Micheál Podgers

This video of Chicagoans intervening to save a man from being abducted off the streets by ICE is making the rounds on Instagram.

Community action works.

Source: www.instagram.com/reel/DPZL2AL...

My favorite part of flying into O'Hare is the 30 min it takes for the plane to drive to the airport from Des Plaines

Exactly! And ever since the L guideway was elevated you get so much more sky on the Red Line. The time right as golden hour starts always gives these strong Miyazaki vibes.

It’s “Miyazaki sky” hour on the L!

A hot take is we should just abolish the presidency entirely and the executive branch should be composed exclusively of the Cabinet. And the Cabinet should be elected.

To understand the chaos in Chicago, here are some must-follows:

@unraveledpress.com
@thetriibe.com
@blockclubchi.bsky.social
@chicago.suntimes.com
@katmabu.bsky.social
@bencollins.bsky.social
@dansinker.com
@wttw.bsky.social

The school theater is nearly at capacity but the line to get into the 40th Ward Community Defense Network Workshop is nearly two blocks long #HandsOffChicago

The best!

The real tea is that there is nothing stopping Brandon Johnson from implementing #PlowTheSidewalks other than himself.

We did not need to pass an ordinance today for the city to be allowed to do it. We just needed to pass one for him to agree to do it.

Also, after a rough day I got only one thing to say:

¡Viva Chicago! ¡Viva Chicago! ¡Viva Chicago!

@aldconway.bsky.social, a billionaire’s son, can’t imagine spending $40 million (0.2% of the budget) on sidewalk snow plowing, an essential service that would help every Chicagoan especially disabled people, parents, and seniors. Oh, and police misconduct has cost $231.2 million in 2025 already.

Lilian Jimenez FB post: ICE just tear gassed people near the grocery store Rico fresh on armitage- there are helicopters over our houses and armed agents stopping people in the streets, Walmart, Home Depot, all the places people congregate in Humboldt park, Logan square, and hermosa

State Representative Lilian Jimenez on the tear gassing of protesters near Rico Fresh on Armitage and Central Park.

Ok, so the personal advocacy loss I felt today was nothing compared to the total assault on Chicago by ICE agents and the capitulation seen by @govpritzker.illinois.gov when we needed his leadership the most. We need him and other leaders in Chicago and Illinois to get serious about this threat.

Today in Chicago: ICE raiding a Walmart, snatching up a man unloading coconuts, and handcuffing Ald. Jessie Fuentes in an emergency room at the hospital. “Thr worst of the worst,” they said.

Today so far feds in Chicagoland have:

Attacked & arrested protesters at the Broadview detention center w/the help of the ISP other agencies

Tear gassed a street in Logan Square that has a grocery store & elementary school on it, among other things

Violently handcuffed an Alderperson

It's 3pm

The Johnson admin refusing to use its heft to complete even the most modest of its own campaign goals is something we expect from Chicago mayors, but never this silently. Johnson doesn't get to complain about progressives and lefties abandoning him if this is how his admin treats them.

@aldconway.bsky.social, a billionaire’s son, can’t imagine spending $40 million (0.2% of the budget) on sidewalk snow plowing, an essential service that would help every Chicagoan especially disabled people, parents, and seniors. Oh, and police misconduct has cost $231.2 million in 2025 already.

Today was a very tough day at the city council, but I’d like to publicly express my gratitude to @the48thward.bsky.social @aldknudsen.bsky.social @aldermanlaspata.bsky.social Ald. Jeylú Gutiérrez for their support during today’s committee vote.

It's worth making a call about this, particularly if you are an Illinois citizen, and you're concerned about Illinois State Police activity in Broadview. Unlike calling our Senators, people are getting their calls answered.

A screenshot of text that says: "Contact the Governor To contact the Governor's Office, please use the following information: Constituent Affairs Help Line: Phone: 217-782-0244 Springfield Office of the Governor 401 S. Spring St. Springfield, IL 62704 Phone: 217-782-6830 or 217-782-6831 Chicago Office of the Governor 555 W. Monroe St., 16th Floor Chicago, IL 60661 Phone: 312-814-2121 or 312-814-2122 For hearing impaired (TTY): 888-261-3336"

I just called the governor's office because I'm deeply concerned with what I am seeing at Broadview today, with Illinois State Police detaining people who are doing what the governor has been telling Illinoisans to do: protesting and filming federal agents

gov.illinois.gov/contact-us/c...

Also the @chicagocta.bsky.social managed to royally fuck up their communications by post *nowhere* that the Addison bus was rerouted during the Cubs game today. They did manage to advertise that for the Clark bus however. I’m so glad I missed an appointment for that.

Tomorrow the @rtachicago.bsky.social is gunna say everything is fine and that we don’t need reform and funding is fine and the fiscal cliff is shifting and there aren’t issues and transit is working and that reform isn’t needed as a part of the funding crisis and then this happens.

In which @climatecabinet.org's own @michealpodgers.bsky.social does us proud:

Nothing but the best from me! You can always count on the best Chicago welcomes too. Starts with a handshake.

I just have to say sometimes it’s so profoundly stressful that my degree in history is coming in handy. (I concentrated in Central European urban history of the Modern period.)

Oh this tracks if you know board game fans.

CTA service cuts are real as hell...get plugged in! — Better Streets Chicago Legislators failed to pass legislation before May 31st to prevent 40% service cuts on CTA, Pace, and Metra – and they need to hear that YOU want them to save transit NOW.

in case you didn't hear, the CTA may have to cut service by 40%

SaveTransit.org

A view from the crowd of a stage, under a banner stating "An evening with CityNerd". Seated from left: Micheál Podgers, Ray Delahanty, Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth, and Dixon Galvez-Searle

This is my Coachella.

@michealpodgers.bsky.social & @nerd4cities.bsky.social @leniann.bsky.social & Dixon@swcollectivechi.bsky.social

Thanks @betterstreetschicago.org!

Last night @michealpodgers.bsky.social surprised @nerd4cities.bsky.social with his first ever shot of Malört!

Thanks for coming to town, Ray — we had a blast!

Take the L in Chicago and you may spot @nerd4cities.bsky.social
@michealpodgers.bsky.social @betterstreetschicago.org @accessliving.bsky.social #PlowTheSidewalks