I'd be delighted to have a hairstylist or a youth soccer coach visit for a night

Belatedly, this line from Weiss' memo is...something Let's get someone who says banishing to CECOT was legit, she says Here's the thing: There's a consensus among legal experts that *wasn't* legit You can find someone who says moon is made outta Fluffernutter. Doesn't mean you should quote 'em

You do everything in your power to get every relevant voice in a story. But as one of my former colleagues told a local official who thought his silence would kill a piece: “I’d like to have you. But the story is being written with or without you.”

“Our story was screened five times and cleared by both CBS attorneys and Standards and Practices..."“It is factually correct. In my view, pulling it now, after every rigorous internal check has been met, is not an editorial decision, it is a political one.” www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/b...

It’s the “season of love and giving”…but this year, doesn’t it seem more like a “season of fear and taking”? Like many of you, I’ve been saddened by the human impact of draconian government budget cuts and how angry many housed Americans are at unhoused Americans. 🧵 1 of 9

A high-impact investment: Voice of America delivers outsized returns by building global trust in the U.S., says Jamie Shea, retired diplomat and former Deputy Assistant Secretary General of NATO. #SaveVOA #PressFreedom

Who chose Steve Witkoff? Putin www.wsj.com/world/putin-...

Charts! Starting with the unemployment rate, which rose to 4.6 percent, its highest level in more than four years.

Nuestro reportaje de investigación sobre Greg Bovino — comandante de la campaña de deportaciones de Trump en Chicago y otras ciudades. Sus raices inmigrantes, su papa que mató alguien mientras manejaba borracho y muchisimo mas chicago.suntimes.com/la-voz/2025/...

#journalism Listen to Mark. The president of the United States claims this was all because of HIM, and then he brags about how great he is. We have become numb to how bizarre this is.

No paywalls at the @chicago.suntimes.com bc news is for EVERYONE. But if you wanted, here's how to become a member and support this kind of reporting which in this case involved trips to both coasts by two teams of journalists + weeks of non-stop reporting: chicago.suntimes.com/become-a-mem...

Here's where to read the whole story by @dmihalopoulos.bsky.social and me, gorgeous photos by Anthony Vazquez and Candace Dane Chambers: chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...

We went to Greg Bovino’s mountain hometown and his last posting along the Mexico-California border — and also traced his family tree. Here’s the American story of an immigrant coal miner’s great-grandson turned scourge of foreigners chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...

Unreal. Sue Tincher, a white woman in her mid-50s who stands 5 feet, 4 inches tall, was detained for hours by agents who also cut off her wedding ring, for standing outside her Minneapolis home and asking questions. (1/2) www.mprnews.org/story/2025/1...

Pardon me, but *holy shit* chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...

AP: Higher cost, worse coverage: Affordable Care Act enrollees say expiring subsidies will hit them hard apnews.com/article/cong...

Greg Bovino's the star of Trump’s deportation show. We trace his roots. chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog... By me and @dmihalopoulos.bsky.social who traveled to both coasts to find out more.

A lot of strange and complicated stuff can go into a person, as this Sun-Times/WBEZ/Chicago Public Media profile of Greg Bovino, the “star” of the immigrant detentions in Chicago, shows. I did not know about his immigrant family background or childhood with a dad who caused a drunken-driving death.

It's not just social media. Looks like visitors to the US from Europe and other countries that are part of the visa waiver program will have to submit an enormous amount of data about themselves and their families, including DNA, if proposed new rules are accepted

New! We worked with the Public Interest Research Group to test a bunch of LLM-driven toys ahead of the Christmas. That sexual talking teddy bear wasn't a one-off; it turns out disturbing behavior is deeply built into these toys across the board.

The Rosehill herd in this morning's snowfall

The Nobel Prize committee should announce the World Cup winner tomorrow

“She showed up as scheduled, and when she arrived, officers were asking everyone what country they were from, and if they said a certain country, they were told to step out of line and that their oath ceremonies were canceled.” www.wgbh.org/news/local/2... @gbhnews.bsky.social

R.I.P., Frank Gehry

This NYT opinion piece no doubt will have many Chicagoans thinking about the Hollywood-style video the administration made of the raid on the apartment building in South Shore. Many chilling lines, but this struck me: “Isn’t this violence delightful?” (Gift link:) www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/o...

