Week 51
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I’ve found another clump of hellebores that are just starting to bloom. I keep wondering what kind of evolutionary advantage they have by blooming during the winter.
The murder of Renee Nicole Good of course dominates everything, and it looks like there will be confrontations today in Minneapolis. I suspect that ICE will be active in other areas as well, to try to make them look like they are everywhere, as many of them are sent to Minneapolis for a show of force. They are everywhere in one sense, but they are not strong.
Mayor Frey has been active in resisting ICE. Let’s hope today goes well.
ICE also shot and injured two people in Portland. The mayor there and the governor of Oregon came out strongly in support of the community.
Donald Trump had a bad week, but as usual, he’s putting a good face on it. He’s also been hyperactive since Wednesday – yes, more than usual. Earlier in the week, he gave up on having the National Guard in Chicago, LA, and Portland.
The Venezuela adventure continues to be inscrutable, but it’s clear that not everything is going the way Trump would prefer. The major American oil companies are notably unenthusiastic about getting involved, as one of them said, when a tweet can turn things around.
The Europeans are getting worried about the Greenland drumbeat from Trumpies. Marco Rubio tried to calm things down by saying the Trump wants to buy Greenland. I suspect none of them know what he wants and that it changes from minute to minute.
More indications emerged that Trump is not well.
He also looks physically bad. He seems to be shrinking, with his chest sinking into his belly. As a certified Old Person, I have noticed that there seems to be a time for many people when they decline rapidly, over periods of days and weeks, and Trump may have entered it.
House Democrats forced a vote.
Elon Musk’s Grok has been providing child porn to anyone who asks. Looks like the UK is starting to think about doing something about it.
I have promised to write on far too many topics, including misogyny as a driver of the far right. I’m not sure I’ll be able to write all of what I’d like to. Real life is getting busier too, in a good way.
Follow the court-watchers for the details of the lawsuits. Chris Geidner (LawDork, Bluesky), Roger Parloff (Lawfare, Bluesky), and the Just Security tracker.
As usual, keep it to things that have actually happened, not hypotheticals. What is actually happening is plenty..
Caring for yourself and loved ones is resistance too. Post your pets.
157 more weeks to go. What are you doing?
Previous weeks: Week 10, Week 20, Week 30, Week 40, Week 50