How’d they do it? Updating coverage: The U.S. government confirms the remote attack that exploded hundreds of pagers used by members of the Iran-backed Hezbollah Islamist movement, killing at least 12—including two kids—and wounding thousands of others, was the work of Israel …
■ … and experts say it looks to have been a case of “supply-chain interference”—explosive devices built into the pagers before their delivery to Hezbollah.
■ The Taiwanese company whose name was on the pagers says they were made by a Budapest-based firm to which it had licensed its brand.
■ Axios: Israel had planned to use the pagers “as a surprise opening blow in an all-out war,” but instead pulled the trigger yesterday in fear the sabotage would be discovered before that.
■ A Middle East analyst tells CNN the attack stands to deepen “stress and embarrassment” for Hezbollah leaders.
Not a word. Sun-Times D.C. bureau chief Lynn Sweet notes that, at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing yesterday on the rise of hate crimes against Jewish and Arab Americans, Republicans offered no condolences to the mother of a 6-year-old Plainfield boy stabbed to death in a hate crime.
■ Hundreds of social media posts attacking Blacks, Muslims, immigrants and members of the LGBTQ+ community could cost a veteran Chicago cop his job.
‘A crying shame.’ In her most extensive interview since becoming the Democrats’ presidential nominee—see it in full here—Vice President Harris condemned conspiracy theories Republicans have amplified about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio.
■ Columnist Jeff Tiedrich: Vice-presidential candidate JD Vance has “spent the last week single-handedly destroying daily life in Springfield, Ohio—a formerly quiet community that now endures constant school and hospital bomb-threats, and impromptu visits by neo-Nazi and wingnut paramilitary groups.”
■ Last night, Vance lamely defended himself by asserting that it’s not his job to “fact-check” stories.
■ Columnist Neil Steinberg—a self-described collector of slurs: “We’ll pin ‘They’re eating dogs’ next to ‘There’s leprosy in Oak Park.’”
Unsolicited advice. The Reader’s Ben Joravsky appeals to the vice president: “Please, please, please do not offer any more specifics about fracking.”
■ Heated spotlights the “scariest environmental proposal” for a second Donald Trump term.
Harris’ gun. Women of color say they’re not at all surprised to learn that the vice president owns a firearm.
■ Daily Beast columnist David Rothkopf: Thanks to Trump, “The worst political violence of 2024 may lie ahead.”
■ An Ohio sheriff has told people to “write down all the addresses of the people who had [Harris campaign] signs in their yards!”
■ The Daily Show’s Ronny Chieng calls for an end to assassination attempts on Trump: “Not only is it morally wrong, but you’re also just giving him more things to brag about: ‘They only tried to kill Abraham Lincoln once; that makes me twice as great as him.’”
■ Pod Save America co-host Dan Pfeiffer: “Democrats can’t stop Trump from lighting himself on fire to get attention.”
■ USA Today’s Rex Huppke condemns Trump’s suggestion that Democrats have been encouraging violence against him: “Democrats haven’t promoted violence—only voting.” (Cartoon: Jack Ohman.)
■ Law prof Joyce Vance: “It will take more than winning the White House to restore democracy. So, all of your votes, up and down ballot, are essential.”
■ Are you indeed registered to vote? 30 seconds here can set your mind at ease.
■ Also: You can now renew a passport online—no stamps required.
‘A wild one.’ That’s what Politico’s Shia Kapos foresees for today’s Chicago City Council meeting—with an anticipated debate over the fate of the city’s contract for ShotSpotter gunshot detection tech, set to expire this weekend.
■ An economist tells WBEZ that ShotSpotter’s slowing police responses to 911 calls from, you know, humans.
■ Also on the agenda: A groundbreaking ordinance that would push data centers to keep Chicago’s government data in the U.S.—with incentives for keeping it in Chicago.
‘Pretty horrifying.’ New York’s Jonathan Chait says Trump’s “concept of a plan” for health care reform is to let insurers charge more for preexisting conditions.
■ Columnist Josh Barro calls it “a model that was once associated with dysfunctional Democratic governance, and that neither Republicans nor Democrats ever thought was any good.”
■ Popular Information: A new government report reveals the American economy’s “fundamental flaw.”
■ Popular Information: A new government report reveals the American economy’s “fundamental flaw.”
■ Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Will Bunch calls for President Biden to “liberate 7 million Americans over age 50 drowning in student debt.”
‘Seriously great.’ Critic Richard Roeper says My Old Ass, a science fiction film starring Aubrey Plaza, is “sharp and insightful.”
■ A rock band formed at the University of Illinois in 1967, REO Speedwagon, says it’s ending live performances.
‘The smartest daily news aggregation in Chicago.’ That’s Stop the Presses columnist Mark Jacob’s unsolicited praise for Chicago Public Square. Thanks, sir.
■ Which makes this as good a time as any to remind you that your support—even just $1, once—helps cover the costs of producing this service.
■ Jim Bray made this edition better.