‘Show me where the immigrants hurt you.’ Asserting that “immigrants are younger, work harder, commit less crime and bring the range of cultural diversity that our nation is so proud of,” the Sun-Times’ Neil Steinberg requests—actually, kinda dares—readers to share tales of how they’ve been harmed by Chicago’s migrant influx.
■ “Send your true tale of suffering—or benefit—to nsteinberg@suntimes.com. I’m interested. I care.”
■ In early returns, he tells Chicago Public Square, “Oddly, no one is writing in to criticize immigrants—only to praise them.”
■ Editor & Publisher goes inside the newsroom of the Springfield (Ohio) News-Sun, battling misinformation about that town’s immigrants on the frontlines of local journalism.
■ Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Will Bunch: “We need to decide as a nation if the United States is a place where life-or-death deliberate lies [about immigrants] by the likes of JD Vance can have actual consequences—or else we face a very dark future.”
■ LateNighter, recapping John Oliver’s show last night: “This sort of over-the-top egregious bigotry would have been the sort of thing to tank a presidential campaign in the days before Donald Trump gave voice to the millions of white Americans itching to play the victim.”
On further review … Following revelation of Republican North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson’s repugnant posts on a porno site, he’s no longer welcome at a north suburban Republican fundraiser next Sunday.
■ The American Prospect: “A viral 2018 public comment he gave to the Greensboro City Council about gun rights … earned him a place in conservative politics.”
■ Campaigning in North Carolina Saturday, convicted felon Trump just didn’t mention Robinson.
■ Popular Information outs companies (hi, DoorDash, Google, Walmart, CVS and more) bankrolling Robinson’s campaign …
■ … although Public Notice columnist Noah Berlatsky holds out hope Robinson can deliver North Carolina for Kamala Harris.
‘Trump is unfit.’ More than 700 national security and military officials are backing Vice President Harris for president.
■ Read their letter: “This election is a choice between serious leadership and vengeful impulsiveness.”
‘If Harris kicks his ass again … the undecideds may swing more sharply toward her.’Author Jonathan Alter sees another presidential debate as “the only way” Democrats can “get the big Harris win that could shut up the election deniers on Election Night and put MAGA in the rearview mirror.”
■ Shift-key-averse columnist Jeff Tiedrich: “elderly golfer too chickenshit to debate Kamala” …
■ … and, in fact, Democrats have a chicken costume ready to goad Trump into another round.
‘Dear World …’ The suspect in an apparent assassination attempt allegedly left a note saying he did indeed intend to kill Trump …
■ … and offering “$150,000 to whomever can complete the job.”
‘I think … that will be it.’ Trump says that, if he loses this election, he doesn’t expect to run again …
■ … but if he wins, columnist Harold Meyerson (no relation) warns, he’d “be unrestrained in a second term.”
■ On Facebook, Vance says, “I’m not sure why legal analysis and political commentary from a former U.S. attorney would upset Facebook.”
■ Curiously, Facebook seems untroubled when the link’s shared in the comments.
■ Columnist Brian Beutler: “Trump’s desperate pandering to young men is probably a dead end. …When they realize the real GOP wants a crackdown on recreational sex the bromance will end.”
Deadliest since 2006. Updating coverage: Israeli strikes today killed more than 180 people in Lebanon.
■ A memorial service in Skokie yesterday honored Hersh Goldberg-Polin, killed by Hamas after almost a year held hostage.
■ Pro-Israel Political Update proprietor Steve Sheffey perceives Trump to be on a “Blame the Jews” tour.
End of an era. After more than a decade alerting cops to the possible locations of gunfire, Chicago’s controversial Shotspotter network was being dismantled as of early today.
■ CWBChicago: “On its last Saturday night in Chicago, ShotSpotter pinpointed a mass shooting location and helped cops catch a suspect in a second shooting.”
Free COVID-19 tests. They’re coming back, available from the feds beginning sometime this month.
■ When it happens, COVIDTests.gov will begin working again.
Bags bagged. California’s governor has signed a law banning all grocery store plastic shopping bags.
■ The Lever: Climate change has triggered an “insurance apocalypse … breaking down the global safety net for handling life’s risks.”
■ The federal government’s joined in declaring Cook County a disaster area after July’s “prolific tornado event.”
■ You can apply for federal recovery cash online here.
‘It was inappropriate, and it lasted for months.’ Stop the Presses columnist Mark Jacob assesses the personal relationship between New York’s Olivia Nuzzi and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—and its impact on the journalism biz.
■ The Daily Beast: RFK Jr.’s boasts of having nude photos of her broke the scandal to her boss.
Welcome, fall. Block Club’s Colin Boyle caught yesterday’s Chicagohenge in photos.
■ And now, colder temps.
Thanks. Jerry Wolin and Mike Braden made this edition better.
■ As ever, gratitude to those whose support—even as little as $1, once—keeps this service coming.