So, super big day tomorrow with the No King’s protests- there are even ones that I think are going to be quite big for the area in Wheeling and Steubenville. I will probably not be attending either for a multitude of reasons, first of which is I can feel a ball of anxiety in my chest just thinking around being around all those people and the only options being public restrooms dear god I need to stop thinking about this. Another big reason is because it is going to be raining, and I know a bunch of you are going to say “But Cole, don’t be such a wimp” to which I have to say fuck you I am not in the army anymore I don’t stand in the rain under any circumstance. That fucking bullshit is over. I will stand under the awning for twenty minutes at the grocery store with a cart of paid for groceries waiting for the rain to die down that inevitably started when I was shopping. If I go to a public event like a picnic or something and it starts raining I do not stand under the shelter miserable hoping for the best or making the best of it. I wave to everyone and walk directly to the car and drive home. The fun was had then the rain started and I peaced the fuck out.
If you are curious, my mother always used to tell people that I was nine going on seventy (the nine obviously changed).
Oh, and I have no burner phone atm (actually, if someone knows how to get one legally tell me in the comments).
In other news, this happened:
BREAKING: US Marines deployed to Los Angeles have carried out the first known detention of a civilian, the US military confirms.
It was confirmed to Reuters after they shared this image with the US military.
— News Eye (@newseye.bsky.social) June 13, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Another sad milestone. The military also confirmed they are flying predator drones.
This, on the other hand, is a delicious response to ICE:
Ah yes, nothing says “tough guy” like hiding your face behind a mask while bullying unarmed people.
But this response gives me life…
— Christopher Webb (@cwebbonline.com) June 13, 2025 at 1:09 AM
If you are not from appalachia or the south, you are probably unfamiliar with what you just witnessed, but you just got a glimpse of what we call papaw vibes (or depending on your region, “peepaw”). He done said his piece and he’s not gonna put up with your shit and you know it so best go get backup or go on about your business elsewhere otherwise shit is gonna escalate and make the gossip at bingo something.
I’m watching Solo right now, and I have no idea why Donald Glover is not like Denzel level famous. He’s just so good looking and charming and smooth. He just has that thing. Some of these people just have a sparkle in their eyes and just instant “rizz” as the kids say, or were a couple of years ago. Ryan Gosling has it. AOC has it. I can’t describe it other than as a spark and you guys know what I am talking about I just can’t explain it.
At any rate, behave. Maybe I will feel ornery and go tomorrow.
Baud
Reposted from below
WTFGhost
Having just finished all six seasons of Lost, I found this, and I think it’s a good link to share on a day like today:
https://natethesnake.com/
WTFGhost
@Baud: Well, that at least, is something I don’t expect the military to make mistakes with – I know they have protocols for trespass.
That said, I remember a legend of a cop, supported by military, who said “cover me,” as he prepared to approach the house, and they opened fire, since that’s what “cover me” means in a combat situation – “keep their heads down while I maneuver.”
I find it hard to believe they didn’t instead ruin the raid by screaming “WTF do you need covering fire for?” which is why I call this a legend. But I don’t think it’s impossible, especially if some moron thought “let’s include guys just back from combat!” for whom the mistake would be easier to make.
WTFGhost
It’s just a pre-paid phone, bought with cash, and a single activation/money card, also purchased with cash. Ideally, from a location that you never shop at, and have no reason to be near.
Then sign up with a brand new e-mail address. You can manually enter contacts, and such, and install apps, etc., so your use of the phone is all but untraceable.
This allows you to record a police encounter, for example, and if the cop seizes your phone, it’s just your burner – no evidence worth collecting.
JoyceH
@WTFGhost: reminds me of an old military joke about the difficulty of communicating between services.
Tell the Army “secure the building”, they’ll surround it with razor wire and post a guard. Tell the Marines “secure the building”, they’ll charge in guns blazing and shoot everything that moves. Tell the Navy “secure the building “, they’ll turn out the lights and lock the door. Tell the Air Force “secure the building”, they’ll take out a lease with option to buy.
