Hitting Left

About Hitting Left

Each week brothers Mike and Fred Klonsky, bloggers and activists engage in conversation, often with in-studio guests. Topics may be local, national or international, but always with a Chicago sensibility and perspective, and always from "the Left side of the plate."

Publisher

Klonsky brothers.

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

26 Jul 2019

Latest episode

3 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

150 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   3 Oct 2026

   With Floyd Webb and Peter Kuttner.

   On this edition of Hitting Left we're joined by two legendary Chicago filmmakers — Floyd Webb and Peter Kuttner — artists whose work has shaped how this city tells its stories. Webb, known for his decades documenting Black Chicago's cultural and political life, and Kuttner, a longtime member of the Kartemquin collective, bring sharp eyes, sharp politics, and a deep commitment to community filmmaking.

2. 

   4 Sept 2026

   With Bob Reiter.

   Joining Mike in the Lumpen studio is Chicago Federation of Labor President Bob Reiter. This is a Labor Day conversation about power, organizing, and the future of Chicago's working class.

3. 

   14 Aug 2026

   With Alaina Hampton and Representative Kelly Cassidy.

   We're digging into sexual harassment inside Illinois politics, where power has a long habit of circling the wagons. In studio with us: Rep. Kelly Cassidy(R) and Alaina Hampton, two women who've forced this state to confront what it prefers to ignore. We'll talk about the fallout from the Ex-Rep. Harry Benton findings, the political machinery that kept him protected, and the role of Speaker Chris Welch, whose handling of both the Benton matter and earlier misconduct allegations has become a fault line inside the Democratic Party in the middle of election season.

Who has been a guest on Hitting Left

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Benjamin Teller
• Jimmy Rothschild
• Sarah Saheb
• Lindsay Eanet
• Ken Cloke

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

12 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 49 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

64

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

82

Contact Hitting Left

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Hitting Left