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John Carpenter’s ‘Halloran’ @profhalloran.bsky.social · 12m

Healthcare: 31
Authoritarianism: 21
Other: 48

And that's being generous as to what counts as authoritarianism. And it's also heavily skewed by the sheer number of Pritzker and Kat Abughazaleh posts (12 between them) in that first 100.

So, I mean, I'm pretty comfortable standing by what I said.

John Carpenter’s ‘Halloran’ @profhalloran.bsky.social · 12m

Again, we don't have to speculate here. We can simply count in the first 100 posts in that feed. (Understanding that this is a Bluesky feed and not, like, the evening news.) And I'm not even going restrict this to the high-profile Dems that I was talking about:

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John Carpenter’s ‘Halloran’ @profhalloran.bsky.social · 1h

In a vodka martini, I'm happy to have a blue cheese olive. But not with my gin, please (though I do like a little bit of olive brine...).

My martini is just gin. But I shake 2:1 vermouth to olive brine with ice first. Then I pour that out, reserving the ice. Then I stir the gin in the prepped ice.

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Chicago Tribune @chicagotribune.com · 1h

Tonika Lewis Johnson’s artwork includes the acclaimed Folded Map Project. She’s one of 22 new MacArthur Fellows, announced on Wednesday.

MacArthur 2025 ‘genius grant’ winners include a Chicago photographer

Tonika Lewis Johnson’s artwork includes the acclaimed Folded Map Project. She’s one of 22 new MacArthur Fellows, announced on Wednesday.

trib.al

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Monster Dan Kelly @mrdankelly.bsky.social · 3h

It's Great Chicago Fire day. Learn more about the conflagration in this terrific @robertloerzel.bsky.social article published during the Fire's 150th anniversary a few years back.

www.chicagomag.com/chicago-maga...

The Great Chicago Fire, As Told By Those Who Lived Through It

As the city marks the 150th anniversary of the defining event, ROBERT LOERZEL mines the archival record to offer a compelling portrait of what it was like to live through those disastrous days.

www.chicagomag.com

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John Carpenter’s ‘Halloran’ @profhalloran.bsky.social · 2h

And this misses the point in any event. The Democrats are arguing about healthcare because they perceive it to be a better public relations move than making it about authoritarianism. They are incorrect. But this isn't some sort of necessary substantive policy move; it's an agenda setting choice.

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John Carpenter’s ‘Halloran’ @profhalloran.bsky.social · 2h

But why would I rely on "a bind" when I could simply say right there in the bill itself that "no appropriated funds can be used for the following purposes ..."

(And, like, no. ICE funds are not coming from cuts to healthcare. That's not really how the Federal budget works.)

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Andy Craig @andycraig.bsky.social · 2h

The formal law re: domestic use of the military is... complicated. But right now it's more about tapping into our deep cultural roots, the innate sense it's un-American, something evil dictators do, the notorious historical examples and even well-worn fictional fictional tropes reflecting as much.

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John Carpenter’s ‘Halloran’ @profhalloran.bsky.social · 2h

That's the one. I actually think that he bought the restaurant in the 1960s. He was honestly a good dude.

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John Carpenter’s ‘Halloran’ @profhalloran.bsky.social · 2h

... You understand how the budget can be used to specifically restrict activities of the government, right? This isn't policy rocket science. We literally do it all the time.

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John Carpenter’s ‘Halloran’ @profhalloran.bsky.social · 2h

It's this wacky guttural rumble high pitched laugh cough thing that there was no way I was going to attempt.

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John Carpenter’s ‘Halloran’ @profhalloran.bsky.social · 2h

I think that you're right that we may never recover. I'll go further to say that we probably won't recover.

But we can recover if we choose to—and an essential part of that choice will be real, durable consequences for the people who have perpetrated all of this.

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John Carpenter’s ‘Halloran’ @profhalloran.bsky.social · 3h

And I'll tell you, the gyro that guy made ... I still dream about it. And the crazy thing is that the lamb wasn't even the best thing on the menu: the best thing on the menu was the halibut (which Pete had flown in whole from Alaska once a week to this dinky Central Illinois town).

