‘What if we keep giving food to all the hungry children and, to make up for that, Republicans can eat … a bag of d___s?’ In an episode sprinkled with joking suggestions his show could be canceled, Stephen Colbert last night let loose on a federal budget that would cut Medicaid while giving billionaires tax breaks.
■ Colbert devoted most of the night to an interview with Sen. Bernie Sanders, who explained in plain terms the consequences of that plan.
■ The Tribune reports (gift link, courtesy of Chicago Public Square supporters) that hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans could lose Medicaid coverage under a scheme that a Trib editorial says “is filled with illogicalities, craven giveaways.”
■ The AP surveys what’s in that legislation, named—in homage to Donald Trump’s phraseology—the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
■ Sanders also had a message for Colbert’s Paramount bosses: Don’t settle a lawsuit filed by Trump.
■ … on grounds that “86” can mean to dump or kill and “47” is the number of Trump’s second presidency.
■ The Daily Beast: The post prompted Fox News hosts to “lose their minds.”
■ Comey’s since taken it down: “I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence.”
■ A Wisconsin judge accused of aiding the escape of a man in the U.S. illegally pleaded not guilty yesterday.
■ Law professor Joyce Vance takes a close look at the charges against the judge.
■ Chicago law firm Jenner & Block, among a handful refusing to bend a knee to Trump, says the Justice Department has pulled the security clearance for one of its lawyers.
■ Lawyer and columnist Robert Hubbell sees the Trump administration in retreat on several legal fronts.
Not a joke. Noem is considering a reality TV show that would pit immigrants against one another “for the honor of fast-tracking their way to U.S. citizenship.”
■ New York Times video featuring three Yale profs: “We study fascism, and we’re leaving the U.S.”
■ Pulitzer-winning columnist Dave Barry on Qatar’s offer to Trump of a plane: “I applaud the Qataris for their generosity. As an author currently on a multi-city book tour, I’m wondering if they might have any other spare airplanes lying around. If I had a personal airplane, I could spend a lot less time dealing with air-travel hassles and a lot more time writing Substack essays about issues such as what a great nation Qatar is, as well as offbeat topics such as why Qatar is a fun vacation spot. Give me a call, Qatar!”
■ Humorist Andy Borowitz: “Trump Establishes New Cabinet Department to Process Huge Volume of Bribes.”
Record broken. Yesterday’s high temperature eclipsed a Chicago record set in 1962 …
■ … but the city dodged violent weather that hit Wisconsin and Minnesota …
■ … allowing Beyoncé’s Soldier Field concert to play out after a delay.
■ Today’s forecast wasn’t looking all that promising.
■ The Wall Street Journal: With two weeks until the official start to the hurricane season, the newly appointed head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency has admitted “he doesn’t yet have a plan for hurricane season.”
Gmail warning. A wave of sophisticated AI-generated messages aims to steal your password—using scary phrases like “law enforcement agencies are interested in your account.”
■ Outlook, too.
■ ZDNET explains how a hidden slider in Google Earth lets you view your street or other locations on the planet as they’ve appeared from the sky going back up to 80 years.
Thanks for coming. Last year was a good one for Chicago tourism.
■ Block Club: A Chicago-based comedian’s reviews of Park District bathrooms have gone viral.
■ But, hey, tourists: Stock up on quarters, because—as the Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman reports—the parking meter deal that Chicagoans love to hate is getting $15.5 million worse.
■ In the works for the Ontario Street space formerly occupied by Lawry’s The Prime Rib: A new performance venue devoted to … magic!
■ A shooting across from Wrigley Field last night sent a man to the hospital.
‘Go 8 for 8 and win a $400 million gold airplane.’ Past Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions winner Fritz Holznagel lays down that challenge with this week’s news quiz …
■ … and your Chicago Public Square columnist is ready to board after nailing a perfect score this go-round.
■ Men Yell at Me columnist Lyz Lenz’s Dingus of the Week: The governor of California, “still a Democrat on paper, but … one of America’s foremost Republicrats.”
Staging resistance. As Trump assumes control of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, staffers are moving to unionize.
■ The Onion: “Trump Casts Cabinet In Les Misérables.”
A Broadway first. Coming to CNN live, the night of June 7: The penultimate performance of the critically acclaimed stage version of George Clooney’s Good Night, and Good Luck.
■ The Tribune’s Nina Metz (another gift link) gives Apple TV+’s new series Murderbot three stars.
■ Disney’s using AI to resurrect the late James Earl Jones’ voice as Darth Vader in a new video game
Thanks. Valerie Denney made this edition better.