John Amdor
@johnamdor.bsky.social
'John Amdor needs to get out more.' -Capitol Fax commenter, March 19, 2018
tweets without punctuation or capitalization are by cricket
tweets without punctuation or capitalization are by cricket
Pinned
John Amdor
@johnamdor.bsky.social
· Feb 24
What Happened When America Emptied Its Youth Prisons (Gift Article)
Lessons from a radical 20-year experiment and a quiet triumph of public policy.
www.nytimes.com
“Everything in moderation. Its such an appealing idea. It might be true for ice cream, bourbon & staying up til 3am. But what if juvenile prison isn’t like those things? Some things- heroin or Russian roulette- are dangerous even in moderation. Maybe prison is too.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/01/28/m...
www.nytimes.com/2025/01/28/m...
Isn't the deadline 4:30?
January 16, 2026 at 8:02 PM
Isn't the deadline 4:30?
On the same day, Mike Madigan was elected to lead House Democrats for the first time.
January 14, 2026 at 1:29 PM
On the same day, Mike Madigan was elected to lead House Democrats for the first time.
January 14, 1981: The Senate convened for the 82nd General Assembly but GOP Leader Sen. David Shapiro quickly moved they adjourn without electing a President, setting the stage for Republicans attempting to take control of the chamber through a bit of parliamentary chicanery.
January 14, 2026 at 1:26 PM
January 14, 1981: The Senate convened for the 82nd General Assembly but GOP Leader Sen. David Shapiro quickly moved they adjourn without electing a President, setting the stage for Republicans attempting to take control of the chamber through a bit of parliamentary chicanery.
do not work too hard in january pals you gotta ease into the year
January 14, 2026 at 1:00 PM
do not work too hard in january pals you gotta ease into the year
Reposted by John Amdor
5 years ago today, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Pretrial Fairness Act. Hundreds of millions of dollars that would have been used to purchase the presumption of innocence are instead staying in our state’s most marginalized communities.
Read more: endmoneybond.org/five-years-a...
Read more: endmoneybond.org/five-years-a...
Five Years After the Passage of the Pretrial Fairness Act - Coalition to End Money Bond
Five years ago today, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Pretrial Fairness Act as part of the SAFE-T Act. For more than five years leading up to that historic moment, communities across our stat...
endmoneybond.org
January 13, 2026 at 5:04 PM
5 years ago today, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Pretrial Fairness Act. Hundreds of millions of dollars that would have been used to purchase the presumption of innocence are instead staying in our state’s most marginalized communities.
Read more: endmoneybond.org/five-years-a...
Read more: endmoneybond.org/five-years-a...
He was the "ambitious politician" referenced who spearheaded the Cutback Amendment that eliminated multi-member districts.
December 22, 2025 at 2:07 AM
He was the "ambitious politician" referenced who spearheaded the Cutback Amendment that eliminated multi-member districts.
In case you need a specific reason to be mad at Pat Quinn today.
Imagine if Congress was elected by Proportional Representation - DemocracySOS
Imagine if Congress was elected by Proportional Representation
Illinois’ 110-yr history with a form of PR resulted in more voter choice, more bipartisanship, less bitter polarization and better representation—a lesson for our times
democracysos.substack.com
December 21, 2025 at 6:09 PM
In case you need a specific reason to be mad at Pat Quinn today.
But wouldn't the sketch be funnier if it canonically took place in Macoupin County and we could speculate about the judge's political pedigree?
December 21, 2025 at 5:33 AM
But wouldn't the sketch be funnier if it canonically took place in Macoupin County and we could speculate about the judge's political pedigree?
As loathe as I am to admit that I watch SNL live, I really like that the courtroom sketch tonight took place in Illinois and I am furious that they didn't find an Illinois courthouse for the lead-in image.
December 21, 2025 at 5:27 AM
As loathe as I am to admit that I watch SNL live, I really like that the courtroom sketch tonight took place in Illinois and I am furious that they didn't find an Illinois courthouse for the lead-in image.
Jeez, amending the Illinois constitution to create a unicameral legislature is also not a priority for 2026 but you don't see me packing up and moving to Indiana like a baby.
Northwest Indiana is now in play for a potential new Chicago Bears stadium, per CEO Kevin Warren. Says he was “told directly by State leadership, our project will not be a priority in 2026.”
Also says “This is not about leverage.”
Full letter here: www.chicagobears.com/news/an-open...
Also says “This is not about leverage.”
Full letter here: www.chicagobears.com/news/an-open...
December 18, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Jeez, amending the Illinois constitution to create a unicameral legislature is also not a priority for 2026 but you don't see me packing up and moving to Indiana like a baby.
Movie you’ve watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar.
December 7, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Movie you’ve watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar.
ah winter my most dear friend my most bitter foe
December 7, 2025 at 9:55 PM
ah winter my most dear friend my most bitter foe
Congratulations to cars on their historic victory in the War Against Cars.
www.washingtonpost.com/business/int...
www.washingtonpost.com/business/int...
