Espteingate rises from the swamp--again. Ben riffs. David Faris offers his thoughts. Is there a list of clients? Did Epstein try to blackmail the rich and powerful deviants who flocked to his perverted world? Did he get murdered? Also, the cognitive dissonance of MAGA cultists who simultaneously despise the crimes of Epstein and worship the man who hung with him. Finally, did King Donnie really use the word enigma in a birthday card to Epstein? On a different front--the utterly wretched budget bill. Trump "punishes" the elite by giving them a big tax break. David is a political science professor at Roosevelt University and a columnist for Newsweek. His views are his own.

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Ben and Dr D return! Just in time to talk nepotism. Or meet the new alderman—same name as the old alderman. And Comptroller Mendoza says she's running for mayor. Sorta. And JB selects a running mate--Christian Mitchell. Who may be acting Governor Mitchell, should JB run for president. Speaking of running for president, Mayor Rahm rewrites more history. And Raja leads in the money race in the senate campaign. And Ben apologizes to Laura Fine for saying she's from Wilmette. Not that there's anything wrong with being from Wilmette. And more...

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In the name of budget reform, Michael Madigan’s favorite alderman messes with Mayor Johnson. Ben riffs. Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette returns to explain the ins and outs of Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill Act.” How it impacts Medicaid, taxes, the deficit, food stamps, state and municipal taxes, ICE and military spending. Dylan is the vice president of Policy and Government Affairs for the Project On Government Oversight.

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A lefty wins in New York, the Supremes go MAGA. Ben riffs. Denali explains the difference between New York and Chicago politics. And more. Raised in NY, Denali is a political activist in Chicago.

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Trump sues federal judges because he disagrees with their rulings. Ben riffs. Jim Coogan explains the difference between appealing a judge’s ruling you disagree with and suing the judge for making that ruling. One is constitutional. The other is not. Unless, of course, the Supremes say—ah, the hell with the constitution, let’s give the boss what he wants. Also, the Emil Bove threat. And governors versus Trump on the national guard. Jim is founding partner of Coogan Gallagher.

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Speaking for corporate Dems everywhere, Lawrence Summers says he's "profoundly alarmed" about the future of our country in light of Mamdani's victory--as if being alarmed isn't strong enough. Ben riffs. Marc Sims talks about the "Iron Law of Oligarchy." That's Marc Andreesen's theory about democracy. Which is taken from a book Andreesen once read. Andreesen is a fabulously wealthy venture capitalist. His theory basically says that everything he believes is true because he believes it. About the only thing Marc Sims and Andreesen have in common is their first name. Also, the state of State. That's 115th and State on the far south side. Marc is host of Just A Few Questions, a Chicago-based podcast.

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Zohran Mamdani, the young lefty, beats Andrew Cuomo, the old centrist, in the NYC Democratic mayoral primary. Ben riffs. Monroe talks about the irony of Mayor Eric Adams, a Black man, running an updated version of Bernie Epton's vote-for-me-before-it's-too-late campaign. Earthquake makes his Ben Joravsky Show debut--sorta. On how MAGA believes anything Trump tells them--even if it contradicts whatever he told them the day before. You gotta laugh, to keep from crying.

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Mainstream Dems seem madder at Mamdani than they are at Trump. Ben riffs. David Faris explains his latest theory, the Trump cycle. And how it applies to the bombing of Iran. Also, the fallacy of bombing as an alternative to negotiation. The MAGA split. The post hoc MAGA rationalization Machine for whatever stupid thing Trump comes up with. David is a professor of political science at Roosevelt University and a columnist for Newsweek. His views are his own.

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