Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Mark Jacob

Edwin Eisendrath @eisendrath.net · 11h

Mark’s right to praise the local press in Chicago. Reporters from all kinds of news organizations are making sure the truth gets out.

Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 13h

If you think today's news media picture is grim, take stock of how Chicago's local journalists are getting at the truth despite Homeland Security's campaign of lies and intimidation.
My Stop the Presses newsletter.

The press steps up as Trump targets Chicago

Local journalism is under siege, but still makes itself indispensable

www.stopthepresses.news

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Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 9h

If the New York Times wanted to focus on the most relevant aspect of Pam Bondi’s testimony, this headline would say that she dodged questions. Instead, NYT postures as “objective“ and treats Bondi’s appearance as if it’s a pro wrestling match.
This is media cowardice.

Pressed by Democrats on Justice Dept. Politicization, Bondi Goes on Attack

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Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 10h

This image was posted on X today by a Chicago Tribune reporter. Trump’s government has declared war on the American people — or some of them, based on race.

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Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 11h

Here's background on the Tom Homan scandal, which the Trumpsters are trying to shut down.

Tom Homan was investigated for accepting $50,000 from undercover FBI agents. Trump's DOJ shut it down.

The FBI and Justice officials closed the investigation, which a Justice Department appointee had called a “deep state” probe in early 2025.

www.msnbc.com

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Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 11h

Pam Bondi won't say what happened to the $50,000 in taxpayer money that border czar Tom Homan pocketed in an FBI undercover investigation that the Trump regime dropped.
We don't even know if Homan paid taxes on the ill-gotten $50,000.
Crime is no longer against the law with these crooks in charge.

Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 14h

Whitehouse: What became of the $50,000 in cash that the FBI gave to Mr. Homan?

Bondi: The investigation of Mr. Homan was subjected to a full review They found no evidence of wrongdoing.

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Reposted by Mark Jacob

COURIER @couriernewsroom.bsky.social · 11h

"With local news in a severe tailspin for decades, there was a real question about whether Chicago’s media would meet the moment. But they have indeed," writes @markjacob.bsky.social in Stop The Presses.

The press steps up as Trump targets Chicago

Local journalism is under siege, but still makes itself indispensable

www.stopthepresses.news

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Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 11h

Latinos in Chicago are our neighbors. They make our community better. They're not a problem at all.
Texas National Guard troops are not our neighbors. They make our community worse. They're our main problem right now.

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Reposted by Mark Jacob

@NewsJennifer (Jennifer Schulze) @newsjennifer.bsky.social · 12h

Remarkable take down by @lawrenceodonnell.msnbc.com of a @cnn.com anchor who proudly reported on his unverified 'text interview' with Trump. He's not named here but it was Jake Tapper who gave Trump questions in advance & has no idea who actually typed the responses.

youtu.be/B6DTRVn4Gg0?...

Lawrence: Trump reveals he’s considering pardoning convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell

YouTube video by MSNBC

youtu.be

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Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 12h

A fascist dictator is ordering armed troops from another state to invade the city of Chicago, and the Chicago Tribune editorial board reacts by warning Gov. Pritzker and Mayor Johnson to avoid injudicious language. Really.

Editorial: We need our leaders to stay cool as ICE-related chaos gets hot

Provocateurs on the right and left were the story of a chaotic weekend in Chicago. Our political leaders need to reclaim the narrative and cool things down.

www.chicagotribune.com

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Reposted by Mark Jacob

@NewsJennifer (Jennifer Schulze) @newsjennifer.bsky.social · 12h

As I told @markjacob.bsky.social, Chicago journalists are doing a helluva job covering the ICE incursion of our city. The dogged, on-the ground- reporting reveals what's actually happening, not what ICE wants you to believe.

www.stopthepresses.news/p/the-press-...

The press steps up as Trump targets Chicago

Local journalism is under siege, but still makes itself indispensable

www.stopthepresses.news

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Reposted by Mark Jacob

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 12h

Very good point. MAGA propaganda would have a better chance of succeeding without the efforts of on the ground journos on this:

Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 13h

If you think today's news media picture is grim, take stock of how Chicago's local journalists are getting at the truth despite Homeland Security's campaign of lies and intimidation.
My Stop the Presses newsletter.

The press steps up as Trump targets Chicago

Local journalism is under siege, but still makes itself indispensable

www.stopthepresses.news

4 74 250

Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 13h

If you think today's news media picture is grim, take stock of how Chicago's local journalists are getting at the truth despite Homeland Security's campaign of lies and intimidation.
My Stop the Presses newsletter.

The press steps up as Trump targets Chicago

Local journalism is under siege, but still makes itself indispensable

www.stopthepresses.news

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Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 20h

Still waiting for Speaker Mike Johnson to allow the swearing-in of Adelita Grijalva, who was elected 2 weeks ago. Grijalva’s vote could pave the way for House action on releasing the Epstein files – which Johnson opposes. In his version of Christianity, they cover up for child sex predators.

