John Pfaff
@johnpfaff.bsky.social
Professor at Fordham Law. Prisons and criminal justice quant. I'm not contrarian, the data are. Author of Locked In. New stuff at johnfpfaff.com.
I will not stand for this sort of Buffalo Sabres erasure!
January 25, 2026 at 10:07 PM
I will not stand for this sort of Buffalo Sabres erasure!
Not @theonion.com. This is literally People. This is … is a real thing.
If you don’t believe me, and I get why you wouldn’t want to, well, click here and see for yourself: people.com/trump-admini...
If you don’t believe me, and I get why you wouldn’t want to, well, click here and see for yourself: people.com/trump-admini...
January 25, 2026 at 6:55 AM
Not @theonion.com. This is literally People. This is … is a real thing.
If you don’t believe me, and I get why you wouldn’t want to, well, click here and see for yourself: people.com/trump-admini...
If you don’t believe me, and I get why you wouldn’t want to, well, click here and see for yourself: people.com/trump-admini...
This feels like the most Philly thing out there: taking the SEPTA to … the Wawa.
January 24, 2026 at 6:27 PM
This feels like the most Philly thing out there: taking the SEPTA to … the Wawa.
Excellent @radleybalko.bsky.social piece on why what we are seeing in Minneapolis is, in fact, something qualitatively different than the police violence that happens all too often.
This struck me as a key line: the OPEN contempt for accountability. Such explicitness matters.
This struck me as a key line: the OPEN contempt for accountability. Such explicitness matters.
January 21, 2026 at 1:20 PM
Excellent @radleybalko.bsky.social piece on why what we are seeing in Minneapolis is, in fact, something qualitatively different than the police violence that happens all too often.
This struck me as a key line: the OPEN contempt for accountability. Such explicitness matters.
This struck me as a key line: the OPEN contempt for accountability. Such explicitness matters.
Don’t even have to click thru to read the replies. Think I can predict almost all of them from memory. And I have 1/10th the reach Kevin has.
Bothsiderism is bad in both directions.
Bothsiderism is bad in both directions.
January 19, 2026 at 11:37 PM
Don’t even have to click thru to read the replies. Think I can predict almost all of them from memory. And I have 1/10th the reach Kevin has.
Bothsiderism is bad in both directions.
Bothsiderism is bad in both directions.
Paragraph 3, at the top and before any ads, in the CNN piece on the MN protests.
The “alleged” is linked to the pastor’s other job, not the violence or the illegality of ICE’s behavior.
CNN didn’t equivocate on ICE’s illegal acts, and they didn’t bury it down the piece.
That seems like a shift.
The “alleged” is linked to the pastor’s other job, not the violence or the illegality of ICE’s behavior.
CNN didn’t equivocate on ICE’s illegal acts, and they didn’t bury it down the piece.
That seems like a shift.
January 19, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Paragraph 3, at the top and before any ads, in the CNN piece on the MN protests.
The “alleged” is linked to the pastor’s other job, not the violence or the illegality of ICE’s behavior.
CNN didn’t equivocate on ICE’s illegal acts, and they didn’t bury it down the piece.
That seems like a shift.
The “alleged” is linked to the pastor’s other job, not the violence or the illegality of ICE’s behavior.
CNN didn’t equivocate on ICE’s illegal acts, and they didn’t bury it down the piece.
That seems like a shift.
The youngest is working out his anger on Madden.
It’s only early in the second quarter.
It’s only early in the second quarter.
January 18, 2026 at 2:05 AM
The youngest is working out his anger on Madden.
It’s only early in the second quarter.
It’s only early in the second quarter.
Here's the passage from the now-deleted post that I was reacting to, from that Politico piece about the fall of UATX.
January 16, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Here's the passage from the now-deleted post that I was reacting to, from that Politico piece about the fall of UATX.
Actually, looks like Reuters just did an explainer on this, with this being the key part.
But feel like a lot rests on what counts as "discretionary," since FTCA covers getting hit by a USPS truck, and driving has all sorts of similar "discretionary" choices.
Feel like need an FTCA expert here.
But feel like a lot rests on what counts as "discretionary," since FTCA covers getting hit by a USPS truck, and driving has all sorts of similar "discretionary" choices.
