■ The judge told Trump’s lawyer, “You’re losing all credibility with the court.”
■ Law prof Joyce Vance: “Judge Merchan will have to either show Trump the gag order has teeth or concede that it’s meaningless and that Trump can do whatever he wants.”
■ At least one man was escorted from the overflow courtroom today in handcuffs.
■ The trial was to resume with more testimony from ex-National Enquirer boss David Pecker, who went public for the first time about his role in the so-called “catch and kill” operation at the heart of corruption charges against Trump.
■ Trivia: As an accountant for CBS’ Fawcett magazine division, Pecker negotiated sale of the “Captain Marvel” character to rival DC Comics (2022 link).
‘He’s the one … who … commits crimes to cover his tracks.’ Ex-Illinois Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger: “For years Trump has called other people … criminals, and impugned their character. One day into the trial it’s obvious that he has been speaking from experience.”
■ A Daily Beast recap of Monday’s proceedings: “Snoozy Trump Wakes Up as Prosecutor Calls Him a Liar.”
■ Trump’s niece Mary: “As someone who has known Donald for almost six decades (oy), I can tell you that beneath the bluster, there lies a fear so profound, it consumes him.”
■ Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin: “Trump has never looked so small, so weary and so feeble.” (Gift link, paid for because readers support Chicago Public Square.)
‘Fox … has taken advantage of the transparency in court proceedings to turn the jurors into targets.’ Media critic Mark Jacob says the channel’s coverage of Trump’s trial recalls its approach to the 2020 election: “If our side wins, it’s fair. If our side loses, it’s crooked.”
■ Jon Stewart slams the breathless journalistic attention to things like Trump’s commute to court: “If the media tries to make us feel like the most mundane bullsh*t is earthshattering, we won’t believe you when it’s really interesting. It’s your classic ‘Boy Who Cried Wolf Blitzer.’”
■ The Washington Post delivers what Poynter’s Tom Jones calls an “unsettling and disturbing” statistical analysis of Trump’s social media posts since 2021.
‘I reject the idea that calling or voting for a ceasefire in Gaza is necessarily tantamount to disrespecting the dead or an act of anti-Semitism.’ Columnist Eric Zorn answers readers opposed to his criticism of Jewish leaders who’ve refused to meet with Mayor Johnson about such things.
■ Guidance from ex-Labor Secretary Robert Reich: “How to talk about Israel and Gaza on a college campus (or anywhere else).”
Off-track. The mayor’s latest CTA Oversight Board appointee: A pastor who is not a transit expert …
■ … kind of a middle finger to Gov. Pritzker.
Grocery chopping. In a move to persuade the feds to approve a merger, the Kroger and Albertsons chains are offering to sell another 35 stores in Illinois.
■ Mall fashion staple Express is filing for bankruptcy and closing almost 100 stores.
■ Popular Information declares that Volkswagen employee vote in Tennessee “a historic victory for unions.”
They just can’t quit the lakefront. Evidently deaf to environmentalists’ opposition to more crap along Chicago’s Lake Michigan shoreline, the Bears were planning to unveil yet another proposal for a domed stadium on the city’s Museum Campus …
■ … this time, including a call to demolish Soldier Field.
#SaveWBEZ. Staffers at Chicago’s public radio station have launched a petition drive to avert layoffs.
■ Departing WTTW anchor Paris Schutz’ next stop: Fox 32 Chicago.
■ Four editors tell Nieman Lab what it takes to run a newspaper in the digital era.
Thanks. Mike Braden made this edition better.
