2025Lookback
2 2 JAN 08 2026 -JAN 14, 2026
Publisher
E-NOTES
Cheryl Mainor Norman
Editor-In-Chief
Kai El Zabar
Chief Content Officier Laura Miller Malachi Webster Editorial Assistant Creative Direction
CNW Studio, LLC
Sales Manager Copy Editor Staff Writers
Michael Toliver Max Blaisdell Mila K. Marshall PhD. Candi McCrary Neffer Kerr Cabryl Breotti CL. Blackburn
Columnists
Intern & Illustrator
Cover Photography
Dr. Sanja Rickette Stinson David Seaton
Elijah Lee
CNW Studios
Do you need a self-contract? Kai El Zabar - Editor-In-Chief I hope that your holidays were all that you desired and more. So Happy New Year 2026! Question for you—Do you take a moment at the end of the year to reflect on the year passed and examine what worked what didn’t? Do you make a commitment to accomplishing those goals? Do Maybe you need a self-contract. Use a contract with yourself to help keep you honest. I can’t tell you what to do. You have to be honest with yourself. Believe me when the tree falls in the forest and no one hears the crash or saw it fall, doesn’t mean it didn’t. It fell. That’s the same reality regarding your agreement with self. No one knows your agreement but you. So, at the end of next year when the new year is right there in your face. Truth will speak loud and clear; you either did or did not keep your contract.
By keeping your word, you win. Your accomplishment whether it’s about losing weight or saving money, following through and keeping your word puts you in the winning circle and strengthens that ‘I can do it Volume 3 No. 21 muscle.’ Finally, you know and October 15, 2025 embrace what NIKE’s been preaching Chicago News Weekly is for years, to remind you. The accomplishment is empowering. So, Published on Thursday “Just Do It!” Chicago News Weekly, LLC 700 N Sacramento Blvd Suite 320 Chicago, IL 60612 (312) 877-5151
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CHECK OUT LAST WEEK’S ISSUE AT WWW.CNWMEDIA.COM/E-EDITIONS
So, let’s get started by starting one day at a time. First, be honest with yourself. You’ve been here before, for example maybe for the last 5 years, there was something you really want to accomplish; and you lose the will power to follow through. Why? Well, if it’s something that replaces another something that's missing in your life, like companionship.’ You may choose food to fulfill that emptiness. You eat when you really want to reach for someone. You gain weight, which impacts your self-esteem. Then you eat to soothe your disappointment in self. Therein lies the vicious cycle.
First - Become more observant. Take time to notice everything that surrounds you, sounds, color, movement, trees swaying, people walking, running, driven cars, roller skaters parked cars, the wind or ocean flying birds or people watch. Just notice. Second - Collect ideas. Ideas and thoughts seem to flee and tend to be lost in the moment. Try to capture them before they move on. Ideally, keep a journal for such moments and write them down, or sketch every single one. Third - Read! Yes, this fast becoming past time is an invaluable asset. Reading is probably the best investment of time ever. Devote at least 30 minutes a day to elevate your psyche. So keep a book with you. Fourth - Analyze your day. Before crashing and going to bed, spend 10 minutes to go over your day. Did you do what you set out to accomplish? How did you waste your time? How can you change that? Consider what stopped you from achieving your goals. Also, think about what things you managed to do well and what you can do to correct the mistakes? Fifth - Start writing. The greatest value of good writing skills is that it cultivates discipline and helps to order your steps and develops organization. Imagine the discipline of thinking about what your place in life is anchored in. Your thoughts will cease to be random and chaotic, but flow and connect. Gradually, they will become systematic and structured instead. Sixth - Spend time daily listening to soothing music that relaxes, and inspires you. Preferably, music without vocals works better because it doesn’t direct your thinking, however inspirational songs that help to elevate you is fine. Footnote: These steps do not include your computer, laptop, or phone. It is critical that you follow these six steps because they will prepare you for the discipline your personal contract requires of you. Follow these steps consistently for 4 months after which you can recommit to your personal contract and win in the end! If you plan to take this challenge on, send to chicagonewsweekly@gmail.com
Let’s make it fun. Steps that will help you build that ‘commitment muscle.’
Type : Personal Self Contract in the subject and list your goals
The following steps will help you become a better you every day which establish a sense of accomplishment and prepares you to take on that contract with yourself.
We will check in monthly. At the end of the year, we will award you mystery prizes ...
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CITY NEWS The Politics of Punishment: How Federal Funding Became a Weapon Against Illinois Families CNW STAFF REPORT On January 6, while most Chicagoans prepared for midweek routines, the Trump administration dispatched a letter to Illinois officials that would reverberate through 152,000 households across the state. Without formal notification or consultation, the Department of Health and Human Services announced it would freeze approximately $1 billion in federal child care and family assistance funding— part of a $10 billion suspension targeting five Democratic-led states. The stated rationale: fraud concerns. The unstated reality: a troubling precedent in which federal power becomes an instrument of political retribution rather than public service. The suspension affects three critical programs—the Child Care Development Fund, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and the Social Services Block Grant—that collectively form the infrastructure supporting working families navigating Illinois’ ongoing affordability crisis. These are not abstract budget lines. They represent the difference between a single mother in Englewood maintaining employment and losing her job because child care has disappeared. What makes this action particularly striking is not merely its scope, but its methodology. The Illinois Department of Human Services confirmed it received no official communication prior to the announcement. Governor JB Pritzker learned of the decision through media reports and anonymous administration quotes—a governanceby-press-release approach that signals something more than routine oversight.
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The administration’s justification centers on alleged fraud in Minnesota’s child care system, where federal prosecutors have documented a COVID-era scheme involving approximately 70 individuals who exploited nutrition programs to fraudulently obtain over $250 million. That investigation represents genuine malfeasance requiring accountability. But the logical leap from documented fraud in one state to wholesale funding suspension across five states—without presenting evidence of comparable wrongdoing—reveals a different calculus at work. Administration officials claim they are “ensuring that federal taxpayer dollars are being used for legitimate purposes,” yet the freeze preceded any formal investigation into Illinois’ programs. No allegations have been substantiated. No requests for documentation were made through proper channels. The action came first; the justification followed. This sequence matters because it illuminates a fundamental shift in federal-state relations. Historically, concerns about program integrity triggered audits, requests for records, or targeted investigations. The standard was evidence-based intervention. What we witness now is hypothesis-driven punishment: assume fraud, impose sanctions, demand states prove their innocence. The human cost will be borne disproportionately by Illinois’ most vulnerable residents. Child care providers operating on thin margins may close while awaiting resumed funding. Working parents, particularly women, may be forced to choose between employment and supervision of their children.
