@david-isaacson.bsky.social
Here I am, writing about the ICE invasion of Chicago in The Forward. And it’s not in Yiddish, so you all should need able to read it. I hope you will! I got to write my parents!
In Chicago, politicians are comparing ICE to the Gestapo — are they right?
For American Jews, the question used to be 'Could it happen here?' The question has become 'Is it happening now?'
forward.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Here I am, writing about the ICE invasion of Chicago in The Forward. And it’s not in Yiddish, so you all should need able to read it. I hope you will! I got to write my parents!
ICE drew guns on a friend, near her home in Edgewater this morning.
ICE harassing a landscaper on Sheridan south of Catalpa 8.45am Friday.
October 10, 2025 at 4:43 PM
ICE drew guns on a friend, near her home in Edgewater this morning.
I agree. But there's more on the line than just healthcare. davidisaacson.substack.com/p/shut-it-do...
September 25, 2025 at 6:39 PM
I agree. But there's more on the line than just healthcare. davidisaacson.substack.com/p/shut-it-do...
That's right! And they should demand more than just healthcare. davidisaacson.substack.com/p/shut-it-do...
September 25, 2025 at 6:37 PM
That's right! And they should demand more than just healthcare. davidisaacson.substack.com/p/shut-it-do...
But Leader Schumer, you should demand more! davidisaacson.substack.com/p/shut-it-do...
September 25, 2025 at 6:34 PM
But Leader Schumer, you should demand more! davidisaacson.substack.com/p/shut-it-do...
On Fox & Friends this morning, our fascist president announced the invasion of Chicago has been cancelled. (He says he's going to Memphis instead.) My conclusion in my latest substack? Resistance works!
Chi-pocalypse or Chi-topia?
Donald Trump announces plan to send National Guard to Memphis. Says he would have “preferred Chicago.” Here’s a wrap-up of the last week of threats and activism.
open.substack.com
September 12, 2025 at 5:41 PM
On Fox & Friends this morning, our fascist president announced the invasion of Chicago has been cancelled. (He says he's going to Memphis instead.) My conclusion in my latest substack? Resistance works!
Latest substack: This one's for the "Severance" fans. And fans of turn-of-the-20th-century Midwestern vernacular art.
Kier Eagan and the Modern Woodmen of America
This one's for the "Severance" fans.
open.substack.com
September 4, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Latest substack: This one's for the "Severance" fans. And fans of turn-of-the-20th-century Midwestern vernacular art.
Reposted
Happy pub day to NOTHING COMISRES TO YOU: WHAT SINÉAD O’CONNOR MEANS TO US! Here’s a link to this weekend’s wonderful feature in the Sunday Times www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...
A new essay collection celebrates Sinéad O’Connor’s legacy
Contributors to a new book of essays, Nothing Compares to You: What Sinéad O’Connor Means to Us, weigh up the singer’s cultural and political legacy
www.thetimes.com
July 22, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Happy pub day to NOTHING COMISRES TO YOU: WHAT SINÉAD O’CONNOR MEANS TO US! Here’s a link to this weekend’s wonderful feature in the Sunday Times www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...
Reposted
Alison Cuddy on NOTHING COMPARES TO YOU for @wbez.org ❤️@sonyahuber.bsky.social @zoezolbrod.bsky.social @meganstielstra.bsky.social @miekeeerkens.bsky.social @sineadgleeson.bsky.social @onesignal.bsky.social
A new book reveals Sinéad O’Connor’s legacy beyond the headlines
In “Nothing Compares to You: What Sinéad O’Connor Means To Us,” 25 women — including several Chicago writers — consider the controversial musician’s impact on her fans.
www.wbez.org
July 24, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Alison Cuddy on NOTHING COMPARES TO YOU for @wbez.org ❤️@sonyahuber.bsky.social @zoezolbrod.bsky.social @meganstielstra.bsky.social @miekeeerkens.bsky.social @sineadgleeson.bsky.social @onesignal.bsky.social
Mr. Trump promised to exact revenge. “I always said, the first time I got back on my feet, the Pritzkers would be the first people I’d go after,” he told The Chicago Tribune in 1993.
Harvard’s Powerful Leader Faces Intense Scrutiny in Trump Fight
www.nytimes.com
July 26, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Mr. Trump promised to exact revenge. “I always said, the first time I got back on my feet, the Pritzkers would be the first people I’d go after,” he told The Chicago Tribune in 1993.
The New York Times made a list of the 100 Best Films of the 21st Century... but I had 84 other films I wanted to mention to you.
My 21st Century
The NY Times makes a film list, and I make mine
davidisaacson.substack.com
July 22, 2025 at 8:19 PM
The New York Times made a list of the 100 Best Films of the 21st Century... but I had 84 other films I wanted to mention to you.
Throughout the animal kingdom, there is an innate urge to defend one’s turf. Finn, pictured below, is very good at it. But there is one prominent mammal that lacks this basic zoological behavior. I am of course talking about Chief Justice John Roberts.
davidisaacson.substack.com/p/flight-or-...
davidisaacson.substack.com/p/flight-or-...
Flight or Fight
John Roberts, the judiciary, and a new champion Justice for justice
davidisaacson.substack.com
July 22, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Throughout the animal kingdom, there is an innate urge to defend one’s turf. Finn, pictured below, is very good at it. But there is one prominent mammal that lacks this basic zoological behavior. I am of course talking about Chief Justice John Roberts.
davidisaacson.substack.com/p/flight-or-...
davidisaacson.substack.com/p/flight-or-...
Reposted
Terrified to announce 11/25/25 release. A journey of weird record stores, grimy clubs, and starting venerable label Bloodshot Records. History, memoir, how-to, and a cautionary call to support indie arts communities before they are gone.
Pre-order now:
www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p0...
