God those pictures are so eerie, like something from GTA. It's heartening to see people out on the streets protesting, but every morning I'm scared I'm gonna wake up and find out that it became a massacre. I hope you and everyone else out there is able to stay safe as much as you can.
Good for you for going out again, David. Glad you're staying safe.
It's so strange being in Los Angeles right now. I live about 10 miles out from downtown, and I've been hearing sirens all night. It's partly the reason I'm not asleep right now. Everything will seem so normal one second, and then you're reminded that the President is sending active duty Marines to your city, he's threatening to arrest the Governor, and people are being beaten and shot just for the crime of exercising their first amendment rights. I've never considered myself naive, but the sheer bloodthirst the Trumpites are displaying on national TV has been a bit shocking to me.
I'm also dreading Trump's big birthday/military parade this weekend. It feels like the perfect opportunity for thing to really go sideways.
There are a lot of protests planned, eh. Curious how sane they stay. I guess we'll see those, what, 4000 National Guard members? Marines?
And I was thinking last night as that fucking police chopper circled: These people living here are not getting any sleep. And those on skid row and unhoused - a truly rubbish night.
I don't think there's some grand master plan ay work here, but I do think the targeting of LA was very purposeful. Right wing media has been training conservatives to hate this city for 40 years. To them we're not 'real Americans', we're just godless liberals. And we're so far away from Congress and the Supreme Court that whatever happens here might as well be happening in another country.
Yep. We are different from other southern border states because we've always openly embraced immigrants (documented or not) for what they contribute to society and economy. Those southern states can get fucked.
I actually rewatched shortly after he won to get my head straight about it. There's a lot of stories in that show about singular acts of bravery and how they can change the entire landscape of a country's fate. You should definitely watch it! :)
The questions at the end of your piece are the burning questions. What happens next is the scariest thing to think about. This isn’t a video game, it’s real and it’s happening. Have we become so desensitised to the chaos because there’s just been too much of it? Are we the frogs in the boiling water?
Hoping this will be just like the McCarthy era, and school children in the 2050s will be taught how things went haywire for a bit and (like I did in the 1980s) not quite believe it really happened like that. In America, with the Constitution as guidance? Surely not! And how good that the Constitution and common sense won out. That’s what I thought, in the 80s
I feel a bit sick reading about this - it feels far away from Aotearoa but your reporting makes it feel personal and bloody terrifying. It's so important that you continue.
He also wrote a piece a couple of months ago 'The election didn't matter' which blew my tiny mind. It catalogues the breaking down of our reliable global order, zooming all the way out. Fucking nightmare stuff but very illuminating.
It's been difficult to be able to comment lately (personal stuff going on), but I've been here all along, watching and listening and reading. I was watching the lives in the middle of the night, and I just wanted to say please stop apologizing for the technical stuff, hell, I never could have done that, not with my health. And emotionally I've been very scared for your and everyone's safety.
I have nothing much intellectual to add in this state my head's at at the moment (I haven't slept properly for quite a while), but two things I was thinking when I saw all that, and still now, when we don't know what's going to happen next.
1) Hope, because people care enough to resist pulling all of humanity into a total darkness. (I still hear "no justice, no peace" in my head.)
2) Utter horror and disbelief that all this is actually happening.
Third would be very selfishly saying I just want you to be safe, but you've heard that a million times already. I've been to a peaceful protest march last time in 2019, and it was for the environment. Before that, I travelled to Helsinki alone in 2018 to protest when two dictators (one actually already, and one wanna-be then) met there. I did these things although I had very closely missed being killed when a deranged person ran around my then-hometown stabbing people to death a year earlier in 2017. But I'm somewhat immunocompromised, so my protesting days walking the streets in large crowds might be over. But I remember the thought and feeling of "I need to do this, because if not me, here where it's happening, then who."
Ty so much. It's health stuff. But things are getting a bit better, and I'm just about to drop. I didn't mean to make this about me. It's just that being silent felt weird.
You are so, so good, S. You are not making it all about you in any way, you're leaving an insightful comment about your own history and experience and the fact things are a bit shit right now. Discussion like yours is why I fucking love this place. Thank you.
👍💯 Your 2 points are well made - it is REALLY hard to hold onto the "hope" bit when we are being constantly bombarded with the "horror & disbelief" inducing images & stories, but we have to for both our own mental health & most of all for those who rely on us to keep fighting for their freedom/actual lives. 💪The bravery of those protesting does inspire hope 🫂
Ty too Cindy. I believe many others have already brought up those very things before I did, but it was and is in the core of what I'm experiencing, also about the situation on the global level. I'm often way too nihilistic for my own good, it being the other side of the coin of having too much empathy. Like I think humankind is so shit, but individual human beings actually can be awesome. Then I see people come together and it gives me such a headache, to have that hope and all that comes with it. There's some serious cognitive dissonance to deal with, for sure, and I don't think I'll ever really get there.
I live far away from LA, but the wrongness of it all carries. We had a smaller but similar thing happen here when cops were forcing homeless folks from an encampment. The dehumanization that must have to happen to treat people this way is terrifying to consider.
