Michael Hawthorne
@scribeguy.bsky.social
Midwesterner. Pulitzer finalist. Dig into environment/public health for the Chicago Tribune. Confidential tips welcome via SIGNAL: scribeguy.35
EPL/NBA/MLB obsessive. Victoria Concordia Crescit. https://www.chicagotribune.com/author/michael-hawthorne
EPL/NBA/MLB obsessive. Victoria Concordia Crescit. https://www.chicagotribune.com/author/michael-hawthorne
Pinned
Michael Hawthorne
@scribeguy.bsky.social
· Jan 15
EPA warns of toxic forever chemicals in sewage sludge used on farmland, including thousands of acres near the Chicago area
In northeast Illinois, more than 777,000 tons of sludge from Chicago and Cook County have been spread on farmland — in many cases near residential areas.
www.chicagotribune.com
Update from me: More than 777K tons of PFAS-contaminated sludge from Chicago and Cook Co. have been spread on farmland during the past 8 years — in many cases near residential areas.
Only LA gave more sludge to farmers.
EPA confirms cancer risks for farmers and neighbors. Unclear about gen pop.
Only LA gave more sludge to farmers.
EPA confirms cancer risks for farmers and neighbors. Unclear about gen pop.
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
@veritenews.org published part 1 of an investigative series looking at lead levels in the soil of playgrounds and water of homes in New Orleans. Reporters @tristanbaurick.bsky.social and @halleparker.bsky.social actually ran tests on the soil and water for the series. veritenews.org/2026/02/05/p...
Unsafe lead levels found in half of New Orleans playgrounds
Verite News tested lead levels at more than 80 parks. Even trace amounts of the toxic metal can cause learning problems and behavioral issues in children.
veritenews.org
February 5, 2026 at 4:14 PM
@veritenews.org published part 1 of an investigative series looking at lead levels in the soil of playgrounds and water of homes in New Orleans. Reporters @tristanbaurick.bsky.social and @halleparker.bsky.social actually ran tests on the soil and water for the series. veritenews.org/2026/02/05/p...
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Becoming more and more convinced that Bezos entered a quid pro quo agreement with Trump, where the quo is “destroy the Washington Post.”
Before The Washington Post layoffs came down, a group of wealthy D.C. locals approached CEO Will Lewis with a proposal.
@passantino.bsky.social has the details in his Saturday @status.news column: www.status.news/p/washington...
@passantino.bsky.social has the details in his Saturday @status.news column: www.status.news/p/washington...
February 7, 2026 at 7:15 PM
Becoming more and more convinced that Bezos entered a quid pro quo agreement with Trump, where the quo is “destroy the Washington Post.”
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Yup.
He won't sell, because its value to him is (a) to keep anyone else from saving it, (b) to truckle to Trump, so as to (c) keep Amazon / AWS / Blue Origin / etc federal contracts coming.
The ongoing losses, especially after he's gutted it, are trivial "costs of doing business."
He won't sell, because its value to him is (a) to keep anyone else from saving it, (b) to truckle to Trump, so as to (c) keep Amazon / AWS / Blue Origin / etc federal contracts coming.
The ongoing losses, especially after he's gutted it, are trivial "costs of doing business."
February 7, 2026 at 9:07 PM
Yup.
He won't sell, because its value to him is (a) to keep anyone else from saving it, (b) to truckle to Trump, so as to (c) keep Amazon / AWS / Blue Origin / etc federal contracts coming.
The ongoing losses, especially after he's gutted it, are trivial "costs of doing business."
He won't sell, because its value to him is (a) to keep anyone else from saving it, (b) to truckle to Trump, so as to (c) keep Amazon / AWS / Blue Origin / etc federal contracts coming.
The ongoing losses, especially after he's gutted it, are trivial "costs of doing business."
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
"We got pepper sprayed in the face, and we're still here," Tayler Mitchell, 31, said. "No matter what happens, we'll be here." bit.ly/4kxyNmb
February 7, 2026 at 7:46 PM
"We got pepper sprayed in the face, and we're still here," Tayler Mitchell, 31, said. "No matter what happens, we'll be here." bit.ly/4kxyNmb
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Ossoff: We were told that MAGA was for working-class Americans. But this is a government of, by, and for the ultra-rich. It’s the wealthiest Cabinet ever. This is the Epstein class. They are the elites they pretend to hate.
February 7, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Ossoff: We were told that MAGA was for working-class Americans. But this is a government of, by, and for the ultra-rich. It’s the wealthiest Cabinet ever. This is the Epstein class. They are the elites they pretend to hate.