Pre-order now:
www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p0...
July 4, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Terrified to announce 11/25/25 release. A journey of weird record stores, grimy clubs, and starting venerable label Bloodshot Records. History, memoir, how-to, and a cautionary call to support indie arts communities before they are gone.
Pre-order now:
www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p0...
Pre-order now:
www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p0...
The NBA Finals were great until they weren’t. I wrote about it here.
The Dobermans, The Double-Big, The Moment
3000 words on the NBA Finals
open.substack.com
July 3, 2025 at 6:18 PM
The NBA Finals were great until they weren’t. I wrote about it here.
New substack. STOP THE WAR. davidisaacson.substack.com/p/stop-the-w...
Stop The War
I write this minutes after Donald Tromp bombed Iran.
davidisaacson.substack.com
June 22, 2025 at 1:34 PM
New substack. STOP THE WAR. davidisaacson.substack.com/p/stop-the-w...
Beautiful morning in Bronzeville at kickoff for @ltgovstratton.illinois.gov U.S. Senate run. Her barn-burner speech made clear that she's primed to be a leader in the fight against Trump. I first became aware of her when she was battling Bruce Rauner as a dynamic & independent state rep.
April 25, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Beautiful morning in Bronzeville at kickoff for @ltgovstratton.illinois.gov U.S. Senate run. Her barn-burner speech made clear that she's primed to be a leader in the fight against Trump. I first became aware of her when she was battling Bruce Rauner as a dynamic & independent state rep.
Well, what the world really needs is another Substack, eh? I've jumped into that pond, and what more genial way to start my swim than with a post about antisemitism and campus activism? I mean, what could possibly go wrong? [Also: Please Like & Subscribe.]
Michigan faculty and students call for University to stand up to to Trump
In yesterday’s New York Times, in an article headlined “Trump’s Fight Against Antisemitism Has Become Fraught for Many Jews,” J.
open.substack.com
April 4, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Well, what the world really needs is another Substack, eh? I've jumped into that pond, and what more genial way to start my swim than with a post about antisemitism and campus activism? I mean, what could possibly go wrong? [Also: Please Like & Subscribe.]
A big thank you to all my friends who voted and canvassed in Wisconsin. CRAWFORD WINS! Musk can't buy Wisconsin.
April 2, 2025 at 2:19 AM
A big thank you to all my friends who voted and canvassed in Wisconsin. CRAWFORD WINS! Musk can't buy Wisconsin.
Some good news. blockclubchicago.org/2025/04/01/c...
CTU And Chicago Public Schools Reach Tentative Contract Deal
The deal would reduce class sizes in some grades, add hundreds of new positions and give teachers a 4 percent raise retroactively covering the first year of the contract.
blockclubchicago.org
April 1, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Some good news. blockclubchicago.org/2025/04/01/c...
"It’s been quite the turnaround for a school that likely wouldn’t be here if not for a successful hunger strike. With the title win, Dyett students, staff and supporters say their success shows what an investment in a local school can mean for a neighborhood." via @blockclubchi.bsky.social
10 Years After Hunger Strikers Saved Dyett High School, Boys Basketball Team Wins State Title
A 34-day hunger strike led to Dyett reopening as a neighborhood arts school with a $14 million investment. Beyond its sports success, the school is thriving. "This school saves a lot of lives," one st...
blockclubchicago.org
March 31, 2025 at 1:35 PM
"It’s been quite the turnaround for a school that likely wouldn’t be here if not for a successful hunger strike. With the title win, Dyett students, staff and supporters say their success shows what an investment in a local school can mean for a neighborhood." via @blockclubchi.bsky.social
"Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents illegally arrested people — including many without criminal records and one U.S. citizen — during recent local raids, Chicago civil rights lawyers contend in a motion filed Thursday." via @monicaeng.bsky.social www.axios.com/local/chicag...
Civil rights lawyers contest ICE arrests in the Midwest
Attorneys say most arrestees had no criminal record and one is a U.S. citizen.
www.axios.com
March 17, 2025 at 3:49 PM
"Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents illegally arrested people — including many without criminal records and one U.S. citizen — during recent local raids, Chicago civil rights lawyers contend in a motion filed Thursday." via @monicaeng.bsky.social www.axios.com/local/chicag...
All I can tell you thus far is that Duckworth’s office has better hold music than Durbin’s.
March 14, 2025 at 4:23 PM
All I can tell you thus far is that Duckworth’s office has better hold music than Durbin’s.
Reposted
My 20 fave tunes of 2024. Neil Young is the last one in the playlist, so anything after that is just the algorithm talking.
2024 Isaacson Faves
Playlist · dmisaacson · 20 items
open.spotify.com
March 4, 2025 at 1:40 PM
My 20 fave tunes of 2024. Neil Young is the last one in the playlist, so anything after that is just the algorithm talking.
Craig has throat cancer and needs our help. I met him when he screened my friend Ross Lipman's "The Case of The Vanishing Gods" at Other Cinema. His screening room, his film archive, his creative spirit are a beautiful throwback to an older, funkier San Francisco. gofund.me/fc5c330b
Donate to HELP SUPPORT THE RECOVERY OF S.F. FILMMAKER CRAIG BALDWIN!!, organized by Friends of Craig Baldwin
CRAIG BALDWIN, the genius found footage filmmaker, legendary … Friends of Craig Baldwin needs your support for HELP SUPPORT THE RECOVERY OF S.F. FILMMAKER CRAIG BALDWIN!!
gofund.me
January 16, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Craig has throat cancer and needs our help. I met him when he screened my friend Ross Lipman's "The Case of The Vanishing Gods" at Other Cinema. His screening room, his film archive, his creative spirit are a beautiful throwback to an older, funkier San Francisco. gofund.me/fc5c330b