Welcome back to ‘In the Loop’! It’s your newsletter team, Sarah, Sana, Lydia, Seren, Kateleen, Annette, Steph, Marcy and Ella. We’ve got a good one for you today.
To start, we have a piece on what destructive relationships look like using a TV couple as an example. Next, we have news on a DePaul alum and board member honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award and a newly introduced bill that would aim to reduce fake event ticket sales in Illinois. Then, we have updates on the alleged shooter at the White House correspondents’ dinner and new drone strikes in the Ukraine/Russia war. To wrap up, we have news on Illinois responding to and reviewing footage from last October’s Operation Midway Blitz and a recommendation of ways to reuse and recycle when it comes to crafting.
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With that, let’s get into it!
Jesse and Jane in “Breaking Bad”: A Destructive Love Story
By Sana Hajidamji
Some relationships don’t feel wrong while you’re in them. If anything, they feel the opposite: comforting and like things make sense. That’s what makes destructive relationships so hard to recognize — they don’t always show up as an obvious red flag, but instead as connections that slowly rot from the inside.
I finished the second season of Breaking Bad last week. It’s a phenomenal show — the plot is exceptional, and the characters are even better. For context, it follows Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a high school chemistry teacher battling cancer who decides to go into the drug business with a former student, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul).
While we’re talking about destructive relationships, let’s talk about Jesse and Jane (Krysten Ritter). You know, Jesse’s “junkie” girlfriend? She doesn’t get much screen time, but their relationship ends up being one of the most memorable parts of season two. I want to look at a few moments between them that connect to the idea of destructive relationships.
To start, Jane manages her dad’s property, putting her next to Jesse as both his neighbor and landlord. This season, and Jane’s presence in it, made me enjoy Jesse’s character more because he’s not usually vulnerable. At first, he has his guard up, lying about his last name and who Walt is to him. With her, he becomes more sincere. When he gets caught for faking his last name, in other situations he would’ve doubled down or run from it. But, he eventually tells the truth.
Addiction is what truly drives their destruction, though. Jesse is already a drug addict — kicked out by his parents and involved in the drug business with Walt. Jane, on the other hand, is a recovering addict when they meet. That’s part of what makes their dynamic interesting. Jane seems to have the influence to fix or help Jesse regarding his addiction. For a while, the show makes you believe it’s possible.
After Jesse loses one of his friends, he opens up to Jane about being a drug dealer and asks her to leave so he can smoke. He turns to drugs as a coping mechanism, reinforcing how automatic that response is for him. We see this pattern with him, but the closer they get, the more it affects Jane. She tries to stop him, but he’s adamant. She starts to leave, but as she’s at the door, she turns back and joins him. That moment is a turning point in their relationship, but also for Jane. Until then, she’s been a stable, positive influence in Jesse’s life. Part of me was frustrated because it was so sad to see her throw 18 months of sobriety away.
I don’t think she turned around for the drugs, but to be there for Jesse. That decision is what ends up destroying them, because Jane slips back into her addiction deep and fast. There’s no hesitation, she relapses hard. Being with Jesse was enough temptation.
Jane’s father catches her later on, and she says she’ll go to rehab the next morning. But the second he leaves, she’s already planning a getaway with Jesse. Before they go through with it, they shoot up on heroin one last time. That ends up being the last time Jane does anything, because she overdoses and dies.
Jesse and Jane still remain one of my favorite TV couples, but one of the most destructive. The chemistry and connection is real, but they would’ve been better off apart.
It’s a sad ending for Jane, but I’ve read a lot of takes saying she was the problem. Common comments are that she only spent time with Jesse at her convenience and that she was using him for money — that’s fair to an extent. But I don’t think it’s that simple to label her as the “bad” one. That relationship pulled her back into a world she was actively trying to leave.
That’s the point it all comes back to — destructive relationships aren’t about one person being worse than the other, it’s the dynamic between two people that shifts into something harmful for both parties. What starts as comfort and connection can turn into dependence and recklessness without either person fully noticing it happening in real time … until the damage is done.
DePaul News
By Lydia Nugent
DePaul faculty publish free textbooks — Faculty at DePaul University are creating free, openly licensed textbooks to reduce financial barriers for students. The resources are available online and funded by a $150,000 grant from the Illinois State Library. The grant helps make coursework more accessible while giving professors flexibility to tailor materials to their expertise and student needs. Check out the site, DePaul University Library Pressbooks, here. For more, read Jade Walker’s article on University News.
DePaul alum and board member honored with Lifetime Achievement Award — DePaul alum and Board of Trustees member Scott Steffens received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Illinois Certified Public Accountants Society, recognizing his contributions to the accounting education and profession. Steffens, a first-generation college student, currently serves on several nonprofit boards and has helped shape curriculums and mentor students in his career. For more, read Meredith Carroll’s article with University News.
