The Chicago Cubs have stumbled into the partisan firestorm ignited by the killing of Charlie Kirk.

Why it matters: The beloved North Side team is heading to the playoffs for the first time since 2020, but the governor and some fans are calling for a boycott of the team's broadcast home.

Driving the news: Gov. JB Pritzker, a Cubs fan, wants Chicagoans to boycott Sinclair Broadcasting after the media giant refused to air "Jimmy Kimmel Live," instead preempting his time slot even after his suspension was lifted.

• Sinclair Broadcasting owns multiple television stations in Illinois, mostly downstate. But they partner with Marquee Sports, which is the broadcast home of the Cubs.

The latest: Cubs rookie Matt Shaw skipped Sunday's game to attend the memorial for Kirk. The third baseman said he knew Kirk and that he wanted to attend because it was "really important to my faith."

• Shaw explained that he got permission to leave from the Cubs front office and that he discussed the situation with several veterans, who gave him "a lot of support and really good advice."

The intrigue: While it's perfectly acceptable for a player to miss games for personal reasons, many fans point to the highly political nature of Kirk's memorial and question Shaw's absence during a crucial late-season game, which the Cubs lost 1-0.

• Kirk, who grew up in the Chicago area, was a fan of the team, even taking photos with Shaw and other players at Wrigley Field just weeks before his killing.
• That photo led some fans to call for a boycott of the team then.

The big picture: This isn't the first time the Cubs have been called out over politics. The Ricketts family, which owns the Cubs, has been under fire for supporting and even fundraising for President Trump and conservative candidates and issues.

Marquee Sports and the Chicago Cubs refused to comment for this story.

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The Trump administration threw Argentina a financial life raft this week, and Argentina promptly responded by offering China an enticement in the form of untaxed soybeans.

Why it matters: Illinois farmers stand to lose big. We grow more soybeans than any other state and formerly counted China as our No. 1 soy export market.

• But amid President Trump's current trade war, Chinese orders for this year's U.S. soybean harvest stand at zero while Brazil and Argentina reap the rewards.

State of play: Argentina suspended its 26% soybean export tax this week, leading China to double its Argentine soybean purchases overnight.

• The move further prices out U.S. soybean farmers, who are already grappling with a 20% retaliatory tariff imposed by China.

What they're saying: China's purchase of South American soybeans and the fact that "U.S. farmers are shut out of various markets does hurt us," Andrew Larson, director of government relations at the Illinois Soybean Association, tells Axios.

The other side: "The soybean farmers have been screaming for assistance since we took office," a senior White House administration official tells Axios. "So this isn't new. And the president is going to help."

Between the lines: That "help" could come in the form of huge subsidies, similar to the $28 billion the Trump administration paid out to farmers in the wake of export losses from the president's 2018 trade war with China.

• A Trump administration official tells Axios the next round of bailout money could come from various sources, including diverted tariff revenue.

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Chicago is the No. 1 city for bird collisions in the country, according to advocates, but they say it doesn't have to be that way.

Why it matters: It's peak migration season now as hundreds of thousands of birds fly through Chicago as they head South. The city's many tall glassy buildings and artificial lights can disorient migrating birds and sometimes lead to thousands to crash and die a night.

By the numbers: This week, Chicago Bird Collision Monitors (CBCM) have picked up 100-200 birds a day in a 1.5-mile radius downtown, director Annette Prince tells Axios.

State of play: CBCM and other Chicago bird advocate groups have been petitioning the city to adopt an ordinance that requires new construction to consider bird safety in its design.

What's next: If you come across a hurt and dead bird, you can call CBCM at 773-988-1867, and they can provide guidance on what to do next.

Go deeper

🤣 John Mulaney will be the first comedian ever to headline a show at Wrigley Field. The Lincoln Park-raised Mulaney is scheduled to perform in July. (Sun-Times)

⚖️ A federal judge ruled the U.S. Department of Homeland Security cannot withhold federal funding from Illinois and other states for refusing to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (Axios)

🎸 Gwar is facing backlash from conservative social media accounts for its performance last weekend at Riot Fest. (Axios)

🏈 Bears QB Caleb Williams was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week. (WGN-TV)

👋 Hi, it's Justin, back with another coffee shop mini-review.

The place: Loba Pastry + Coffee (3600 N. Lincoln Ave.)

The vibe: The sleek spot gives hipster vibes, but caters to locals of all stripes.

The coffee: Instead of another lavender-flavored latte, I mixed it up with their Maria Bonita special ($6.50), which combines a bottle of Coke with espresso, lime, vanilla and a cherry on top.

• It was delightful! The cola and lime balanced surprisingly well with the espresso.
• But the real draw is the pastries made on site, which sell out fast.

The service: Long lines, but they move fast. The baristas were constantly shuttling new pastries from the kitchen in the back.

☕️ 10-word review: Fantastic muffins and coffee creations with a cherry on top.

More coffee breaks

If you saw red flags along the beach yesterday, this is why.

• Those mean: Stay out of the water!