Early in Bradley Cooper’s “Is This Thing On?,” the writer/director/actor performs an epic pratfall. His character Balls (yes, Balls), enters the film by face-planting with a carton of oat milk during a staid gathering of friends. It’s a very “Three Stooges” move for a movie that’s more about comedy than it is actual comedy. His spilled milk isn’t even played for laughs, though Balls, a supporting character, does elicit a few chuckles throughout.

Cooper isn’t interested in making a comedy, outright, with “Is This Thing On?” Instead, this is the third installment in what could be a trilogy about creativity, the way that art and performance can light a person up from the inside. When we first meet our protagonist Alex (Will Arnett), he’s staring dead-eyed into middle-distance at an elementary school performance. His soon-to-be-ex-wife Tess (Laura Dern) jokes to a group of friends that he’s not alive before the title of the film flashes on screen. Is this man on? Not in the least.

Alex stumbles into comedy — literally. Stoned on a marijuana cookie, he inadvertently signs up for an open mic just to avoid the $15 cover charge at the Comedy Cellar where he wants to get a drink. Summoned on stage, he mumbles through some musings about his dissolving marriage for which he is rewarded a few laughs, and suddenly, Alex is hooked, comedy now his hot new mistress. It becomes a vice, a furtive hobby. Even his admission to Balls is played like a naughty confession.

But Alex blossoms under the spotlight, high on attention and validation, Arnett’s micro-expressions studiously captured in an uncomfortable close-up courtesy of cinematographer Matthew Libatique’s roaming hand-held camera. That stylistic choice works best when Alex is behind the mic, as we see him work out his material and respond to the crowd, who we rarely see. The process is played out in Arnett’s performance, the feedback loop of laughs the dopamine hit that awakens him to the world again. Or maybe it’s just the relief that comes from finally being honest.

“Is This Thing On?” is one of the best examples of what people mean when they say, “men would rather (blank) than go to therapy,” but this isn’t just a conceit — it really happened, to British comedian John Bishop (who receives a “story by” credit). Even the wild coincidence that makes up the centerpiece of the film is true, pulled from Bishop’s experience unknowingly performing a set of divorce material to a crowd that included his ex-wife.

The antsy style and cross-cutting that Cooper employs in this scene, as well as Dern’s terrific reactions, make this a show-stopping sequence, and the stranger than fiction circumstances help.

But it’s at this point that Cooper abandons the warm, chummy environment of the Comedy Cellar as he regresses back to his old ways, which includes Tess and their married friends, Balls and his wife Christine (Andra Day), and a gay couple, Stephen and Geoffrey, played by Arnett’s podcast co-host Sean Hayes and his real-life husband Scott Icenogle.

It’s only a disappointment because the comedy scenes Cooper has crafted are so intoxicating and fun. It’s clear that he has a love for a classic haunt like the Cellar, and the lovable rascals who haunt it, night after night. Alex fits in there, finding a home, friends, an outlet. We watch him grow, liking the person he becomes, and then, he goes back.

His old life pales in comparison. Cooper shouldn’t have made the comedy world so appealing — authentic and lived-in, populated with real comics. The marriage world Cooper presents isn’t just strangely bland, it tests our suspension of disbelief. What does this couple like about each other? Laura Dern is a former Olympic volleyball player? How, exactly, is this group of people friends? And what’s with the scene where they all sing “Amazing Grace” while preparing breakfast for no apparent reason?

Cooper is great at crafting strangely evocative cinematic moments, but “Amazing Grace” is just bizarre, not effective. Other scenes work better, like a joyous birthday party, and a school concert, and there’s an affability layered throughout “Is This Thing On?” that makes it more of a hangout movie about a tepid midlife crisis than forward-moving drama.

Perhaps others will be more convinced of the love story here, which is one of choice and intention, not passion. What is palpable is Alex’s passion for stand-up, and how much it allows him to blossom. The best thing about the movie is Cooper showcasing this great performance from Arnett, who shines under the spotlight. Bishop’s story ends with a successful comedy career. While we don’t see where things go for Alex, ultimately, that is the more satisfying ending to this story of what it means to take a creative leap, and soar.

Katie Walsh is a critic for Tribune News Service.

“Is This Thing On?” — 2.5 stars (out of 4)

MPA rating: R (for language throughout, sexual references and some drug use)

Running time: 2:04

How to watch: In theaters Jan. 9

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/movie-review-is-this-thing-on-finds-life-in-stand-up-comedy/ 

Bob Rita, a Democrat who has represented the Blue Island area in the Illinois House of Representatives since 2003, will run unopposed in the upcoming March primary after initially facing three opponents.

A Chicago Election Board removed one opponent in the 28th District race, Paris Walker Thomas, after finding 56 pages of her petition signatures were photocopies. Illinois law requires candidate nominations to be original petition sheets.

The other two opponents, Dyvonna Moss and Nadeja Henry, withdrew from the race in late December after Walker Thomas was removed and did not respond to requests to comment.

Rita declined to comment on the upcoming primary or on the three previous opponents.