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Just saw a post with George Clinton citing the Beatles as his favorite band, which reminded me of this quote he once gave me
February 6, 2026 at 3:12 AM
Just saw a post with George Clinton citing the Beatles as his favorite band, which reminded me of this quote he once gave me
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Adam Serwer: “Donald Trump is still psychically wounded by the election of Barack Obama.”
@adamserwer.bsky.social
@adamserwer.bsky.social
February 7, 2026 at 1:45 AM
Adam Serwer: “Donald Trump is still psychically wounded by the election of Barack Obama.”
@adamserwer.bsky.social
@adamserwer.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
This is bleak: Jes Staley, currently CEO of Barclays, reassuring Epstein that popular revolt against financial elites is unlikely because capitalism and pop culture have defanged social movements, leaving people more invested in consumption than justice.
February 6, 2026 at 10:23 PM
This is bleak: Jes Staley, currently CEO of Barclays, reassuring Epstein that popular revolt against financial elites is unlikely because capitalism and pop culture have defanged social movements, leaving people more invested in consumption than justice.
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
This is overriding a ballot initiative approved by voters.
BREAKING: The Nebraska Legislature has approved a bill lowering Nebraska’s minimum wage from $15 an hour to $13.50 for young workers, and slowing down minimum wage increases for others.
February 7, 2026 at 3:19 AM
This is overriding a ballot initiative approved by voters.
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
"His transactional amorality actually seemed to add to his appeal to people who were convinced that the rules didn’t apply to them."
February 7, 2026 at 1:31 PM
"His transactional amorality actually seemed to add to his appeal to people who were convinced that the rules didn’t apply to them."
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
I have been musing about the hypothesis that the ultimate consequence of SCOTUS's opinion in Trump v. U.S. will be the destruction of the rule of law in the U.S. This gift article helps to explain why, in part by emphasizing the evisceration of the Dept. of Justice.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/u...
Prosecutors Began Investigating Renee Good’s Killing. Washington Told Them to Stop.
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 12:44 PM
I have been musing about the hypothesis that the ultimate consequence of SCOTUS's opinion in Trump v. U.S. will be the destruction of the rule of law in the U.S. This gift article helps to explain why, in part by emphasizing the evisceration of the Dept. of Justice.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/u...
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Pour one out for every professional political pundit, writer, consultant whatever that has spent the last decade trying to pretend that the Trump phenomenon was about trade or opiates and not a big chunk of white america losing its mind over having a black president bsky.app/profile/kyle...
A screenshot from a video posted on Trump's Truth Social account: truthsocial.com/@realDonaldT...
February 6, 2026 at 9:28 AM
Pour one out for every professional political pundit, writer, consultant whatever that has spent the last decade trying to pretend that the Trump phenomenon was about trade or opiates and not a big chunk of white america losing its mind over having a black president bsky.app/profile/kyle...
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Vice President JD Vance gets roundly booed at the opening ceremony of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympics. "Those are a lot of boos for him, whistling jeering," says the presenter. US athletes receive a warm welcome from fans, though.
February 6, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Vice President JD Vance gets roundly booed at the opening ceremony of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympics. "Those are a lot of boos for him, whistling jeering," says the presenter. US athletes receive a warm welcome from fans, though.
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Margaret Sullivan (@sulliview.bsky.social), Washington Post media columnist from 2016-22, tells @jenrubin.bsky.social at @contrariannews.org that its losses are "not something that requires you to wreck the paper"
She's also mystified that “Bezos has uttered no words about this” week's mass layoffs
She's also mystified that “Bezos has uttered no words about this” week's mass layoffs
RIP The Washington Post
Margaret Sullivan reveals how Jeff Bezos sold out to Trump.
contrarian.substack.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:38 AM
Margaret Sullivan (@sulliview.bsky.social), Washington Post media columnist from 2016-22, tells @jenrubin.bsky.social at @contrariannews.org that its losses are "not something that requires you to wreck the paper"
She's also mystified that “Bezos has uttered no words about this” week's mass layoffs
She's also mystified that “Bezos has uttered no words about this” week's mass layoffs
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
I’m having a hard time thinking of an interview between two human beings I enjoyed more than tonight’s interview of the great Ian McKellen by the great Stephen Colbert. Every moment of it was a pleasure that I highly recommend… but then came the most REMARKABLE ending that you really HAVE to watch.
"There's Nothing I Enjoy More Than Acting In The Theater" - Ian McKellen EXTENDED INTERVIEW
YouTube video by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
youtube.com
February 5, 2026 at 7:26 AM
I’m having a hard time thinking of an interview between two human beings I enjoyed more than tonight’s interview of the great Ian McKellen by the great Stephen Colbert. Every moment of it was a pleasure that I highly recommend… but then came the most REMARKABLE ending that you really HAVE to watch.
