Some of you have asked how you can support our family. The biggest thing you can do right now is to contribute to Brian’s legal defense fund. secure.actblue.com/donate/straw...

Oh — the situation has escalated. Pope Leo has spoken out: says "spiritual rights" of detainees should be respected and calls on the "authorities" to allow "pastoral workers" in. "Jesus says very clearly … we're going to be asked, how did you receive the foreigner?" www.youtube.com/watch?v=taCi...

Reverend David Black has a Bible open and is preaching to the police now, inviting them to join him in standing with the persecuted inside the detention center. "Which side do you think Jesus wanted his followers to be on?"

On the occasion of Halloween, @newrepublic.com asked me to write about what’s going on in Chicago and I wanted you all to know what randomized terror feels like. And also that as the federal government fails our kids, everyday Chicagoans are showing the courage of trying to protect them.

I joined the protests at the Broadview ICE detention facility because of what is happening to our immigrant neighbors: children zip-tied and shoved into vans, mothers pulled from cars on the way to school, neighbors afraid to go to church or work.

Tim Walz: "People are gonna be lined up out here to get food, and we're talking about a damn ballroom. Don't lose the plot."

Most ppl know that Chicago (home of modern urban segregation) is a very segregated place but I don't think most outside Chicago (+many Chicagoans!) understand how the *distances* involved and *depth* of segregation mean most white ppl have ZERO visibility into many Black and Latine neighborhoods +

Still not liveposting this hearing b/c it's dense, largely administrative issues, but this was worth highlighting: District Judge Jeff Cummings just asked a govt atty if he can certify relevant immigration detainees are being held in "safe and sanitary" conditions. "I cannot," a govt atty replied.

Shout-out to local Chicago journalists, who have really shined over the past horrible month. Without them, we would know far less about ICE activity and abuses. Local news matters. Local news matters. Local news matters. Local news matters. Local news matters. Local news matters.

Sooooo, like lots of folks who got laid off bc of DJT, I'm still looking for work. Suboptimal! And so! If you're looking for an excellent progressive writer with years of experience reporting, analyzing, & contextualizing the news under her own byline + as a comms writer w/ progressive causes, hmu!

An Oak Park attorney who was arrested near his child’s school says federal agents pointed a gun at him, had “Chiraq Team 2” group chat. He had been whistling and honking horn to warn people of their presence. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/23/o...

NEW: 200+ Chicago-area clergy — Protestants, Catholics, and evangelicals — have signed a letter decrying ICE's efforts and voicing a willingness to put their "bodies on the line" for migrants. "What Kristi Noem and her ICE agents are doing is immoral," they write. religionnews.com/2025/10/21/a...

Oak Park resident Scott Sakiyama reports feds pointed weapons at him across from an elementary school today. They then arrested him and took him to Broadview. While in custody, he saw agents texting in a group chat called "Chiraq Team 2." Full testimony: www.facebook.com/share/p/1GqB...

NEW: I spoke to clergy and faith leaders who've joined protests at the Chicago-area ICE facility. Three say they've been shot with pepper balls, sometimes while praying. All say ICE is also violating their religious freedom, and one is arguing it in court. religionnews.com/2025/10/07/i...

It's almost like it was never about state's rights

I'm back to posting while my kid watches TV...since when does Miles have a little sister?

While everyone is marveling over the Yankees' 9HR game and 20-9 win over the Brewers, they're overlooking the 5 errors. Their inability to play clean baseball lost them the World Series and will cause problems when they're not hitting BP during games.

How the Tribune describes Ohtani's home run: "Sitting in right-center field on Wednesday night at the Tokyo Dome, he watched Shohei Ohtani’s home run in the fifth inning fall off the hands of another fan nearby — and back onto the field." How was this not fan interference?

When you try to justify handing the keys to the car thief. #VoteNODurbin

Also worth noting that in addition to religious leaders and members of Congress speaking in support of Bishop Budde, more than 30,000 people across the country have signed a thank you letter addressed to the Bishop in under 24 hours: act.faithfulamerica.org/sign/thank-y...

