practicingdemocracy1

A drawing of fat Donald Trump on the golf course with the word Careless over his head

“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
#HandsOff

Opinion | In Trump’s America, Are We Losing Our Democracy? Donald Trump has wielded power as no previous president has.

NYT writes: “Many forms of speech and dissent remain vibrant in the United States. But the president has tried to dull them.” That greatly blunts the truth. Dull writing from the NYT about a president “dulling“ our democracy. Lulling us to sleep. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

As SNAP benefits are cut off, Chicagoans who rely on assistance line up at food pantries on South and West sides: ‘I’m surviving. I’m not living’ Even with the news of funding potentially resuming, there were still feelings of anxiety and distrust in the community.

Some things can’t wait for the courts. Eating is one of them.
chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/11...

Food Stamp Cuts Expose Trump’s Strategy to Use Shutdown to Advance Agenda

The NYTimes is writing about the obvious to anybody paying attention: “The president has stretched the limits of his powers to help those at the heart of his agenda, not the many in greatest need.” It should wield its weight more often.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/02/u...

The President wants to use the military to crack down on Americans who are exercising their 1st Amendment rights to oppose him. I can’t think of a better reason to insist on exercising those rights.

What’s up in my Chicago neighborhood tonight: Volunteers like myself make whistle kits (whistles with info about rights under the law) against the backdrop of an American dream mural at Taquizas Valdez on Irving Park Rd. It was a full house, standing room only. The Burrito Valdez was delicious.

Feds Tear Gas Northwest Side Street, Disrupting Halloween Parade For Kids Two neighbors, including a 70-year-old man, were arrested after allegedly interfering in the arrest of another man by immigration agents, neighbors said. Agents also threw a woman, 67, to the ground.

ICE agents are roughing up citizens in my neighborhood & throwing teargas because citizens are getting in their way. I'm going to a Whistlemania event to connect locally, help put together whistle kits, & support the restaurant (Latino businesses are hurting). blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/26/f...

Undaunted Two judges’ inspirational rulings

"We rule on facts, not on supposition or conjecture, and certainly not on fabrication or propaganda." One judge slaps down book censorship in Dept of Defense schools. Another calls out colleagues' "factual contortions that indulged Trump’s dictatorial whims." open.substack.com/pub/contrari...

October 23, 2025 Julia Ainsley and Didi Martinez of NBC News reported today that Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s rush to get new recruits onto the street has meant they have pushed into their training program mo...

HCR’s themes: Trump continues to celebrate criminality & says “f*ck you” to America’s Cattle Ranchers, already having f*cked soybean farmers. Plus: Long list of company names funding the destruction of East Wing to build a ballroom in honor of their greed & myopia. open.substack.com/pub/heatherc...

Trump says he's ending trade talks with Canada over TV ads President Donald Trump is complaining again about Canada because of recent television ads protesting U.S. tariffs, which he calls “egregious behavior” aimed at influencing U.S. court decisions.

Did you see this ad? It’s really great. In the words of Ronald Reagan… We saw it watching Toronto play Seattle. Toronto is now the in World Series so another chance to see it, maybe. Thank you, Canada! apnews.com/article/trum...

Judge allows further questioning of Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino as he's hit with new tear gas claims Judge Sara Ellis earlier this month forbade agents from using gas and other “riot control” weapons without warning, but attorneys claim the feds are "simply ignoring" her order.

Nazi Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino will now have a 5-hour deposition with the court, increased from 2 hours by the judge. He’s leading the lawlessness of the immigration crackdown in Chicago. chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

Federal agents detain high school student in Little Village, deploy tear gas in faceoff with protesters Feds wearing military-style camouflage gear and gas masks were seen tear-gassing and pepper-spraying protesters during the confrontation near the Little Village Discount Mall.

US Border Patrol led by Nazi Gregory Bovino is intentionally whipping up Chicago residents’ animosity in the Pilsen neighborhood. Ignoring court orders to restrain fed aggressiveness, as Supreme Court considers shadow docket appeal to deploy National Guard here. chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

Chicago-Area Companies Raked In Millions From Feds As Operation Midway Blitz Intensified One Chicago-based company was awarded more than $7 million to relocate ICE employees while a suburban weapons manufacturer was paid nearly $1.5 million in two weeks to supply pepper balls and air-powe...

Companies make big $$$ off Trump’s police state. Handel’s Ice Cream, Reliance Relocation Services. Boycott!

PepperBall is owned by ClearLight Partners, which also owns Handel’s Ice Cream, men’s apparel Paul Fredrick & automotive leather Katzkin Leather
blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/23/c...