The Illinois Election Board ordered an examination of Walker Thomas’ petition records after objections filed by Annette Alexander, of Blue Island, and Dorothy Price, of Calumet Park.

They alleged Walker Thomas’ petition papers were invalid because she misrepresented her residency, failed to meet district residency requirements, submitted a defective statement of candidacy, improperly used her name and is ineligible to run due to outstanding election fines.

After an examination of her records, the election board said 188 of Walker Thomas’ petition signatures were invalid, which brought her total number of valid signatures to 445, below the minimum 500 signatures required to run. This disqualified her for the primary, according to a Dec. 27 election board finding.

The document analyzer, Kevin Kulbacki with Chicago-based KDX Forensic Consulting, said he conducted a microscopic examination of the petition documents and found alignment issues.

For example, Kulbacki said, some signature blocks were at an angle, while the rest of the petition was not at an angle, according to a Dec. 8 letter to the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.

He also said he found extraneous horizontal lines, irregular paper edge marks, remnants of text not fully removed and removed portions of borders near the signature blocks.

Kulbacki concluded it was highly probable some of Walker Thomas’ petition pages were cut and pasted signature blocks from other petitions.

Burton Odelson, the objector’s attorney, said that in his 53 years of experience as an election attorney he has never seen someone copy and paste signatures from another petition.

“I’ve seen photocopies, but never a cut and paste like this,” Odelson said. “And then to lie right to the hearing officer and to the Chicago Board of Elections. I sat next to her, and I just couldn’t believe what I was hearing.”

He said his team conducted an investigation and found people listed on the signed petition pages either said they were not asked to sign for Walker Thomas, or that if they did a notary was not present.

He also said the investigation revealed a lot of the petition names were from Tinley Park and that the notary who signed off on the names was the Tinley Park village clerk, although he said he did not reach out to her.

Odelson said his team plans to turn in this investigation report to law enforcement authorities including the Cook County state’s attorney, state police and the Illinois attorney general.

Walker Thomas protested the accusations and asked the election board to dismiss objections, disqualify the objectors’ attorney and to count certain signatures. The board refused.

Walker Thomas claimed civil rights violations and improper disclosure of personal information, such as eviction case filings.

This was Walker Thomas’s second attempt to challenge Rita. She also filed to run in the 2022 Democratic primary, but withdrew her candidacy following an objection.

At the time, she received public support from Tinley Park Mayor Michael Glotz on social media, who has clashed with Rita for years. Walker Thomas called Glotz a friend and a “hard working man who has given to the underprivileged” in 2024 on Facebook, to which he responded to and thanked her.

Rita sued Tinley Park and Orland Township as well as village and township officials in federal court in 2023, alleging his constitutional rights were denied and that he was blocked from taking part in or holding community events, specifically in Tinley Park.

According to campaign finance documents, Rita’s election campaign spent $53,698 on a law firm, listing the expense as a First Amendment Lawsuit Village of Tinley Park on July 19, 2025.

Rita was also involved in legislation that transferred the former Tinley Park Mental Health Center to the Tinley Park-Park District, a site the village long coveted for redevelopment.

As the primary approaches, Rita has raised $731,680 in 2025 for his campaign, excluding contributions under $1,000 in December, which are not required to be filed until Jan. 15. A political action committee representing the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council, along with a PAC representing the Illinois Education Association were by far his largest donors, at about $50,000 each.

Rita also received $89,800 total in donations from a number of gambling affiliates, an industry he has led legislation to significantly expand in the state. A portion of the gaming donations he received were linked with organizations that support iGaming policy, a proposal that received its first hearing in 2025 and would allow internet-based versions of slot machines, poker or various table games.

Rita also received a donation from Constellation, a company associated with nuclear power, an issue gaining traction in the state, and the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge, which donates to both democratic and republican candidates.

Rita spent $229,880 in 2025, leaving him with about $501,800, excluding expenditures in December, and the highest payments were for legal fees with different law firms, including a February payment of $30,647 in legal fees to a single firm, Taft, Stettinius & Hollister. Rita also spent $3,214 on a golf outing in late August.

Since 2003, Rita has worked on or chaired committees in the Illinois House such as ethics and elections, housing and gaming. He was appointed as deputy majority leader of the Illinois House in 2025.

Rita has introduced legislation affecting gaming and wagering regulation, health insurance, health care billing reforms and revenue and tax-related legislation.

An election board official said Tuesday Rita will be certified to the ballot when the board meets at 9 a.m. Thursday because there is no objection pending to his candidacy.

awright@chicagotribune.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/rep-bob-rita-unopposed-primary/ 

Nicolás Maduro and his wife confronted two overpowering forces last week: the U.S. military and artificial intelligence. The result was worldwide confusion and a reminder that what one sees these days is not necessarily authentic.

U.S. special forces captured and flew Maduro and Cilia Flores to New York to face drug and narcoterrorism-related charges. The images of the Caracas drama were vivid and at times bogus, providing the latest cautionary challenge in our trying to divine what’s real and what is not.

