L Forte
@lforte26.bsky.social
Former Editorial Page Editor, Chicago Sun-Times. If journalists don’t stand up for democracy and working people, we’re shirking our duty as the Fourth Estate. | Contributor to @contrariannews.org | Support real writers, not AI | 🐈 🏀 🚴🏽♀️ 📚 🗞️ 🧳
The Supreme Court Is Failing at Its Most Important Job. Editorial boards are typically cautious. For the NY Times to finally say this is a big deal… www.nytimes.com/2025/12/06/o...
Opinion | The Supreme Court Is Failing at Its Most Important Job
www.nytimes.com
December 6, 2025 at 2:54 PM
The Supreme Court Is Failing at Its Most Important Job. Editorial boards are typically cautious. For the NY Times to finally say this is a big deal… www.nytimes.com/2025/12/06/o...
No one better to do the obit for late architect #FrankGehry than architecture critic @leebey1.bsky.social chicago.suntimes.com/obituaries/2...
Architect Frank Gehry who designed Millennium Park's Pritzker Pavilion and foot bridge dies at 96
The visionary West Coast architect had deeply rooted Chicago connections and friendships.
chicago.suntimes.com
December 6, 2025 at 1:55 PM
No one better to do the obit for late architect #FrankGehry than architecture critic @leebey1.bsky.social chicago.suntimes.com/obituaries/2...
I find this completely believable.
I spent two years in the Trump administration. During that time, I saw how the president handled national security decisions. One of my biggest takeaways was this:
He fantasized regularly about maiming & killing unarmed civilians. Actually.
He fantasized regularly about maiming & killing unarmed civilians. Actually.
December 4, 2025 at 9:32 PM
I find this completely believable.
Reposted by L Forte
Reposted by L Forte
Kelly: He runs around on stage talking about lethality and the warrior ethos.. That’s not the message that should be coming from the Secretary of Defense… He runs around on a stage like he’s a 12 year old playing army. It’s embarrassing.
December 1, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Kelly: He runs around on stage talking about lethality and the warrior ethos.. That’s not the message that should be coming from the Secretary of Defense… He runs around on a stage like he’s a 12 year old playing army. It’s embarrassing.
Reposted by L Forte
including complaints of medical-neglect, forced-drugging, abuse, due-process violations, and other civil-rights complaints in immigration detention in limbo or effectively abandoned.
Gutting of key US watchdog could pave way for grave immigration abuses, experts warn
Former oversight officials alarmed by dismantling of DHS system that oversees complaints about civil rights harms
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:48 AM
including complaints of medical-neglect, forced-drugging, abuse, due-process violations, and other civil-rights complaints in immigration detention in limbo or effectively abandoned.
👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽
GEORGIA: Rodney Taylor, a double amputee barber here his whole life was 2 days away from getting new legs when Trump’s ICE goons grabbed him. He has been held almost a year, facing deportation to Liberia.
What are we doing?
www.thenation.com/article/poli...
What are we doing?
www.thenation.com/article/poli...
November 30, 2025 at 3:53 PM
👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽
Reposted by L Forte
This is murder. Hegseth thinks he will get away with it because the people around him are more committed to aiding and abetting his crimes than upholding the rule of law. I wouldn't take that bet if I were him, or the people around him. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 29, 2025 at 2:59 PM
This is murder. Hegseth thinks he will get away with it because the people around him are more committed to aiding and abetting his crimes than upholding the rule of law. I wouldn't take that bet if I were him, or the people around him. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
aaronparnas.substack.com/p/news-pete-...
If this is indeed true…
If this is indeed true…
NEWS: Pete Hegseth Ordered "Kill Them All" as Two People Hung From the Side of a Boat Engulfed in Flames in Caribbean
Good afternoon, everyone.
aaronparnas.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:48 PM
aaronparnas.substack.com/p/news-pete-...
If this is indeed true…
If this is indeed true…
Reposted by L Forte
Your Black Friday reminder that in 75% of U.S. industries, a smaller number of companies now control more of the business than they did twenty years ago. We must stop the monopolization of America. Shop small if you can, please.
November 28, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Your Black Friday reminder that in 75% of U.S. industries, a smaller number of companies now control more of the business than they did twenty years ago. We must stop the monopolization of America. Shop small if you can, please.
