‘I am ringing an alarm.’ In a blistering, 15-minute speech, Gov. Pritzker directly addressed President Trump on his talk of sending troops to Illinois: “Do not come to Chicago. You are neither wanted here nor needed here.”
■ Also: “If you hurt my people, nothing will stop me … from making sure that you face justice.”
■ Lawyer Robert Hubbell: “Pritzker put the lie to Trump’s claim that he was sending troops to fight crime.”
■ If Trump does it, Pritzker appealed to Illinoisans to protest peacefully and treat the military with compassion—because most of them would be here unwillingly: “They can be court-martialed, and their lives ruined, if they resist deployment.”
■ Here’s video of the full news conference.
■ Read the governor’s remarks here.
■ Axios: “If you were anywhere near the DNC at the United Center last August, you might have seen how a federal troop deployment could play out” …
■ … and Illinois Republican leaders are mostly behind the notion.
■ Columnist Eric Zorn says it feels like a TACO (Trump Always Chickens Out) Tuesday.
■ If not, CNN’s Stephen Collinson says, the situation stands to become “a full-blown crisis between a Republican White House and a major Democratic-run city and state.”
■ The AP: The reopening of Washington’s public schools amid thousands of now-armed National Guard troops has parents on edge.
■ Veteran Capitol Hill reporter Jamie Dupree—“Yes, I’m the radio guy who lost the ability to speak”—shares what he saw in a bike ride around D.C.
■ The Onion: “JD Vance Asks National Guard Member If He Can Touch Gun.”
■ Satirist Andy Borowitz: “National Guard Refuses to Go to Chicago, Citing Bone Spurs.”
‘We have become an authoritarian state, and our top newsrooms are in denial.’ Press Watch proprietor Dan Froomkin: “Armed soldiers patrol the streets of the nation’s capital, with more cities apparently to come. Immigrants who have done nobody any harm are abducted and disappeared by masked agents. The state is seizing stakes of national companies. Election integrity is under attack. Political opponents are targeted with criminal probes. Federal judges’ orders are ignored. Educational institutions are extorted into obedience. Key functions of the government are politicized and degraded. Expertise and science are devalued. Trump speaks of serving an unconstitutional third term. Media organizations are paying tribute to the ruler.”
■ Ex-Politico editor Garrett Graff: “The United States, just months before its 250th birthday as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the edge into authoritarianism and fascism.”
■ Columnist Mark Jacob isn’t quite there yet: “On Inauguration Day, I listed 12 tripwires of tyranny. We’ve hit 5 of them and are close to 5 others.”
■ Yeah, Trump said this yesterday: “Maybe we’d like a dictator.”
■ Author and ex-U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich: Fascist capitalism will be “Trump’s downfall.”
A flag-burner speaks. Gregory “Joey” Johnson—whose actions outside the 1984 Republican National Convention led to the landmark 1989 Supreme Court case (2016 link) that legalized the protest burning of a U.S. flag—says Trump’s executive order aimed at outlawing it again “is one more terrible assault by fascism in power, and it must be opposed by everyone who supports basic rights.”
■ Even some conservatives are opposing Trump’s order.
■ Nobel laureate in economics Paul Krugman: “Trump’s attempt to fire a Fed governor is illegal. Now we find out whether that matters.”
Flock off. Citing objections in Illinois and elsewhere to its cooperation with Homeland Security, automated license-plate reading company Flock Safety says it’s pausing those operations.
■ Gary Legum at Wonkette: “Kilmar Abrego Garcia Might Be Deported To Uganda For Crime Of Trump Being Wrong.”
‘Yeah, heaven’s on my mind these days
Some say I’m doomed to hell
(I also fear that I will die
Without my damn Nobel.)’
Pulitzer winner Mary Schmich files a fresh TrumPoem, channeling the president’s after-death aspirations.
■ The American Prospect says Trump’s defense of slavery puts him at the fore of a long line of the institution’s apologists.
War on journalists. At least 197 reporters have been killed during the Israel-Gaza war …
■ … and the AP and Reuters are outraged, demanding Israel explain the strikes that yesterday killed at least five …
■ … including Mariam Dagga, whose heartbreaking photos documented doctors’ struggle to save starving children.
