Chicago Reader's Back Room Deal: Recent Episodes
Ben Joravsky, Maya Dukmasova, Chicago Reader
Back by popular demand: The Back Room Deal features radio personality and longtime Reader political writer Ben Joravsky arguing local Chicago politics with Reader senior writer Maya Dukmasova. With sharp wit and stinging analysis, Joravsky and Dukmasova cut through the smokey haze of the elections to offer you a glimpse of the 2020 Chicago-area Illinois primary races—local and Cook County-level and, of course, U.S. presidential. Will these historic elections be determined in back-room deals, like so many in Chicago's past? Let Ben and Maya talk you through it.
The race in the ward that economically drives the entire city of Chicago is totally uncontested, and Ben and Maya look at why.
http://www.chicagoreader.com
Chicago Reader's Back Room Deal is produced by Anne Elizabeth Moore.
Produced and edited by Andrea Klunder at The Creative Impostor Studios
Hosted by Ben Joravsky & Maya Dukmasova
Recorded and mixed by Edwin R. Ruiz, Mondo Machine
Special thanks to Lumpen Radio WLPN 105.5FM
Theme music by Jim R. S. Bjorklund, courtesy FreeSound.org
Ben and Maya look at the fight between low-income housing and neighborhood amenities in rapidly changing Uptown.
http://www.chicagoreader.com
Chicago Reader's Back Room Deal is produced by Anne Elizabeth Moore.
Produced and edited by Andrea Klunder at The Creative Impostor Studios
Hosted by Ben Joravsky & Maya Dukmasova
Recorded and mixed by Edwin R. Ruiz, Mondo Machine
Special thanks to Lumpen Radio WLPN 105.5FM
Theme music by Jim R. S. Bjorklund, courtesy FreeSound.org
Departing progressive alderman Rick Munoz faces personal trouble in advance of the election, placing successor Michael Rodriguez's race in jeopardy, in staunchly independent Little Village.
http://www.chicagoreader.com
Chicago Reader's Back Room Deal is produced by Anne Elizabeth Moore.
Produced and edited by Andrea Klunder at The Creative Impostor Studios
Hosted by Ben Joravsky & Maya Dukmasova
Recorded and mixed by Edwin R. Ruiz, Mondo Machine
Special thanks to Lumpen Radio WLPN 105.5FM
Theme music by Jim R. S. Bjorklund, courtesy FreeSound.org
The future site of the Obama Presidential Center and the home of the University of Chicago also encompasses parts of lower-income South Shore, which Ben and Maya think makes for a fascinating aldermanic race.
http://www.chicagoreader.com
Chicago Reader's Back Room Deal is produced by Anne Elizabeth Moore.
Produced and edited by Andrea Klunder at The Creative Impostor Studios
Hosted by Ben Joravsky & Maya Dukmasova
Recorded and mixed by Edwin R. Ruiz, Mondo Machine
Special thanks to Lumpen Radio WLPN 105.5FM
Theme music by Jim R. S. Bjorklund, courtesy FreeSound.org
Ben and Maya look at an unpopular alderman who faces a strong challenge from a young activist, in a ward in serious need of economic development.
http://www.chicagoreader.com
Chicago Reader's Back Room Deal is produced by Anne Elizabeth Moore.
Produced and edited by Andrea Klunder at The Creative Impostor Studios
Hosted by Ben Joravsky & Maya Dukmasova
Recorded and mixed by Edwin R. Ruiz, Mondo Machine
Special thanks to Lumpen Radio WLPN 105.5FM
Theme music by Jim R. S. Bjorklund, courtesy FreeSound.org
The leading City Council proponent for putting the unpopular police academy in her far west-side ward faces a tough race, and Ben and Maya are excited.
http://www.chicagoreader.com
Chicago Reader's Back Room Deal is produced by Anne Elizabeth Moore.
Produced and edited by Andrea Klunder at The Creative Impostor Studios
Hosted by Ben Joravsky & Maya Dukmasova
Recorded and mixed by Edwin R. Ruiz, Mondo Machine
Special thanks to Lumpen Radio WLPN 105.5FM
Theme music by Jim R. S. Bjorklund, courtesy FreeSound.org
A classic political operator in the Bucktown/Wicker Park/Logan Square area leads Ben and Maya into a discussion of their relationships with Chicago's aldermen.
http://www.chicagoreader.com
Chicago Reader's Back Room Deal is produced by Anne Elizabeth Moore.
Produced and edited by Andrea Klunder at The Creative Impostor Studios
Hosted by Ben Joravsky & Maya Dukmasova
Recorded and mixed by Edwin R. Ruiz, Mondo Machine
Special thanks to Lumpen Radio WLPN 105.5FM
Theme music by Jim R. S. Bjorklund, courtesy FreeSound.org
The public face of some of Chicago's worst deals—the Olympics, ongoing TIF deals, and the parking meter sale—is City Council's new finance committee chair, and Ben and Maya have plenty to look at in the ward bound by Clark Street, Lawrence Avenue, and the Chicago River.
http://www.chicagoreader.com
Chicago Reader's Back Room Deal is produced by Anne Elizabeth Moore.
