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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.

43,964 Followers  |  729 Following  |  15,374 Posts  |  Joined: 02.06.2023
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Posts by John Pfaff (@johnpfaff.bsky.social)

I almost feel like itโ€™s more โ€œnot enough.โ€ Or if they did watch a lot, they somehow missed that core not-a-whiner part.

04.03.2026 17:32 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Sentence/paragraph order matters too.

By putting "And, hey, maybe we are being more honest about the levels of mental illness in an increasingly stressed and taxed population," it makes that seem like a "we need to cover all our bases" thing.

Feels to me like it is a really big deal, actually.

04.03.2026 15:31 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 16    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Itโ€™s what Bruen demands, actually.

04.03.2026 14:52 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 32    ๐Ÿ” 7    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
mamalachef @mamalachef.bsky.s... โ€ข7m
โ†’ Replied to you
These idiots are ignorant fools. It's a wonder they can feed themselves or put on a pair of pants.

mamalachef @mamalachef.bsky.s... โ€ข7m โ†’ Replied to you These idiots are ignorant fools. It's a wonder they can feed themselves or put on a pair of pants.

Never a good sign when you donโ€™t know which post of yours this refers to, bc there are already several possibilities.

04.03.2026 14:43 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 17    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

The โ€œshieldโ€ is intolerable here as well.

โ€œParents tried to shield their children from water. Instead they died of dehydration.โ€

Thatโ€™s what the @nytimes.com headline here says. Both โ€œshieldโ€ and โ€œinsteadโ€ appallingly reinforce anti-vax attitudes and frames.

04.03.2026 14:18 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1147    ๐Ÿ” 302    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 26    ๐Ÿ“Œ 7
Preview
a man in a straw hat talks to a woman in a striped shirt Alt: Thee amigos: in Spanish, infamous means even more famous.
04.03.2026 13:36 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 7    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

If no one on here is seeing the bad takeโ€”and again, mine is the sort of feed that should have his stuff pop up if itโ€™s spreading organicallyโ€”then dunking on it is doing much if not most if not all of the actual spreading.

04.03.2026 13:35 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 10    ๐Ÿ” 5    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
Preview
a woman wearing a purple dress with grapes on her shoulder is smiling Alt: Barbra Streisand looking concerned.

I think my feed is pretty politics-heavy. Prob way TOO politics-heavy, but sort of professional unavoidable.

I mention that as background for this: the ONLY time I see Lakshya Jain takes is in screenshotted hate-dunks.

Ppl are rebutting claims ppl arenโ€™t seeing *until the rebuttal.*

04.03.2026 13:35 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 6    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

The Iranian ambassador was not, for the record, on American soil.

Iโ€™ve never seen an admin more full of juvenile man-children openly projecting their juvenile man-childness every time they open their mouths and try to come across as โ€œtough.โ€ (And yes, I know Waltzโ€™s background: still juvenile.)

04.03.2026 13:23 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2688    ๐Ÿ” 562    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 79    ๐Ÿ“Œ 14

Iโ€™m going to make a Blue Wave prediction that the Dems win 100% of their primaries tonight.

That said, donโ€™t sleep on the fact that the GOP will likely win 100% of theirs as well, even with Trumpโ€™s low poll numbers.

04.03.2026 01:54 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 61    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

And if that isnโ€™t practicalโ€”Canada may not have the stadiums, and Mexico the stabilityโ€”then Italy, Germany, Brazil? Surely some past host has the infrastructure to step up and less-horrible leaders.

Itโ€™s not a great fix! But then this is all sort of a real mess.

03.03.2026 22:51 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 12    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

If FIFA had a spineโ€”which we know it does notโ€”it would move all World Cup games to Canada and Mexico.

We donโ€™t deserve to host them, and foreign players and fans do not deserve to be subjected to threats from Millerโ€™s CBP and ICE thugs.

03.03.2026 22:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 110    ๐Ÿ” 23    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 5    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

Iโ€™d be extra-happy if my theoretical Dem president used your exact language when rejecting it!

03.03.2026 21:55 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 14    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I for one have always been proud of my grandfathersโ€™ service during Word Military Operation II.

And the generation before that in the Strategic Intervention to End All Strategic Interventions.

And of course my great-โ€ฆ-great grandfatherโ€™s time in the Union cavalry during the Civil Armed Response.

03.03.2026 21:53 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 30    ๐Ÿ” 5    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

THIIIIIIIIIS.

And not just here. All over the place.

Like, Iโ€™d love a future Dem President to say โ€œIโ€™ve scoured the Constitution and canโ€™t find a โ€˜major questionโ€™ rule anywhere in it. So Iโ€™m just going to ignore that effort to arrogate power to yourself. That imbalance? Checked.โ€

03.03.2026 21:48 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 415    ๐Ÿ” 101    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 7    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

Only need the first seven words (or eight, if you see โ€œU.S.โ€ as two words).

Rest of that message is redundant.

But I get it: this was a war of choice, and how can you plan for one of those?

03.03.2026 20:45 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 24    ๐Ÿ” 6    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
After an investigation following Friedmann's initial arrest, Hall said: "It was discovered that Mr. Friedmann over many months had developed and implemented an extremely deliberate and, in my opinion, evil plan. Understand, this plan went far beyond vandalism. Ultimately, it included planting various tools, weapons and security equipment throughout this facility โ€” all designed to assist in a massive
escape plan." Hall went on to say that Friedmann had "planted loaded guns with additional ammunition" inside the detention center. Police say they are trying to identify three
men who can be seen interacting with Friedmann on surveillance video. "The unprecedented nature of these crimes has created the need to delay the opening of this building even further," Hall said, going on to explain that the
detention center would not open until his office was confident that it was safe and
secure. Asked whether it was possible that part or all of the detention center might need to
be torn down to ensure that safety, DCSO spokesperson Karla West tells the Scene,
"That is not something we anticipate at this time."

