Almas and Rummana Hussain—Merry Christmas, Everybody!

MAGA and its media blame all immigrants for the horrific crime of one man. Ben riffs. Marc Sims weighs in with memories of over 50 years of news reporting screaming: be scared! Also, JB and Juliana. Willie Wilson and Mayor Johnson. And “we don’t want nobody nobody sent.” Marc is the host of the podcast Just A Few Questions. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Caleb William, who’s clearly never heard of Jerry Butler, tries to trademark the Iceman as his nickname. Ben riffs. With the season just starting. Miles Porter talks all things baseball. Cubs. Sox. Murakami. PCA. How come the Sox can’t stop disrespecting Frank Thomas? And more. Miles co-hosts Blue Line Radio, a baseball podcast. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The solar, clean-energy crew plays hardball politics in Texas—finally. Ben riffs. Delmarie Cobb returns! Talking about how Donna Miller won the second congressional district primary. Listen closely, lefties, if you want to learn about politics in districts other than your own. Other topics include…Toni Preckwinkle, AIPAC, and the council opposition to Mayor Johnson. Finally, a few words about the real Iceman in Chicago. Delmarie is political strategist who worked on the Donna Miller campaign. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A busy week of quips and flips had Ben & Dr D scrambling to cover it all. Starting with—can the dark side lure four aldermen to break from the mayor and stick it to waiters and waitresses? That’s what they need—four flippers—to override the mayor’s veto of a bill passed by the council’s corporate caucus to cut wages of servers. Also, JB cracks wise at the Grid Iron Club. Finally, words of wisdom from Gregory Royal Pratt.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Leon Black could have saved himself a whole lotta money had he’d gone to anyone other than Epstein for advice. Ben riffs. Julie Lynn urges everyone to go to Saturday’s No Kings demonstration. Then she talks abortion rights. Cause no one knows more about the politics of abortion than Julie Lynn. Julie is a communications strategist in Chicago.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Long lines forming at airports cause Trump refuses to cut a deal with Dems and release the money to pay TSA employees. Ben riffs. Adolfo takes the deep dive on Cesar Chavez’s legacy and why some people feel compelled to defend him, even now. He takes an even deeper dive into internet rumors that Netanyahu is dead. Adolfo is a lawyer in Chicago.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the category of not being afraid to pick up the spare, Norm hits the big shot and wins a chicken dinner. Say what? Ben explains. Denali takes on three big issues. Cesar Chavez, the monster in the movement who was too big to be held accountable. Katie Britt and the use of a disarming persona to advance regressive policies. And her own Hannibal Buress moment regarding Raja’s campaign contributions. Denali is a pro-democracy activist on the northwest side.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

State Rep Jamie Andrade, the last vestige of Mell’s Machine, loses. Ben riffs. Gregory joins the conversation, explicating his election-night Blue Sky posts. Including…Toni beats Reilly. La Shawn wins big. The nutty 9th. Raja’s cash-bar blues. Juliana and JB, Mayor Johnson’s chances, and more. Gregory is a political reporter for the Chicago Tribune. Or as he puts it—“your Chicago Tribune.”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The election results are in from Tuesday’s primaries, and it’s time to sweep up the debris. And so Ben and Dr D grab their brooms and get to work. Everything you need to know about everything! Senate, governor, congress. Stick around for Ben’s defense of Jim Varney and his nostalgic tribute to Toni P. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“Cesar Chavez accused of abusing girls—accounts detail years of misconduct by a civil rights icon”, reads the NYT headline. Ben riffs. Joanna and Jake take the post-election deep dive on AIPAC’s role in congressional primaries. Shell PACs funded by shell donors. Also, the existential crisis many American Jews are facing regarding Israel. And more. Joanna and Jake are political and communication strategists who worked on Robert Peters and Dan Biss’s congressional campaigns.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.