Produced and edited by Andrea Klunder at The Creative Impostor Studios
Hosted by Ben Joravsky & Maya Dukmasova
Recorded and mixed by Edwin R. Ruiz, Mondo Machine
Special thanks to Lumpen Radio WLPN 105.5FM
Theme music by Jim R. S. Bjorklund, courtesy FreeSound.org
Ben and Maya discuss Albany Park's powerful and well-connected alderman Deb Mell and her exciting DSA-backed challenger, Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez.
http://www.chicagoreader.com
Chicago Reader's Back Room Deal is produced by Anne Elizabeth Moore.
Produced and edited by Andrea Klunder at The Creative Impostor Studios
Hosted by Ben Joravsky & Maya Dukmasova
Recorded and mixed by Edwin R. Ruiz, Mondo Machine
Special thanks to Lumpen Radio WLPN 105.5FM
Theme music by Jim R. S. Bjorklund, courtesy FreeSound.org
Ben and Maya look at the North Center / Ravenswood neighborhood and outgoing alderman Ameya Pawar's pragmatic, thoughtful progressivism.
http://www.chicagoreader.com
Chicago Reader's Back Room Deal is produced by Anne Elizabeth Moore.
Produced and edited by Andrea Klunder at The Creative Impostor Studios
Hosted by Ben Joravsky & Maya Dukmasova
Recorded and mixed by Edwin R. Ruiz, Mondo Machine
Special thanks to Lumpen Radio WLPN 105.5FM
Theme music by Jim R. S. Bjorklund, courtesy FreeSound.org
The former progressive champion turned mayoral rubber-stamper faces a tough race, and Ben and Maya are all about it.
http://www.chicagoreader.com
Chicago Reader's Back Room Deal is produced by Anne Elizabeth Moore.
Produced and edited by Andrea Klunder at The Creative Impostor Studios
Hosted by Ben Joravsky & Maya Dukmasova
Recorded and mixed by Edwin R. Ruiz, Mondo Machine
Special thanks to Lumpen Radio WLPN 105.5FM
Theme music by Jim R. S. Bjorklund, courtesy FreeSound.org
The indictment of the head of City Council's finance committee, who shook down a fast-food joint and kept a passel of guns in his office, offers plenty for Ben and Maya to consider.
http://www.chicagoreader.com
Chicago Reader's Back Room Deal is produced by Anne Elizabeth Moore.
Produced and edited by Andrea Klunder at The Creative Impostor Studios
Hosted by Ben Joravsky & Maya Dukmasova
Recorded and mixed by Edwin R. Ruiz, Mondo Machine
Special thanks to Lumpen Radio WLPN 105.5FM
Theme music by Jim R. S. Bjorklund, courtesy FreeSound.org
Marty Quinn, close ally of Michael Madigan, has accrued a lot of power in the 13th ward, but Ben and Maya are more interested in what his 19-year-old challenger means for the machine politician.
http://www.chicagoreader.com
Chicago Reader's Back Room Deal is produced by Anne Elizabeth Moore.
Produced and edited by Andrea Klunder at The Creative Impostor Studios
Hosted by Ben Joravsky & Maya Dukmasova
Recorded and mixed by Edwin R. Ruiz, Mondo Machine
Special thanks to Lumpen Radio WLPN 105.5FM
Theme music by Jim R. S. Bjorklund, courtesy FreeSound.org
Things get complicated in the ward set to tie for the most-aldermen-in-jail award, so Ben and Maya share their insights.
http://www.chicagoreader.com
Chicago Reader's Back Room Deal is produced by Anne Elizabeth Moore.
Produced and edited by Andrea Klunder at The Creative Impostor Studios
Hosted by Ben Joravsky & Maya Dukmasova
Recorded and mixed by Edwin R. Ruiz, Mondo Machine
Special thanks to Lumpen Radio WLPN 105.5FM
Theme music by Jim R. S. Bjorklund, courtesy FreeSound.org
Ben and Maya look at the flood of candidates that entered the mayoral race when Rahm Emanuel decided not to seek re-election, and analyze their campaigns.
http://www.chicagoreader.com
Chicago Reader's Back Room Deal is produced by Anne Elizabeth Moore.
Produced and edited by Andrea Klunder at The Creative Impostor Studios
Hosted by Ben Joravsky & Maya Dukmasova
Recorded and mixed by Edwin R. Ruiz, Mondo Machine
Special thanks to Lumpen Radio WLPN 105.5FM
Theme music by Jim R. S. Bjorklund, courtesy FreeSound.org