Scout211
Here’s a good article on burner phones from C-Net:
Lots of good information and instructions.
UncleEbeneezer
I will not be attending any protests tomorrow because I’ll be showing my family around Taos and playing two gigs (four sets) of music.
JoyceH
Btw, My Fitness Journey – yesterday I was at the Y fitness center, just stepping up onto the treadmill, fell off the back of it and sprained my right ankle and left wrist.
Cheryl from Maryland
I understand re the crowds and the rain and the rest. As I tell my friends who want to support the movement but can’t go, many of the No Kings Protests can be supported by funds – mine at No Kings on the Pike in Rockville, MD, is using such funds to supply all of us with USA flags to wave. Do what one can. We love you.
broken/braininjured
You won’t stand in the rain, yeah.
Like my “nym” says, I’ve been broken up a bit and I have a brain injury. I have some issues with balance and walking, I lean on a cane, and things are always a bit off in my head BUT I’M FUCKING GOING TO THE PROTEST BECAUSE I’M TOUGH AND THIS IS FUCKING SERIOUS (and yeah they’re calling for rain here… ooh “water”).
I’ve begun reading regularly and I’ll give money because other writers make the site worth it, but you, John Cole, now we find that when the shit is most serious, you seem to be mostly a not particularly interesting mouth.
Percysowner
I’m going to do my best to make it to the local protest tomorrow. A massive migraine yesterday led to a big migraine hangover today, so I didn’t get any supplies for the protest. I may try to get to a store to make a sign, but I will just leave my phone at home if I go. Someone else at the march can take pictures. The big march in downtown Columbus happened today, because there was a scheduled Pride Parade for the 14th. My understanding is the march was well attended. I’ll see how this one, in Clintonville, goes.
MagdaInBlack
@WTFGhost: Booooooo-hiss ;-) I read the whole damn thing…
brendancalling
@WTFGhost: oh boy. That’s a great one.
MobiusKlein
My suggestion for folks not wanting to go to a Big Protest (TM)
Put out a chair in your front porch/sidewalk/whatever, bring out your signs, and be visible to your neighbors. We often get the most engagement while walking to Bart for the protest, chatting with the folks on the street who are not part of the Choir.
And you don’t need to ruin your knees – have yourself a one block rally, it still counts.
eclare
After my dad left the army, he said he was never hiking again.
bbleh
@Baud: ok fine, but is this not a “police” action? Not a military reservation. “Taped off” so presumably forbidden by some law or ordinance, but isn’t that a police duty?
eclare
@JoyceH:
Oh no! Why is the treadmill throwing you off?
Geminid
@UncleEbeneezer: I hope those gigs go well, and your family has a good visit to Taos.
Soapdish
I will never not be angry at how that show ended. Never.
Annie
I will be attending the march and protest in San Francisco. Big crowds scare me but I think we’re past the point where my feelings about crowds matter.
eclare
@Cheryl from Maryland:
I bought cookies today to take to the protest tomorrow. I’m just not in the right state, mentally or physically, to stand for hours, so I’ll drop them off and go.
Baud
@bbleh:
They shouldn’t be there, no question. But being there, they’re going to handle their own security. it doesn’t sound like they are taking on general law enforcement duties.
bbleh
@Annie: marshaling in Philly, have attended many. In my experience, it’s totally mellow, heavily skewed to older folks, plenty of room on the margins to hang out without heavy crowds. Go and be counted! It matters!
Scamp Dog
@broken/braininjured: John gives us a place where we can connect, discuss and plan. I think he’s doing his part.
bbleh
@Baud: concur but I’m worried about nibbling at the legal edges. And the MAGAts are absolutely itching to use armed force domestically, very much including uniformed forces, not least because of the cachet.
They shouldn’t be there AT ALL. Nor doing ANYTHJNG.
Leto
John if you like Donald Glover you should check out his show Atlanta. It’s on Hulu and it was very very good.
HinTN
Reminder: WaterGirl posts a daily picture. Today’s Northern Lights is really wonderful. TY, WG.
columbusqueen
And I’m down with food poisoning tonight. So much for tomorrow. Damn!
