Columnists

Then-Chicago mayoral candidates Willie Wilson, center, and Brandon Johnson chat at a mayoral forum at Steinmetz College Prep, Jan. 31, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

Laura Washington: Mayor Brandon Johnson’s reelection campaign will be in trouble if Willie Wilson runs again

By Laura Washington

March 25, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

If Willie Wilson gets in the mayoral race, Black votes will come out of Mayor...

Riders gallop along a beach as oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz near Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates, on March 11, 2026. (Altaf Qadri/AP)

Daniel DePetris: The Gulf states are between Iran and a hard place

By Daniel DePetris

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

For the Gulf Arab states, the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran is a tragedy. Nothing good...

Two GIs with the U.S. 25th Division read the Stars and Stripes newspaper at Cu Chi, South Vietnam, on Sept. 10, 1969. (Mark Godfrey/AP)

Clarence Page: Pentagon’s press panic threatens august Stars and Stripes

By Clarence Page

March 23, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell asserted that going forward, Stars and Stripes would be "by...

International Crisis Group President and CEO Comfort Ero speaks during a briefing for reporters in Washington, DC, on February 7, 2024. In an interview with AFP, Ero spoke of a world in crisis, but maintained that there was "still a glimmer of hope." (Photo by Bastien Inzaurralde/AFP)

John T. Shaw: Comfort Ero is tireless in her work to prevent tensions from exploding into international crises

By John T. Shaw

February 23, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Conflict prevention is not abstract. Rather, it is the practice of identifying tensions and developing...

The Rev. Jesse Jackson reads the newspapers in his office at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters in Chicago on Sept. 29, 2021. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

Clarence Page: The Rev. Jesse Jackson never lost hope in human redemption, and neither should we

By Clarence Page

February 22, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

I grew to appreciate the Rev. Jesse Jackson. He never stopped serving humanity.

The old Northwest Tower, a three-sided flat iron building in Wicker Park at Milwaukee, Damen and North Avenues, Nov. 10, 2016, was been restored and now is The Robey hotel. (Phil Velasquez/ Chicago Tribune

Edward Keegan: An opportunity for our next great flat iron building in Chicago

By Edward Keegan

February 22, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Flat iron structures are essential elements of thriving urban communities.

People gather in support of Ukraine as delegations from the United States, Ukraine and Russia meet for talks about a potential peace deal at the Intercontinental Hotel on Feb. 17, 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland. The talks come a week before the fourth anniversary of Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine. (Sedat Suna/Getty)

Elizabeth Shackelford: Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner’s self-interested diplomacy in Geneva

By Elizabeth Shackelford

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

What the U.S. diplomacy duo have in common is huge investment from many of the...

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio waves next to Munich Security Conference Chairman Wolfgang Ischinger, as Rubio gets a standing ovation after his speech at the conference in Munich, Germany, on Feb. 14, 2026. (Alex Brandon/AP)

Daniel DePetris: Europe debates the bomb

By Daniel DePetris

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

The Europeans aren’t as confident about the U.S. nuclear umbrella as they once were.

United States gold medalist Elana Meyers Taylor celebrates at the finish after the women's monobob competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Feb. 16, 2026. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)

Heidi Stevens: I cheered when Elana Meyers Taylor won gold. I cheered louder when she thanked her nannies.

By Heidi Stevens

February 18, 2026 at 11:27 a.m.

I love that Elana Meyers Taylor shouted out her nannies alongside her husband and parents...

Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before the House Judiciary Committee on Feb. 11, 2026, in Washington. (Win McNamee/Getty)

Clarence Page: Attorney General Pam Bondi shows loyalty to her audience of one

By Clarence Page

February 15, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, whose actions have descended to a low standard, plays to...

The former Michael Reese Hospital site, between a truck marshaling yard and Prairie Shores apartments, on April 26, 2023. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

David Greising: Why the Bears should give serious consideration to building on the former Michael Reese site

By David Greising

February 13, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

If Gov. JB Pritzker wants to do the most good for Chicago, he could reconsider...

People protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement as they march toward the South Texas Family Residential Center on Jan. 28, 2026, in Dilley, Texas. (Joel Angel Juarez/Getty)

Heidi Stevens: Letters show how a Disney dream vacation became part of America’s immigration nightmare

By Heidi Stevens

February 13, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

No policy in the world can justify scarring children the way we’re doing in the...

A 760-acre that site on Lake Michigan near Miller Beach and north of I-90 is proposed by the city of Gary as a future Bears stadium option. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

Edward Keegan: Will a new Chicago Bears stadium benefit northwest Indiana?

By Edward Keegan

February 8, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

None of the sites proposed for the Bears create connections between Gary and the city’s...