Democrat accuses Mike Johnson of ‘suspicious’ delay of swearing-in to avoid Epstein vote

Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., told MSNBC she’s not a “conspiracy theorist” but said she couldn’t come up with another explanation for the delay.

www.msnbc.com

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Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 8d

The New York Times is willing to say we’re “on the brink” of “the all-powerful presidency,” but it’s not willing to say Trump is building a dictatorship. The D word is too much for them.

The man behind the all-powerful presidency

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Reposted by Mark Jacob

Dan Mihalopoulos @dmihalopoulos.bsky.social · 9d

In which a top US Border Patrol official, incredibly, tells my tall and Anglo colleague @chipmitchell1.bsky.social that he's not the type they're looking for as they go about downtown Chicago arresting people based on "how they look"

chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

Feds in military gear flood downtown Chicago; top border official says arrests based on 'how they look'

The immigration agents were spotted making arrests in downtown Chicago and River North neighborhood early Sunday.

chicago.suntimes.com

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Reposted by Mark Jacob

@NewsJennifer (Jennifer Schulze) @newsjennifer.bsky.social · 9d

🚨This is a big deal: suburban chicago police launch an investigation into an ICE attack on local CBS news journalists.

Violet Miller @vimiller.bsky.social · 9d

Broadview Police have opened an investigation into an attack from federal agents on a CBS crew at Broadview, per BPD Chief Mills.

The following statement can be attributed to Broadview Police Chief Thomas Mills:

“The Village of Broadview Police Department has launched a criminal investigation into an allegedly unprovoked attack on a CBS Chicago TV news reporter’s vehicle on Sunday by a chemical munition fired from the direction of U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement detention facility. The victim declined medical attention. The Broadview Police Department expects the full cooperation of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security into our criminal investigation.”

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Reposted by Mark Jacob

Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 9d

24 hours after Kash Patel releases a statement to “clarify” that the agents went there AFTER the riot was well underway, & Fox reported Trump’s claim was false, Johnson continues to intentionally lie about it on national TV. Maybe he should pray about why he lies constantly. bsky.app/profile/atru...

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 9d

MIKE JOHNSON: We have to ensure that the rule of law applies to everyone

TAPPER: Does the rule of law apply to people who stormed the Capitol on January 6?

JOHNSON: Apparently there were 274 FBI agents in the crowd

TAPPER: They were sent there to do crowd control. It wasn't a false flag operation

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Reposted by Mark Jacob

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 9d

Trump deleted his bizarre post featuring an AI video of him endorsing “medbeds,” which raises the question of whether he’s so confused that he thought it was a real video of him talking

Alex Kaplan @alkapdc.bsky.social · 10d

Trump tonight appears to have pushed the false "medbed" conspiracy theory, which has spread in the far-right internet over the years. www.yahoo.com/news/qanon-c...

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Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 9d

Giangreco calling Rahm Emanuel “very authentic and real“ made me spit up my coffee.

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Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 9d

Please, no. Rahm Emanuel would be the Democrats’ worst possible choice for 2028. (If there even is a real 2028 election.)

Rahm Emanuel road-tests populist message in Iowa while ‘thinking’ about 2028

At a Democratic fish fry in Des Moines, the former Chicago mayor hones in on economic fairness, education and fatigue with the status quo.

www.politico.com

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Reposted by Mark Jacob

Will Bunch @willbunch.bsky.social · 9d

This is the secret the Trump regime tried so hard to keep about the Dallas ICE shooting

The names of the dead and wounded

Jose Andres Bordones-Molina

Miguel Ángel García-Hernandez

Norlan Guzman-Fuentes

Fight Trump's dehumanization. Say their names. My new column www.inquirer.com/opinion/dall...

What the Trump regime doesn’t want you to know about Dallas ICE shooting

The Trump regime's refusal to say the names of the Dallas ICE victims exposes the inhumanity of American fascism.

www.inquirer.com

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Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 9d

I plead guilty. Can I get off with a fine?

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Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 9d

Jake Tapper gets to ask hard questions.
Mike Johnson gets to dodge those questions and promote his fascist lies.
It’s a collaboration.
If CNN ferociously defended the truth and our democracy, Mike Johnson would never appear there. He does it because it’s to his advantage.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 9d

TAPPER: As a constitutional attorney & Speaker, do you think it's acceptable for any POTUS to publicly instruct their AG to prosecute their political opponent and go as far as firing a US attorney if they don't bring charges?

JOHNSON: A grand jury voted to indict Comey. That's how our system works

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Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 9d

If the political crisis in the U.S. happened in a Third World country, the New York Times would write a story headlined “(Country X) Is Fast Becoming a Dictatorship.”
So why not that headline for the U.S.?

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Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 9d

Here’s the AP story. Despite my quibbles, I applaud this story, which goes further than most mainstream media in warning people that Trump is becoming a dictator.

Trump’s moves to tighten power and punish enemies draw comparisons to places where democracy faded

President Donald Trump’s consolidation of power and targeting of his political opponents bring back unnerving memories for those who have watched elected leaders undermine democracies elsewhere in the...

apnews.com

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