Vincentian Service Day approaches — Vincentian Service Day will take place this Saturday. The event is one of the university’s longest-standing traditions and sees partnerships with local organizations to provide food, childcare and other services to those in need. The service day fulfills DePaul’s Vincentian mission, which focuses on service and connection. While the registration deadline was Monday, students are still welcome to attend and be placed in groups that need more helpers. More information on Vincentian Service Day can be found here and with Liza Eliseeva at The DePaulia.
Chicago Headlines
By Seren Winslade
CPS prepares for May 1 as a day of “civic action” — After the Chicago Teachers Union pushed for school closures on May 1, also known as May Day, CPS announced that classes will remain open, but declared it as a day of civic action, allowing educators to “engage our students in civic action and solidarity.” Many students and staff are expected to take field trips to Union Park’s May Day rally, and CPS is working with private bus companies and the CTA to provide transportation. Students may also demonstrate in their own schools for up to 30 minutes, as per CPS policy. A civics curriculum has also been approved for teachers to guide classroom discussion. Read more from Matt Masterson at WTTW.
Shooting at Swedish Hospital leaves one officer dead — 26-year-old Alphanso Talley has been charged with the murder of 10-year police veteran John Bartholomew and the shooting of a second officer, who was left in critical condition, after he pulled a gun from under a blanket at Swedish Hospital Saturday. Talley had his first court appearance Monday, where he faced numerous charges including first-degree murder, aggravated battery of a police officer and more. At a press conference after the hearing, local elected officials advocated for tighter pretrial procedures. Read more from Alex V. Hernandez and Molly DeVore at Block Club Chicago.
Bill proposed to reduce fake concert and theater tickets — Leaders of Ravinia, Joffrey Ballet, Lyric Opera and more Chicago arts groups joined Monday to support a new bill that aims to put a stop to speculative ticketing, a process in which third-party sellers can list tickets for events they do not have for purchase. The bill would also add the ability to file complaints and prompt investigations by the Attorney General’s office regarding speculative tickets. The legislation passed the Illinois House unanimously on April 15 and now awaits action in the Senate. Several states have passed similar bills. Read more from Courtney Kueppers at the Chicago Sun-Times.
National Rebuilding Day sees over 60 homes provided with free repairs — Last Saturday, also known as National Rebuilding Day, Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago partnered with volunteers and skill trade unions to make home repairs and modifications across Cook County for free. They worked in 61 homes between Chicago and Maywood in a single day and provided free repairs to homeowners, many of whom are elderly, such as installing ceiling fans, electrical work and painting. Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago says they are accepting applications on a rolling basis for homeowners in need of repairs. Read more from Lissette Nuñez at ABC7 Chicago.
National Headlines
By Sarah Janito
White House correspondents’ dinner alleged shooter charged — Cole Tomas Allen, the man authorities say “tried to storm the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner with guns and knives,” was formally charged with attempted assassination and two additional firearm counts on Monday. Authorities also suggest the attack had been planned for weeks and that Allen reserved a room at the same hotel, checking in a day before the event — the first President Donald Trump has attended during his terms. A detention hearing is set for Thursday and Allen will remain in custody. This is a developing story. Eric Tucker, Michael Kunzelman and Alanna Durkin Richer with the AP have more.
Embassies told to deny visas to applicants who claim fear of return to home countries — New guidance from the state department says that applicants seeking temporary U.S. visas “must now tell a consular officer that they have not experienced harm and do not fear returning to their home country” or the chance of being denied a visa will increase. The department has instructed officers at every U.S. embassy and global consulate to “amend their process” and ask these new questions as a “prerequisite” for any visa interview to continue. It is both U.S. law and under the 1951 Refugee Convention that the right to seek asylum is not conditional on what someone tells a visa officer or how they enter the country, as reported by Joseph Gedeon with The Guardian.
Federal agents return to Minneapolis, targeting daycares — Multiple officials confirmed Tuesday morning that groups of federal agents returned to Minneapolis after last winter’s Operation Metro Surge, reportedly acting on search warrants for suspected fraud at around 20 childcare centers. The agents’ presence appeared to be tied to investigations of the “billion-dollar COVID-era fraud schemes” in the state. A spokesperson for the Justice Department said the FBI, along with federal and state officers, are “involved in court-authorized law enforcement activity as part of an ongoing fraud investigation.” No one was arrested in the raids. Jonah Kaplan with CBS News has more.
Former FBI director indicted for a second time — The Justice Department has indicted former FBI Director James Comey a second time. A grand jury held the indictment up over a social media photo posted by Comey, a critic of President Donald Trump. The post in question featured seashells on a beach arranged to say “8647,” something the DOJ believes is a threat to Trump as the number 86 is “old slang to mean “get rid of” and 47 could be seen as referring to Trump, the 47th president. The DOJ has also requested a warrant for Comey’s arrest. Read more from Ryan Lucas and Carrie Johnson with NPR.
