Live updates: Trump warns Iran that Hormuz deadline is final Follow live coverage of the Iran war, the global energy crisis, Trump's threats and ceasefire talks.

As #Trump threatens strikes on civilian targets in #Iran, the November video from Democratic veterans urging military members to disobey illegal orders becomes newly relevant. www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/l...

He spent years investigating Opus Dei, a Catholic group accused of a vast conspiracy of abuse. Then Pope Leo asked to meet Gareth Gore’s 2024 book Opus alleges decades of manipulation, which the group has denied. He believes the pope wanted to send a clear message

A reporter who exposed inner workings of rightist #Catholic cult #OpusDei lauds #PopeLeo for inviting him to meet: “The #Vatican helped create this monster, not least Pope John Paul II, [who] saw them almost like his personal green berets.” @garethgore.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...

It takes integrity, grit and stamina to report stories like this. #Chicago is lucky to have @dmihalopoulos.bsky.social.

@wbez.org @chicago.suntimes.com

A Northwestern study claims to support trans youths' well-being, but some disagree The study, led by psychology professor J. Michael Bailey, could fuel more legislation to push trans people to the margins, trans advocates say.

ICYMI, #Northwestern study claims to support #trans youth but, two years in, the researchers have yet to recruit many parents who support their child’s identity. The lead researcher has touted theory that trans women are feminine gay men & sex fetishists. @vimiller.bsky.social @chicago.suntimes.com

Cryptocurrency, AI join in $31 million super PAC blitz in four congressional primaries Together with pro-Israel funds, the tech money is swamping Democratic rivals in the Chicago area and, according to one government watchdog, distorting democracy.

Since our story Friday, shady "super PACs" have reported spending millions more in four Chicago-area Democratic primaries for U.S. House. Topped by pro-Israel, crypto and AI interests, the spending now exceeds $33.9 million.

@wbez.org @mariahwoelfel.bsky.social

www.wbez.org/government-p...

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I RANKED THE CANDIDATES across all four of the congressional races by super-PAC funds supporting and opposing them, according to federal disclosures through Thursday.

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CONTEXT: The money is stunning compared to 2022, the last time Chicago-area Democrats competed in U.S. House primaries with no incumbent. In that election cycle, Jonathan Jackson benefited from $1.1 million in super PAC support. Delia Ramirez got a $1.5 million boost. Both won their race.

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THE SUM KEEPS SOARING: After we finished our story Thursday, a group tied to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee reported spending $1.1 million against Junaid Ahmed (in the 8th District) and Kat Abughazaleh (9th). The two face AIPAC favs Melissa Bean (8th) and Laura Fine (9th).

Cryptocurrency, AI join in $31 million super PAC blitz in four congressional primaries Together with pro-Israel funds, the tech money is swamping Democratic rivals in the Chicago area and, according to one government watchdog, distorting democracy.

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A few notes about our finding that “super PACs” — topped by pro-Israel, cryptocurrency and artificial-intelligence interests — have spent more than $31.4 million to influence voters ahead of primaries Tuesday in four Chicago-area U.S. House races.

www.wbez.org/government-p...

Cryptocurrency, AI join in $31 million super PAC blitz in four congressional primaries Together with pro-Israel funds, the tech money is swamping Democratic rivals in the Chicago area and, according to one government watchdog, distorting democracy.

Topped by pro-#Israel, #crypto and #AI interests, national groups spend >$31.4 million to sway #Chicago-area voters ahead of #Democratic primaries Tuesday in four U.S. House races.

@wbez.org @chicago.suntimes.com @mawaiq98.bsky.social @mariahwoelfel.bsky.social #twill
www.wbez.org/government-p...

Pro-Israel group’s donors and affiliates pour $13.7 million into Chicago-area primaries A WBEZ survey of the 46 Democratic congressional candidates in four key races shows the few hopefuls getting AIPAC-linked support would not answer yes or no on putting strict conditions on U.S. milita...

You may have heard about #AIPAC trying to influence four #Chicago-area congressional races. But you need to see the scale and effects. This @wbez.org / @chicago.suntimes.com investigation is revealing.

#Israel #Gaza @mariahwoelfel.bsky.social

www.wbez.org/politics/202...

