Rickipedia | Substack Occasional reflections, mostly personal. Click to read Rickipedia, by Rick Perlstein, a Substack publication with thousands of subscribers.

I've finished "The Infernal Triangle: How America Got this Way." Farewell to the 5-book project that consumed some 30 years, over half my life! For the nonce, writing deadline-free on this Substack. First 50 subs get signed books or personal Zoom greetings. PAY ME!!!

rickperlstein.substack.com

Former Chicago Ald. Edward Burke lists Southwest Side home for $1.5M Former Chicago Ald. Edward Burke and his wife, retired Illinois State Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke, listed their 5,760-square-foot house in the Southwest Side West Elsdon neighborhood for sale ...

Ed Burke is selling his custom-made compound on the Southwest Side. Craziest place I’ve ever staked out, totally out of place in the neighborhood but a marvel to behold www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/06/e...

Bridgeport family sells home after 116 years: ‘This house has known us, kept us, and loved us’ Generations of the Slajchert family lived in the home for more than 100 years. Now the family is selling the property after the home’s last matriarch died last summer. She was 91.

Bridgeport family sells home after 116 years. “This house has known us, kept us, and loved us’.” A little profile and slice of life, in today’s @chicagotribune.com www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/06/b...

Double dang www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/06/m...

Mayor Brandon Johnson angles for CHA control amid city agency turmoil. Is it too late? Turmoil across three agencies comes less than a year out from a potential Brandon Johnson reelection bid and could fester into a campaign-trail albatross.

Mayor Brandon Johnson angles for CHA control amid city agency turmoil. Is it too late? This story really illustrates how the mayor has failed to exercise political power. By @aliceyin.bsky.social and @taliasoglin.bsky.social www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/06/m...

Former CPS principal enters race for Chicago school board president The former Chicago Public Schools principal is the fourth candidate to enter the race to lead the district’s first fully elected board.

Former CPS principal Jessica Biggs enters race for Chicago school board president. With all other races more in Illinois largely uncompetitive, this will be the most contested and important in the fall. Story by Kate Armanini
www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/06/f...

As Trump administration rolls back LGBTQ+ protections, some flock to Peoria for a reprieve Amid an increasingly hostile environment for the LGTBQ+ community under the second Trump administration, people are flocking to a central Illinois community for a reprieve.

As Trump administration rolls back LGBTQ+ protections, some flock to Peoria for a reprieve. A story of the times from @tesskenny.bsky.social www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/05/l...

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s agenda under fire in Springfield For decades, Chicago mayors have fought uphill battles in the statehouse, but the efforts by some Democratic lawmakers to forestall Brandon Johnson are unusual.

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s agenda under fire in Springfield. For decades, Chicago mayors have fought uphill battles in the statehouse, but the efforts by some Democratic lawmakers to forestall Mayor Brandon Johnson are unusual. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/05/m...

Chicago Public Schools second-in-command departs, as officials call for more Latino leadership Leadership shakeups at CPS have resurfaced questions about race and Latino representation in the nation’s fourth-largest school district.

Chicago Public Schools second-in-command departs, as officials call for more Latino leadership.
www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/02/l...

Pam Bondi gave every appearance of trying to do whatever Trump told her to do and yet she's being fired. The next Attorney General will surely release the Kraken.

West Suburban Medical Center struggled to treat patients months before closing The owner of the Oak Park hospital vows to reopen this summer, though finding the money is a big barrier. Recent inspection reports also show broader issues.

NEW: Months before West Suburban Medical Center abruptly closed, the hospital struggled to treat patients — and keep the heat on. @kwashburn.bsky.social and I have receipts.

tinyurl.com/4sbbjeku @wbez.org @chicago.suntimes.com

Overheard at City Hall: Walter Burnett can still become head of the CHA if the board has the courage to act.

Musk’s tunnel from O’Hare to downtown was a bonkers idea for a press conference with not much else going for it. It was goofy as heck.

Latino leaders sent a letter to new CPS CEO Macqueline King congratulating her on her appointment — and calling for more Latino representation on the board.

American Journalist Abducted in Iraq, Security Officials Say

Absolutely gutted to learn my friend, Shelly Kittleson, has been kidnapped in Baghdad possibly by Kataib Hezbollah, according to initial reports. Shelly is incredibly kind, talented, and cares deeply about the region and its people. Praying for her safe return.

