Jeff Wingstrom
@jwingstrom.bsky.social
e/bikes, YEM, cities, railroad artifacts, critique of government officials.
/GenX mafia
/GenX mafia
Reposted by Jeff Wingstrom
✶✶ How closely did you follow Chicago local news in 2025? ✶✶
Take the quiz to find out!
📰 🏙️ 🤓
lauriemerrell.com/chicago-news...
Take the quiz to find out!
📰 🏙️ 🤓
lauriemerrell.com/chicago-news...
Chicago Local News Quiz 2025
Chicago local news quiz 2025
lauriemerrell.com
December 26, 2025 at 4:44 PM
✶✶ How closely did you follow Chicago local news in 2025? ✶✶
Take the quiz to find out!
📰 🏙️ 🤓
lauriemerrell.com/chicago-news...
Take the quiz to find out!
📰 🏙️ 🤓
lauriemerrell.com/chicago-news...
Reposted by Jeff Wingstrom
One or two tons of coal: a very useful Christmas gift. Chicago 1912.
December 25, 2025 at 7:28 PM
One or two tons of coal: a very useful Christmas gift. Chicago 1912.
Reposted by Jeff Wingstrom
I hope that all of you have a joyous holiday season surrounded by your family and loved ones*.
*Except for ICE. I hope no one talks to you or gives you a present and that you accidentally shit your pants while everyone tells you to go fuck yourself at the grocery store.
*Except for ICE. I hope no one talks to you or gives you a present and that you accidentally shit your pants while everyone tells you to go fuck yourself at the grocery store.
December 24, 2025 at 11:11 PM
I hope that all of you have a joyous holiday season surrounded by your family and loved ones*.
*Except for ICE. I hope no one talks to you or gives you a present and that you accidentally shit your pants while everyone tells you to go fuck yourself at the grocery store.
*Except for ICE. I hope no one talks to you or gives you a present and that you accidentally shit your pants while everyone tells you to go fuck yourself at the grocery store.
Reposted by Jeff Wingstrom
I am telling you that a large part of their dysfunction is that several Trump officials imagine themselves, constantly, as being in a social media sizzle reel where they display status and dominance over others. Their online personas are driving their actual behavior.
Kash Patel made the FBI buy a custom fleet of armored BMW X5 for him to ride around in. trib.al/9pBbwTB
Patel’s FBI spokesperson claimed—without evidence—that this is actually saving the American taxpayer money. The standard version of the X5 costs about $70,000.
Patel’s FBI spokesperson claimed—without evidence—that this is actually saving the American taxpayer money. The standard version of the X5 costs about $70,000.
December 24, 2025 at 2:40 PM
I am telling you that a large part of their dysfunction is that several Trump officials imagine themselves, constantly, as being in a social media sizzle reel where they display status and dominance over others. Their online personas are driving their actual behavior.
Reposted by Jeff Wingstrom
Good piece with a bleak kicker: "Those of us paying attention are, for now, stuck—bombarded with enough troubling information and allegations to assume the worst about this conspiracy, but also possessing enough earned cynicism and suspicion to assume that little will change."
In theory, I want to give you more detail about my column, but I'm also struggling to find anything more concise than: We Live in Hell.
America’s Holiday in Epstein Purgatory
It’s beginning to look a lot like … extremely disturbing PDFs.
www.theatlantic.com
December 24, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Good piece with a bleak kicker: "Those of us paying attention are, for now, stuck—bombarded with enough troubling information and allegations to assume the worst about this conspiracy, but also possessing enough earned cynicism and suspicion to assume that little will change."
Reposted by Jeff Wingstrom
1. Keep your eye on the ball, people
That Epstein-Larry Nassar letter has fake written all over it -- N. Virginia postmark, after JE's death, in a handwriting that appears not his own
It's hard not to think DOJ WANTED this out there to then be debunked and thus discredit every mention of Trump...
That Epstein-Larry Nassar letter has fake written all over it -- N. Virginia postmark, after JE's death, in a handwriting that appears not his own
It's hard not to think DOJ WANTED this out there to then be debunked and thus discredit every mention of Trump...
December 23, 2025 at 3:15 PM
1. Keep your eye on the ball, people
That Epstein-Larry Nassar letter has fake written all over it -- N. Virginia postmark, after JE's death, in a handwriting that appears not his own
It's hard not to think DOJ WANTED this out there to then be debunked and thus discredit every mention of Trump...
That Epstein-Larry Nassar letter has fake written all over it -- N. Virginia postmark, after JE's death, in a handwriting that appears not his own
It's hard not to think DOJ WANTED this out there to then be debunked and thus discredit every mention of Trump...
