Chicago Public Square Newscasts

This is the last Chicago Public Square Newscast for a while. As fun as creating it is, it takes a lot of time and so we’re going to take a summer break—partly to free more bandwidth for the main Chicago Public Square daily email and other projects and partly to check that old saying about absence making the heart grow fonder. If you’d like the newscast to return sooner rather than later, you can convey your heart’s fondness rating via email to [email protected]. Regardless, you’re always welcome at ChicagoPublicSquare.com, where you should definitely sign up to get news dispatches from the mothership daily—free. And follow Square on Facebook and Twitter for between-edition fixes. For now: Here’s the news. Thanks for listening. —Charlie Meyerson

Wanna know what terrible technology is headed your way in the years ahead? Journalist and science fiction author Cory Doctorow says it’s not hard: Take a look at what The Powers That Be are foisting on prisoners and students. Doctorow joined the Chicago Public Square Podcast for half an hour or so to talk about police brutality; controversial high-rise developments and “poor-doors”; the criminalization of copyright law; and his new book, Radicalized—a collection of four science fiction novellas that the jacket calls “Tales of Our Present Moment.” Listen here, on your favorite podcast player, on Amazon’s Alexa-powered speakers* or on iTunes (say “Hey, Siri! Play Chicago Public Square Podcasts”). Enjoying these podcasts? Keep them coming by joining The Legion of Chicago Public Squarians. And if you’re a Doctorow fan, check out his Craphound website, where you can download many of his works (but not Radicalized) free; and Boing Boing, the news site he co-edits. *Even if you don’t have an Alexa speaker, you can turn iOS and Android phones into Alexa devices for free—a low-impact way to experiment with the technology. (Photo: Charlie Meyerson.)

Filmmaker Steve James’s work—including the Oscar-nominated Hoop Dreams and Abacus—has won him critical acclaim galore and goodwill in the town where he lives, Oak Park. But when he set out to create his 10-part documentary series America to Me—about Oak Park, its historic commitment to integration and its high school’s challenges in living up to a reputation for inclusiveness—he had his doubts. Hear all about that—and catch up with two of the students spotlighted by this celebrated Starz series—in a Chicago Public Square Podcast. Listen here or on Amazon’s Alexa-powered speakers*, iTunes, Spotify (new!) or your favorite podcast player. (Photo: Wednesday Journal / Alexa Rogals.) If you enjoy this, check out other podcasts in the series. And if you’re new to these parts, please sign up for the free daily Square news update here. * Even if you don’t have an Alexa smart speaker, you can turn iOS and Android phones into Alexa devices for free—a low-impact way to experiment with the technology.

Filmmaker Steve James’s work—including the Oscar-nominated Hoop Dreams and Abacus—has won him critical acclaim galore and goodwill in the town where he lives, Oak Park. But when he set out to create his 10-part documentary series America to Me—about Oak Park, its historic commitment to integration and its high school’s challenges in living up to a reputation for inclusiveness—he had his doubts. Hear all about that—and catch up with two of the students spotlighted by this celebrated Starz series—in a Chicago Public Square Podcast. Listen here or on Amazon’s Alexa-powered speakers*, iTunes or your favorite podcast player. (Photo: Wednesday Journal / Alexa Rogals.) If you enjoy this, check out other podcasts in the series. And if you’re new to these parts, please sign up for the free daily Square news update here. * Even if you don’t have an Alexa smart speaker, you can turn iOS and Android phones into Alexa devices for free—a low-impact way to experiment with the technology.

Filmmaker Steve James’s work—including the Oscar-nominated Hoop Dreams and Abacus—has won him critical acclaim galore and goodwill in the town where he lives, Oak Park. But when he set out to create his 10-part documentary series America to Me—about Oak Park, its historic commitment to integration and its high school’s challenges in living up to a reputation for inclusiveness—he had his doubts. Hear all about that—and catch up with two of the students spotlighted by this celebrated Starz series—in a Chicago Public Square Podcast. Listen here or on Amazon’s Alexa-powered speakers*, iTunes or your favorite podcast player. (Photo: Wednesday Journal / Carrie Marling Bankes at Dominican University in River Forest.) If you enjoy this, check out other podcasts in the series. And if you’re new to these parts, please sign up for the free daily Square news update here. * Even if you don’t have an Alexa smart speaker, you can turn iOS and Android phones into Alexa devices for free—a low-impact way to experiment with the technology.

This is the last Chicago Public Square Newscast for a while. As fun as creating it is, it takes a lot of time and so we’re going to take a summer break—partly to free more bandwidth for the main Chicago Public Square daily email and other projects and partly to check that old saying about absence making the heart grow fonder. If you’d like the newscast to return sooner rather than later, you can convey your heart’s fondness rating via email to [email protected]. Regardless, you’re always welcome at ChicagoPublicSquare.com, where you should definitely sign up to get news dispatches from the mothership daily—free. And follow Square on Facebook and Twitter for between-edition fixes. For now: Here’s the news. Thanks for listening. —Charlie Meyerson

No one said explaining the president would be an easy job. No one said staying at an Airbnb or other shared home in Chicago would stay cheap. And no one told you you could call “almond milk” milk forever.

This is your Chicago Public Square Newscast.

Listen here, or on Amazon’s Alexa-powered speakers*, iTunes or your favorite podcast player.

Enjoying these newscasts? Keep them coming by joining The Legion of Chicago Public Squarians.

* Even if you don’t have an Alexa smart speaker, you can turn iOS and Android phones into Alexa devices for free—a low-impact way to experiment with the technology.

President Trump says he made a mistake. Mayor Emanuel’s not satisfied. And is Twitter a little less tweety lately?

This is your Chicago Public Square Newscast.

Listen here, or on Amazon’s Alexa-powered speakers*, iTunes or your favorite podcast player.

Enjoying these newscasts? Keep them coming by joining The Legion of Chicago Public Squarians.

* Even if you don’t have an Alexa smart speaker, you can turn iOS and Android phones into Alexa devices for free—a low-impact way to experiment with the technology.

Illinois has new gun protections. President Trump has fresh critics. And CVS says it’s sorry.

This is your Chicago Public Square Newscast.

Listen here, or on Amazon’s Alexa-powered speakers*, iTunes or your favorite podcast player.

Enjoying these newscasts? Keep them coming by joining The Legion of Chicago Public Squarians.

  * Even if you don’t have an Alexa smart speaker, you can turn iOS and Android phones into Alexa devices for free—a low-impact way to experiment with the technology.

The woman in the flag T-shirt speaks out. A Chicago cop is in trouble—again. And 24 more shoes drop in the Russia investigation.

This is your Chicago Public Square Newscast.

Listen here, or on Amazon’s Alexa-powered speakers*, iTunes or your favorite podcast player.

Enjoying these newscasts? Keep them coming by joining The Legion of Chicago Public Squarians.

* Even if you don’t have an Alexa smart speaker, you can turn iOS and Android phones into Alexa devices for free—a low-impact way to experiment with the technology.