Jamie Ludwig
Indulging my many sound fixations. Writing. Coffee. Music. Projects Editor @chicago_reader. Freelance everywhere. (Illustration by @berhuff.)
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigAdmin subpoenas are back in the spotlight. Worth remembering ICEs use of a similar tool: hundreds of thousands of warrantless “customs summonses,” often for non-customs cases sent for info about journalists, students, and abortion clinics, with no oversight. wired.com/story/ice-1509-custom-summons/
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigHoo boy, First Amendment watch: The North Dakota Attorney General sent a cease-and-desist letter to an abortion fund for simply linking to @plancpills.bsky.social. AG claims the link constitutes promoting and facilitating access to medicine without a prescription under the state’s consumer fraud law
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigSNAP now has work requirements for people 55 to 64. But because of the axing of a USDA food insecurity survey, we may not have comprehensive data of the effects of this barbaric change. My latest for @motherjones.com. www.motherjones.com/food/2026/01...
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigOn Friday, January 9, ICE arrested a member of our union, the Minnesota Newspaper and Communications Guild, as part of Operation Metro Surge. He has been transferred to a detention facility in Texas, where he is awaiting action on his petition for habeas corpus. newsguild.org/guild-member...
- As an aging subculture kid, if death by eyeliner is a thing, it’s been nice knowing you. www.consumerreports.org/product-safe...
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigNEW: By a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court blocks Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Chicago to assist immigration agents. A majority holds that he likely lacks authority to do so. Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch dissent. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p...
- They couldn’t figure this out, say, a decade ago?
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigThere is a tremendous opportunity for a brand new generation of media outlets to rise up right now because many news outlets that spent decades painstakingly building their credibility are seeing it torched by bootlickers with incredible speed.
- This week’s Chicago Reader is our final weekly edition. After 54 years, we’re going monthly! @juggaloreporter.bsky.social wrote about our turbulent 2025 and what to expect in 2026. Thankful to our team, contributors, and readers for getting us to this next phase. 🖤 chicagoreader.com/city-life/re...
- Imagining Fred and Toody rolling up to a gig in such style makes me love them even more.
- Pretty sure this is Fred Cole’s own 1973 Buick Skylark. Not sure when the photo was taken or whether it’s now in the hands of someone else. #DeadMoon
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigTrump can be the rock-bottom of our vicious decline, but only if we start focusing on what we want the future to look like rather than what it is that we don’t want. We deserve better than this, but we have to decide what better is and fight for it. jaredyatessexton.substack.com/p/what-do-we...
- If you really love a band, it is totally acceptable, and not too nerdy at all, to buy two shirts at the same show. (This message brought to you by a very satisfied merch table customer.)
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigWhat do librarians do when we’re under attack? You better believe that WE FIGHT BACK, for your right to read freely. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025... ✊✊📚
- There has got to be a circle of hell exclusively for entitled white guys who push women in the pit for no reason.
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigA new investigation has revealed that grocery delivery service Instacart is using a covert, AI-powered dynamic pricing scheme to charge customers different prices for the same items — potentially costing households over $1,000 more a year.
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigThis video a must watch. Gives you a good sense of what Elgin residents experienced today.
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigNadya Tolokonnikova of Pussy Riot brought her installation/performance "Police State" to @mcachicago.bsky.social last week. I wasn't able to catch it, but @jamieludwig.bsky.social of @chicagoreader.com did this great writeup for us. chicagoreader.com/performing-a...
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigHappening right now. Community members in Elgin, IL are in a standoff with Feds who are trying to abduct their neighbor. ERO guy in picture on left just peppered sprayed person I screencapped.
- Reposted by Jamie Ludwig60,000 African penguins starve to death after sardine numbers collapse – study
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigStudent organizations have put out statements of support and have planned demonstrations after Nineteen Fifty-Six and Alice Magazines were suspended. From @alabamareflector.com:
- Reposted by Jamie Ludwig“The National AIDS Memorial, through a partnership with the AIDS Quilt Touch team, presents all 50,000 panels of the AIDS Memorial Quilt in an interactive experience so people around the world can experience the beauty of the Quilt and witness the love and stories stitched into each panel.”
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigICYMI: cook county's 2026 fiscal year begins today! the $10 billion budget approved by county commissioners last month includes an additional $300+ million, or about 30 percent, for law enforcement.
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigPalantir has received billions to create a surveillance state. www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigImmigration officers were sent to Chicago to detain and deport “violent offenders” that DHS said were released from jails because of “sanctuary” policies. The agency says it has arrested more than 4,000 people, but only about 120 of those have a criminal record.
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigWhat you need to know about SNAP changes www.dhs.state.il.us/OneNetLibrar...
- Reposted by Jamie Ludwig
The best review I’ve read about the Smashing Pumpkins opera, s/o @jamieludwig.bsky.social - Reposted by Jamie LudwigI once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigToday, after months of requests, I toured the Broadview ICE Processing Facility. I want to share what I saw. The facility has no food vendor, no medical care, and detainees have to use toilets in the middle of shared cells. These are in no way suitable conditions to be holding anyone — period.
- Reposted by Jamie Ludwig[Not loaded yet]
- Not just LA, but Detroit (hometown of GM) where the lack of public transit persists to this day.
