The Picayune Sentinel

After stepping down from my role as a columnist at the Chicago Tribune, where I spent nearly 35 years, I wanted to maintain a connection with my readers. So, I launched a Substack that mirrors the diverse blend of commentary, casual musings, passionate rants, intriguing links, and curated quotes that characterized my “Change of Subject” blog, which ran from 2003 to 2014 at chicagotribune.com. On this platform, you'll find the Tweet of the Week poll, updates on my other projects, highlights of reader feedback, news about my latest Mincing Rascal podcast, and, of course, the usual mix of playful banter and lighthearted nonsense.

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Articles

AI video technology is getting scarier by the day

1 week ago | ericzorn.substack.com | Eric Zorn

6-19-2025 (issue No. 198) This week: Last week’s winning quip News and Views— Hot takes, fully baked Land of Linkin’—Where I tell readers where to go Squaring up the news— Where Charlie Meyerson tells readers where to go A transcript of a portion of Jon Stewart’s scathing monologue Monday Google’s Veo 3 AI video generator is both impressive and ominous Quotables—A collection of compelling, sometimes appalling passages I’ve encountered lately Quips— The winning visual jokes and this week’s...
Advice to protesters: Keep calm and carry signs

2 weeks ago | ericzorn.substack.com | Eric Zorn

6-12-2025 (issue No. 197) Rally, don’t riot Last week’s winning quip Terry Moran had to go It’d be a shame if you didn’t order tickets to Trump’s birthday parade RFK Jr. also has to go Land of Linkin’—Where I tell readers where to go Squaring up the news— Where Charlie Meyerson tells readers where to go Quotables—A collection of compelling, sometimes appalling passages I’ve encountered lately Quips— The winning visual jokes and this week’s contest finalists What’s on “The Mincing Rascals”...
Do you like your TV seasons all at once, or with episodes doled out one a week?

2 weeks ago | ericzorn.substack.com | Eric Zorn

To read this issue in your browser, click on the headline above. Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. I talk with WGN-AM 720 host John Williams about what’s making news and likely to be grist for the PS mill. The WGN listen-live link is here.
Gary Deeb's death is another reminder of the paucity of media criticism in Chicago

3 weeks ago | ericzorn.substack.com | Eric Zorn

6-5-2025 (issue No. 196)This week:A look back at the late Gary DeebLast week’s winning quipThe General Assembly’s disappointing punt on ‘right to die’ legislationNews and Views— Hot takes, fully baked, including another instance where I agree with Donald TrumpWhere is the effort to reopen the public schools Chicago closed a dozen years ago?
Jussie Smollett just can't stop lying!

1 month ago | ericzorn.substack.com | Eric Zorn

5-29-2025 (issue No. 195)This week:How can we miss Jussie Smollett if he won’t go away?
Artificial Ignorance

1 month ago | ericzorn.substack.com | Eric Zorn

5-22-2025 (issue No. 194) This week: Artificial Ignorance — Here’s hoping that the embarrassing news about how the use of AI infected a Sun-Times Sunday supplement will finally wake the public to the sleazy way newspapers’ corporate owners use these supplements to rake in extra money Last week’s winning quip News and Views— Hot takes, fully baked Meet ‘The Biblioracle’ — An interview with the Tribune’s freelance book columnist Land of Linkin’—Where I tell readers where to go Squaring up the...
Brandon Johnson's false statement about Dr. Arwady was probably not a lie, but just more incompetence

1 month ago | ericzorn.substack.com | Eric Zorn

5-15- 2025 (issue No. 193) That’s so Brandon!— A lengthy update on the misadventures of Chicago’s maladroit mayor, this one focusing on his repeated insistence last week that popular health commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady resigned Last week’s winning quip A serious consideration of the implausible idea of the U.S. annexing Canada News and Views — Hot takes, fully baked Land of Linkin’—Where I tell readers where to go Squaring up the news — Where Charlie Meyerson tells readers where to go...
The Picayune Sentinel

1 month ago | ericzorn.substack.com | Eric Zorn

5-8-2025 (issue No. 192)This week:A programming note — The Tune of the Week is evolvingLast week’s winning quipA memorial salute to Michael Miner, including a remembrance from Mary SchmichBashing Trump— It’s necessary, but polls show not sufficient to move voters into the Democratic columnNews and Views— Hot takes, fully baked on the 2026 U.S. Senate race in Illinois, on what U.S. Rep.
George Ryan's death recalls the Willis family tragedy

1 month ago | ericzorn.substack.com | Eric Zorn

To read this issue in your browser, click on the headline above. Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. I talk with WGN-AM 720 host John Williams about what’s making news and likely to be grist for the PS mill. The WGN listen-live link is here. Six children of Scott and Janet Willis of Chicago died in a fiery crash on Nov. 8, 1994 when a mudflap-taillight assembly fell off a truck and punctured the gas tank of the mini-van they were riding in on Interstate Highway 94 near Milwaukee.
JB Pritzker gave 'em hell in New Hampshire

1 month ago | ericzorn.substack.com | Eric Zorn

5-1-2025, Rabbit rabbit (issue No. 191) This week: All about JB’s blockbuster speech in New Hampshire on Sunday Last week’s winning quip News and Views— Hot takes, fully baked That’s so Brandon!— Updates on the misadventures of Chicago’s maladroit mayor Land of Linkin’ —Where I tell readers where to go Squaring up the news— Where Charlie Meyerson tells readers where to go Mary Schmich — Quotes from a Nieman Storyboard interview with Schmich When life gives you lemmas … Nerding on wording:...