Suzanne
I am planning on attending with Mr. Suzanne. SuzMom desperately wanted to attend, but concluded that her mobility limitations make that unwise. I may take Spawn the Younger. Not taking Youngest. I used to take her elder siblings to protests when they were that age, but I think violence is too likely. It is also likely to rain and schlepping kids in the rain is terrible.
Suzanne
@columbusqueen: Oh man! Take care of yourself! We got it.
John Cole
@broken/braininjured: Lighten up, Francis
Annie
@bbleh:
oh, I’m going. I don’t want to look back 5 years from now and realize I didn’t do enough.
And the San Francisco protests have been calm — I went to a lot of them during Trump’s first term, and several already this year. I did not see any violence and the cops, though present, stood on the sidelines. Especially around the Civic Center, protests are routine, so the cops are usually mellow. And as you mention, an awful lot of the people are older (like me). I figure, the more normies show up, the less chance of any incidents.
Suzanne
@JoyceH: There’s a reason we call them “dreadmill” or “the Devil’s sidewalk”. Hope you’re not in too much pain!
BarcaChicago
I’m volunteering with the Chicago indivisible chapter to be a large sign holder at the protest tomorrow. Going with a friend who’s also a therapist like myself. Don’t piss off the social workers…
comrade scotts agenda of rage
Main question tomorrow in downtown Denver will be if the crowd size exceeds that of the AOC/Sanders rally earlier in the year, 35K.
Should be fun and very safe based on the crowd demographic and behavior of all the previous rallies this year.
bbleh
@Annie: yay, good on ya! Very important to show up and be SEEN by the cameras. The difference between the 8-block tank parade and hundreds of marches with literally MILLIONS of just-regular-folks will be inescapable.
Gloria DryGarden
@broken/braininjured: as a camping and backpacking type of person, I own waterproof gear, that makes rain a pretty tolerable experience. I don’t have bad memories of being in rain. Mostly not.
but some people do.
For all who do end up in rain tomorrow, you can be gleeful knowing that man and his parade are in the rain, too.
I’m thinking some nice gusts of wind might blow away any umbrellas they try to protect him with. And that some one near him in the stands is carrying contagious viral things, and coughs near him. Pls forgive my fantasy life.
If I felt safe, I’d like a sign in my front yard to say Make América Sane Again. MASA. Safe as well. Apologies to people from other countries in the americas. It’s our shorthand; we know better.
Gloria DryGarden
@comrade scotts agenda of rage: I hope we come close.
schrodingers_cat
If you don’t like the rain, don’t ever go to India during the monsoon.
Interesting Name Goes Here
@broken/braininjured: …I don’t know when it became a leftist tactic to try and shame other people into actions for reasons of proving toughness/manhood/street cred/wish fulfillment…
…but Jesus H. Christ does it need to stop.
Gloria DryGarden
@HinTN: it’s a wonderful photo of the northern lights. Where was it taken from?
John Cole
@schrodingers_cat: I don’t mind the rain if I am not in it.
eclare
@HinTN:
Oh wow! Thanks for the heads up! And thank you WaterGirl.
Cheryl from Maryland
@eclare: so right! A community does what one can!
BethanyAnne
oh, man. The Onion doesn’t miss: https://theonion.com/democrats-back-resolution-thanking-federal-agents-for-handcuffing-alex-padilla/
Jay
Ohio Mom
Ohio Dad and I will be going tomorrow but I am not expecting a big crowd because there are a number of other protests nearby — one in Northetn Kentucky (across the river from downtown Cincinnati), one was in a far east suburb today, a few little cities nearby are also having matches tomorrow.
I get the idea of making locations convenient to get more participants but I think one big crowd is more inspiring. Makes for better price too.
Still, I am expecting the total numbers from across the country (is anyone going to count?) will easily top whatever meager crowds come out for Trump’s parade.
zhena gogolia
@Scamp Dog: Right.
zhena gogolia
@BethanyAnne: Not going to click on anything criticizing Democrats at this moment in history.
