Robert Loerzel
@robertloerzel.bsky.social
Chicagoan, journalist, photographer, author, copy editor, flâneur. https://www.robertloerzel.com/
"We are all fools to have left Chicago. It was a town to play in; a town where you could stay yourself, and where the hoots of the critics couldn't frighten your style or drain your soul." — Ben Hecht, writing about his friendship and writing collaborations with Charles MacArthur
November 25, 2025 at 2:15 AM
"We are all fools to have left Chicago. It was a town to play in; a town where you could stay yourself, and where the hoots of the critics couldn't frighten your style or drain your soul." — Ben Hecht, writing about his friendship and writing collaborations with Charles MacArthur
Reposted by Robert Loerzel
An infinite regress of Epstein files
JUST IN: Judge Chutkan orders expedited processing of a FOIA request for files related to DOJ's handling of the Epstein files. ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show...
November 25, 2025 at 12:24 AM
An infinite regress of Epstein files
Reposted by Robert Loerzel
Long ago, the people of Chicago carelessly incurred the wrath of the god of electricity & loincloths. Our ancestors left this record of the events that followed so that we might reflect on our past misdeeds & take care to not repeat them.
Goodnight from Chicago, home to excellent Art Deco industrial infrastructure.
November 24, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Long ago, the people of Chicago carelessly incurred the wrath of the god of electricity & loincloths. Our ancestors left this record of the events that followed so that we might reflect on our past misdeeds & take care to not repeat them.
Is this the soup industry's Lee Elia tape?
Campbell's soup VP caught on tape trashing his own brand. Oof. www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2...
November 24, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Is this the soup industry's Lee Elia tape?
Reposted by Robert Loerzel
Deer on the move at Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago on November 15, 2025
November 24, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Deer on the move at Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago on November 15, 2025
Reposted by Robert Loerzel
This building is often overshadowed by the great On Leong Merchants Association Building down the street (also by Michaelsen & Rognstad), but the details on this thing go just as hard
November 24, 2025 at 10:13 PM
This building is often overshadowed by the great On Leong Merchants Association Building down the street (also by Michaelsen & Rognstad), but the details on this thing go just as hard
Reposted by Robert Loerzel
Robbie Fulks on the “miracle” of bluegrass and the ecstasies of improv solos
Don’t plan guitar solos, says this acoustic mastermind – let them fly naturally
www.guitarworld.com/artists/guit...
Don’t plan guitar solos, says this acoustic mastermind – let them fly naturally
www.guitarworld.com/artists/guit...
“Tony Rice is the closest guy to a shredder that I was fixed on – but he could only influence me so far because I didn’t really understand his vocabulary”: Robbie Fulks on the “miracle” of bluegrass a...
Don’t plan guitar solos, says this acoustic mastermind – let them fly naturally
www.guitarworld.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Robbie Fulks on the “miracle” of bluegrass and the ecstasies of improv solos
Don’t plan guitar solos, says this acoustic mastermind – let them fly naturally
www.guitarworld.com/artists/guit...
Don’t plan guitar solos, says this acoustic mastermind – let them fly naturally
www.guitarworld.com/artists/guit...
By me:
A spirited Mavis Staples cover of Tom Waits‘s “Chicago” gives @robertloerzel.bsky.social reason to muse on music, migration, and our city.
Maybe Things Will Be Better in Chicago
A spirited Mavis Staples cover of Tom Waits‘s “Chicago” gives us reason to muse on music, migration, and our city.
buff.ly
November 24, 2025 at 9:06 PM
By me:
Reposted by Robert Loerzel
Say what you will, she managed to resolve two cases simultaneously!
Lindsey Halligan Manages To Lose Two Cases At Once, Which Is Honestly Impressive - Above the Law
DOJ saved from having to lose Comey case over illegal indictment by losing case over illegal appointment!
abovethelaw.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Say what you will, she managed to resolve two cases simultaneously!
Reposted by Robert Loerzel
In 1995, The Old 97's signed with Bloodshot Records, which released their album Wreck Your Life. This partnership helped launch the band into the burgeoning alt-country scene.
Ep. 817 - Chicago's Bloodshot Records with author Rob Miller
@millerscave.bsky.social
@officialold97s.bsky.social
Ep. 817 - Chicago's Bloodshot Records with author Rob Miller
@millerscave.bsky.social
@officialold97s.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 8:52 PM
In 1995, The Old 97's signed with Bloodshot Records, which released their album Wreck Your Life. This partnership helped launch the band into the burgeoning alt-country scene.
Ep. 817 - Chicago's Bloodshot Records with author Rob Miller
@millerscave.bsky.social
@officialold97s.bsky.social
Ep. 817 - Chicago's Bloodshot Records with author Rob Miller
@millerscave.bsky.social
@officialold97s.bsky.social
Reposted by Robert Loerzel
How did I find this gem? I watching a Bears vs Vikings game from 1979 on YouTube last night. The game was complete with original commercials, including this one.
November 24, 2025 at 8:12 PM
How did I find this gem? I watching a Bears vs Vikings game from 1979 on YouTube last night. The game was complete with original commercials, including this one.
Reposted by Robert Loerzel
Walter Payton uses a paper transfer to ride public transit on the 1979 RTA commercial.
November 24, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Walter Payton uses a paper transfer to ride public transit on the 1979 RTA commercial.