Sign Our Petition: Free the Merlos Family Sign our petition to demand the immediate release of Jackie, Carlos, and Juana Merlos. Help bring this family back together.

Please sign this petition If you haven’t already. Help reunite a family that has been divided and persecuted by Trump’s police state. The National Immigration Law Center is behind this effort. Thank you.
act.nilc.org/page/89721/p...

Happy patriots at Chicago’s NO KINGS march on Oct 18, 2025. We were leaving the park for the streets after a defiant and unifying speech by Governor Pritzker. The crowd ROARED in response to him. 250,000 strong according to BlockClub Chicago (pls consider donating for their pro-democracy reporting).

This is my main takeaway from @aclu.org's recent training for protesters: if questioned by law enforcement officers, confine your responses to these five sentences. Otherwise, STFU. Five Key Phrases Am I free to go? I wish to remain silent. I do not consent to this search. Am I under arrest? I want to speak to a lawyer.

Nice!!

I made my signs today for the NO KINGS march in Chicago!

Poster board was completely sold out at Target in my Chicago neighborhood as of 2 pm Thursday, 2 days before No Kings march. Hope that's a good sign!

Marie Newman (@marienewmanstudio) I love Chicago so much!

substack.com/@marienewman...

NO KINGS in Chicago · No Kings **In America, we don’t put up with would-be kings.** Here in Chicago we know how to rise up, fight back, and support each other. It is more important than ever that we do that together on October 18t...

I'm attending No Kings's event, “NO KINGS in Chicago” - sign up now to join me! www.mobilize.us/nokings/even...

Sign Our Petition: Free the Merlos Family Sign our petition to demand the immediate release of Jackie, Carlos, and Juana Merlos. Help bring this family back together.

I signed this petition of the National Immigration Law Center on behalf of a mother and her young children that ICE and Customs Border Patrol disappeared. It's the least I can do. act.nilc.org/page/88106/p...

Frontline in the Fight: Why Fascists Fear Teachers - A Conversation w/ Randi Weingarten · Indivisible Across history, authoritarian regimes have feared educators—because teaching truth and critical thinking empowers students and communities to resist oppression. Today, public education is under attack...

I signed up--something different to do next Tuesday night instead of watching HBO MAX, which I watch every night. mobilize.us/s/4UFCQr

Undaunted In Pennsylvania, Governor Shapiro gets it right

The Contrarian lifts up the intelligent and inspiring voices of public leaders who remain true to American values & beliefs (e.g., as defined by our Constitution). It keeps me grounded as crazier & crazier stuff happens, and for that, I am grateful.
open.substack.com/pub/contrari...

I canceled my subscription to @chicagotribune.com effective 9/22. I wrote in a ltr to the editor (not published), "You seem to think the bullies make sense." I cannot support a news outlet that sides with bullies. I will increase my contribution to the Chicago Suntimes for this kind of reporting.

Be Loud — For America By Governor JB Pritzker

Thank you for your voice, @govpritzker.illinois.gov. I will attend the "rapid response" meeting in northwest Chicago on Sunday and No Kings Day II on Oct. 18. open.substack.com/pub/contrari...

The @chicagotribune.com writes in a 9/18 editorial disapproving of commentary by Kimmel & supporters, "This unwillingness to see both sides is, well, getting worse on both sides." As it admonishes us to respect the bullies, I direct its interest in both sides to this excellent local reporting.

Editorial: That was a lousy bit, Jimmy Kimmel. But there’s no role here for government intervention. Jimmy Kimmel’s shtick was tasteless and cruel. But the FCC has no role here.

Hmmm. The @chicagotribune.com comes to the defense of the dictator whose dictates it disagrees with. It thinks Kimmel didn't show proper respect for whom? Oh, our grieving president. Kimmel's material speaks for itself. My subscription ends on 9/22. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/18/e...

Pop Quiz: Which bothers you more: 1) public officials cozying up to Russia & selling out Ukrainian & democratic interests to secure corrupt ends; OR 2) Delia Ramirez who expresses good feelings for Guatemala? Send answers to @chicagotribune.com to stop fascist attacks on Latino leaders in Congress.

2.4K views · 51 reactions | Join us as we talk community safety at my Belmont Cragin Town Hall! | Congresswoman Delia Ramirez Join us as we talk community safety at my Belmont Cragin Town Hall!.

I asked @ramirez.house.gov at her town hall about MAGA attacks. Hear what she says about how dissent is being persecuted and criminalized. I am cancelling @chicagotribune.com subscription. CT is too willing to go along with MAGA’s racist games. Start at 1:10:12.

www.facebook.com/repdeliarami...