Joe Lorenzini
@quidprojlo.bsky.social
I forgot to update this a while ago, but thanks to many new followers, I am now back in Chicago!
There are a lot of you I have connected with on here but not in person yet. I'd love the chance to meet you all in real life in this great city now that I'm back
There are a lot of you I have connected with on here but not in person yet. I'd love the chance to meet you all in real life in this great city now that I'm back
November 13, 2025 at 10:51 PM
I forgot to update this a while ago, but thanks to many new followers, I am now back in Chicago!
There are a lot of you I have connected with on here but not in person yet. I'd love the chance to meet you all in real life in this great city now that I'm back
There are a lot of you I have connected with on here but not in person yet. I'd love the chance to meet you all in real life in this great city now that I'm back
I couldn't see a thing by myself, but my phone somehow captured the Northern Lights from Montrose Harbor
November 13, 2025 at 5:57 AM
I couldn't see a thing by myself, but my phone somehow captured the Northern Lights from Montrose Harbor
Of all the surreal things going on in the world right now, the weirdest might be that I now know the Pope's Letterboxd Four
Pope Leo has shared his four favorite movies of all time, as the Vatican prepares to host dozens of actors and directors in a “World of Cinema” gathering on Saturday at his official residence. See which films made the pope's list. nyti.ms/4p3exK9
Pope Leo Shares His Favorite Movies Ahead of Vatican Event
The list leans heavily on uplifting classics.
nyti.ms
November 12, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Of all the surreal things going on in the world right now, the weirdest might be that I now know the Pope's Letterboxd Four
"In recent years, the core neighborhoods of Chicago built immense quantities of housing, and their populations have grown commensurately. This has effectively served as a rising tide to lift all boats, regardless of family status"
Really interesting analysis from @zyudhishthu.bsky.social about how building housing, in general, benefits the ability of families to live in a city. pencillingout.substack.com/p/chicagos-d...
Chicago's downtown family boom
And what it can tell us about building family-friendly cities
pencillingout.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:51 PM
"In recent years, the core neighborhoods of Chicago built immense quantities of housing, and their populations have grown commensurately. This has effectively served as a rising tide to lift all boats, regardless of family status"
Snow is so heavy in Chicago that I can barely see outside the office
November 10, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Snow is so heavy in Chicago that I can barely see outside the office
The fact that no swing state Senators (besides Nevada and Fetterman whose a given) are voting for this "deal" shows how much the politics was on Dems side--that is now all being thrown away
so currently defectors are:
Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
November 10, 2025 at 4:30 AM
The fact that no swing state Senators (besides Nevada and Fetterman whose a given) are voting for this "deal" shows how much the politics was on Dems side--that is now all being thrown away
I really can't believe this is the week my work decided to send us from Chicago to LA for training
At least the views here are pretty cool
At least the views here are pretty cool
November 6, 2025 at 4:09 PM
I really can't believe this is the week my work decided to send us from Chicago to LA for training
At least the views here are pretty cool
At least the views here are pretty cool
Golden is one of the most vulnerable Dem House members since he represents a +10 Trump district, but he's survived 4 elections in the Trump era
So it's peculiar that he's retiring now, the day after Dems best night in years, especially when he had the chance to be promoted through a Senate run
So it's peculiar that he's retiring now, the day after Dems best night in years, especially when he had the chance to be promoted through a Senate run
Democratic Rep. Jared Golden, facing a primary challenge from state Auditor Matt Dunlap, says he won't seek reelection in #ME02
Jared Golden: I won’t seek reelection. Here’s why.
"What I could accomplish in this increasingly unproductive Congress pales in comparison to what I could do in that time as a husband, a father and a son."
www.bangordailynews.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Golden is one of the most vulnerable Dem House members since he represents a +10 Trump district, but he's survived 4 elections in the Trump era
So it's peculiar that he's retiring now, the day after Dems best night in years, especially when he had the chance to be promoted through a Senate run
So it's peculiar that he's retiring now, the day after Dems best night in years, especially when he had the chance to be promoted through a Senate run
In two years there will be another off-year election, including for Mississippi governor
If tonight's results are any indication, Democrats have a plausible chance of winning the governor race in one of the most Republican states in the nation
If tonight's results are any indication, Democrats have a plausible chance of winning the governor race in one of the most Republican states in the nation
Democrats have flipped 2 seats in the Mississippi senate, and in so doing they've broken the GOP's supermajority in the chamber.
