How to Protest Safely in the Age of Surveillance: Law enforcement has more tools than ever to track your movements and access your communications. Here’s how to protect your privacy if you plan to protest.
Sadly, I always wanted to believe that Merrick Garland was quietly working behind the scenes to bring Trump et. al. to justice, but that faith was naive. The only hope now is that Trump's candle is burning way too hot, way too quickly, and it'll proverbially burn itself out or, better yet, explode. If we get a next time, President ??? can't be timid. Look to 1307 and burn it all down.
Don't I remember that! I defended Garland for MONTHS in various comment columns -- "You're just being too impatient. Garland has to make sure that ALL of his ducks are in a row because Trump is known for getting out of everything brought against him. I'm sure that's what he's doing -- making sure he has an airtight case."
That's back when I still believed that Trump was an anomaly, and the US still followed the norms. Naive, at best!
I remember I had Glenn K on the podcast and asked how much time to give MG, and he said if stuff doesn't start happening by Thanksgiving, it was time to worry. He meant Thanksgiving 2021. Sigh.
In early 2017, when I started doing all of this, I truly believed that if the GOP found out what Trump was really up to with the Russians, they'd be appalled and dump him. Talk about naive!
I’m afraid the machinery to keep the autocracy going is in place: Federalist Society and Project 2025 are in action and the repugs are carrying out the plan with Trump or without him. If there is a time to burn it down it’s now and I for one am too afraid!
Me too, but I knew after a few months that it was hopeless. The sidelining of Mueller really dispelled my faith that old white guys with GOP voting records would save us.
Everyone stay safe. Thank you Greg for your tips eyeglasses and orange cones. Kettling is a term I did not know but will keep very much in mind. I am going to my usual local rally in CT. We've had nut jobs like the guy who spun his tires a few weeks ago and produced a massive dirt fog. Our organizer sent out an email this morning with about ten points of guidance including do not respond to agitators by giving them any fuel to film something other than PEACEFUL PROTEST.
I trust we will return here on Sunday to share our thoughts. Excellent article Greg. Best regards
He had one job and he blew it. I lost count of the times he looked like he would start crying on tv. I guess we could say good riddance to another hollow hope, but when you start adding up one disappointment after the next, people get way pissed. We’re there. But… we protest on Sat and we rock the Rock Against Tyranny (RAT) show on Sunday with a ton of protest songs. We made a hymnal to give out…😅
What’s so cool about the songs is that everyone has such a different response to the lunacy. Would be fantastic if other bands organized RAT shows with original rock songs. I have a sense that all of us in this country are going to feel much more empowered after this weekend.
And heck when you can be at Sunday Church (the club calls Sunday gigs Church), open your hymnal and sing, “Crypto/CrypDick/Smoke and Mirrors / Dipshit” that’s some good news. I can’t wait to say turn to page six. Rock❗️
The Merrick stall has cost us dearly. Great reminder and thanks again. This collective coma has been some time in coming and is still fueled by the GOP and slack or perverse media coverage. As I am thankful for this substack venue I also see a new surge in AI video content which will flood the zone and keep a third of us mesmerized while misinformed. Keep up the good work.
Thanks, Randall. The AI stuff is awful. The "Mountainhead" movie is sort of about that...the AI gets so good that anyone can make incredible deep-fakes, and the world starts burning basically, while these rich fuckers are insulated from it all.
Yeah, fuck Merrick Garland, and I for one, am glad we haven't heard from him since he slunk off the stage. My only reaction to anything he might have to say would be, "where the FUCK were you when you had the power to actually DO something?" Norms. Norms went out the window the first time Trump said anything in public and got away with it -- "...they're sending rapists and drugs..." comes to mind.
I am finding it increasingly difficult to engage with anything political. In some cases, like the link to "The Fucking News" Substack, the story, although well-written and even funny in spots, makes me feel physically ill, in addition to emotionally. Is this PTSD? I don't know, but I DO know that the less I engage with the political theater of our times, the better I feel. Very weird situation to be in for a political junkie.
