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Michael Hawthorne

@scribeguy.bsky.social
3.4K followers 579 following 570 posts

Midwesterner. Pulitzer finalist. Dig into environment/public health for the Chicago Tribune. Confidential tips welcome via SIGNAL: scribeguy.35 EPL/NBA/MLB obsessive. Victoria Concordia Crescit. www.chicagotribune.com/author/micha…

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Reposted by Michael Hawthorne
DJ Uncle Fishbits @unclefishbits.bsky.social · 06/09/2025
There are 66 years separating these photos
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Home of the Brave @ofthebraveusa.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Trump has said the Iran war is almost over at least 60 times. It's been 212 days. 19 service members are dead, 800+ wounded, $43 billion gone. We counted every broken promise with @votevets.org.
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The Athletic | Football @theathleticfc.bsky.social · 16h
Nine years of wrongdoing - as laid out in the independent commission's damning judgment - disfigured English football www.nytimes.com/athletic/764...
nytimes.com
Manchester City have become ‘Sham FC’. They deserve the heaviest punishment
Nine years of wrongdoing - as laid out in the independent commission's damning judgment - disfigured English football
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Dan Vock @danvock.bsky.social · 18h
Good job @markmaxwelltv.bsky.social
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Michael Hawthorne @scribeguy.bsky.social · 19h
"Since Trump returned to office, an array of automotive, environmental, trade and immigration policies has undermined factory projects and employment in Lordstown and across America’s heartland," @reuters.com investigation finds.
reuters.com
How Trump’s war on EVs derailed America’s auto-factory revival
Since Trump returned to office, an array of automotive, environmental, trade and immigration policies has undermined auto-factory projects and employment across America’s heartland.
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Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 29/09/2026
Buried lede: among those speaking out against this is Gregory Baylor, senior counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom, a major conservative Christian legal group: “The government shouldn’t punish people who pursue socially valuable callings just because in its judgment they don’t earn enough money.”
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Kendra "Gloom is My Beat" Pierre-Louis @kendrawrites.com · 29/09/2026
Many low income people are in fact stay at home parents because the cost of daycare is so high that their salary if they went to work would not cover it.
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Ryan Ottignon @ryaninevanston.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
UPDATE ON ICE IN EVANSTON LAST WEEK: Just got a FOIA back for 911 calls, police dispatch audio, and police reports associated with the arrest. There's a lot to unpack. 1/ 🧵
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Michael Hawthorne @scribeguy.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Latest from me:
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@NewsJennifer (Jennifer Schulze) @newsjennifer.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
In two weeks, Russell Brand goes on trial in the UK on rape and sexual assault charges in cases involving six women. Tomorrow in DC, he's appearing at a MAHA gathering to 'moderate' a discussion with Dr Oz about medicare and medicaid. What the hell?
1:55 to 2:25 pm Reforms at CMS

Chris Klomp Chief Counselor HHS

Mehmet Oz, Administrator CMS

Moderated by Russell BRand, comedian and brodcaster
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Ben Prunty @benprunty.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I don't love dunking on folks but it's so fucking funny to me that Trump was convicted of 34 felonies 2 years ago, faced no punishment, and went on to win the presidency a second time and journalists are still like, "hmm, I have an inkling that maybe he believes he's above the law for some reason."
Post from NYT reporter Eric Lipton 

"What an odd moment in United States history.

A U.S. president is running an overtly political campaign advertisement, right before midterm elections, paid for by the U.S. government.