America’s plan to protect pedestrians failed. A young woman’s death reveals why.
U.S. officials adopted Europe's Vision Zero initiative, but many cities have seen an increase in pedestrian fatalities despite efforts to improve road safety.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 4, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Congratulations to cars on their historic victory in the War Against Cars.
www.washingtonpost.com/business/int...
www.washingtonpost.com/business/int...
Whack fol the da O, dance to your partner
Welt the floor, your trotters shake;
Wasn't it the truth I told you?
Lots of fun at Finnegan's wake
Welt the floor, your trotters shake;
Wasn't it the truth I told you?
Lots of fun at Finnegan's wake
November 30, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Whack fol the da O, dance to your partner
Welt the floor, your trotters shake;
Wasn't it the truth I told you?
Lots of fun at Finnegan's wake
Welt the floor, your trotters shake;
Wasn't it the truth I told you?
Lots of fun at Finnegan's wake
Weird that a pack of self-styled free market enthusiasts would decry a limit on the government's power to regulate private property but I'd guess both their remaining subscribers regularly attend public meetings to oppose developments, so...
November 4, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Weird that a pack of self-styled free market enthusiasts would decry a limit on the government's power to regulate private property but I'd guess both their remaining subscribers regularly attend public meetings to oppose developments, so...
If The Tribbles Are Against Ya, Ya Know You're On The Right Side, Part 2,304,678
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/04/e...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/04/e...
November 4, 2025 at 5:42 PM
If The Tribbles Are Against Ya, Ya Know You're On The Right Side, Part 2,304,678
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/04/e...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/04/e...
Damn, I was hoping the Senate would move not to concur to preserve the safety stop bill.
October 31, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Damn, I was hoping the Senate would move not to concur to preserve the safety stop bill.
"Leader Delgado to close" is one of the sweetest phrases in the English language. Maybe just behind "Senator Villivalam to close."
October 31, 2025 at 7:16 AM
"Leader Delgado to close" is one of the sweetest phrases in the English language. Maybe just behind "Senator Villivalam to close."
One incredible feature of the legislative process is that every time you pass a bill that amends a law, you are, in fact, changing a deal made in the past.
October 31, 2025 at 6:07 AM
One incredible feature of the legislative process is that every time you pass a bill that amends a law, you are, in fact, changing a deal made in the past.
So glad to learn so many of you all are getting a glimpse of the glorious chaos of Springfield.
October 31, 2025 at 5:35 AM
So glad to learn so many of you all are getting a glimpse of the glorious chaos of Springfield.
October 30, 1973: The Senate discussed ethics and campaign finance in a Committee of the Whole, hearing testimony from IRMA head and con-con delegate Joseph Meek, who was of the opinion that spending $68,000 to win a seat in the legislature was pretty stupid.
October 30, 2025 at 12:22 PM
October 30, 1973: The Senate discussed ethics and campaign finance in a Committee of the Whole, hearing testimony from IRMA head and con-con delegate Joseph Meek, who was of the opinion that spending $68,000 to win a seat in the legislature was pretty stupid.
now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer since its almost breakfast
October 30, 2025 at 11:57 AM
now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer since its almost breakfast
October 29, 1993: Sen. John Cullerton rose to inquire whether Democrats could join a Republican caucus meeting and, failing that, if the Democrats could have a caucus of their own.
October 29, 2025 at 12:18 PM
October 29, 1993: Sen. John Cullerton rose to inquire whether Democrats could join a Republican caucus meeting and, failing that, if the Democrats could have a caucus of their own.
ah so we meet again wednesday wettest and coldest of days
October 29, 2025 at 11:54 AM
ah so we meet again wednesday wettest and coldest of days
October 28, 1993: The House heard remarks from the Hon. Oriah Gara, member of the National Assembly of Zimbabwe and former mayor of Harare, who informed the body that in 1990, Zimbabwe abolished its Senate and became a unicameral.
![STATE OF ILLINOIS
88th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE
88th Legislative Day
October 28, 1993
Oriah Gara: Now when we got our independence, we established a Legislature. In fact, then, it was unicameral [sic.] We had a House of this Assembly and the Senate, but this was...the Senate was dissolved in 1990 and we only have a unicameral Legislature with 150 members of Parliament.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:qg3pne25jbc2j57xagyrtd7q/bafkreigbijfjaug5ipruvc2v2fz2hkaf3gqsy3qczjfl6zzpek75orgmcu@jpeg)
October 28, 2025 at 12:46 PM
October 28, 1993: The House heard remarks from the Hon. Oriah Gara, member of the National Assembly of Zimbabwe and former mayor of Harare, who informed the body that in 1990, Zimbabwe abolished its Senate and became a unicameral.