We’ve leapt over a lot of red lines in the last week. But one I find most worrying is Trump/MAGA/ICE have ceased even pretending to claim some criminal pretext for cracking down on protected speech. It’s just straight up “if you criticize us, you’re getting throttled/arrested/disappeared.”
I’d add this: Decades of studies have shown that large groups want to be seen as legitimate, and largely self-police yahoos prone to violence — *until* law enforcement starts using violence, at which point they unite against a common enemy. It’s a lesson too few PDs ever seem to learn. RE:
Bluesky Social
Unsanitary-Looking Suspicious Bruises Hat (@kenwhite.bsky.social)
A few words about “peaceful protests.” 1. At least 5% of people are uncontrollable assholes and will behave badly in any situation, let alone ...
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Just a reminder that Kash raised money for January 6 rioters, including co-producing a benefit single in which incarcerated rioters sing the national anthem while Trump recites the pledge of allegiance. https://oyster.us-east.host.bsky.network/xrpc/com.atproto.sync.getBlob?did=did:plc:c7ozmxoc5b2ky4iam2o36uic&cid=bafkreie3eyuksx5ly6i2umemhd3w4y4hfvx5rpdxfowxc4s7nrtlg7wuei
My hunch is that, as we saw with Lafayette Park, National Guard troops are not going to be as compliant as this administration thinks. It’s one thing to unleash cops consumed by warrior cop culture on neighborhoods. Quite another to send reservists who are also accountants, barbers, and teachers.
Rubio's administration is currently incarcerating people for op-eds and constitutionally-protected protest. They've sent people to a foreign gulag for having tattoos. If rest of the world applied this rule, Rubio would be barred from traveling outside the US for violating US speech protections. [Announcement of a Visa Restric...](https://www.state.gov/announcement-of-a-visa-restriction-policy-targeting-foreign-nationals-who-censor-americans/ )
ICE and the Tennessee Highway Patrol have been pulling over random Latino-looking motorists on manufactured traffic violations, then detaining those who are undocumented. [www.nashvillescene.com/news/citylim...](
Nashville Scene
Fear Grips City After Traffic Traps by State Troopers, ICE
Dozens of people were suddenly detained in Nashville by state troopers and ICE in the early hours of Sunday, May 4, setting off a chaotic week that...
 ) [Fear Grips City After Traffic ...](
Nashville Scene
Fear Grips City After Traffic Traps by State Troopers, ICE
Dozens of people were suddenly detained in Nashville by state troopers and ICE in the early hours of Sunday, May 4, setting off a chaotic week that...
 )
Turned on CNN three times yesterday while running errands. First time was in the middle of a segment about Biden's age. Second time they were airing a promo for Tappers book, which is about Biden's age. Third time was during a panel discussion -- about Biden's age. Meanwhile . . . [Trump Justice Dept. considers ...](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/05/17/trump-justice-department-prosecutions/ )
500K Mexican-Americans served in the U.S. armed forces in WWII, as did millions of 1st and 2nd-gen immigrants, and 109K noncitizens. Mexican immigrant Macario Garcia won the Medal of Honor in Normandy. When he returned to the US, he was was arrested for trying to eat at a segregated restaurant. https://oyster.us-east.host.bsky.network/xrpc/com.atproto.sync.getBlob?did=did:plc:c7ozmxoc5b2ky4iam2o36uic&cid=bafkreiatr3nsk2zgyhfq5pkjkzklxrd4ich5ohkekxtxu64hxw6vv4j6ua
Almost threw out my back rolling my eyes at this. Complete failure to grapple with the ample historical evidence of why cops might not be popular with marginalized communities in Chicago. Also, perhaps police culture itself contributes to mental illness among cops? [www.thefp.com/p/chicago-po...](
How Can You Be a Cop in a City That Hates You?
In Chicago, the number of police suicides is far higher than anyone knew: 53 in the past decade. ‘It’s so overwhelming because there’s all th...
 ) [How Can You Be a Cop in a City...](
How Can You Be a Cop in a City That Hates You?
In Chicago, the number of police suicides is far higher than anyone knew: 53 in the past decade. ‘It’s so overwhelming because there’s all th...
 )
Trump reportedly considering Meth Raccoon to helm ONDCP, Fish & Wildlife [6abc.com/post/woman-a...](
6abc Philadelphia
Raccoon found with meth pipe in driver's seat during police stop, woman arrested
A woman has been arrested when a raccoon named Chewy was holding a meth pipe in the driver's seat of her car in what police are calling a "strange ...
 ) [Raccoon found with meth pipe i...](
6abc Philadelphia
Raccoon found with meth pipe in driver's seat during police stop, woman arrested
A woman has been arrested when a raccoon named Chewy was holding a meth pipe in the driver's seat of her car in what police are calling a "strange ...
 )