
Daywatch: Intuit Art Museum has its big reopening
Good morning, Chicago.
Where most museums would open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, the Intuit Art Museum, following a landmark $10 million renovation, reopened to the public recently with a ribbon-tying.
Public officials and other guests turned to their neighbors and connected the ends of their ribbon scraps to create a long, interconnected artwork that will remain in the museum's collection.
It was an apt way to ring in a new chapter for this West Town institution. Since its founding in 1991, the museum has collected work by self-taught artists, often called 'outsider art.' Before that, it was called 'art brut' or 'primitive art.'
But all those terms are — forgive the pun — on the outs. After receiving a transformative grant from the city's Department of Planning and Development to refurbish its space, Intuit took its facelift as an opportunity to rebrand. What was formerly 'Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art' now avoids the divisive 'outsider' terminology to simply become 'Intuit Art Museum.' It has a catchy acronym to boot: IAM, pronounced 'I am.'
Read the full story.
And here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including the latest in the public transit funding debate, what Caleb Williams said about 'evading' the Bears and our picks for dance performances to catch this summer.
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President Donald Trump has commuted the federal life sentence for infamous Chicago-born Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover, abruptly ending Hoover's yearslong quest to win early release under the First Step Act passed during Trump's first term.
The controversial move — part of a slew of clemency actions announced by the White House this week — appeared to have already sparked Hoover's transfer out of the supermax prison compound in Florence, Colorado, that he'd called home for the past two decades. But Hoover isn't going free.
Trump officially pardons reality TV stars Julie and Todd Chrisley, convicted in 2022 of fraud and tax evasion
How many presidential pardons or sentence commutations have been granted to people from Illinois?
As Illinois lawmakers continue to work on a spending plan in the final days of the spring legislative session, Gov. JB Pritzker offered no insight yesterday on negotiations but said he'd veto any spending plan that includes 'broad-based' taxes to balance a budget that faces a shortfall estimated at $1 billion.
Illinois legislators passed a law yesterday to explicitly prevent police from ticketing and fining students for minor misbehavior at school, ending a practice that harmed students across the state.
The legislation comes three years after a ProPublica and Chicago Tribune investigation, 'The Price Kids Pay,' revealed that even though Illinois law bans school officials from fining students directly, districts skirted the law by calling on police to issue citations for violating local ordinances.
As the Chicago Bears have waffled over the past year on where to build a new stadium, one constant has been Gov. JB Pritzker's skepticism about providing major public dollars to help fund the project.
But during that time, Pritzker has spent $100,000 in taxpayer funds for an outside legal consultant to advise the state in discussions with the team and the Bears have brought on an outside adviser with close ties to Pritzker's political operation and other Illinois Democrats, records show.
What to know about the Bears' possible move to Arlington Heights — or a domed stadium on the lakefront
Illinois lawmakers filed a long-awaited bill yesterday that would reform the Chicago area's public transportation system with changes to its overall governing structure and a new police force to patrol its bus and train lines.
But the bill, filed just days before the scheduled adjournment of the spring legislative session, does not include a proposal for how those reforms will be funded as Chicago-area transit agencies face an impending $771 million fiscal cliff at the end of this year.
CTA paid 10 employees just under $1.13 million to stay home, not work, watchdog says
Want a COVID-19 vaccination this fall? For many Americans, it's not clear how easy it will be to get one – or if they've lost the choice.
An Elgin man and a 16-year-old juvenile accused of attacking a lesbian woman at a Carpentersville McDonald's, leaving her badly injured, have been indicted on a hate crime charge by a Kane County grand jury.
For 15 minutes yesterday, Caleb Williams worked his hardest to close the back cover on a story that raised eyebrows across the NFL.
Two weeks ago, excerpts from Seth Wickersham's upcoming book 'American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback' offered new details and deeper insight into just how reluctant Williams was to play for the Chicago Bears before the 2024 draft.
This is a rare summer dance guide, in that most selections are surprisingly indoors. To be clear, there are a lot of chances to see dance en plein air if you want to, including all Chicago Dance Month has to offer. But more companies chose to extend their seasons into the warm months this year, including the Joffrey Ballet in a much-anticipated new ballet. That's just one of many air-conditioned options.
You know who's never had a big solo museum show in his own hometown? Strange as this sounds: Theaster Gates, the renowned, longtime Chicago artist, sculptor, community developer, collector, painter and all-around renaissance man.
