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Hey folks,
We tried something new today—a bonus episode of Endless Urgency—and it could not have come at a more critical moment. I sat down with my friend, Andre Vasquez Jr., 40th Ward Alderperson and Chair of the Immigrant and Refugee Rights Committee for the City of Chicago, to talk about Donald Trump’s so-called “Operation Midway Blitz” and what it actually looks like on the ground here in Chicago. If you're confused, scared, or just trying to make sense of what’s happening, this conversation will help you get oriented.
Timestamps + Takeaways:
[00:02:26] — “It’s surreal.”
Andre breaks down how the city is navigating Trump’s latest anti-immigrant ICE operation—and how Chicagoans can stay grounded in truth, not fear.[00:09:03] — What’s actually happening on the ground.
Helicopters, masked federal agents, and what community members are reporting in real time about the scale (and spin) of the raids.[00:14:43] — Community defense, not paranoia.
Andre explains how the 40th Ward is organizing “ICEbreakers”—local mutual aid groups that turn fear into action and solidarity.[00:21:08] — The fight for honest leadership.
We talk about what it means to show up for your neighbors, even when party politics tell you to play it safe. Big love to the folks doing the real work.[00:26:00] — Space Jam 2 and the downfall of political courage.
A surprisingly heartfelt takedown of LeBron’s worst movie… and how Democrats lose when they’re too afraid of a real fight.
With urgency,
—Mike.