“Mr. Trump’s efforts to dismantle Voice of America … raised concerns that the United States is ceding ground to Russian and Chinese propaganda networks that have moved aggressively to fill the vacuum.” (Gift link:) www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/u...

We desperately need our jobs numbers. ADP is useful, but it is far from comprehensive. Flying data blind into economic headwinds and important policy decisions is a recipe for disaster.

During his first papal trip abroad, Pope Leo XIV was presented with a baseball bat once owned by legendary White Sox player Nellie Fox.

Between this, the financial scam guy, the J6ers and all the others, how about creating a nonpartisan pardons commission to make these decisions, rather than leaving it up to one person? Gift link: Ex-President Whom Trump Plans to Pardon Flooded America With Cocaine www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/n...

He hurt thousands of people. He finally was convicted, and went to prison on Nov. 14. Trump set him free the day before Thanksgiving. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/u...

Tryin’ ta forget the raging snowstorm and the bad news in the world by seeing Neal Francis and The Heavy Heavy at the Salt Shed I think I’m the only person in Chicago who hadn’t yet been to the Salt Shed 😄

Don't know whether this is new or has been up for awhile. Either way, when the White House creates a hit list of journalists it doesn't like, the free press is in danger. www.whitehouse.gov/mediabias/

Territory they hold? You mean Ukraine?

Extraordinary WSJ reporting today that unveils the extent to which Trump, Witkoff, Kushner and US business executives are salivating over business deals with Russia while Putin’s forces kidnap Ukranian children and bomb civilians in their apartments. 🎁 www.wsj.com/world/russia...

Hegseth: “Every trafficker we kill is affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization.” NYT: “The U.S. military does not know who specifically is being killed.” www.nytimes.com/2025/11/27/u...

College kid in the U.S. since childhood tries to fly home for Thanksgiving (on a domestic flight!) and is suddenly deported. Makes you wonder about all the cases that don’t make the news. www.boston.com/news/local-n...

PHOTOS: A pair of snowy owls have taken roost of Montrose Harbor Beacon Pier, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. | Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

A classic from the Chicago Sun-Times ❤️

“Don’t let deceptive financial promotions with huge, delayed charges ruin your holidays,” said @chichiwu.bsky.social. "Don’t let predatory lenders put you on the hook for this year’s holiday spending into next year and beyond.” #ProtectConsumers #StopTheDebtTrap www.nclc.org/holiday-shop...

NYT Opinion: A “filthy” deal for Ukraine This was published before we found out Sec. of State Marco Rubio reportedly told U.S. senators the plan was a Russian wish list, not an American plan — which adds a whole new dimension to Friedman’s argument. (Gift link) www.nytimes.com/2025/11/22/o...

Remember: In 2022, as Russia stormed toward Kyiv, Biden urged Zelensky to flee while Europe's inaction piled on the ultimate pressure for Ukraine to surrender & capitulate. Ukraine persevered, defeating Russia in the Battle for Kyiv despite all odds.

Good morning, Chicago. We've got a fresh @chicago.suntimes.com news roundup for you. Today's lead: Terror charges in Blue Line fire attack chicago.suntimes.com/morning-edit...

Heartbreaking and infuriating ProPublica story from Texas about yet another woman who died because she was severely ill and couldn’t get an abortion. The law values the fetus more than the adult woman, and now neither are alive. www.propublica.org/article/texa...

About today... Trump's anti-press outburst hits differently with a Saudi prince by his side

I can’t get over that “piggy” comment. Are there any Bluesky journalists who were present when it was said? Were you too shocked to push back? Did you think you misheard it? I’m genuinely curious.

Mary Bruce of ABC News doing her job, fearlessly #journalism

Trump's homicides in the first degree: Extrajudicial killings came up at Feb DOJ gathering. Bove's remarks, which have not previously been publicly reported, suggest at least some members of the administration were considering this policy shift as early as six months before the boat strikes began

Unreal.

That season in Chicago where you can see a guy in shorts with a woman in a parka, and the houses are festooned in Halloween, Thanksgiving and/or Christmas decorations 🍂