That's why, beginning Sept. 23, the Smart Museum of Art at the University of Chicago in Hyde Park will open a landmark mid-career retrospective of Gates' far-flung art practices, using most of the museum's space, drawing on his paintings, pottery, films, installations and reclamation projects. '
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Hamilton Spectator
30 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Trump, frustrated with some judges, lashes out at former ally and conservative activist Leonard Leo
NEW YORK (AP) — Conservative legal activist Leonard Leo helped President Donald Trump transform the federal judiciary in his first term. He closely advised Trump on his Supreme Court picks and is widely credited as the architect of the conservative majority responsible for overturning Roe v. Wade. But Trump last week lashed out at Leo, blaming his former adviser and the group Leo used to head for encouraging him to appoint judges who are now blocking his agenda. Trump called Leo, the former longtime leader of the conservative Federalist Society, a 'real 'sleazebag'' and 'bad person who, in his own way, probably hates America.' Trump's broadsides came after a three-judge panel at the U.S. Court of International Trade blocked his sweeping tariffs, ruling that he had overstepped his authority when he invoked the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act to declare a national emergency and levy tariffs on imports from almost every country in the world. While an appeals court soon intervened and allowed the administration to continue collecting the tariffs while the legal fight plays out, the decision — and Trump's fury at Leo — underscored the extent to which the judiciary is serving as a rare check on Trump's power as he pushes the bounds of executive authority. The judiciary has intervened as he has ordered mass deportations, deep cuts to university funding and the firing of federal workers en masse. Trump's words reflect his broad frustrations with the judiciary, including members of the Supreme Court he appointed on Leo's recommendation, who have allowed some of his more controversial efforts to move forward, but blocked others. Trump's rhetoric also appeared to be a tactic to shift blame for setbacks to his agenda — this time notably pointing the finger at a person who once helped Trump build credibility with conservative voters. But it's unclear what — if anything — Leo had to do with the tariff decision. Leo said that neither he nor the Federalist Society was involved in shaping appointments to the trade court. He offered only praise for Trump. 'I'm very grateful for President Trump transforming the Federal Courts, and it was a privilege being involved,' he said in a statement. 'There's more work to be done, for sure, but the Federal Judiciary is better than it's ever been in modern history, and that will be President Trump's most important legacy.' Trump's attacks Trump's fury came via Truth Social after the court tried to halt the central plank of the president's economic agenda: sweeping tariffs that have rattled global financial markets, dismayed longtime trading partners, and prompted warnings about higher prices and inflation. In response, Trump issued a lengthy and angry missive criticizing the judges behind the decision, accusing them of 'destroying America' and saying he hoped the Supreme Court would quickly reverse 'this horrible, Country threatening decision.' Trump then referred to his first term as president, saying he 'was new to Washington, and it was suggested that I use The Federalist Society as a recommending source on Judges. I did so, openly and freely, but then realized that they were under the thumb of a real 'sleazebag' named Leonard Leo, a bad person who, in his own way, probably hates America, and obviously has his own separate ambitions.' 'I am so disappointed in The Federalist Society because of the bad advice they gave me on numerous Judicial Nominations,' he wrote. 'This is something that cannot be forgotten!' He added: 'Backroom 'hustlers' must not be allowed to destroy our Nation!' Some conservatives, including legal scholars, have been among those pushing back against Trump's trade wars, arguing the Constitution makes clear the power of the purse belongs to Congress, not the president. In April, the New Civil Liberties Alliance, a nonprofit group that Bloomberg Law reported is affiliated with Leo and Charles Koch, filed a separate lawsuit challenging Trump's tariffs on Chinese imports , also accusing him of acting in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. That move earned the ire of prominent Trump backers like Laura Loomer, who accused both Leo and the Federalist Society of working to undermine the president. The panel Trump assailed included judges appointed by Presidents Barack Obama and Ronald Reagan, as well as Timothy Reif, whom Trump nominated to the trade court during his first term. Reif, a Democrat, had previously worked for the U.S. Trade Representative in both the Obama and Trump administrations. In a questionnaire submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee as part of his confirmation process, Reif described working on a long list of Democratic campaigns. He volunteered on Edward Kennedy's presidential campaign in 1980, driving the press van in Kennedy's motorcade. He served as press secretary for John Lindsay's Senate campaign in 1980 and volunteered for New Jersey Rep. Rush Holt's reelection effort in 2000, when his responsibilities included 'driving and accompanying candidate's mother to campaign events.' He also volunteered for John Kerry in 2024 and Obama in 2008, and donated small amounts years ago to the Clintons and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. He appears to have participated in one Federalist Society-affiliated event : a panel on international trade in 2011 held by the Georgetown Law Student Chapter. The Federalist Society and Reif did not respond to requests for comment Friday. The White House did not respond to questions about why Trump blamed Leo and the Federalist Society for the decision, but Taylor Rogers, a White House spokesperson, doubled down, calling Leo 'a bad person who cares more about his personal ambitions than our country.' 