Mixed signals. Defense Secretary Hegseth predicted that today would bring “our most intense day of strikes inside Iran” …
■ … even as President Trump declared the war “very complete” …
■ … a line that inspired late-night hosts to make the same joke, two ways.
■ Plainspoken Jeff Tiedrich: “Donny flipped the Big Skateboard of Foreign Policy™ up into his own nuts, and now has to pretend that he meant to do that.”
■ Historian Heather Cox Richardson: “It has become clear that Trump had no plan in Iran other than to strike it, knock out the leaders he didn’t like, and hope the Iranian people would rise up and put in place new leaders he could deal with.”
■ PolitiFact dumps water on presidential press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s suggestion that a military draft is an option on the president’s table.
■ You may remember Downes as a DJ on WDRV-FM, Chicago’s “The Drive”—a role he departed in 2015.
‘Spiking gas prices will make me filthy rich.’ USA Today’s Chicago-based columnist Rex Huppke: “Thanks, Trump!”
■ Columnist Brian Tyler Cohen: “Trump started a war and you’re paying for it at the pump.”
■ Seth Meyers: “One thing you can’t lie about is gas prices … because they’re on giant f***ing signs on the side of the road.”
■ Robert Hubbell at Today’s Edition: “The wheels are coming off the Trump bus.”
‘Her claims should be taken seriously.’ Popular Information surveys what we know and what’s still being hidden about Trump’s alleged sexual assault of a minor.
■ Columnist Eric Zorn on the significance of Trump’s baseball cap faux pas: “There is no one around Trump … to say, ‘Hey, yeah, boss, you know, this is not a good idea. Let’s rethink.’”
■ Columnist and former Tribune and Sun-Times editor Mark Jacob: Democrats should zero in on Trump’s unlikeable adviser, Stephen Miller, as the face of the Republican Party. (Cartoon: Jack Ohman.)
Blitz redux? Spring’s approach raises concern about the prospect of another Midway Blitz assault on the Chicago area by Trump’s immigration thugs.
■ The Sun-Times reports the high-powered Chicago law firm that fought back in court wants a special prosecutor to investigate and potentially charge those responsible—even as the Cook County state’s attorney says she opposes the notion.
■ The New York Times (gift link): “In scathing ruling, judge says 3 Trump prosecutors are in unlawful roles.”
Final face-off. The Trib recaps the last scheduled debate among leading candidates for the Democratic nomination for Illinois’ Senate seat.
■ You can see it here.
■ Also from the Trib (gift link): Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi’s fundraising for that campaign is drawing scrutiny.
■ Politico: Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s coming to Illinois Friday to headline a rally for Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton in that race.
■ Sen. Bernie Sanders is backing state Sen. Karina Villa for comptroller.
■ Undecided about the March 17 primary? The Chicago Public Square Voter Guide Guide’s here to help.
‘Trump just pardoned Ticketmaster when no one was looking.’ Monopoly expert Matt Stoller says a “specter of corruption” haunts the settlement of an antitrust case against the company.
■ Illinois and other states are rejecting the deal.
■ Echoing Trump’s campaign pledge to “save vaping,” his FDA has opened the door to more flavored e-cigarettes.
Wait wait … for May 23, when legendary Chicago TV anchorman Bill Kurtis steps down from his role as judge and scorekeeper on NPR’s Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me!
■ In a memo to staff, Kurtis, who’s 85, says, “There is no better way to stay young than to surround yourself with this crew of outrageously talented people who have no fear in taking down anything and anyone with a well-placed joke.”
■ In a 2017 Chicago Public Square podcast, host Peter Sagal celebrated Kurtis’ contribution to the show (at 48:38).
■ Reportedly unhappy with newly Trump-compliant CBS News’ meager coverage of the anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection whose aftermath he covered in detail, justice correspondent Scott MacFarlane is quitting the network.
■ His note to colleagues: “I look forward to some independence and finding new spaces to share my work in line with my personal goals.”
Nice while it lasted. A day after record high temperatures and sunny skies …
■ … the Chicago area was bracing for bad weather today.
Laundry day. Got a Chicago Public Square T-shirt or hoodie? Make sure it’s clean so you can wear it Thursday, National Support Chicago Public Square Day 2026.
■ Then be ready to share a photo of yourself wearing it on social media and encourage friends to sign up for Square, free.
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