Jeff Alworth

Guillermo del Toro quote "...think about wealth for me for example. A wealthy man that has enough..."

"not a man that needs more. If you have enough to invite somebody to beer..."

"...you're rich. If you have, whatever-"

"- yachts and planes and islands and you STILL need more? You're not rich."

Guillermo del Toro on wealth: "a wealthy man is a man who has enough, not a man that needs more. If you have enough to invite someone for a beer? You're rich. If you have a yacht, planes, islands, and you still need more? You're not rich."

Not all these issues have the same political salience. Few people are going to get riled up about foreign policy. But the three issues on which Trump is massively underwater are also three of the most salient issues to voters.

A gang of ducks close in on me as I sleep in my parents' garden in summer, 2018. (More on this in my book Ring The Hill.)

Probably the best photograph I’ve ever taken of some ducks.

And his being a Nazi is actively tanking the brand. It’s hard to imagine Tesla surviving the decade if they keep Musk, what to speak of handing him a trillion dollars.

This would be the biggest scandal of any previous administration and if it gets any notice at all, it will be as a fleeting page 13 story.

Chaser: "A new University of New Hampshire poll in Maine finds Graham Platner (D) leads Gov. Janet Mills (D) in the Democratic race for the U.S. Senate nomination, 58% to 24%."

Shot: "Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, who has already apologized for earlier misogynistic and racially insensitive remarks and [a Nazi tattoo], confirmed that he wrote a series of Reddit posts that include homophobic slurs, anti-LGBTQ jokes, & sexually explicit stories denigrating gay men.”

Things are escalating very quickly, but I think this is the right move.

Imagine Obama doing this. MAGA would literally storm the White House like the Bastille.

Yes!!! Exactly this. And we know from sociological research that people tend to change their views based on the people they're hanging out with, so if you let them hang out in the tent without indulging their bigotry the odds are very good that they'll start rethinking the position

Or put another way—yes, a big tent means bringing in people with offensive views. But do you lean in to those offensive views, or attract those voters with policies they like and cause them to change? I think the Ds have shown that the first approach is always a loser.

Oregon v. Trump and the Rule of Law Some words from Susan Graber, the dissenting judge in the case of Oregon v. Trump, capture the stakes when the rule of law crumbles to accommodate an autocrat.

“We have come to expect a dose of political theater in the political branches…. By design of the Founders, the judicial branch stands apart. We rule on facts, not on supposition or conjecture, and certainly not on fabrication or propaganda.”

Judge Susan Graber, in her superb dissent. More:

Oregon v. Trump and the Rule of Law Some words from Susan Graber, the dissenting judge in the case of Oregon v. Trump, capture the stakes when the rule of law crumbles to accommodate an autocrat.

Some words from Susan Graber, the dissenting judge in the case of Oregon v. Trump, capture the stakes when the rule of law crumbles to accommodate an autocrat.

Donald Trump is renovating the White House the right way.

--Ezra Klein

New developments in my 3 year Epstein investigation, this time regarding JP Morgan Chase and its CEO, Jamie Dimon. This is a long thread, but worth sticking around for.

Excellent reporting from @jeremiahhayden.bsky.social, a clearheaded analysis of actual conditions and challenges on the ground in Portland (spoiler, not war ravaged or burning). This bit at the bottom also warmed my heart. Kudos to @theguardian.com for co-publishing with @streetroots.bsky.social. ❤️

❌👑

This is incredibly valuable information about why today’s protests were so valuable—layers and layers of meaning.

I dunno—looking through the spreadsheet, it seems to have a ton of null cells. And not just in small towns. Portland had three sites and only one is listed. I have no way of gauging whether the figures that are posted are accurate, but seems like there’s work to do here.

Cardboard sign that says “ Finding joy is resisting”

Someone holding a sign that says “Hey Trump nobody paid us to be here we all disagree with you for free!!!

Protesters lining the road holding signs. One sign reads “Protect Trans Youth” another has a painted orange butterfly on it and it reads “The only orange monarch we want”

Protestors lining the road holding signs one is in a Santa suit holding a sign that reads “I know signs. I make the best signs. They’re terrific. Everyone agrees.”

@wyden.senate.gov Scappoose, OR

#NoKings

Klamath Falls OR
Approximately 1/3 of the protesters.

Florence, OR

Handmaidens, a monkey and a baby shark among others at the No Kings demo.

@wyden.senate.gov
Yachats, Oregon, population 1000. There were more than a thousand at the demo.

Attendees at No Kings protest in Redmond, OR

Attendees at No Kings protest in Redmond, OR

“Frogs for Farmers” at No Kings protest in Redmond, OR

@wyden.senate.gov

Redmond, Oregon!

Corvallis, OR had bigger crowds than EVER! #NoKings

Portland always turns out, and this protest covered such a large footprint that I’m not sure how but it was. Leaving that aside, some pics and observations:

1. The crowd was really happy and mellow. The vibe was unexpectedly very upbeat. They were far from in denial, however.

I stopped in for a pint of RPM at the Virginia Cafe afterward and thought of all the people who had to work who might otherwise have shown up. I could feel you!

2. The crowd couldn’t have been less threatening if it tried. Tons of elderly, some kids, more dogs.

2. No surprise, it was disproportionately White even by the standards of Portland. I can only imagine how vulnerable POC must feel.

3. Cops mainly directing traffic, smiling.

4. No feds sighted

Portland always turns out, and this protest covered such a large footprint that I’m not sure how but it was. Leaving that aside, some pics and observations:

1. The crowd was really happy and mellow. The vibe was unexpectedly very upbeat. They were far from in denial, however.

Sorry, that’s Portland☝️