'These judges must ditch their corrupt allegiance to Leonard and do the right thing for the American people before they completely destroy the credibility of our judicial branch,' she said. Who is Leonard Leo? Leo is not a household name, but few people have done more to advance conservative legal causes in the U.S. via a sprawling network of conservative groups. Decades ago, he began to execute a plan to build a pipeline for conservative talent, working to identify, support and promote law school students and lawyers who shared his originalist view of the Constitution, and helping them reach the nation's most powerful courts. Such efforts have reshaped the courts and Republican politics , culminating in Trump's first term with the appointment of three conservative Supreme Court justices . Leo's work also has prompted protests outside his home. The Federalist Society got its start on college campuses when Reagan was president. It was conceived as a way to counter what its members saw as liberal domination of the nation's law-school faculties. During his 2016 campaign, as Trump worked to win over social conservatives wary of electing a thrice-married New York businessman, he promised that the Federalist Society would oversee his judicial nominations, assuring their non-liberal bona fides. 'We're going to have great judges, conservative, all picked by the Federalist Society,' Trump told Breitbart News radio. And indeed, all three of the Supreme Court Justices Trump went on to nominate had appeared on a list famously compiled by Leo, who took a leave of absence as executive vice president of the society to serve as an outside adviser in the selection process. Leo has since stepped back from the Federalist Society and is now working to extend his reach beyond the courts with the Teneo Network , which he has described as an effort to 'crush liberal dominance' and create pipelines of conservative talent 'in all sectors of American life,' including Hollywood, entertainment, business and finance. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .


Washington Post
33 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Trump, frustrated with some judges, lashes out at former ally and conservative activist Leonard Leo
NEW YORK — Conservative legal activist Leonard Leo helped President Donald Trump transform the federal judiciary in his first term. He closely advised Trump on his Supreme Court picks and is widely credited as the architect of the conservative majority responsible for overturning Roe v. Wade. But Trump last week lashed out at Leo, blaming his former adviser and the group Leo used to head for encouraging him to appoint judges who are now blocking his agenda. Trump called Leo, the former longtime leader of the conservative Federalist Society, a 'real 'sleazebag'' and 'bad person who, in his own way, probably hates America.' Trump's broadsides came after a three-judge panel at the U.S. Court of International Trade blocked his sweeping tariffs, ruling that he had overstepped his authority when he invoked the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act to declare a national emergency and levy tariffs on imports from almost every country in the world. While an appeals court soon intervened and allowed the administration to continue collecting the tariffs while the legal fight plays out, the decision — and Trump's fury at Leo — underscored the extent to which the judiciary is serving as a rare check on Trump's power as he pushes the bounds of executive authority. The judiciary has intervened as he has ordered mass deportations, deep cuts to university funding and the firing of federal workers en masse. Trump's words reflect his broad frustrations with the judiciary, including members of the Supreme Court he appointed on Leo's recommendation, who have allowed some of his more controversial efforts to move forward, but blocked others. Trump's rhetoric also appeared to be a tactic to shift blame for setbacks to his agenda — this time notably pointing the finger at a person who once helped Trump build credibility with conservative voters. But it's unclear what — if anything — Leo had to do with the tariff decision. Leo said that neither he nor the Federalist Society was involved in shaping appointments to the trade court. He offered only praise for Trump. 'I'm very grateful for President Trump transforming the Federal Courts, and it was a privilege being involved,' he said in a statement. 'There's more work to be done, for sure, but the Federal Judiciary is better than it's ever been in modern history, and that will be President Trump's most important legacy.' Trump's fury came via Truth Social after the court tried to halt the central plank of the president's economic agenda: sweeping tariffs that have rattled global financial markets, dismayed longtime trading partners, and prompted warnings about higher prices and inflation. In response, Trump issued a lengthy and angry missive criticizing the judges behind the decision, accusing them of 'destroying America' and saying he hoped the Supreme Court would quickly reverse 'this horrible, Country threatening decision.' Trump then referred to his first term as president, saying he 'was new to Washington, and it was suggested that I use The Federalist Society as a recommending source on Judges. I did so, openly and freely, but then realized that they were under the thumb of a real 'sleazebag' named Leonard Leo, a bad person who, in his own way, probably hates America, and obviously has his own separate ambitions.' 