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigThe rate of sepsis in Houston surged 63% after Texas banned abortion. In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where hospital leaders empowered doctors to intervene before patients’ conditions worsened, it rose 29%. (Published May)
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigThose claiming Dems should retreat on racial justice aren't hard-headed realists, they're pushing against the electoral tide rather than leaning into it. The story of Gen Z isn't about racist backlash or red-pilled young men. It's the most racially progressive generation in American history. 🧵
- Reposted by Jamie Ludwighappening now: community members are gathering at the chicago fbi field office to demand ice and border patrol agents leave the city and stop terrorizing residents. yesterday, the fbi and other feds helped greg bovino and a caravan of border patrol agents ravage little village and cicero.
- Reposted by Jamie Ludwig
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigPeople need to understand that Chicago is a preview, not a culmination.
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigSenate update: Republicans are now trying to sneak a backdoor national abortion ban into their government funding bill. Republicans will stop at nothing to control women's health care decisions.
- Once again, if you are not an asshole to others, the world is more likely to smile back at you.
- Just wow. To think this treasure could’ve been lost forever. Glad Koko Taylor’s legacy is in safe hands. chicago.suntimes.com/music/2025/1...
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigOne analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
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- Reposted by Jamie Ludwigi’m at damen/belle plaine in chicago’s north center neighborhood for an emergency anti-ice rally. around 7 a.m. this morning, masked federal agents chased a preschool teacher *into* nearby rayito del sol and abducted her—in front of traumatized children, parents, and coworkers.
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigGo Fund Me for the teacher who was kidnapped in front of children in her classroom today: www.gofundme.com/f/stand-with...
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigThe ADL has decided to treat fascists as allies and progressives as enemies. For a group that is tasked with protecting American Jews, that is a world historic fuck up. I will never forgive these people for their moral decrepitude.
- PSA: Being authentically nice goes an extra long way these days. Just be cool and the good vibes will come back to you. I promise.
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigFor years, but especially for the past year, Democrats have been in thrall to the idea that they need to chase an imagined median voter, and adopt that voter’s positions. Mamdani’s victory shows another way: hold principles, and persuade people to share them.
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigVirginia Dems wins mean an abortion rights amendment will almost certainly be on the 2026 ballot
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigI know we're all watching election returns but don't let this get lost in the mix: the Heritage Foundation is calling on the HHS to conduct a 'safety' review of oral contraception jessica.substack.com/p/the-group-...
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigVirginia's results mean that Democrats will be able to continue their maneuver to advance a constitutional amendment to redistrict the state, including passing it through the state legislature again in January and scheduling a special election referendum for the spring.
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigWrote about Condé ending Teen Vogue as we knew it. talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/what-we...
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigLooks like they're about to nerf Teen Vogue www.vogue.com/article/teen...
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigFor those asking how to support, here’s how: www.greenbootsgardens.com/get-involved
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- Reposted by Jamie LudwigIf you have it please donate cash to the food banks. $10 in their hands will feed more people than the $10 worth of canned goods you can buy for retail prices. Also check on your elders. Many of them will not admit they rely on these programs so grocery gift cards or a surprise bag of staples
- Obvs hare-care (sp) tips.
- RIP David Ball, half of the duo behind one the best/weirdest/most punk singles ever. 💜 youtu.be/lrRmgbchiGY
- Reposted by Jamie Ludwighelp me get more followers than the White House Bluesky account, as a bit
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigIf you wrote for Bitch and are interested in participating in our reprint series, please reach out to us! flyteam at theflytrapmedia dot com.
- Doesn’t every concertgoer sit outside between bands and read about upcoming SCOTUS cases?
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigAOC has just officially become the top House fundraiser, beating out Hakeem Jeffries. Now lemme take a big sip of coffee as I look at the age distribution of donors to AOC vs Jeffries
- Michigan friends: It’s about time! themetrodetroitnews.com/detroits-mic...
- This has been a pretty shit news day for anything other than new record releases. Grateful for the artists who keep creating in 2025.
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigICIRR reporting ICE activity throughout the north side of Chicago today, including outside of Ravenswood Elementary School.
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigMAJOR new restrictions on federal government use of riot control weapons -- and even requiring them to display identification in many circumstances. I expect a very rapid appeal and request for a stay from the 7th Circuit.
- NEW: A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order barring Chicago-area fed agents from several violent actions they’ve taken against journalists, activists and “religious practitioners” protesting ICE — including Rev. Black, a plaintiff in the case. www.courtlistener.com/docket/71559...
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigThis is where you can tell the IPA board exactly what you think about their decision to pull out of one of the most important 1A lawsuits of my lifetime: www.illinoispress.org/AboutUs/Cont...
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigThe First Amendment explicitly guarantees: -the right of the people peaceably to assemble -to petition the Government for a redress of grievances -the free exercise of religion -freedom of speech If this priest had also been press, ICE would have violated all five 1A freedoms at once.
- Reposted by Jamie LudwigNEW: I'm listening in on a second new lawsuit out of Illinois today, addressing First Amendment freedoms surrounding protests, including press and religious claims. Judge Sara Ellis, an Obama appointee, is hearing the TRO motion and has found the plaintiffs, for TRO purposes, have standing.
