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Good morning, Portland! January is almost over, it’s going to be another cold, sunny day without rain, and all butts are gay now.
Now that we’re all on the same page, here are the headlines!
In a State of… Something: Trump’s State of the Union has been rescheduled for Feb 5, now that the shutdown is over, at least temporarily. So, go ahead, schedule that root canal for Feb 5!
Yikes: There have apparently been five mass shootings in America in the last five days. Did anyone notice?
It’s Not There: Here’s another awful side affect of the government shutdown: the National Transportation Safety Board doesn’t have evidence to investigate plane, boat, and motor vehicle accidents that left several dozen people dead.
Lawless: By now, you’ve probably seen the viral tweet thread from Portland comic Mohanad Elshieky about his experience being harassed by Border Patrol agents at a Spokane Greyhound station. According to the Inlander, the Border Patrol’s actions go directly against a law passed by the Spokane City Council. But the mayor won’t enforce it.
Car Culture: There’s strong regional support for a Metro transportation measure on the 2020 ballot. But polling shows that voters might prioritize projects that would benefit drivers, rather than those who are reliant on public transit.
In CAHOOTS: Mayor Ted Wheeler recently traveled to Eugene to get ideas for how the city can better handle mental health crises.
Going Viral: The current measles outbreak that started in Washington and spread to Oregon has now also found its way to Hawaii.
Dismissed: A Multnomah County circuit judge dismissed a lawsuit from Don’t Shoot PDX organizer Teressa Raiford yesterday. Raiford was suing because she believed she was wrongly arrested at a 2015 protest.
No Walk in the Park: Portland Parks and Recreation has a $7 million budget deficit—so what will be cut?
Have you heckled a billionaire yet today? Starbucks CEO and new independent presidential candidate Howard Schultz was heckled last last night at an event for his book. “Don’t help elect Trump, you egotistical billionaire asshole!” the heckler screamed. Heckler 2020.
This country doesn’t give a shit about mass shootings or shootings of any kind. Murder weapon and violence obsessed insanity means daily carnage. And the country, literally, DOES NOTHING. Thoughts and prayers!
As for Trump, why is he being offered the opportunity to arble garble lies and bullshit on 2/5 when the government is not fully funded, open, and running? If he and the GOP shut this shit down again on 2/16, the Democrats are going to be responsible as well. Congress needs to do its motherfucking job and keep the government funded, open, and running. They need to keep the president in check (as his dumb ass is not the branch of government that funds the government and therefore he doesn’t get to hold the country hostage and use hundreds of thousands of working people as pawns). And since now it’s come to light, what we have suspected all along, that Mitch McConnell and other GOP are compromised by Russia just like traitor Individual 1, it’s time to engage in some serious business (such as burning D.C. to the ground and starting over. Trump and his entire administration need to go to prison and everyone in congress who has not been newly elected in the last round has got to fucking GO. Enough bullshit.