Hey there! It’s Friday, and every time I have a virtual meeting, my dog immediately tries to jump on my lap to see who I’m talking to. She’s a big dog who thinks she’s a small dog. Here’s what you need to know today.

1. A close Lightfoot ally is behind an ad campaign to unseat the leadership of the Chicago Teachers Union

A former top adviser to Mayor Lori Lightfoot is behind a social media campaign supporting challengers to the current Chicago Teachers Union leadership team in the union’s upcoming election, reports WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times.

And the news raises questions over whether federal labor laws and union rules over outside influence in elections were violated.

When it comes to internal union politics, the current leadership comes from a progressive group called the Caucus of Rank and File Educators. That’s the same group that supported the rise of Karen Lewis.

On the other side is Members First, which wants the union to focus more on things like pay and benefits. It’s this rival group that is being touted in a social media campaign from Lisa Schneider Fabes, a close ally and former adviser to the mayor who lives in the wealthy Wilmette suburb.

Schneider Fabes previously worked with World Business Chicago, a public-private organization that promotes economic development, but resigned while under investigation by City Hall’s top watchdog.

She said neither the mayor nor Members First are connected to her work. Members First declined to comment. [WBEZ]

2. Chicago’s Fraternal Order of Police makes moves to become a bigger player in local elections and expand its influence

The union representing Chicago’s rank-and-file police officers is raising member dues to help create a $2.5 million political action committee, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.

“Our profession is not gonna stop being under attack any time soon and we need to let these politicians know that enough is enough,” said FOP President John Catanzara, who has raised the possibility of challenging Lightfoot in next year’s city elections.

“I can guarantee you, a $2.5 million dedicated fund is going to really get some attention and movement and it’s gonna make a difference in an election cycle.”

Obviously, it remains to be seen if the effort will significantly grow the union’s sphere of influence, which is mostly limited to wards that are home to many city workers.

As a result, the union’s steps into the political arena, like a repeal of Lightfoot’s vaccine mandate for city workers, have mostly gone nowhere in the City Council. [Chicago Sun-Times]

3. Russia could invade Ukraine before the end of the Olympics

The White House today warned Americans in Ukraine to leave as Russia could attack the country within the next week and possibly in the next two days.

U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said today the details are fuzzy, but Russia has put all the pieces in place for a major military operation that could start “rapidly.” And Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, could be a possible target. [AP]

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military says the nation is fully surrounded by hostile forces. Concerns are increasingly growing about an imminent attack as Russian-backed separatists conduct military drills. [New York Times]

4. Trucker protests over vaccine mandates may spread to the U.S. and disrupt the Super Bowl

Truck drivers may try to block roads in major cities and disrupt the Super Bowl on Sunday and next month’s State of the Union address, according to an internal memo from the Department of Homeland Security that was obtained by NPR.

The memo, which went out on Tuesday, says there are currently no threats of violence, but the protest has the potential to “severely disrupt” traffic, emergency routes and federal government operations.

The group of truckers plans to start the protest in California and make its way across the U.S. to Washington, D.C., with more truckers joining along the way, the memo says. [NPR]

In Canada, where the trucker protests began, officials in Ontario have declared a state of emergency. [BBC]

The Biden administration is urging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government to use its federal powers to end a blockade of key trade routes that have hurt automakers. [AP]

5. Looking for a date on Valentine’s Day? Here are some tips

Let’s be honest: Dating kinda sucks. And that was true even before the pandemic upended society. One time, some dude rolled up to my apartment on a Razor scooter and the only words that could come out of my mouth were, “So you … scoot?”

But right now might be a good time to put your feet in the water, says LGBTQ+ matchmaker Kara Laricks.

“We’ve all experienced what it’s like to really be alone for an extended period of time,” she says. “People have wanted connection more than ever.”

My colleagues Libby Berry and Penny Hawthorne talked to Laricks about the key advice she gives to daters as Valentine’s Day approaches. [WBEZ]

Here’s what else is happening

• Mayor Lightfoot says she will make a “compelling financial case” for the Chicago Bears to stay in the city. [Chicago Tribune]
• Closing arguments in the tax fraud trial of Chicago Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson are expected on Monday. [Chicago Sun-Times]
• People who try to prevent violence in Chicago are not supported enough and overly traumatized, a new study finds. [WBEZ]
• Electric vehicles will be centerstage at the Chicago Auto Show. [Chicago Tribune]

Oh, and one more thing …

Looking for something to watch this weekend? Bigbug by the director of Amélie finds “laser-targeted laughs amid a robot uprising.” [NPR]

But if you’re more in the market for a podcast, Art of Power is back and interviews computer scientist Timnit Gebru, who was hired by Google to sniff out bias and other unethical practices in the company’s sprawling artificial intelligence work. After she drafted a paper that did just that, she says, the company moved to fire her. [WBEZ]

And Nerdette talks about the Winter Olympics, Oscar nominations and the best dips that involve hot mayo. [WBEZ]

Tell me something good …

NPR asked an interesting question this week: Which great books by Black authors should be brought to the screen? And I’d like to know what you think.

Kelly Oldfield writes:

“Fifth grade teacher here: Ghost by Jason Reynolds is a wonderful read for late elementary/middle school and could easily be adapted into a movie for young adults/kids. Great story arc, timely issues, strong characters, sad backstory. What’s not to love? (Really, anything by Jason Reynolds would be great to adapt into a movie.) And the upside is if it is sold well, there are three more books in the series.”

And Rachelle writes:

“I would love to see anything by Nnedi Okorafor on the big screen, but probably Binti would be my first choice. Preferably all three books in the series. There is a movie by that name, but it’s not Ms. Okorafor’s story.”

Thanks for all the responses this week. I’m sorry I couldn’t share them all, but it was nice hearing from you!