My NewsGuard colleague Chiara Vercellone, a senior staff analyst, identified five phony and out-of-context still images and two falsified videos supposedly depicting the military operation and its aftermath. They garnered “more than 14.1 million views in under two days, on X alone,” she wrote. 

One photo showed Maduro wearing white pajamas inside a military cargo plane that supposedly flew him out of Caracas. It quickly generated 4.6 million views. In fact, it was AI-generated, with a double row of passenger windows on the plane. Maduro was not taken out by plane but by helicopter to the USS Iwo Jima, and he wore a gray jogger outfit, blacked-out goggles and headphones, according to an image posted by President Donald Trump on Truth Social.

And while many of these visuals did not drastically distort the facts, the use of AI and dramatic, out-of-context video, Vercellone wrote, “represents another tactic in the misinformers’ arsenal — and one that is harder for fact checkers to expose because the visuals often approximate reality.”

Those bogus images and videos spread not just on X, but also along other superhighways of falsehoods, notably the Meta platforms Instagram, Facebook and Threads, albeit with less engagement.

David Friend, Vanity Fair contributing editor and Life magazine’s former director of photography, told me: “We’re in an Orwellian age in which truth has become fluid. Little wonder that the Maduro abduction prompted online mimicry.”

Friend, a Highland Park native, added: “The tools of the digital age allowed cultural vandals to be their own mini-propagandists, putting out fake or deliberately misappropriated photos and videos of Maduro in custody or ‘the operation’ in progress. The goal? To add more fog to the fog of war, further muddying the public’s understanding of U.S. motives.”

So, what should the average consumer do? If you don’t even know the difference between an inexpensive point-and-shoot camera and the super-sophisticated Simulcam systems used by director James Cameron in his “Avatar” movies, are you out of luck?

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab offers a good primer on discerning video fakes. It includes being watchful for unusual blinking and odd lip movements; the skin on cheeks and forehead being too smooth or wrinkly; moles or facial hair not looking real; a seeming mismatch between the age of a person’s skin and his eyes and hair; curious reflections in a person’s eyes or eyeglasses; or background signs or billboards that seem odd, even upside down. 

Another NewsGuard colleague, senior editor Sofia Rubinson, produces educational videos on misinformation for our Reality Check newsletter. She underscores the need to double-check social media claims. For example, she demonstrated how the assertion that video of a huge anti-Trump protest in Boston was actually an unrelated rally years earlier was a lie. It was indeed an October 2025 “No Kings” protest in Boston. But many other videos may truly be bogus.

“A single camera angle or a blurry lens can completely change what a clip appears to show. And aired with a false caption, wild claims can appear believable,” Rubinson says in one instructional video. “So, before treating videos as proof, you need to anchor it against reliable sources and longer context.”

The challenges are great. Rubinson did an instructional video on how OpenAI’s new Sora 2 text-to-video AI model produces realistic-looking videos that NewsGuard found regularly advance false claims in the news.

There are telltale signs that a video was generated by AI tools such as Sora, from watermarks to on-screen text mishaps, but you need to really watch carefully. 

Even Pete Souza, former White House photographer for Presidents Barack Obama and Ronald Reagan, feels at sea with the images he sees. He wrote to me, “I wish we could say we can easily tell whether a news photograph is real or not. But the reality is that AI technology is so good, that sometimes you just can’t tell.”

Trump knows that well and clearly relishes the inauthentic. Recall how he posted a fake video of himself mocking “No Kings” protesters. He wore a crown and flew a jet that dumped brown sludge on masses below. 

The result is to further call into question any image posted by Trump — or many others.

James Warren, former managing editor of the Tribune, is executive editor of NewsGuard.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/opinion-ai-videos-images-sora-venezuela/ 

Since the holidays, many of us have spent winter days cooped up inside, shuttling between work, school and home while the calendar crawls toward spring.

If you ask us, there’s never been a better time to throw on your coat and get some fresh air. Thankfully, we’ve got a brief break in the weather, with the sun shining through — and Brookfield Zoo has given us another reason to venture outdoors.

As we plod through another Midwest winter, the Brookfield Zoo has expanded its free admission days through January and February (except for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents Day), offering a rare invitation to bundle up and make the most of the season with family and friends without spending a dime on entry. Cooler temperatures often mean animals well adapted to the cold, like polar bears and wolves, are more active, plus you’ll deal with fewer crowds and have the freedom to pop in for an hour without feeling like you need to see everything to justify the cost.

This is one of the many benefits of living in Chicagoland — our great institutions offer not only sights and sounds, but also welcome us in with free days that give folks on every kind of budget the chance to experience what makes the Chicago area so special. But because we call this place home, we often forget that we’re surrounded by world-class museums and attractions. That’s especially easy to do at this time of year, as the days are dark and gray and the cold keeps us indoors. We often view our parks, downtown restaurants and galleries as sites meant for tourists and visitors. Our advice? Don’t. Chicago is meant to be enjoyed by its people. 