I can understand that. I like TFN because it cuts through the bullshit and dispenses with all the faux-objective language, so I don't have to parse the words. And it's also pretty funny, even when it's not. Even so, it's a news site, and in that sense it's not unlike any other news site...sometimes best to avoid too much exposure.
Your column aligns with something I've been thinking about for a while now which is what I want from the democratic nominee in 2028. I want someone who will bring cleansing fire - someone who will bring every last criminal to justice with regard only for who broke the law and not whether it's decorous or upholds norms or whatever other nonsense has held back accountability. I'm so angry about the cruelty and damage being done - my vote for nominee will be the person who acknowledges that and who vows to punish it all to the full extent of the law. So yeah, fuck Merrick Garland who lost sight of justice in his quest to follow the law. We need to demand better
Thanks, Janine. I quite agree. I wonder if we'll see that. There is the pervasive fear with these people about the optics of comig in seeking revenge, but this isn't revenge, it's correction. It's what's needed.
I hadn’t really thought about the revenge angle, but for myself after whatever four years of this shit does to us, I’ll be okay with revenge. That said, I would think a skillful politician could frame the act of bringing criminals to justice properly. Which points to the need for democrats to up their communication game too before 2028
Garland wasn’t the only failure – Biden failed to stop Trump after the insurrection on Jan6. The Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Trump was an insurrectionist. But the US Supreme Court violated federal law (18 U.S. Code § 2383) by illegally deciding that states cannot enforce Section 3 of the 14th Amendment which banned Trump from holding office. The SCOTUS decision incorrectly said that a law from Congress was needed (and didn’t exist) to define the criteria for enforcing the law against an insurrectionist when a law did exist (18 U.S. Code § 2383) which was passed by Congress. The SCOTUS decision was an act by criminal felons (the 6 justices on SCOTUS appointed by Republican presidents) which supported Trump’s insurrection. The insurrection continued during the 2024 election and Biden failed to invoke the Insurrection Act and reject all votes for Trump which were illegal.
Thanks, William, for subscribing and sharing your thoughts here. I love the creative thinking! This is exactly what the Dems need to do! The 14th makes damned clear that his election is illegal and he's not allowed to hold office. The Dems should have been pushing that narrative throughout the campaign, and also refused to engage with him at debates and etc. If ALL of them had done that, the press would have had to ask about it, and keep asking about it, and what would Trump even say? But no, the same stale, loser ideas were followed. It's infuriating!
Thank you. There is so much happening on so many fronts that I cannot fathom how to cope. On top of everything here I believe Isreal is giving cover for this weekend's events, the press has to focus on this. Isreal says it was a preemptive strike on Iran's nuclear program, this is cover for their assassination of the head of the Revolutionary Guard and Bibi's ultimate goal, eradication of Iran, making it the next Gaza.
I think but do not know the head of the Guard was a bad guy. Just like, according to a reply from my Senator Thom Tillis to whom I wrote about LA, the aim is to get the bad guys. The nice guys are National Guardsmen and 700 Marines who are there to protect us. Tillis never supports or disavows the use of the military, only talks about getting the bad guys.
What is happening in the Middle East and here is the best example of totalitarianism. We are not headed for that ideology, we are already living under it.
BTW, is criticizing the Israeli government and its actions anti semetic? Is calling out 4547's administration unpatriotic?
Happy Father's Day to all, assuming anyone can find peace of mind.
Thanks, Old Man. Bibi in particular has been warning about Iran's nuclear capability almost since 1979. Like with Trump, it's always in some imminent future. I'm not sure it's a terrible thing to take out their nuclear capability and their military leadership -- especially if that leads to a revolution in Tehran. But at this point, we can't trust a single thing this government says or does. You lose the privilege of benefit of the doubt after genocide.