Ex-Chicago Det. Richard Zuley denies torturing out confession to 7-year-old Dantrell Davis’s murder Zuley has ties to alleged coercion of suspects in Chicago and Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. He testified as part of State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke’s effort to block Anthony Garrett’s bid for a retrial....

A retired #CPD detective accused of leading #torture at #Gitmo insists he used no coercion to get a man’s confession to a 7-year-old’s murder. He’s testifying for State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke’s office, which is fighting the man’s bid for a retrial. @wbez.org.
www.wbez.org/criminal-jus...

River North developer holds big fundraising lead in Democratic fight to replace U.S. Rep. Danny Davis Jason Friedman's cash advantage stands out in 13-way congressional primary as one top rival condemns him for having "never been a partner in this fight" to lift up the West Side.

A River North developer has leapt far ahead in fundraising to take over U.S. Rep. Danny Davis’s seat in Congress. Jason Friedman, one of 13 candidates in the Democratic primary, would be the district’s first white rep in 53 years.

@wbez.org @mitchtrout.bsky.social

www.wbez.org/politics/202...

Minneapolis Residents Wear Their Passports, Desperate to Ward Off ICE

U.S. citizens are canceling trips abroad out of fear the Trump admin will seize their passport. This Twin Cities mother rarely leaves her home even. If she does, she tries to go with white friends or her “more racially ambiguous” kids.

#KavanaughStops

www.nytimes.com/2026/01/31/u...

After Trump’s deportation blitz rips apart a Chicago-area family, a school official steps up Immigration arrests since the president took office have separated countless parents from their children. A suburban school district administrator heard that some former students were in crisis. She d...

#Immigration arrests since #Trump took office have torn countless parents from their kids. When a suburban #Chicago school administrator heard that some former students of her district were in crisis, she decided to help. @icirr.bsky.social @nijc.bsky.social @wbez.org
www.wbez.org/immigration/...

Transcript: Gregory Bovino says arrestees in Downtown Chicago chosen based partly on ‘how they look’ WBEZ spoke with the U.S. Border Patrol commander about a deportation blitz in the Loop and River North. He said our report took his comments out of context. Here is the transcript and unedited audio r...

What Noem continues to insist today… also was completely contradicted by what Bovino told my colleague @chipmitchell1.bsky.social on Michigan Avenue in Chicago Chicago in September www.wbez.org/immigration/...

Border Patrol agent’s camera captures detainee’s lament: ‘We don’t have the opportunity that you have’ Dozens of hours of body-camera footage offer a new lens into clashes between immigration agents and the public during "Operation Midway Blitz" on the Northwest Side.

A #BorderPatrol agent’s camera captures a detainee’s lament: ‘We don’t have the opportunity that you have.’

More than 40 hours of bodycam footage offers a new lens into #Chicago clashes between #immigration agents and the public.

@wbez.org @chicago.suntimes.com

www.wbez.org/public-safet...

Extraordinary footage 2/2: Agents give chase. It's unclear whether they catch the worker. Listen to the sounds of the onlookers.

www.facebook.com/reel/8319288...

119K views · 968 reactions | 🚨 ALERTA: PATRULLA FRONTERIZA EN CICERO ESTA MAÑANA — Están llegando reportes de que la Patrulla Fronteriza ya llegó y que esta mañana ya la vieron en Cicero en Home Depot... 🚨 ALERTA: PATRULLA FRONTERIZA EN CICERO ESTA MAÑANA — Están llegando reportes de que la Patrulla Fronteriza ya llegó y que esta mañana ya la vieron en Cicero en Home Depot. Les voy a estar avisando...

Extraordinary footage 1/2: A construction worker, surrounded by #BorderPatrol agents in a #HomeDepot parking lot near #Chicago, stands on the roof of a van. Agents try to climb up. The worker jumps to the pavement and runs away.

www.facebook.com/reel/3162164...

Protester says dismissed assault case shows Border Patrol chief is dishonest: ‘His word means nothing’ Cole Sheridan was charged with assaulting Gregory Bovino in Broadview, but prosecutors tossed the case after a video appeared to contradict Bovino’s account. Several similar cases have been dismissed ...

The protester faced prison — but the charges got dropped right after video emerged.

Cole Sheridan told his story to @chipmitchell1.bsky.social www.wbez.org/immigration/...

