Brian Mackey
@brianmackey.com
Host of the @21st.show, the statewide NPR talk show and podcast for Illinois.
Reposted by Brian Mackey
Building a stadium in Indiana "will bring Chicagoland together and deliver new opportunities to its residents and businesses," the Chicago Bears announce.
June 5, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Building a stadium in Indiana "will bring Chicagoland together and deliver new opportunities to its residents and businesses," the Chicago Bears announce.
Reposted by Brian Mackey
We've become numb to this stuff, but a president accusing a journalist of treason -- a capital crime -- for reporting on an ongoing war is not normal, and we should never accept it as normal.
Trump to NYT's David Sanger: "I had a total military victory. But the fake news, guys like you, write incorrectly. You're a fake guy. We had a total military victory. I actually think it's sort of treasonous what you write. You should be ashamed of yourself. I actually think it's treason."
May 15, 2026 at 12:55 PM
We've become numb to this stuff, but a president accusing a journalist of treason -- a capital crime -- for reporting on an ongoing war is not normal, and we should never accept it as normal.
Reposted by Brian Mackey
Thanks to @brianmackey.com for inviting me on NPR's @21st.show to talk about Pope Leo and US politics. Also featuring my former colleague Mary FioRito! (And an interview with Cardinal Cupich, which I will link to in comments)
will.illinois.edu/21stshow/sto...
will.illinois.edu/21stshow/sto...
to.talk
May 6, 2026 at 7:49 PM
Thanks to @brianmackey.com for inviting me on NPR's @21st.show to talk about Pope Leo and US politics. Also featuring my former colleague Mary FioRito! (And an interview with Cardinal Cupich, which I will link to in comments)
will.illinois.edu/21stshow/sto...
will.illinois.edu/21stshow/sto...
Reposted by Brian Mackey
A staggering statement from former Washington Post editor Marty Baron: "This ranks among the darkest days in the history of one of the world's greatest news organizations."
February 4, 2026 at 2:34 PM
A staggering statement from former Washington Post editor Marty Baron: "This ranks among the darkest days in the history of one of the world's greatest news organizations."
Reposted by Brian Mackey
Now seems like a swell time to point out that Frontline just released this excellent 11-minute mini-documentary about what happened inside CECOT.
Surviving CECOT (full documentary) | Deported to a Maximum-Security Prison | FRONTLINE + ProPublica
YouTube video by FRONTLINE PBS | Official
m.youtube.com
December 21, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Now seems like a swell time to point out that Frontline just released this excellent 11-minute mini-documentary about what happened inside CECOT.
"I don’t fear losing. What has become apparent to me is that I now dread the prospect of winning."
Jared Golden: I won’t seek reelection. Here’s why.
"What I could accomplish in this increasingly unproductive Congress pales in comparison to what I could do in that time as a husband, a father and a son."
www.bangordailynews.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:09 PM
"I don’t fear losing. What has become apparent to me is that I now dread the prospect of winning."
Reposted by Brian Mackey
Fulton County Courthouse in Lewistown, not far from one of our state’s more famous cemeteries. I had the great honor speaking with @brianmackey.com on @21st.show yesterday about some central Illinois gravesites. Link below!
October 23, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Fulton County Courthouse in Lewistown, not far from one of our state’s more famous cemeteries. I had the great honor speaking with @brianmackey.com on @21st.show yesterday about some central Illinois gravesites. Link below!
Reposted by Brian Mackey
At Broadview ICE facility, federal agents hurl tear gas and pepper spray at protesters blocking vans www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/19/t...
At Broadview ICE facility, federal agents hurl tear gas and pepper spray at protesters blocking vans
Federal agents hurled tear gas and pepper spray into a crowd of about 100 protesters who attempted to block vans from entering and exiting a U.S. Immigration and Customs holding facility in Broadvi…
www.chicagotribune.com
September 19, 2025 at 4:24 PM
At Broadview ICE facility, federal agents hurl tear gas and pepper spray at protesters blocking vans www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/19/t...
Stark dispatch from Washington by my friend @danvock.bsky.social:
Hostile government takeover: D.C. edition
President Donald Trump's police takeover and surge of federal forces is disrupting life in big ways and small for District residents. He wants the same thing for people in other cities too.
substack.com
August 22, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Stark dispatch from Washington by my friend @danvock.bsky.social:
Reposted by Brian Mackey
it does feel like a rubicon being passed today but does anyone remember the arson at the house of the most prominent jewish elected leader in america
like
two months ago
like
two months ago
Gov. Tim Walz says Democratic Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot and killed last night in “a political assassination.”