November 5, 2025 at 2:07 PM
In two years there will be another off-year election, including for Mississippi governor
If tonight's results are any indication, Democrats have a plausible chance of winning the governor race in one of the most Republican states in the nation
If tonight's results are any indication, Democrats have a plausible chance of winning the governor race in one of the most Republican states in the nation
Under-discussed results I'll be looking for tonight
1. NYC Mayor: Mamdani is going to win, but if he gets over 50%, he'll have a clear mandate that his victory was because of him and his campaign and not because of vote splitting
1. NYC Mayor: Mamdani is going to win, but if he gets over 50%, he'll have a clear mandate that his victory was because of him and his campaign and not because of vote splitting
I have calculated a set of county-level benchmarks for following the statewide elections in VA, NJ, GA and PA tonight. This is smarter than just watching votes roll in because it helps account for unreported areas. Will update the spreadsheet as votes come in. Link: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
2025 statewide elections benchmarks (VA, NJ, GA, PA)
docs.google.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Under-discussed results I'll be looking for tonight
1. NYC Mayor: Mamdani is going to win, but if he gets over 50%, he'll have a clear mandate that his victory was because of him and his campaign and not because of vote splitting
1. NYC Mayor: Mamdani is going to win, but if he gets over 50%, he'll have a clear mandate that his victory was because of him and his campaign and not because of vote splitting
The pro-business argument for transit:
"Illinois’ economic vitality depends on the health of its largest metro area, where millions rely on transit to get to work and where billions in tax revenue are generated. A functioning transit system isn’t a parochial concern; it’s a statewide necessity."
"Illinois’ economic vitality depends on the health of its largest metro area, where millions rely on transit to get to work and where billions in tax revenue are generated. A functioning transit system isn’t a parochial concern; it’s a statewide necessity."
Nice: Commentary on transit bill from a mainstream outlet that is not the editorial equivalent of a diss track. Crain's: "IL deserves credit for facing a problem squarely instead of deferring it... This bill, while imperfect, represents progress." 👍
@crainschicago.bsky.social @chicagotribune.com
@crainschicago.bsky.social @chicagotribune.com
Editorial: A long night yields long-overdue action on transit
After much delay, Springfield passes a $1.5 billion package to stabilize Chicago-area transit and reform how it’s run — a case of lawmakers facing a problem instead of deferring it.
www.chicagobusiness.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:58 PM
The pro-business argument for transit:
"Illinois’ economic vitality depends on the health of its largest metro area, where millions rely on transit to get to work and where billions in tax revenue are generated. A functioning transit system isn’t a parochial concern; it’s a statewide necessity."
"Illinois’ economic vitality depends on the health of its largest metro area, where millions rely on transit to get to work and where billions in tax revenue are generated. A functioning transit system isn’t a parochial concern; it’s a statewide necessity."
I remember when Charlie Kirk was seen as a character on the fringes of the GOP apparatus. Now, if anyone so much as disagrees with anything he says, it's grounds for expulsion from the party
I can't help but think that Fuentes will inevitably be embraced in Republican circles, too
I can't help but think that Fuentes will inevitably be embraced in Republican circles, too
America has no idea what's about to hit them. "Young Republicans" are fully steeped in neo-Nazi edge lord talking points. Fuentes is the present and future of the GOP. After Trump, this is the new form of MAGA. The establishment isn't built for this fight.
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
The Firewall Against Nick Fuentes Is Crumbling
The white-supremacist influencer is entering the MAGA mainstream.
www.theatlantic.com
November 2, 2025 at 1:23 AM
I remember when Charlie Kirk was seen as a character on the fringes of the GOP apparatus. Now, if anyone so much as disagrees with anything he says, it's grounds for expulsion from the party
I can't help but think that Fuentes will inevitably be embraced in Republican circles, too
I can't help but think that Fuentes will inevitably be embraced in Republican circles, too
In 2015, a hitchhiking robot that relied on the kindness of strangers travelled peacefully across Canada. However, the robot's journey across the US was cut short when it was beheaded, dismembered & stomped on within hours of arriving in Philadelphia.
But what if he survived and made it to Chicago?
But what if he survived and made it to Chicago?
