Philip Montoro

a progressive income tax? sorry kiddo, that betrays a "utopian" desire that can only ever end in tragedy. but a relentless program of constant wars, occupations, and genocides fast and slow, for oil, land, and fulfilling the commands of a blood-hungry god? thats just Adults in the Room doing Policy

The Chicago real estate firm leasing an empty prison to ICE Highlands Real Estate Investment Trust looks to profit from President Trump's anti-immigrant agenda.

new: highlands reit, a small chicago-based real estate firm, is renting an empty prison it owns in colorado to ice and private prison giant geo group.

highlands is part of a network of private contractors hoping to get a cut of the $45 billion allocated to warehouse immigrants through 2029.

Why Is The Cook County State's Attorney Prosecuting Nonviolent ICE Protesters? A Block Club investigation found dozens of protesters arrested by state police are still facing criminal charges for minor infractions, such as sitting on a concrete barrier — even after Gov. JB Pritz...

They're charged w/ misdemeanors for things like sitting on concrete barriers.

One w/ a felony for allegedly fingerpainting on a barrier.

The feds have dropped similar cases; the Cook County State's Attorney is prosecuting nearly all.
📝 @minabloom.bsky.social

blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/26/w...

Good morning freaks & geeks! The Chicago Reader Union starts bargaining for our new contract today 🐀 🔥 Our members are united, dedicated, & strong. Follow along here & on Instagram (@chicagoreader.union) to learn how you can support us in the weeks to come.

YouTube video by straypixel Eliane Radigue - IMA Portrait documentary

RIP Eliane Radigue.

The Dells started out in doo-wop and kept charting into the 1990s - Chicago Reader The Dells' ambition and versatility kept them in the public ear for decades—and made them great foils for genius arranger Charles Stepney.

The mighty Dells became the first group to score top 20 R&B hits in five consecutive decades. But the Secret History of Chicago Music is most interested in the gorgeous records they made with genius arranger Charles Stepney in the 60s and 70s—and you should be too! chicagoreader.com/music/the-se...

I use a lot of em dashes myself, as do many of the writers I edit, so I am not likely to see such punctuation as incriminating in this context!

It sounds like PR speak to me, and I'd like to think the plagiarism machine would not have said "moving forward" twice. It has access to *every* hackneyed phrase humans have ever used!

It has been a long road … I want to share an update, albeit a painful one for our artists and supporters. The opening of Double Door in the Uptown Wilson Theatre location as previously announced is not moving forward. Staying true to what made Double Door Double Door matters. This isn’t an ending — it’s a pivot. We’re actively exploring other locations and opportunities that better align with our vision. And we think we have found one! This is all in an effort to keep the heart and soul of music and the Double Door moving forward. In the meantime, we’re keeping the brand alive through pop-ups, collaborations, and special moments. Our first step is a collaboration with Gallery Cabaret in Bucktown. For almost 40 years Gallery Cabaret has been a haven for artists and musicians looking to showcase their craft in an eclectic neighborhood setting. We are updating the sound, the music calendar, and the overall vibe that made Double Door the best place to see music, but more importantly, to be part of what makes Chicago’s scene the best in the country. We will be reopening the bar on March 1st. Come and see us and check it out. We hope you’ll stay with us, follow along, and be part of what comes next

After years of promising the Double Door will open its uptown venue “soon,” the owners have thrown in the towel

The Frequency Festival connects a far-flung constellation of sounds - Chicago Reader The 2026 Frequency Festival draws a line through one-bit electronics, Scottish balladry, musically hybrid fictional history, and more.

The Frequency Festival begins tomorrow with a program that includes Tristan Perich's Open Symmetry, a radiant minimalist piece for three vibraphones and one-bit electronics spatialized through 20 speakers. Listen at the link! chicagoreader.com/music/music-...

CHICAGO: be aware that Tesla is heavily testing its extremely janky "robotaxi" service in your city. We've seen job listings going back months, and now I'm hearing on the ground reports of testing in both regular Teslas (likely facelifted Model Y) and "Cybercab" prototypes.

Be on the lookout!

cover of the band Pure Hell’s album NOISE ADDICTION, featuring four glammed-out Black men looking cool as hell

PURE HELL was the first Black punk band. They lasted from 1974-1979, but a falling out with their manager meant their record didn’t come out until 2010. I gave it a listen:

www.lazyandentitled.org?p=162658013

RED XEROX, by New Now 12 track album

The forthcoming Hallogallo vinyl compilation I referenced in my November scene feature is now available to pre-order, it comes out next month

Thanks to Leor for writing about the show this weekend, a benefit for The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. Also for finding this photo I didn't even know existed.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_i...

It's interesting to look at how Epstein directly, via hundreds of thousands of emails with his pedo buddies in academia, made US academia incredibly hostile to women for *decades*.

How many Emma Noethers never were, even before any of it was put into legislation?

