Mark Jacob
@markjacob.bsky.social
Former metro editor at Chicago Tribune and Sunday editor at Chicago Sun-Times. Co-author of 10 books, mostly on history. Writer of the Stop the Presses newsletter at www.stopthepresses.news. Subscribe! It's free.
Trump has legalized crime if you’re a prominent Republican or married to one.
November 11, 2025 at 3:43 AM
Trump has legalized crime if you’re a prominent Republican or married to one.
I still have trouble believing that this despicable person got elected twice. But it does show that in American politics, all things are possible – including people power to defeat the fascists. Get active now to help save our country. We can do this.
November 10, 2025 at 2:29 PM
I still have trouble believing that this despicable person got elected twice. But it does show that in American politics, all things are possible – including people power to defeat the fascists. Get active now to help save our country. We can do this.
The New York Times is going to write “Dems in Disarray“ no matter how many elections Democrats win.
To be fair, though, there *are* ideological differences among Dems, which is healthy in a democracy. Meanwhile, Republicans are in virtual lockstep because they have only 2 goals: money and power.
To be fair, though, there *are* ideological differences among Dems, which is healthy in a democracy. Meanwhile, Republicans are in virtual lockstep because they have only 2 goals: money and power.
November 9, 2025 at 1:59 PM
The New York Times is going to write “Dems in Disarray“ no matter how many elections Democrats win.
To be fair, though, there *are* ideological differences among Dems, which is healthy in a democracy. Meanwhile, Republicans are in virtual lockstep because they have only 2 goals: money and power.
To be fair, though, there *are* ideological differences among Dems, which is healthy in a democracy. Meanwhile, Republicans are in virtual lockstep because they have only 2 goals: money and power.
I typed “Tuberville male cheerleaders“ into Google, and its AI said there was ”no public record of Senator Tommy Tuberville making comments specifically about male cheerleaders.” Under that, Google showed me a long public record of Tuberville talking about male cheerleaders.
Google AI needs work.
Google AI needs work.
November 9, 2025 at 2:42 AM
I typed “Tuberville male cheerleaders“ into Google, and its AI said there was ”no public record of Senator Tommy Tuberville making comments specifically about male cheerleaders.” Under that, Google showed me a long public record of Tuberville talking about male cheerleaders.
Google AI needs work.
Google AI needs work.
Four of Mike Johnson's top priorities are:
1. Helping the super-rich get super-richer
2. Blocking the swearing-in of a duly elected Democrat
3. Denying food to the poor
4. Covering up for sex predators who rape children.
I guess there's no time left in his day to help everyday Americans.
1. Helping the super-rich get super-richer
2. Blocking the swearing-in of a duly elected Democrat
3. Denying food to the poor
4. Covering up for sex predators who rape children.
I guess there's no time left in his day to help everyday Americans.
November 8, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Four of Mike Johnson's top priorities are:
1. Helping the super-rich get super-richer
2. Blocking the swearing-in of a duly elected Democrat
3. Denying food to the poor
4. Covering up for sex predators who rape children.
I guess there's no time left in his day to help everyday Americans.
1. Helping the super-rich get super-richer
2. Blocking the swearing-in of a duly elected Democrat
3. Denying food to the poor
4. Covering up for sex predators who rape children.
I guess there's no time left in his day to help everyday Americans.
The New York Times says federal agents‘ abduction of a toddler “alarmed immigrant rights groups.” How about “alarmed all decent human beings“?
November 8, 2025 at 12:40 AM
The New York Times says federal agents‘ abduction of a toddler “alarmed immigrant rights groups.” How about “alarmed all decent human beings“?
Stefanik was a prominent endorser of later-to-be-convicted-felon George Santos. 🧵 6/10
November 7, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Stefanik was a prominent endorser of later-to-be-convicted-felon George Santos. 🧵 6/10
This Stefanik tweet from 2022, trying to exploit a shortage of baby formula for political advantage, is a classic. She called her opponents “pedos” for no reason and with no evidence, and she suggested Biden should deny baby formula to migrant infants at the border. 🧵 5/10
November 7, 2025 at 3:04 PM
This Stefanik tweet from 2022, trying to exploit a shortage of baby formula for political advantage, is a classic. She called her opponents “pedos” for no reason and with no evidence, and she suggested Biden should deny baby formula to migrant infants at the border. 🧵 5/10
Why is the Associated Press letting a White House official speak anonymously about why Trump pardoned a corrupt Tennessee Republican politician? And for 3 whole paragraphs, providing the defense that he only got $5,000 from his illegal scheme, which makes it OK In Trumpworld.
November 7, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Why is the Associated Press letting a White House official speak anonymously about why Trump pardoned a corrupt Tennessee Republican politician? And for 3 whole paragraphs, providing the defense that he only got $5,000 from his illegal scheme, which makes it OK In Trumpworld.
Judge Ellis extends her preliminary injunction against the illegal practices of federal immigration agents to subvert the free speech rights of protesters and journalists. Bovino and his fellow thugs have violated her order before. What will she do if they violate it again?
November 6, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Judge Ellis extends her preliminary injunction against the illegal practices of federal immigration agents to subvert the free speech rights of protesters and journalists. Bovino and his fellow thugs have violated her order before. What will she do if they violate it again?
A decade ago when I was an editor at the Chicago Tribune, my colleague Stephan Benzkofer and I created a full-page graphic examining how much the Chicago described in Carl Sandburg's poem matched modern-day Chicago.
