Beachwood Reporter
@beachwoodreport.bsky.social
A Chicago-centric news and culture review.
Pinned
I'm a Chicago-based reporter, editor, media critic, political analyst and digital media evangelist who has worked at the ChiTrib, Newsweek, Chicagomag and founded the pioneering Beachwood Reporter. I have an independently designed master's in newsroom mgt/worked at NU'sNewspaper Management Center.
Reposted by Beachwood Reporter
Google is hosting a CBP app that uses facial recognition to identify immigrants, while simultaneously removing apps that report the location of ICE officials because Google sees ICE as a vulnerable group.
Google Has Chosen a Side in Trump's Mass Deportation Effort
Google is hosting a CBP app that uses facial recognition to identify immigrants, while simultaneously removing apps that report the location of ICE officials because Google sees ICE as a vulnerable gr...
www.404media.co
December 23, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Google is hosting a CBP app that uses facial recognition to identify immigrants, while simultaneously removing apps that report the location of ICE officials because Google sees ICE as a vulnerable group.
Reposted by Beachwood Reporter
Glad to see this tax credit extended to poor ol' Hollywood.
The Film Production Tax Credit continues to fuel an industry central to Illinois’ cultural and economic vitality.
With this expansion, we're doubling down on our commitment to building a world-class creative workforce and ensuring productions choose Illinois as their home.
With this expansion, we're doubling down on our commitment to building a world-class creative workforce and ensuring productions choose Illinois as their home.
The recent expansion of the Illinois Film Tax Credit will drive new projects to the state and boost Illinois’ creative workforce. 🎥 #BeInIllinois
Learn more
Learn more
December 22, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Glad to see this tax credit extended to poor ol' Hollywood.
There's no excuse for staying on a Nazi platform, but for many people X has more reach - far more reach, Musk suppression and all. Don't pretend everyone can transfer their reach because you could, it's just not true unless more people on X make a *moral* choice to come here, as they should.
Honestly sick of people telling me they "have to" stay on X "for the reach."
"It's where the people I need to reach are." No, it's not. You can bring them here.
"The people I want to follow are there." You can bring them here too.
Lots of other people have. You can too.
"It's where the people I need to reach are." No, it's not. You can bring them here.
"The people I want to follow are there." You can bring them here too.
Lots of other people have. You can too.
This has always been a Bluesky-first campaign. But as of today, we will no longer be using Twitter. At all.
And I'm calling on other candidates to follow suit.
And I'm calling on other candidates to follow suit.
December 23, 2025 at 4:01 PM
There's no excuse for staying on a Nazi platform, but for many people X has more reach - far more reach, Musk suppression and all. Don't pretend everyone can transfer their reach because you could, it's just not true unless more people on X make a *moral* choice to come here, as they should.
Ironically, the people he won't denounce are more into purity tests than anyone else.
Unlike other speakers at TPUSA's festival, J.D. Vance refused to criticize far-right extremists, instead denouncing "purity tests" www.peoplefor.org/rightwingwat...
JD Vance Delivers Demagoguery, Christian Nationalism at TPUSA Fest, Refuses to Criticize Far Right
www.peoplefor.org
December 23, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Ironically, the people he won't denounce are more into purity tests than anyone else.
Reposted by Beachwood Reporter
The CBS investigation portrays a modern concentration camp, similar to the Soviet GULAG (like CECOT, an acronym): sadistic guards, 24 hour lighting, isolation cells.
Americans once opposed this inhumane system.
The Trump administration sent innocent people there to suffer.
Americans once opposed this inhumane system.
The Trump administration sent innocent people there to suffer.
December 23, 2025 at 9:49 AM
The CBS investigation portrays a modern concentration camp, similar to the Soviet GULAG (like CECOT, an acronym): sadistic guards, 24 hour lighting, isolation cells.
Americans once opposed this inhumane system.
The Trump administration sent innocent people there to suffer.
Americans once opposed this inhumane system.
The Trump administration sent innocent people there to suffer.
"We want CBS to be a strong news organization, we want them to do big, impactful, independent news journalism. I hope Bari Weiss wants the same thing, I hope Paramount wants the same thing ... I hope Bari Weiss can succeed."
Joe Kahn is one of the biggest disasters in #journalism history.
Joe Kahn is one of the biggest disasters in #journalism history.
"[Bari Weiss] is the editor. She has to make those choices. She should do it in a way that builds confidence."
@nytimes.com Executive Editor Joe Kahn joins the #11thHour to discuss the recent controversy at CBS News, and what it says about the state of journalism today.
@nytimes.com Executive Editor Joe Kahn joins the #11thHour to discuss the recent controversy at CBS News, and what it says about the state of journalism today.
December 23, 2025 at 3:44 PM
"We want CBS to be a strong news organization, we want them to do big, impactful, independent news journalism. I hope Bari Weiss wants the same thing, I hope Paramount wants the same thing ... I hope Bari Weiss can succeed."
Joe Kahn is one of the biggest disasters in #journalism history.
Joe Kahn is one of the biggest disasters in #journalism history.
Glad to see this tax credit extended to poor ol' Hollywood.
The Film Production Tax Credit continues to fuel an industry central to Illinois’ cultural and economic vitality.
With this expansion, we're doubling down on our commitment to building a world-class creative workforce and ensuring productions choose Illinois as their home.
With this expansion, we're doubling down on our commitment to building a world-class creative workforce and ensuring productions choose Illinois as their home.
The recent expansion of the Illinois Film Tax Credit will drive new projects to the state and boost Illinois’ creative workforce. 🎥 #BeInIllinois
Learn more
Learn more
December 22, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Glad to see this tax credit extended to poor ol' Hollywood.
