Welcome to Chicago 312: 3 Headlines. 1 Big Question. 2 Red Flags. Every Wednesday. Subscribe here.

First, real quick — Chicago 312 is NOT coming out next week. I’ve had some time scheduled to reevaluate the newsletter and do some family pieces for a while now — and in spite of the general energy + RAPID development, I have to honor the time I promised I’d spend away in order for my girlfriend to not break up with me.

That means next week there will be NO Chicago 312 (which includes social media posting, the YouTube interviews/explainers, + cross-channel making fun of Paul Vallas ).

It is a BAD time, I would say, to be a microniche Chicago Specific Municipal Blog and take a long break away from Chicago!!

BUT DON’T WORRY — lots of people are working their asses off to cover what’s happening in the city, to protect their neighbors, and do much more comprehensive, ethical, less rant-y reporting than I do — I listed some of them below, as well as calls to action on how to get involved and show up for the people dealing with the realities of this fascist attack beyond the political theater.

It’s also a chance for me to figure out the best way to understand what’s most useful to you, Chicago 312 reader, in terms of getting you the niche, vaguely leftist, sort of policy oriented, anti-Ray Lopez Chicago content you deserve. Is this news roundup still working? Should it come it out more? Should we be doing more analysis? Is it a podcast?

Expect some 1:1 calls over the next few weeks as we once and for all try to figure out what’s sustainable and what people really need right now, especially with so much happening.

In the meantime, if you want to dive into some videos about the deployment of the TX Guard to Chicago and what that means for the narrative of the right in this particular moment (that… already feels, 8 hours after recording, a little outdated), check it out here.

3 Headlines:

1. 

Block Club: Trump’s second-term authoritarian cosplay tour has landed in Chicago, complete with Texas National Guard boots on the ground and federal agents roaming the city in unmarked vans. After a Trump-appointed judge blocked his plan to federalize the Oregon Guard, the White House simply sidestepped the order—flying in 400 Texas Guard members and 300 Californians to “protect” ICE facilities.

ICE and Border Patrol, already under fire for shootings,and abductions of Chicago residents now have military backup. Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson have sued the federal government, calling the move unconstitutional and dangerous. A federal judge hasn’t stopped the deployment but wants a response from DOJ this week. In the meantime, the Guard is in Elwood, Illinois, waiting for orders.

Annnd this morning, in terms of political theater, Trump said Johnson and Pritzker should ‘Be In Jail’ for not protecting ICE. “This is rogue agency/fascist stuff,” Mehdi Hasan wrote. “Any Democrat who doesn’t support abolishing ICE should hang their heads in shame.”

Makes sense, because right now (not in a future where ‘it gets worse,’ but now) agents in black masks are abducting people from cars and public spaces across the metro area, and have alleged instigated the shooting of at least one woman in the city who is now being charged. This also includes continued militarization at Broadview, where Reverend David Black was shot in the head with a pepper ball while standing still, an video (taken by Kelly Hayes) that’s making the rounds on social media because — yikes. There’s also this one. Never great to have two viral images of the same spiritual leader being harmed by your lawless secret police.

While this is happening, the entire MAGA ecosystem, from Kristi Noem to Greg Bovino, the commander with bad hair and weird tweet replies, is on content flywheel duty. They’re making some of the most evil videos I’ve ever seen, even on X, and trying their best to tell the story of Chicago as lawless, but not TOO lawless — or at least, not in a way that would hurt CPD’s feelings… who, btw, the X weirdos are antagonizing, calling Larry Snelling a do nothing political pawn that is stopping the rank and file from… I guess, breaking the TRUST Act.ttps://x.com/RashidaTlaib/status/1975924386961018915

Why It Matters: I don’t know, that’s all I got right now. I do think that it’s funny that, while all of this brain breaking shock doctrine style chaos is happening all Illinois Policy has is this weirdly written tax story. Also, side note — this guy seems to be the official national Harass CTU X account these days and I can’t get over how little time it takes for his wikipedia page to get wild?

Here’s one last fun hot take:

2. Don’t Worry, Some People Still Remember There’s a City Budget to Pass

WTTW: The fact that we are in a really weird kind of half assed optics based Civil War, but one where only one side is armed and harming people (and uh, the armed forces on one side help… the invaders) you would think, could hinder the public attention span, especially when it comes to something like the budget. Don't worry! The Libertarians on X are relentless and thorough if nothing else – – and they are following it closely!!

Mayor Brandon Johnson will unveil his 2026 budget on October 16, staring down a $1.15 billion deficit — the biggest shortfall in recent memory. The COVID-era federal aid that once kept City Hall afloat is gone, and the city’s decades-old pension and revenue systems are catching up with it. Johnson says the data is clear: “We do not have a spending problem in Chicago. We have a revenue challenge.” The real limit isn’t math; it’s Springfield. Chicago can’t raise income or service taxes without state permission.

