Chicago Tribune Opinion Thursday, October 2, 2025 | | |
| | | | | Good morning. The Chicago Cubs must win today in order to move on in the postseason, and we have a thought-provoking op-ed making the case that the relentless focus on sports gambling these days is sapping some of the joy of watching the games. See if you agree. The editorial board has focused quite a bit this week on President Donald Trump's belligerent stance toward Chicago. But today the board discusses what more Gov. JB Pritzker can — and should — do to help protect Illinoisans protesting Trump. A second editorial laments how much reading for pleasure has declined in America. I don't read as much as I should, but I can attest to the beneficial effect reading has on my state of mind when I dive into a book. A second op-ed advocates for destigmatizing autism as Trump recently has made some highly dubious claims about the condition's causes. Finally, we have a full page of readers' letters. Many of you had thoughts on the Sunday editorial on gerrymandering of state legislative districts in Illinois. As a campaign is underway for a constitutional amendment in pursuit of fair state maps in Illinois, the letters demonstrate how much of a challenge it will be to distinguish state districts from congressional districts. Have a great Thursday, and we'll be back tomorrow. — Steve Daniels, editorial board member Submit an op-ed | Submit a letter to the editor | Meet the Tribune Editorial Board | Subscribe to this newsletter | | | | One of the best things about sports is that you never know. You think you know, but you never really know until the series is done. | | | | | There must be a more engaged state and local response to the ongoing protests at the Broadview immigration detention facility. | | | | | Daily reading for pleasure in the U.S. has fallen more than 40% over the past 20 years — roughly 3% per year, according to researchers at the University of Florida and University College London. | | | | | Discovering the cause of autism isn’t the point. Creating neurodiverse-affirming resources and services is what is needed. | | | | | I call this “competitive party representation” because it puts the parties in direct competition for getting out their voters. | | | | | Here in Illinois, the most urgent threat to democracy is concrete: political maps deliberately and specifically designed to disenfranchise voters. | | | |