November 1, 2025 at 4:18 AM
In 2015, a hitchhiking robot that relied on the kindness of strangers travelled peacefully across Canada. However, the robot's journey across the US was cut short when it was beheaded, dismembered & stomped on within hours of arriving in Philadelphia.
But what if he survived and made it to Chicago?
But what if he survived and made it to Chicago?
Pour one out for everyone who had a "Ghost of Chicago Transit" costume planned for today
WOOHOO: “Illinois lawmakers approve $1.5B legislative package to buoy mass transit”
chicago.suntimes.com/springfield/...
chicago.suntimes.com/springfield/...
Illinois lawmakers approve $1.5B legislative package to buoy mass transit
Lawmakers agreed on a tax package to stave off a $200 million-plus fiscal cliff next year that would likely result in major cuts to bus and rail service at the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pac...
chicago.suntimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Pour one out for everyone who had a "Ghost of Chicago Transit" costume planned for today
For any Connections players (spoilers):
Can someone tell me where the U.S. cities of Harold, Octavia, Woody, and Shawn are? /s
Annoying category today
Can someone tell me where the U.S. cities of Harold, Octavia, Woody, and Shawn are? /s
Annoying category today
October 30, 2025 at 1:48 PM
For any Connections players (spoilers):
Can someone tell me where the U.S. cities of Harold, Octavia, Woody, and Shawn are? /s
Annoying category today
Can someone tell me where the U.S. cities of Harold, Octavia, Woody, and Shawn are? /s
Annoying category today
This fact is why building more housing is essential to stopping a city's population from shrinking: family size is inevitably shrinking because people are having fewer kids, so the only way to grow the population is to have more households i.e., build more homes
Chicago has *more* households than *ever*—but 900,000 *fewer* residents than it had at its peak in 1950!
Notably, again, 1.18 million is the most number of households that have ever lived in Chicago--above 1.15 million, which was the previous peak in 1960. We bottomed out at 1.025 million in 2000.
October 29, 2025 at 6:31 PM
This fact is why building more housing is essential to stopping a city's population from shrinking: family size is inevitably shrinking because people are having fewer kids, so the only way to grow the population is to have more households i.e., build more homes
Reposted by Joe Lorenzini
My 3-year tenure on my neighborhood association's board recently came to an abrupt end, and I talked to
@blockclubchi.bsky.social about why. I hope this article will cause other neighborhood groups to reflect on whether they're truly serving their communities. blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/29/f...
@blockclubchi.bsky.social about why. I hope this article will cause other neighborhood groups to reflect on whether they're truly serving their communities. blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/29/f...
Former Sheffield Neighborhood Group Members Say Its Process Favors Insiders
Former board members say the group's small, insular board speaks for thousands without surveying neighbors on bike stations, development and other projects. But “the minority doesn’t represent the maj...
blockclubchicago.org
October 29, 2025 at 4:10 PM
My 3-year tenure on my neighborhood association's board recently came to an abrupt end, and I talked to
@blockclubchi.bsky.social about why. I hope this article will cause other neighborhood groups to reflect on whether they're truly serving their communities. blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/29/f...
@blockclubchi.bsky.social about why. I hope this article will cause other neighborhood groups to reflect on whether they're truly serving their communities. blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/29/f...
Reposted by Joe Lorenzini
IMO the really important and interesting debate is how to establish reliable information channels and relationship-building techniques that actually reach normal people.
My main takeaway on the “moderation” debate is that Democrats would be better served by other debates besides left-right positioning, like how to develop new valence issues (corruption!) as wedge issues, and how to get attention for their policy proposals in the first place
October 28, 2025 at 5:16 PM
IMO the really important and interesting debate is how to establish reliable information channels and relationship-building techniques that actually reach normal people.
Just when it seemed like two Chicagoans might find common ground and reunite international Christendom, they find the one issue that splits this city apart
Mar Awa III, patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, also born in Chicago, gave Pope Leo a Cubs jersey.
October 28, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Just when it seemed like two Chicagoans might find common ground and reunite international Christendom, they find the one issue that splits this city apart
Next time you wonder why SNAP is run by the Department of Agriculture, this map explains why (politically) that's the case
As @pkrugman.bsky.social explains, the GOP is shooting itself in the foot with its cutoff of SNAP funding. Just a glance at this map shows that SNAP cutoffs hit red counties (well, darker green on this map) harder than blue. paulkrugman.substack.com/p/the-hunger...
