Columns

Supporters of candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva react to the vote count news on general election day on Oct. 25, 2026, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Alexandre Schneider/Getty)

Elizabeth Shackelford: Elections in Brazil and Serbia show us that democracy can be surprising

By Elizabeth Shackelford

October 30, 2026 at 10:48 a.m.

Brazil and Serbia proved to the world that, even on an uneven electoral playing field,...

A poster depicts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot, his main rival and leader of the Yashar ("Straight") party, along a pedestrian path on Oct. 26, 2026, in Tel Aviv, Israel, ahead of the country's general election. (David Goldman/AP)

Daniel DePetris: If Israel gets a new prime minister, will anything change?

By Daniel DePetris

October 26, 2026 at 12:42 p.m.

Benjamin Netanyahu and his main challenger in Israel's elections, Gadi Eisenkot, are more alike than...

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Dr. Amy Acton visits with supporters during a campaign event along the Ohio River in Marietta, Ohio, on Sept. 17, 2026. (Carolyn Kaster/AP)

Clarence Page: Vivek Ramaswamy’s ad in Ohio governor’s race backfires

By Clarence Page

October 26, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

The fracas over a campaign ad from governor candidate Vivek Ramaswamy could blow back on...

People walk amid destroyed buildings in the Jabalia refugee camp north of Gaza City on Nov. 4, 2025. The U.S. pressed the U.N. Security Council to adopt a resolution that would enshrine President Trump’s Gaza peace plan. (Saher Alghorra/New York Times)

Daniel DePetris: The foreign policy moves Donald Trump got right this year

By Daniel DePetris

December 30, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

As erratic as Donald Trump can be, there were a few policy moves in the...

A neighbor walks past Pope Leo XIV's childhood home at 212 E. 141st Place on July 2, 2025, in Dolton. A roofing company renovated the home's roof shingles and placed a sign on the lawn the previous day, according to a Dolton police officer who was posted in front of the structure. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)

Edward Keegan: This year in Chicago architecture wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card

By Edward Keegan

January 13, 2026 at 1:26 p.m.

2025 included a few head scratchers: a papal pilgrimage site in suburban Dolton and an...

A Palestinian woman walks past Israeli soldiers as she carries her belongings ahead of planned home demolitions in the refugee camp of Nur Shams, in the West Bank city of Tulkarem, on Dec. 17, 2025. (Majdi Mohammed/AP)

Elizabeth Shackelford: No peace for Palestinians in the land of Bethlehem

By Elizabeth Shackelford

December 28, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Palestinians in the West Bank live in a state of fear and trauma that will...

Andre Rawls, center, cheers with other supporters of Leo High School during a watch party in Chicago’s Auburn-Gresham neighborhood as the school choir competes live in the finale of America’s Got Talent, Sept. 23, 2025. (Chris Sweda/baiduhai)

Heidi Stevens: At the end of an imperfect year, a list that reminds us what tomorrow is for

By Heidi Stevens

December 25, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

There’s still more growing, healing, loving and protecting to do, so here are the things...

A Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighter watches over guests attending the SDF victory ceremony announcing the defeat of the Islamic State group in Baghouz held at Omer Oil Field on March 23, 2019, in Deir Al Zor, Syria. The Kurdish-led and American-backed SDF declared the "100% territorial defeat" of the Islamic State group. (Chris McGrath/Getty)

Daniel DePetris: Attacks in Australia and Syria show how difficult it is to eliminate terrorism

By Daniel DePetris

December 23, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Terrorist groups don’t need control of territory to inspire attacks halfway around the world.

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles watches as President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington on Oct. 17, 2025. (Tom Brenner/Getty-AFP)

Clarence Page: It’s hard to hide the dysfunction of the Trump White House

By Clarence Page

December 21, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

As President Donald Trump oversells the fruits of his economic stewardship, controversies keep boiling.

I asked readers for stories of the people who shaped them. So many poured in that I ran out of room in my first column. Today I’m sharing a few more. (Redhotvector/Dreamstime)

Heidi Stevens: More stories of the people who shaped us — and a reminder that our kindness is never wasted

By Heidi Stevens

December 19, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

If you get a chance to ask someone in your life to talk about a...

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks to the media at City Hall after meeting with a group of City Council members to talk about the city’s budget Dec. 15, 2025. (Terrence Antonio James/baiduhai)

David Greising: Mayor Brandon Johnson’s billion-dollar borrowing plan is risky business

By David Greising

December 19, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Mayor Brandon Johnson's borrowing plans, which will have both immediate and yearslong ramifications, have not...

Cpl. Edward Chin of the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines Regiment, covers the face of a statue of Saddam Hussein with an American flag before toppling the statue in downtown Baghdad on April 9, 2003. (Jerome Delay/AP)

Daniel DePetris: Donald Trump is conducting a secret war

By Daniel DePetris

December 16, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Donald Trump hasn’t even bothered to make a case about why military action off Venezuela’s...

One Bennett Park, center, in Streeterville, July 29, 2019. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)

Edward Keegan: Robert A.M. Stern wrote 7,000 pages about New York architecture. Who can write Chicago’s tome?

By Edward Keegan

December 14, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Robert A.M. Stern's books form the definitive history of New York’s architecture. Why doesn't Chicago...

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