Consider the arithmetic of need: Illinois currently serves approximately 152,000 children through the Child Care Assistance Program. These families are working, often multiple jobs, in an economy where child care costs frequently exceed rent. The median cost of infant care in Chicago approaches $15,000 annually—a figure that consumes more than a third of median household income for working-class families. Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin captured the essential contradiction in their joint statement: an administration that campaigned on lowering costs for middle-class families has chosen to “gut support for critical child care programs that so many families rely on.” Yet perhaps the most revealing aspect of this episode is what sparked it. The Minnesota funding freeze followed an unverified YouTube video by a conservative influencer alleging fraud in Somali child care centers—claims that Minnesota officials disputed. That such content could precipitate billions in suspended funding across multiple states suggests a disturbing willingness to weaponize federal authority based on viral narratives rather than verified intelligence. This is not to dismiss legitimate fraud concerns. Every dollar of public funding carries an obligation of accountability. States must maintain rigorous oversight, and genuine malfeasance demands consequences. But there exists a vast difference between responsible stewardship and collective punishment.
Illinois families deserve better than governance by social media algorithm. They deserve investigations grounded in evidence, interventions proportional to documented problems, and federal partnership rather than federal antagonism. What they have received instead is a freeze that confuses families, destabilizes providers, and substitutes political theater for policy substance. The question facing Illinois now is not simply how to navigate this immediate crisis, but what it signals about the relationship between federal power and state autonomy. When funding becomes a weapon rather than a tool, when oversight becomes punishment, and when politics supersedes evidence, everyone loses—particularly the children caught in the crossfire.
NATIONAL NEWS The Walk for Peace: Buddhist Monks, American Roads, and What it Means to Witness CNW STAFF REPORT On October 26, 2025, roughly twenty Buddhist monks stepped out from a temple in Fort Worth, Texas, and began walking east. Their destination is Washington, D.C. Their route stretches about 2,300 miles across ten states. Their timeline is about 120 days. Their message is disarmingly simple: walk for peace. It is not the first time people have crossed the country for a cause. But this walk feels different, both in timing and visibility. As of early January, the monks have drawn hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. Their fourlegged companion, a rescue dog named Aloka, has amassed a devoted audience of his own. Every day, the group posts short updates—photos of blistered feet, dawn prayers by the roadside, handwritten signs calling for compassion. This is what some teachers call "engaged Buddhism," a tradition that refuses to separate spiritual practice from the realities of war, racism, and state violence. During the Vietnam War, monks like Thich Nhat Hanh insisted that meditation and nonviolence had to be lived in the streets as much as in the monastery. To sit and breathe was meaningful; to risk one's safety to accompany the suffering was, in their view, unavoidable. The monks on this walk rarely name specific conflicts. Their posts read more like poems than press releases: "We not walk alone. We walk with anyone whose heart opens, whose daily life becomes a garden where understanding grows." The language feels closer to James Baldwin's insistence on bearing witness than to the clipped slogans of modern politics. It asks readers not for agreement, but for honesty about who we are and what we are willing to live with. Yet this is very much a walk through the United States of this moment. They set out as a disputed election in Venezuela hardened into a full-blown legitimacy crisis and as talk of military force and sanctions rose again in Washington. They crossed the South during another winter of protests, counter-protests, and bitter arguments about whose lives are grievable, whose borders are sacred, and whose suffering is seen as collateral. The walk has already carried real risk. In November, as they moved through the Houston area, a truck slammed into their escort vehicle. One monk lost part of his leg. He now recovers in a hospital, while his fellow monks continue the journey on foot and sometimes by wheelchair. When they reached his city, they visited him, robes and shaved heads bright against the antiseptic light of the ward. The moment was tender and, inevitably, recorded and shared.
That is the tension at the heart of this project. Any act of public faith in 2026 risks becoming content. The monks' Instagram is full of smiles, hugs, roadside chants, and painting Aloka's face. The danger is that the walk becomes just another feed—something to scroll past between outrage clips and viral jokes. The invitation is that it might become something else: a slow, stubborn reminder that peace is a practice, not a slogan. Bell Hooks wrote about love as a decision to nurture one another's spiritual growth. There is nothing sentimental about walking twenty to thirty miles a day in rain, traffic, and cold. There is nothing easy about inviting strangers to join you, knowing some will heckle, some will romanticize, and only a few will stay long enough to listen. But that is what these monks are doing town after town, city after city.
Photo Credit: @walkforpeace.usa on Instagram
As they move through small Southern towns and big East Coast suburbs, they carry signs that say "Walk for Peace" in English and other languages. Children come out to wave. Elders bring food. Drivers lean on their horns in support and in anger. In that mix is the country itself—conflicted, distracted, capable of both cruelty and sudden tenderness. By the time the monks reach Washington, winter will be loosening its grip. Lawmakers will still be arguing over budgets, borders, and distant wars. Foreign policy staff will still be gaming out scenarios in places like Caracas and Kyiv. The monks will arrive not with policy proposals but with worn sandals and a simple question: What would it look like to choose compassion, not just as private feeling but as public practice? By the time the monks reach Washington, winter will be loosening its grip. Lawmakers will still be arguing over budgets, borders, and distant wars. Foreign policy staff will still be gaming out scenarios in places like Caracas and Kyiv. The monks will arrive not with policy proposals but with worn sandals and a simple question: What would it look like to choose compassion, not just as private feeling but as public practice? They will not have answered that question alone. A walk like this is less about arrival than accompaniment. The real measure may not be how many people line the streets in the capital, but how many remember, months from now, that a small group of monks once crossed their highway asking them to consider what peace could mean.
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COVER STORY
THE CNW 2025 COVER STORY LOOK BACK As the wise often remind us, you can’t chart your future without understanding your past. Let’s take a moment to spotlight some of our favorite cover stories from 2025!