Trump appears to believe he is immune from any kind of legal limit."
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jesse jarnow @bourgwick.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
cool close look at mike nesmith & the first national band, from 2008. more of an actual band than i realized. not a single known live tape from that period, as far as i know.
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whet moser @whetmoser.com · 28/09/2026
new eve ewing dropped. also the photography book looks amazing
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Chicago Tribune @chicagotribune.com · 28/09/2026
The goal of the truck is not only to educate the public on the extent and content of the files, but to bring them to life, according to Sharlene Rochard, who identifies as a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s grooming and abuse.
chicagotribune.com
Donald J. Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Bookmobile stops in Chicago
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Christopher Hale @christopherjhale.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
“When our government laid siege to the city of Minneapolis with wanton violence and the killing of those who had spoken up in resistance, we were outraged.” “We could not believe that the mask had become the new symbol of American justice.” — Cardinal Robert McElroy
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David Roberts @volts.wtf · 27/09/2026
This is the second ruling against the illegal recision of Solar For All money. In a country with rule of law in effect, that would be it -- the money would be restored. But we have to ask ourselves whether Trump will simply ignore the ruling & if so whether there will be any consequences.
utilitydive.com
Federal judge restores $7B Solar for All program, says EPA illegally axed it
A Trump-appointed judge said the One Big Beautiful Bill Act did not convert the funding into “a lump-sum amount subject to EPA’s discretion.” Defendants acted contrary to Congress’ intent and with “no...
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Jay Kuo @nycjayjay.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
An important follow up to the original bombshell reporting. Link: buff.ly/UEL8tLM
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Firing Line with Margaret Hoover @firinglineshow.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
What should the next president do with Trump’s White House ballroom? “Knock it down” says @anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu. She argues the ballroom is about more than architecture: “It’s Trump seeking to remake the institution itself.”
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Will Bunch @willbunch.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
You wouldn't know it from reading the headlines, but the president's downward mental health spiral is the biggest story in America right now We won't salvage democracy unless the media and pols start speaking the truth about Trump's damaged mind My new column www.inquirer.com/opinion/trum...
inquirer.com
We need to find the words for Trump’s madness before things blow up | Will Bunch
The media and politicians haven’t pinned down anything resembling a suitable description for a president’s downward spiral or the looming battle for U.S. democracy.
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Zinn Education Project @zinnedproject.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
#tdih 1962, "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson published, exposed impact of pesticides on environment. Carson was vilified: called a Communist, disloyal, unscientific, and hysterical. Sound familiar? Attacks on truth tellers, with media complicity. See⬇️🧵 www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/si...
zinnedproject.org
Sept. 27, 1962: Silent Spring Published
Silent Spring by Rachel Carson was published.
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Center for Climate Integrity @climateintegrity.org · 26/09/2026
“As a shareholder, Alito has been warned that climate deception lawsuits pose financial risks to his investments. As a Supreme Court Justice, he has been told how Suncor v. Boulder can prevent those lawsuits from advancing, removing the risk to his investments,” said @consumerwatchdog.bsky.social
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Michael Hawthorne @scribeguy.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
"Simply put, when dumb leaders do impulsive things and then leave the consequences to others to clean up, things can degenerate really, really fast," @joshtpm.bsky.social writes. "And that’s exactly what’s happening."
talkingpointsmemo.com
Things Fall Apart (in the Middle East): The Donald Trump Story
One of the key arguments for a great power — other than...
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The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · 24/09/2026
Calculating how much America is spending on a war is relatively easy for the professionals. Determining whether that spending is producing a strategic outcome worth the cost is much harder. ICYMI @markhertling.bsky.social:
lnk.thebulwark.com
The True Costs of the Iran War
The numbers don’t tell the whole story.
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Chicago Tribune @chicagotribune.com · 24/09/2026
Donald J. Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Bookmobile stops in Chicago
chicagotribune.com
Donald J. Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Bookmobile stops in Chicago