No Sé Discos raises funds for a vinyl release of 80s postpunks Stations - Chicago Reader No Sé Discos raises funds for a vinyl release of 80s postpunks Stations, underground music fests pack Valentine’s weekend, and more.

Eighties postpunks Stations never released the tracks they cut with Joy Division producer Martin Hannett in '82—and now they've lost their archive in a fire. But till March 8, Chicago's No Sé Discos is running a Kickstarter to fund a vinyl record with that material. chicagoreader.com/music/gossip...

“I’m mad I can’t understand Bad Bunny’s lyrics because they’re not in English”

my brother millions of metalheads around the world have been happily listening to incomprehensible Finnish shrieks and Japanese death grunts since we were teens, you’re just boring and racist

The Aadam Jacobs collection ftw

Beware of any Christian movement that demands the government be an instrument of God's wrath but never a source of God's charity, mercy, or compassion.

Chicago’s greatest postpunk obscurity returns from oblivion - Chicago Reader Forty years ago, Chicago postpunks Stations made a brilliant EP with Joy Division producer Martin Hannett. It was never finished or released—until now.

Steve Krakow detailed the whole Stations saga in 2022 for the Secret History of Chicago Music—from Steve Albini's brief stint in an early version of the band to their final show, at Medusa's in 1989. chicagoreader.com/music/chicag...

Stations / Ghostland EP VINYL / Produced by Martin Hannett Stations’ unreleased 1982 3-song EP Ghostland, recorded with producer Martin Hannett (Joy Division) finally released with your support.

In 1982, Chicago postpunk band Stations recorded a long-lost EP with Martin Hannett, architect of the iconic sound of Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures. It's finally being released, and No Sé Discos is running a Kickstarter to finance the vinyl pressing. www.kickstarter.com/projects/no-...

Chicago's encampment closures are ‘unconscionable’ - Chicago Reader Public encampments provide resources and community for people experiencing homelessness, but city crews repeatedly evict residents.

Last year, I emailed Chicago’s chief homelessness officer, Sendy Soto, as well as spokespeople for both Soto & Mayor Johnson, six times. I wanted to understand their approach to evicting unhoused Chicagoans from the shelters they build to survive. No response.

chicagoreader.com/news/housing...

Ratboys make you a sandwich - Chicago Reader Ratboys roll out the "Bolo Joe" at JT's, Beverly Phono Mart opens a pop-up while its crashed-into storefront gets fixed, and more.

It's gonna be tough to get a ticket to the last-minute @ratboysband.bsky.social release party at Beat Kitchen on Friday, but you know what you can definitely do? Try their sandwich at JT's! It's available for the next week and a half. chicagoreader.com/uncategorize...

the federal government is arresting journalists not only without a warrant but after being explicitly denied a warrant

i wonder what our freedom of speech warriors like Matt Taibbi and Bari Weiss have to say about this

I used to use street-sweeper bristles as "sticks" or noisemakers in my scrap-metal percussion rig, when I needed to be quiet. The spring steel makes them perfect for it!

NORTHWEST SIDE RAPID RESPONSE Minneapolis Supply Drive Our Rapid Response Network is gathering supplies to deliver to Minneapolis in solidarity with observers on the ground. See requested supplies and dropoff locations in Chicago on the next slides. Donations due Wednesday 1/28 at 1 pm.

Requested supplies: • Winter gloves • Hand warmers • Eye washing kits • First-aid kits • Goggles • Gas masks • N95 masks • Yak Tracks / Traction cleats • Sudecon wipes / Decontamination towelettes Donations due Wednesday 1/28 at 1 pm. See dropoff locations on the next slide. NORTHWEST SIDE RAPID RESPONSE

Dropoff locations in Chicago: Senator Guzmán's Office 3140 W. Montrose Ave. 10am-5pm daily United Neighbors of the 35th Ward 2934 N. Milwaukee Ave. 9am-8pm daily 33rd Ward Working Families 3248 W. Montrose Ave 4pm-8pm daily 30th Ward Office 5418 W. Belmont Ave. 9am-5pm daily Donations due Wednesday 1/28 at 1 pm. NORTHWEST SIDE RAPID RESPONSE

Another opportunity to send supplies to Minneapolis! Get on that Antifa supply convoy!

www.facebook.com/share/1Ad37B...

Now would be a great time for Dems to be on TV talking about mass trials and encouraging informants to come forward

Gotcha—let’s dig into that step by step.

1. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵, because I turned you into an amorphous lump of flesh. You’re not just immobile—you’re immortal, and you feel only anguish.

2. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺. That makes total sense—it’s a natural human impulse, and you’ve been through a lot.

bro there’s a gofundme to crowdfund attorney fees for a preschooler who was kidnapped by our federal government and shipped across state lines and his senator is posting about high school hockey while every other elected official is debating whether to give a zillion more dollars to the kidnappers