“Every story is my favorite—which is why choosing just a few from the past year is far more challenging than most might imagine. Still, the selections featured here were guided by two forces: impact and destiny. Each of these stories left a crater-sized imprint—not only on the direction of Chicago News Weekly, but on the city itself. Like so many of the stories we are privileged to tell, these pieces reflect the true spirit of Chicago. They spotlight the innovators and the bold—those who build, disrupt, and reimagine what is possible. The novel. The multifaceted. The individuals who see gaps where others see limits, and who move ideas into action. These are not distant figures or abstract ideals. These are some of our heroes in real time—shaping Chicago’s future through vision, courage, and execution.” Laura Miller
The Mensa Method - Vic Mensa Vic Mensa has never been interested in playing the role assigned to him. As an artist, activist, and intellectual force, he moves at the intersection of culture and conscience—challenging systems, confronting trauma, and interrogating what it means to be free in a world that profits from distraction. The Mensa Method is not about perfection; it is about intention, survival, and the discipline required to remain awake. The Renaissance Man : Jeffrey Beckham Jr. Jeffery Beckham Jr. is not content with mastering a single lane. His journey reflects a deliberate commitment to excellence across disciplines—business, leadership, and creative expression—earning him a reputation as a modern Renaissance man. What sets him apart is not just versatility, but intention: every move is rooted in vision, strategy, and a deep understanding of impact.”
The Measure of the ‘Mocha Man’ (Trez Pugh III) Walk into any Sip & Savor location, and you’ll find more than just a coffee shop—you’ll find a community. From Hyde Park to Bronzeville, the rich aroma of premium coffee blends with the sounds of laughter, debate, and connection. Founded in 2005 by Trez Pugh III, Sip & Savor was never just about selling coffee… It was about creating a space where young professionals, retirees, students, and artists could gather, network, and feel at home.”
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COVER STORY With Legacy & Flavor: Noel Garcia & NG Distillery Makes History “The first sip of Noel Garcia’s gin is like stepping into a story—one woven with notes of juniper, whispers of citrus, and a finish that lingers like a well-told secret. It’s not just a drink; it’s an experience, a reflection of a man whose journey from the streets of Brooklyn to Illinois distilleries is as layered as the spirits he creates.”
Purpose-Driven Power: Toi Salter “There’s a quiet command in the way Toi Salter moves through the world —one built not on ego, but on purpose. For decades, she’s balanced entrepreneurship, mentorship, and philanthropy with a grace that feels effortless, but is anything but. Her story reads like divine choreography— every twist, every risk, every reinvention guided by faith and conviction.”
“I selected these excerpts because they represent moments where the storytelling still resonates with me as deeply now as when I first wrote them. Whether it’s a statistic that remains staggering, language that still feels urgent, or a scene I can’t quite believe made it to the page—these are the pieces that continue to haunt me. If the words haunt me, I hope they haunt readers too. They reflect not just the craft of journalism, but my commitment to elevating voices from the Black community, the LGBTQ+ community, and anyone navigating systems that weren’t built for them. This work is about paying forward the understanding we gain when we look closer at the world around us. “ Malachi Webster
Cornered: Despite Chicago’s status as the third-largest city and major economic hub, Black residents face structural barriers that have only intensified. According to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, median household income for white Chicagoans reaches $89,050, compared to $27,713 for Black Chicagoans—a disparity that affects everything from housing access to business capital. “Home in Chicago means legacy and resilience—a place where my children can grow roots and carry forward values of service,” McCord explains. “Over time, though, it has become more expensive and more segmented, making it harder for working families to stay in neighborhoods they love.” Left to Learn Alone: On a frigid February morning in West Town, Room 302 was cold enough to see breath. The radiator hadn’t worked for weeks, and neither had the chemistry teacher. No substitutes came. The silence was broken by fifteen-year-old Carolina Carchi, standing quietly and moving to the front of the classroom. She opened a worn binder filled with worksheets she’d printed herself, placed sharpened pencils on desks, and began teaching chemistry—a subject she was still learning herself. The windows were fogged at the corners. A classmate coughed. The only sounds were the hum of fluorescent lights and the rhythmic tap of her pen against the whiteboard. Carolina’s story is not unique. It is one of many. JAN 08 2026 -JAN 14, 2026 7
COVER STORY The Purge is Coming: Do crime rates spike when desperation sets in? Do health systems collapse when preventable illnesses surge? Do children fall further behind in school when they’re too hungry to learn? Do neighborhoods destabilize when grocery stores close and food deserts expand? The answer to all of those questions is yes. We know because we’ve seen it before, in smaller doses, in specific communities. We know what happens when the floor drops out. But we’ve never done it to 3.2 million people at once. We’ve never run this experiment on this scale. “And make no mistake,” Thompson says. “That’s what this is. An experiment. With real people. Real families. Real children.” The Company That Sold Trust: In the summer of 2019, Oklahoma’s attorney general stood before a district judge and accused Johnson & Johnson—yes, that Johnson & Johnson—of acting as the quiet kingpin in America’s opioid epidemic. Not Purdue Pharma. Not just the Sacklers. But the company that made Band-Aids, baby shampoo, and children’s Tylenol. For over a century, Johnson & Johnson cultivated a reputation so pristine that it was almost untouchable. It was the company families turned to in moments of pain, fear, or illness. It made the products people trusted to heal their children, soothe their ailments, and signal safety. It wasn’t just about corporate greed—it was about misplaced trust, weaponized branding, and the price of public naiveté.
“I love all of the stories shared with me however I chose the three stories that represented the last cover stories I'd write in 2025.Each tell the story of three very differently expressed beautiful women who chose to change the lens through which you view the world allowing you to see through their unique perspective that enabled them to slay dragon after dragon. “Kai El Zabar Terri Winston This condensed version of Terri Winston’s journey focuses on her evolution from a West Side student to a powerhouse in media, marketing, and community activism. The Legacy of Black Excellence From sales rep to magazine mogul to non-profit leader, Terri Winston has proven that a mastery of marketing and a heart for the community are a formidable combination. “I’m rooted in Black excellence,” she says. By looking through the eyes of the youth she serves, she continues to sell them on a future they might not have otherwise imagined—painting a picture of success, one career path at a time.
Barbara Bates The Thread of Resiliency: The Barbara Bates Story Barbara Bates didn’t just learn fashion; she felt it. As a young girl in the 1960s, she found her first muses in the tiny, meticulous wardrobes of her Barbie dolls and the effortlessly chic women in her family. While her peers were following trends, Bates was studying craftsmanship. This innate eye for quality, paired with a relentless work ethic, would eventually transform a West Side teenager into one of Chicago’s most influential designers and a powerhouse of grassroots philanthropy. Continued on Page 14.
