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
Trump: "All you have to do is say to China, how many windmill areas do you have in China? So far they're not able to find any."
China:
China:
January 9, 2026 at 9:39 PM
Trump: "All you have to do is say to China, how many windmill areas do you have in China? So far they're not able to find any."
China:
China:
No fear.
Stephen Colbert on the ICE murder of Renee Nicole Good: “The message from this administration is clear. Only they determine the truth. And when their forces come to your city: obey or die. And if you die, you clearly didn’t obey. This should be an alarm bell for the entire country.”
January 10, 2026 at 1:48 AM
No fear.
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Has Trump demanded Putin cease this?
Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, remains in total darkness yet another day after a brutal Russian attack. No heat, electricity, or water. Subzero temperatures. The mayor has advised people to leave the city if they can to try to avoid mass deaths. This is Russian genocide of Ukrainians.
January 10, 2026 at 12:53 AM
Has Trump demanded Putin cease this?
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
AOC: “I understand that VP Vance believes shooting a young mother of three in the face three times is an acceptable America that he wants to live in, & I do not — That is a fundamental difference between VP Vance & I — I do not believe the American people should be assassinated in the street”
January 9, 2026 at 6:30 PM
AOC: “I understand that VP Vance believes shooting a young mother of three in the face three times is an acceptable America that he wants to live in, & I do not — That is a fundamental difference between VP Vance & I — I do not believe the American people should be assassinated in the street”
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Texas, a state that once sued another state under the guise of “states’ rights” so its wealthiest residents could travel to their vacation homes in defiance of COVID lockdowns, has turned over its entire voter roll to federal government without a fight.
www.huffpost.com/entry/latest...
www.huffpost.com/entry/latest...
Texas Voluntarily Turns Over Private Data Of 18.4 Million Voters To Federal Government
www.huffpost.com
January 10, 2026 at 1:15 AM
Texas, a state that once sued another state under the guise of “states’ rights” so its wealthiest residents could travel to their vacation homes in defiance of COVID lockdowns, has turned over its entire voter roll to federal government without a fight.
www.huffpost.com/entry/latest...
www.huffpost.com/entry/latest...
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Normies are the bulwark of democracy
It's incredibly demoralizing to constantly see the highest institutions of government and academia and the most important and widely seen news outlets knuckle under one after another, but then to see the gulf between that and the bravery of communities and neighbors and teachers - that's something
January 10, 2026 at 1:06 AM
Normies are the bulwark of democracy
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Not an exaggeration at all to say that the feeling in Minneapolis is that the entire metro area is being treated as occupied territory by federal agents. Impossible to overstate how overwhelmingly people here do not like it. This does not feel sustainable.
January 10, 2026 at 1:02 AM
Not an exaggeration at all to say that the feeling in Minneapolis is that the entire metro area is being treated as occupied territory by federal agents. Impossible to overstate how overwhelmingly people here do not like it. This does not feel sustainable.
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Sen. Tina Smith: "I don't know how I could vote for a funding bill for ICE and DHS when so much of what they are doing is illegal, is lawless."
January 10, 2026 at 12:13 AM
Sen. Tina Smith: "I don't know how I could vote for a funding bill for ICE and DHS when so much of what they are doing is illegal, is lawless."
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Only I may tread.
ICE agent Jonathan Ross, who shot and killed an unarmed civilian, flew a don't-tread-on-me Gadsden flag at his house, per the Daily Mail.
January 9, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Only I may tread.
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Five games ago, Arsenal went in to the Everton match second in the league a point behind City. They're now six points clear of the chasing pack.
In that time they have taken 13 points from five PL games where last season they took just four from the equivalent fixtures.
In that time they have taken 13 points from five PL games where last season they took just four from the equivalent fixtures.
January 9, 2026 at 10:25 AM
Five games ago, Arsenal went in to the Everton match second in the league a point behind City. They're now six points clear of the chasing pack.
In that time they have taken 13 points from five PL games where last season they took just four from the equivalent fixtures.
In that time they have taken 13 points from five PL games where last season they took just four from the equivalent fixtures.
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
The future is so bright for us.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Bukayo Saka agrees new + improved 5yr contract at Arsenal. 24yo England int’l currently at #AFC until June 2027; fresh terms to summer 2031 in process of being finalised. Deal to recognise winger’s standing among Europe’s best 🚨
@theathleticfc.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/625...
@theathleticfc.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/625...
Bukayo Saka agrees new five-year Arsenal contract
The latest deal will be at a level that recognises the 24-year-old's standing as one of the leading players in the Premier League and Europe
www.nytimes.com
January 9, 2026 at 2:26 PM
The future is so bright for us.
Well-deserved, @jamellebouie.net.
“He reads it. He cites it. And he makes it accessible to a national audience.” Very cool moment @historians.org #AHA26 recognizing @jamellebouie.net’s exceptional engagement w history and historians in his brilliant opinion writing.
January 9, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Well-deserved, @jamellebouie.net.
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Amanda Gorman wrote this poem for Renee Good and that’s it for me tonight.