Screenshot of campaign finance records showing Vallas For Mayor paid Peace & Paradise LLC more than $72,000 in April and March 2023. bit.ly/JaymalPaid

Screenshot of IL Secretary of State webpage showing Ja'Mal Green listed as a manager of Peace & Paradise LLC.

Failed mayoral candidate Ja'mal Green is once again claiming on social media that @thetriibe.com's story on how Paul Vallas’s campaign paid him is untrue. I edited that story; @tonia.thetriibe.com reported it.

So once again: here are the receipts. bit.ly/JaymalPaid

‘HIS WORD MEANS NOTHING’: Cole Sheridan, 27, was charged with assaulting U.S. #BorderPatrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino near a Chicago-area immigration enforcement facility, but federal prosecutors dropped the case after a video seemed to contradict Bovino’s account. @wbez.org www.wbez.org/immigration/...

‘His word means nothing’: Protester says dismissed assault case shows Border Patrol chief is dishonest

Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino arrested a protester on charges of assaulting a federal officer at a Broadview immigration facility, but video evidence later contradicted his account and showed the protester being pushed to the ground instead.

Protester says dismissed assault case shows Border Patrol chief is dishonest: ‘His word means nothing’

Cole Sheridan was charged with assaulting Gregory Bovino in Broadview, but prosecutors tossed the case after a video appeared to contradict Bovino’s account. Several similar cases have been dismissed against Chicago-area protesters and immigrants.

Tear gas, car crashes, chokeholds: Risky tactics have driven Trump’s Chicago deportation ‘blitz’ Law enforcement experts say federal agents have displayed a lack of training and restraint. “They’re out of control,” ex-police Supt. Garry McCarthy says.

Incidents in Chicago deportation blitz:
8 with car chases
19 with collisions
12 with forced entries
36 with tackling
16 with strikes
4 with kneeling on back/neck
5 with chokeholds
9 with spraying
18 with pepper balls
14 with tear gas
5 with stun grenades
4 with tasering

www.wbez.org/immigration/...

Tear gas, car crashes, rubber bullets: Risky tactics have driven Trump’s Chicago deportation ‘blitz’ Law enforcement experts say federal agents have displayed a lack of training and restraint. “They’re out of control,” ex-police Supt. Garry McCarthy says.

Tear gas, car crashes, chokeholds: Risky tactics drive Trump’s #Chicago deportation blitz. Law enforcement experts say federal agents show a lack of training and restraint. “They’re out of control,” ex-CPD Supt. Garry McCarthy sez. @chicago.suntimes.com @wbez.org chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...

Trump's claims about murder rates and illegal immigration fit red states more than blue states As federal immigration agents carry out the president's “Operation Midway Blitz” in Democrat-led Illinois — a "blue state" — a WBEZ and Sun-Times analysis shows other Republican-led "red states" have ...

The #Trump team carries out its #deportation blitz in Democratic-led #Illinois in the name of fighting crime. But Republican-led states have higher murder and violent crime rates—and faster-growing populations of unauthorized #immigrants.

@wbez.org @chicago.suntimes.com
www.wbez.org/immigration/...

Watch how government propaganda techniques portray Chicago as a city at war with the feds The government’s social media storytelling doesn’t always match what’s happening across the city and suburbs. The diverging sources of information are creating “parallel universes," professor Nick Cul...

PARALLEL UNIVERSE: The #Trump administration hones #propaganda techniques to build public support for its #deportation blitz in #Chicago. Don't miss this deconstruction by Nader Issa of the @chicago.suntimes.com.

chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

Trump taps big City Hall contractors for ICE operation Brandon Johnson opposes “We do have to take this seriously and make sure that we are not collaborating by hiring or benefiting companies that are acting against us,” said Ald. Rossana Rodriguez (33rd).

#Chicago-area firms that earned lucrative contracts backing #Trump’s #deportation push have also benefited from deals with the city. City Council member @ward33chicago.bsky.social is calling for a review.

@schuba.bsky.social @chicago.suntimes.com
chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...

The 1920s “immigration reform” the VP cited tonight, in this reply to a south Asian woman, was devised by Anglo bigots to all but stop the historic wave of Eastern and Southern Europeans — Jews, Italians, Slavs, Greeks etc www.amazon.com/Guarded-Gate...