The Sun-Times decides it’s a good idea to illustrate a front-page story about Chicago’s declining murder rate with a picture of police investigating a murder. Ben riffs. State Senator Graciela Guzman breaks down the significance of Mayor Mamdani’s inauguration. Including…Mandy Patinkin singing Somewhere Over The Rainbow. The Jadakiss shoutout. The pledge to govern as a Democratic Socialist. The Bernie Sanders torch pass. And why We Gonna Make It is her favorite song by Jadakiss. That’s the one that starts—Forget That Frail Stuff. More or less. Graciela is the state senator from the 20th district in Chicago.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Seymour Hersh documentary shows how much has changed and how much has stayed the same over the last 60 years. Ben riffs. Monroe Anderson explains how some rules of journalism are not written down. But reporters follow them just the same. Also, Tina Peters is MAGA’s Joan of Arc. What Jesse Jackson meant when he told Monroe—I want you to be my friend. And will the Bears move to Gary? Hint…no way.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new year’s arrived, but Ben would rather talk about an old one—1963. So onto the show comes Peter Orner to discuss The Gossip Columnist’s Daughter, his latest novel. It tells the story of the death of Cookie Kupcinet, daughter of Kup, a legendary Sun-Times gossip columnist and TV host. Was it suicide or murder? What role, if any, did Sidney Korshak play? But it’s also a tale about the complicity of “honorable” men in the corruption of Chicago. Great book. Listen to the show and run out to read it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Marjorie Taylor Greene repents—sorta. Ben riffs. Jim Coogan talks law. The Tina Peters case in Colorado. Does Trump have the legal authority to pardon a convict convicted in state court? And the Judge Hannah Dugan case in Wisconsin. Should she be punished for an act of civil disobedience against a grotesque violation of human rights? Finally, a few words about Jim’s beloved “hook ‘n ladder” Bears. 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.

The senate approves Trump’s $900 billion military budget—that’s billion with a B. Ben riffs. Dan Tully takes his stand against the Trump-Hegseth military agenda. The illegal war against Venezuela. And the politicization of the military, trying to turn our troops into soldiers for MAGA. Dan is a major in the Army Reserve and a candidate for Congress in the 8th congressional district. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bari Weiss bows to Boss Donnie and takes 60 Minutes down with her. Ben riffs. Ishan Daya gives you the scoop on this year’s budget. The Head Tax the council shoulda passed versus the dumbass Debt Sale they did pass. The budge is as bad as a Tribune editorial, making the council the Tribune Caucus. Ishan is co-executive director for the Institute for the Public Good. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What better way to celebrate Christmas then with Muslims and Jews. Ben riffs. Almas and Rummana discuss Christmas from a non-practitioner’s perspective, Sean Combs, Epstein, Trump, Bubba, Bill Maher, MTG and her incredibly lame boyfriend and Mamdani. Rummana is, of course, a Sun-Times columnist and Almas is a private eye and “the forgotten Hussain sister.” See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sorry, Bears fans, but there’s only one Iceman in Chicago. Ben riffs. Ashonta Rice tells the tale of the bizarre election law that forces women to keep their divorced husband’s name when they run for office. Thus, a law that insults voters and demeans women. Heckuva job, Illinois lawmakers. Ashonta Rice is running for circuit court judge in Cook County.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben and Dr D tell it like it is on a week’s worth of news, including…Madigan and MAGA, Mayor Johnson and the alders, Garcia and Garcia, and the Bears and Indiana. As the Bears threaten to move out of state in search of the biggest public handout for their new stadium. Also, a letter from a listener compels Ben to make a no-dumb pledge. And the on-going debate over the Mount Rushmore of f-bombs and comedians. Hint, everybody loves Rodney!  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Americans love a con man. Ben riffs. Jack White agrees, sorta. More like America loves to be entertained. And with that, Jack runs down the “cornucopia of bullshit” dished out by Trump and his lackeys on a daily basis. Is it possible that Trump will have a Scrooge like conversion on Christmas Eve? If so, will Roy Cohn be his Marley? Jack is a former columnist and editor at Time.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A deranged Trump blames Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner for getting murdered. Ben riffs. Pedro Lira reports from Texas. Will Republicans pick up 5 congressional seats through gerrymandering? Or will their machinations work against them? What does it take to get rural Texans to vote Democratic? The dangers of pipe dreams. And a quick look at Crockett v Talarico in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. Pedro is state director for the Texas Working Families Party.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As we prepare to record, word breaks of senseless slaughter at a Chanukah festival in Australia. Ben riffs. State Representative Kam Buckner joins him. Ensuing topics include Hoosier redistricting, head tax v property tax, transit bill and Bears beat Browns to set up next week’s game against Packers. Kam loves the Bears DGAF attitude. A few words about park district bologna sandwiches. Kam is a state representative from the 26th district and a former defensive lineman for the Fighting Illini and the Morgan Park High School Mustangs. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A federal grand jury says sorry, Donnie when it comes to prosecuting Letitia James. Ben riffs. And Maya returns! To talk about her epic profile of Cook County Judge Timothy Evans, one of the most important local politicians in recent history. He went from Machine alderman to Mayor Washington’s floor leader to one of the reasons Richard M Daley got elected mayor to Chief Judge and the unlikely criminal justice “reformer,” if such a word can ever be used in relation to Cook County. Maya is a writer for Injustice Watch. For years, she and Ben were colleagues at the Reader and co-hosts of First Tuesdays. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Michael Madigan goes Blago—pleading with Trump for mercy. Ben riffs. Monroe considers the case of Mamdani. When should Dems defer to Trump? Should Mayor Johnson be more like Mamdani? And what to make about Trump’s hate of Somalia? A few words about Brian Glenn, MTG’s boyfriend, who’s torn between two lovers, feeling like a fool.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Trump ends the War on Drugs for those who kiss his ass. Ben riffs. Matt Ginsberg-Jaeckle takes us from A to Z on recent US policy toward Honduras. Starting with the coup of 2009 and continuing to Trump’s commutation of Juan Orlando Hernandez’s sentence for drug trafficking. It’s a sickening spectacle. Matt is an interpreter and human rights activist.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

