Chicago, and the Middle East. Travel, food, and human rights.
Under Trump, ICE aggressively recruited sheriffs as partners to question and detain undocumented immigrants
A six month investigation into how the Trump administration worked with far-right groups to recruit sheriffs into a controversial immigration program.
Under Trump, ICE aggressively recruited sheriffs as partners to question and detain undocumented immigrants
Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins had spent years advocating for the removal of undocumented immigrants when he received a prized photo in his inbox in February 2019. It came from a group that has long fought to slash the number of immigrants allowed into the United States.
In the photo, Jenkins and more than three dozen other sheriffs posed under a chandelier in the East Room of the White House with a beaming President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.
Jenkins, serving his fou...
Under Trump, ICE aggressively recruited sheriffs as partners to question and detain undocumented immigrants
Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins had spent years advocating for the removal of undocumented immigrants when he received a prized photo in his inbox in February 2019. It came from a group that has long fought to slash the number of immigrants allowed into the United States.
In the photo, Jenkins and more than three dozen other sheriffs posed under a chandelier in the East Room of the White House with a beaming President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.
Jenkins, serving his fou...
Offseason on North Carolina’s Outer Banks
An article about visiting the Outer Banks for Enterprise Pursuits.
Ancient Grape Varieties Make a Comeback in Lebanon
A new generation of Lebanese winemakers is turning to native grapes and creating a unique identity for the country's wine that looks to the past, and the future.
Shawarma Diaries: One Writer’s Quest to Eat all the Shawarma in Chicago
Searching for the best shawarma in Chicago.
Restaurants Aren’t the Only Members of Chicago’s Service Industry Harmed by the Pandemic
Restaurant workers aren't the only people hurt when restaurants close.
Farm to Fork: How a new project will help tourists eat their way around Jordan
Foraging for mushrooms in the brush near Umm Qais, fishing for tuna in Aqaba, visiting grape farms with volcanic soil in the fertile Mountain Heights Plateau, enjoying a fine-dining menu of locally sourced ingredients in Fakhreldin, one of Amman’s most famous restaurants. These are only a few activities that will make up Farm to Fork Jordan’s culinary-focused travel itineraries.
Black McDonald's Franchisees Are Protesting Amid Multiple Lawsuits
On Monday, McDonald's franchisees and community organizers kicked off a 90-day protest at the chain's global headquarters in the West Loop neighborhood of Chicago to confront what they say are predatory practices against Black-owned franchises.
Wild Yeast and Native Grapes in Lebanon
A generation of winemakers in Lebanon is looking to the past to create the future, drawing on history and native grapes while pushing boundaries and experimenting with innovative styles.
Where to Eat Middle Eastern Food in Chicago
The Middle East is a diverse region, and Chicago’s Middle Eastern food scene is no different.
I'm an American who has lived abroad for 10 years. Between the pandemic and the election, 2020 has been the weirdest year to be away from my home country.
2020 was a very weird year to be an American abroad.
The Great Oven project: Lebanon's community kitchens cook up message of hope with free meals
The shell of a former nightclub in Beirut is now a makeshift kitchen that prepares more than 1,000 meals a day from a giant community oven.
Swapping strict Dubai for the natural wonders of northeastern Turkey
Article for the Travel section of The Independent.
The Record Breaking City Built On Sand
I wrote this piece about Dubai for the Scott's Cheap Flights newsletter. It was part of a city guide series.