⚾️ Happy Wednesday! It's a beautiful day for a ballgame, eh? Read on for how you can watch the Sox today.

🌤️ Today's weather: Mostly sunny with a high of 78 and a low of 53.

Today’s newsletter is 1,118 words — a 4-minute read.

President Trump is again raising the prospect of federal intervention in Chicago, saying the city is suffering an "unprecedented" crime wave that's "getting worse by the day."

Why it matters: Trump's renewed focus on Chicago comes as the city is on pace to record even fewer homicides than last year, when killings fell to their lowest level in 60 years.

The big picture: Trump's words paint a bleak picture of violence in the country's third-largest city, even as his administration touts the city's historic crime decline as evidence that his policies are working.

What they're saying: "The Federal Government can extinguish it quickly and completely, but the Mayor of Chicago, or the Governor of Illinois, must ask for our help," Trump posted yesterday.

By the numbers: Chicago recorded 321 homicides through September, down 3% from last year.

• More recent data show the decline continuing into October, with 328 homicides through Oct. 3 — five fewer than at the same point last year.

Zoom out: The improvement isn't merely year-over-year.

• Nine of 13 offenses examined by the Council on Criminal Justice were below their 2019 levels during the first half of 2026.

Yes, but: Chicago continues to experience hundreds of killings annually, and violence remains heavily concentrated in particular neighborhoods.

Flashback: Trump has threatened federal intervention in Chicago before. He intended to deploy National Guard troops to the area last fall, but federal courts blocked them from patrolling Chicago streets.

The other side: "Trump's own staff can't keep his lies straight," Gov. JB Pritzker posted on X, pointing to a White House webpage crediting Trump with Chicago's declining crime.

The bottom line: Trump says Chicago is experiencing an unprecedented crime wave while his administration points to the city's falling violence as evidence that its policies are working.

Go deeper

Attorney general

Former Chicago alderman Bob Fioretti is running as a Republican against Kwame Raoul, who is seeking his third term.

• Raoul has fought against President Trump's agenda, from the administration's attacks on transgender and voting rights to immigration enforcement.
• Fioretti says he's running to restore public trust and fight corruption.

Secretary of state

Incumbent Alexi Giannoulias faces Republican Joliet business owner Diane Harris.

Context: Giannoulias has focused on improving the DMV and fighting book bans, but Harris says the DMV still needs more work.

The intrigue: Giannoulias is also running a very active campaign for mayor, which recently sparked a lawsuit from one of his opponents in that race.

Comptroller

State Rep. Margaret Croke faces Republican attorney Bryan Drew to become the state's chief financial officer.

Context: Croke is backed by Illinois Democrats, including money from Gov. JB Pritzker. Drew says this support will erode Croke's ability to hold state leaders accountable for financial decisions.

Treasurer

Incumbent Michael Frerichs faces Republican attorney Max Solomon to retain his seat as the state's chief investment and banking officer.

• While the office maintains the state's portfolio, it's also the keeper and distributor of unclaimed property.
• Frerichs even delivered $8.65 to Pope Leo this summer.

What's next: Election Day is Nov. 3.

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The White Sox return to Rate Field today with a chance to sweep Cleveland and clinch a postseason series at home for the first time since 1906.

Zoom in: The Sox organization is making the most of the moment, asking everyone at sold-out Rate Field to wear black, recreating the atmosphere associated with the 2008 blackout game and later playoff runs.

• Fans will also get a postseason rally towel.
• Chicago band The Empty Pockets tells Axios it has been invited to perform a 15-minute set on the field before Wednesday's Game 3.

Zoom out: If you can't get into the game, the White Sox have teamed up with the nearby Ramova Theatre for an official watch party.

• Mitchell's Tap, Shinnick's Pub and Redwood Chicago are also hosting watch parties in the neighborhood.

What they're saying: "All of the Bridgeport establishments are going to see an uptick in business," Frank Ruffolo, owner of Franco's Ristorante, tells Axios.

• "We didn't expect it. It's almost found money."

More spots

🏛️ State Rep. Hoan Huynh has closed his office, citing threats after accusations that he has been "missing" on the job. (Block Club)

🌇 Chicago was voted the best big U.S. city by Condé Nast Traveler readers for the 10th year in a row. (ABC 7)

🏒 Patrick Kane returned to the United Center in a Blackhawks sweater last night for the team's home opener. The Hawks beat the Blues, 4-2. (NHL)

Editor's note: The score in the Oct. 7 newsletter was corrected to reflect that the Blackhawks defeated the Blues, 4-2. (not 2-1)

"Port of Entry," an immersive play that transports theatergoers to an Albany Park apartment building, is ending its run.

Why it matters: The production reveals the deep immigrant history of one of Chicago's most diverse neighborhoods and immerses audiences in true stories from the people who lived there.

Driving the news: Tickets for Albany Park Theater Project's (APTP) fourth and final season of the play go on sale Thursday at 7pm.

• A second block of tickets will go on sale Saturday at noon.

How it works: Each performance invites 28 audience members to walk through a three-story apartment building that APTP created in a vacant warehouse.

• Actors stationed throughout the set share true stories that APTP collected from immigrants and refugees who have called Albany Park home over the last 100 years.

Context: A common misconception is that the theater company created "Port of Entry" in response to the Trump administration's immigration policies, executive artistic director Miguel Angel Rodriguez tells Axios.

• "We're trying to tell 100 years of immigrants' stories in Albany Park. They're actual stories that we've collected from residents who used to live there way before APTP was a thing," Rodriguez says.

If you go: "Port of Entry" runs Oct. 29–Feb. 27 at 3547 W. Montrose Ave.

Learn more about the show

Edited by Larry Graham.

🥪 Carrie is going to check out Fatback Market tomorrow from 3-5pm for free sandwiches! She likes the beet sammy.

🔑 Justin forgot to tell you that he found his keys! The ones he lost back in March! When he was in Atlanta, he ripped his backpack and when attempting to fix it, he found the keys in a secret pocket. UNREAL.

🍁 Monica is so happy to be back in fall-like weather after weeks in steamy Spain, Morocco and Atlanta.

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