Gideon Rachman in yesterday's FT wrote about the 5 reasons Isreal attacked. Yes fear of nuke capability was listed, as you say this is rationale. However lack of trust of the US, especially 4547 and his negotiations with Iran. Bibi figures TACO will allow them to complete development in exchange for nothing, like his trade deals, you win we lose..
I agree wholeheartedly. The Biden administration had a perfect chance to prevent this, and I agree that Garland’s overactive propensity to be cautious and not break norms is virtually unforgivable. I suppose TicketMaster might not agree.
Thanks for this accounting of Merrick Garland. We needed to hear this. Yes, we are in this spot because a couple people were afraid to declare that things can’t continue as they are and go outside the “norms” and follow the law! That may turn out to be the straw
TGIF🎉🎉🎉Have a joyful No Kings protest tomorrow, everyone!
No kings no tsars no ayatollahs!!!
AMEN!
Be safe out there ✌🏼
How to Protest Safely in the Age of Surveillance: Law enforcement has more tools than ever to track your movements and access your communications. Here’s how to protect your privacy if you plan to protest.
https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-protest-safely-surveillance-digital-privacy/
And maybe if we all do a little rain dance tomorrow morning while thinking of Washington…we can get the 90% chance of rain there to 100% 🤞🏼
Thank you
reading my mind. I have my umbrella ready for my rally hope the rain doesn't clear until Sunday! for Father's Day!
Upon us all a little rain must fall!
Flash flood warning for DC today lol.
100% Greg!
Thanks, John!
Sadly, I always wanted to believe that Merrick Garland was quietly working behind the scenes to bring Trump et. al. to justice, but that faith was naive. The only hope now is that Trump's candle is burning way too hot, way too quickly, and it'll proverbially burn itself out or, better yet, explode. If we get a next time, President ??? can't be timid. Look to 1307 and burn it all down.
Remember the slogan “Never trust anyone over thirty”?
I’ve made “never trust a registered republican “ my motto. The best you will get from them is diddly squat.
Good to know you don't trust me.
Cal at 84
You're not in office. Unfortunately!
Don't I remember that! I defended Garland for MONTHS in various comment columns -- "You're just being too impatient. Garland has to make sure that ALL of his ducks are in a row because Trump is known for getting out of everything brought against him. I'm sure that's what he's doing -- making sure he has an airtight case."
That's back when I still believed that Trump was an anomaly, and the US still followed the norms. Naive, at best!
Ditto for me, now I feel so foolish
We were all hopeful and had reason to be. The guy just fucked us.
I remember I had Glenn K on the podcast and asked how much time to give MG, and he said if stuff doesn't start happening by Thanksgiving, it was time to worry. He meant Thanksgiving 2021. Sigh.
In early 2017, when I started doing all of this, I truly believed that if the GOP found out what Trump was really up to with the Russians, they'd be appalled and dump him. Talk about naive!
I’m afraid the machinery to keep the autocracy going is in place: Federalist Society and Project 2025 are in action and the repugs are carrying out the plan with Trump or without him. If there is a time to burn it down it’s now and I for one am too afraid!
It's a scary time. They are detaining senators and indicting members of the House and arresting journalists, and we're not even five full months in.
Me too, but I knew after a few months that it was hopeless. The sidelining of Mueller really dispelled my faith that old white guys with GOP voting records would save us.
1307 yes yes!
Everyone stay safe. Thank you Greg for your tips eyeglasses and orange cones. Kettling is a term I did not know but will keep very much in mind. I am going to my usual local rally in CT. We've had nut jobs like the guy who spun his tires a few weeks ago and produced a massive dirt fog. Our organizer sent out an email this morning with about ten points of guidance including do not respond to agitators by giving them any fuel to film something other than PEACEFUL PROTEST.
I trust we will return here on Sunday to share our thoughts. Excellent article Greg. Best regards
Thanks, Sara. Stay safe out there!
