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. | Contributor to @contrariannews.org | Support real writers, not AI | 🐈 🏀 🚴🏽♀️ 📚 🗞️ 🧳
Reposted by L Forte
James Garfield was murdered by a man who thought he deserved a government job. Chester Arthur—once a machine politician—responded by helping create civil service reform.
Today’s GOP wants to undo that progress and return to patronage politics.
open.substack.com/pub/adamkinz...
Today’s GOP wants to undo that progress and return to patronage politics.
open.substack.com/pub/adamkinz...
The GOP’s War on Civil Service: A Rejection of Its Own History
A look at how Garfield’s murder and Arthur’s unexpected courage created modern civil service protections—and why today’s GOP is trying to dismantle them.
open.substack.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:02 PM
James Garfield was murdered by a man who thought he deserved a government job. Chester Arthur—once a machine politician—responded by helping create civil service reform.
Today’s GOP wants to undo that progress and return to patronage politics.
open.substack.com/pub/adamkinz...
Today’s GOP wants to undo that progress and return to patronage politics.
open.substack.com/pub/adamkinz...
Reposted by L Forte
"The Trump administration's incessant attacks on even the most tentatively oppositional speech are uniquely aggressive, pervasive, and escalating."
Report Tracks Trump 'War on Free Speech' and Urges Systemic Resistance
The US advocacy group Free Press exposes President Donald Trump's relentless assault on free speech and urges systemic resistance.
www.commondreams.org
December 9, 2025 at 12:05 AM
"The Trump administration's incessant attacks on even the most tentatively oppositional speech are uniquely aggressive, pervasive, and escalating."
Journalists, including editors and headline-writers, need to read this. 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽
The news media serve as tools of a repressive regime when they highlight nicknames like “Operation Charlotte’s Web” and “Cornhusker Clink” to help Trump market misery.
Every crackdown on immigrants should not be treated as if it’s a new flavor of Ben & Jerry’s.
My Stop the Presses newsletter.
Every crackdown on immigrants should not be treated as if it’s a new flavor of Ben & Jerry’s.
My Stop the Presses newsletter.
The media must stop helping Trump market misery
Journalists don’t have to repeat the regime’s cutesy nicknames for its corrupt campaigns
www.stopthepresses.news
December 8, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Journalists, including editors and headline-writers, need to read this. 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽
Reposted by L Forte
Justice Jackson to Solicitor General Sauer (just now, in Trump v. Slaughter arguments):
December 8, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Justice Jackson to Solicitor General Sauer (just now, in Trump v. Slaughter arguments):
This is not the American way. For any relative or friend saying “well they need to come here legally” - show them this video. These people are doing it right and at the last minute - having their citizenship yanked away. After doing everything right! @tallnate77.bsky.social /1
December 8, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Reposted by L Forte
They are now targeting people who did everything by the book and were literally at the ceremony where they were going to become citizens...
"Immigrants lined up to become U.S. citizens in Boston on Dec. 4 were pulled from line by USCIS officials moments before the oath ceremony"
"Immigrants lined up to become U.S. citizens in Boston on Dec. 4 were pulled from line by USCIS officials moments before the oath ceremony"
Immigrants Approved for Citizenship ‘Plucked Out’ of Line Moments Before Pledging Allegiance: Report
Immigrants lined up to become U.S. citizens in Boston on Dec. 4 were pulled from line by USCIS officials moments before the ceremony. The incident comes after USCIS told employees to halt all immigrat...
people.com
December 8, 2025 at 2:45 AM
They are now targeting people who did everything by the book and were literally at the ceremony where they were going to become citizens...
"Immigrants lined up to become U.S. citizens in Boston on Dec. 4 were pulled from line by USCIS officials moments before the oath ceremony"
"Immigrants lined up to become U.S. citizens in Boston on Dec. 4 were pulled from line by USCIS officials moments before the oath ceremony"
Reposted by L Forte
The Supreme Court Is Failing at Its Most Important Job. Editorial boards are typically cautious. For the NY Times to finally say this is a big deal… www.nytimes.com/2025/12/06/o...
Opinion | The Supreme Court Is Failing at Its Most Important Job
www.nytimes.com
December 6, 2025 at 2:54 PM
The Supreme Court Is Failing at Its Most Important Job. Editorial boards are typically cautious. For the NY Times to finally say this is a big deal… www.nytimes.com/2025/12/06/o...
No one better to do the obit for late architect #FrankGehry than architecture critic @leebey1.bsky.social chicago.suntimes.com/obituaries/2...
Architect Frank Gehry who designed Millennium Park's Pritzker Pavilion and foot bridge dies at 96
The visionary West Coast architect had deeply rooted Chicago connections and friendships.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 6, 2025 at 1:55 PM
No one better to do the obit for late architect #FrankGehry than architecture critic @leebey1.bsky.social chicago.suntimes.com/obituaries/2...
I find this completely believable.
I spent two years in the Trump administration. During that time, I saw how the president handled national security decisions. One of my biggest takeaways was this:
He fantasized regularly about maiming & killing unarmed civilians. Actually.
He fantasized regularly about maiming & killing unarmed civilians. Actually.
December 4, 2025 at 9:32 PM
I find this completely believable.
Reposted by L Forte
Reposted by L Forte
Kelly: He runs around on stage talking about lethality and the warrior ethos.. That’s not the message that should be coming from the Secretary of Defense… He runs around on a stage like he’s a 12 year old playing army. It’s embarrassing.
December 1, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Kelly: He runs around on stage talking about lethality and the warrior ethos.. That’s not the message that should be coming from the Secretary of Defense… He runs around on a stage like he’s a 12 year old playing army. It’s embarrassing.
Reposted by L Forte
including complaints of medical-neglect, forced-drugging, abuse, due-process violations, and other civil-rights complaints in immigration detention in limbo or effectively abandoned.
