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szreports.bsky.social
@SZReports
@szreports.bsky.social
*Investigative journalist at Chicago Sun-Times
*Expert in consumer issues
*Previously with ABC News Investigative Unit
*Medill School of Journalism
Pinned
I’ve been busy since December tracking a basket full of 35 grocery items each month at four Chicago stores since Donald Trump’s reelection.

He said he won on immigration and groceries.

But the cost of my basket keeps going up. (1/3)

chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...
Supermarket super-pain: Trump's campaign promise to cut food prices falls short
The Sun-Times has been tracking prices for 35 grocery items across four stores, since December. We found most stayed the same or increased, with our shopping cart's total price rising by up to $11.
chicago.suntimes.com
Reposted by @SZReports
During his first papal trip abroad, Pope Leo XIV was presented with a baseball bat once owned by legendary White Sox player Nellie Fox.
Pope Leo XIV given baseball bat owned by White Sox Hall of Famer Nellie Fox
chicago.suntimes.com
November 30, 2025 at 8:01 PM
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...
The Ex-President Whom Trump Plans to Pardon Flooded America With Cocaine
www.nytimes.com
November 30, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Reposted by @SZReports
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...
Trump Frees Fraudster Just Days Into Seven-Year Prison Sentence
www.nytimes.com
November 30, 2025 at 5:45 PM
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 😄
November 30, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Reposted by @SZReports
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/
Media Offenders
Explore the Media Bias Tracker that fact checks and holds Fake News accountable. False claims debunked, Hall of Shame for serial offenders, Leaderboard of networks ranked by Repeated Lies. Stay inform...
www.whitehouse.gov
November 29, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Reposted by @SZReports
Territory they hold? You mean Ukraine?
Putin: “When Ukrainians troops withdraw from the territories they hold, then we will cease hostilities; If they don’t leave, we will achieve this by military means “
November 27, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Reposted by @SZReports
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...
November 29, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Reposted by @SZReports
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...
November 29, 2025 at 6:09 AM
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...
Babson student heading to Texas for Thanksgiving surprise deported to Honduras instead
Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, a business major at Babson, was swiftly deported in violation of a court order, her lawyer alleged.
www.boston.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Reposted by @SZReports
PHOTOS: A pair of snowy owls have taken roost of Montrose Harbor Beacon Pier, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. | Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
November 25, 2025 at 11:45 PM
A classic from the Chicago Sun-Times ❤️
Bill Mauldin, who called out his own party in WW2 while himself a soldier over our treatment of Japanese-Americans, would be spinning in his grave:
November 25, 2025 at 5:08 AM
Reposted by @SZReports
“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...
Holiday Shoppers Beware! Dangers Lurk in Buy Now, Pay Later and Deferred Interest Credit Card Offers
As holiday shopping kicks into gear amid an affordability crisis, advocates warn shoppers to check twice before accepting financial promotions.
www.nclc.org
November 24, 2025 at 2:09 PM
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...
Opinion | Trump’s Neville Chamberlain Prize
www.nytimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Reposted by @SZReports
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.
November 23, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Reposted by @SZReports
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...
Terror charges in Blue Line fire attack
Plus: A youth mentoring program faces defunding under Mayor Johnson's budget, clergy sue feds and more.
chicago.suntimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:40 PM
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...
“Ticking Time Bomb”: A Pregnant Mother Kept Getting Sicker. She Died After She Couldn’t Get an Abortion in Texas.
Walker is one of several women ProPublica found with underlying health conditions who died when they couldn’t access abortions.
www.propublica.org
November 20, 2025 at 5:23 AM
Reposted by @SZReports
About today...

Trump's anti-press outburst hits differently with a Saudi prince by his side
Trump’s anti-press outburst hits differently with a Saudi prince by his side | CNN Business
President Trump frequently demonstrates his disdain for journalists. He expresses his admiration for authoritarians almost as often. Tuesday showed how intertwined those two instincts really are.
www.cnn.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:38 AM
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.
November 19, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Mary Bruce of ABC News doing her job, fearlessly
#journalism
Reporter: Is it appropriate for your family to do business with Saudi Arabia while you’re president? The us intelligence concluded you orchestrated the murder of a journalist…

Trump: Who are you with?

Reporter: ABC News
November 18, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Reposted by @SZReports
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
Justice Department official told prosecutors that U.S. should 'just sink' drug boats
NPR interviews with current and former officials reveal more of the backstory around the military's strikes in the Caribbean.
www.npr.org
November 17, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Unreal.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr is amplifying President Trump’s call for NBC to fire Seth Meyers.
November 16, 2025 at 6:15 AM
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 🍂
November 14, 2025 at 9:05 PM
80 people so far

“…the memo contradicts a broad range of critics, who have rejected the idea that there is any armed conflict and have accused Mr. Trump of illegally ordering the military to commit murders.”

(Gift link)

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
Memo Blessing Boat Strikes Is Said to Rely on Trump’s Claims About Cartels
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:07 AM
For people outside Chicago, this is a remarkable roster of retired Chicago TV news people
November 13, 2025 at 8:16 PM