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
Solar’s price drop is astonishing: panels are now 98% cheaper than when I first analyzed them in 2004.
Today, building a fence with solar can be cheaper than using wood.
Today, building a fence with solar can be cheaper than using wood.
November 10, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Solar’s price drop is astonishing: panels are now 98% cheaper than when I first analyzed them in 2004.
Today, building a fence with solar can be cheaper than using wood.
Today, building a fence with solar can be cheaper than using wood.
"Greg Bovino and his masked (Trump) agents are not here to make Chicago safer,” @govpritzker.illinois.gov wrote. "…they are posing for photo ops and producing reality TV moments."
Federal Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino and agents said to be leaving Chicago, sources say
Cmdr. Gregory Bovino was expected to depart Chicago within days, while most Border Patrol agents under this command would soon be redeployed elsewhere, three sources told the Tribune Monday.
www.chicagotribune.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:59 AM
"Greg Bovino and his masked (Trump) agents are not here to make Chicago safer,” @govpritzker.illinois.gov wrote. "…they are posing for photo ops and producing reality TV moments."
"When disaster inevitably strikes, it’s easy to blame an (alleged) arsonist or an (alleged) government failure," @sammyroth.bsky.social writes. "It’s extremely difficult to grapple with the reality that oil and gas are adding fuel to the fire, and that it’s incumbent on us to respond accordingly."
News roundup: The Gates of Doom
Climate scientists take Bill Gates to task. Plus, assigning blame after a devastating fire.
www.climatecoloredgoggles.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:21 AM
"When disaster inevitably strikes, it’s easy to blame an (alleged) arsonist or an (alleged) government failure," @sammyroth.bsky.social writes. "It’s extremely difficult to grapple with the reality that oil and gas are adding fuel to the fire, and that it’s incumbent on us to respond accordingly."
“My people are generally aghast at what has happened,” said Nicole Cantello, union leader in EPA’s Chicago regional office. If federal workers and the American people “were going to suffer during the shutdown, they wanted to see more that was gotten for it than what’s currently on the table."
Feds flustered by shutdown compromise
The deal was “a total capitulation and slap in the face to federal workers,” said one EPA employee.
www.eenews.net
November 11, 2025 at 1:07 AM
“My people are generally aghast at what has happened,” said Nicole Cantello, union leader in EPA’s Chicago regional office. If federal workers and the American people “were going to suffer during the shutdown, they wanted to see more that was gotten for it than what’s currently on the table."
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Ah, creating a legal entitlement for $500K for some elderly millionaires because they being investigated for their role in an insurrection *in exchange for* a show vote to make health care affordable.
Look at this new outrage. To open govt, we're retroactively letting 8 Senators sue for $500K each over having had their J6 phone toll records looked at. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
Spending Bill Would Pave Way for Senators to Sue Over Phone Searches
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Ah, creating a legal entitlement for $500K for some elderly millionaires because they being investigated for their role in an insurrection *in exchange for* a show vote to make health care affordable.
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Cubs righty Cade Horton finishes 2nd for NL Rookie of the Year behind Braves catcher Drake Baldwin.
Horton received 9 of 30 votes and finished with 139 points while Baldwin got 21 votes and 183 points.
Horton received 9 of 30 votes and finished with 139 points while Baldwin got 21 votes and 183 points.
November 11, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Cubs righty Cade Horton finishes 2nd for NL Rookie of the Year behind Braves catcher Drake Baldwin.
Horton received 9 of 30 votes and finished with 139 points while Baldwin got 21 votes and 183 points.
Horton received 9 of 30 votes and finished with 139 points while Baldwin got 21 votes and 183 points.
Joining Durbin in voting with Republicans: NH Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, NV Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, VA Sen. Tim Kaine, PA Sen. John Fetterman and Maine Sen. Angus King, Independent, who caucuses with Democrats.
None are up for election in 2026.
None are up for election in 2026.
US Sen. Dick Durbin defends GOP-backed vote to end government shutdown amid harsh party criticism
Illinois’ senior senator, Dick Durbin, defended his decision Monday to cross party lines and endorse a GOP plan to end the nation’s longest government shutdown.
www.chicagotribune.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Joining Durbin in voting with Republicans: NH Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, NV Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, VA Sen. Tim Kaine, PA Sen. John Fetterman and Maine Sen. Angus King, Independent, who caucuses with Democrats.
None are up for election in 2026.
None are up for election in 2026.
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
One CEO called the idea a “disgusting insult” and “economic genocide against the Gen Z generation.” 👀
@newsweek.com $XHB
www.newsweek.com/50-year-mort...
@newsweek.com $XHB
www.newsweek.com/50-year-mort...
November 10, 2025 at 11:38 PM
One CEO called the idea a “disgusting insult” and “economic genocide against the Gen Z generation.” 👀
@newsweek.com $XHB
www.newsweek.com/50-year-mort...
@newsweek.com $XHB
www.newsweek.com/50-year-mort...
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
It’s wild how MAGA falls in love with people like nepo baby developer Bill Pulte, who was born on 3rd base and thinks he hit a triple, because he investigated Schiff, then he rolls out a plan for a lifetime of debt slavery with 50-year mortgages and they are somehow surprised.
