L Forte
@lforte26.bsky.social
Former Editorial Page Editor, Chicago Sun-Times. If journalists don’t stand up for democracy and working people, we’re shirking our duty as the Fourth Estate.
Reposted by L Forte
Amazon announced 14,000 layoffs. Its CEO made over $40M last year.
UPS announced 48,000 layoffs. Its CEO made over $24M last year.
Intel announced 20,000 layoffs. Its new CEO's pay package is valued at nearly $69M.
This is what I mean when I say the system is rigged.
UPS announced 48,000 layoffs. Its CEO made over $24M last year.
Intel announced 20,000 layoffs. Its new CEO's pay package is valued at nearly $69M.
This is what I mean when I say the system is rigged.
November 15, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Amazon announced 14,000 layoffs. Its CEO made over $40M last year.
UPS announced 48,000 layoffs. Its CEO made over $24M last year.
Intel announced 20,000 layoffs. Its new CEO's pay package is valued at nearly $69M.
This is what I mean when I say the system is rigged.
UPS announced 48,000 layoffs. Its CEO made over $24M last year.
Intel announced 20,000 layoffs. Its new CEO's pay package is valued at nearly $69M.
This is what I mean when I say the system is rigged.
Letting GOP sue the American people because Jack Smith did his job investigating Jan 6 insurrection. Dump Chuck #Schumer and the 8 Dems who voted for this travesty 😡
rollcall.com/2025/11/12/s...
rollcall.com/2025/11/12/s...
Senate payouts unnerve some in House GOP ahead of shutdown vote - Roll Call
A Senate provision in a spending package to end the shutdown has rattled House Republicans and given new political ammunition to Democrats.
rollcall.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Letting GOP sue the American people because Jack Smith did his job investigating Jan 6 insurrection. Dump Chuck #Schumer and the 8 Dems who voted for this travesty 😡
rollcall.com/2025/11/12/s...
rollcall.com/2025/11/12/s...
Reposted by L Forte
Absolutely outrageous that taxpayers are paying Republican political consultants millions of dollars to make hype videos for Kristi Noem’s 2028 campaign for president or VP, which is what this is all about. www.propublica.org/article/kris...
Firm Tied to Kristi Noem Secretly Got Money From $220 Million DHS Ad Contracts
The company is run by the husband of Noem’s chief DHS spokesperson and has personal and business ties to Noem and her aides. DHS invoked the “emergency” at the border to skirt competitive bidding rule...
www.propublica.org
November 14, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Absolutely outrageous that taxpayers are paying Republican political consultants millions of dollars to make hype videos for Kristi Noem’s 2028 campaign for president or VP, which is what this is all about. www.propublica.org/article/kris...
Reposted by L Forte
Count the ways they’re corrupting DOJ: Presidents don’t direct AG’s to open criminal cases, especially ones designating only Dems for investigation when POTUS himself is involved. DOJ doesn’t publicize criminal investigations & the AG definitely doesn’t assign them on Twitter.
November 14, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Count the ways they’re corrupting DOJ: Presidents don’t direct AG’s to open criminal cases, especially ones designating only Dems for investigation when POTUS himself is involved. DOJ doesn’t publicize criminal investigations & the AG definitely doesn’t assign them on Twitter.
Every time I see something from @melissa-sanchez.bsky.social and @propublica.org I am so so glad I hired her way back when she first came to Chicago. Knew she would go on to greater things👊🏽
You probably saw videos of a nighttime raid in Chicago. Agents rappelling from a helicopter, bursting down doors, questioning brown-skinned immigrants.
We investigated -- and found little evidence to support the government’s claims about Tren de Aragua.
www.propublica.org/article/chic...
We investigated -- and found little evidence to support the government’s claims about Tren de Aragua.
www.propublica.org/article/chic...