On Bishop Budde, the over-the-top reaction from Donald Trump and his friends, and the religious right's kryptonite -- a thread:

Have they looked at Trump's past? Because I didn't realize this mattered to them.

Me right now

I need the National Weather Service and the MLB to move over before I can completely turn off the other app.

He's still talking about meeting @nico_hoerner. Here's what he wrote for his back to school project. https://twitter.com/ShannonStraw/status/1824242544881873254

Two months ago, in the middle of a record-breaking heat wave, I stood on sacred ground in Pittsburgh for The Tree of Life's groundbreaking ceremony -- a milestone that was years in the...

So @nico_hoerner, he may have told you his favorite position is short stop, but he says you're his favorite player and he wants to be like you when he grows up. https://twitter.com/ShannonStraw/status/1824167505000272363

Short Straw had a morning he'll never forget. Not only did he get to play catch with @nico_hoerner of the @cubs but he got to spend sometime chatting with the Gold Glove 2nd baseman after Hoerner borrowed Short's glove. (@FlexWorkSports)

Y'all @ihapp_1 of @Cubs is the absolute best. Short Straw was supposed to be participating in @ProCamps with Happ this morning. But when we got there, he was sick. 👎🏻 Happ was so kind, pausing to listen to me explain what was up, signing Short Straw's hat and wishing him well.

Did anyone notice he didn't say who he agreed with about the debate?

$50m raised from small dollar donors and a significant proportion of Democrats in office in a matter of hours hardly seems like a party in disarray and chaos

Hey @TheAthletic why is a picture of Shōta in your alert highlighting Seiya?

There are many, many stories about how the community came together in the aftermath of 10/27. This is one of my favorites. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/10/27/tree-of-life-shooting-pittsburgh-faith-groups-unite/71228665007/ #rna2024

A reflection on remembrance from three of the families published last year in the @PittJewishChron #rna2024 https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/how-we-remember/

Here’s a rendering released last year of the memorial outside of the building along Shady Ave. #RNA2024 https://twitter.com/ShannonStraw/status/1781337138430103939

We will be hearing a lot about the 10/27 Memorial. Here’s more about the plans including a link to stories by @PG_PeterSmith and @DaveRullo #rna2024 https://www.rememberrebuildrenew.org/the-1027-memorial

Having staffed interviews, I would add to answers about publishing hate speech in quotes that how and what questions reporters choose to ask sources in stories connected to crisis and trauma is also important #RNA2024

Example of what Toby is talking about with respect to grappling with how to talk to kids about antisemitism and the war -- @pjlibrary offers resources for parents of Jewish children on both of those topics: https://pjlibrary.org/home #RNA2024

A piece reflecting on the 5th commemoration of 10/27/18 in the aftermath of the Oct 7 attack from Michael Bernstein who lives near the Tree of Life building and now serves as chair of the board for the new org #RNA2024...

Getting started at #RNA2024 with @annrodgerspgh, @nwarikoo, @TobyTabachnick and Betul Tuncer about covering the impact of the Israel-Hamas war in local communities

So the pants are still see-through, eh? #OpeningDay

((people fleeing horrific violence are not colonialists, whether that violence was in the 1910s, the 1940s or now))

it's a little like we collectively forgot that she's famous for rewearing clothes or wearing the same clothes in different colors

How is the Heeler house always so clean? #Bluey

This is a pretty great thunderstorm we're having here in ... * checks notes *....February

Last week in an 11th hour move, IHSA decided 5 Kenwood Academy basketball players, including 3 seniors, were ineligible to play in the state tournament. The seniors are urging IHSA to let them play basketball. 👇🏻

Today multiple people were shot in Kansas City. 6 years ago, 17 HS students were shot and killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. 16 years ago, 5 people were shot and killed at Northern Illinois University. We don't have to live like this. #Enough

It appears she sang before the teams even came on the field...so NFL gets all the positive press after announcing her participation and then creates a line up that minimizes how many people are her perform... https://twitter.com/ShannonStraw/status/1756824348441104674

Wait do we not get to see Andra Day sing "Lift Every Voice and Sing"?! Did I miss it?! #SuperBowl