He had one job and he blew it. I lost count of the times he looked like he would start crying on tv. I guess we could say good riddance to another hollow hope, but when you start adding up one disappointment after the next, people get way pissed. We’re there. But… we protest on Sat and we rock the Rock Against Tyranny (RAT) show on Sunday with a ton of protest songs. We made a hymnal to give out…😅
What’s so cool about the songs is that everyone has such a different response to the lunacy. Would be fantastic if other bands organized RAT shows with original rock songs. I have a sense that all of us in this country are going to feel much more empowered after this weekend.
And heck when you can be at Sunday Church (the club calls Sunday gigs Church), open your hymnal and sing, “Crypto/CrypDick/Smoke and Mirrors / Dipshit” that’s some good news. I can’t wait to say turn to page six. Rock❗️
Oh, he was a cryer, that one. I cry too but I'm not trying to put the bad guys away.
Love the RAT shows! Please feel free to post links to the hymnal and etc if you like.
Thanks! We will. We’re super psyched 🎸
The Merrick stall has cost us dearly. Great reminder and thanks again. This collective coma has been some time in coming and is still fueled by the GOP and slack or perverse media coverage. As I am thankful for this substack venue I also see a new surge in AI video content which will flood the zone and keep a third of us mesmerized while misinformed. Keep up the good work.
Thanks, Randall. The AI stuff is awful. The "Mountainhead" movie is sort of about that...the AI gets so good that anyone can make incredible deep-fakes, and the world starts burning basically, while these rich fuckers are insulated from it all.
Well, I'm sick and tired of the Neidermeiers of this world.
Time to go Belushi on the whole damn bunch.
-Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Well, it ain't over now!
-Germans?
-Don't stop him, he's rolling.
Yeah, fuck Merrick Garland, and I for one, am glad we haven't heard from him since he slunk off the stage. My only reaction to anything he might have to say would be, "where the FUCK were you when you had the power to actually DO something?" Norms. Norms went out the window the first time Trump said anything in public and got away with it -- "...they're sending rapists and drugs..." comes to mind.
I am finding it increasingly difficult to engage with anything political. In some cases, like the link to "The Fucking News" Substack, the story, although well-written and even funny in spots, makes me feel physically ill, in addition to emotionally. Is this PTSD? I don't know, but I DO know that the less I engage with the political theater of our times, the better I feel. Very weird situation to be in for a political junkie.
I can understand that. I like TFN because it cuts through the bullshit and dispenses with all the faux-objective language, so I don't have to parse the words. And it's also pretty funny, even when it's not. Even so, it's a news site, and in that sense it's not unlike any other news site...sometimes best to avoid too much exposure.
Your column aligns with something I've been thinking about for a while now which is what I want from the democratic nominee in 2028. I want someone who will bring cleansing fire - someone who will bring every last criminal to justice with regard only for who broke the law and not whether it's decorous or upholds norms or whatever other nonsense has held back accountability. I'm so angry about the cruelty and damage being done - my vote for nominee will be the person who acknowledges that and who vows to punish it all to the full extent of the law. So yeah, fuck Merrick Garland who lost sight of justice in his quest to follow the law. We need to demand better
Thanks, Janine. I quite agree. I wonder if we'll see that. There is the pervasive fear with these people about the optics of comig in seeking revenge, but this isn't revenge, it's correction. It's what's needed.
I hadn’t really thought about the revenge angle, but for myself after whatever four years of this shit does to us, I’ll be okay with revenge. That said, I would think a skillful politician could frame the act of bringing criminals to justice properly. Which points to the need for democrats to up their communication game too before 2028
Garland wasn’t the only failure – Biden failed to stop Trump after the insurrection on Jan6. The Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Trump was an insurrectionist. But the US Supreme Court violated federal law (18 U.S. Code § 2383) by illegally deciding that states cannot enforce Section 3 of the 14th Amendment which banned Trump from holding office. The SCOTUS decision incorrectly said that a law from Congress was needed (and didn’t exist) to define the criteria for enforcing the law against an insurrectionist when a law did exist (18 U.S. Code § 2383) which was passed by Congress. The SCOTUS decision was an act by criminal felons (the 6 justices on SCOTUS appointed by Republican presidents) which supported Trump’s insurrection. The insurrection continued during the 2024 election and Biden failed to invoke the Insurrection Act and reject all votes for Trump which were illegal.