Nationally, btw, Trump has frozen $2.1 billion in federal transit funding, threatening Chicago’s Red Line Extension—one of the most significant racial equity projects in city history—under the pretense of fighting “antiwhite discrimination.” The White House is using civil rights language to gut civil rights programs, all while celebrating on X with memes of Trump as the Grim Reaper cutting down blue cities. This really sucks.

Sidenote: a good overview of the Daley Parking Lot deal, btw, an example of how egregious corporate malpractice has been a hallmark of Chicago finance for too long, is here.

3. Sorry, this week’s edition is already way too long

So — here’s City Bureau’s guide to taking action and supporting your neighbors being targeted.

Check it out, read up, good luck.

1 Big Question: 

Even before Trump was calling for their arrest…. both MBJ and Pritzker have said that they will use "every possible tool" in defending Chicago and Illinois from ICE.  

What does ‘every possible tool’ look like, with politics, optics, logistics in mind, for the city and the state? 

This week, MBJ's office put out an Executive Order that mandates blocking ICE and other forces deployed here from using parking lots and other city properties, and strengthening private businesses ability to not have to host them (though some have expressed concern this is mostly a symbolic move).

And JB Pritzker has faced significant backlash for the role of Illinois State Police in supporting DHS as they have escalated against protestors at the Broadview Detention Center, in spite of his lofty national rhetoric. This is in contrast to Portland,OR, where apparently state police have vowed to protect protestors. 

What else can be done?

I wrote a thread about this on Bluesky, that most people who know more about policy and politics seemed to hate, but it inspired other options:

-Material support for those detained similar to funding provided in LA, or rent or parking relief (or even material support for those supporting those who are in fear of detainment)

- Real enforcement of the TRUST Act (who investigates violations, for example)

- Blocking, barring, or banning any government contracts or bids from companies that assist or support federal forces in Chicago (or even that have any connection with Texas) 

What feels most politically possible in terms of enforcement?

For example, the chance to block contracts and procurement  for contractors in Chicago feels meaningful (there’s actual legal and economic teeth behind it). But would it be politically challenging (or even logistically so) — considering that it's a small department that mostly advertises contracts through a Youtube Channel filmed in a basement?

Countless other local officials (or aspiring local officials) are organizing rapid response support, legal aid, supporting their constituents even if being threatened by ICE themselves, protesting at Broadview, and alerting constituents when ICE is in the area.

There clearly are so many things that elected officials, especially the ones with a vested interested in showing that they are Leaders, can do materially. I talked more about why this feels like a moment where demanding more (specifically) is possible in this video.

How do we get them to escalate beyond the theater?

2 Red Flags Stressing Me Out Today: 

We’re skipping the red flags this week, there’s enough to worry about.

I want to use this space to instead amplify some of the journalists, writers, organizers, and video makers you should follow over the next week, all of whom are thorough, skilled, and fearless in the face of power:

• Unravelled Press — Independent, on-the-ground investigative journalism in Chicago on policing, state violence, and accountability. At Broadview, and one of the outlets . At the risk of rambling, I’ve found the way that reporters and media across the city have supported Unravelled and united to sue ICE to be one of the more hopeful parts of everything’s that’s been happening.

• Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) — Deep in organizing, advocacy, and support for immigrant communities across Illinois. They’re one of the few who combine services + policy + grassroots power. Staying in touch with them is also one of the best ways to get trained + connected to rapid response support for those facing detainment.

• Heather Cherone (WTTW) — Smart, fearless reporter covering Chicago politics + will undoubtedly have the best budget analysis over the next few weeks. She catches what many ignore and holds power to account.

• The TRiiBE — They are rewriting the narrative of Black Chicago, AND they’re one of the only outlets that will say the quiet part out loud when it comes to how segregation shapes everything that happens in the city, including their coverage of the appalling South Shore “raid” that happened last week.

• Chris Sweat — The journalist who captured one of the best moments of defiance since the invasion started, the man literally biking circles around ICE in downtown Chicago, Chris is the rare indie reporter who is everywhere, has excellent analysis, and is truly kind and supportive for everyone in movement journalism. He has also covered the movement in Chicago for Gaza (even before October 7th). You should have followed him already!

Please, please share other people, calls to action, and how you’re holding up in the comments.

—

I’ll be back the week after next! I have no idea what will have happened by then back, though here are two ideas:

1. Everything happening now will have been completely forgotten about by the entirety of the media outside of Chicago

2. We will be the Free Republic of Illinois. Are we keeping the flag or what?

Either way, I know that everyone on Chicago X will continue to talk exclusively about property taxes !! All right!

Chicago 312 exists because there’s a gap in local, progressive, Chicago-centered content. Help us reach the same number of people that the right wing flywheel does:

PS — I turn 35 today! I think if it hadn't been such a completely bizarre news week, I would have shared more some of the reflections I've been seeing from other trans people around my age (and my ‘trans’ age, in terms of coming out) about being alive in this political moment.

But ultimately, I just want to say that I am really grateful to still be here in spite of everything and in spite of unfair this feels, often. Thank you for reading + for fighting.