‘If Mar-a-Lago is vulnerable, imagine what’s possible.’ That’s a Democratic party strategist’s reaction to news that a Democrat yesterday flipped a state legislative district seat representing Donald Trump’s Florida home.
■ North Carolina’s Trump-endorsed state Senate leader—that state’s top conservative architect—lost a primary race to a challenger he’d outspent by more than 40-to-1.
■ ABC News alumnus Terry Moran: A phrase tossed off by a Supreme Court justice during arguments over whether Mississippi may count mail-in ballots that are postmarked by Election Day but arrive up to five business days later exposes a majority “that no longer seems to trust the people it serves.”
Flying? The Sun-Times breaks down what we know about wait times at Chicago airports during the Homeland Security funding shutdown.
■ The Daily Show’s Josh Johnson on ICE’s airport security role: “You’re telling me ICE agents are showing up to the airport and doing absolutely nothing? Well, then, it’s my honor to present the award for most improved agency.”
■ … but not in Illinois.
■ The Onion: “ICE Agents Swab Passengers’ Hands To Test For Immigrant Residue.”
■ Broadview’s mayor is demanding the closure of ICE’s detention facility there—and reimbursement of $700,000 for the costs it’s imposed on government and businesses.
■ Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke is turning thumbs down on a call to appoint a special prosecutor for the “Midway Blitz” offensive.
■ The anonymously-bylined What Did Donald Trump Do Today? blog: The swearing-in ceremony for Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin “exposed loyalty over competence.”
What’s in the box? Trump’s unexplained boast that Iran has given him “a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money” has people wondering:
■ Columnist Jeff Tiedrich calls on Trump to level with the American people: “Was this ‘present’ from Iran a big wooden rabbit on wheels?”
‘The one claiming to be a global superpower would have already gotten out of this mess if it could.’ Updating coverage: After the Iranian military mocked Trump’s talk of a ceasefire, Iran is reportedly rejecting his “15-point” ceasefire proposal. (Or is it 13?)
■ He’s reportedly sending at least 1,000 more troops to the Mideast.
■ Popular Information: “After sending billions to Kushner and Trump, Saudis lobby to escalate Iran war.”
■ Economist Paul Krugman: “People close to Trump are trading based on national secrets.”
■ Former Republican Illinois Lt. Gov. Bob Kustra: Trump’s war masks his support of Vladimir Putin.
■ McSweeney’s: “We’ve Officially Won the War We’re Currently and Indefinitely Fighting.”
‘War on wind.’ Krugman again: The Trump administration “remains deeply committed to killing renewable energy … and increasing America’s reliance on fossil fuels.”
■ Under Trump, the U.S. will pay a French company $1 billion to abandon plans for two East Coast wind farms—instead to invest in oil and gas projects …
■ … even as Trump’s war raises gas prices and more in Chicago.
■ Columnist Neil Steinberg objects to the president’s co-opting of Chicago’s controversy over Christopher Columbus’ role in U.S. history: “It was as if the president had issued an executive order banning ketchup on hot dogs, not to give him any ideas.”
When a CTA platform gets dangerous. Axios’ Monica Eng offers three tips for commuters who find themselves in worrying scenarios.
■ A 15-year-old Chicago girl’s death Saturday night in a hit-and-run involving an e-scooter is sparking new questions about a lack of age restrictions for their rental.
Tech trouble. A Serve Robotics food delivery robot crashed through the glass wall of a Chicago bus shelter this week.
■ A ZDNET editor cracked open cheap electronics charging gadgets from Temu: “It was worse than I expected—loose wires, sketchy lumps of steel and other suspicious findings.”
Papers shredded. Press Gazette: Of the nation’s biggest newspapers, 24 of 25 saw print circulations fall last year …
■ … none more than the Jeff Bezos-compromised Washington Post.
Unrelated items.
■ Under the leadership of MAGAriffic Bari Weiss, CBS Evening News is on track for its lowest-rated first quarter this century.
■ City Cast’s Emily Mack has concocted a quiz about rats—on which your Chicago Public Square columnist scored a mousey 2/5.
A Elbereth Colbertiel! Stephen Colbert and his son are writing a new Lord of the Rings movie …
■ … because he’ll have some time on his hands after May.
Thanks. Mike Braden made this edition better.