Reposted by L Forte
Fired. Investigated. Silenced. Reuters documented at least 470 targets of retribution under Donald Trump — from federal workers and prosecutors to universities and media outlets. It’s the most comprehensive accounting yet of his campaign of payback.
Trump’s campaign of retribution: At least 470 targets and counting
A Reuters investigation documents at least 470 acts of retribution under Trump’s leadership.
reut.rs
November 27, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Fired. Investigated. Silenced. Reuters documented at least 470 targets of retribution under Donald Trump — from federal workers and prosecutors to universities and media outlets. It’s the most comprehensive accounting yet of his campaign of payback.
👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽
When I worked for Obama, I advised him on how to talk to Russian leaders. I never gave the Kremlin advice on how to talk to Obama (and I talked to Ushakov many times!).
November 26, 2025 at 8:41 PM
👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽
👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽
I hope folks realize that between Trump, Kushner, Hegseth, Witkoff, Noem, RFK, Jr., Kash Patel, and Tulsi Gabbard, this country is almost entirely undefended.
Q: Have you heard this audio that Bloomberg has of Witkoff coaching the Russians on how to appeal to you?
TRUMP: That's a standard thing. He's gotta sell this to Ukraine, he's gonna sell Ukraine to Russia. That's what a dealmaker does. I haven't heard it but I heard it was standard negotiation.
TRUMP: That's a standard thing. He's gotta sell this to Ukraine, he's gonna sell Ukraine to Russia. That's what a dealmaker does. I haven't heard it but I heard it was standard negotiation.
November 26, 2025 at 3:13 PM
👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽
👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽
Trump never had a fan base.
He had an army of bots who sold his racism and misogyny and xenophobia to uneducated Americans who took voting advice from bald eagle profiles posting Tweets from Eastern Europe.
It’s as stupid as it sounds.
He had an army of bots who sold his racism and misogyny and xenophobia to uneducated Americans who took voting advice from bald eagle profiles posting Tweets from Eastern Europe.
It’s as stupid as it sounds.
November 25, 2025 at 2:27 PM
👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽
Reposted by L Forte
Please watch this.
The Senate killed a bill to ban state regulation of AI by a vote of 99-1 this spring. Now the industry - eager to stay unregulated - and Trump are scheming to shove the provision in the national defense bill.
You need to know this, so you can help stop it.
The Senate killed a bill to ban state regulation of AI by a vote of 99-1 this spring. Now the industry - eager to stay unregulated - and Trump are scheming to shove the provision in the national defense bill.
You need to know this, so you can help stop it.
November 24, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Please watch this.
The Senate killed a bill to ban state regulation of AI by a vote of 99-1 this spring. Now the industry - eager to stay unregulated - and Trump are scheming to shove the provision in the national defense bill.
You need to know this, so you can help stop it.
The Senate killed a bill to ban state regulation of AI by a vote of 99-1 this spring. Now the industry - eager to stay unregulated - and Trump are scheming to shove the provision in the national defense bill.
You need to know this, so you can help stop it.
Reposted by L Forte
A 44 year old Mexican immigrant named Vicente Ventura Aguilar has been missing from ICE custody since Oct 7th.
He suffered a medical emergency, lost consciousness & disappeared.
www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
He suffered a medical emergency, lost consciousness & disappeared.
www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
An L.A. man was detained in an immigration raid. No one knows where he is
A witness told his brother and attorneys that the 44-year-old Mexican immigrant, who doesn't have lawful immigration status, was taken into custody by immigration authorities on Oct. 7 in south-centra...
www.latimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:03 AM
A 44 year old Mexican immigrant named Vicente Ventura Aguilar has been missing from ICE custody since Oct 7th.
He suffered a medical emergency, lost consciousness & disappeared.
www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
He suffered a medical emergency, lost consciousness & disappeared.
www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
Reposted by L Forte
"Court video showed ICE agents, who allegedly had a 12-pack of Modelo in their car...
"“This is great,” an officer said as they started following Martinez. “This is fun,” another replied.
www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/c...
"“This is great,” an officer said as they started following Martinez. “This is fun,” another replied.
www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/c...
ICE video shows officers planned to ‘smash’ into Charlotte man filming Border Patrol
Immigration agents had a 12-pack of Modelos in their car while making arrests, Miguel Angel Garcia Martinez told investigators.
www.charlotteobserver.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:13 PM
"Court video showed ICE agents, who allegedly had a 12-pack of Modelo in their car...