For those of us who are disinclined to brave the wind and cold, Brookfield isn’t the only place to score a free visit. Adler Planetarium, the Art Institute of Chicago and other museums have a smattering of free days for Illinois residents in the next couple of months, too. And, of course, you can always see Sue the T. rex for free on Wednesdays at the Field Museum. In our view, winter can be the best time of year to visit many of Chicago’s finest attractions. Where summer crowds can add a hassle element to the experience, winter brings a sense of calm, making it easier to linger, explore and actually enjoy what these places were built to offer.

T. rex skeleton Sue on the second floor at the Field Museum in Chicago, Dec. 18, 2018. (José M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune)

So take a cocooning break and remind yourself once again why you love this place so much.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/chicago-brookfield-zoo-adler-planetarium-art-institute-field-museum-chicago-visit/ 

Our picks for events in and around Chicago this weekend.

Mavis Staples

Just as Mavis Staples kicks off her new album, “Sad and Beautiful World,” with a cover of Tom Waits’s “Chicago,” the beloved singer begins her 2026 tour this weekend in her hometown. Expect her to play songs from the November release — which includes covers ranging from Curtis Mayfield, Leonard Cohen, Gillian Welch and Sparklehorse — as well as old favorites.

7:30 p.m. Jan .10 at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St.; tickets from $101.55 at msg.com

State Champs

The propulsive pop-punk band plays Salt Shed, celebrating the 10th anniversary of “Around the World and Back.” Real Friends, Harrison Gordon and Driveways also perform.

7 p.m. Jan. 9 at the Salt Shed, 1357 N. Elston Ave.; tickets (ages 17+) from $45.50 at saltshedchicago.com

Discus

The Chicago indie rock band led by brothers Jake and Paul Stolz plays the Ramova Loft.

8 p.m. Jan. 9 at Ramova Theatre, 3520 S. Halsted St.; tickets from $19.56 at ramovachicago.com

Bill Murray & His Blood Brothers

Bill Murray returns to Thalia Hall with his blues-rock band featuring Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia. As a Tribune review of last year’s show put it, “It was no joke. It was a blues-rock band plus Murray stepping forward to occasionally croon. It was a reminder that there are few things in life as satisfying as Bill Murray singing, even if the man is no singer.” Saxophonist Jimmy Carpenter opens.

8 p.m. Jan. 9 at Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St.; tickets (ages 17+) from $79.50 at ticketweb.com

Bill Murray and His Blood Brothers perform at Thalia Hall on Jan. 3, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

G. Love & Special Sauce

More than 30 years after G. Love & Special Sauce’s debut, they’re still bringing their breezy brand of hip hop blues. No word on whether the Philly natives will play their latest release, “Fly, Eagles, Fly,” in Bears territory. Makua opens.

8 p.m. Jan. 11 at SPACE, 1243 Chicago Ave., Evanston; tickets from $65.31 at ticketweb.com

Women’s Jazz Festival

The fourth annual Women’s Jazz Festival is underway in Arlington Heights. There’s still time to catch shows featuring Joanie Pallatto and Tromblau and Friends; Stacy McMichael and JoVia Armstrong; Lucy Smith with JoAnn Daugherty; and a showcase of rising stars.

Through Jan. 10 at Hey Nonny, 10 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights; tickets from $26 at heynonny.com

“The Voice of Hind Rajab”

See the critically acclaimed movie reconstructing the death of 5-year-old Hind Rajab, a Palestinian girl trapped in a car during Israel’s siege of the Gaza Strip. The Tunisian-French film, directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, uses audio and documentary footage from the actual events that inspired the film. The 5:45 p.m. Jan. 9 screening features a Q&A with actor Saja Kilani.

Through Jan. 29 at Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St.; tickets from $14.50 at siskelfilmcenter.org

Nesbat Sarha, from left, Motaz Malhees, Saja Kilani and Clara Khoury in a scene from “The Voice of Hind Rajab.” (Mime Films/Tanit Films via AP)

“Working Girl: The Films of Barbara Stanwyck”

See “The Lady Eve,” the 1941 Preston Sturges screwball classic starring Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda, on the big screen. It’s part of the Music Box Theatre’s film series dedicated to Stanwyck, which also features Cecil B. DeMille’s Western “Union Pacific” (1939), Frank Capra’s pre-code romance “The Miracle Woman” (1931), Samuel Fuller’s Western “Forty Guns” (1957), and William Castle’s psychological horror flick “The Night Walker” (1964).

Through Feb. 27 at Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave.; tickets from $11 at musicboxtheatre.com

Young Playwrights Festival

See four one-act plays penned by Chicago high school students and workshopped by industry professionals as part of Pegasus Theatre Chicago’s 39th annual Young Playwrights Festival. This year’s plays include “Blizzard Bound” by Whitney Young Magnet High School student Sophia Ponce and directed by ILesa Duncan; “Offices Etc.” by Lane Tech College Prep student Clark Tavas and directed by Anna Bahow; “A Question” by Senn High School student Lola Zimmerman and directed by Ben Locke; and “Toil and Trouble” by Lane Tech College Prep student Ashley Snyder and directed by Duncan.

