The Ben Joravsky Show

The Ben Joravsky Show LIVE Tuesdays-Fridays 1-3pm(CT)
chicago.suntimes.com
chicagoreader.com
And downloadable by 4p wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts

06/05/2026

Stream our newest episode with Ishmael Reed at TheBenJoravskyShow.com and on all streaming platforms.

The pope takes a stand against AI enslaving us. Ben riffs. Ishmael Reed joins the conversation from Oakland. Yes, that Ishmael Reed. One of America’s greatest writers—novelist, poet, essayist, playwright and song writer. And one of Ben’s heroes since like forever. The conversation flows from Musk to Thiel to Altman to Vance to Vivek, to Django to Lin Manual Miranda. Hamilton was no hero, people. Finally, how did Trump defeat Harris? Painting her as a Promiscuous Jezebel is how.


06/04/2026

Stream new episodes at thebenjoravskyshow.com and on all streaming platforms.

In this episode with Gregory Pratt, they discuss:

Jamelle Bouie makes it clear what’s at stake in the wake of the Supremes eviscerating the Voting Rights Act—our democracy. Ben riffs. Gregory returns to talk about the Pulitzer Prize the Tribune won for its coverage of Operation Midway Blitz. Also, his exchange with Bovino. And what happened after he was chastized by one of Trump’s press people. Ben teaches Greg about neo-liberals. And then they join forces to defend leaks. C’mon, Mayor Johnson your school appointees should not be making like MAGA. Finally, a word or two about high school debate. Did Gregory defeat Carlos Ramirez Rosa in a debate match way back when? Gregory is a reporter for the Chicago Tribune. Congratulations on the Pulitzer, Tribsters.

06/04/2026

Stream new episodes at thebenjoravskyshow.com and on all streaming platforms.

In this episode with Miles Porter and Gave Wilkins, they discuss:

The great Murakami tweaks his hamstring. Ben howls in pain. Miles and Gave assess the Sox and Cubs two months into the season. Sox fans will be delighted. Cubs fans not so much. Bottom line—if the Cubs were as tough on the Brewers as they are with a woman Sox fan, they’d still be in first place. Hey, don’t blame the messengers. Ben defends Jerry Reinsdorf. Gave and Miles try not to laugh. Much talk about a salary cap. Miles co-hosts Blue Line radio. And Gave co-hosts The New Twenty-Four.


05/25/2026

Stream new episodes at thebenjoravskyshow.com and on all streaming platforms.

In this episode with David Faris, they discuss:

An antigay commercial by Thomas Massie lets MAGA voters know what he thinks of them. Ben riffs. David adds his thoughts. Also, Kash Patel’s payback. Basically, Trump’s moved Nixon’s plumbers out of the basement and into the front room, where everybody can see them. And, a few words about Trump’s o**y of redistricting. David is a political science professor at Roosevelt University and a columnist for The Nation. His views are his own.


05/22/2026

Stream new episodes at thebenjoravskyshow.com and on all streaming platforms.

In this episode with State Senator Graciela Guzman, they discuss:

Graham Platner runs as a working-class hero, and The NYT says, but his daddy’s a lawyer. Ben riffs. Graciela Guzman runs down the progressive state-wide agenda. Including fair taxes, data center controls, and no handouts to the rich, including the Bears. Graciela is the state senator from the 20th district on Chicago’s northwest side. She’s a proud progressive, and not afraid to say it.


05/10/2026

Stream new episodes at thebenjoravskyshow.com and on all streaming platforms.

In this episode with , they discuss:

In the aftermath of Tuesday’s primary in Indiana, Hoosier Republicans win the award for lame-voters-of-the-year. Ben riffs. Pat Whalen talks MAGA, Hoosiers, Mayor Rahm, the perils of short-form content and more. Also, he introduced his new political game show—That Being Said. You can play along at home. Pat is a comedian in Chicago. By the way, the name of the comedian Pat quoted? Bill Hicks. It’s just a ride, indeed.


04/16/2026

Stream our newest episode with at TheBenJoravskyShow.com and on all streaming platforms.

Young activists sue Trump cause his energy policies are burning down the planet and destroying life as they know it, including theirs. Judge rules, bummer, man, but oh, well. Ben riffs. Cody Wilkins returns to talk about Personality Hire, his comedy special. As well as his takes on the pope, the president, being single, working and…Freud? Yes. Freud. Cody is a standup comedian and joke writer who wrote for Jimmy Fallon and Jennifer Hudson.


04/13/2026

Stream new episodes at thebenjoravskyshow.com and on all streaming platforms.

In this episode with David Faris, they discuss:

Trump fires Bondi cause she was unable to do the impossible. Ben riffs. David Faris invokes the sour milk metaphor to explain the former AG’s rise and fall. And he dissects 50 or so years of deceitful cherry-picking justifications for waging war against Iran. Finally, a word or two about Trump’s fall in the polls. And the Farisian theory that Trump’s base is a fairly prosperous group of zealots who are more or less exempt from the consequences of his policy. David is a professor of political science at Roosevelt University and a columnist for the Nation. His views are his own.


04/10/2026

Stream new episodes at benjoravskyshow.com and on all streaming platforms.

In this episode with , they discuss:

As we learned with his White House comments supposedly celebrating Easter, Trump occasionally blurts out the truth. Ben riffs. Miles Kampf-Lassin talks about the war in Iran. The painful parallels to Vietnam and Iraq wars. And Trump’s comments that we can’t afford Medicare and day care and the war. Sorry, geezers and children. A few words about Ska. Miles is an editor and writer for In These Times.


Address

Chicago, IL

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Ben Joravsky Show posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to The Ben Joravsky Show:

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category