January 9, 2026 at 2:54 AM
Amanda Gorman wrote this poem for Renee Good and that’s it for me tonight.
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
"That heaviness you feel, that drag on your mental health, that drain on your emotional energy and lethargy in the face of world events, like yesterday, is real. We are all carrying a lot of new weight..." —Garrett M. Graff @vermontgmg.bsky.social
www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/the-physic...
www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/the-physic...
The physical weight of Trumpism
That heaviness you feel, that drag on your mental health, that drain on your emotional energy and lethargy in the face of world events, like yesterday, is real.
www.doomsdayscenario.co
January 9, 2026 at 4:40 PM
"That heaviness you feel, that drag on your mental health, that drain on your emotional energy and lethargy in the face of world events, like yesterday, is real. We are all carrying a lot of new weight..." —Garrett M. Graff @vermontgmg.bsky.social
www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/the-physic...
www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/the-physic...
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Think about the mindset, and the expectation of immunity, of someone who texts this to friends.
January 9, 2026 at 1:31 PM
Think about the mindset, and the expectation of immunity, of someone who texts this to friends.
"If someone like Kelly ... can be threatened with loss of rank and pension, then every service member should ask what protections remain when the rule of law and the requirement to follow only lawful orders become inconvenient to those in power."
Why Mark Kelly’s Case Matters
The action against him is unwarranted and could chill legitimate—and invaluable—public speech by veterans.
www.thebulwark.com
January 9, 2026 at 4:59 PM
"If someone like Kelly ... can be threatened with loss of rank and pension, then every service member should ask what protections remain when the rule of law and the requirement to follow only lawful orders become inconvenient to those in power."
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Rep. Wesley Hunt (TX-R): "The bottom line is this: when a federal officer gives you instructions, you abide by them and then you get to keep you life"
The Right went from Don't Tread on Me to Comply or Die in 12 months.
The Right went from Don't Tread on Me to Comply or Die in 12 months.
January 9, 2026 at 12:47 PM
Rep. Wesley Hunt (TX-R): "The bottom line is this: when a federal officer gives you instructions, you abide by them and then you get to keep you life"
The Right went from Don't Tread on Me to Comply or Die in 12 months.
The Right went from Don't Tread on Me to Comply or Die in 12 months.
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
I think it is probably a bad idea to put clearly unhinged, angry psychopaths in federal law enforcement positions.
January 9, 2026 at 2:15 PM
I think it is probably a bad idea to put clearly unhinged, angry psychopaths in federal law enforcement positions.
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
Editorial in the National Catholic Reporter: "The vice president's comments justifying the death of Renee Good are a moral stain on the collective witness of our Catholic faith. His repeated attempts to blame Good for her own death are fundamentally incompatible with the Gospel."
Catholic Vice President Vance takes to social media to justify killing of Renee Good
After the tragic shooting of Renee Good at the hands of ICE, the Catholic vice president of the United States took to social media to justify the killing.
www.ncronline.org
January 8, 2026 at 10:51 PM
Editorial in the National Catholic Reporter: "The vice president's comments justifying the death of Renee Good are a moral stain on the collective witness of our Catholic faith. His repeated attempts to blame Good for her own death are fundamentally incompatible with the Gospel."
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
An expert in vehicle ramming attacks with an important🧵⤵️
“When the state kills first and invents the threat afterward, it is not policing, it is death squad behavior.”
“When the state kills first and invents the threat afterward, it is not policing, it is death squad behavior.”
🧵In my expert opinion as a researcher of vehicle ramming attacks, what has been publicly described in the video evidence does not support the claim that Renee Nicole Good was attempting a deliberate ramming attack when she was shot in Minneapolis on January 7, 2026. 1/7
January 9, 2026 at 2:44 AM
An expert in vehicle ramming attacks with an important🧵⤵️
“When the state kills first and invents the threat afterward, it is not policing, it is death squad behavior.”
“When the state kills first and invents the threat afterward, it is not policing, it is death squad behavior.”
Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
It was simple, non-controversial extension on federal loans for a clean drinking water project. Then President Trump killed it to punish an entire state.
Colorado's Republicans and Democrats warned Congressional colleagues today that their community could be targeted next.
Colorado's Republicans and Democrats warned Congressional colleagues today that their community could be targeted next.
January 9, 2026 at 3:27 AM
It was simple, non-controversial extension on federal loans for a clean drinking water project. Then President Trump killed it to punish an entire state.
Colorado's Republicans and Democrats warned Congressional colleagues today that their community could be targeted next.
Colorado's Republicans and Democrats warned Congressional colleagues today that their community could be targeted next.
"Cities are on the front lines of this dark hour in our national politics. But after we weather this moment — and we will weather it — it will be on us to light the way forward."
Opinion | I’m the Mayor of Minneapolis. Trump Is Lying to You.
www.nytimes.com
January 9, 2026 at 3:30 AM
"Cities are on the front lines of this dark hour in our national politics. But after we weather this moment — and we will weather it — it will be on us to light the way forward."