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NATIONAL NEWS
Venezuela's Stolen Election: A Timeline of Fraud, Crackdown, and American Power Plays MALACHI WEBSTER - STAFF WRITER On July 28, 2024, Venezuelans voted in what many hoped would be a turning point. Incumbent leader Nicolás Maduro sought a third consecutive term, while the unified opposition coalition behind former diplomat Edmundo González Urrutia presented an alternative. International observers monitored the vote. The stage appeared set for either change or continued authoritarian governance—what nobody anticipated was an unprecedented electoral fraud that would redraw global alignments and resurrect older patterns of U.S. intervention in Latin America.
Many were held without formal charges. Courts began applying broad "terrorism" and "conspiracy" labels, turning civic participation into a crime. Opposition figures went into hiding or fled the country.
Journalists were also targeted. Reporters who documented protests or questioned the official vote count were threatened, detained, or stripped of credentials. Public workers were fired for showing sympathy to the opposition, sometimes for nothing more than liking a post on social media. Internet restrictions and platform blocks followed. The Within hours, the government-controlled National message from the state was consistent: contesting Electoral Council announced preliminary results: the imposed result would be met with punishment. Maduro won with just over half of the vote, González Under international pressure, the government a distant second. The declaration came with a critical asked the Supreme Court—stacked with loyalists— caveat: officials cited a foreign cyberattack that to review the election. Rather than opening the allegedly delayed the vote-counting process. No process to scrutiny, the court moved behind closed detailed precinct-level results were provided. doors. It endorsed the official results without Independent observers quickly began questioning releasing comprehensive voting data to the public. the narrative, pointing to the lack of transparency For Venezuelans who had seen decades of political and the speed of the announcement. maneuvering, it was a familiar pattern: institutions designed to arbitrate disputes instead functioning as The opposition, however, possessed something the extensions of executive power. government did not: documentation. Poll watchers had collected voting tallies from polling stations This is where the United States re-enters the story. across Venezuela. As these official records were A new U.S. administration took office in 2025 digitized and compiled, a different story emerged. with Venezuela near the top of its foreign policy The tallies showed González winning by a wide agenda. The new secretary of state, a longtime margin, with support approaching two-thirds of hardliner on Latin America, laid out conditions valid votes while Maduro trailed far behind. For for any engagement with Caracas: dismantle drug many Venezuelans, this was not just an irregular trafficking networks, expel foreign security allies, election; it was the outright theft of a popular and restructure the state-controlled oil sector. Naval deployments and new sanctions signaled mandate. that Washington was prepared to use coercive Three days after the vote, the government launched tools to shape the outcome. a security operation known informally as a door-todoor sweep. Rights groups describe it as systematic: The echoes of the 2003 invasion of Iraq are not authorities moving block by block, detaining anyone exact, but they are difficult to ignore. Then, too, connected to opposition campaigns or post-election U.S. officials framed intervention as a necessary protests. Activists inside the country called it an response to a dangerous regime while eyeing strategic resources. attempt to terrify people back into silence..
The numbers tell part of the story. Hundreds, then thousands, were arrested within weeks. Detainees Public statements about "not occupying" included campaign volunteers, student organizers, Venezuela sit uneasily alongside talk of directing policy, influencing the country's oil future, and and neighborhood leaders. supporting new leadership acceptable to Washington.
For many people in the region, this sequence—fraud at the polls, repression at home, and powerful neighbors circling —feels like history repeating itself. Latin America has a long memory of coups, covert operations, and "transitions" managed from abroad. Inside Venezuela, the consequences are deeply personal. Surveys have found overwhelming belief among ordinary people that Maduro actually lost the election, alongside profound dissatisfaction with living conditions and governance. Large numbers say they are considering leaving the country, joining a diaspora already scattered from Colombia to Chicago. What comes next is unclear. The opposition has shown its tallies and its evidence. Venezuelans have risked their freedom to protest. International actors have condemned the process while pursuing their own interests. Maduro remains in office, and the security apparatus remains intact. This moment may be remembered less as a single stolen election than as a test of whether Latin America can secure genuine self-determination without once again becoming a stage for great-power games.
COMMENTARY
The Price of Political Cowardice in Minnesota DAIVD SEATON - COLUMNIST
For years, Minnesotans were told that everything was fine. That concerns about fraud were exaggerated. That asking hard questions was “divisive.” Today, the bill has come due—and taxpayers are staring at billions of dollars lost while political leaders looked the other way. Governor Tim Walz’s decision not to seek a third term is not happening in a vacuum. It follows years of revelations exposing massive fraud across multiple federal and state programs administered in Minnesota. From food assistance to childcare subsidies to healthcare services, repeated investigations uncovered criminal networks that exploited weak oversight, rubber-stamp approvals, and a political culture more interested in optics than accountability. This did not happen by accident. It happened because leadership failed. Walz and his Democratic allies created an environment where enforcement was treated as oppression and skepticism was treated as bigotry. Agencies were discouraged from asking questions. Whistleblowers were ignored. Audits were delayed. And when fraud was exposed, the response was too often silence, deflection, or excuses about “systemic issues” rather than decisive action.
The victims of this negligence are not politicians— they are American taxpayers and the truly needy families who depend on these programs to survive. Every dollar stolen is a dollar denied to someone playing by the rules. The most insulting part of this scandal is how criticism was weaponized against ordinary citizens. Americans who demanded accountability were smeared as hateful or ignorant. Law-abiding immigrants were lumped together with criminals, while politicians used moral grandstanding as cover for their own failures. That is not compassion—it is cowardice. Fraud is not a cultural issue. It is a crime. And crime requires consequences. Those consequences must include arrests, prosecutions, restitution, and—where the law allows —loss of immigration or citizenship status for individuals who obtained it through deception or who abused public trust. Accountability must be individual, lawful, and relentless.
Democrats who continue to downplay or excuse these failures are not protecting communities—they are enabling criminals and betraying the public. The refusal to act decisively has eroded trust in government and fueled rightful anger across the country. Minnesota is a warning. When leaders prioritize ideology over enforcement and feelings over facts, corruption thrives. Americans are not asking for perfection. They are asking for honesty, fairness, and the rule of law. Tim Walz didn’t just preside over a fraud scandal— he presided over a collapse of responsibility. And voters are done paying the price.