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Rachel Maddow @maddow.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
"About five million people in the country have already lost SNAP benefits — the government’s primary anti-hunger tool — because of the Trump/GOP bill... One retiree in Ohio described SNAP benefits as a 'lifeline.' Her benefits dropped in March from $250 to $44" www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/u...
nytimes.com
Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Is Starting to Bite Before the Midterm Elections
The tax cuts in President Trump’s signature achievement were the Republicans’ answer to voters’ economic struggles, but its health care and food assistance cuts are taking a toll.
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Jen Rubin @jenrubin.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
I don't often praise big bond traders but this retort to Bessent is priceless: “He is just doing the president’s bidding,” Mr. Sherman said. “It’s falsehoods where you can tell he knows better. It starts to feel like you are being lied to everywhere.”
nytimes.com
What’s Behind Bessent’s Boasts About the U.S. Bond Market
By one measure, U.S. government bond markets have posted negative returns, but markets in others countries have experienced steeper losses.
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Jamison Foser @jamisonfoser.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
a year ago the Cillizzas of the world were saying democrats were falling into Trump's savvy political trap by criticizing ICE. Now a Kansas Republican senator facing re-election is sweatily tweeting his concern about ICE.
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Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The whole point of calling this agency the Office of "Remigration" is to deliberately signal to the world that white nationalism is now the basis for US policy. Some thoughts on this whole worldview below. 5/ newrepublic.com/article/2157...
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Drew Harwell @drewharwell.com · 23/09/2026
Five cops in Indianapolis were just criminally charged with abusing Flock to spy on their ex-wives, their wives' ex-partners and women they met on duty. Audit was triggered by us at the @washingtonpost.com, the prosecutor said. From last month: wapo.st/4yfNHng
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Will Bunch @willbunch.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
What's worse? The Eagles' alleged supporting role in getting Macklemore kicked off Sheeran tour, or their failure to answer questions about it? If the Birds really want support for a new stadium, they need to make a stronger commitment to free speech My new column www.inquirer.com/opinion/eagl...
inquirer.com
Eagles’ silence on their role in the Macklemore mess has become deafening | Will Bunch
What’s worse about the Macklemore-Ed Sheeran debacle in Philly? The Eagles’ role, or the team’s refusal to explain it?
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Imani Gandy @angryblacklady.blacksky.app · 20/09/2026
I just honestly can't get over that Save Women Sports, an anti-trans group could only find five trans athletes competing K through 12. Five. The NCAA president testified a year and a half ago or so that there were less than 10 college level trans athletes. What the fuck are we doing, people
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Michael Hawthorne @scribeguy.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Guardian columnist: "Is all this some sort of cunning distraction technique? Does Team Trump prefer it if people are focused on Harp rather than Iran or the Epstein files or the economy? Or, alternatively, does the president just surround himself with idiots? My money is on the latter."
theguardian.com
Why is the White House being so weird about Natalie Harp again? | Arwa Mahdawi
The president’s assistant travelled with him to Ireland – which really shouldn’t be much of a story. But his comms team seems determined to make it one, writes Arwa Mahdawi
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sirosenbaum.bsky.social @sirosenbaum.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
buddy you just described an alt-weekly
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MeidasTouch @meidastouch.com · 16/09/2026
Nailed it as always, sir
Screenshot of a Wall Street Journal opinion column by Peter Navarro, published March 12, 2026, headlined “Iran War Will Lower Energy Prices,” with the subheadline: “The risk of regime violence has long been baked into the global price of oil and gas—and everything else.”
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Rebecca Solnit @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
You don't have to wait for some next phase of AI. They are trying very hard to destroy the world right now.
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Sean Casten @seancasten.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
There is a lot of shadiness here. But the fact that Bessent referred to an account that is managing sovereign assets of a foreign nation as a large asset on the US balance sheet is a BFD. It's either theft or he doesn't understand basic accounting.
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Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu · 14/09/2026
Exceptional journalism from @newyorker.com on Jared Kushner's catastrophic diplomacy, conflicts of interest, arrogance. He represents "a new kind of Washington figure, for whom public office serves as a means to extraordinary wealth" www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
