Columns

A young woman reacts as she looks at her damaged home after Russia's night missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Oct. 14, 2026. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

Elizabeth Shackelford: Trump’s abhorrent Russian diesel deal defies US laws and won’t lower gas prices

By Elizabeth Shackelford

October 16, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Donald Trump has illegally undone sanctions efforts against Russia. For all of this, Americans won’t...

Saturday Night Live Host Shane Gillis during the monologue on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Will Heath/NBC/TNS)

Heidi Stevens: Shane Gillis ‘SNL’ opener misses the mark — and the moment

By Heidi Stevens

October 16, 2026 at 4:00 a.m.

The most disappointing thing about Shane Gillis’ shopworn, hackneyed, tone-deaf, retrograde, unfunny “Saturday Night Live”...

Former Indiana U,S. Rep. Lee Hamilton, who was co-chair of the Iraq Study Group, in his office at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington on Nov. 24, 2006. (Pete Souza/baiduhai)

John T. Shaw: We need Congress to ponder the long term with a new future-focused group

By John T. Shaw

October 14, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Half a century ago, many lawmakers viewed their responsibilities differently and created a forum to...

Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks at a rally to denounce recent actions taken by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement following a news conference from the agency's field office director, Robert Guadian, not pictured, in the 500 block of South Clark Street on Sept. 26, 2019.

Column: Honorable? Overwhelmed? Disappointing? What one word would you use to describe Mayor Lori Lightfoot?

By Mary Schmich

May 22, 2021 at 8:19 a.m.

Choose one of the following words to describe Lori Lightfoot during her time as mayor...

People protest outside of a Dixie Chicks concert at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 2003. A podcasts episode of "You're Wrong About" analyzed the Dixie Chicks and what happened before and after 2003 when the lead singer told a concert audience the band was ashamed of their fellow Texan, President George W. Bush.

Column: Two more for the road: My new favorite podcasts

By Eric Zorn

May 21, 2021 at 5:22 p.m.

As commuting to work resumes again for many and summer driving vacations are in the...

President Joe Biden during an expanded bilateral meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in (not shown) at White House in Washington on May 21, 2021.

Column: Why Biden is likely to fail on North Korea

By Steve Chapman

May 21, 2021 at 4:38 p.m.

Of the many mortifying moments of Donald Trump's presidency, few can match his hopeless infatuation...

Ferrai Pickett carries her 10-week-old daughter, Frances Geiger, while playing with the children she nannies on May 17, 2021, in West Town.

Column: Nanny who started annual Stand Up to Hate Play Date after racist letter targeted her is now mom to a baby girl

By Heidi Stevens

May 21, 2021 at 2:42 p.m.

Editor's note: This profile is the first of a series where we catch up with...

Mayor Lori Lightfoot arrives to announce a new community investment initiative on her two-year anniversary in office in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood on May 20, 2021.

Column: Mayor Lightfoot’s call out for media diversity didn’t have to look like a stunt

By Clarence Page

May 21, 2021 at 2:06 p.m.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has raised a ruckus by announcing that she would only give...

Column: Thanks for nothing, Chris Cuomo. CNN host advising his governor brother on sex harassment mess doesn’t help with public’s trust of journalists.

By Heidi Stevens

May 21, 2021 at 1:15 p.m.

Thanks for nothing, Chris Cuomo. The public's trust in traditional media is at an all-time...

Column: Waiting for Democrats to condemn Lightfoot’s racism, and hearing only crickets

By John Kass

May 21, 2021 at 5:00 a.m.

Is anyone truly surprised by the racist interview policy from Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot? As...

The 1,641-room Palmer House Hilton, pictured on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, is set to reopen on June 17.

After a devastating 15 months, downtown Chicago’s 5 largest hotels to be open by late June

By Ryan Ori

May 20, 2021 at 5:55 p.m.

Downtown Chicago's five largest hotels are expected to be back in business within the next...

Column: How to comply when you get pulled over — and what I did wrong 40 years ago

By Eric Zorn

May 20, 2021 at 3:27 p.m.

The first time I was pulled over for speeding, about 40 years ago, I was...

At Wrightwood 659 in Lincoln Park, a fascinating study of Greek identity and naked men

By Chris Jones

May 20, 2021 at 7:00 a.m.

Ever heard of the artist Yannis Tsarouchis? If the answer is yes, it's a pretty...

Columnists