“I Lost Everything”: Venezuelans Were Rounded Up in a Dramatic Midnight Raid but Never Charged With a Crime
Authorities said Tren de Aragua “terrorists” had taken over the building. A ProPublica investigation found little evidence to back up the government’s claims. For the first time, the Venezuelans arres...
www.propublica.org
November 13, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Every time I see something from @melissa-sanchez.bsky.social and @propublica.org I am so so glad I hired her way back when she first came to Chicago. Knew she would go on to greater things👊🏽
Reposted by L Forte
Page One in UK: 🇬🇧
November 13, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Page One in UK: 🇬🇧
Part of this is fear of appearing at all “biased” or “political,” or even drawing obvious, inarguable conclusions RE basic facts, to the point of absurdity. Thus, a photo of Trump asleep in a meeting becomes silliness like “…a photo that appears to show Trump sleeping…”
That old metaphor about the frog and the boiling water isn’t true: If you put a frog in a pot of water and slowly raise the heat, the frog will jump out before it gets boiled to death.
The question now is whether American journalists are smarter than frogs.
My Stop the Presses newsletter.
The question now is whether American journalists are smarter than frogs.
My Stop the Presses newsletter.
How news coverage eases us into tyranny
When the media act like things are normal, they don’t reassure us – they gaslight us
www.stopthepresses.news
November 10, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Part of this is fear of appearing at all “biased” or “political,” or even drawing obvious, inarguable conclusions RE basic facts, to the point of absurdity. Thus, a photo of Trump asleep in a meeting becomes silliness like “…a photo that appears to show Trump sleeping…”
Reposted by L Forte
That old metaphor about the frog and the boiling water isn’t true: If you put a frog in a pot of water and slowly raise the heat, the frog will jump out before it gets boiled to death.
The question now is whether American journalists are smarter than frogs.
My Stop the Presses newsletter.
The question now is whether American journalists are smarter than frogs.
My Stop the Presses newsletter.
How news coverage eases us into tyranny
When the media act like things are normal, they don’t reassure us – they gaslight us
www.stopthepresses.news
November 10, 2025 at 6:53 PM
That old metaphor about the frog and the boiling water isn’t true: If you put a frog in a pot of water and slowly raise the heat, the frog will jump out before it gets boiled to death.
The question now is whether American journalists are smarter than frogs.
My Stop the Presses newsletter.
The question now is whether American journalists are smarter than frogs.
My Stop the Presses newsletter.
Exactly…
Dick Durbin can room with Merrick Garland in the Neville Chamberlain Retirement Home.
November 10, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Exactly…
Reposted by L Forte
"Democrats could have held the line on the shutdown, and spent weeks watching Trump’s approval ratings fall," writes @jonathanbchait.bsky.social
Instead, he argues, they're making a mistake by giving in:
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Instead, he argues, they're making a mistake by giving in:
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Senate Democrats Just Made a Huge Mistake
The shutdown was hurting Trump. Ending it helps him.
www.theatlantic.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:52 AM
"Democrats could have held the line on the shutdown, and spent weeks watching Trump’s approval ratings fall," writes @jonathanbchait.bsky.social
Instead, he argues, they're making a mistake by giving in:
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Instead, he argues, they're making a mistake by giving in:
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
A win for authors and publishers against copyright infringement by #ChatGPT #AI
futurism.com/artificial-i...
futurism.com/artificial-i...
OpenAI in Danger After Authors Suing It Gain Access to Its Internal Slack Messages
Authors and publishers, who are suing OpenAI, secured access to internal Slack messages and emails discussing the deletion of pirated books.
futurism.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:20 PM
A win for authors and publishers against copyright infringement by #ChatGPT #AI
futurism.com/artificial-i...
futurism.com/artificial-i...
Reposted by L Forte
“authors & publishers who filed a lawsuit against the Sam Altman-led firm have secured access to internal Slack messages… discussing the mass deletion of a pirated books dataset… A NY district court ordered OpenAI to hand over the communications regarding data deletion”
futurism.com/artificial-i...
futurism.com/artificial-i...
OpenAI in Danger After Authors Suing It Gain Access to Its Internal Slack Messages
Authors and publishers, who are suing OpenAI, secured access to internal Slack messages and emails discussing the deletion of pirated books.
futurism.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:57 AM
“authors & publishers who filed a lawsuit against the Sam Altman-led firm have secured access to internal Slack messages… discussing the mass deletion of a pirated books dataset… A NY district court ordered OpenAI to hand over the communications regarding data deletion”
futurism.com/artificial-i...
futurism.com/artificial-i...
Reposted by L Forte
For those not in #Chicago and not aware of the daily news about #ICE here… My latest from @contrariannews.org about the abuses at ICE detention center contrarian.substack.com/p/dispatch-f...