After an investigation following Friedmann's initial arrest, Hall said: "It was discovered that Mr. Friedmann over many months had developed and implemented an extremely deliberate and, in my opinion, evil plan. Understand, this plan went far beyond vandalism. Ultimately, it included planting various tools, weapons and security equipment throughout this facility โ€” all designed to assist in a massive escape plan." Hall went on to say that Friedmann had "planted loaded guns with additional ammunition" inside the detention center. Police say they are trying to identify three men who can be seen interacting with Friedmann on surveillance video. "The unprecedented nature of these crimes has created the need to delay the opening of this building even further," Hall said, going on to explain that the detention center would not open until his office was confident that it was safe and secure. Asked whether it was possible that part or all of the detention center might need to be torn down to ensure that safety, DCSO spokesperson Karla West tells the Scene, "That is not something we anticipate at this time."

Somehow I missed the story about the anti-prison activist who just got arrested for planting LOADED GUNS (and other equipment) throughout Nashville's new jail while it was under construction.

www.nashvillescene.com/news/the-sho...

03.03.2026 20:34 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 51    ๐Ÿ” 18    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 4    ๐Ÿ“Œ 2

Cynically, I canโ€™t help but wonder how much is sincere vs trying to rehab the GOPโ€™s reputation in purplish NC in a contentious Senate election year.

03.03.2026 18:29 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 42    ๐Ÿ” 6    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 6    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

Thom Tillis โ€ฆ who is not running for reelection. And donโ€™t think that is immaterial when it comes to periodically showing flashes of a spine.

03.03.2026 18:13 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 268    ๐Ÿ” 49    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 13    ๐Ÿ“Œ 2

Stop creating new sentences that humans were never meant to have hit their eyes.

The one in this screenshot is surely a cursed phrase that opens some portal to an even-deeper hell.

03.03.2026 00:47 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 50    ๐Ÿ” 12    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 5    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I didnโ€™t say they donโ€™t. Iโ€™m literally encouraging them to fight for the gerrymander they are trying to do.

Iโ€™m saying that if SCOTUS is going to selectively strike them down, Dems should ignore that clearly unconstitutional approach.

03.03.2026 00:20 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

And every Dem w POTUS ambitions should say โ€œeach unconstitutional opinion is one more person added to the bench when I win the job.โ€

02.03.2026 23:50 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 89    ๐Ÿ” 22    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

SCOTUS popularity has never been lower.

This is the time to simply wrest power away from SIX MEDIOCRE LAWYERSโ€”SIX PEOPLEโ€”who have decided they get to do whatever they want.

They donโ€™t, if we donโ€™t let them. They have NO enforcement power besides the moral authority they chose to burn for Trump.

02.03.2026 23:49 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 103    ๐Ÿ” 24    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

We need Democratic governors and mayors to just start saying โ€œha, buddy: noโ€ to these flagrantly misbehaving SCOTUS-ppl (I canโ€™t even call them โ€œj***icesโ€ anymore).

Their power is solely that we donโ€™t say that.

Take the fight to them. Stop doing their work for them, which they are banking on.

02.03.2026 23:49 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 64    ๐Ÿ” 9    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

If this is what they are doing, then @governor.ny.gov should just say โ€œmy side wins, your side losesโ€ is not a constitutionally valid way to interpret the Constitutionโ€”bc it damn well isnโ€™tโ€”and then say โ€œso the new maps stay.โ€

You arenโ€™t obligated to follow an illegal court. They just WANT you to.

02.03.2026 23:49 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 458    ๐Ÿ” 111    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 6    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

Yeah, AEDPA is bad too. There's just only so many atrocities any one person can focus on, and mine's been much more on the PLRA, which I think gets even less attention than AEDPA (which still gets far too little), and is more directly tied to prison growth issues that are my wheelhouse.

02.03.2026 21:31 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Yeah, it's not great that it has taken on two contradictory definitions.

But to argue that the drop-as-release is the LEGALESE take is what really got me. Not that it's confusing, but that the legal profession is using it in this way a technical term.

02.03.2026 21:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Excellent thread and piece on underfunded indigent defense.

Gideon and Argersinger were, like many SCOTUS decrees, unfunded mandates, which states have been eager to leave underfunded.

Courts could force the issue via ineffective assistance rulings, but SCOTUS's Strickland standard is ... strict.

02.03.2026 21:01 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 17    ๐Ÿ” 7    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
Preview
a man with a beard wearing a crown and a helmet is standing in a dark room . Alt: a man with a beard wearing a crown and a helmet is standing in a dark room . saying you make me sad

I also want to say I'm very disappointed in you, Bluesky. I read ~100 comments to the Rupar post, and there were ZERO WH40K comments, despite an aging man of an orange hue talking abt Terra.

I don't even PLAY 40K, and I could see the reference.

I thought the nerd quotient here was MUCH higher.

02.03.2026 19:20 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 20    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
a man with a beard wearing a crown and a helmet is standing in a dark room . Alt: a man with a beard wearing a crown and a helmet is standing in a dark room . saying you make me sad

I also want to say I'm very disappointed in you, Bluesky. I read ~100 comments to the Rupar post, and there were ZERO WH40K comments, despite an aging man of an orange hue talking abt Terra.

I don't even PLAY 40K, and I could see the reference.

I thought the nerd quotient here was MUCH higher.

02.03.2026 19:20 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 20    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0