‘If Trump isn’t scared …’ Columnist—and political convention veteran—Charlie Madigan* says if Wednesday night’s Democratic festivities haven’t put some fear into the president, “it’s just because he is too dumb to realize what he will be up against” …
■ … and by ex-President Obama’s address, which Madigan calls “perhaps the best political speech in modern history” and which The Guardian calls a “searing attack” on President Trump and a warning of a grave threat to democracy.
■ But, The Atlantic’s Russell Berman writes: “Obama is scared.”
■ Jonathan Chait in New York: “This is the first time I have ever seen him express fear.”
‘Don’t screw it up like last time.’ That’s how Politico’s Shia Kapos, reviewing Illinois’ role in the proceedings, distills Hillary Clinton’s message last night.
■ Vox’s tally of the evening’s winners and losers puts Clinton in the losers column.
■ In a speech bearing a subtle shoutout to the Black Lives Matter movement, Elizabeth Warren pushed for universal child care.
■ PolitiFact reviews the night’s addresses and finds “a few talking points that needed clarification.”
■ Poynter’s Tom Jones: “Democrats have shown that the virtual convention might be the way to go from now on.”
Uncommitted. Former presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg’s speech to Democrats tonight has enraged critics who complain, “He stiffed our party and all the monthly workers he promised to keep on through November.”
■ A report from the Tech Transparency Project suggests Facebook has reneged on a pledge to encourage voter registration …
■ … among other things, rejecting a request for help from the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Ready to vote? The Better Government Association has posted a guide to casting your ballot safely in Illinois.
■ The Wall Street Journal: “How to Vote by Mail in Every State.”
■ Block Club Chicago: “Overworked, Underpaid, Sick With Coronavirus: Chicago Postal Workers Urge You To Mail In Ballots As Early As Possible.”
■ ProPublica: What the post office needs to survive a pandemic election.
Bannon bagged. Trump’s ex-White House adviser, Steve Bannon, has been arrested on charges of defrauding donors to a “Build the Wall” campaign.
■ Trump planned to campaign today just outside Joe Biden’s birthplace—hours before the vice president was to accept his party’s nomination for president.
■ CNN’s Chris Cillizza: “The White House has stopped even pretending Trump won’t contest the election results.”
■ One of Trump pal Vladimir Putin’s most prominent critics, Russian politician Alexei Navalny, was in a coma and on a ventilator after drinking what Navalny’s allies say seems to have been poisoned tea.
‘Game-changing.’ In a joyous news conference celebrating science, Gov. Pritzker and University of Illinois researchers have announced FDA approval for a new, saliva-based (no swab up the nose!) COVID-19 test that promises faster results at a lower cost …
■ … a breakthrough that helped the state set a 24-hour testing record.
■ The Conversation: Nine reasons you can be optimistic a COVID-19 vaccine will be widely available in 2021.
■ ProPublica: For at least 14 years, the government has warned meatpacking companies about the consequences of a pandemic—and now nearly every one has come to pass.
■ Southern Illinois University’s student newspaper reports the university is refusing to reveal the number of COVID-19 cases on campus and telling student employees in housing they risk firing if they tell anyone about any cases.
■ If the rest of Illinois were a state separate from Chicago, its non-Chicago residents would fall under Chicago’s quarantine rules.
Whiteout. The Tribune reports Chicago Public Schools where local school councils have voted to oust police officers tend to be whiter.
■ But cops who stay in schools will now face more stringent background checks and oversight.
■ Chicago police are pleading for help from the public in solving the West Side shooting of a 9-year-old boy and his mom.
■ Mayor Lightfoot’s skirmishing with the National Rifle Association on Twitter.
He ‘hates insurance companies.’ The Arm and a Leg podcast shares an HR director’s tips for fighting bogus medical bills.
■ Doctors, nurses and other medical professionals rallied yesterday to oppose closure of Chicago’s oldest hospital, Mercy …
■ … but they’re running out of options.
‘Best five bucks I spend every month. Great work.’ That’s unsolicited praise from reader Mike Fainman. You can join him in supporting Chicago Public Square—for any monthly or one-time amount you choose.■ And thanks to reader Marc Magliari for reporting a word missing above.
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* Former Tribune colleague and Roosevelt University boss to your Square publisher.