November 6, 2025 at 4:54 PM
A decade ago when I was an editor at the Chicago Tribune, my colleague Stephan Benzkofer and I created a full-page graphic examining how much the Chicago described in Carl Sandburg's poem matched modern-day Chicago.
After the public told the New York Times how offensive its headline was, they changed it on the homepage. (The original is still on the actual story, last I checked.)
November 6, 2025 at 1:48 PM
After the public told the New York Times how offensive its headline was, they changed it on the homepage. (The original is still on the actual story, last I checked.)
Did the New York Times ruin journalism?
November 6, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Did the New York Times ruin journalism?
Trump thinks Lori Lightfoot has "beautiful, luxurious hair"? He might be confusing Lightfoot with the man who replaced her as Chicago mayor, Brandon Johnson, who spent $30K for grooming in one year. I guess all Black people look alike, no matter their gender. chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...
November 5, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Trump thinks Lori Lightfoot has "beautiful, luxurious hair"? He might be confusing Lightfoot with the man who replaced her as Chicago mayor, Brandon Johnson, who spent $30K for grooming in one year. I guess all Black people look alike, no matter their gender. chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...
When I run errands these days, I make sure I have my keys, my phone and my whistle. I wear the whistle in case I spot Homeland Security thugs terrorizing people and need to alert my neighbors. Lots of people are wearing them.
That’s how Trump has changed life in my hometown, Evanston, IL.
That’s how Trump has changed life in my hometown, Evanston, IL.
November 5, 2025 at 5:56 PM
When I run errands these days, I make sure I have my keys, my phone and my whistle. I wear the whistle in case I spot Homeland Security thugs terrorizing people and need to alert my neighbors. Lots of people are wearing them.
That’s how Trump has changed life in my hometown, Evanston, IL.
That’s how Trump has changed life in my hometown, Evanston, IL.
No matter how many boats Trump blows up or how many government buildings he demolishes – we're not going to forget about the Epstein files.
November 5, 2025 at 1:21 PM
No matter how many boats Trump blows up or how many government buildings he demolishes – we're not going to forget about the Epstein files.
You know who else starved people for political advantage? Joseph Stalin.
November 4, 2025 at 5:00 PM
You know who else starved people for political advantage? Joseph Stalin.
I like this editorial cartoon by Pat Oliphant in 1981. His main point is still true: A lot of SNAP recipients hold down jobs, and the food aid program is in effect propping up employers who don’t pay a living wage. 🧵 4/4
November 3, 2025 at 10:59 PM
I like this editorial cartoon by Pat Oliphant in 1981. His main point is still true: A lot of SNAP recipients hold down jobs, and the food aid program is in effect propping up employers who don’t pay a living wage. 🧵 4/4
Advice columnist Ann Landers made a big deal about a mom buying cupcakes, strawberries and soft drinks with food stamps in 1990. I guess she was supposed to buy nothing but gruel. 🧵 3/4
November 3, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Advice columnist Ann Landers made a big deal about a mom buying cupcakes, strawberries and soft drinks with food stamps in 1990. I guess she was supposed to buy nothing but gruel. 🧵 3/4
A letter to the editor in the Fort Myers (FL) News-Press in 1983. 🧵 2/4
November 3, 2025 at 10:55 PM
A letter to the editor in the Fort Myers (FL) News-Press in 1983. 🧵 2/4
The Trump regime calls SNAP food aid “a broken and corrupt program.” It's a typical right-wing “blame the poor” campaign by people uninterested in the well-being of others. This thread includes a few examples from the past, including this headline in the Palo Alto (CA) Times in 1968. 🧵 1/4
November 3, 2025 at 10:55 PM
The Trump regime calls SNAP food aid “a broken and corrupt program.” It's a typical right-wing “blame the poor” campaign by people uninterested in the well-being of others. This thread includes a few examples from the past, including this headline in the Palo Alto (CA) Times in 1968. 🧵 1/4
Aileen Cannon is to the judicial profession what Typhoid Mary was to the cooking profession.
November 3, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Aileen Cannon is to the judicial profession what Typhoid Mary was to the cooking profession.
The New York Times likes to say Trump "has stretched the limits of his powers” and “tests the boundaries of the presidency.” But this is not a test or a stretching exercise. He’s a lawless politician building a dictatorship. Say it. 🧵 1/3
November 2, 2025 at 2:11 PM
The New York Times likes to say Trump "has stretched the limits of his powers” and “tests the boundaries of the presidency.” But this is not a test or a stretching exercise. He’s a lawless politician building a dictatorship. Say it. 🧵 1/3
Homeland Security thugs are terrorizing my hometown, Evanston, IL, today. I can’t help thinking our neighbors are being targeted because 91% of us voted for Kamala Harris.
October 31, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Homeland Security thugs are terrorizing my hometown, Evanston, IL, today. I can’t help thinking our neighbors are being targeted because 91% of us voted for Kamala Harris.
The New York Times editorial notes that “millions of Americans recently attended the ‘No Kings’ protests.” Which NYT covered with two small pictures below the fold on Page 1, plus a story on Page 23. 🧵 2/3
October 31, 2025 at 2:03 PM
The New York Times editorial notes that “millions of Americans recently attended the ‘No Kings’ protests.” Which NYT covered with two small pictures below the fold on Page 1, plus a story on Page 23. 🧵 2/3