Reposted by Robert Loerzel
The Novel has been uninvited from the Thanksgiving potluck for reasons.
far too rich to supply a substitute for butter
November 24, 2025 at 7:48 PM
The Novel has been uninvited from the Thanksgiving potluck for reasons.
Reposted by Robert Loerzel
Moments ago: tenants of the South Shore apartment building that federal immigration agents raided at the end of September held a presser to announce they're forming a tenants union.
They're demanding, among other things, sewage removal and heat and electricity restroration.
More updates TK.
They're demanding, among other things, sewage removal and heat and electricity restroration.
More updates TK.
November 24, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Moments ago: tenants of the South Shore apartment building that federal immigration agents raided at the end of September held a presser to announce they're forming a tenants union.
They're demanding, among other things, sewage removal and heat and electricity restroration.
More updates TK.
They're demanding, among other things, sewage removal and heat and electricity restroration.
More updates TK.
Reposted by Robert Loerzel
[closes Photos]
[ejects hard drive that only has a Photos library on it]
OS: No.
Me: What?
OS: I'm still using it.
Me: For what
OS: Force Eject it if you want to take the risk but I'm still using it okay do you remember what happened last time now back the fuck off
[ejects hard drive that only has a Photos library on it]
OS: No.
Me: What?
OS: I'm still using it.
Me: For what
OS: Force Eject it if you want to take the risk but I'm still using it okay do you remember what happened last time now back the fuck off
November 24, 2025 at 6:58 PM
[closes Photos]
[ejects hard drive that only has a Photos library on it]
OS: No.
Me: What?
OS: I'm still using it.
Me: For what
OS: Force Eject it if you want to take the risk but I'm still using it okay do you remember what happened last time now back the fuck off
[ejects hard drive that only has a Photos library on it]
OS: No.
Me: What?
OS: I'm still using it.
Me: For what
OS: Force Eject it if you want to take the risk but I'm still using it okay do you remember what happened last time now back the fuck off
Reposted by Robert Loerzel
Reposted by Robert Loerzel
🔎 We used the results to make an interactive web map that allows people to look up how the property wealth in their own metro area (or any other) is fragmented across different local municipalities. This tool visualizes tax base fragmentation across the US—check it out: www.taxbasefragmentation.net
Tax Base Fragmentation | Discover Fiscal Insights — Explore Now
Explore data on tax base fragmentation and fiscal capacity across municipalities with interactive maps and analysis tools.
www.taxbasefragmentation.net
November 24, 2025 at 4:34 PM
🔎 We used the results to make an interactive web map that allows people to look up how the property wealth in their own metro area (or any other) is fragmented across different local municipalities. This tool visualizes tax base fragmentation across the US—check it out: www.taxbasefragmentation.net
Reposted by Robert Loerzel
Not many surprises in the Chicagoland map (Rosemont and McCook/Bedford Park doing their thing), but I think it does provide a great visualization as to how the Balkanization of the inner burbs (especially West Cook and the Southland) work against suburban residents, not for them.
November 24, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Not many surprises in the Chicagoland map (Rosemont and McCook/Bedford Park doing their thing), but I think it does provide a great visualization as to how the Balkanization of the inner burbs (especially West Cook and the Southland) work against suburban residents, not for them.
Reposted by Robert Loerzel
This is one of the coolest tax projects I've ever seen.
🚨We analyzed 138 million geocoded property tax records to quantify how municipal boundaries spatially overlap onto economic segregation in every US metro area—creating disparities in localities’ ability to fund public goods. And we made an interactive map of our results! [1/16]
November 24, 2025 at 6:32 PM
This is one of the coolest tax projects I've ever seen.
Reposted by Robert Loerzel
This is *expressly* not the law
BLITZER: I want to be precise. Should members of the US military obey clearly illegal orders?
McCLAIN: You're asking an enlisted person for their opinion on what they think is legal. That's a pretty slippery slope. Follow your commander in chief. That's the oath that you took
(Not a no!)
McCLAIN: You're asking an enlisted person for their opinion on what they think is legal. That's a pretty slippery slope. Follow your commander in chief. That's the oath that you took
(Not a no!)
November 24, 2025 at 4:56 PM
This is *expressly* not the law
Reposted by Robert Loerzel
they are not playing 3D chess. they are fucking idiots.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Judge dismisses cases against James Comey and Letitia James after finding that prosecutor was illegally appointed.
November 24, 2025 at 5:45 PM
they are not playing 3D chess. they are fucking idiots.
Reposted by Robert Loerzel
BREAKING: Judge rules Lindsey Halligan's appointment was not valid, thus, she had no authority to present the James Comey or Letitia James indictments and the indictments are dismissed without prejudice.
November 24, 2025 at 5:47 PM
BREAKING: Judge rules Lindsey Halligan's appointment was not valid, thus, she had no authority to present the James Comey or Letitia James indictments and the indictments are dismissed without prejudice.
Reposted by Robert Loerzel
NEWS: The criminal cases against James Comey and Letitia James are gone. A federal judge ruled that the appointment of Lindsey Halligan as the lead prosecutor was illegal.
DOJ could try again, but there are other headwinds.
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
DOJ could try again, but there are other headwinds.
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
November 24, 2025 at 5:52 PM
NEWS: The criminal cases against James Comey and Letitia James are gone. A federal judge ruled that the appointment of Lindsey Halligan as the lead prosecutor was illegal.
DOJ could try again, but there are other headwinds.
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
DOJ could try again, but there are other headwinds.
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...