Remembering your words "I am deeply curious and horrified by what’s going on, and I want to witness and document things first hand. Not to be too pretentious or worthy, I think that’s part of my job, and right now — with no dependents — I feel I am well placed to do that."
Reflecting that still under six months of this administration, while listening in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington to the lion roar at the zoo.
I also now have a weird urge to stand in front of that cop and slowly and very gently, but very creepily draw my finger nail down his right cheek while making unbreaking eye contact. Just to make squirm. I wouldn't because I wouldn't touch another human without consent. But it's a very real urge.
The country voted in a reality TV man, now we're all being entertained 😢💔
Or the typical big brother move of sticking your finger an inch from his face and screaming repeatedly I'M NOT TOUCHING YOU I'M NOT TOUCHING YOU. lol
If I was down there I would probably just read all the speeches of the founding fathers out loud, on repeat, until it finally clicks in their head that they are, in fact, the bad guys here.
Fuck Trump! He and his minions can just fuck all the way off. I hate what he and his enablers and cheerleaders are doing to America. Arresting 9 year olds while doing their homework. Just fuck off with that. I hate the militarisation of the police. Although I recognise that has been going on well before his time in office. And the national guard and marines patrolling American streets. What the actual fuck? Shouldn't the posse comitatus act prevent that. At least from my experience of watching the west wing it should. Not that the orange menace would care either way. I hate that the word that rolls off my tongue first when describing him is fuck. Stay safe over there David.
God those pictures are so eerie, like something from GTA. It's heartening to see people out on the streets protesting, but every morning I'm scared I'm gonna wake up and find out that it became a massacre. I hope you and everyone else out there is able to stay safe as much as you can.
Grand Theft Auto was very much the videogame going through my mind. My fears are your fears.
Good for you for going out again, David. Glad you're staying safe.
It's so strange being in Los Angeles right now. I live about 10 miles out from downtown, and I've been hearing sirens all night. It's partly the reason I'm not asleep right now. Everything will seem so normal one second, and then you're reminded that the President is sending active duty Marines to your city, he's threatening to arrest the Governor, and people are being beaten and shot just for the crime of exercising their first amendment rights. I've never considered myself naive, but the sheer bloodthirst the Trumpites are displaying on national TV has been a bit shocking to me.
I'm also dreading Trump's big birthday/military parade this weekend. It feels like the perfect opportunity for thing to really go sideways.
There are a lot of protests planned, eh. Curious how sane they stay. I guess we'll see those, what, 4000 National Guard members? Marines?
And I was thinking last night as that fucking police chopper circled: These people living here are not getting any sleep. And those on skid row and unhoused - a truly rubbish night.
It's awful to think how little teeth the American Constitution has. This is very worrying. 1930s back again. Stay safe David,
Thanks, Janna. And yeah - zero teeth. Just a madman creating chaos. I'm speechless. Fuck.
I don't think there's some grand master plan ay work here, but I do think the targeting of LA was very purposeful. Right wing media has been training conservatives to hate this city for 40 years. To them we're not 'real Americans', we're just godless liberals. And we're so far away from Congress and the Supreme Court that whatever happens here might as well be happening in another country.
Yep. We are different from other southern border states because we've always openly embraced immigrants (documented or not) for what they contribute to society and economy. Those southern states can get fucked.
ugh, that just brought to mind the TV show Man in the High Castle... I'm not sure I'd want to be watching that right now (iirc it was based on a book)
I actually rewatched shortly after he won to get my head straight about it. There's a lot of stories in that show about singular acts of bravery and how they can change the entire landscape of a country's fate. You should definitely watch it! :)
The questions at the end of your piece are the burning questions. What happens next is the scariest thing to think about. This isn’t a video game, it’s real and it’s happening. Have we become so desensitised to the chaos because there’s just been too much of it? Are we the frogs in the boiling water?
Hoping this will be just like the McCarthy era, and school children in the 2050s will be taught how things went haywire for a bit and (like I did in the 1980s) not quite believe it really happened like that. In America, with the Constitution as guidance? Surely not! And how good that the Constitution and common sense won out. That’s what I thought, in the 80s
I hope it pans out like that too
You are so important to all of us wormers. Please stay out of harms way
I am being careful, I promise.
Take care David, good on all you and the journos out there reporting this madness. Stay safe!
I feel a bit sick reading about this - it feels far away from Aotearoa but your reporting makes it feel personal and bloody terrifying. It's so important that you continue.
I'm not up with the intricacies of US ways but was interested to read this guy's ideas on current situation in LA https://open.substack.com/pub/longmemo/p/the-shield-doctrine?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=2nuxa
He also wrote a piece a couple of months ago 'The election didn't matter' which blew my tiny mind. It catalogues the breaking down of our reliable global order, zooming all the way out. Fucking nightmare stuff but very illuminating.
Stay safe, David, kia kaha.
Thank you for that link. It is a truly amazing article.