"“This is great,” an officer said as they started following Martinez. “This is fun,” another replied.
www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/c...
"“This is great,” an officer said as they started following Martinez. “This is fun,” another replied.
www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/c...
Reposted by L Forte
The EPA will approve two new pesticides containing “forever chemicals” and relax a reporting rule for companies who make products with forever chemicals.
The moves come after a $60 million lobbying blitz from the forever chemical industry.
Where is the MAHA outcry?
The moves come after a $60 million lobbying blitz from the forever chemical industry.
Where is the MAHA outcry?
November 24, 2025 at 5:19 PM
The EPA will approve two new pesticides containing “forever chemicals” and relax a reporting rule for companies who make products with forever chemicals.
The moves come after a $60 million lobbying blitz from the forever chemical industry.
Where is the MAHA outcry?
The moves come after a $60 million lobbying blitz from the forever chemical industry.
Where is the MAHA outcry?
What could possibly go wrong? I’d like to know what they’re smoking during those ed board meetings …
November 23, 2025 at 4:57 PM
What could possibly go wrong? I’d like to know what they’re smoking during those ed board meetings …
If i never see another think piece about a reporter who fell for a crackpot conspiracist, it’ll be too soon… enough with this though the writer is correct on this: she’s now a brand, not a journalist
"She’s not trying to rebuild her reputation as a journalist—she’s building a different kind of brand entirely, one where being interesting matters more than being ethical, where attention is the only currency that still spends."
The best thing I have read about her. www.mediaite.com/opinion/the-...
The best thing I have read about her. www.mediaite.com/opinion/the-...
The Olivia Nuzzi Comeback Is Everything Wrong With Modern Media
Olivia Nuzzi’s comeback isn’t a personal scandal story—it’s proof that today’s media rewards access, personality, and controversy more than ethics.
www.mediaite.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:02 PM
If i never see another think piece about a reporter who fell for a crackpot conspiracist, it’ll be too soon… enough with this though the writer is correct on this: she’s now a brand, not a journalist
👇🏽👇🏽
open.substack.com/pub/contrari...
My latest from The Contrarian on federal agents leaving town. Thanks @contrariannews.org
My latest from The Contrarian on federal agents leaving town. Thanks @contrariannews.org
Dispatch from Chicago: Border Patrol has left town, but what’s next if they return?
The Trump administration’s aggressive deportation campaign is now focused on North Carolina, where agents don’t have to endure the cold of the coming Chicago winter.
open.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:51 PM
👇🏽👇🏽
👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽
The President of the United States just called for my arrest and execution.
In these moments, fear is contagious, but so is courage:
In these moments, fear is contagious, but so is courage:
November 20, 2025 at 10:47 PM
👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽
open.substack.com/pub/contrari...
My latest from The Contrarian on federal agents leaving town. Thanks @contrariannews.org
My latest from The Contrarian on federal agents leaving town. Thanks @contrariannews.org
Dispatch from Chicago: Border Patrol has left town, but what’s next if they return?
The Trump administration’s aggressive deportation campaign is now focused on North Carolina, where agents don’t have to endure the cold of the coming Chicago winter.
open.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:53 PM
open.substack.com/pub/contrari...
My latest from The Contrarian on federal agents leaving town. Thanks @contrariannews.org
My latest from The Contrarian on federal agents leaving town. Thanks @contrariannews.org
Reposted by L Forte
NEW: Elon Musk's Grokipedia cites a neo-Nazi website 42 times, researchers say www.nbcnews.com/tech/elon-mu...
Elon Musk’s Grokipedia cites Stormfront — a neo-Nazi forum — dozens of times, study finds
An analysis by researchers at Cornell University is the first comprehensive look at Grokipedia since Musk launched his project last month.
www.nbcnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:22 PM
NEW: Elon Musk's Grokipedia cites a neo-Nazi website 42 times, researchers say www.nbcnews.com/tech/elon-mu...
👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽
"The media outlets and tech platforms that settled with Trump chose to give him money because they *wanted* to. They could have fought and won, since Trump’s lawsuits (and his lawyering) are universally terrible."
CNN shows that when media orgs fight Trump, they win
Take this grift and shove it.
www.publicnotice.co
November 19, 2025 at 4:49 PM
👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