Through Jan. 24 at Chicago Dramatists, 798 N. Aberdeen St.; tickets from $18 at pegasustheatrechicago.org

’Scopes in the City

Adler Planetarium is bringing the universe to Elk Grove Village as part of its ‘Scopes in the City program. See Jupiter this weekend in a whole new way, as astronomy educators and volunteers offer a free chance to view it through a telescope. Future installments will offer opportunities to observe the sun from Palos Park on Jan. 24 and Jupiter and the Orion Nebula from Bolingbrook on Feb. 12.

7-8:30 p.m. Jan. 9 at Elk Grove Village Public Library, 1001 Wellington Ave., Elk Grove Village; details on the free events at adlerplanetarium.org

Have something to do around Chicago? Email events to day.chitribevents@gmail.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/what-to-do-chicago-jan-10/ 

Which outdoor pens for dogs are best?

Devoted dog owners enjoy taking their fur babies with them while on-the-go. Whether going camping or over to a friend’s house, there usually aren’t many fenced spaces available to keep your dog safe and secure. One exceptional alternative to having to hold your dog’s leash the entire time is to put them in an outdoor pen. Outdoor pens for dogs are available in a multitude of widths and heights, making it easy for both you and your pet to enjoy time away from home.

We’ve chosen the IRIS USA, Inc. Eight-Panel Pet Playpen as our top pick for best outdoor pen for dogs. Available in three colors, this heavy-duty playpen is made from durable plastic and is effortless to assemble.

What to know before you buy an outdoor pen for dogs

Dog’s size

Outdoor pens for dogs are a fantastic alternative to having a fenced-in space. However, in order to keep your pup contained, using the right size is crucial. Both the height and width of the playpen that you select must be appropriate for your dog. It must provide sufficient space for them to walk around and play. It also needs to be high enough to prevent them from jumping over the top.

Finding the correct width is relatively easy by “guesstimating.” Looking at product images and considering product dimensions should be more than sufficient. The most challenging selection is the playpen’s height. Common heights for outdoor pens for dogs are 24 inches, 30 inches, 36 inches, 42 inches and 48 inches. If your dog is able to jump higher than 4 feet, an outdoor playpen may not be a suitable choice.

Energy level

Depending on your dog’s energy level, you may need to purchase a larger model. Even if the playpen is technically appropriate for your dog’s size, they may benefit from added space to run and play. This is often the case for puppies and energetic small breeds. When in doubt, there is no harm in going up one size.

Intended use

Another core consideration when selecting an outdoor pen for dogs is the intended use. This can factor into the size that you ultimately choose. For example, if you plan to use the playpen while on vacation, consider what space you will have available (both in your vehicle and at your hotel or rental unit). Ensuring that you have plenty of room for your dog’s new playpen — wherever you choose to use it — is key in being satisfied with your purchase.

What to look for in a quality outdoor pen for dogs

Portable

Rarely do you set up an outdoor pen for your dog and leave it one space. Many times, pet owners will use these playpens indoors, outdoors and while away from home. Top brands are well aware of this, and ensure that their designs are portable. Many fold up easily, and some soft pens even come with carrying cases.

Sturdiness

An outdoor pen is of no worth if your dog can easily knock it over. Quality brands are built to be sturdy and long-lasting. They can withstand pushing from your dog, as well as accidental bumps from rough play. Some of the best models also use materials that are extra durable. From strong cloth to solid metal, your outdoor playpen should be sturdy enough to prevent escape.

Easy setup and takedown

Simple setup and takedown are two more highly desirable features in outdoor pens for dogs. Instructions should be clear and easy to follow, both for soft and hard playpen designs. Having a playpen that is easy to both put up and put away makes it more likely that you’ll get full use out of your chosen style.

How much you can expect to spend on an outdoor pen for dogs

Outdoor pens for dogs typically cost between $45-$150.

Outdoor pen for dogs FAQ

Why should I purchase an outdoor pen for my dog?

A. The primary benefit of using a playpen for your dog is to keep them safely contained, while allowing them to enjoy the outdoors. Outdoor pens for dogs are open on top, which helps dogs feel as if they are fully outside. These pens are a fantastic alternative when a fenced-in area isn’t available.

Can more than one dog be placed in a dog pen?

A. Yes, if it is large enough (and if they get along with each other). Always ensure that your dogs have plenty of space to stretch out, play and sleep.

What are the best outdoor pens for dogs to buy?

Top outdoor pen for dogs

IRIS USA, Inc. Eight-Panel Pet Playpen

What you need to know: Built using sturdy plastic, the IRIS USA, Inc. Eight-Panel Pet Playpen is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

What you’ll love: Measuring at just over 34 inches in height, and just under 63 inches in width and length, this spacious outdoor pen can accommodate dogs of varying sizes. It does not have a door and is quite easy to assemble. This design is available in black, chrome and chocolate colors.

What you should consider: There have been select reports of quality control issues.

Top outdoor pen for dogs for the money

Zampa Portable Foldable Pet Playpen

What you need to know: Individuals in search of a durable yet soft option should consider the Zampa Portable Foldable Pet Playpen.

What you’ll love: Soft, sturdy and water-resistant, this playpen for dogs is made with small pups in mind. Available in sizes extra small through medium, this design also comes with a convenient carrying case.

