Happy Friday, Chicago.

I spent much of this week down with the vicious stomach bug going around and do not recommend it. Here’s hoping you all stayed healthy.

Kristi Noem has been fired by President Donald Trump and like most of Chicago, the Tribune Editorial Board will shed no tears.

The board also notes that Capital One’s takeover of Discover Financial Services is proving far more damaging than expected, with more than 1,700 jobs cut in the Riverwoods area and another blow to Chicagoland’s already shrinking base of major corporate employers.

We’re all getting loads of campaign mailers, and her own pile inspired Dr. Jennifer Obel’s op-ed in today’s commentary section. She wishes candidates spent more time selling their own merits and plans than tearing down their opponents. She has a point.

Also on the opinion page, a pair of cycling advocates write that they feel abandoned by Mayor Brandon Johnson after the city opposed a state bill that would make bicyclists the “intended users” of all city roads.

Rounding out our commentary, columnist Elizabeth Shackelford argues that the Pentagon’s clash with AI company Anthropic is really a fight over whether the military should face any guardrails in its use of artificial intelligence.

Don’t forget to check out reader letters.

— Hilary Gowins, editorial board member

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