October 28, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Next time you wonder why SNAP is run by the Department of Agriculture, this map explains why (politically) that's the case
Mellon could be a good bogeyman for Dems to highlight: a billionaire GOP megadonor who inherited his fortune, created no jobss with his wealth, and who is a recluse and thus likely not media savvy to fend off any political attacks
"Donor Who Gave $130 Million to Pay Troops Is Reclusive Heir to Mellon Fortune
Timothy Mellon is a billionaire and a major financial backer of Trump." www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/u...
Timothy Mellon is a billionaire and a major financial backer of Trump." www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/u...
Donor Who Gave $130 Million to Pay Troops Is Reclusive Heir to Mellon Fortune
www.nytimes.com
October 25, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Mellon could be a good bogeyman for Dems to highlight: a billionaire GOP megadonor who inherited his fortune, created no jobss with his wealth, and who is a recluse and thus likely not media savvy to fend off any political attacks
After the 2004 election, pundits said the map wasn't there for the Dems to retake the Senate during the midterms. But the map changed, and Dems succeeded in a wave
Based on the 2024 results, pundits have been saying Democrats can't take back the Senate, but we may again see the map changing
Based on the 2024 results, pundits have been saying Democrats can't take back the Senate, but we may again see the map changing
Peltola +2 over Sullivan in AK-SEN polling!
Press release just went out...
October 22, 2025 at 8:43 PM
After the 2004 election, pundits said the map wasn't there for the Dems to retake the Senate during the midterms. But the map changed, and Dems succeeded in a wave
Based on the 2024 results, pundits have been saying Democrats can't take back the Senate, but we may again see the map changing
Based on the 2024 results, pundits have been saying Democrats can't take back the Senate, but we may again see the map changing
People devote so much emotion to defending Obamacare because Republicans spent the entire 2010s trying to forcibly dismantle it using all three branches of government
It's only miraculously alive today because of its ardent defenders (and a last minute switcheroo from the late John McCain)
It's only miraculously alive today because of its ardent defenders (and a last minute switcheroo from the late John McCain)
bluesky is an even weirder place than twitter. does my post say we should repeal Obamacare
no
does it say that the institutionalist instinct to devote so much emotion to defense of it rather than sympathizing with what it didnt/still has not fixed (for many) is misplaced?
yes. and i stand by that
no
does it say that the institutionalist instinct to devote so much emotion to defense of it rather than sympathizing with what it didnt/still has not fixed (for many) is misplaced?
yes. and i stand by that
this dickhead didn’t post this to bsky, but fuck you @talsmith.bsky.social . this legislation saved my life. condescending piece of shit.
October 20, 2025 at 5:49 PM
People devote so much emotion to defending Obamacare because Republicans spent the entire 2010s trying to forcibly dismantle it using all three branches of government
It's only miraculously alive today because of its ardent defenders (and a last minute switcheroo from the late John McCain)
It's only miraculously alive today because of its ardent defenders (and a last minute switcheroo from the late John McCain)
What this gets wrong is that comparing ourselves to others, or social proof, is one of the strongest forms of persuasion, and the protests will lead more people to be against the government's actions
It's why the GOP spends so much time saying protestors are paid or not representative of the people
It's why the GOP spends so much time saying protestors are paid or not representative of the people
sums it up. headlines on crowd sizes and the feeling that maybe something happens (somewhere else) aren’t action, and getting a bunch of people to show up to a party for nothing isn’t organizing.
find your people and build something real.
find your people and build something real.
October 20, 2025 at 12:43 PM
What this gets wrong is that comparing ourselves to others, or social proof, is one of the strongest forms of persuasion, and the protests will lead more people to be against the government's actions
It's why the GOP spends so much time saying protestors are paid or not representative of the people
It's why the GOP spends so much time saying protestors are paid or not representative of the people
Reposted by Joe Lorenzini
A thing I think doesn't get internalized enough in the discourse of the European subjugation of the Americas is that there was no way for contact between Europe and those continents to not end in abject disaster for indigenous Americans because of disease burden.
"Sapiens" is so normal for the first 70,000 years of human history but then goes absolutely buckwild as soon as it gets to colonialism
October 14, 2025 at 11:55 AM
A thing I think doesn't get internalized enough in the discourse of the European subjugation of the Americas is that there was no way for contact between Europe and those continents to not end in abject disaster for indigenous Americans because of disease burden.