What you should consider: Not suitable for larger dogs.

Worth checking out

MidWest Homes for Pets Foldable Metal Exercise Pen

What you need to know: The MidWest Homes for Pets Foldable Metal Exercise Pen comes in a wide range of heights.

What you’ll love: Those who have dogs who tend to jump, or who try to escape playpens, can have added peace of mind when using this design. Available in heights of up to 48 inches, this pen can contain some of the most active and clever dogs. No tools are required for set up. Comes with eight ground anchors for added stability.

What you should consider: Some reports of the metal scratching up floors when used indoors.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales.

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/best-outdoor-pen-for-dogs/ 

Address: 600 N. Kingsbury St., No. 506, Chicago

Price: $1,600,000

Listed: Dec. 10, 2025

This three-story penthouse home has four bedrooms, four full bathrooms, one half bath, a private four-car attached garage and nearly 1,800 square feet of exclusive outdoor space. Twenty-foot floor-to-ceiling windows offer views of the Chicago River and city skyline. The kitchen is equipped with high-end appliances, hardwood floors, custom cabinetry and a large peninsula. This home is located in a building with 24-hour door staff, an on-site exercise room and an outdoor pool.

Listing agent: Jonathan Chvala, Vesta Preferred Realty, 773-863-3972

(RH Motion Pictures)

(RH Motion Pictures)

(RH Motion Pictures)

(RH Motion Pictures)

(RH Motion Pictures)

(RH Motion Pictures)

(RH Motion Pictures)

(RH Motion Pictures)

(RH Motion Pictures)

Some listing photos are “virtually staged,” meaning they have been digitally altered to represent different furnishing or decorating options.

To feature your luxury listing of $1,000,000 or more in Chicago Tribune’s Dream Homes, send listing information and high-res photos to ctc-realestate@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/river-north-home-of-the-week-2/ 

People who want to keep secrets for one reason or another often detest leaks to the media. Naturally, we’re hardwired to oppose that petulant and shortsighted approach to American life, but within such realms as law or business, there can be valid arguments for enforcing secrecy through confidentiality agreements and investigations.

Sometimes. Rarely.

But almost never when it comes to government, at least outside matters of national defense. And never when it comes to discussions as to matters that impact the public education of our kids. Government always benefits from sunlight.

So we were stunned to read about how Sean Harden, chair of the Chicago Board of Education as duly appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson, reportedly had launched two internal investigations into how that board’s super-secret business got into the hands of reporters. By “internal investigations,” we mean hiring an Evanston-based law firm, Salvatore Prescott Porter & Porter, PLLC.

The secret business in question? The “leaking” of information as to the names of the finalists for the open position of superintendent of the Chicago Public Schools, post-Pedro Martinez. And, more recently, the existence of a coming meeting wherein the Board of Education would discuss hitting up tapped-out Chicagoans for another $25 million as part of their collective property-tax bill. (Not so shockingly, the CPS board went ahead and grabbed the $25 million out of taxpayers’ pockets.)

Harden’s actions are so comically absurd, we hardly know where to start.

But we’ll begin with this rich irony. The leaker, or leakers, seemingly were undeterred, which is how we all know about the legal investigation.

On Tuesday, Fox 32 political reporter Paris Schutz posted on X the memo Harden sent around to fellow board members, warning them that the Evanston lawyers would be sniffing around, presumably into their email, social media and/or other forms of contact. “You have a duty to cooperate with this investigation,” he wrote, “(and) to keep this outreach and your discussion with them confidential.”

How is that working out for you, Mr Harden?

We prefer board members acting according to their conscience. Do you?

The wildest aspect of this is that the Board of Education is required to post its meeting schedule and make its meetings accessible to the public. We won’t waste your time listing all the reasons why this is a good thing, because they are blatantly obvious. Whether its members are elected or appointed by the mayor (and things currently are in transition to a fully elected group), the board represents the people of Chicago and its business is the business of the people of Chicago.

Apparently, Harden was incensed Schutz had the scoop on the coming meeting a few hours before it was made public. This was a hot potato, with interested parties waiting to see if the meeting would be called, because, if so, its outcome was predictable.

Maybe Harden was worried also this reporter knew more than that but that’s show business in a high-profile, political kind of job. More likely, he was hoping to quietly schedule the meeting at a downtime without undue attention from the public because he wanted to minimize any pre-meeting opposition and knew the result would not be popular. Either way, it’s all ridiculous. The people had a right to know. The timing made no difference. Nor did the amplification of the meeting’s existence.

The second matter involved leaked names of the finalists for the top job.

This is a tad more nuanced. As is the case with university presidential searches, among other things, candidates often don’t like their names surfacing because it arguably bespeaks to their current employer of a lack of commitment (although it can also suggest desirability and mobility leading to pay raises and the like). Search firms routinely promise confidentiality, especially in the early stages of a search. But good reporters on campuses often ferret out the finalists’ names, especially if their candidates are holding meetings with a variety of stakeholders. It’s often as easy as reading a sign on a noticeboard. Wise candidates applying for a high-profile job know of this risk. It’s all part of the marketplace and, frankly, a worthwhile risk in an open society.