June 14, 2025 at 4:09 PM
it does feel like a rubicon being passed today but does anyone remember the arson at the house of the most prominent jewish elected leader in america
like
two months ago
like
two months ago
Tuned into the White Sox game in the bottom of the 8th. Score was 2–2, and within a few minutes the Sox were up 7–2.
Last night I tuned into the end of the NBA Finals, and Indiana went up for the first time in the entire game with 0.3 seconds to go.
Any other sports teams I can help out tonight?
Last night I tuned into the end of the NBA Finals, and Indiana went up for the first time in the entire game with 0.3 seconds to go.
Any other sports teams I can help out tonight?
June 7, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Tuned into the White Sox game in the bottom of the 8th. Score was 2–2, and within a few minutes the Sox were up 7–2.
Last night I tuned into the end of the NBA Finals, and Indiana went up for the first time in the entire game with 0.3 seconds to go.
Any other sports teams I can help out tonight?
Last night I tuned into the end of the NBA Finals, and Indiana went up for the first time in the entire game with 0.3 seconds to go.
Any other sports teams I can help out tonight?
Reposted by Brian Mackey
This is shocking.
I directly worked on designing the integration and protections of CityKey. It was designed to provide an ID, be a transit card, library and discount card.
It was to *never* create a digital record while being compatible with state and city laws. Subpoena-proof.
I directly worked on designing the integration and protections of CityKey. It was designed to provide an ID, be a transit card, library and discount card.
It was to *never* create a digital record while being compatible with state and city laws. Subpoena-proof.
ICE subpoenas Chicago for records of applicants in city ID program used by immigrants www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/06/i...
ICE subpoenas Chicago for records of applicants in city ID program used by immigrants
the Chicago Clerk’s Office has kept identifying application materials for more than 2,700 people who used the online CityKey system since December, documents ICE is seeking.
www.chicagotribune.com
June 6, 2025 at 9:28 PM
This is shocking.
I directly worked on designing the integration and protections of CityKey. It was designed to provide an ID, be a transit card, library and discount card.
It was to *never* create a digital record while being compatible with state and city laws. Subpoena-proof.
I directly worked on designing the integration and protections of CityKey. It was designed to provide an ID, be a transit card, library and discount card.
It was to *never* create a digital record while being compatible with state and city laws. Subpoena-proof.
Reposted by Brian Mackey
And finally (for now), SCOTUS will consider Bost v. Illinois whether federal candidates have standing to challenge state laws that count late-arriving ballots postmarked by Election Day. Not the merits (yet), just the standing question. www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24...
June 2, 2025 at 1:58 PM
And finally (for now), SCOTUS will consider Bost v. Illinois whether federal candidates have standing to challenge state laws that count late-arriving ballots postmarked by Election Day. Not the merits (yet), just the standing question. www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24...
Reposted by Brian Mackey
This is such a good example of "turn every page" journalism - nothing less fun/glam than clicking through every footnote.
And it's roughly 10,000x more newsy than the thumbsucker RFK profiles reported with big travel budgets.
And it's roughly 10,000x more newsy than the thumbsucker RFK profiles reported with big travel budgets.
The New York Times has found at least two more fake citations in the MAHA report.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/29/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/29/w...
White House Health Report Included Fake Citations
www.nytimes.com
May 29, 2025 at 9:52 PM
This is such a good example of "turn every page" journalism - nothing less fun/glam than clicking through every footnote.
And it's roughly 10,000x more newsy than the thumbsucker RFK profiles reported with big travel budgets.
And it's roughly 10,000x more newsy than the thumbsucker RFK profiles reported with big travel budgets.
Reposted by Brian Mackey
Update: Journalism has been purchased by a hedge fund which announced multiple amputations
May 18, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Update: Journalism has been purchased by a hedge fund which announced multiple amputations
Reposted by Brian Mackey
Pope Leo spotted on the 2005 World Series broadcast
May 9, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Pope Leo spotted on the 2005 World Series broadcast
Great short essay on Pope Leo, the White Sox, and the Beatitudes, by @soxmachine.com:
"While I'd known at some level that every pope is a person [...] it didn't resonate like seeing a picture of the person who is now pope wearing a White Sox jersey in the stands of U.S. Cellular Field."
"While I'd known at some level that every pope is a person [...] it didn't resonate like seeing a picture of the person who is now pope wearing a White Sox jersey in the stands of U.S. Cellular Field."