November 10, 2025 at 11:31 PM
It’s wild how MAGA falls in love with people like nepo baby developer Bill Pulte, who was born on 3rd base and thinks he hit a triple, because he investigated Schiff, then he rolls out a plan for a lifetime of debt slavery with 50-year mortgages and they are somehow surprised.
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Well, these images have done the viral circuit, and are now at the spot where people are accusing them of being AI.
Bummer to those folks: they are not AI. These are real photographs, made with my mirrorless cameras.
Media literacy sure is lost on so many people, it's quite sad.
Bummer to those folks: they are not AI. These are real photographs, made with my mirrorless cameras.
Media literacy sure is lost on so many people, it's quite sad.
Border Patrol agents posed at "The Bean" for an apparent photo op after a weekend of clashes in Little Village. blockclubchi.co/4oUHKae
November 11, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Well, these images have done the viral circuit, and are now at the spot where people are accusing them of being AI.
Bummer to those folks: they are not AI. These are real photographs, made with my mirrorless cameras.
Media literacy sure is lost on so many people, it's quite sad.
Bummer to those folks: they are not AI. These are real photographs, made with my mirrorless cameras.
Media literacy sure is lost on so many people, it's quite sad.
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
The Palestinian tradition of olive picking and dates harvest in the occupied West Bank is under threat from Israeli settlers who have increased their attacks on farmers this season.
The struggle to preserve the Palestinian olive and date harvest
The UN says October saw the highest number of Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians in nearly 20 years of tracking that violence. More than half the attacks targeted olive harvesters.
n.pr
November 10, 2025 at 11:03 PM
The Palestinian tradition of olive picking and dates harvest in the occupied West Bank is under threat from Israeli settlers who have increased their attacks on farmers this season.
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
truly disturbing video from palatine.
agents appear to drive onto a sidewalk in pursuit. as they wrestle to put a young person in the car, the driver starts to pull away. the person recording shouts, “they’re tasing him!”
unclear if they actually used the taser, but you can hear it charging up.
agents appear to drive onto a sidewalk in pursuit. as they wrestle to put a young person in the car, the driver starts to pull away. the person recording shouts, “they’re tasing him!”
unclear if they actually used the taser, but you can hear it charging up.
November 10, 2025 at 10:45 PM
truly disturbing video from palatine.
agents appear to drive onto a sidewalk in pursuit. as they wrestle to put a young person in the car, the driver starts to pull away. the person recording shouts, “they’re tasing him!”
unclear if they actually used the taser, but you can hear it charging up.
agents appear to drive onto a sidewalk in pursuit. as they wrestle to put a young person in the car, the driver starts to pull away. the person recording shouts, “they’re tasing him!”
unclear if they actually used the taser, but you can hear it charging up.
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
This allows Trump (via DOJ) to use taxpayer money to bribe eight GOP Senators. It's that simple, there's no other way to describe it.
And where's the compensation for people injured by the Trump admin's unlawful conduct through DHS & DOGE?
Take a bow, @schumer.senate.gov, you did this.
And where's the compensation for people injured by the Trump admin's unlawful conduct through DHS & DOGE?
Take a bow, @schumer.senate.gov, you did this.
November 10, 2025 at 9:23 PM
This allows Trump (via DOJ) to use taxpayer money to bribe eight GOP Senators. It's that simple, there's no other way to describe it.
And where's the compensation for people injured by the Trump admin's unlawful conduct through DHS & DOGE?
Take a bow, @schumer.senate.gov, you did this.
And where's the compensation for people injured by the Trump admin's unlawful conduct through DHS & DOGE?
Take a bow, @schumer.senate.gov, you did this.
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
"After staff members pushed Diaz out of the restaurant and into a vestibule, Perez displayed his CPD badge and demanded his pizza"
Two Chicago police officers who attacked members of the public and the staff of a Wrigleyville pizzeria after a Chicago Cubs game during a 2019 drunken brawl they started, will be suspended for one year each, according to documents obtained by WTTW News. https://to.wttw.com/47yw2Mz
2 CPD Officers Suspended for 1 Year Each After 2019 Drunken Wrigleyville Brawl, Records Show
City officials agreed to allow the two officers to serve suspensions of 365 days each, even though the agency charged with investigating police misconduct and the city's former top cop agreed they sho...
to.wttw.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:52 PM
"After staff members pushed Diaz out of the restaurant and into a vestibule, Perez displayed his CPD badge and demanded his pizza"
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Update: In 3 recent editorials, WaPo failed to disclose owner Jeff Bezos's interest in the matter under discussion.
WaPo added one disclosure after @bgrueskin.bsky.social called it out.
Two weeks after my story, the other two editorials still have none. And the paper still won't say why
WaPo added one disclosure after @bgrueskin.bsky.social called it out.