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EMPOWERMENT The Faith Fatigue No One Wants to Admit Dr. Sanja Rickette Stinson - Columnist There’s a kind of exhaustion that doesn’t show up on your calendar, your bank statement, or even your prayer list yet, it sits quietly in your spirit. It’s the fatigue that comes from holding faith together when everything around you keeps shifting. This year didn’t just challenge our schedules or strategies. It tested our inner reserves. And for many people everyday folks, small business owners, entrepreneurs, leaders, and believers alike what we experienced was faith fatigue. Not a loss of faith, nor walking away from God. But a deep weariness that whispered “I still believe, but I am just tired. You see, faith fatigue happens when uncertainty lasts longer than expected. When prayers feel repetitive instead of powerful. When headlines, policies, cultural tension, and personal transitions all stack up at once. When the pressure to stay hopeful feels heavier than the situation itself. And let’s be honest 2025 was a perfect storm. Political division seeped into families, churches, workplaces, and friendships. Entrepreneurs carried the stress of unpredictable markets, shifting customer behavior, and financial pressure. Leaders were expected to be steady while navigating transitions of their own. Many people quietly questioned decisions they made, paths they were on, and whether they still had the energy to keep believing for “what’s next.” And the reality is that the hardest part is that most people didn’t talk about it. Because faith fatigue doesn’t look dramatic. It looks like showing up anyway. It looks like smiling while praying shorter prayers. It looks like staying committed while feeling disconnected. It looks like saying “I’m fine” when you’re actually spiritually depleted. And here’s the truth we need to say out loud: “faith fatigue is not a failure—it’s a signal”. It’s a signal that your soul has been carrying more than it was designed to carry alone. For many, faith fatigue came from living in transition too long. That’s looked like being between chapters without clear direction. Watching old identities, roles, or systems fall away while the new ones hadn’t fully formed yet. And that’s the inbetween space can feel unsettling even when you trust God. Note, that you can believe deeply and still feel tired, still be faithful but having so many questions of uncertainties. And yes, you can still love God while asking “Lord how much longer”. Scripture reminds us that even those closest to God experienced seasons of weariness. Elijah needed rest. David lamented. The disciples fell asleep when Jesus asked them to watch and pray. Fatigue doesn’t disqualify faith—it humanizes it. What made this year especially heavy was that many people tried to push through fatigue with productivity instead of pausing for restoration. We adjusted strategies, reworked plans, pivoted businesses, and adapted relationships—but neglected to tend to the inner places where fatigue quietly settles. Faith fatigue shows up when: you stop expecting answers and just hope to survive the day you feel spiritually numb instead of curious you go through the motions without joy you avoid silence because it feels too loud
you avoid silence because it feels too loud you fear hoping again Yet here’s the grace-filled turning point: Fatigue is often the doorway to renewal if we listen instead of ignore it. This season is not calling for louder faith or stronger effort. It’s calling for gentler rhythms. Faith that breathes, faith that rests and faith that doesn’t demand clarity before obedience. “Give us this day our daily bread words we find in the Lord’s Bread” What does that truly mean, or what if the Lord saying. You see daily bread was never meant to fuel tomorrow’s battles. It was designed to sustain today. And when we try to carry tomorrow’s worries, next year’s plans, and unresolved grief all at once, exhaustion is inevitable. So, what do we do with faith fatigue as we prepare to move forward? We start by telling the truth to ourselves and to God. We release the pressure to “perform” faith. We rebuild simple spiritual practices that nourish instead of drain. We create space for quiet, curiosity, and honest prayer. We remember that rest is not retreat—it is repair. Faith doesn’t disappear during fatigue, but it waits, rests and recalibrates. It doesn’t mean quit, but to hold on because change is coming, it’s on the way but we much hold on and avoid quieting when we are so close to our best year ever. And perhaps most importantly, faith fatigue invites us to redefine strength not as endurance at all costs, but as wisdom to pause, pivot, and trust that God is still writing the story. As we stand at the edge of a new year filled with chapters, yet to be written, it is the moments that matter right now the most. Those moments are not to rush ahead or make hasty decisions. These are moments we must take opportunities to heal what we’re carrying too much for too long. In the final article of this series, we’ll talk about how to step into the new year with not pretending the fatigue never happened, but wiser because we honored it. Because renewal doesn’t start with a calendar date. It starts when we stop hiding our weariness and allow grace to meet us there. And that, my friend, is where faith quietly becomes strong again.
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From Plaintiff to Defendant: Drake Named in Civil RICO Lawsuit CNW STAFF REPORT For an artist who has spent much of the past couple of Hip-Hop years at the center of popculture conversation, Drake is now navigating a different kind of spotlight — one shaped not by charts or diss records, but by court filings. The timing of the filing is certainly noteworthy. Shortly before, Drake had approached the courts regarding a different dispute related to music, reputation, and industry influence. This sudden shift to being a defendant instead of a plaintiff is difficult to overlook. What the lawsuit alleges The civil RICO suit, filed in U.S. federal court, names Drake alongside livestream personality Adin Ross and individuals connected to the online gambling platform Stake.us. The plaintiffs allege that the defendants formed an “enterprise” under civil RICO law, coordinating gambling promotion with streaming manipulation in order to amplify Drake’s commercial performance. According to the complaint, gambling proceeds were allegedly funneled into artificial engagement tactics — including bot-driven streams — that inflated play counts on major music platforms and skewed recommendation algorithms. The suit argues this practice misled listeners, distorted competition within the music industry, and promoted online gambling to U.S. users in jurisdictions where such platforms face restrictions.
Now, the roles are reversed. Drake is no longer the artist claiming damage within the industry’s power structure, but a defendant accused of exploiting that structure — from streaming platforms to digital influence — for unfair advantage. The contrast underscores how quickly narratives can shift when music, money, and litigation intersect. Bigger questions for the industry Beyond Drake’s individual case, the lawsuit reflects broader anxieties about the modern music economy. Streaming manipulation has long been whispered about but rarely litigated at this level. Celebrity partnerships with online gambling platforms are also facing growing scrutiny, particularly as livestreaming blurs the line between entertainment, advertising, and financial risk.
As with all civil litigation at this stage, these claims remain unproven. No court has ruled on their validity, and Drake has not been found liable for any wrongdoing.
For now, the case remains unresolved, and Drake faces no criminal exposure. But as his own recent lawsuit demonstrated, the music industry is increasingly willing to let courts weigh in on conflicts once settled by culture alone.
Why “RICO” doesn’t mean what many think it does
SIDEBAR: Civil RICO vs. Criminal RICO — What’s the Difference?
The presence of the word “RICO” has driven much of the public reaction, largely because of its association with organized crime cases. In reality, RICO is a flexible statute that can be used in both criminal and civil court — with very different consequences.