Dispatch from Chicago: Broadview detention center’s dirty secrets are now out in the open
The appalling reality about filthy conditions at the ICE detention facility was aired in federal court in Chicago this week.
contrarian.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:56 PM
For those not in #Chicago and not aware of the daily news about #ICE here… My latest from @contrariannews.org about the abuses at ICE detention center contrarian.substack.com/p/dispatch-f...
For those not in #Chicago and not aware of the daily news about #ICE here… My latest from @contrariannews.org about the abuses at ICE detention center contrarian.substack.com/p/dispatch-f...
Dispatch from Chicago: Broadview detention center’s dirty secrets are now out in the open
The appalling reality about filthy conditions at the ICE detention facility was aired in federal court in Chicago this week.
contrarian.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:56 PM
For those not in #Chicago and not aware of the daily news about #ICE here… My latest from @contrariannews.org about the abuses at ICE detention center contrarian.substack.com/p/dispatch-f...
Jon is the best. Follow him for news from federal court un Chicago
U.S. Robert Gettleman is now giving his thoughts. He says, "I think the evidence has been pretty strong that this facility is no longer just a temporary holding facility. …
"It has really become a prison."
"It has really become a prison."
DOJ's Jana Brady steps up next but says she'll largely "rest on our brief that we filed."
She wants any TRO to not "interfere with the executive branch."
She wants any TRO to not "interfere with the executive branch."
November 4, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Jon is the best. Follow him for news from federal court un Chicago
Reposted by L Forte
The administration hates “fake news” so much it keeps stealing journalists' work for its ICE sizzle reels.
Why can't it find footage from those supposedly better outlets it wants in the WH and Pentagon?
Could it be that they don’t make content worth stealing?
Why can't it find footage from those supposedly better outlets it wants in the WH and Pentagon?
Could it be that they don’t make content worth stealing?
Chicago Sun-Times demands DHS remove social posts using its photos without permission
A letter sent to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem Thursday says the government used three Sun-Times photos without permission to promote its immigration enforcement campaign. The ...
chicago.suntimes.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:51 PM
The administration hates “fake news” so much it keeps stealing journalists' work for its ICE sizzle reels.
Why can't it find footage from those supposedly better outlets it wants in the WH and Pentagon?
Could it be that they don’t make content worth stealing?
Why can't it find footage from those supposedly better outlets it wants in the WH and Pentagon?
Could it be that they don’t make content worth stealing?
Reposted by L Forte
ICE officers reportedly shot a 25-year-old named Carlos Jimenez.
He was shot after getting out of his car to tell the agents, who had pulled over a vehicle, that children would soon be gathering in that spot for the school bus.
He was shot after getting out of his car to tell the agents, who had pulled over a vehicle, that children would soon be gathering in that spot for the school bus.
Report: ICE shot a US citizen trying to help kids
According to his lawyer, immigration officers shot Carlos Jimenez after he warned them that children would soon gather for the bus where they had pulled over a vehicle.
www.motherjones.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:30 AM
ICE officers reportedly shot a 25-year-old named Carlos Jimenez.
He was shot after getting out of his car to tell the agents, who had pulled over a vehicle, that children would soon be gathering in that spot for the school bus.
He was shot after getting out of his car to tell the agents, who had pulled over a vehicle, that children would soon be gathering in that spot for the school bus.
Reposted by L Forte
Holder: The Supreme Court is a broken institution. And it’s something that has to be part of the national conversation in ’26 and in ’28.
If there is a Democratic trifecta in 2028—and I think the possibility of that is pretty good—Supreme Court reform has to be on the table.
If there is a Democratic trifecta in 2028—and I think the possibility of that is pretty good—Supreme Court reform has to be on the table.
November 3, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Holder: The Supreme Court is a broken institution. And it’s something that has to be part of the national conversation in ’26 and in ’28.
If there is a Democratic trifecta in 2028—and I think the possibility of that is pretty good—Supreme Court reform has to be on the table.
If there is a Democratic trifecta in 2028—and I think the possibility of that is pretty good—Supreme Court reform has to be on the table.
Reposted by L Forte
Never in the history of the US has any president openly and repeatedly called for the investigation, arrest & prosecution of his political opponents. While many continue to shrug these things off and normalize them, I will never stop pointing out that this is what autocrats do.