Reposted by Beachwood Reporter
Lost in the criticism of Bari Weiss, though: The Free Press has been an absolute fount of misinformation, disinformation, errors and lies. For some reason, that part keeps getting left out.
![Managing requires certain kinds of soft skills, ones I am not confident you possess. They weren’t necessary in your cushy Wall Street Journal op-ed job, or your cushier New York Times op-ed job. They were barely required at the publication you invented, The Free Press. So now you’re the head honcho at CBS News. [highlighted text] Let’s say you decide to skip levels to directly edit a 60 Minutes story. It doesn’t even have to be a controversial story to make all hell break loose — because you have neither the credibility nor the relationships required to take this kind of work on. And what’s more, you’ve got a news division composed exclusively of ambitious piranhas below you — not your handpicked cronies, like Tyler “I wish to see Hollywood virgins” Cowen. These people have decades in television, and you have a newsletter and a history of throwing your colleagues under the bus. [end of highlight]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:j3tpb4iabrq3ukfaui6eymwf/bafkreiblgfxjkl4p7yos56wttujnqclubnwegqcdc7g74pdovoe24kzonu@jpeg)
December 22, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Lost in the criticism of Bari Weiss, though: The Free Press has been an absolute fount of misinformation, disinformation, errors and lies. For some reason, that part keeps getting left out.
They work for Bari Weiss now. Why are they even still there?
Per NY Times’s Michael Grynbaum on X, this is Sharyn Alfonsi’s email to her “60 Minutes” colleagues in full:
December 22, 2025 at 4:34 PM
They work for Bari Weiss now. Why are they even still there?
(FYI: "60 Minutes" has been a disgrace for a long, long time.)
December 22, 2025 at 4:32 PM
(FYI: "60 Minutes" has been a disgrace for a long, long time.)
Reposted by Beachwood Reporter
Curious to learn more about CECOT?
Hear Juan, Andry, and Wilmer share firsthand how the Trump administration branded them as gang members without evidence and deported them to the brutal El Salvadoran prison.
This @pbsnews.org documentary is available on YouTube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lku5...
Hear Juan, Andry, and Wilmer share firsthand how the Trump administration branded them as gang members without evidence and deported them to the brutal El Salvadoran prison.
This @pbsnews.org documentary is available on YouTube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lku5...
Surviving CECOT (full documentary) | Deported to a Maximum-Security Prison | FRONTLINE + ProPublica
YouTube video by FRONTLINE PBS | Official
www.youtube.com
December 22, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Curious to learn more about CECOT?
Hear Juan, Andry, and Wilmer share firsthand how the Trump administration branded them as gang members without evidence and deported them to the brutal El Salvadoran prison.
This @pbsnews.org documentary is available on YouTube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lku5...
Hear Juan, Andry, and Wilmer share firsthand how the Trump administration branded them as gang members without evidence and deported them to the brutal El Salvadoran prison.
This @pbsnews.org documentary is available on YouTube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lku5...
People "standing up" will accomplish nothing. Real journalists should simply resign rather than work for one of the regime's mouthpieces. Raise money, start their own ventures, band together in a start-up, whatever. It's that simple, and they have the money.
Agree.
Sharyn Alfonsi is standing up.
People need to stand up with her and for her.
Sharyn Alfonsi is standing up.
People need to stand up with her and for her.
Via @liamjscott.bsky.social at the other site here’s the full email from 60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi. She’s putting her career on the line by fighting here. And she’s fighting for all of us.
December 22, 2025 at 4:31 PM
People "standing up" will accomplish nothing. Real journalists should simply resign rather than work for one of the regime's mouthpieces. Raise money, start their own ventures, band together in a start-up, whatever. It's that simple, and they have the money.
Is it fascism yet?
December 22, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Is it fascism yet?
I know three of those names and ... are you kidding me?
Today, I'm proud to announce the 2026 Order of Lincoln recipients – our state's highest honor for professional achievement and public service:
Larry Gies
Valerie Jarrett
Blair Kamin
Reginald Petty
Jesse White
Congrats and thank you for making an enduring and meaningful impact.
Larry Gies
Valerie Jarrett
Blair Kamin
Reginald Petty
Jesse White
Congrats and thank you for making an enduring and meaningful impact.
December 20, 2025 at 3:48 PM
I know three of those names and ... are you kidding me?
Any journalist sounding a note of hope right now is untrustworthy.
Thanks to @klasfeldreports.com for coming on to talk to us about reporting on the law in the age of Trump. He really managed to sound a note of hope in this ugly moment!
with @andrewtorrez.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
with @andrewtorrez.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Ep 191 — Legal Journalism in the Age of Trump
Podcast Episode · Law and Chaos · 12/19/2025 · 1h 4m
podcasts.apple.com
December 20, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Any journalist sounding a note of hope right now is untrustworthy.
Reposted by Beachwood Reporter
The play was "Desperately Seeking Attention."
A Chicago Sun-Times reporter takes to the stage in a walk-on cameo role and earns a rave review from the littlest critic — his second-grade son Matteo.
I was a goose peddler, for one night only, in ‘A Christmas Carol’ at the Goodman Theatre
www.wbez.org
December 20, 2025 at 3:45 PM
The play was "Desperately Seeking Attention."
The Chicago Reader, is that still around? And they have a print edition?
The Chicago Reader is going monthly. As they put it: “Switching our print cadence will help us play to our strengths harder while growing our capacity.”
Guys. Cut the bullshit. Just say “for economic reasons.”
Guys. Cut the bullshit. Just say “for economic reasons.”
December 19, 2025 at 10:31 PM
The Chicago Reader, is that still around? And they have a print edition?