan Shiller joins Ben to discuss a week’s worth of news. Including… Public education. Will north siders go to venues south of Roosevelt Road? UFOs. How to discern truth from lies. Should Mayor Johnson have said nice things about Mayor Rahm? Should the city raise the minimum wage for restaurant workers? And more… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sergio Vicente, host of the Fight podcast, analyzes the weird bravado coming from Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. They say they want to get into the ring and fight. What insecurities gnaw at the psyche of these billionaires that makes them want to such ridiculous talk trash? What doubts are they trying to cover up? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Marie Collins l-Wright is an activist and longtime resident of the Southside and she’s got a big question for the Chicago Bears. Why don’t they build their stadium at 83rd and Lake Michigan. On the 400 or so acres of what used to be the South Works steel mill. Better yet, why won’t the powers that be in this city clean up the site? It’s only been in need of remediation for roughly 50 years. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Biden announces memorial to Emmett Till as MAGA attempts to rewrite the history of slavery, Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson talks about the legacy of Till. And John Johnson. And Ebony . And Jet. And a trip he made to Mississippi with Curtis Mayfield in 1973. And then it’s on to Hunter Biden, Kevin McCarthy and the latest on Trump. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tribune City Hall reporter Gregory Pratt just finished his biography of the Mayor Lightfoot years and it’s a classic. Everything you want to know about Lightfoot but were afraid to ask. Listen here, if you want to know. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bas Hendra, host of Historical Homos, joins Ben to discuss the week that was. Including…insanity from MAGA Supremes. As Alito and Thomas see it, Helping Black people is bad, discriminating against gays is good. Also, a word about billionaires and the submersible. And more… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Teenagers party in Lakeview—Chicago loses its mind. Ben riffs. And political strategist Denali Dasgupta returns! Talking affirmative action, Supreme Court ruling against Harvard, Chicago’s attitude toward segregation, how Rocky feeds racial concepts and much more. That’s Rocky, the movie. As opposed to the squirrel. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Terry Cosgrove makes his first visit to the show since retiring from Personal PAC, the reproductive rights organization. And, man, does he have a lot to say. Starting with...Ohio. The August referendum is a proxy fight for a bigger battle in November which is itself a proxy for 2024. You snooze, you lose Democrats. Cause MAGA is not playing. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Roosevelt University political science professor compares and contrasts three of the leading political lunatics of our time: Robert Kennedy Jr, Joe Manchin and, of course, Donald Trump. Each has his own distinct brand. The first two are essentially enablers for the third. And it all could have been avoided had Mitch McConnell not—well, let David tell the story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Community organizer Dixon Romeo joins Ben for a week’s worth of news. Including…the city council’s conservative caucus. Is there one? The Obama Center community benefits agreement. Will it be adopted? The latest MAGA editorial in the Tribune. Does anyone read this drivel besides Ben? Northwestern hazing scandal? How can smart people be so dumb? And what’s it gonna be—Barbie or Oppenheimer? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Canadian forest fires fill Chicago’s air with smoke. Will the mainstreamers figure out a way to blame this on Mayor Johnson? Ben riffs. Lefty firefighter Sam Holloway talks pensions, Greyhound station, capitalism, property taxes, Bears and more. Way more… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mayor Johnson shows some love for democracy. Ben riffs. Criminal defense attorney April Preyar talks about the No-cash—bail law. It has, she says, some flaws that its boosters overlooked. And April uses a murder “confession” in Waukegan to explain why her motto is “shut up, lawyer up”. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Executive director of Rust Belt Rising, Paul Kendrick knows a thing or two about Democrats winning elections in the key Midwest states—Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio. And let’s not forgot Pennsylvania. He breaks it down, including the distinction between persuadable and unreliable voters. Also, a word or two about Nine Days, a book he and his father, Stephen Kendrick, wrote about MLK and JFK. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.