October 29, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Never in the history of the US has any president openly and repeatedly called for the investigation, arrest & prosecution of his political opponents. While many continue to shrug these things off and normalize them, I will never stop pointing out that this is what autocrats do.
Reposted by L Forte
DHS deceptively spliced images from different cities and times in videos sowing fear about "chaos" in Chicago and Washington, D.C., a WaPo investigation found.
DHS used footage from years ago, half the country away, or even in international waters, the Post found.
🎁 🔗 wapo.st/4nuDGwf
DHS used footage from years ago, half the country away, or even in international waters, the Post found.
🎁 🔗 wapo.st/4nuDGwf
wapo.st
October 29, 2025 at 7:48 PM
DHS deceptively spliced images from different cities and times in videos sowing fear about "chaos" in Chicago and Washington, D.C., a WaPo investigation found.
DHS used footage from years ago, half the country away, or even in international waters, the Post found.
🎁 🔗 wapo.st/4nuDGwf
DHS used footage from years ago, half the country away, or even in international waters, the Post found.
🎁 🔗 wapo.st/4nuDGwf
Reposted by L Forte
A US Drug Enforcement Administration agent said the DEA made “high-level arrests” of 171 Sinaloa Cartel members across New England in August.
A Globe investigation found that many of the DEA’s targets were addicts, low-level dealers, shoplifters, and homeless people.
A Globe investigation found that many of the DEA’s targets were addicts, low-level dealers, shoplifters, and homeless people.
The DEA said they arrested 171 ‘high ranking’ Sinaloa Cartel members. A Spotlight investigation found that’s not true. - The Boston Globe
A Globe investigation found that the federal agency misrepresented the stature of its targets, claiming cartel ties at a time when the Trump administration is taking lethal military action against such groups.
trib.al
October 29, 2025 at 1:32 PM
A US Drug Enforcement Administration agent said the DEA made “high-level arrests” of 171 Sinaloa Cartel members across New England in August.
A Globe investigation found that many of the DEA’s targets were addicts, low-level dealers, shoplifters, and homeless people.
A Globe investigation found that many of the DEA’s targets were addicts, low-level dealers, shoplifters, and homeless people.
Common sense suggestion, as everyone had an opinion but its often based on misinformation or disinformation
I’ve been thinking a lot about a new kind of polling I’d like to see. We have polling that measures public opinion, which is obviously important, but I’d love to see a little more empirical work on public knowledge: what do voters know about politics and policy?
October 29, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Common sense suggestion, as everyone had an opinion but its often based on misinformation or disinformation
Re-upping my latest for The Contrarian @contrariannews.org on why losing #SNAP on Nov 1 is just the tip of the looming iceberg….
My latest for The Contrarian @contrariannews.org on SNAP benefits #SNAP #foodstamps running out 11.1 and what to expect in 2026 and beyond
contrarian.substack.com/p/dispatch-f...
contrarian.substack.com/p/dispatch-f...
Dispatch from Chicago: Countdown to SNAP cuts
My city is reeling from the overly aggressive actions of agents from ICE and Customs and Border Patrol. SNAP cuts will deal another blow.
contrarian.substack.com
October 29, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Re-upping my latest for The Contrarian @contrariannews.org on why losing #SNAP on Nov 1 is just the tip of the looming iceberg….
Reposted by L Forte
It’s worth noting that if a parent took a minor child across state lines without the permission of the other parent, that would be considered kidnapping. But I guess that’s okay when it’s the federal government.
A 13 year old abducted by ICE. What are we doing? open.substack.com/pub/ruthzaka...
A 13 year old abducted by ICE. What are we doing? open.substack.com/pub/ruthzaka...
A 13 year old and ICE
Weeks ago I wrote about 13 and 17 year old sisters who went missing in the world after ICE abducted their mother from a Worcester, Massachusetts street, leaving them parentless and in state care.
open.substack.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:00 AM
It’s worth noting that if a parent took a minor child across state lines without the permission of the other parent, that would be considered kidnapping. But I guess that’s okay when it’s the federal government.
A 13 year old abducted by ICE. What are we doing? open.substack.com/pub/ruthzaka...
A 13 year old abducted by ICE. What are we doing? open.substack.com/pub/ruthzaka...
Reposted by L Forte
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October 28, 2025 at 4:33 PM
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