Reposted by Jeff Wingstrom
Belatedly, this line from Weiss' memo is...something
Let's get someone who says banishing to CECOT was legit, she says
Here's the thing: There's a consensus among legal experts that *wasn't* legit
You can find someone who says moon is made outta Fluffernutter. Doesn't mean you should quote 'em
Let's get someone who says banishing to CECOT was legit, she says
Here's the thing: There's a consensus among legal experts that *wasn't* legit
You can find someone who says moon is made outta Fluffernutter. Doesn't mean you should quote 'em
December 23, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Belatedly, this line from Weiss' memo is...something
Let's get someone who says banishing to CECOT was legit, she says
Here's the thing: There's a consensus among legal experts that *wasn't* legit
You can find someone who says moon is made outta Fluffernutter. Doesn't mean you should quote 'em
Let's get someone who says banishing to CECOT was legit, she says
Here's the thing: There's a consensus among legal experts that *wasn't* legit
You can find someone who says moon is made outta Fluffernutter. Doesn't mean you should quote 'em
Reposted by Jeff Wingstrom
Among the newly-released Epstein files. This Justice Dept email from Jan 2020
'I wanted to let you know that the flight records we received yesterday reflect that Donald Trump traveled on Epstein's private jet many more times than previously has been reported"
'I wanted to let you know that the flight records we received yesterday reflect that Donald Trump traveled on Epstein's private jet many more times than previously has been reported"
December 23, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Among the newly-released Epstein files. This Justice Dept email from Jan 2020
'I wanted to let you know that the flight records we received yesterday reflect that Donald Trump traveled on Epstein's private jet many more times than previously has been reported"
'I wanted to let you know that the flight records we received yesterday reflect that Donald Trump traveled on Epstein's private jet many more times than previously has been reported"
Reposted by Jeff Wingstrom
Okay but for real, I just recently found myself in the position of having to explain to someone who Bari Weiss is, and ended up going on a lot of confusing tangents. Saving this for next time.
For this week's That's Marvelous newsletter I regrettably wrote a little bit about Bari Weiss (but also I happily wrote a little bit about dogs)! Read it here: www.thatsmarvelousnewsletter.com/163-60-minut...
December 22, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Okay but for real, I just recently found myself in the position of having to explain to someone who Bari Weiss is, and ended up going on a lot of confusing tangents. Saving this for next time.
Reposted by Jeff Wingstrom
At CBS News, we must be able to have respectful disagreements about “the thorniest editorial matters.”
Which is why I did not speak to the reporter whose story I spiked.
Which is why I did not speak to the reporter whose story I spiked.
December 22, 2025 at 3:33 PM
At CBS News, we must be able to have respectful disagreements about “the thorniest editorial matters.”
Which is why I did not speak to the reporter whose story I spiked.
Which is why I did not speak to the reporter whose story I spiked.
Reposted by Jeff Wingstrom
the idea that weiss had journalistic concerns is belied by the fact that she's not a journalist
December 22, 2025 at 2:49 AM
the idea that weiss had journalistic concerns is belied by the fact that she's not a journalist
Reposted by Jeff Wingstrom
So Bari Weiss’s first real editorial intervention at CBS is to repress coverage of American concentration camps.
December 22, 2025 at 3:05 AM
So Bari Weiss’s first real editorial intervention at CBS is to repress coverage of American concentration camps.
Reposted by Jeff Wingstrom
UPDATE: in point of fact there is not an innocent explanation for this.
December 22, 2025 at 2:27 AM
UPDATE: in point of fact there is not an innocent explanation for this.
Reposted by Jeff Wingstrom
Reposted by Jeff Wingstrom
Here's a quilt of Volume 4 of the Epstein document dump. Gives you a 10,000 foot view of the redactions. that's 2,704 docs.
December 19, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Here's a quilt of Volume 4 of the Epstein document dump. Gives you a 10,000 foot view of the redactions. that's 2,704 docs.
Reposted by Jeff Wingstrom
When Americans travel they see how enjoyable life can be when cities are not designed around cars and ease of parking. Yet when they return many still fight against changes that would deliver the kind of dense, walkable areas they loved on vacation.
December 19, 2025 at 3:54 PM
When Americans travel they see how enjoyable life can be when cities are not designed around cars and ease of parking. Yet when they return many still fight against changes that would deliver the kind of dense, walkable areas they loved on vacation.
Reposted by Jeff Wingstrom
lol so reading further it sounds like maybe the report said "hey so our whole messaging and marketing apparatus is basically a pile of do-nothing jobs for the failchildren of donors and officials? And they don't actually know how to do things? Can we correct this???"
BREAKING: The Democratic National Committee will NOT release its long-awaited autopsy on Trump's 2024 win. The report is completed but Dem leaders decided it could distract from their winning streak, so it will remain secret. Not good.
Details here:
newrepublic.com/article/2045...
Details here:
newrepublic.com/article/2045...
Dem Leaders Decide to Bury Damning Report on Why Trump Won in 2024
The Democratic National Committee has completed its long-awaited analysis on what went wrong in the 2024 campaign. But in a move that will attract intense criticism, it’s keeping the findings secret.
newrepublic.com
December 18, 2025 at 4:27 PM
lol so reading further it sounds like maybe the report said "hey so our whole messaging and marketing apparatus is basically a pile of do-nothing jobs for the failchildren of donors and officials? And they don't actually know how to do things? Can we correct this???"
