Info

Hitting Left

Mike gets together each week, often with special guests in studio and from around the country, to discuss current topics involving politics, education and social justice "from the Left side of the plate." The topics covered may be local, national or international but always with a Chicago sensibility and perspective.
RSS Feed
Hitting Left
2025
June
May
April
March
February
January


2024
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2023
December
November
October
September
August
June
May
April
March
February
January


2022
December
November
October
September
August
July


2020
June
May
April
March
February
January


2019
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February


All Episodes
Archives
Now displaying: 2025
With two members of Chicago Jewish Voice for Peace, Benjamin Teller and Jimmy Rothschild. 0
Jun 27, 2025
Joining Mike in the Hitting Left studio are two members of Chicago Jewish Voice for Peace, Benjamin Teller and Jimmy Rothschild. Jimmy Rothschild is a community organizer based in Chicago who’s been active with Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) and other progressive Jewish organizations. Benjamin Teller is among six members of JVP Chicago who started an indefinite hunger strike on June 16, 2025, to protest the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
With Sarah Saheb and Lindsay Eanet. 0
Jun 20, 2025

Joining Mike this episode of Hitting Left are labor organizer Sarah Saheb and writer Lindsay Eanet to discuss Trump's Big Ugly Budget, DOGE, and their impact on Chicago and elsewhere. They have both been on top the new assault on the living standards of poor and working families and cuts to social services here in Chicago and in cities around the country.

With Ken Cloke. 0
Jun 16, 2025
Joining Mike on this edition of Hitting Left is Ken Cloke.
Ken is a renowned mediator, arbitrator, and expert in conflict resolution. As the Director of the Center for Dispute Resolution, Ken has spent decades navigating complex disputes, fostering dialogue, and advocating for transformative mediation practices.
His work spans labor disputes, political conflicts, and community reconciliation, and he’s the founder of Mediators Beyond Borders, dedicated to global peacebuilding. With a rich history in activism, dating back to his time at UC Berkeley, Ken brings a deep understanding of both movement politics and conflict resolution.
We will  be discussing mediation, neutrality, tyranny, and resistance—themes at the heart of his recent writings and ongoing work. How can mediation serve as a tool for social change in an era of heightened polarization?
With Thorne Dreyer and Alice Embree. 0
May 24, 2025

Joining Mike on this episde of Hitting Left are Texas 60's activists and authors Thorne Dreyer and Alice Embree.

With Bill Ayers 0
Apr 26, 2025

Joining Mike on this edition of Hitting Left is Bill Ayers, teacher, activist, and author. They discuss the current assault on academic freedom.

With Marie Newman. 0
Apr 20, 2025

Joining Mike on this editon of Hitting Left is former Congresswomen Marie Newman who returns to the studio to talk about her new book, A Life Made from Scratch. We used to call her the “machine buster.”

With Elizabeth Todd-Breland. 0
Apr 14, 2025

Joining Mike on this edition of Hitting Left is educator, author, and Chicago Board of Ed member, Elizabeth Todd-Breland. She's written a biography of the late, great, former CTU President, Karen Lewis.

With Jason Rieger, Tom Grace and Jerry Harris. 0
Apr 5, 2025

Joining Mike on this edition of Hitting Left are Jason Rieger from Indivisible Chicago, Tom Grace, historian, author, and veteran of the Kent State shootings of 1970, and Jerry Harris, author and prominent figure in the study of globalization and its impact on society.

With Fred Klonsky 0
Mar 29, 2025

Brother Fred joins Mike in this edition of Hitting Left to discuss New York mayoral politics, the spineless national Democrats and Signalgate.

With former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot. 0
Mar 14, 2025

Joining Mike on this edition of Hitting Left is former Chicago Mayor Lori LIghtfoot to discuss Trump's attack on the cities.

With Ray Long and Alaina Hampton 0
Mar 1, 2025

Joining Mike this edition of Hitting Left is Chicago Tribune reporter Ray Long and Democratic Party consultant Alaina Hampton to disucuss convicted former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan and Illinois' culture of corruption

With Hilton Obenzinger 0
Feb 10, 2025
Joining Mike and Susan on this edition of Hitting left is author ands poet Hilton Obenzinger. They discuss the Judaism v. Zionism debate, Trump's plan for a Gaza Riviera, and other madman MAGA tactics.
With Ryan Alexander-Tanner and Sandra Castilo. 0
Jan 25, 2025
Joining MIke as cohost this editon of Hitting Left is Susan Klonsky.
The guests are the author and cartoon artist Ryan Alexander-Tanner and immigrant rights activist Rev. Sandra Castillo.
Ryan Alexander-Tanner has written and illustrated a book about Muhammad Ali. 
Susan and Mike will get the latest update on President Trump’s threatened assault on our city’s migrants with Rev. Sandra Castillo, who serves the Episcopal Church in Chicago as the chair of the Diocese of Chicago’s Sanctuary Task Force.
With Liz Futrell, Renaldo Hudson and Stanley Howard. 0
Jan 11, 2025

Former death row inmates, now Chicago anti-death-penalty activists Renaldo Hudson and Stanley Howard joined by Liz Futrell, author of "Lessons from Death Row."

1