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GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND!👋
If you've got shit to do outside, then the next three days are for you as dry, mild weather is going to be the forecast through Wednesday with highs in the low 60s. (Or you can shit inside, if you so choose. That decision is between you and your god.) And now... the NEWS.
IN LOCAL NEWS:
• For the second time this year, Portlanders turned out in the tens of thousands for the No Kings march which wound its way through the city's downtown corridor on Saturday. An estimated 40-50 thousand demonstrators (though its believed it could have been much more) waved signs and screamed their lungs out about Trump's continuing efforts to turn America into an authoritarian state, and they were joined by at least 50 other protests in various cities and towns in Oregon. This is on top of the estimated four to eight MILLION demonstrators that marched nationwide, making it one of the largest (if not the largest) protest in American history. (The 79-year-old, mentally and physically unwell Trump responded with an AI video depicting his sad case of explosive diarrhea.) Our Taylor Griggs and photographer Corbin Smith were on hand in Portland, and filed this terrific photo essay of the awe-inspiring day!
The crowd at Portland’s No Kings protest may be the largest I’ve ever personally seen. The march is moving at a snail’s pace and it’s impossible to get a sense of the whole crowd from the ground. But I will say: the energy is high, there’s lots of music, and the blowup costume game is strong.
— Taylor Griggs (@taylorgriggs.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 1:34 PM
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• Later that same day at South Portland's ICE facility, as peaceful protesters from the march filed into the area, the onsite federal agents lost their got-damned minds (again) and unleashed what might have been the largest attack yet of gas and pepper balls on the crowd who were peacefully practicing their First Amendment rights. As the rain poured down, agents singled out and attacked members of the crowd, firing less-lethal rounds at the backs of retreating demonstrators. Our Courtney Vaughn, Suzette Smith, and Taylor Griggs were on the scene and filed this report.
At the South Portland ICE facility, after pushing back the crowd to let some vehicles leave, agents gassed the street for approximately 10 minutes solid. S Bancroft was opaque with gas; agents also threw flash grenades and shot pepper bullets.
— Suzette Smith (@suzettesmith.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 7:56 PM
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• Shooting peaceful protesters (including frogs, no less) in the back, like the cowards they are.
Just arrived on the scene at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in South Portland. Here less than 10 minutes when agents charged out of the facility and used a pale yellow gas that caused tears and coughing in crowd members. Also shot munitions at those retreating.
— Suzette Smith (@suzettesmith.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 4:46 PM
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• And if you need further proof of the peaceful and FUN nature of the ICE protests (as long as the violent feds aren't around), check out this vid of Friday night's Secret Roller Disco!
@secretrollerdisco Please enjoy this extremely chaotic collection of clips from tonight’s Secret Roller Disco/ Tabor Dance collaboration protest against ICE in Portland, Oregon.
♬ original sound - Secret Roller Disco
• Also, and:
Protesters at ICE pretty excited about the arrival of Mr. Peanut
— Suzette Smith (@suzettesmith.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 7:18 PM
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• In an opinion piece written for Newsweek and published this weekend, Mayor Keith Wilson warned Americans of the abysmal workplace conditions inside Portland's ICE facility, calling it "a mess of overflowing dumpsters, loose body armor and crowd control munitions and a broken HVAC air conditioning system that raised both temperatures and tempers in the aging building.” Wilson had gotten a first-hand look at the inside of the facility while meeting with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem during her recent visit to Portland, who he accuses of—to put it bluntly—doing a shit job of protecting federal workers and Americans. Calling the facility a deadly accident waiting to happen, he wrote "Secretary Noem’s visit was a blindly expensive, taxpayer-funded and ultimately unconvincing whistle-stop tour intended to prop up a ludicrous fable of domestic terrorism and conspiracy." (Hey federal agents! If you want to start a union, Portland has a lot of experience and advice in this particular area! 💅)
• In other "Portlanders standing up for Portland" news, our City Council is really stepping up to protect and defend immigrants and Portlanders who are being harassed, threatened, and in some cases, arrested and detained thanks to targeted policy attacks from the Trump administration. Two pieces of legislation were approved by Council this past Wednesday whose aim was to strengthen the city’s sanctuary status and use all available legal resources to resist deployment of any federal military presence. Our Courtney Vaughn documents what was accomplished and the next steps needed to push back against our authoritarian government.
Trivia lovers unite! It's time for another fun 'n' sassy POP QUIZ PDX. In this week's trivia quiz: naked bike rides, violent ICE dipshits, and protest frogs of the world? ASSEMBLE! (See how well YOU score!) 🤓
— Portland Mercury (@portlandmercury.com) October 16, 2025 at 9:59 AM
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IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS
• Surprise, surprise... the tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Hamas grew even more tenuous over the weekend after Israel launched airstrikes against the war-torn region after complaining that their enemies had attacked Israeli forces in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. While Israeli leaders say they have since re-committed to the ceasefire, it's only Monday, so we'll see what happens on Tuesday.
An artillery shell detonated prematurely during a U.S. Marine Corps ceremony in California over the weekend, sending shrapnel toward officers who were part of VP Vance’s protective detail for the live-fire exercise, the California Highway Patrol said.
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost.com) October 20, 2025 at 7:00 AM
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• The Supreme Court has agreed to issue a ruling on whether or not habitual pot smokers or cocaine users can own guns. In a weird turn of events, lawyers for the Trump administration are arguing in favor of this type of gun prohibition, after a lower court ruled that the law only bars people from owning guns is they are actively intoxicated or under the influence of drugs at the time of their arrest. But even if the Supremes rule in favor of the administration, it remains to be seen how gun sellers will know if a customer is a habitual drug user.
NEW with @ruthreader.bsky.social: Nearly as many migrants have died in custody so far this year than over the 4 yrs of the Biden admin. ICE is hiring dozens more medical workers, but former insiders are skeptical the deaths will stop w/o more fundamental reforms. www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
— Alice Miranda Ollstein (@alicemiranda.bsky.social) October 20, 2025 at 7:04 AM
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• Okay, fine, crime is wrong. That said, you have to admit that a gang of thieves pulled what could be the heist of the century when they stole the crown jewels from the Louvre in a brazen burglary that only took seven minutes—in broad daylight. The suspects apparently rode in a basket lift up the side of the building, jimmied a window, hopped inside, grabbed and then made off with the priceless Napoleonic jewels, one of which contained 1,300 diamonds. Museum staff are saying that they've long complained about the lack of security, as authorities are still looking for the thieves. (Ummm... has anyone checked to see if George Clooney has an alibi?)
• Thanks to the Republicans' government government shutdown, flights are being delayed across the country due to the current shortage of air traffic control and TSA officers. The employees, who are being forced to work without being paid during the shutdown, have reportedly been calling in sick so they can work elsewhere to support their families.
• And finally... wait. You don't have your Halloween costume yet?? Then you better get your ass down to "Susan's Halloween Hole"—and pronto!
@brandonrogers Shot at @Hollywood Toys & Costumes ♬ original sound - Brandon Rogers
