‘A significant blow to Jones’s ability to continue spreading lies.’ Historian Heather Cox Richardson puts in context the almost $1 billion verdict against mendacious podcaster Alex Jones, who repeatedly insisted that the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre—which left 20 first-graders and six adults dead in 2012—was a hoax.
■ … but a former U.S. attorney says he sees no way Jones “winds up anything but basically broke now for the rest of his life.”
■ The money would go to shooting victims’ relatives and an FBI agent who was among the first responders …
■ … people Jones mocked even as the verdict was read.
Amplify Chicago. Pitch any amount into the Chicago Independent Media Alliance’s third annual fundraiser and it’ll be doubled by civic-minded donors.
■ ABC host Jimmy Kimmel: “Go get that money for those parents, you disgusting pig-garbage person.”
‘A continuing threat.’ The House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol planned a “closing argument” this afternoon that Donald Trump remains “a clear and present danger” leading up to next month’s election.
■ One of the challenges facing the committee before it closes shop: What to do with the millions of documents and hundreds of interviews it’s amassed—most of which the public’s never seen.
■ A Trump employee has reportedly told federal agents—and security camera footage supports the claim—that boxes of sensitive documents were moved at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate at Trump’s specific direction.
■ Trump’s Twitter-like Truth Social app has won a place in the Google Play Store.
‘If Trump runs again, do not cover him the same way.’ Ex-Washington Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan offers a manifesto for journalists.
■ Columnist Parker Malloy flags “bizarre … sloppy and partisan” coverage from The Associated Press in the Philadelphia Senate race between John Fetterman and Mehmet Oz.
■ Fourteen relatives of Arizona Nevada Republican Senate candidate Adam Laxalt are endorsing his Democratic opponent.
‘Kind of feels like a bad idea for Herschel Walker to be telling any stories about multiple random pregnancies.’ Late-night comedians had a field day with the benighted Georgia Republican Senate candidate’s story about a promiscuous bull in a field.
■ Stephen Colbert played the whole sordid tale, calling it “the most inappropriate animal story I’ve heard since The Very Horny Caterpillar.”
■ Trevor Noah’s set his departure from The Daily Show for December.
■ Tonight, he’ll visit the rival Tonight Show.
‘You shouldn’t pay attention to the polls.’ Columnist Robert Reich offers three reasons to be skeptical.
■ Which brings to mind columnist Mike Royko’s counsel 30 years ago this month: “If a pollster calls you, lie your head off.”
■ The once reliably Republican Tribune editorial board’s endorsement today of Alexi Giannoulis for Illinois secretary of state makes it a sweep—so far—for Democrats seeking Illinois’ top offices.
■ Ex-Tribune columnist Eric Zorn endorses an end to newspaper endorsements.
■ The Chicago Public Square voter guide is tracking who’s endorsing whom.
COVID’s Republican toll. The Intercept: Citing the anti-vaccine movement, a new study concludes the pandemic has killed more Republicans than Democrats.
■ Axios Chicago finds the pandemic has left downtown Chicago surprisingly empty on Fridays—meaning “you can eat lunch pretty much anywhere without a reservation.”
Open House Chicago returns Saturday. Axios offers pro tips for navigating the biggest event of its kind in the world.
■ Time Out: Chicago’s Avondale neighborhood on the Northwest Side is officially one of the world’s 20 coolest.
Biggest in 40 years. Social Security recipients are in for an 8.7% hike in their benefits for 2023.
■ It’ll come in handy against an 8.2% increase in consumer prices last month compared with a year before.
News blues. The nation’s biggest newspaper publisher, Gannett—with 11 papers in Illinois—is offering buyouts and requiring workers take a week of unpaid leave in December.
■ It’s also freezing hiring.
■ Target $75 directly to Chicago Public Square and get a Square cap or T-shirt. Here’s how.
Square mailbag. Tuesday’s edition drew this feedback: “I am really enjoying Public Square (and yes I have donated) but enough with the Zorn links. Do we really need to hear what another cranky old white man thinks? … — Victoria Long (a cranky old white lady).”
■ Concern about multiple links to a single columnist in one edition of Square noted. But some bonds are not easily broken.
■ Friday’s Square will be abbreviated so your columnist can head south for the day.