Reposted by Jeff Wingstrom
Have you been called out for your Nazi tattoo? Did someone tell you that repeating the 14 Words is not permitted in the workplace? Did you get told that you can’t use the N word anymore?
Quick, dial 1-800-wht-ddes now. Our agents are standing by. No case too small.
Quick, dial 1-800-wht-ddes now. Our agents are standing by. No case too small.
December 18, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Have you been called out for your Nazi tattoo? Did someone tell you that repeating the 14 Words is not permitted in the workplace? Did you get told that you can’t use the N word anymore?
Quick, dial 1-800-wht-ddes now. Our agents are standing by. No case too small.
Quick, dial 1-800-wht-ddes now. Our agents are standing by. No case too small.
Reposted by Jeff Wingstrom
Beautiful remembrance by @stephenking.bsky.social.
Opinion | Stephen King: Why I Hugged Rob Reiner After Watching ‘Stand by Me’
www.nytimes.com
December 17, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Beautiful remembrance by @stephenking.bsky.social.
Reposted by Jeff Wingstrom
I keep saying this but no one is connecting the dots. The war is to satisfy legal preconditions for mass removal *domestically* of Latinos (i.e., suddenly a lot of people are going to be “Venezuelan” for purposes of removal). This is 100% Stephen Miller…oil claim is to make grandpa go along
There is no national security logic that would impel the US to want to do regime change in Venezuela. It's simply not that important. I'm not even sure wag the dog is the right metaphor for what's happening here. Seems like an insane misallocation of US national security assets and attention.
Trump: "Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled ... It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before — Until such time as they return to the USA all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us."
December 17, 2025 at 12:47 AM
I keep saying this but no one is connecting the dots. The war is to satisfy legal preconditions for mass removal *domestically* of Latinos (i.e., suddenly a lot of people are going to be “Venezuelan” for purposes of removal). This is 100% Stephen Miller…oil claim is to make grandpa go along
Reposted by Jeff Wingstrom
I've been reporting on the criminal justice system for over a decade and have lived in an authoritarian country overseas, but I've never seen anything like the police presence in ICE-occupied Memphis. Here's my dispatch: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
I'm a veteran criminal justice reporter. I've never seen anything like ICE-occupied Memphis.
“It’s about as sad as you can possibly imagine."
www.motherjones.com
December 16, 2025 at 6:40 PM
I've been reporting on the criminal justice system for over a decade and have lived in an authoritarian country overseas, but I've never seen anything like the police presence in ICE-occupied Memphis. Here's my dispatch: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Jeff Wingstrom
Lying about Trump’s lies about Rob Reiner’s death to perpetuate lies about reactions to Charlie Kirk’s death in service to long-running lies about left and right using a fictional version of Trump to lie for.
The lying is next-level. Previous lies become canon, and living a lie becomes the goal.
The lying is next-level. Previous lies become canon, and living a lie becomes the goal.
December 15, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Lying about Trump’s lies about Rob Reiner’s death to perpetuate lies about reactions to Charlie Kirk’s death in service to long-running lies about left and right using a fictional version of Trump to lie for.
The lying is next-level. Previous lies become canon, and living a lie becomes the goal.
The lying is next-level. Previous lies become canon, and living a lie becomes the goal.
Reposted by Jeff Wingstrom
maintaining the cognitive dissonance between "i love how racist the president is" and "he's a terrible person" does indeed sound exhausting
December 15, 2025 at 9:00 PM
maintaining the cognitive dissonance between "i love how racist the president is" and "he's a terrible person" does indeed sound exhausting
Reposted by Jeff Wingstrom
Things we learn:
1. Bovino's existence is the result of chain migration, which MAGA wants to ban
2. His family arrived legally under an immigration law MAGA wants to repeal
3. His father killed a woman while driving drunk, a crime for which MAGA aims to deport immigrants
And much more. Read it.
1. Bovino's existence is the result of chain migration, which MAGA wants to ban
2. His family arrived legally under an immigration law MAGA wants to repeal
3. His father killed a woman while driving drunk, a crime for which MAGA aims to deport immigrants
And much more. Read it.
Greg Bovino’s the star of Trump’s deportation show. We trace his roots.
As a boy, the Hollywood movie “The Border" set the course for his life. He couldn’t believe the Border Patrol agents in the movie were the bad guys. Now that he’s in charge of deportation efforts caus...
chicago.suntimes.com
December 13, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Things we learn:
1. Bovino's existence is the result of chain migration, which MAGA wants to ban
2. His family arrived legally under an immigration law MAGA wants to repeal
3. His father killed a woman while driving drunk, a crime for which MAGA aims to deport immigrants
And much more. Read it.
1. Bovino's existence is the result of chain migration, which MAGA wants to ban
2. His family arrived legally under an immigration law MAGA wants to repeal
3. His father killed a woman while driving drunk, a crime for which MAGA aims to deport immigrants
And much more. Read it.
Reposted by Jeff Wingstrom
December 13, 2025 at 11:04 PM