Feel like need an FTCA expert here.
January 16, 2026 at 4:21 AM
Actually, looks like Reuters just did an explainer on this, with this being the key part.
But feel like a lot rests on what counts as "discretionary," since FTCA covers getting hit by a USPS truck, and driving has all sorts of similar "discretionary" choices.
Feel like need an FTCA expert here.
But feel like a lot rests on what counts as "discretionary," since FTCA covers getting hit by a USPS truck, and driving has all sorts of similar "discretionary" choices.
Feel like need an FTCA expert here.
When ppl reach a certain age, you have to be a little more innovative with how you do the candles ….
January 15, 2026 at 1:08 AM
When ppl reach a certain age, you have to be a little more innovative with how you do the candles ….
ggplot question that has me stuck!
I have data where each row is admission to and release from prison, w dates.
One guy can have multiple lines (w common ID) if he has multiple stints.
I want to do a graph where x-axis = date, y = person, points for each admit/rel, w each stint connected w line.
I have data where each row is admission to and release from prison, w dates.
One guy can have multiple lines (w common ID) if he has multiple stints.
I want to do a graph where x-axis = date, y = person, points for each admit/rel, w each stint connected w line.
January 14, 2026 at 11:09 PM
ggplot question that has me stuck!
I have data where each row is admission to and release from prison, w dates.
One guy can have multiple lines (w common ID) if he has multiple stints.
I want to do a graph where x-axis = date, y = person, points for each admit/rel, w each stint connected w line.
I have data where each row is admission to and release from prison, w dates.
One guy can have multiple lines (w common ID) if he has multiple stints.
I want to do a graph where x-axis = date, y = person, points for each admit/rel, w each stint connected w line.
Ah, yes, me and my clueless, bougie takes on police violence.
January 14, 2026 at 9:37 PM
Ah, yes, me and my clueless, bougie takes on police violence.
I'll add, though, that to CNN's credit--and the bar here is a pretty low one--these are paragraphs 3-5: before any ads, and likely before most of those who clicked through have stopped reading.
Headline is still suboptimal, esp since click-thru rates are prob low. But at least this came at the top.
Headline is still suboptimal, esp since click-thru rates are prob low. But at least this came at the top.
January 14, 2026 at 4:10 AM
I'll add, though, that to CNN's credit--and the bar here is a pretty low one--these are paragraphs 3-5: before any ads, and likely before most of those who clicked through have stopped reading.
Headline is still suboptimal, esp since click-thru rates are prob low. But at least this came at the top.
Headline is still suboptimal, esp since click-thru rates are prob low. But at least this came at the top.
This is probably my favorite slide across all my classes. Just trying to put in perspective how much our ability to store massive amounts of data has changed in my lifetime.
It is truly staggering.
It is truly staggering.
January 13, 2026 at 9:31 PM
This is probably my favorite slide across all my classes. Just trying to put in perspective how much our ability to store massive amounts of data has changed in my lifetime.
It is truly staggering.
It is truly staggering.
I thought I was safe, but apparently I was just part of a giant centuries-long collapse.
Roman Empire of a name.
Roman Empire of a name.
January 13, 2026 at 8:26 PM
I thought I was safe, but apparently I was just part of a giant centuries-long collapse.
Roman Empire of a name.
Roman Empire of a name.
Perhaps the LASD can get its own house in order before demanding the respect and dignity they deny others.
Also, this press release could not make the officer or LASD look any more whiny and petulant.
Also, this press release could not make the officer or LASD look any more whiny and petulant.
January 12, 2026 at 5:17 AM
Perhaps the LASD can get its own house in order before demanding the respect and dignity they deny others.
Also, this press release could not make the officer or LASD look any more whiny and petulant.
Also, this press release could not make the officer or LASD look any more whiny and petulant.
No they are not.
“Don’t tread on me” means “don’t tread on my right to tread on vulnerable groups I don’t like,” which is exactly what ICE is doing.
“Oh these hypocrites” completely misses their ideological perspective.
“Don’t tread on me” means “don’t tread on my right to tread on vulnerable groups I don’t like,” which is exactly what ICE is doing.
“Oh these hypocrites” completely misses their ideological perspective.
January 11, 2026 at 11:16 PM
No they are not.