Matt McIrvin
@Interesting Name Goes Here: sometime around 1789, I think.
Gloria DryGarden
@Scamp Dog: He’s doing a huge amount. Way more than his part. It’s great.
Jackie
@HinTN:
Stunningly beautiful and surreal.
Dan B
@Jackie: I believe Matthews lives in Iceland.
zhena gogolia
@Matt McIrvin: I was going to say 1917, but you’re probably right.
dnfree
@BarcaChicago:
Being married to one, I can confirm that social workers are pissed off. So much of this stuff is exactly in their wheelhouse.
Steve LaBonne
The bag of fucks guy is my new hero.
Steve LaBonne
@Ohio Mom: We have gone to several protests in our reddish-purple town of 26,000 and will go to more in the future. I think it’s important for there to be visible protests everywhere including a bit off the beaten track.
LeftCoastYankee
@John Cole:
“I can’t stand in the rain for an hour with the other old whites in West Virginia to protest the police state, because I don’t have burner phone… “
Yeah, ok.
There’s nothing I want to do less than mill about in a crowd in the rain tomorrow. It is a lesser discomfort than fascism.
Suzanne
I made my sign. I am debating attaching it to a pool noodle or just holding it.
Jay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_r2goS4070
CBC, The Nature of Things, Nature is Queer as F**k.
Full episode.
John Cole
@LeftCoastYankee: I know pretty weak excuses. I will probably end up going.
Professor Bigfoot
@JoyceH: I was trying to remember this one earlier, thank you!
I only remembered the Marines and the Air Force parts, but the whole thing is delicious.
“WE DON’T SPEAK THE SAME DAMN LANGUAGE!”
NaijaGal
Detained man is a veteran who was heading to a VA appointment. Held for two hours, likely missed the appointment. Has no hard feelings.
Gretchen
The « everyone else is doing it wrong folks are out tonight ». Fighting among ourselves isn’t a particularly winning tactic.
kindness
I’ve thought about getting a burner phone. I will before the next time I go through US Customs. I usually take a laptop when I travel. Burner laptops is a much more pricey thing.
Aziz, light!
@broken/braininjured: And such small servings.
Sally
@NaijaGal: Thank goodness it wasn’t police or ice(cream). He’d be injured or dead, as a black guy complying.
Soprano2
@Soapdish: I can’t believe WTF Ghost watched them like that. I could only watch 2 or 3 episodes in a row because they were so intense. I wasn’t happy with the ending, either. I doubt many people were. I read an article about what the creators were trying to do, and I still don’t understand it. What were those damn numbers about?!!!
Akita
“I can’t describe it other than as a spark and you guys know what I am talking about I just can’t explain it.”
“Let me see if I can help you, John. It’s kind of like pornography, you know it when you see it!”
Jackie
Click the link above for more.
Let’s see what FFOTUS says tomorrow – once Miller catches his ear.
Darkrose
I’m not going to the protest tomorrow. Black Graduation is in the evening and I already had that scheduled. If I had spoons for more than one thing it would be our Sac Pride mini-set, but I’ll be skipping that as well.
And FWIW Cole, you don’t owe anyone an explanation for why you may not go to a rally tomorrow, but folks seen to be missing the first thing is this:
Not all of us can do crowds. I’ll be staffing the booth at Pride on Sunday and I’m frankly a little nervous. It’s Sacramento so it should be pretty chill, but the last time I tried to go to a city Pride was Boston in 2003. I say “tried” because when I saw how many people were there I had a panic attack. Once I could breathe I turned around and went home. People do what they can; don’t judge them for it.
EireIAm
@Ohio Mom: more locations make it harder for the authorities to manage. Quote I heard is “we can handle one 10,000 person protest. We can’t handle 10 1,000 person protests.” More locations better as the cops won’t be able to incite violence as effectively.
lowtechcyclist
@BethanyAnne:
Maybe the piece itself is funny, but usually all the humor of an Onion piece is right there in the headline. So I’m guessing not. And not bothering clicking through to find out.