'I am so disappointed in The Federalist Society because of the bad advice they gave me on numerous Judicial Nominations,' he wrote. 'This is something that cannot be forgotten!' He added: 'Backroom 'hustlers' must not be allowed to destroy our Nation!' Some conservatives, including legal scholars, have been among those pushing back against Trump's trade wars, arguing the Constitution makes clear the power of the purse belongs to Congress, not the president. In April, the New Civil Liberties Alliance, a nonprofit group that Bloomberg Law reported is affiliated with Leo and Charles Koch, filed a separate lawsuit challenging Trump's tariffs on Chinese imports , also accusing him of acting in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. That move earned the ire of prominent Trump backers like Laura Loomer, who accused both Leo and the Federalist Society of working to undermine the president. The panel Trump assailed included judges appointed by Presidents Barack Obama and Ronald Reagan, as well as Timothy Reif, whom Trump nominated to the trade court during his first term. Reif, a Democrat, had previously worked for the U.S. Trade Representative in both the Obama and Trump administrations. In a questionnaire submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee as part of his confirmation process, Reif described working on a long list of Democratic campaigns. He volunteered on Edward Kennedy's presidential campaign in 1980, driving the press van in Kennedy's motorcade. He served as press secretary for John Lindsay's Senate campaign in 1980 and volunteered for New Jersey Rep. Rush Holt's reelection effort in 2000, when his responsibilities included 'driving and accompanying candidate's mother to campaign events.' He also volunteered for John Kerry in 2024 and Obama in 2008, and donated small amounts years ago to the Clintons and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. He appears to have participated in one Federalist Society-affiliated event : a panel on international trade in 2011 held by the Georgetown Law Student Chapter. The Federalist Society and Reif did not respond to requests for comment Friday. The White House did not respond to questions about why Trump blamed Leo and the Federalist Society for the decision, but Taylor Rogers, a White House spokesperson, doubled down, calling Leo 'a bad person who cares more about his personal ambitions than our country.' 'These judges must ditch their corrupt allegiance to Leonard and do the right thing for the American people before they completely destroy the credibility of our judicial branch,' she said. Leo is not a household name, but few people have done more to advance conservative legal causes in the U.S. via a sprawling network of conservative groups. Decades ago, he began to execute a plan to build a pipeline for conservative talent, working to identify, support and promote law school students and lawyers who shared his originalist view of the Constitution, and helping them reach the nation's most powerful courts. Such efforts have reshaped the courts and Republican politics , culminating in Trump's first term with the appointment of three conservative Supreme Court justices . Leo's work also has prompted protests outside his home. The Federalist Society got its start on college campuses when Reagan was president. It was conceived as a way to counter what its members saw as liberal domination of the nation's law-school faculties. During his 2016 campaign, as Trump worked to win over social conservatives wary of electing a thrice-married New York businessman, he promised that the Federalist Society would oversee his judicial nominations, assuring their non-liberal bona fides. 'We're going to have great judges, conservative, all picked by the Federalist Society,' Trump told Breitbart News radio. And indeed, all three of the Supreme Court Justices Trump went on to nominate had appeared on a list famously compiled by Leo, who took a leave of absence as executive vice president of the society to serve as an outside adviser in the selection process. Leo has since stepped back from the Federalist Society and is now working to extend his reach beyond the courts with the Teneo Network , which he has described as an effort to 'crush liberal dominance' and create pipelines of conservative talent 'in all sectors of American life,' including Hollywood, entertainment, business and finance.


The Hill
39 minutes ago
- The Hill
US sends Iran nuclear proposal, WH says
The U.S. has sent Iran a nuclear proposal, the White House told The Hill's sister network NewsNation. 'President Trump has made it clear that Iran can never obtain a nuclear bomb. Special Envoy Witkoff has sent a detailed and acceptable proposal to the Iranian regime, and it's in their best interest to accept it,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told NewsNation. 'Out of respect for the ongoing deal, the Administration will not comment on details of the proposal to the media,' Leavitt added. In a post on the social platform X Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said his 'dear brother @badralbusaidi, distinguished Foreign Minister of Oman, paid a short visit to Tehran today to present elements of a US proposal which will be appropriately responded to in line with the principles, national interests and rights of the people of Iran.' Back in 2018, Trump withdrew from an Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran and imposed sanctions on the Middle Eastern country. However, U.S. and Iranian officials have recently taken part in multiple rounds of talks relating to Iran's nuclear program. On Friday, Trump indicated that the U.S. and Iran were 'fairly close' to coming to a new agreement. 'I think we have a chance of making a deal with Iran,' Trump said. 'They don't want to be blown up,' he added. 'They would rather make a deal, and I think that could happen in the not-too-distant future.'