Act for Democracy

Trump’s ballroom blitz sparks chorus of disgust: ‘The perfect symbol’ Obama once joked about what a gaudy Trump White House would look like – the president seems bent on proving him right

While millions of Americans are seeing their healthcare costs spike and food support taken away, what is Trump doing? Building a gilded ballroom to impress his billionaire buddies.

YOU DESERVE BETTER.

Irony, facetiousness, and satire enrich human lives immeasurably, but poison LLMs bc their "statistical nextwordism" approach has no tone of voice or contextual understanding.

It would be a shame if my quotidian use of cynical ironicalism killed LLMs dead w/o even a gratuitous twist of the knife.

The disappearance of America’s leadership class at a time like this means that the rest of us have to be leaders. We can no longer wait to be led by those with the power and authority to lead. You must lead, I must lead, all of us must lead. We are the leaders we’ve been waiting for.

Some are mad because people are on SNAP and not working.

I’m mad because people are on SNAP even though they are working.

‘Is it safe?’ How one Chicago coffee shop took a stand against the ‘monsters’ of ICE Jesse Iñiguez, a coffee shop owner, has inadvertently found himself at the center of Operation Midway Blitz — the Trump administration’s contentious U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) miss...

‘Is it safe?’ How one Chicago coffee shop took a stand against the ‘monsters’ of ICE (gift link)
www.rawstory.com/raw-investig...

YouTube video by Parkrose Permaculture It's hard in Portland right now. But we will get through this together.

“Hope is not a feeling for me
it is a mindset”

youtu.be/Rc0xqLlQ7uw

"HOPE in this deep and powerful sense is not the same as joy that things are going well or willingness to invest in enterprises that are obviously headed for early success,
but rather an ability to work for something because it is good, not because it stands a chance to succeed."

Christine Lewis speaking at podium

Portland Metro Councilor Christine Lewis welcomes the crowd at #MpactPDX highlighting Metro’s focus on affordable TOD housing, and a tip about reservations at Kann @mpactmobility.bsky.social

As I understand it, we're also the dumping ground for our neighboring states' dirty diesel trucks since their air quality standards are stronger than ours.

This NPR interview nails it:
the “ballroom” isn’t décor—it’s doctrine.
Trump’s gold-plated brand becomes governance:
unilateral, performative, exclusionary.
Implying that if you’re not cheering, you’re “not American.”

Just because it gleams doesn’t mean it’s democratic.
bsky.app/profile/npr....

***IMMEDIATE ACTION*** THANK SENATOR MERKLEY FOR PROTESTING AGAINST THE DANGERS OF TRUMP’S AUTHORITARIANISM [10-26-25] — Indivisible Oregon Last Tuesday Senator Merkley, took to the Senate floor, and, for  nearly 23 hours , protested Trump’s grave threats to democracy—highlighting Trump’s “authoritarian takeover” of the government,...

Call: Thank Sen. Merkley for his 23-hour floor protest against Trump’s authoritarian power grabs—attacks on speech/press, DOJ abuse, and Guard deployments.
Then urge ALL your MoCs to publicly expose MAGA’s damage and present real solutions.
www.indivisibleor.org/take-action/...

Zenith Energy seeks to add ‘sustainable aviation fuel’ blending to its operations, according to public records

Locally, the Port of Portland and Zenith just asserted that SAF was great for the climate and the City of Portland (read: Mayor Wilson & DCA Donnie Oliveira) rolled over for them and shut the public out completely.

The CEO mayor was excited to use our city as an industry greenwashing experiment.

SAF is actually considered a fossil fuel under Portland City Code and the city weakened its own rules to allow Zenith to store it at the hub.

Oliveira rushed Zenith’s LUCS approval to prevent council and the public from looking more closely.

Scandalous stuff.

The amazing Bev Scott revs up the #MpactPDX crowd
Democracy is not for spectators.
We need courage, not working under the radar.
Don’t focus on ROI. Slavery had an ROI.
Invest in people so that we can say “all the children are fine”
We need to plan for opportunity, not just emergency

Happy Amazon Prime Day! Amazon collects mountains of data about how you use the service, but there is a setting you can change to make it harder for the company to use that data to sell you more things. #OptOutOctober www.eff.org/deeplinks/2...

Thank you to everyone who has reached out with concern. Late last night, I woke up to my car, car port, and home engulfed in flames. I'm grateful for the quick response from Portland firefighters who prevented the fire from spreading even further.

Portland awaits court decisions on National Guard deployment As the wind and rain blew across the sodden city this weekend, Portlanders awaited clarity from the courts on whether and when federalized National Guard troops might be seen on the streets.

It’s been a busy few weeks of legal rulings and rhetorical statements as Portland has become a flashpoint in the national discourse on how the president can use the National Guard.

Here’s a quick look at where things stand right now and what may develop this week.

This Oregon family faces 45% increase for health insurance if ACA subsidies go away They are among thousands of Oregonians who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace who could pay an additional $127 to $456 a month on average.

Constituents are telling me that increased healthcare costs will be devastating for themselves and their families. I am ready, willing, and able to work with Republican colleagues to reopen the government, but will not accept a budget that decimates healthcare for thousands of Oregonians.

Blustery day in Oregon?
Warm up with a hot drink and help flip Virginia—
join a phonebank today at 11am PT.
Training provided, newbies welcome.
Invite a friend and log on!

We cannot normalize the deployment of federal troops in our city.

Idk who needs to hear this, but movements do not require LEADERS. They require PARTICIPATION

A gray, rainy day is the perfect time to create something bright. Our café staffer Ava came up with a Halloween craft to bring a little fun to lunchtime. The spooky decorations now hanging in our café were made with love by the guests we serve.

Another cool new risograph poster from Australian illustrator Sam Wallman in the shop! justseeds.org/product/unit...

Screenshot from my newsletter that reads "The Trump administration wants us to think that we're powerless, but each of us has the ability to take action even if it seems small. We have people power on our side and that's why we're going to win. In solidarity, councilor Candace Avalos"

Lauren my comms manager made my newsletter signature PINK 🩷😍

I will be sharing lots of important information in the coming weeks, sign up for my newsletter now if you haven't already!

public.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORP...

1/2
Some amazing people out in the rain today. 💙

It's not the wokeness; it's the brokeness.

15 More Ways You Can Fight for Democracy By Gabriel Lezra

This is a great and valuable read

Lawmakers slam Ice after US military veterans are arrested, injured The Guardian revealed how US veterans have been injured and arrested at protests against Ice deportations

Our veterans shouldn’t be met with force from their own government for exercising the very rights they risked their lives to protect. I stand with every single veteran standing up and speaking out against Trump's lawlessness.

Know Your Rights | What To Do When Encountering Questions from Law Enforcement | ACLU You could be questioned by a variety of law enforcement officers, including state or local police officers, Joint Terrorism Task Force members, or federal agents from the FBI, Department of Homeland S...

“I want a lawyer.”

These words are so important, friends.

www.aclu.org/know-your-ri...

BikePortland Office Hours - Jonathan Maus

If you'd like to meet and chat. Book a 15 minute slot drom 10:30 to 12 noon every Friday. calendar.app.google/oUHZzydk68sH...