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John Carpenter’s ‘Halloran’ @profhalloran.bsky.social · 3h

Unsatisfied with those results, Pete turned to geese. Probably a half dozen geese.

*howl**bark bark bark**llama noises* *honk honk honk* *Greek expletives* *SHOTGUN BLAST*

It is my understanding that at this point the coyotes picking off lambs did slow down quite dramatically. Thanks to the geese.

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John Carpenter’s ‘Halloran’ @profhalloran.bsky.social · 3h

The dogs were insufficient protection, so Pete also got a couple of llamas which, again, were trained to protect the flock against predators.

*howl* *bark bark bark* *llama noises* *Greek expletives* *SHOTGUN BLAST*

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John Carpenter’s ‘Halloran’ @profhalloran.bsky.social · 3h

*howl* *bark bark bark* *Greek expletives* *SHOTGUN BLAST*

Pete, you see, would stand on his toilet and fire his shotgun out of the bathroom window. He assured us that he wasn't shooting at anything in particular, but just firing to scare off the coyotes.

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John Carpenter’s ‘Halloran’ @profhalloran.bsky.social · 3h

What followed was a series of Wile E Coyote escalations to designed to prevent further attacks. On spring nights, when I opened my bedroom window, I heard all of this play out:

First, there were the dogs. Two beautiful huge dogs that lived among the sheep and chased off predators.

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John Carpenter’s ‘Halloran’ @profhalloran.bsky.social · 3h

So... I grew up on an old horse farm in East Central Illinois. Across the road lived the proprietor of the Greek family restaurant in town. His name was Pete Poulos and he was, in fact, Greek.

Pete raised lambs for the restaurant. Occasionally a coyote picked off a lamb, much to Pete's chagrin.

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John Carpenter’s ‘Halloran’ @profhalloran.bsky.social · 3h

Like, am I to understand that the theory here is that governors/mayors have some affirmative obligation to act to protect Federal officers and are subject to criminal liability if they fail to meet that obligation?

It's bonkers on its face.

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John Carpenter’s ‘Halloran’ @profhalloran.bsky.social · 3h

And also, for those who are inclined, they're also hosting their annual 5k this weekend (with a virtual option as well). I'm participating virtually with the small humans. It's not too late to sign up. Though you don't get the fancy shirt at this point...

7th Annual NIJC Community for Immigrant Justice 5K - National Immigrant Justice Center

Join us for the 7th Annual National Immigrant Justice Center's Community for Immigrant Justice 5K, in person or virtually! Join us on race day, Saturday,

immigrantjustice.org

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John Carpenter’s ‘Halloran’ @profhalloran.bsky.social · 3h

This is a good time to remind everyone that the National Immigrant Justice Center is a phenomenal organization to support. From litigation to trainings, they have been a consistent voice in support of immigrant rights—especially in the Chicago area; but also nationally.

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ashley fairbanks @ziibiing.com · 4h

happy wednesday from waffles the crusty little wonder dog (who we do bathe, his food just gets his face dirty 😭)

waffles in the rearview mirror, ears up from the breeze

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John Carpenter’s ‘Halloran’ @profhalloran.bsky.social · 3h

All is forgiven.

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Meredith Shiner @meredithshiner.com · 5h

Bridging my current life in Chicago and my past life in D.C., I argue today at @newrepublic.com that Democrats should ~never~ vote to fund this government. Make John Thune blow up Senate rules and Republicans wholly own the U.S. extra-military military doing war crimes against us, funded by us.

The Case for the Forever Shutdown

Senate Democrats actually allowing the GOP to stop funding the government is only the first step. Now they have to make the case that Trump’s government is illegitimate.

newrepublic.com

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John Carpenter’s ‘Halloran’ @profhalloran.bsky.social · 3h

See, now you're hating on Gustav Doré and that simply cannot stand...

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