What’s happening today in Trump world is noteworthy because it’s the perfect encapsulation of how the Trump administration *works.* As you are wearily aware, Trump and his minions are insisting that it’s necessary to send the National Guard to Portland, even though there is only one protest on one block of the city and nothing is “burning to the ground.” Maybe a cigarette but that’s about it. But Trump just finished playing golf yesterday and he needs to show up in Norfolk, Virginia. So he pushed his fantasy vision of what’s happening in Portland. The committment to total lies and unreality is complete. This is what to expect between now and 2028, the model is carved in stone.
The protests are on one block. Nothing is burning down. His justification for sending in troops is all based on lies. https://t.co/JaBCBnQvlN
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) October 5, 2025
Now here’s where it gets funny. The judge who ruled that the National Guard could not be called out is a Trump appointee. And he doesn’t even know the judge’s name. Or gender. Trump is utterly clueless. Not that this is news, but at least efforts used to be made to brief him on basics (and perhaps those efforts are still being made) but it’s not doing any good and sinking in.
Trump on Portland ruling: I wasn’t served well by the people who pick judges. I appointed the judge and it goes like that. If he made that decision—Portland is burning to the ground… all you have to do is look at the TV and read your newspapers.
That judge ought to be ashamed… pic.twitter.com/WkyPSKPfjB
— Acyn (@Acyn) October 5, 2025
If you look at the TV and read the newspapers you know that the “rioting” or warzone is a peaceful, carnival like protest situated on one block. But that’s not high drama enough and doesn’t warrant escalating to martial law.
Meanwhile, Mike Johnson tries to put a bandaid on Trump’s excesses and says that Trump “trolls” the Democrats and “many people find that entertaining.” And many people find it evidence of the fact that Trump is mentally gone and should be removed from office via the 25th Amendment.
For the moment, all is well, amazingly. J.B. Pritzker has no intention of calling up National Guard troops in Chicago and playing into Trump’s fantasy world and for the moment Oregon isn’t going to do that either.
Stephen Miller’s having a lousy weekend. This has totally ruined his day. He was so hoping for a National Guard presence in at least two American cities in order to acclimate everybody to troops in the street and prepare people for martial law. That’s the end game for all this overreaction.
I like the naked bicycle riders protesting. Chicago take heed before the freeze cometh!