Criminal (Federal) RICO
A criminal RICO case is brought by federal prosecutors and can result in prison sentences, fines, and asset seizures. A civil RICO case, like this one, is filed by private plaintiffs seeking monetary damages. There is no threat of arrest or incarceration stemming from this lawsuit alone. Civil RICO claims are also notoriously difficult to sustain, requiring plaintiffs to demonstrate a clear enterprise, a pattern of qualifying misconduct, and direct harm. Many such cases are dismissed before reaching trial. The legal irony hanging over the case What gives the lawsuit added resonance is Drake’s own recent decision to pursue legal action in a separate music dispute. In late 2025, Drake filed suit related to diss tracks released by Kendrick Lamar during their widely publicized lyrical back-and-forth. Drake’s complaint alleged that the lyrics, distributed by Universal Music Group, crossed the line from competitive expression into defamatory harm.
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That move was notable in itself: rap conflicts have historically played out in studios and songs, not courtrooms. Drake’s action signaled a willingness to test where artistic freedom ends and legal accountability begins.
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Filed by the U.S. government Can lead to prison time, fines, and asset forfeiture Requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt Often associated with organized crime cases Civil RICO Filed by private individuals or groups Seeks financial damages, not jail time Lower burden of proof than criminal cases Frequently used in fraud or businessmisconduct claims Bottom line: Drake is facing a civil lawsuit, not criminal charges.
ENTERTAINMENT
The Bears are Back! Caleb Williams, Defense, and a SPORTS Playoff Moment Chicago has waited Nine Seasons For MALACHI WEBSTER - STAFF WRITER An 11–6 record. An NFC North title, the first since 2019. A Wild Card playoff game at home against the Green Bay Packers under the lights this weekend. For the Chicago Bears, the 2025 season has finally delivered what years of false starts and rebuilds could not: a credible shot at January football that matters.
And yet, even that success carries a familiar footnote. Chicago remains the only franchise that has never had a quarterback eclipse four thousand yards in a season. Williams came close but fell short of the symbolic threshold. In a way, that unfinished statistic is the perfect metaphor for where this team stands: transformed, but not yet complete.
The last time the Bears reached the postseason was 2020. Since then, the team cycled through coaches, coordinators, and quarterbacks, chasing an identity that never quite stuck. Fans learned to live with moral victories and draft-position debates instead of playoff brackets. That is what makes this year feel so different. Chicago didn't back into the tournament; it fought its way to the second seed in the conference.
If the offense has turned a corner, the defense has often been running in place. Too many afternoons ended with Williams and the offense on the sideline watching leads slip away. There were games where Chicago scored into the thirties and still walked off losers, undone by missed tackles, blown coverages, and a pass rush that disappeared in critical moments.
At the centerof that shift is CalebWilliams. Drafted first overall in 2024, he entered this season with all the weight that comes with being an anointed franchise savior in a city that has never truly known what a longterm answer at quarterback looks like. He responded with production that finally rewrote the team's passing records. Williams closed the regular season with just under four thousand passing yards, surpassing the long-standing single-season mark that had survived since the mid1990s. He paired that with an efficient touchdown-tointerception ratio and a knack for late-game poise that Chicago fans are far more used to seeing from opposing passers. Week after week, he made throws that reminded the league why he went first overall— andwhythis time, the Bears might have gotten it right.
Head coach Ben Johnson, in his first year at the helm, has been open about that imbalance. Hired for his offensive mind and playoff experience elsewhere, he has largely delivered on that side of the ball. The question now is whether his staff can coax enough consistency from the defense to survive January. That challenge starts with the matchup that defines this franchise more than any other: Green Bay. The Bears and Packers split their regular-season meetings in dramatic fashion. One contest ended with a red-zone interception that haunted Chicago talk radio for days. The other turned into an overtime comeback at Soldier Field that felt, for a moment, like an exorcism of old ghosts. Now comes the rubber match, with everything on the line. The Packers arrive as the seventh seed, dangerous precisely because they have nothing to lose. The Bears carry the burden of expectation and home-field advantage. History hangs over the rivalry; it has been generations since these teams met in the playoffs, and the balance of power in recent decades has rarely favored Chicago.
If the Bears advance, the road does not get easier. A likely trip through powerhouses from Philadelphia to San Francisco looms. On paper, Chicago's secondary and depth at key defensive positions are question marks against the kind of explosive offenses that wait in later rounds. But for the first time in a long time, "later rounds" is a real conversation, not a fantasy. The Bears have a quarterback who can win shootouts, an offensive system that makes sense, and a locker room that has already proven it can handle meaningful games in December. They have a chance to turn a promising season into something historic. For a city that has spent nine years waiting to feel this kind of nervous excitement again, that chance is everything. The margin for error is thin. One misread, one blown coverage, one turnover at the wrong time could end the run as quickly as it started. Or it could be the season when the narrative finally changes, when Chicago stops asking if it will ever matter again and starts asking how far this group can go.
Either way, the Bears are back in the postseason. The lights will be bright. The house will be loud. And for at least one weekend in January, football in Chicago will feel exactly the way it's supposed to.
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IN MEMORIAL
They Came, They Delivered, They Left . . . CNW STAFF REPORT As we are born so shall we die ceasing to live and breathe amongst family, friends, and other loved ones. So we miss them. The recent pass year 2025 we note the many amongst the African American community who left departed. The life cycle continues as we step into 2026 positive and ready to go. CNW takes one last look back at those to whom we’ve said goodbye. Charles Rangel Former U.S. Congressman and founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Charles Rangel served Harlem with distinction for decades. Known as the “Lion of Lenox Avenue,” he chaired the powerful House Ways and Means Committee and was a relentless advocate for justice, equity, and economic opportunity. He passed at age 94. Walter Scott Walter Scott, co-founder of the legendary R&B group The Whispers, helped define the sound of soul music with timeless hits like “Rock Steady” and “The Beat Goes On.” His smooth harmonies touched generations worldwide. He passed at age 82. Roy Ayers Jazz-funk pioneer Roy Ayers was a composer, producer, and vibraphonist best known for the classic “Everybody Loves the Sunshine.” His work bridged jazz, funk, and soul, influencing generations of artists and shaping the sound of the 1970s and beyond. Assata Shakur Assata Shakur was a revolutionary figure of the Black Liberation Movement whose writings and activism inspired generations of freedom fighters. A former Black Panther and outspoken critic of racism and state violence, her legacy continues to resonate globally. She passed at age 78. Viola Fletcher Viola Fletcher, the oldest known survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, witnessed the destruction of Greenwood at age seven. In her later years, she became a powerful advocate for truth, justice, and reparations. She passed at age 111.
