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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.
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Now displaying: June, 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?
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