Gutting of key US watchdog could pave way for grave immigration abuses, experts warn
Former oversight officials alarmed by dismantling of DHS system that oversees complaints about civil rights harms
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:48 AM
including complaints of medical-neglect, forced-drugging, abuse, due-process violations, and other civil-rights complaints in immigration detention in limbo or effectively abandoned.
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GEORGIA: Rodney Taylor, a double amputee barber here his whole life was 2 days away from getting new legs when Trump’s ICE goons grabbed him. He has been held almost a year, facing deportation to Liberia.
What are we doing?
www.thenation.com/article/poli...
What are we doing?
www.thenation.com/article/poli...
November 30, 2025 at 3:53 PM
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Reposted by L Forte
This is murder. Hegseth thinks he will get away with it because the people around him are more committed to aiding and abetting his crimes than upholding the rule of law. I wouldn't take that bet if I were him, or the people around him. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 29, 2025 at 2:59 PM
This is murder. Hegseth thinks he will get away with it because the people around him are more committed to aiding and abetting his crimes than upholding the rule of law. I wouldn't take that bet if I were him, or the people around him. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
aaronparnas.substack.com/p/news-pete-...
If this is indeed true…
If this is indeed true…
NEWS: Pete Hegseth Ordered "Kill Them All" as Two People Hung From the Side of a Boat Engulfed in Flames in Caribbean
Good afternoon, everyone.
aaronparnas.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:48 PM
aaronparnas.substack.com/p/news-pete-...
If this is indeed true…
If this is indeed true…
Reposted by L Forte
Your Black Friday reminder that in 75% of U.S. industries, a smaller number of companies now control more of the business than they did twenty years ago. We must stop the monopolization of America. Shop small if you can, please.
November 28, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Your Black Friday reminder that in 75% of U.S. industries, a smaller number of companies now control more of the business than they did twenty years ago. We must stop the monopolization of America. Shop small if you can, please.
Reposted by L Forte
Fired. Investigated. Silenced. Reuters documented at least 470 targets of retribution under Donald Trump — from federal workers and prosecutors to universities and media outlets. It’s the most comprehensive accounting yet of his campaign of payback.
Trump’s campaign of retribution: At least 470 targets and counting
A Reuters investigation documents at least 470 acts of retribution under Trump’s leadership.
reut.rs
November 27, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Fired. Investigated. Silenced. Reuters documented at least 470 targets of retribution under Donald Trump — from federal workers and prosecutors to universities and media outlets. It’s the most comprehensive accounting yet of his campaign of payback.
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When I worked for Obama, I advised him on how to talk to Russian leaders. I never gave the Kremlin advice on how to talk to Obama (and I talked to Ushakov many times!).
November 26, 2025 at 8:41 PM
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I hope folks realize that between Trump, Kushner, Hegseth, Witkoff, Noem, RFK, Jr., Kash Patel, and Tulsi Gabbard, this country is almost entirely undefended.
Q: Have you heard this audio that Bloomberg has of Witkoff coaching the Russians on how to appeal to you?
TRUMP: That's a standard thing. He's gotta sell this to Ukraine, he's gonna sell Ukraine to Russia. That's what a dealmaker does. I haven't heard it but I heard it was standard negotiation.
TRUMP: That's a standard thing. He's gotta sell this to Ukraine, he's gonna sell Ukraine to Russia. That's what a dealmaker does. I haven't heard it but I heard it was standard negotiation.
November 26, 2025 at 3:13 PM
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Trump never had a fan base.
He had an army of bots who sold his racism and misogyny and xenophobia to uneducated Americans who took voting advice from bald eagle profiles posting Tweets from Eastern Europe.
It’s as stupid as it sounds.
He had an army of bots who sold his racism and misogyny and xenophobia to uneducated Americans who took voting advice from bald eagle profiles posting Tweets from Eastern Europe.
It’s as stupid as it sounds.
November 25, 2025 at 2:27 PM
👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽
Reposted by L Forte
Please watch this.
The Senate killed a bill to ban state regulation of AI by a vote of 99-1 this spring. Now the industry - eager to stay unregulated - and Trump are scheming to shove the provision in the national defense bill.
You need to know this, so you can help stop it.
The Senate killed a bill to ban state regulation of AI by a vote of 99-1 this spring. Now the industry - eager to stay unregulated - and Trump are scheming to shove the provision in the national defense bill.
You need to know this, so you can help stop it.
November 24, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Please watch this.
The Senate killed a bill to ban state regulation of AI by a vote of 99-1 this spring. Now the industry - eager to stay unregulated - and Trump are scheming to shove the provision in the national defense bill.
You need to know this, so you can help stop it.
The Senate killed a bill to ban state regulation of AI by a vote of 99-1 this spring. Now the industry - eager to stay unregulated - and Trump are scheming to shove the provision in the national defense bill.
You need to know this, so you can help stop it.
Reposted by L Forte
A 44 year old Mexican immigrant named Vicente Ventura Aguilar has been missing from ICE custody since Oct 7th.
He suffered a medical emergency, lost consciousness & disappeared.
www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
He suffered a medical emergency, lost consciousness & disappeared.
www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
An L.A. man was detained in an immigration raid. No one knows where he is
A witness told his brother and attorneys that the 44-year-old Mexican immigrant, who doesn't have lawful immigration status, was taken into custody by immigration authorities on Oct. 7 in south-centra...
www.latimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:03 AM
A 44 year old Mexican immigrant named Vicente Ventura Aguilar has been missing from ICE custody since Oct 7th.
He suffered a medical emergency, lost consciousness & disappeared.
www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
He suffered a medical emergency, lost consciousness & disappeared.
www.latimes.com/politics/sto...