We’d argue the Board of Education should have made its finalists public and specifically said that the confidentiality of finalists cannot be guaranteed. Even in the absence of that, leaks are facts of life, especially given the importance of the position. Harden (and the mayor pulling his strings) should accept that reality for the greater good and move on. Certainly, no money should be expended on an outside law firm to intimidate board members into the kind of secrecy that no board of education should be promoting.

Frankly, we’d like to have seen some of the fine student journalists we have met with from Chicago’s public schools find out these names and whatever other plans Harden might have that will impact them and their peers. That would be an indication of excellent journalistic education, serving the interests of the people of Chicago.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/editorial-only-in-chicago-do-you-get-targeted-for-leaking-a-public-meeting/ 

It has been a busy year for the self-proclaimed “peace president.”

This year, the United States has bombed Iran, Syria, Nigeria and Venezuela. On the other hand, the United States has been generous to Argentina through a $20 billion currency swap and also generous to U.S. farmers with a $12 billion gift — a little less than the $20 billion they received in 2020. Of course, the farmers would have rather sold their crops, but that was destroyed by the peace president’s tariff war. This administration has been very good at destroying things within and outside the United States.

The recent invasion of Venezuela and kidnapping of its president, and the continued changing reasons of “drugs,” “bad ruler” and “oil,” reminds me of the drip, drip, drip before the George W. Bush administration attacked Iraq, which led to the forever war.

The peace president is now broadcasting warnings to Colombia, Cuba, Iran and Greenland that he has his sights on those countries. It looks like it will be another busy year for the former world power that is now the biggest bully in the Western Hemisphere.

— Laura Davis, Inverness

Troubled waters

Since Saturday morning, President Donald Trump has touted the success of the mission to bring the president of Venezuela to the United States to stand trial. He has proudly announced that our military suffered no casualties and that all of our resources (planes, ships) were unscathed.

I waited to hear the fate of the individuals who were in and around the city of Caracas during the attack, many probably sleeping. Finally, the news came that at least 56 souls had been killed in the strikes. Add to that number the more than 100 people who have been killed in international waters by U.S. attacks over the last four months. Yet I hear no acknowledgment from our country’s leaders that innocent people have been murdered in our administration’s zeal to accomplish its mission.

By all reports, the Venezuelan people have suffered greatly under Maduro’s rule. Time will tell, and time will judge him. But time will also judge the United States of America, until recently the respected leader of the free world.

What do our actions since last January of hurting people around the world say about the heart of our country, once known for its kindness and compassion?

I pray that we can recover our concern for others, as we navigate the troubled waters of the future.

— Diane P. Verratti, Waukegan

A unilateral invasion

Just as there is no mechanism to stop President Donald Trump from unilaterally invading Venezuela, there is also no mechanism to stop such an invasion of Greenland. Some will point out that an invasion of Greenland is much less likely than the invasion of Venezuela was, which is probably true. But there are a few ideas I can think of that are more un-American as the notion that we can and should trust the president’s judgment alone on whether a unilateral invasion is or isn’t warranted.

Our raid on Venezuela was a facsimile of Vladimir Putin‘s opening moves in the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, except one was successful and one wasn’t. True, there is no comparison between the popular legitimacy of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but it is now more important than ever to be able to hold more than one idea at a time in one’s mind, namely that the illegitimacy of a leader such as Maduro is independent of the fundamental risks of giving the power of invasion to one man. Any unilateral invasion is a pretext for any other unilateral invasion, which is why each must always be repudiated, regardless of the moral justification.

I don’t want the world to go back to the era of great power struggles that defined the 19th century, when monarchs and emperors alone determined which wars would be fought and when. The result was over a century of catastrophe, not just for ordinary Europeans but also for the people of numerous African countries that were colonized, often brutally.

To my mind, basing a country’s foreign policy on the whims of one person, especially someone as fundamentally ignorant as Trump, is one of the worst ways to operate a society. We‘ve had multiple chances over the past couple of decades to avoid this return to the shameful failures of the 1800s, but that opportunity is now gone.

It’s my personal goal to do everything I can to ensure the next generation doesn’t suffer the same fate.

— Ethan Feingold, Chicago

Return to old days

President Donald Trump violated the United Nations Charter to grab a dictator who destroyed the Venezuelan economy and whom few miss. Resistance has been tame.

Now he is using this new political power to again threaten Greenland; destroying NATO would be Russian President Vladimir Putin’s dream.

This is a return to the bad old days of “might makes right” and major power politics. This road will destroy the democratic leadership of the United States and encourage Russia and China to do the same with their neighbors.

This road leads to less peace and a poorer, more dangerous, less democratic world.

And a less democratic America — notice that people are afraid to contradict the president because he retaliates. Where is the First Amendment?

This is not making America great. It’s the opposite. Is this what the greatest generation sacrificed for?

