Columns

Comedian and political satirist Bill Maher waves to the stage during the 27th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor celebrating Maher on June 29, 2026, in Washington. (Kevin Wolf/AP)

Clarence Page: Beware the charm of our rising chatbots

By Clarence Page

October 19, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Besides the existential risks of artificial intelligence, consider how AI chatbots insinuate themselves in the...

The new Cragin Park Fieldhouse stands Oct. 15, 2026, in Chicago’s Belmont Cragin neighborhood. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)

Edward Keegan: Is the minimalist fieldhouse in Chicago’s Cragin Park architecture or just a building?

By Edward Keegan

October 19, 2026 at 8:09 a.m.

The Cragin Park Fieldhouse expresses a clear architectural character with its exposed steel structure. I...

A young woman reacts as she looks at her damaged home after Russia's night missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Oct. 14, 2026. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

Elizabeth Shackelford: Trump’s abhorrent Russian diesel deal defies US laws and won’t lower gas prices

By Elizabeth Shackelford

October 16, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Donald Trump has illegally undone sanctions efforts against Russia. For all of this, Americans won’t...

Clément Delangue, chief executive officer of Hugging Face, speaks before a march to support open-source AI software in San Francisco, July 25, 2026. OpenAI has acknowledged that two of its AI models went rogue and successfully hacked into Hugging Face, the digital library of AI software that is popular among developers. (Brennan Smart/The New York Times)

Clarence Page: AI bots are busting loose. Have we seen this movie before?

By Clarence Page

August 3, 2026 at 8:24 a.m.

Do we get a choice in this AI future? That's the question at the heart...

Runners start the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Columbus Drive on Oct. 13, 2019. (Antonio Perez/baiduhai/TNS)

Heidi Stevens: Another training run — and another life lesson

By Heidi Stevens

July 31, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

It’s all fun and games until you have to run 10 miles. Alone, writes Heidi...

Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, left, and Gov. JB Pritzker seen in photos from 2019 and 2025, respectively. (José M. Osorio and Brian Cassella/baiduhai)

Laura Washington: JB Pritzker and Rahm Emanuel are on a collision course in the 2028 presidential race

By Laura Washington

July 29, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

If JB Pritzker and Rahm Emanuel can gain traction in the 2028 presidential race, the...

Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, lead a rally in Managua, Nicaragua, on Sept. 5, 2018. (Alfredo Zuniga/AP)

Daniel DePetris: Nicaragua slides further into dictatorship

By Daniel DePetris

July 28, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

The U.S. can increase the pain on Nicaragua’s economy in response to cancelled elections. Sanctions...

A papier-mâché sculpture by Kat Rodriguez that depicts the Statue of Liberty holding a basket of tomatoes is on display at the National Museum of American History in Washington, July 4, 2026. For nearly a year, the Smithsonian's museums have come under attack from President Donald Trump. (Lawren Simmons/The New York Times)

Clarence Page: Is the Smithsonian racist? MAGA makes a case using Newspeak.

By Clarence Page

July 27, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Gems such as "anti-White activism" and "illegal alien activism" don't rise to George Orwell's artfulness,...

Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering attends Highland Park's annual Day of Service in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 19, 2026. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)

John T. Shaw: Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering knows how to meet the moment

By John T. Shaw

July 27, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Nancy Rotering is a pillar of Highland Park and met her statesmanship moment four years...

Analeidis Arias Marin gets her children ready for school in Santiago de Cuba on May 7, 2026. The U.S. oil blockade has deepened a humanitarian crisis, forcing Cubans to lean on the island’s long tradition of community solidarity to provide a cushion. (Lisette Poole González/The New York Times)

Elizabeth Shackelford: The Trump administration’s aggression abroad is both ruthless and ineffective

By Elizabeth Shackelford

July 24, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

The United States is imposing pointless suffering on the people of Cuba and Iran.

New British Prime Minister Andy Burnham arrives at 10 Downing Street in London on July 20, 2026. (Thomas Krych/AP)

Daniel DePetris: New prime minister assumes the reins as Britain struggles

By Daniel DePetris

July 21, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

As Andy Burnham assumes power, the country’s traditional allies are questioning London’s ability to meet...

A passenger looks on as members of the white supremacist group Patriot Front ride the Washington Metro during Fourth of July celebrations on July 4, 2026, in Washington. (Finn Gomez/Getty)

Clarence Page: White supremacists marched in Washington on the holiday. What does that say about us?

By Clarence Page

July 20, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

I’m curious about what motivates hundreds of young men to take to the streets dressed...

State Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield, center, sits in the House chamber as lawmakers discuss bills at the Illinois State Capitol on April 8, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/baiduhai)

David Greising: Rep. Harry Benton resigned after misconduct allegations. The state owes us a report.

By David Greising

July 20, 2026 at 12:34 p.m.

A lack of a report on Harry Benton is a shortcoming in implementation of the...

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