This, by @heidikstevens.bsky.social, is a gut punch “We’re waiting to see what we stand for. Stand for meaning what defines us, and stand for meaning what we’ll allow. What we cherish, what we’re willing to concede. Who we’ll protect from abuse of power, and whose abuse of power we’ll protect.”

Trump’s “mental faculties are crumbling like blue cheese, and major media need to write prominent stories about this alarming problem – not just stick a sentence into the 14th paragraph of a news story.” My free Stop the Presses newsletter.

“I want to see a world — not just for my son, but for everybody who is neurodivergent or has a disability — that accepts them and allows them to be who they are,” he continued. “That doesn’t see them as other. That doesn’t take away their human value. There’s good for everybody in that.” Same.♥️

Grotesquely transparent racist.

What's left if we continue this path of wreckage—to historic landmarks, to national parks, to museums, to libraries? To institutions that belong to all people, that welcome all people, that see worth and promise and humanity in all people? My column. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/24/h...

I want more people to care that SNAP benefits are being cut off on November 1. 40% of SNAP beneficiaries are children. This is callous and vile.

This is what democracy looks like. #NoKings

My son is one of millions of kids who benefit from an individualized education program (IEP), and who stand to lose with continued cuts at Department of Education. I shared my family’s story with columnist @heidikstevens.bsky.social. Check out her latest column and make your voice heard! #IDEA #IEP

It was never about saving children.

7.5 million US children have disabilities. When you chip away at special ed, you chip away at the promise of our country. You chip away at education as the great equalizer. You chip away at our potential, our productivity and our moral character. My column. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/17/h...

Follow @petedominick.bsky.social and @heidikstevens.bsky.social What a great listen this was while getting my walk on this morning.

Tomorrow is the great Chicago Marathon. I had a great conversation about the war ravaged city and how they are dealing with Trump invasion with "Chicago's Conscience" and Polar Bear @heidikstevens.bsky.social FOLLOW HER!!! standupwithpete.libsyn.com/1457-chicago...

A WGN staffer was detained by Border Patrol agents in Lincoln Square, neighbors say. blockclubchi.co/3KHHYCJ

My city is preparing for its 47th marathon—when people from everywhere cheer for people from everywhere. My city is also preparing for more troops. One of these things is not more reflective of Chicago —or humanity—than the other. My column. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/10/h...

Reporting live from Chicago, there’s no “hellscape” I’d rather be in.

“It’s an affront to the gospel, plain and simple.” They’re shooting pastors with pepper balls. religionnews.com/2025/10/07/i...

Someone should start asking why we’re hearing and seeing Stephen Miller so much all of a sudden.

JUST IN: Chicago journalistsa re suing DHS and ICE over force used against reporters: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

Seems kinda bad that all of a sudden the government is just Stephen Miller and the guy who wrote Project 2025

Federal agents landed a helicopter on a South Shore building last week, arresting 37 people and leaving behind cracked windows, broken doors and a lot of pain. Lawmakers call for a halt to all federal immigration enforcement in Chicago. trib.al/noHsmsk

Illinois sued President Donald Trump early Monday morning over the deployment of National Guard troops into the state against the wishes of Gov. JB Pritzker. The lawsuit names Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem among the defendants. trib.al/VdUdLr0

Workers at one agency were given unhinged, partisan language to use when setting out-of-office replies.

In a video taken by a witness and shared with the Sun-Times, cars could be seen blocking the white, unmarked SUV before a masked agent rolled down his window and dropped the canisters. Smoke spread around the vehicle and passersby began to scream.

“I asked [agents] why they were holding me if I was an American citizen, and they said I had to wait until they looked me up,” Johnson said. “I asked if they had a warrant, and I asked for a lawyer. They never brought one.”

“It seems reasonable to expect that in an American city, you could go a block away from your own house and not worry about getting tear gassed when you’re just getting home from preschool.” t.co/ccpyMj34DZ

They think this is their country. They think a majority shares their twisted views and wants the same kind of world they want. They are woefully wrong on both counts, and their overconfidence and overstepping will backfire. Keep your heads up.

