Trump splits. The president cut off a Wisconsin interview for Meet the Press—after host Kristen Welker fact-checked him more than a dozen times in four minutes.
■ Columnist Jeff Tiedrich: “All Kristen Welker did was ask Donny for evidence to back up his claims—but apparently, that was a bridge too far for the colicky piss-baby who lives inside a fact-free bubble, and throws a shit-fit any time some peasant dares challenge one of his fever-swamp hallucinations.”
■ Ex-Republican political strategist Rick Wilson says the sit-down exemplifies the absurdist theater that happens “when a man who has spent his life surrounded by people paid to nod … collides with journalism.”
■ Historian Heather Cox Richardson: “Weirdly, he kept referring to the U.S. as ‘your’ country … almost as if he was a foreign observer offering criticism of the U.S.”
■ See it all here …
■ … or jump here to see him walk out.
■ NBC’s rounded up those disputed facts online …
■ … and says, surprisingly, that he’s agreed to a re-do.
‘A private, commercial, corrupt use of our most sacred national monuments.’ The Public Integrity Project is going to court to block Trump’s Ultimate Fighting Championship show scheduled for the White House South Lawn this Sunday.
■ Columnist and former U.S. Rep. Marie Newman: “Crime does pay, regardless if you are a Jan. 6 insurrectionist or a billionaire.”
■ Marking D-Day’s 82nd anniversary in France, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth—in Jeff Tiedrich’s words—“cranked the racism dial so far past eleven that the damned thing snapped off in his hand.”
‘Fire Bari Weiss.’ Complaining that CBS News’ new chief “has shredded the organization’s credibility,” columnist and Chicago TV news veteran Jennifer Schulze recommends concerned viewers “call CBS News and Paramount/ Skydance to register your outrage.”
■ Interviewed for the first time since his dismissal from 60 Minutes, correspondent Scott Pelley accuses Weiss of trying to inject “falsehoods and bias” into coverage of an immigration officer’s killing of a woman in Minneapolis in January.
■ Columnist Mary Geddry: “Nothing says ‘free press’ like the executive branch maintaining a searchable burn book of journalists, outlets and commentators it would like its followers to despise.” (It’s here.)
‘I like the idea of Hoosiers paying the bill.’ Former Better Government Association chief Andy Shaw: A Bears stadium in Hammond “would actually be a win for Illinois taxpayers, contractors, job-seekers and entrepreneurs.”
■ Columnist Neil Steinberg: “Chicago icons don’t need to dwell within city borders. The Chicago Botanic Garden is in Glencoe.”
■ If the Bears skip town, Newcity publisher Brian Hieggelke says the city should launch a search for another team to play here: “Plenty … would covet the nation’s third largest market. And that Chicago Bears name, too, if we have the collective cojones to fight for it.”
School’s out for summer. For today and tomorrow, at least, Evanston Township High School has canceled all summer school classes, sports camps and other on-campus activities …
■ … because a ransomware attack fouled internet services, computer infrastructure, staff email and phone systems.
Death by ‘dooring.’ An accident that killed Chicago biking activist Riley O’Neil—after a driver opened a door into his path—is fueling new demands for protected bike lanes.
■ As the company that has been leasing Chicago’s parking meters considers selling to a New York investment firm, City Council members see possible ways out of the deal.
Next from Apple. The company this afternoon kicks off its Worldwide Developers Conference, showcasing its latest technology—reportedly including a sweeping redesign of iPhone software.
■ You can watch live online at noon Chicago time here.
‘An example of just how easy it is for insiders to game prediction market bets.’ Reviewing some of the skullduggery rampant in the “prediction market industry” (a.k.a. gambling), Popular Information notes serial liar and ex-U.S. Rep. George Santos is under investigation for boasting that he’d attend the State of the Union address and then betting against the odds he’d show up—which he didn’t.
Chicago’s Tony moments. Last night’s big Broadway show brought a Best Supporting Actress award to Carbondale-born Steppenwolf Theatre ensemble member Laurie Metcalf …
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