Epstein Family Values • EQUATOR The billionaire patriarchs of the American far-right want to rule an economy of masters and servants

What does Epstein’s household economy reveal about the billionaire far-right? Melinda Cooper traces the disturbing logic connecting primal patriarchy, transhumanism, and the rule of masters over servants.
www.equator.org/articles/eps...

Times columnist @polgreen.bsky.social poses a familiar question, and arrives at a... let's say an unusual answer.

Why, she asks, has trust in the news media cratered? Because aggressive, probing journalism isn't really that popular. People resent it. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/14/o... [Gift link]

A Chicago grad student is nearly done running every block of the city. What comes next?

Joabe Bayer Barbosa set out to become the first person to run every block in Chicago — 1,979 streets later, he’s almost done.

The Occupying Army Retreats        The announcement of ICE’s withdrawal from Minnesota, like that of the British from Boston 250 years ago, marks a victory for people power.

The persistence of Twin City residents will become the stuff of American legend, inasmuch as our legends generally celebrate American citizens defending democratic values against autocrats, fascists, and totalitarians. buff.ly/WcvLp8v

Ending this operation is not enough.

We need justice and accountability. That starts with independent investigations into the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, economic restitution for businesses impacted, abolishing ICE, and the impeachment of Kristi Noem.

And Ted Nudgent. And both of them wrote songs about having sex with underage girls.

Chicago's aviation chief unveils new video of O'Hare's planned $1.3B concourse now in the works

An animation of O'Hare's new concourse design shows rows of tree-like columns supporting a soaring, skylit roof, creating the feeling of moving through a tree orchard like those that once filled the land now occupied by O’Hare International Airport.

Open Books in Logan Square to close March 1 amid financial challenges

Open Books, one of Chicago’s largest used bookstore chains, will close its Logan Square location on March 1 after financial struggles. Its West Loop and Pilsen locations will remain open.

Democracy Now! is marking 30 years of fearless, independent journalism. Help support our work by making a donation today for a special triple-match!
https://www.democracynow.org/donate?campaign=bdy-20260205-bsky&flow_type=one_time&amount=30

Rybak: The Toughest Neighbors in America Since 2020, business leaders have searched for the big picture. They should look out their windows.

Charlie Rybak continues to fight the good fight in Twin Cities Business to get a positive, forward-looking view of Minnesota into a mag doggedly sticking to “Precarious State“ doomerism while we‘re fighting fascism. Challenging not coddling business is long overdue there: tcbmag.com/rybak-busine...

From Harold's ‘Refrigerettes’ cheer to the parking meter deal, new recordings reveal iconic Council moments

A 40-year-old recording of then-Mayor Harold Washington leading the Refrigerettes in a cheer for the NFC Champion Bears weeks from their only Super Bowl victory is one of 800 newly digitized audio clips showcased on a web page unveiled Wednesday by City Clerk Anna Valencia.

It’s a "new era" for the Chicago Reader as the iconic alt-weekly shifts to a monthly magazine. blockclubchi.co/49W8hzk

New Weekly Update from NEMWI Email from Northeast-Midwest Institute New EPA regulatory approach, Senators send letter on Brandon Road, House Committee holds hearing on data centers   NEMWI Weekly Update  January 26th, 2026   EP

The House Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Supply Chains held a hearing on the construction of AI data centers in rural America. Read more here:

YouTube video by StrawberryQwik J.T. WALSH "Clean Sweep" Monologue, OUTBREAK 1995

"This! Constitution of the United States. I've read it cover to cover. I don't see anything in it about vaporizing 2600 American citizens but it DOES SAY! SEVERAL TIMES! THAT NO PERSON SHALL BE DEPRIVED OF LIFE, LIBERTY, OR PROPERTY WITHOUT DUE PROCESS!"

Lake Oswego theater loses rights to screen 'Melania' after marquee jokes - Lake Oswego Review Lake Theater & Cafe announced that it will no longer show “Melania,” the Amazon Studios documentary about the first lady, after Amazon revoked the theater’s rights to the film. “Got […]

ahahahahaha lakeoswegoreview.com/2026/02/02/l...

The Montreal Canadiens are playing the Minnesota Wild in Minneapolis tonight. The players have been recommended to stay in/eat at the hotel, take the team bus to the arena, and carry passports.

Perhaps we shouldn't be hosting the World Cup and the Olympics...

My first remarks since being arrested last night.

VC LIVE | Minnesota Orchestra Dedicates Concert to Alex Pretti and Renée Good World's Leading Classical Music Platform

Livestream at 8pm central time theviolinchannel.com/vc-live-minn...

The Minnesota Star Tribune, Minnesota Public Radio, the Minnesota Reformer, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, Sahan Journal, Center for Broadcast Journalism and Minnesota Newspaper Association today released the following statement: “We strongly condemn the arrest of journalists Georgia Fort and Don Lemon, as well as any attempt to intimidate members of the press. The First Amendment recognizes the press as holding a distinct and protected role in our democracy. In America, we do not arrest journalists for doing their jobs. The Minnesota journalism community stands united in defense of press freedom and the essential role reporting plays in holding power to account.”

The Minnesota Star Tribune, @mprnews.org @minnesotareformer.com , @spokesmanrecorder.bsky.social, @sahanjournal.bsky.social, Center for Broadcast Journalism and Minnesota Newspaper Association today released the following statement:

Huge thanks to Chicago NOW’s Anthony Ponce and Kaitlin Cody at @fox32chicago.bsky.social for chatting with new editor in chief Sarah Conway about what’s ahead for the Reader!

How Eric Adams Has Backed a Secretive NYPD Unit Ridden With Abuses After NYPD officials warned about a unit’s aggressive policing, the mayor boosted the team led by his allies. “The unit effectively reported directly to City Hall,” a former police official said.

As mayor, Eric Adams embraced a secretive, abuse-ridden police unit called the Community Response Team.

One of the unit's leaders, Kaz Daughtry, once pointed a gun at a motorcyclist and threatened to kill him.

He's now joining Trump's DHS, @nytimes.com reports.

Revisit our investigation:

If Issac Newton and Forrest Gump met, they'd get along.

ICE opens satellite field office south of Atlanta Immigration and Customs Enforcement has opened a satellite office around College Park to accommodate more administrative officers. ICE spokesperson Lindsay Williams confirmed to WABE that more officia...

New ICE office in College Park. WTF?

She's running for Senate, and as of now doesn't have an opponent.

ICIJ is now on Apple News!

If you want to keep up with our work and support our organization, make sure to give us a follow: apple.news/TjqrobLHpTeq...

Car's got a lot of pickup.

PRESS RELEASE: It is 85 seconds to midnight At the 2026 Doomsday Clock announcement, the Bulletin’s Science and Security Board moved the Doomsday Clock forward from 89 seconds to 85 seconds to midnight, citing a failure in global leadership.

@itsthebrandi.bsky.social has announced it has updated the Doomsday Clock: it is now 85 seconds to midnight.

YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)

I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.

Stay free

Said by a loser who sits in a studio and talks all day instead of putting on a pair of boots and going out into the streets