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Michael Sumler Known as “Chicago Mike,” Michael Sumler joined Kool & the Gang in the mid-1980s as a stylist, choreographer, and electrifying hype man. His stage presence became a vital part of the group’s live performances. He passed at age 71.
Carl Carlton Detroit-born singer Carl Carlton delivered enduring classics including “Everlasting Love” and “She’s a Bad Mama Jama.” His soulful voice earned Grammy recognition and secured his place in pop, funk, and R&B history. He passed at age 72.
Richard Smallwood Eight-time Grammy Award– winning composer and pianis Richard Smallwood transformed contemporary gospel music through faith-driven compositions recorded by artists across genres. Founder o the Richard Smallwood Singers, hi music remains a cornerstone o modern gospel. He passed at age 77.
H. Rap Brown Civil rights leader H. Rap Brown, late known as Jamil Al-Amin, was a prominent voice within SNCC and the Black liberation movement Revered by many as a fearles freedom fighter, he remained a complex and influential figure in American history. He passed at age 82.
Carmen de Lavallade Carmen de Lavallade was a legendary dancer, choreographer actress, and educator whose caree spanned dance, theater, and film. A collaborator with Alvin Ailey and Geoffrey Holder, she shaped American dance and mentored generations of artists. She passed a age 94.
Isiah Whitlock Jr. Veteran character actor Isiah Whitlock Jr. was best known for hi iconic role as Senator Clay Davis on HBO’s The Wire. His commanding performances left a lasting imprin on television and film. He passed a age 71. Phil Upchurch Chicago-born guitarist Phil Upchurch was a master musician whose work spanned jazz, soul, and funk. He played on landmark recordings with Curtis Mayfield, Donny Hathaway, Chaka Khan, and Michael Jackson, leaving an indelible mark on American music. He passed at age 84. Jimmy Cliff Reggae pioneer Jimmy Cliff rose to international fame with songs like “Many Rivers to Cross” and The Harder They Come. A two-time Grammy winner and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, his music carried global messages of resistance and hope.
COVER STORY Con’t Bates’ journey began with custom fabric from Marshall Field’s and a friend who could sew. By high school, she was already a visionary, designing outfits that commanded attention. Her first major accolade came at the Marshall High School "Sharpie Dance," where she was crowned "Miss Sharpie" by the legendary Herb Kent. This win wasn't just about a dress; it was the validation of a talent that people were already clamoring to buy. The transition from hobbyist to entrepreneur happened in 1986. After losing her job, Bates turned a setback into a leap of faith. Encouraged by clients who were literally buying clothes off her back, she opened her own boutique. Her trajectory was, as she describes it, "straight to the moon." Despite her success, Bates never forgot the girl she used to be. Today, Bates calls herself a "reluctant philanthropist." To Bates, mentorship is an exchange; the younger generation provides fresh energy, and she provides the blueprint for a meaningful life. Now working alongside her youngest son to launch a casual line that has already seen immediate success, Bates remains as relevant as ever.
Dr. Carol Adams If Dr. Carol Adams—former president and CEO of the DuSable Museum of African American History—were an African sculpture, her patina would tell the story of a magnificent cultural architect. Her life, spanning the transition from "Colored" to "African American," reflects the deep, enduring strength of a leader who shaped the socio-political landscape of Chicago. Today, Carol remains a staunch advocate for reality over performance. She warns against the dangers of disinformation and encourages the next generation to return to the discipline of the "village"—where knowledge is sought, and truth is the foundation for action. She busys herself with the writing and has penned a poetry book andis completing a book capturing an indepth profile of Cataltyst "Fantasy will fade," she says. "Reality will always set in." We would like to take a moment to send our heartfelt thanks, to every person who supported Chicago News Weekly in 2025, and we look forward to a wonderful year full of fantastic storytelling!
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LOVE & RELATIONSHIP From Ghosting to ChatGPT: The Rise of Digital Breakups LAURA MILLER - MANAGING EDITOR
Many years ago, there was a real fear that the world would soon overpopulate. We were constantly warned that we were making far too many babies, that there were too many people, too much growth, too much strain on everything from housing to food to the planet itself. That anxiety lived everywhere. It shaped policy, pop culture, and how we talked about the future. Now the anxiety feels flipped. The average American is marrying later, having fewer children, and spending more of adulthood unattached. According to U.S. Census data, the median age at first marriage is now just over 30 for men and close to 29 for women, a sharp shift from the early twenties that once defined adulthood. Birth rates are at historic lows. Long stretches of life are spent single, dating casually, or hovering somewhere in between. Romance has changed pace and location. ‘Meet cutes’, once the backbone of modern day romantic mythology, rarely look like bumping into someone at a coffee shop or growing up together and reconnecting years later. Most relationships now begin virtually. A swipe. A DM. A message crafted with intention. Algorithms introduce people long before chance ever could. And increasingly, they also script the ending. Perfect words from people who never had them What feels genuinely new is not that people are breaking up over text. That line was crossed long ago. What feels new is that people are no longer even using their own words to do it. They are turning to artificial intelligence. U.S. culture publications like Jezebel and TechRadar have recently explored the rise of AI written breakup messages. The tone is often playful, even amused, but the discomfort underneath is obvious. There is something unsettling about discovering that the most emotionally charged message in a relationship may have been drafted by a machine. Imagine receiving a breakup message that is thoughtful, compassionate, and emotionally fluent from someone you were dating who could barely string sentences together in real life. Someone who avoided hard conversations. Someone who struggled to articulate feelings in the moment. The mismatch is hard to ignore. It leaves a lingering question that is more disturbing than rejection. Was any of this real. A widely circulated survey reported by the New York Post claimed that roughly 41 percent of Gen Z respondents had used AI to help write a breakup message. Even if that number is inflated, its cultural traction matters. It sounds believable because it fits neatly into an existing pattern. Ghosting made disappearance normal. Situationships made ambiguity acceptable. AI now offers a way to leave that looks considerate without requiring much emotional presence. The Washington Post recently published an interactive feature asking readers to guess whether breakup texts were written by humans or AI. Many people could not tell the difference. That is not a triumph of technology. It is a reflection of how thin the line between genuine vulnerability and simulated empathy has become. Emotional minimalism and the cost of convenience At the center of all of this is not technology but restraint. Emotional restraint. Or what could be called emotional minimalism. Emotional minimalism is the idea that you can do the least emotionally demanding version of something and still consider yourself kind. AI makes that easy. It smooths rough edges. It removes awkward pauses. It allows people to sound thoughtful without having to sit in discomfort or witness someone else’s reaction.