I need to adjust my schedule for the coming days to watch the new Super Mario Bros movie. That is all.

Operation Midway Blitz in charts: Roughly 3,800 detained, and 2,500 deported, most with no criminal record New data from Operation Midway Blitz offers some surprising, and some expected, revelations on those detained and deported.

“The worst of the worst” was a lie, exhibit 164. Operation Midway Blitz in charts: Roughly 3,800 detained, and 2,500 deported, most with no criminal record. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/31/o...

Opening the veins of the American economy... I'd wager there's not a single person in this country who doesn't have an immigrant-owned small business in their lives. It's your food franchises, corner stores, gas stations, dry cleaners, daycares, groceries, car washes, liquor stores...

Immigration court observers — and their oversight — routinely locked out of process Legal observers are being digitally shut out of immigration court hearings at a moment of uncertainty for immigrants who are seeking to obtain legal status around the country against a tide of new pol...

Immigration court observers — and their oversight — routinely locked out of process. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/30/i...

Court battles hit taxpayer wallets The costs of Chicago police misconduct have grown enormous as the city settles lawsuit after lawsuit using expensive private counsel to handle most of the work.

Court battles hit taxpayer wallets. Chicago’s legal strategy on reversed-conviction suits — private attorneys, drawn-out fights — adds millions to costs. Reporting from @joemahr.bsky.social @jmetr22b.bsky.social dream team www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/29/c...

The last man at the shoeshine stand For 20 years, Steve Fullerton has polished and buffed the footwear of famous Chicagoans and faithful regulars from his bench in the Cook County Building.

A very nice story from Stefano Esposito: The last man at the shoeshine stand. About Steve Fullerton, who shines shoes in the Cook County Building.
www.wbez.org/business/202...

In personal news: It’s an honor to be a 2026 Studs Terkel Awards winner with an incredible class of journalists. The Terkel circle includes some of my personal heroes. I’m looking forward to celebrating and honoring our crew.

These are the finalists for the 49th Annual Peter Lisagor Awards - Chicago Headline Club The finalists for the 49th Annual Peter Lisagor Awards represent some of the best journalism produced in Illinois and northwest Indiana from across print, digital and broadcast media. Our thanks to ev...

Congratulations to all the Lisagor awards finalists! headlineclub.org/2026/03/27/t...

Hegseth Strikes Two Black and Two Female Officers From Promotion List

Pete Hegseth’s chief of staff told the Army Secretary that President Trump would not want to stand next to a Black female officer at military events, officials said, according to the New York Times www.nytimes.com/2026/03/27/u...

Sheridan Gorman’s family released a new statement about Loyola University, praising the school and saying their daughter felt safe there.

Border Patrol agents ignored orders to end car chase before gassing Chicago neighborhood DHS claimed federal agents intentionally hit a fleeing vehicle to try to stop the driver in Chicago’s East Side neighborhood last October—but videos of the 18-minute high-speed pursuit show they actua...

NEW: Last October, Border Patrol agents gassed Chicagoans after agents caused a major car crash on the southeast side.

I analyzed body cam videos that show agents Benito Nunez, Oscar Guillen, and Carlos Chavira ignored orders to end the pursuit—moments before they blew a tire and crashed.

Yesterday was my 13th anniversary with the @chicagotribune.com Lots of change and tumult over the years, at the paper and in the world. But the mission is eternal and I am blessed to work with incredible people. Thank you.

Gov. JB Pritzker acknowledges ‘real failures’ in immigration system after Loyola student’s killing Loyola student Sheridan Gorman, 18, was shot and killed last week. Charged is 25-year-old Jose Medina, who authorities said is a Venezuelan national who was in the U.S. without legal permission.

NEWS: Gov. JB Pritzker acknowledges “real failures” in immigration system after Loyola student’s killing. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/24/j...

Frank Thomas sues White Sox, other companies for profiting from identity without his consent The complaint, filed March 19 in Cook County, alleges that Nike, Fanatics Apparel, and the White Sox profited from selling items bearing Thomas’s name without his consent or compensation.

Frank Thomas sues White Sox, other companies for profiting from identity without his consent. The Big Hurt with Big Litigation as his relationship with the team continues negative
www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/24/f...

Gregory Bovino’s Twitter account has been rebranded (overtaken?) by the government