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GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND!👋

First and foremost, happy Juneteenth! It's a perfect day to revisit (or read for the first time) "BlackOut: A Five-Year Retrospective on Portland’s Racial Justice Movement"—the co-production of the Mercury and Donovan Scribes, which exclusively features the voices of Black Portlanders reflecting on what has changed, and how much further we have to go following the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police in 2020, and the 100+ days of Portland protests that followed. This issue contains jaw-dropping truths, and for my money is one of the most powerful and important historical documents of what actually happened during those traumatic, painful, and occasionally joyful days in 2020. Check it out, and check out today's NEWS.

IN LOCAL NEWS:

• And the wildly immoral kidnapping of immigrants in Portland by ICE continues: According to eyewitness video taken in downtown Portland, a Colombian immigrant—identified as E-A-T-B in court papers—had just left immigration court yesterday where they were seeking asylum in America to escape life-threatening danger, when they were pulled over and snatched by masked, plain-clothed ICE agents. According to their lawyer, the asylum seeker has not committed any crimes, and was simply trying to follow the law when ICE agents "put him in handcuffs, walked him away and put him in the car and drove off,” according to witnesses. It's unclear where the person was taken, and the feds have thus far refused comment on the incident. If it's not clear yet, this is what fascism looks like.

A Colombian immigrant who had just appeared in federal immigration court Wednesday was pulled over while driving on a downtown Portland street and arrested by masked federal agents dressed in plain clothes, his immigration attorney told The Oregonian.

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— The Oregonian (@oregonian.com) June 18, 2025 at 7:35 PM

• Last night marked what was probably the biggest nighttime turnout of ICE protesters at the South Portland facility yet, according to our Taylor Griggs, who was on the scene and estimated that roughly 250 people were at the building demanding a stop to the type of stories you just read. And according to Portland Police—who swear up and down they are not aiding and abetting ICE—their officers arrested two protesters outside the facility, one for being in closed off area next to the ICE facility, and the other who allegedly pointed a laser at federal officers. (Am I crazy, or does directly helping ICE agents qualify as directly helping ICE agents?)

• For all their big talk about ending homelessness, the Oregon legislature does not seem to be "walking the walk." Lawmakers are expected to pass a housing and homelessness budget that would cut eviction prevention funding by a whopping 74 percent. The cuts will affect a huge number of people (roughly 23,000) who currently depend on receiving emergency rent assistance, legal aid, and eviction prevention services, and will especially impact Black Oregonians who are evicted at twice the number of white people. Worse still, the Democrats who are pushing the change are thus far refusing to comment on their actions—just in time for Juneteenth.

The Oregon Ravens women's football team recently hosted the Western Conference playoffs, and in this photo essay @corbinsmith.bsky.social talked to the players and organizers who are doing their best to bring women's tackle football into the mainstream. 📸 🏈

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— Portland Mercury (@portlandmercury.com) June 18, 2025 at 11:17 AM

• The tenuous dream of a major league baseball stadium got one step closer to reality yesterday when Oregon legislators passed a $800 million bill that will help fund the ballpark at Portland's south waterfront. However, instead of these funds coming from the state budget, the money to pay off the bond is expected to come from income taxes on players and staff, leaving the as-of-yet non-existent team to pay the extra $2 billion needed to build the stadium. (In other words, this dream is still a looooooong way from reality—but baby steps.)

• If you're looking for some hot Spanish-language punk—and who isn't?—you may want to check out the latest EP from La Isla Electronica (L.I.E.), who according to Mercury reviewer Cameron Crowell, are making a "blend of danceable ’80s and ’90s lo-fi goth rock" that includes "moody and melodic Spanish vocals recorded with a slight reverb." Perfect summertime listening!

IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:

• Israel's leaders are continuing to issue threats against Iran, after the country seriously wounded at least 200 in a missile strike against one of Israel's most prominent hospitals. Israel's defense minister is laying blame for the strike at the feet of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, adding that "this man absolutely should not continue to exist.”

U.S. Vice President JD Vance decided to join Bluesky, only to be abruptly suspended, according to news reports.

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— Raw Story (@rawstory.com) June 19, 2025 at 5:21 AM

• And the colossal failures of Elon Musk just keep on coming: Musk's latest SpaceX rocket has joined its many predecessors in rocket heaven after blowing up on the launch pad yesterday. No one was reported injured by the accident—the third explosion in a series of tests for the program which promises to take humans to Mars. (Maybe actual experts—I don't know... like NASA? Might be better suited for this job.)

• The Supreme Court has sided with anti-LGBTQ lawmakers in Tennessee by upholding the state's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth. Legal director of the National Center for LGBTQ Rights Shannon Minter says, "the Court's ruling abandons transgender youth and their families to political attacks," and has "ignored clear discrimination and disregarded its own legal precedent by letting lawmakers target young people for being transgender."

• Today in "MEEE-OW!"

Tucker Carlson has accused Ted Cruz of being a “sleazy feline” for suggesting he was an anti-semite.

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— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast.bsky.social) June 18, 2025 at 12:37 PM

• Oooooooooh, Trump is MADZ today about a recent Fox News poll that showed a practically even split between Americans who do and do not approve of his wildly racist border policies—and he's taking his ire out on the right-wing network. The poll also showed that a majority of Americans disapprove of his handling of both the economy and inflation, causing King Fool to squeal about the network, “they are always wrong and negative.” SEE?!? Trump and I do agree on one thing!

• And finally... here's the energy we should be taking to ICE—every! goddamn! DAY!

@walnutcustoms This scene was so random 😂 🐀 🐀 🐀. #horrormovie #gnaw #foodofthegods #kidsswearing #swearingkids #funny #funnyhorror #horrortok #horror #wtfmoments #funnymoviescenes #movies ♬ original sound - Walnut Customs