So the pope is a White Sox fan - Sox Machine
In his autobiography, Bill Veeck wrote, “If there is any justice in this world, to be a White Sox fan frees a man from any form of penance.” Now that a White Sox fan is literally the pope, I guess we’...
soxmachine.com
May 9, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Great short essay on Pope Leo, the White Sox, and the Beatitudes, by @soxmachine.com:
"While I'd known at some level that every pope is a person [...] it didn't resonate like seeing a picture of the person who is now pope wearing a White Sox jersey in the stands of U.S. Cellular Field."
"While I'd known at some level that every pope is a person [...] it didn't resonate like seeing a picture of the person who is now pope wearing a White Sox jersey in the stands of U.S. Cellular Field."
Reposted by Brian Mackey
Wrote about the pope being a White Sox fan. It's pretty crazy! soxmachine.com/2025/05/so-t...
So the pope is a White Sox fan - Sox Machine
In his autobiography, Bill Veeck wrote, “If there is any justice in this world, to be a White Sox fan frees a man from any form of penance.” Now that a White Sox fan is literally the pope, I guess we’...
soxmachine.com
May 9, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Wrote about the pope being a White Sox fan. It's pretty crazy! soxmachine.com/2025/05/so-t...
Reposted by Brian Mackey
Cardinal Robert Prevost (center, blue shirt) visited the flagship @AureliosPizza location in Homewood in August with friends and family. Who could've imagined what would happen less than a year later! wgntv.com/news/robert-...
May 9, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Cardinal Robert Prevost (center, blue shirt) visited the flagship @AureliosPizza location in Homewood in August with friends and family. Who could've imagined what would happen less than a year later! wgntv.com/news/robert-...
Reposted by Brian Mackey
"This is Hawk Harrelson with Ed Farmer and the Pope at US Cellular and this is the 2005 World Series..."
May 9, 2025 at 2:59 AM
"This is Hawk Harrelson with Ed Farmer and the Pope at US Cellular and this is the 2005 World Series..."
Reposted by Brian Mackey
Please have your first draft of history here, via half the Tribune and captained by @stacystclair.bsky.social
That was a fun day at work. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/05/08/r...
That was a fun day at work. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/05/08/r...
The White Sox, Aurelio's Pizza and St. Mary's Mass: A South Sider becomes pope
Robert Prevost’s Catholic roots were planted in Chicago’s south suburbs, where he lived in Dolton and attended St. Mary’s parish before becoming Pope Leo XIV.
www.chicagotribune.com
May 9, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Please have your first draft of history here, via half the Tribune and captained by @stacystclair.bsky.social
That was a fun day at work. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/05/08/r...
That was a fun day at work. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/05/08/r...
And here I thought Chicago media reached peak “area man” stories in the Obama era.
May 8, 2025 at 10:18 PM
And here I thought Chicago media reached peak “area man” stories in the Obama era.
"It is now up to us to take the keys to freedom into our own hands."
Shortfilm Wim Wenders: The Keys to Freedom
YouTube video by AuswaertigesAmtDE
www.youtube.com
May 6, 2025 at 7:09 PM
"It is now up to us to take the keys to freedom into our own hands."
Implement a 100% tariff and ruin a movie.
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, Her Lover, Their Accountant, His Shipping Agent, Our Trade Representative, & an Unemployed Longshoreman (1989)
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, Her Lover, Their Accountant, His Shipping Agent, Our Trade Representative, & an Unemployed Longshoreman (1989)
Implement a 100% tariff and ruin a movie.
QUADRUPLE INDEMNITY (1944)
QUADRUPLE INDEMNITY (1944)
Implement a 100% tariff and ruin a movie.
Half Full Metal Jacket
Half Full Metal Jacket
May 5, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Implement a 100% tariff and ruin a movie.
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, Her Lover, Their Accountant, His Shipping Agent, Our Trade Representative, & an Unemployed Longshoreman (1989)
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, Her Lover, Their Accountant, His Shipping Agent, Our Trade Representative, & an Unemployed Longshoreman (1989)
One heck of a fact-check story by @katierosman.bsky.social. Somehow manages to be heartwarming, heartbreaking, affirming and dispiriting — often in adjoining paragraphs. Be prepared for a rollercoaster.
‘I Have Cancer,’ the TikTok Star Said. Then Came the Torrent of Hate.
Sydney Towle’s videos have drawn an enormous audience on TikTok, where her followers praise and support her. On Reddit, an army of skeptics was determined to paint her as a fraud.
www.nytimes.com
May 1, 2025 at 9:22 PM
One heck of a fact-check story by @katierosman.bsky.social. Somehow manages to be heartwarming, heartbreaking, affirming and dispiriting — often in adjoining paragraphs. Be prepared for a rollercoaster.