newyorker.com
Jared Kushner’s Dollar Diplomacy
Jared Kushner represents the kind of Washington figure for whom public office serves as a means to extraordinary wealth.
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@NewsJennifer (Jennifer Schulze) @newsjennifer.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
This is quite a story from Will Bunch about the real life impacts of all that ICE money on rural Pennsylvania "far removed from the glare of media or the kind of organized ICE resistance you see in big cities." GIFT LINK: share.inquirer.com/Gs6T3n
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Defector @defector.com · 10/09/2026
"I crossed paths with Melrose once—shared an elevator at a Winter Classic game; he was polite and affable—and the thing I remember most from the brief encounter is that he had cologne on, a lot of it, and it was strong." defector.com/barry-melros...
defector.com
Barry Melrose Brought Hockey Home | Defector
Go ahead and listen to this. (For the real perverts, use this one; you just know you’re about to stay up until 1:00 a.m. for a particularly shitty Sharks–Mighty Ducks game.) What does it evoke? What…
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Michael Hawthorne @scribeguy.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
😐
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Nicole LaFond @nicolelafond.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
This latest episode with Kimmel is representative of the FCC’s effective chilling of press freedoms during a time when the federal government is using its might to shut down both dissent and stifle journalism that it does not like.
talkingpointsmemo.com
Jimmy Kimmel, James Talarico and the FCC’s Muzzling of the Media
The ‘Campaign of Censorship and Control’ Will the Federal Communications Commission ever...
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 10/09/2026
The New York Times got a rare window into the scale of Israel’s bombing and demolition of southern Lebanon’s Muslim villages in its campaign against Hezbollah, and visited a largely untouched Christian village.
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Dana Houle @danahoule.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
There were quite a few 70’s-90’s KS Repubs who were pro-choice, pro-public schools, pro-local (not Koch) Chambers. KS was long a 3 party state—Dems, mod Repubs, & conservative Repubs. Many mod Repubs have backed Dems since the Brownback years. But I think this is Graves’ first Dem endorsement
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TPM @talkingpointsmemo.com · 10/09/2026
Donald Trump Just Basically Bribed Americans to Vote for Republicans
talkingpointsmemo.com
Donald Trump Just Basically Bribed Americans to Vote for Republicans
With his poll numbers at record lows, gas prices at record highs,...
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the moon report 🌕 @seachanger.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
people were driving tractors over Dixie Chicks CDs in the street
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Edward Wong @ewong.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
NEW: Nate Hochman was fired from the DeSantis campaign in 2023 after promoting a video with the Sonnenrad, a Nazi symbol embraced by white supremacists. He now works in Rubio's State Department, as deputy director of policy planning and chief speechwriter. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/09/06/u...
nytimes.com
For Fired DeSantis Campaign Staff Member, a Second Chance at State Dept. (Gift Article)
The hiring of Nate Hochman, who lost his job amid an uproar over a video containing a Nazi symbol, underscores the administration’s willingness to overlook past transgressions.
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David DeWitt @daviddewitt.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
‘Springfield is under siege right now.’ ICE agents in Ohio have detained 2 Haitian pastors. ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/08/31/s...
ohiocapitaljournal.com
'Springfield is under siege right now.' ICE agents in Ohio have detained 2 Haitian pastors. • Ohio Capital Journal
More than 40 Haitians in Springfield have been detained by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement after President Donald Trump revoked their legal status earlier this summer.
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Nick Wright @nickpwright.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Chelsea had some threatening moments but it's another pretty remarkable defensive display from Arsenal. No Saliba, no Timber, and yet able to limit Chelsea, with *that* front three, to shots worth only 0.35 xG. #afc
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The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · 05/09/2026
“The idea that we would do this to our friends is just batshit crazy.” @crampell.bsky.social explains to @jvl.bsky.social why European allies are moving billions in gold out of the U.S. amid fears Trump could freeze their reserves and use them as leverage.
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David Roberts @volts.wtf · 04/09/2026
“Someone who worked closely with Elon told me, ‘He’s the most miserable man I’ve ever met.’ So he’s inflicting his misery on everyone else.”
hollywoodreporter.com
Elon Musk Unmasked in Alex Gibney Documentary: “Insane a Person This Chaotic Has So Much Power”
He is the richest man on earth. An explosive new film from the Oscar-winning director suggests he also may be among the most dangerous.
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