Is this thing on? Chicago Public Square’s back—although those who follow Square on Bluesky got plenty of breaking news and commentary over the last few days, including:
■ “Texas’ Republican-controlled House approves new maps to create more winnable GOP congressional seats” (The Associated Press).
■ “Trump is wildly unpopular and losing ground fast. Why is anyone afraid of him?” (USA Today’s Rex Huppke).
■ “Education Department quietly removes rules for teaching English learners” (Washington Post).
But here’s what’s what now:
‘Stupid white hippies.’ That’s how senior Trump advisor Stephen Miller describes those protesting the federal occupation of Washington, D.C. …
■ … a situation that the AP says “appeared primed for escalating confrontations between residents who say they feel under siege and federal forces carrying out the president’s vision of militarized law enforcement in Democratic cities.”
■ Columnist and lawyer Robert B. Hubbell fires back: “Old white hippies rule!”
‘Everyone reassures Trump that he doesn’t have a small penis as they hand him a gift.’ Last night’s merciless installment of South Park skewered the president’s D.C. takeover, tech-bro culture and ChatGPT’s “overly pandering appeal” …
■ … putting these words in Apple CEO Tim Cook’s mouth: “Mr. President, your ideas for the tech industry are so innovative, and you definitely do not have a small penis.”
■ Apple TV+ is raising its monthly price by 30%.
HIPAA? Hahahaha. Thumbing its nose at notions of health information privacy, the Justice Department’s demanding hospitals surrender what The Washington Post describes as “a wide range of sensitive information related to medical care for young transgender patients.”
■ Chicago pediatric doctors are sticking it to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: Kids should get COVID shots.
■ Politico’s Shia Kapos says Illinois lawmakers are pushing back against U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi: The state’s sanctuary status for migrants stands firm.
■ The Daily Beast has unearthed years-old video in which now-White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt offered tips on how to get hired by the Trump administration.
CTA relief? In a move that could delay major service cuts in Chicago, the Regional Transportation Authority was poised today to transfer $74 million to the Chicago Transit Authority from the suburban Metra and Pace systems.
■ An autopsy concludes the death of a 9-year-old boy attacked at a CTA Green Line station Saturday was homicide.
Council, heal thyself. Chicago’s inspector general says the city’s alderpersons should for the first time establish and enforce their own rules about misconduct among their ranks.
■ Read her advisory here.
About time. Acknowledging the ironic fact that Chicagoans for almost a decade (2016 link) have had to drive absurdly long distances to have their vehicles checked for air pollution, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has launched a pilot program to bring those tests to the city’s South Side.
■ On the 20th anniversary of New Orleans’ Hurricane Katrina disaster, the environmental newsletter Heated makes a case for merging the climate and immigration movements.
We’re No. 17. Chicago’s one of only two U.S. cities to make Time Out’s ranking of the world’s best cities for Gen Z’ers …
■ … but they may have a tough time finding places to swim.
■ The American Prospect: “Private equity ripped the heart out of skateboarding.”
Proud goeth before the fall. Public pressure—including a nonbinding county board resolution—has brought down a billboard promoting the hateful Proud Boys in southern Illinois.
■ Two TV stations in Lansing, Michigan, have declined to run ads from an HVAC service company owner who promotes his firm by taking shots at reactionary MAGA types.
‘Goodbye for now.’ Tribune movie critic Michael Phillips’ position’s been eliminated—so he’s taking a buyout.
■ Phillips’ ex-colleague Eric Zorn calls the departure “an ominous sign of the times.”
■ All Things Considered co-host Ari Shapiro is leaving at the end of next month.
■ Longtime PBS correspondent Lee Hochberg, born in Chicago and a long-ago high school mate to your Chicago Public Square columnist, is dead at 67.
■ Poynter’s launched an updating log of federal actions affecting journalists—including lawsuits, policy changes, investigations, funding cuts, firings and detentions.
‘The work you do every day is worth 10 times more than I could ever pay for.’ Those kind words last week accompanied a contribution to underwrite the cost of producing and distributing Square. Kicking in as little as $1, just once, will add you to the ranks of The Legion of Chicago Public Squarians—including Jon Langham, Justin Schroeder, Jane Williams, Mary Blankenheim, Bruce Steinberg, Neela Marnell, Beth Marcou, Paul Francuch, Jeryl Smith, Robert Alan Innocenzi, Michael Mini, Bill Paige, William O’Donnell, Stephanie Blatt, Bob Ely, Sharon Halperin, Martha Swisher, the Skubish family, Jan Menaker Brock, Chris Schuba, Ben Segedin, Jim Grimes, Matthew Thompson, Paul Pasulka, Mike Janowski, Joyce Cook, William Lindsey Cochran, Amy Carlton, Lucia Podraza, Jessica Mackinnon, Jeffrey Nelson, Sheridan Chaney, Joan Richmond, Daniel Jares, John Iltis, Cynde Seegers, Ellen Siciliano, Donna Peel, Catherine Tokarski, Amy Fazekas, Rick Hutt, Bridget Hatch, Patrick Dahlstrom, Stephanie Kiesling, Frederick Nachman, Katie Roberts, Kevin Parzyck, Julie A. Johnson, Libbey Paul, Charles Kepner, Catherine Johns, Denise Joyce, David Clauter, Clifford Johnson, Mary Bunker, Joe Germuska, Matthew Hunnicutt, Jasmin Phua, Norm Spiegel, Michael Brooks, Dave Rogers, John Ayers, Lynne Taylor, Heather Foote, Carolyn Potts, David Mausner, Judy Hoffman, Ken Scott, Cynthia Barnard, Barbara Heskett, Bill Oakes, Karl Schuster, Maria Garvy, David Hammond, Timothy Cunningham, Barbara Miller, Jeffery Angevine and Mark Nystuen.
■ Pitch in today and see your name atop tomorrow’s roll call.
■ John Herrbach made this edition better.
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