■ ProPublica, whose reporting on justices’ indiscretions brought pressure for the court to act: “There are still few restrictions on what gifts the justices can accept.”
■ Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, says the code “falls short.”
‘Let’s celebrate the moment.’ Press Watch columnist Dan Froomkin grudgingly credits mainstream news organizations—notably The Washington Post—for a “tonal shift” in coverage of Donald Trump’s hateful rhetoric.
■ Media critic—and ex-Tribune and Sun-Times editor Mark Jacob—mocks The New York Times’ first take on Trump’s “vermin” speech with several satiric headlines, including “Captain of the Titanic Takes Luxury Liner in a Very Different Direction.”
■ Chilling words from one of Trump’s former lawyers in her Georgia plea deal: Jenna Ellis told prosecutors that, during a 2020 White House Christmas party, Trump aide Dan Scavino told her that “the boss is not going to leave under any circumstances.”
■ Puck: The Spanish-language—formerly left-leaning—Univision network has taken “a dramatic pivot to the right” under a new parent company with close ties to Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner (gift link courtesy of Chicago Public Square supporters).
■ Columnist Mike Gold on incessant concerns about President Biden’s well-being: “Age is not the issue here. It’s Kamala Harris,” who “as perceived by many in our highly and intrinsically bigoted nation … might as well be from the planet Mongo.”
Easy on the hate, cops. Chicago’s civilian-led police oversight commission has advanced a policy that would forbid police officers from participating in extremist groups, including the Oath Keepers, Proud Boys and Three Percenters.
■ It’ll take effect in 60 days unless the mayor kills the rule.
■ A coalition of community and activist groups is proposing policies to scale back excessive police stops of Black and Brown drivers.
■ An ex-Chicago cop’s pled guilty in connection with charges he kidnapped and sexually abused a woman in his squad car.
Fires’ fierce toll. The death yesterday of a Chicago firefighter makes four on-duty fatalities for the city this year—the most since 1998.
■ The Lincoln Park building where Andrew “Drew” Price died after helping warn its college-student residents has a history of code violations.
Lightfoot gets off. The Chicago Board of Ethics has dismissed a charge against the ex-mayor in connection with her campaign’s dispatch of dozens of reelection emails to public workers.
■ Replacing the face of Lightfoot’s COVID-19 response—public health chief Dr. Allison Arwady, who’s taking a job with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after her abrupt dismissal by Mayor Johnson: Dr. Olusimbo “Simbo” Ige.
Would it kill ya to pick up the phone? A Sun-Times editorial: Catholic Charities of San Antonio is doing Chicago no favors by failing to give the city a heads-up when it dispatches migrants this way.
■ The flow of migrants arriving here by bus has dwindled to its lowest level in months.
‘March for Israel.’ Thousands of demonstrators were gathering in D.C. today for a massive protest against antisemitism and for the release of hostages held in Gaza.
■ More than 100 protesters—many Jewish—were arrested at Chicago’s Ogilvie Transportation Center yesterday as they blocked the entrance to the Israeli consulate demanding a cease-fire.
■ The Onion: “Congressional Staffers Instructed To Smash Any Phone That Receives Calls About Palestine.”
Drink this in. Popular Information calls out companies that’ve spent more than $100 million to avoid accountability for drinking water contamination.
■ The Conversation: “Forever chemicals” are fouling the food for dolphins, fish and manatees in Miami’s Biscayne Bay.
■ An international, multi-organizational study concludes the world’s heading in the wrong direction for six key anti-global warming measures.
■ A U.S. report finds the warmer climate is harming people in every region of the country.
■ The United Nations secretary-general is calling for civilization to launch “a climate ambition supernova in every country, city and sector.”
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