Two weeks after my story, the other two editorials still have none. And the paper still won't say why
'Washington Post' editorials omit a key disclosure: Bezos' financial ties
Three times in the past two weeks, editorials at the 'Washington Post' failed to disclose that they focused on matters in which owner Jeff Bezos had a material interest.
www.npr.org
November 10, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Update: In 3 recent editorials, WaPo failed to disclose owner Jeff Bezos's interest in the matter under discussion.
WaPo added one disclosure after @bgrueskin.bsky.social called it out.
Two weeks after my story, the other two editorials still have none. And the paper still won't say why
WaPo added one disclosure after @bgrueskin.bsky.social called it out.
Two weeks after my story, the other two editorials still have none. And the paper still won't say why
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
As predicted, they’re going after the entire childhood vaccination schedule (second slide, from WaPo).
November 10, 2025 at 9:29 PM
As predicted, they’re going after the entire childhood vaccination schedule (second slide, from WaPo).
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
When Manny’s Cafeteria and Delicatessen posted on social media that they’d be handing out free meals to SNAP recipients starting Nov. 1, the line the next day started forming at 3 a.m. The deli doesn’t open until 8.
With uncertainty surrounding SNAP, restaurants across Chicago are offering free meals to recipients
Dozens of restaurants across Chicago are handing out free meals to impacted individuals and families, at a time when many restaurants are struggling to survive amid intense immigration enforcement.
trib.al
November 10, 2025 at 10:26 PM
When Manny’s Cafeteria and Delicatessen posted on social media that they’d be handing out free meals to SNAP recipients starting Nov. 1, the line the next day started forming at 3 a.m. The deli doesn’t open until 8.
"The sentencing of the (Jared Kushner crony), Jonathan Braun, who had a long history of violence and in 2011 pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering, demonstrates how Mr. Trump’s handling of pardons and commutations has allowed some convicts to return to criminality."
Felon Freed by Trump Is Sentenced Again, This Time to 27 Months
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:51 PM
"The sentencing of the (Jared Kushner crony), Jonathan Braun, who had a long history of violence and in 2011 pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering, demonstrates how Mr. Trump’s handling of pardons and commutations has allowed some convicts to return to criminality."
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
The bean's sculptor, Anish Kapoor, once sued the NRA for using its image in a video dissing liberals and defending Trump.
Astonishing: Bovino and his agents showed up at the Bean this morning to pose for pictures. While Border Patrol snapped photos, one agent shouted, “Everyone say, ‘Little Village!’” The neighborhood where they are least welcome and most acutely felt. blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/10/b...
Border Patrol Agents Pose At 'The Bean' For Apparent Photo Op
The photo op came after agents tear-gassed a Little Village street and were spotted in the area numerous times. At the Bean, one agent shouted, "Everyone say, Little Village!"
blockclubchicago.org
November 10, 2025 at 6:29 PM
The bean's sculptor, Anish Kapoor, once sued the NRA for using its image in a video dissing liberals and defending Trump.
😮
Fifty years ago, I was a third-grader in Orland Park. My family took a weekend trip to northern Wisconsin, including a visit to the shores of Lake Superior. Then a big storm hit. We got snowed in and missed a day of school. The same storm wrecked the Edmund Fitzgerald.
November 10, 2025 at 6:32 PM
😮
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Wow. This analogy for how no one ever seems to hold Trump accountable for his constant lying. Perfectly stated.
November 10, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Wow. This analogy for how no one ever seems to hold Trump accountable for his constant lying. Perfectly stated.
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Thank you, Trump voters.
November 10, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Thank you, Trump voters.
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Today on Volts: as you may have heard, there were some elections last week. How did they go for climate world? To find out, I did my annual check-in with @spears.bsky.social of @climatecabinet.org. I don't want to spoil anything, but folks ... they went well. Really well.
So, there were some elections. How'd they go?
I talk with Caroline Spears about the stunning results in key state and local races and the lessons for 2026.
www.volts.wtf
November 10, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Today on Volts: as you may have heard, there were some elections last week. How did they go for climate world? To find out, I did my annual check-in with @spears.bsky.social of @climatecabinet.org. I don't want to spoil anything, but folks ... they went well. Really well.
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
!!!!
Here is the Newsweek magazine article that led to the song "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," marked up to show key passages that Lightfoot borrowed. Short thread at quoted post. Thanks to @bikeguy.bsky.social for reminding me about this. #EdmundFitzgerald50
November 10, 2025 at 6:24 PM
!!!!
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
"Maxwell has received custom meals personally delivered to her cell, after-hours time in a private exercise area, access to a service puppy, and private meetings with visitors arranged by the warden, complete with snacks. Visitors were allowed to bring computers..."
www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/d...
www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/d...
Democrats reveal whistleblower details of Ghislaine Maxwell prison ‘luxuries’
In a letter to the president, House Democrats say Maxwell’s treatment as she prepares a clemency request makes the convicted sex offender look like a “guest at a Trump hotel.”
www.msnbc.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:26 PM
"Maxwell has received custom meals personally delivered to her cell, after-hours time in a private exercise area, access to a service puppy, and private meetings with visitors arranged by the warden, complete with snacks. Visitors were allowed to bring computers..."
www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/d...
www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/d...