International Headlines
By Kateleen Quiles
OpenAI CEO apologizes to Canadians after failing to report mass shooter’s conversations with AI chatbot — Following the worst Canadian school shooting in decades in Tumbler Ridge, BC, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman apologized to the community of Tumbler Ridge in an April 23 letter after the shooter’s online conversations with an AI chatbot reportedly wasn’t properly alerted to authorities, even after staff flagged the account internally. “I am deeply sorry that we did not alert law enforcement to the account that was banned in June,” Altman wrote. Altman also noted in his letter that he has been in touch with Tumbler Ridge authorities over the last few months. Paula Newton with CNN has more.
United Arab Emirates will leave oil cartel OPEC — The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will exit the OPEC and OPEC+ groups of major oil producing nations after nearly 60 years of membership. The UAE said the decision to exit would “help it meet growing global energy demand in the long term.” The UAE’s exit is seen as a “blow” to the oil cartel: “With the UAE leaving, [OPEC] loses about 15 percent of its capacity and one of its most compliant members,” said Saul Kavonic, head of energy research at MST Financial. He also described the scenario as “the beginning of the end” of OPEC. Nick Edser, Archie Mitchell and Jonathan Josephs from the BBC have more.
Heavy flooding in China leads to evacuations and vehicle submersions — More than 200 residents in a southern Chinese city were forced to evacuate after heavy flooding and rain. The flooding left vehicles submerged while rescue crews aided residents trapped in their homes in Qinzhou city in Guangxi region. Authorities said the city recorded over 10 inches of rainfall during a 24-hour period that ended 8 a.m. Monday. As of Tuesday morning, schools have resumed classes and traffic is normal in most places. Read more from the Associated Press at ABC News.
14 East Pueblo: Operation Midway Blitz’s “Horrifying” Video Testimonies Shown in State Hearing
By Annette Prado
At a public hearing held by Gov. JB Pritzker’s new Illinois Accountability Commission, residents across Chicago detailed personal stories and experiences from last year’s federal government’s immigration raids.
Residents shared how they were tear-gassed, detained or witnessed the same happening to others during Operation Midway Blitz.
Monday’s hearing was the first of two public meetings led by the independent, nine-seat board created by Pritzker. This board’s task is to document, record and investigate the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
4,500 people were arrested by federal immigration during Operation Midway Blitz. Agents killed a man during a traffic stop in Franklin Park and shot a woman who was allegedly tailing them in Brighton Park, broke car windows, caused crashes and used chemical weapons on people “at least 49 times,” wrote Madison Savedra for Block Club Chicago.
Members of the state commission have conducted around 60 interviews with neighbors and witnesses, along with reviewing hundreds of hours of body camera footage, cellphone videos and surveillance cameras.
During the hearing, the commission reportedly played footage that showed federal agents stopping people on the street to ask about their citizenship, chasing landscaping workers, pulling people out of cars, displaying their firearms to onlookers and more.
The commission plans to give a final report with policy recommendations to Pritzker on Thursday. Pritzker has previously said he established the commission “to preserve the truth and document how Donald Trump and his accomplices violated the rights of Illinoisans and terrorized our communities.”
Hey, Check This Out!
With Featured Columnist Ella Malczyk
Crafting is a resource many use to wind down or as an activity with friends. With most things there comes an expense, and crafting comes with a hefty price tag. But, there are ways to work around spending the extra money.
In the art world, the concept of “trash to treasure” is used often. It’s commonly seen in scrapbooking.
Throughout the day, we subconsciously collect little pieces of trash. This can come from a to-go bag from a coffee shop or a flyer someone gives you on the street — things we usually throw out. “Trash to treasure” encourages creatives to incorporate these scraps into their crafting.
Not all scraps need to be considered “trash” to be free. A lot of times, little shops and street stands have free newspapers and magazines, for example. If I’m going to a local coffee shop or record store, they usually give out free stickers. If the business is local, there can be small papers to take to promote upcoming events. If you start to keep an eye out for the small things, you’ll find them everywhere.
In my room, I have a box where I collect my trash treasures. I have price tags, fruit stickers, packages, labeled napkins, coffee sleeves, boxes, old notes and more.
This may seem like an excusable way of hoarding — and in some ways it is — but the outcome of “trash to treasure” is financially and ecologically friendly. It practices the skill of observing and putting appreciation to normally ignored objects.
“Trash to treasure” doesn’t just apply to scrapbooking. I’ve used newspapers as wrapping paper, flyers as posters, leftover fabrics on clothes, empty containers as storage and limitless others.
Before throwing something out, consider what else it can be used for.
Resources
Need resources regarding cooling centers, rental assistance, abortion access, COVID-19 testing and vaccines or mental health? Check out our complete list here.
International students concerned about their visa status can contact the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Students can check their visa status through the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) or the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
That’s it for today! See you next Monday.
The 14 East Newsletter Team