— Tony Quintanilla, Chicago

Undermining US

There is no doubt that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is a vicious dictator. There can be no doubt that the people of Venezuela have the right to choose, in freedom and safety, their own government — the right that Maduro denied them.

But there is no doubt at all that the Venezuelans never chose the United States to decide who will and who will not lead the Venezuelan government. How can we, whom the Venezuelan people have never elected nor invited to exert the force of arms in their country, then abduct the Venezuelan head of state, however illegitimate, and claim to represent democracy?

When we use military force to override the laws and ignore the judicial system of a sovereign country and its people, however repressed, how can we claim to uphold law and order?

— Rob Halm, Bloomington, Indiana

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/letters-010826-venezuela/ 

There is no second place on Election Day. Winners govern, and losers complain on social media. Illinois Republicans have turned whining into an artform. While they are not wrong that decades of single-party Democratic and progressive rule have turned the Land of Lincoln into a late-night joke, they refuse to acknowledge their complicity in its demise.

If there were a motto that best describes Illinois GOP primary voters, it would be: “Let’s nominate the worst general election candidate possible!”

Illinois is a blue state only because of the population density in the collar counties, with the heaviest being Cook County and the city of Chicago. This is where the Illinois GOP must make inroads. The rest of Illinois, with a few exceptions, is bright red.

With 2026 upon us, the new year offers Illinois voters a fresh opportunity to change Springfield. Primary elections are March 17. But early voting begins Feb. 5. The bombardment of political ads will commence this week. And so will the Republican primary voter litmus test.

For many Republicans, a candidate’s anti-abortion rights street cred is a make-or-break issue. Don’t get me wrong; by no means am I downplaying the issue, especially for GOP faith-based voters. But those who hold opposing views, such as suburban women, outnumber those voters and are just as passionate. Illinois has rarely elected an anti-abortion rights statewide officeholder or U.S. senator this century, with the exception of Dan Rutherford for the nonideological treasurer’s office in 2010. Let that sink in.

The GOP primary also requires a “MAGA” litmus test. I’m not referring to supporting President Donald Trump. That should be a must for any GOP nominee. My concern is that any disagreement with the president is regarded as a mortal sin.

The catch-22 for Republicans is that the president’s endorsement will be highly advantageous in March. But the political reality is that Trump’s support for a candidate plays right into the hands of the Democrats’ campaign playbook.

Gov. JB Pritzker is praying for a repeat of 2022 when Democrats produced advertisements claiming state Sen. Darren Bailey, the eventual GOP gubernatorial nominee, was “too conservative” for Illinois. They also made sure every voter north of Interstate 80 knew he appeared with Trump at a campaign rally to receive his endorsement. Bailey lost by more than 12 points with 15.5% of the Chicago vote.

“We must vote our principles,” as I’ve always heard during my four decades of campaign and political consulting. And I could not agree more.

Principles do not mean closed-mindedness or tunnel vision. In politics, the goal has to always be winning or, at the very least, advance your cause.

Real and impactful change doesn’t happen in one election cycle. GOP primary voters ought to consider that the Democrats not only control the General Assembly; they also have a veto-proof supermajority. To be blunt, Republicans will continue to be powerless in Illinois until they can make inroads in the collar counties.

And that is the opportunity the Illinois GOP primary voter has this year.

There are no success stories or legislation that Pritzker and his party can run on.

“It’s the economy and our kids, stupid!” should be the Illinois GOP slogan in 2026.

Under Pritzker and Democratic rule, Illinois families endure among the highest property taxes and state and local taxes in the country. Working families pay the second highest gas taxes in the nation. Illinois students have less financial aid available to pay for college, as Democrats are providing taxpayer-funded college scholarships, stipends and other state-funded aid to students who are in the U.S. without legal premission.

Add the pathetic reality that Illinois is the very definition of unfriendliness for business development and job creation, and the only thing Pritzker and his accomplices can campaign on is the vilification of Trump, facts be damned.

It will not be easy for the GOP to overcome Pritzker’s billions available to self-fund his reelection campaign and those of his House and Senate minions. That’s why Illinois Republicans must embrace kitchen table issues. Even if Republicans don’t win in 2026, let’s promote the ideals of free markets, limited government and rewarding, not punishing, working families with onerous taxation.

Republicans would be wise to invoke the “Buckley Rule.”

William F. Buckley, who founded the National Review in 1955, championed the idea that Republicans should always “support the rightward most viable candidate.” This rule is often misquoted as claiming he said, “the rightward most electable candidate.” Buckley, unlike many of our friends on the left, would never have advocated voting for just the letter next to a name on a ballot. However, he understood that political change begins at the ballot box. If your candidate is unlikely to win, let him or her at least advance your cause and ideas.

The Buckley Rule was first applied to Barry Goldwater in 1964. Even though Goldwater was trounced, his ideas gained momentum and culminated in the election of Ronald Reagan for president in 1980, the golden age of Republicanism.

Illinois can do the same. But if Republican primary voters don’t learn from history, they are doomed to a future of defeat after defeat.

Paul Miller is a media and political consultant based in the northwest suburbs. 

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/opinion-illinois-gop-politics-midterms/