“Don’t tread on me” means “don’t tread on my right to tread on vulnerable groups I don’t like,” which is exactly what ICE is doing.
“Oh these hypocrites” completely misses their ideological perspective.
“Don’t tread on me” means “don’t tread on my right to tread on vulnerable groups I don’t like,” which is exactly what ICE is doing.
“Oh these hypocrites” completely misses their ideological perspective.
ThE OlYMpiCs AreN’t POliTiCal
January 11, 2026 at 5:15 AM
ThE OlYMpiCs AreN’t POliTiCal
The MPD union, at least, has made it clear which side they are on.
This is the cost of DECADES of (everyone, everywhere) refusing to deal with the rising right-wing and white-nationalist involvement in policing.
This is the cost of DECADES of (everyone, everywhere) refusing to deal with the rising right-wing and white-nationalist involvement in policing.
January 10, 2026 at 9:31 PM
The MPD union, at least, has made it clear which side they are on.
This is the cost of DECADES of (everyone, everywhere) refusing to deal with the rising right-wing and white-nationalist involvement in policing.
This is the cost of DECADES of (everyone, everywhere) refusing to deal with the rising right-wing and white-nationalist involvement in policing.
Op-Ed in the National Catholic Reporter is not pulling any punches.
“The vice president's comments justifying the death of Renee Good are a moral stain on the collective witness of our Catholic faith”
“The vice president's comments justifying the death of Renee Good are a moral stain on the collective witness of our Catholic faith”
January 10, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Op-Ed in the National Catholic Reporter is not pulling any punches.
“The vice president's comments justifying the death of Renee Good are a moral stain on the collective witness of our Catholic faith”
“The vice president's comments justifying the death of Renee Good are a moral stain on the collective witness of our Catholic faith”
Exhausting seeing the Fed govt wage war against its own states bc of their political views in so many differently illegal ways.
But also, I wonder where on this map most of that Fed ag aid goes.
But also, I wonder where on this map most of that Fed ag aid goes.
January 10, 2026 at 4:37 AM
Exhausting seeing the Fed govt wage war against its own states bc of their political views in so many differently illegal ways.
But also, I wonder where on this map most of that Fed ag aid goes.
But also, I wonder where on this map most of that Fed ag aid goes.
Our lack of police training is so glaring it’s basically visible from space.
And ICE’s training time for new recruits is now down to 6 weeks.
And ICE’s training time for new recruits is now down to 6 weeks.
January 10, 2026 at 3:37 AM
Our lack of police training is so glaring it’s basically visible from space.
And ICE’s training time for new recruits is now down to 6 weeks.
And ICE’s training time for new recruits is now down to 6 weeks.
Now both the state AG AND the local DA are investigating the shooting together.
Noem’s effort to bluff the FBI into being able to cover this up on its own has failed miserably.
Federalism as a sword against the Redeemers.
Noem’s effort to bluff the FBI into being able to cover this up on its own has failed miserably.
Federalism as a sword against the Redeemers.
January 9, 2026 at 7:59 PM
Now both the state AG AND the local DA are investigating the shooting together.
Noem’s effort to bluff the FBI into being able to cover this up on its own has failed miserably.
Federalism as a sword against the Redeemers.
Noem’s effort to bluff the FBI into being able to cover this up on its own has failed miserably.
Federalism as a sword against the Redeemers.
Of course a judge sworn into office inside a giant supervillain lair-esque fireplace would be sweaty.
January 9, 2026 at 5:21 PM
Of course a judge sworn into office inside a giant supervillain lair-esque fireplace would be sweaty.
Second, the immunity that Swalwell is discussing here isn't QI--which, again, is about whether the action is "contrary to established law" in a civil matter--but supremacy clause immunity, right?
And the burden of proof has nothing to do with either QI or SCI--it's a much earlier hurdle.
And the burden of proof has nothing to do with either QI or SCI--it's a much earlier hurdle.
January 9, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Second, the immunity that Swalwell is discussing here isn't QI--which, again, is about whether the action is "contrary to established law" in a civil matter--but supremacy clause immunity, right?
And the burden of proof has nothing to do with either QI or SCI--it's a much earlier hurdle.
And the burden of proof has nothing to do with either QI or SCI--it's a much earlier hurdle.