On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis took the unusual step of ordering Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino to appear in court every day to report on “use of force incidents” after a series of tear gassings in Chicago neighborhoods flouted her past orders.

On Wednesday, less than two hours before Bovino — the head of Trump’s Chicago immigration crackdown — was set to appear before Ellis for his first check-in, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals put a temporary halt to the judge’s order. 

On today's podcast, federal defense attorney Mike Leonard on the role of federal judges in Operation Midway Blitz. 

Host - Jon Hansen

Guest - Mike Leonard

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Who we are

Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a meaningful way.

We amplify positive stories, cover development and local school council meetings and serve as watchdogs in neighborhoods often ostracized by traditional news media.

Ground-level coverage

Our neighborhood-based reporters don't parachute in once to cover a story. They are in the neighborhoods they cover every day building relationships over time with neighbors. We believe this  ground-level approach not only builds community but leads to a more accurate portrayal of a  neighborhood.

Stories that matter to you — every day

Since our launch seven years ago, we've published more than 30,000 stories from the neighborhoods, covered hundreds of community meetings and send daily and neighborhood newsletters to more than 150,000 Chicagoans. 

We've built this loyalty by proving to folks we are not only covering their neighborhoods, we are a part of them. 

Some of us have internalized the national media's narrative of a broken Chicago. We aim to change that by celebrating our neighborhoods and chronicling the resilience of the people who fight every day to make Chicago a better place for all.