MAGA weighs in on bombing boats and killing people in the Caribbean. Ben riffs. Sarah Bingaman—Western Illinois’s voice of the people—returns to describe the challenge of building a Democratic base in rural Illinois. You have to listen to people. Don’t be needlessly argumentative. You’d be surprised by what you have in common. And for goodness sakes, don’t assume you will lose—you can win! Sarah is a political activist in Lee County. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A NYT headline about Obamacare is absurd even by NYT standards. Ben riffs. David Faris defends the voters, sorta. He covers Trump’s gas guzzling energy policy and Trump’s get rid of healthcare policy. Also, a few words about Hegseth, Fox News and what’s it gonna take to win an election. 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.

Ben & Dr D decide it’s time to tell you what you need to know. Including…what gas station in Springfield squeezes the most money from the suckers who play video gambling. Hint…it’s not Quick ‘n Easy. There’s got to be a better way to pay for our obligations than soaking suckers. On to Chicago…a crew of Mayor Rahm flunkies try to scare voters against Mayor Johnson by invoking the name of Byron Sigcho Lopez. Apparently, Mamdani’s name was taken. And Toni Preckwinkle releases a poll.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Want Boss Donnie to do whatever you want him to do? It’s easy. Just call him—Your excellency. Ben riffs. Laurie Glenn does not hold back—extended riffs on this age of hate and madness and the need to stand strong. Hear that, Dems? On a personal note—her 30-year fight against cancer. There is no courage without fear. And all power to Jewish girls with long, curly hair. Laurie is a political activist and strategist and CEO of Thinkinc. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The “reformers” tag team with the Bright One to keep TIF money out of our schools. Ben riffs. Mueze Bawany delivers his takes on Mayors Mamdani and Johnson. Why Trump likes one but not the other. Hint…it’s cause one is a “model minority” and the other is not. Trump’s anti-Blackness. A close-out riff on the Bears, including a bold prediction for Sunday’s Packers game. Mueze is an activist, high school teacher, football coach and proud union man. As in the CTU. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.