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
The Tigers and MLB picked a fight with Tarik Skubal — and now they’re paying for it. Column: www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...
The Tigers and MLB picked a fight with Tarik Skubal. Now they’re paying for it
Skubal brought his Cy Young Awards to his hearing — just as Tim Lincecum did years ago. But the pitcher did not need the props to win.
www.nytimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 12:58 AM
The Tigers and MLB picked a fight with Tarik Skubal — and now they’re paying for it. Column: www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...
Another reason why nobody should rely on a single source to get/understand the news. Yet the oligarch Jeff Bezos just gutted @washingtonpost.com.
This is a remarkable @nytimes.com split screen:
A huge 3,526 word + photos profile on Sen Britt who "can't stop thinking about the boy ICE detained"
But Rep Jaoquin Castro- who actually got Liam Ramos out of detention & back home- gets no interview, no pix, just 116 words inside a story. WOW.
A huge 3,526 word + photos profile on Sen Britt who "can't stop thinking about the boy ICE detained"
But Rep Jaoquin Castro- who actually got Liam Ramos out of detention & back home- gets no interview, no pix, just 116 words inside a story. WOW.
February 6, 2026 at 1:19 AM
Another reason why nobody should rely on a single source to get/understand the news. Yet the oligarch Jeff Bezos just gutted @washingtonpost.com.
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
🚨BREAKING: The White House Thursday refused to rule out the presence of immigration enforcement at voting locations this November, a response that follows extremist rhetoric about placing federal forces at the polls. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
White House ‘can’t guarantee’ ICE won’t be at polls
The federal government has historically recognized polling places as off-limits for immigration enforcement precisely to avoid deterring lawful voters.
www.democracydocket.com
February 5, 2026 at 9:32 PM
🚨BREAKING: The White House Thursday refused to rule out the presence of immigration enforcement at voting locations this November, a response that follows extremist rhetoric about placing federal forces at the polls. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
When will the last gas station close in your city? Sooner than you may think.
insideclimatenews.org/news/0502202...
insideclimatenews.org/news/0502202...
Looking Ahead to When Gas Stations Vanish - Inside Climate News
Leaders should plan for declining demand that will undermine the viability of fossil fuel businesses. New research says it could happen sooner than we think.
insideclimatenews.org
February 5, 2026 at 3:25 PM
When will the last gas station close in your city? Sooner than you may think.
insideclimatenews.org/news/0502202...
insideclimatenews.org/news/0502202...
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
"Democrats now say Republicans have established a precedent when it comes to Congress’ ability to subpoena and haul in past presidents, first ladies and family members under threat of criminal charges if they refuse ..."
After Republicans push Clintons to testify on Epstein, Democrats warn they'll haul in Trump
Democrats say Republicans have set a precedent with subpoenas of an ex-president and first lady. "We will follow it ... Donald Trump, all of his kids. Everybody," Rep. Maxwell Frost said.
www.nbcnews.com
February 5, 2026 at 7:21 PM
"Democrats now say Republicans have established a precedent when it comes to Congress’ ability to subpoena and haul in past presidents, first ladies and family members under threat of criminal charges if they refuse ..."
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
In almost every instance, President Donald Trump’s administration blamed the injured and dead for the shooting within hours of the incident, raising questions about whether federal officials can fairly and objectively investigate their own.
“You’re Not Going to Investigate a Federal Officer”
It doesn’t happen often, but local law enforcement can arrest and charge federal agents. Legal experts say there’s a moral obligation to at least try to hold federal immigration officers accountable w...
www.propublica.org
February 5, 2026 at 4:22 PM
In almost every instance, President Donald Trump’s administration blamed the injured and dead for the shooting within hours of the incident, raising questions about whether federal officials can fairly and objectively investigate their own.
She bore witness to Putin's maniacal, murderous folly. Expendable to the rapacious oligarch Jeff Bezos and his lackey Will Lewis.
February 5, 2026 at 6:53 PM
She bore witness to Putin's maniacal, murderous folly. Expendable to the rapacious oligarch Jeff Bezos and his lackey Will Lewis.
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
I’m on the scene at Franklin and 1st. A convoy of about a couple dozen ICE/HSI agents broke the entryway into an apartment building at 6am. No warrant presented. Less than 24 hours ago, Tom Homan announced the end of large convoys in Minnesota… Bullshit.
February 5, 2026 at 12:49 PM
I’m on the scene at Franklin and 1st. A convoy of about a couple dozen ICE/HSI agents broke the entryway into an apartment building at 6am. No warrant presented. Less than 24 hours ago, Tom Homan announced the end of large convoys in Minnesota… Bullshit.