Tr**p-free edition? / Slow down, Chicago / Fake oohs

‘We have reached the point at which there is not much to be said that we haven’t already heard.’ That’s columnist Charlie Madigan, pronouncing himself out of things to say about the presidential election …
 … which prompts the question: Can we make it through a whole edition of Chicago Public Square without mentioning the convicted felon who used to be president? Hm, let’s see … How about a story that affects virtually everyone in town?

Slow down, Chicago. A committee’s sending the full City Council an ordinance to cut the citywide speed limit from 30 to 25 mph …
 Also advancing: A plan to ticket drivers photographed parking in bike lanes.
 Illinois is launching a new program to educate motorists about the dangers of texting, reading and eating while driving.

‘An urgent matter of public safety.’ A national civil rights group is calling on Chicago to fire the at least eight cops tied to the racist, extremist Oath Keepers.
 Chicago’s weekend violence tally: At least nine dead, more than a dozen wounded.

Outta here. Amid a chaotic struggle for control of Chicago’s schools, Mayor Johnson’s deputy mayor of education is taking a leave of absence.
 Evidently at wits’ end, the school board’s canceled its last pre-election meeting.

‘I got drop-kicked into DiabetesLand.’ Columnist Neil Steinberg says his new diagnosis has sparked a passion for country music, which has “an honesty … extra valuable in a time of distress.”
 The Tribune: Medical companies are pushing glucose trackers—and not just for diabetics, but also for people who “want to see how food and activity … might be connected to their mood, energy level and sleep quality.”

Fake oohs. A new Federal Trade Commission rule’s now in effect, banning the sale or purchase of online reviews—including those written without disclosure by company insiders.
 Speaking of which: New York magazine has cut star D.C. correspondent Olivia Nuzzi after revelation of her previously undisclosed “personal relationship” with Robert F. Kennedy, about whom she wrote a long cover story almost a year ago.

Back, baby—sort of. The invaluable Internet Archive was slowly recovering from the cyberattacks of Oct. 8 …
 … which means much—but not all—of the Chicago Public Square podcast series is back online …
 … although, as of early today, features like uploading and borrowing content remained unavailable.
 At least one of the hackers has been answering the Archive’s email.

‘Who are the three people you’re voting with?’ Author and filmmaker Michael Moore envisions a world where your ballot is quadrupled.
 Poynter’s Tom Jones: The presidential race “is too tight to draw any conclusions. So don’t.”
 The AP’s assembled a list of the top 25 people, places, races, dates and things to know as Election Day nears.

‘A sound overseer of the U.S. economy.’ USA Today’s Chicago-based columnist Rex Huppke says Kamala Harris’ economic plan is far better than that advanced by … um, you know … her opponent. (Whew.)

‘You can’t Dick Cheney or Taylor Swift. What country did Taylor Swift get us to invade? No!’ Daily Show host Jon Stewart pressed Harris running mate Tim Walz on the Democrats’ embrace of Iraq war architect Dick Cheney.
 Late-night monologues went hard on … (oh, damn it, here it comes) … Donald Trump’s remarks about Arnold Palmer.
 Jimmy Fallon: “I think one of his staffers must have said, ‘We need to focus on the polls,’ and Trump was like, ‘Oh, I’ll focus on the poles.’” (Cartoon: Jack Ohman.)

‘You don’t throw salt like that.’ Actual McDonald’s workers say (what the hell, it was a nice idea while it lasted) Trump flunked his tryout as a fast-food worker.
 Progress Report editor and restaurant kitchen vet Jordan Zakarin: Trump’s stunt was “an insult to millions of workers.” (Another Ohman cartoon.)

‘What (really) happens if Trump wins.’ Political scientist Rachel Bitecofer sees clear parallels to Hitler: “His plan is dictatorship, not democracy.”
 Cartoonist Tom Tomorrow samples the latest from the “Project 2025 Comics Group,” The Unbelievable Trump: “Trump smash enemies within! Including Democrats and the media! And all the corrupt prosecutors! Trump want retribution! And also to stay out of jail!
 The Onion mocks up a point-counterpoint between a Trump apologist and Trump himself: “We Need To Take Trump’s Rhetoric Seriously, But Not Literally vs. Have That Guy Killed.”

Wear your Square. Check out the refreshed line of Chicago Public Square T-shirts and hoodies—perfect for a trip to the polling place.
 Get $5 off the purchase of any of them by contributing as little as $1, once, to help keep this service coming.
 Joe Hass made this edition better.

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