That was some read. Thank you. Just heard that they are having a night curfew. What’s that about?
It's been difficult to be able to comment lately (personal stuff going on), but I've been here all along, watching and listening and reading. I was watching the lives in the middle of the night, and I just wanted to say please stop apologizing for the technical stuff, hell, I never could have done that, not with my health. And emotionally I've been very scared for your and everyone's safety.
I have nothing much intellectual to add in this state my head's at at the moment (I haven't slept properly for quite a while), but two things I was thinking when I saw all that, and still now, when we don't know what's going to happen next.
1) Hope, because people care enough to resist pulling all of humanity into a total darkness. (I still hear "no justice, no peace" in my head.)
2) Utter horror and disbelief that all this is actually happening.
Third would be very selfishly saying I just want you to be safe, but you've heard that a million times already. I've been to a peaceful protest march last time in 2019, and it was for the environment. Before that, I travelled to Helsinki alone in 2018 to protest when two dictators (one actually already, and one wanna-be then) met there. I did these things although I had very closely missed being killed when a deranged person ran around my then-hometown stabbing people to death a year earlier in 2017. But I'm somewhat immunocompromised, so my protesting days walking the streets in large crowds might be over. But I remember the thought and feeling of "I need to do this, because if not me, here where it's happening, then who."
Just... 💙
Just wanted to say I’m sorry you have personal stuff going on and I hope you can get some sleep soon x
Ty so much. It's health stuff. But things are getting a bit better, and I'm just about to drop. I didn't mean to make this about me. It's just that being silent felt weird.
You are so, so good, S. You are not making it all about you in any way, you're leaving an insightful comment about your own history and experience and the fact things are a bit shit right now. Discussion like yours is why I fucking love this place. Thank you.
Ty so much David. 💜 I need to work on my self-esteem apparently, still. (For the rest of my life, I reckon.)
👍💯 Your 2 points are well made - it is REALLY hard to hold onto the "hope" bit when we are being constantly bombarded with the "horror & disbelief" inducing images & stories, but we have to for both our own mental health & most of all for those who rely on us to keep fighting for their freedom/actual lives. 💪The bravery of those protesting does inspire hope 🫂
Ty too Cindy. I believe many others have already brought up those very things before I did, but it was and is in the core of what I'm experiencing, also about the situation on the global level. I'm often way too nihilistic for my own good, it being the other side of the coin of having too much empathy. Like I think humankind is so shit, but individual human beings actually can be awesome. Then I see people come together and it gives me such a headache, to have that hope and all that comes with it. There's some serious cognitive dissonance to deal with, for sure, and I don't think I'll ever really get there.
But let's keep trying. 🫂
I live far away from LA, but the wrongness of it all carries. We had a smaller but similar thing happen here when cops were forcing homeless folks from an encampment. The dehumanization that must have to happen to treat people this way is terrifying to consider.
Remembering your words "I am deeply curious and horrified by what’s going on, and I want to witness and document things first hand. Not to be too pretentious or worthy, I think that’s part of my job, and right now — with no dependents — I feel I am well placed to do that."
Reflecting that still under six months of this administration, while listening in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington to the lion roar at the zoo.
Thanks, Clairey. Still feel that way. Oh, to be hearing a lion's roar.
I'm finding it so hard to believe the mayhem being brought on the people. It's a nightmare.
In times like these, the enemy of our enemy is a friend! AKA, leaf blowers are great for dissipating tear gas :D
but in all seriousness, thank you for the incorrigible on the ground reporting & stay safe David
Omg the devil machines are useful for something
😁👏👏👏 LEAFBLOWERS UNITE! 💪💪💪 How Webwormy would it be if 100's of leafblowers turned up at protests ⁉️😁
Careful whatyouvotefor.
Project 2025 on time within budget and in scope.
Another Aotearoan watching, horrified. Worried for my friends who make the US their home 😞 take care David
I also now have a weird urge to stand in front of that cop and slowly and very gently, but very creepily draw my finger nail down his right cheek while making unbreaking eye contact. Just to make squirm. I wouldn't because I wouldn't touch another human without consent. But it's a very real urge.
The country voted in a reality TV man, now we're all being entertained 😢💔
Or the typical big brother move of sticking your finger an inch from his face and screaming repeatedly I'M NOT TOUCHING YOU I'M NOT TOUCHING YOU. lol
If I was down there I would probably just read all the speeches of the founding fathers out loud, on repeat, until it finally clicks in their head that they are, in fact, the bad guys here.
Brilliant
Fuck Trump! He and his minions can just fuck all the way off. I hate what he and his enablers and cheerleaders are doing to America. Arresting 9 year olds while doing their homework. Just fuck off with that. I hate the militarisation of the police. Although I recognise that has been going on well before his time in office. And the national guard and marines patrolling American streets. What the actual fuck? Shouldn't the posse comitatus act prevent that. At least from my experience of watching the west wing it should. Not that the orange menace would care either way. I hate that the word that rolls off my tongue first when describing him is fuck. Stay safe over there David.