■ Meanwhile in the U.S., the University of Illinois College of Medicine is the third Chicago institution to face Trump administration charges of antisemitism.
‘A dangerous reorientation in public health policy.’ Pediatrician and columnist Zachary Rubin says the Trump-controlled Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has appointed an unqualified antivaxer to lead a COVID-19 vaccine working group.
■ Your Local Epidemiologist: As kids head back to school amid a COVID surge, “the science community is pushing back … with clarity and courage.”
Best grade schools? For the first time in six years, Chicago magazine’s ranked city and suburban elementary and junior high schools.
■ Wired’s rounded up a bunch of back-to-school bargains for teachers—including cheap software, phone plans and classroom supplies.
■ The Onion: “Teacher Goes With School-Themed Classroom.”
■ The CTA reports its staffing is back to pre-pandemic levels, but ridership isn’t.
Protest song revivalist. Rolling Stone says Arkansas-born Jesse Welles is bringing back the topical, off-the-news song …
■ … most recently with a satiric recruitment video, “Join ICE”: “If you’re lookin’ for purpose in the current circus, if you’re seekin’ respect and attention, if you’re in need of a gig that’ll help you feel big, come with me and put some folks in detention.”
‘I am deeply offended.’ Reader and Chicago Public Square supporter Carol Morency takes issue with yesterday’s link to New Republic editor Michael Tomasky’s description of Mayor Johnson as “kind of a joke”—especially, she writes, “because it is crystal clear that Trump is attacking … everything and anything Black. Tomasky has always impressed me with his even-tempered demeanor in contrast to many progressives … [but] Tomasky’s comment borders on racist. Johnson has had issues, but … he is also one of the few Democrats who will use his voice to strongly criticize what is going on. … Thanks to you for bringing the article to my attention. I won’t be defunding the messenger!”
■ If you’d like to join her and Diane Meiborg, Jon Lederhouse, John Lewis, Paul Francuch, Mike Barzacchini, John Aerni (again!), Maureen Gannon, Paul M. Moretta, Dale Epton, Matt Baron, Gil Arias, Tanya Surawicz, Judy Sherr, Joe Gauss, Mena Boulanger, Mark Wukas, Marc Sims, Joel Hood and Sherry Skalko, Sandy and Jeremy Lipschultz, John Meissen, Gregg Runburg, Deborah J. Wess, Colleen Fahey, Jann Matlock, Tony Scott, Leigh Daeuble, Jack Hafferkamp, Peter Fuller, Peggy Conlon-Madigan, Susan Beach, Eric Davis, Heather O’Reilly, Dan Shannon, Carollina Song, Athene C, Thomas Witt, Cathy Schornstein, Laurie and Bill Bunkers, Ronald Melody, Timothy Baffoe, Charlie Pajor, Joan Berman, Deborah Kadin, David Jones, Tom Revord, Judy Karlov, Gary Kochanek, Jordan Wilkerson, Victoria Long, Kathryn Loewy, Barry Winograd, Andy Simon, Carmie Callobre, Mary Gannon Pittman, Rebecca Ewan, Tom Wethekam, Jason Grey, Jim Stafford, Sandy Kaczmarski, Deborah Stone and Paul Crossey in underwriting the cost of Square’s production and distribution, a contribution of as little as $1, just once, will put your name atop tomorrow’s roll call.
Square loses a reader. Another reader’s less empathetic cancellation note yesterday came with an explanation that she prefers to get her news elsewhere: “Info and links received from other subscriptions … without the snark.”
■ If you’d like to help replace that subscriber, send a friend who values snark here?
■ Lisa Rivers, Mike Braden and Chris Koenig made this edition better.
A Square public service announcement
A Guthrie sing-along. Award-winning folksinger Mark Dvorak and friends lead a free live and livestream Labor Day sing-along, “Bound for Glory: The Songs & Life of Woody Guthrie”—marking the 85th anniversary of Guthrie’s most well-known composition, “This Land Is Your Land,” Sunday, 11:30 a.m. at Chicago’s Third Unitarian Church. Details here.