Read my post.
https://williamlmiller.substack.com/p/the-election-of-trump-was-illegal
Now that Trump is in office and the insurrection has continued, Democrats can begin to stop the insurrection.
Read my other post.
https://williamlmiller.substack.com/p/how-to-stop-trump-republicans-and
Thanks, William, for subscribing and sharing your thoughts here. I love the creative thinking! This is exactly what the Dems need to do! The 14th makes damned clear that his election is illegal and he's not allowed to hold office. The Dems should have been pushing that narrative throughout the campaign, and also refused to engage with him at debates and etc. If ALL of them had done that, the press would have had to ask about it, and keep asking about it, and what would Trump even say? But no, the same stale, loser ideas were followed. It's infuriating!
Thank you. There is so much happening on so many fronts that I cannot fathom how to cope. On top of everything here I believe Isreal is giving cover for this weekend's events, the press has to focus on this. Isreal says it was a preemptive strike on Iran's nuclear program, this is cover for their assassination of the head of the Revolutionary Guard and Bibi's ultimate goal, eradication of Iran, making it the next Gaza.
I think but do not know the head of the Guard was a bad guy. Just like, according to a reply from my Senator Thom Tillis to whom I wrote about LA, the aim is to get the bad guys. The nice guys are National Guardsmen and 700 Marines who are there to protect us. Tillis never supports or disavows the use of the military, only talks about getting the bad guys.
What is happening in the Middle East and here is the best example of totalitarianism. We are not headed for that ideology, we are already living under it.
BTW, is criticizing the Israeli government and its actions anti semetic? Is calling out 4547's administration unpatriotic?
Happy Father's Day to all, assuming anyone can find peace of mind.
Thanks, Old Man. Bibi in particular has been warning about Iran's nuclear capability almost since 1979. Like with Trump, it's always in some imminent future. I'm not sure it's a terrible thing to take out their nuclear capability and their military leadership -- especially if that leads to a revolution in Tehran. But at this point, we can't trust a single thing this government says or does. You lose the privilege of benefit of the doubt after genocide.
Gideon Rachman in yesterday's FT wrote about the 5 reasons Isreal attacked. Yes fear of nuke capability was listed, as you say this is rationale. However lack of trust of the US, especially 4547 and his negotiations with Iran. Bibi figures TACO will allow them to complete development in exchange for nothing, like his trade deals, you win we lose..
Comment two, the new Axis of Evil, orange imbecile, Vlad the Impaler and Bibi Netansonuts.
The thing is, Russia and Israel don't like Trump either...
I agree wholeheartedly. The Biden administration had a perfect chance to prevent this, and I agree that Garland’s overactive propensity to be cautious and not break norms is virtually unforgivable. I suppose TicketMaster might not agree.
Biden and Garland were not capable of understanding Monsters.
Should have hired
Abraham Van Helsing.
Stake the heart.
New Dracula movie incoming, BTW. Looks awesome.
He DID nail the Ticketmaster people, it's great we won't get gauged on ticket prices when we are attending mandatory Kid Rock concerts in 2027.
Thanks for this accounting of Merrick Garland. We needed to hear this. Yes, we are in this spot because a couple people were afraid to declare that things can’t continue as they are and go outside the “norms” and follow the law! That may turn out to be the straw
that broke the back of our democracy!!
Thanks, Patricia. It's so infuriating.
Amen Greg. Yes Garland failed to put away this traitor and here we are.
Here we are.