Veterans are speaking out against ICE's "mob tactics" in Broadview. "Our democracy is being crushed." blockclubchi.co/475z6iV

South Shore Residents Return To Ransacked Apartments After ICE Raid: 'It Looks Like Hell' @blockclubchi.bsky.social's Mack Liederman & I went in the already rundown apartment. We saw severe damage — doors kicked in, water damage, blood & clothes on the floor etc blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/02/s...

“How is any of this making America safer? Crueler? Certainly. Merciless? Absolutely. Heartless? We’re heading there.” This whole column by @heidikstevens.bsky.social is excellent, but that last paragraph is a gut punch

ICE regularly held immigrants far beyond the hours they set for the Broadview processing center, data through July shows. Immigrants held there say there are no beds, limited food and toilets are out in the open with no soap or toothpaste. trib.al/um8BERF

Pope Leo XIV weighed in on U.S. politics, saying Catholic politicians must be judged on the full range of their policy positions and suggesting the country's immigration policy is "inhuman."

Son, I've spent countless hours interviewing gang members across Chicago and they would laugh at you so hard your vampiric skin would slide off your body in a desperate attempt to escape the indignity of it all.

How is any of this making America safer? Crueler? Certainly. Merciless? Absolutely. Heartless? We’re heading there. My column. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/01/h...

HAPPENING NOW — Video obtained by The TRiiBE shows a federal agent with his hands around the neck of a Black man following an apparent car crash on the West Side near California Avenue and Congress Parkway. thetriibe.com/2025/10/vide...

🧵🧵🧵 At The OpEd Project, we work to elevate the ideas and knowledge of underrepresented expert voices. In this year's University of Illinois fellowship, which I co-lead, our fellows are on fire. This week alone they’ve weighed in on …

My latest in my fight against the Washington Post. I’ve filed a grievance against the Post through the WaPo Guild— and have sent a letter to Washington Post challenging my firing. Proud to have @normeisen.bsky.social + @katiephang.bsky.social in my corner. karenattiah.substack.com/p/the-washin...

8-year old Dasha Ramirez was playing with her brother at Millennium Park when Border Patrol took them. They’re now awaiting deportation to Guatemala. “We never imagined our Sunday would end this way, mother Noemi Chavez said. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/29/i...

Here, in my opinion, is how all honest pieces on the Hegseth/Trump disgrace should read: www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...

OK, now let’s get Disney adults super mad about ICE.

I was 20 before I learned about Japanese internment camps, from a Smithsonian exhibit. I think about that a lot—in part because museums are under attack. And in part because armed agents are on their way to Chicago to raid immigrant communities. My column. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/05/h...

“The problem with ignoring progress and calling for something as extreme as militarized streets is it sneers instead of solves. It writes off Chicago’s people as inept and its problems as intractable.” Great perspective here from @heidikstevens.bsky.social

The problem with the president’s approach to Chicago is that it sneers instead of solves. It writes off Chicago’s people as inept and its problems as intractable. Neither could be further from the truth. My column ♥️ www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/29/h...

If a school shooter doesn't have access to a gun, then there's no school shooting. That's the only thing that ever matters. Other countries aren't plagued by gun violence for a very specific reason: They don't have 80 bazillion guns. There's literally nothing else worth talking about.

“Don’t say this is about ‘thoughts and prayers’ right now — These kids were literally praying.” - Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey

Artificial Intelligence is not just technology. It’s an artificial biologic with tremendous population health implications—both promising and perilous. In today’s TIME magazine, I call for AI engineers to take a Hippocratic Oath promising, first, to do no harm. time.com/7312350/ai-e...

This guy’s energy today. Good morning, Chicago ♥️

“I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag.” —Molly Ivins

When you can’t lead with moral authority and you keep alienating allies, when inflation is up and your approval ratings are down, how do you hold onto power? You double down, once again, on undermining the American electoral system. My column. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/22/h...

“Here is where AI’s agreeability – so crucial to its rapid adoption – becomes its Achille's heel. Its tendency to value short-term user satisfaction over truthfulness – to blow digital smoke up one’s skirt – can isolate users and reinforce confirmation bias.” www.nytimes.com/2025/08/18/o...

My friend Jason is getting ready to drop his daughter at college. And by “getting ready,” I mean crying himself to sleep at night. “I feel like the dad in ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding,’” he texted me the other day. “WHY YOU WANT TO LEAVE ME?!” My advice🩷 www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/15/h...