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But intimacy has never been efficient. Breakups are uncomfortable because they are supposed to be. They require presence. They require taking responsibility for another person’s experience, even briefly. When that responsibility is handed off entirely to a tool, something essential disappears. What disappears is not just authenticity. It is accountability. As relationships become more digital, formed online, maintained through text, and now dissolved through algorithms, many people are left feeling oddly unsettled. Messages are kinder. Endings are cleaner. And yet the dissatisfaction lingers. Because effort, it turns out, still matters. The fear is not that AI will replace love. It is that it will hollow it out. That relationships will look emotionally intelligent on the surface while avoiding the friction that makes connection real. If we have reached a point where we cannot even end things in our own imperfect words, the issue is not artificial intelligence It is courage.
FOOD & WINE
After The Holidaze
MARE EVANS - STAFF WRITER ... And all that rich food and drink, you may want to focus on light, nourishing foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains to reset your diet with nutrient-dense meals such as hearty soups, stir-fries, salads with fresh ingredients, or creative dishes using leftovers like turkey curry or stuffed peppers. Incorporate fiber-rich foods and protein at each meal to stay full and consider easy options like batch-cooked items or meal prep services for convenience. Meal Ideas Soups & Stews: Lentil soup, chicken and vegetable soup, turkey noodle soup, or hearty bean stews. Salads: Massaged kale salad, quinoa salad with apples and walnuts, or big salads with dark greens, beets, and lean protein. Stir-Fries & Wraps: Garlic lime lettuce wraps with tempeh, or orange ginger shrimp stir-fry. Baked Dishes: Beef and rice stuffed bell peppers, baked salmon with roasted vegetables, or vegetarian shepherd's pie. Breakfasts: Overnight oats, frittatas with leftover veggies, or oatmeal with fruit. Key Ingredients to Stock Up On Produce: Leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, carrots, beets, fresh herbs, citrus fruits (clementines, oranges). Proteins: Fish (salmon), chicken, beans, lentils, tofu, tempeh, eggs. Whole Grains: Quinoa, brown rice, farro, whole wheat pasta. Pantry: Nuts, seeds (chia, flax), spices, low-sodium broths, jarred pulses. Tips for Getting Back on Track Prioritize Plants: Load up on fruits, vegetables, and plant-based proteins to provide essential vitamins for your body's detoxification. Cook Once, Eat Twice: Make larger batches of staples like roasted chicken or grains to use in multiple meals. Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water. Control Portions: Lighter meals help manage calorie intake after heavy holiday eating. I suggest you start with a breakfast recipe like Avocado Toast, which was the thing just a few years ago. The good news is it’s still delicious, easy to make in 5-10 minutes, it’s healthy and as a meal it never goes out of style. It requires so little of you and a few simple ingredients. Finally, once you get the hang of it. Feel free to add your special touch of spices and ingredients to spice things up with extra toppings to make it a super filling meal.
DIRECTIONS Cut 2 slices of sturdy bread. Toast the bread in a toaster or in a skillet on the stovetop until golden brown.
So, to get started with my Today, my favorite basic avocado toast recipe along with helpful tips and 3 easy recipe variations. It’s quick and easy which makes it perfect to whip up for breakfast, lunch or a midday snack. And for those of you who are avocado toast experts Go for it!
Rub the peeled garlic clove over the top of the warm toasted bread, making sure to fully cover the entire surface area.
INGREDIENTS 2 slices sturdy bread ($0.40*) 1 garlic clove (peeled, $0.08) 1 avocado (medium-sized, $1.39**) 1 tsp lemon juice (fresh, $0.14) ⅛ tsp salt ($0.02) ⅛ tsp black pepper (freshly cracked, $0.02) 1 pinch crushed red pepper ($0.02)
Add a small squeeze of fresh lemon juice (about 1 tsp), salt and pepper to the bowl and mash the avocado with a fork. I recommend leaving it just a little chunky.
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Next, halve the avocado and remove the pit. Scoop out the avocado flesh from both halves and place it in a bowl.
Divide the avocado mixture and spread it on top of each slice of toast. Top with a pinch of red pepper flakes and a pinch of sea salt, or garlic salt (optional) . For future preparation, just remember to prepare the same way. The only difference is the topping(s) you choose to add as pictured as well as additional spices You can add anything from eggs, to grilled or chopped tomatoes, to bacon or salmon—your preface.
Skinny Jeans, Ankle Boots and Faux Fur CL BLACKBURN- STAFF WRITER
FASHION
Remember when it became official that skinny jeans were out and wide-leg and flare styles were in? Go figure. Our minds were on fire like, “Okay, what the heck—I’ve got pairs and pairs of skinny jeans!” Hold on, though. If you’re a true fashionista, you’ll always choose clothing that looks good on you. Truth is, trends often lean toward youth culture. Younger people are still experimenting and figuring out what works for them, and they can get away with trying just about anything. That’s part of the fashion journey. As we get older, we usually have a better sense of what silhouettes flatter us most. Not every cut works for every body type, and that’s completely okay. The key is knowing what makes you feel confident and comfortable. Some styles may be more forgiving or flattering than others—and if you love a trend enough to wear it anyway, that confidence always counts. Moving forward, if you thought the faux-fur trend had lost its fashion points by spring of 2025, think again. They’re still here, and everyone is wearing them. Most likely because they’re easily accessible, affordable, versatile, and available in all shapes, textures, colors, and prints. And quite frankly, they’re stylish. Faux fur can be a fun addition to your wardrobe— whether as a coat or incorporated into other pieces—and it continues to hold its place in fashion. The cost can range from around $100 and up. Also, when you wear a faux-fur coat, it’s acceptable so, ‘no shame’ that you’re not wearing a mink. And perhaps more importantly is that they top off your outfit just like fur; you don't need much else to make your outfit look cool and special. The thing to home in on is how to make them look fresh (aka more 2026). Throw out the go-to pairing of skinny jeans and ankle boots with a faux fur.It worked but we’re taking on a new spin. The fashion mindful well-dressed are shifting away from the tried and old standby look now considered dated. So, take a moment to experiment with unexpected ways to find what to style with them that makes you look great. Have fun.
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