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Good morning, Portland! It’s probably safe to break out the pumpkin spice and hot beverages. We’re in for a mostly cloudy morning with some afternoon sunshine and a high of 71. By Thursday, we could see rain showers.
Let’s start with the regional tea…
IN LOCAL NEWS:
• A streamer and right-wing agitator known for showing up to counter protest at local political demonstrations is being charged with assault and probation violation. Earlier this month, during a protest outside the Multnomah County Courthouse, Thomas “Tommy” Allen was filmed shoving protester Holly Brown to the ground. Brown leads Portland Contra las Deportaciones, a local immigrant rights group that has repeatedly protested to demand the closure of Portland’s ICE building. Weeks later, Allen and other MAGA and anti-trans protesters showed up outside the Sports Bra—a local women’s sports bar that recently ejected patrons sporting the anti-trans XX-XY apparel. The gathering outside the bar and restaurant led to right-wing figures unleashing what appeared to be bear spray on dozens of people who showed up to protect bar patrons and support the trans community. Now, KOIN reports, the Multnomah County DA’s Office confirmed a warrant was issued for Allen’s arrest, though it’s unclear exactly which event his latest charges are tied to. As of Tuesday, September 22, court records don’t yet reflect any new pending charges against Allen, though they do show Allen requested an extension of time to complete court-mandated community service hours tied to a previous conviction of disorderly conduct from 2025.
• Last week, it was reported that the chair of the Washington County Board of Commissioners issued a public apology after giving her colleague, Nafisa Fai, the middle finger during a public meeting. The apology wasn’t good enough for most, including her fellow board members who called for her resignation and condemned the behavior. Harrington, who isn’t running for reelection, announced last week that she would step back from the role and focus on her mental health, but as of Monday, she officially announced her resignation. An announcement from the Washington County Administrative Office said the decision “allows the Chair to focus on her health while we all support a smooth transition.” Harrington’s last effective day with the board will be October 2, after which she will no longer accept meetings. Fai and current County Commissioner Pam Treece are both vying for the county chair position in the November election.
• How should you welcome this glorious first week of fall? We’ve got a few ideas. Hockey, Japanese synth pop, Latin American cinema—what’s your flavor? This week’s Do This, Do That has the scoop on alla that and more (including, believe it or not, a juggling festival).
• We’re kicking off autumn with something spicy. It’s Wing Week! Now through Sunday, get six wings for $10 at more than 100 (yes you read that correctly!!) fine establishments in and around Portland. And…what’s that? You’re vegan and chicken wings aren’t your thing? You know we wouldn’t forget about you. Just scroll past the map and use the “meat or vegetarian” dropdown menu to filter your preferences. Bon appétit!
IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:
• Airline operations were halted Monday for hundreds of flights headed to and from New Jersey, after a fiber optic cable used by the Federal Aviation Administration facility was accidentally cut by rail workers in New Jersey, hampering air traffic control operations at the Newark airport. The communication standstill meant no commercial flights could land at the airport for a nearly eight-hour stretch Monday, leading to flight cancellations and heavy delays. The Newark airport is a major travel hub for domestic and international flights. By Tuesday morning, flights in the New York and New Jersey area were still experiencing delays and cancellations.
• A MAGA Freedom Fest scheduled to take place in Kentucky this weekend featuring special guests Kid Rock and Dog the Bounty Hunter was canceled at the last minute after only six VIP tickets were sold. Apparently only half a dozen suckers were willing to pay the $1,000 price tag to stand around in a field and get bitten by bugs while watching a washed-up Kid Rock perform to a sparse crowd. In the past, the event has featured conservative pundits and Trump family members as guest speakers, as well as food trucks and fireworks. The whole thing was scheduled to take place at its usual location, the farm of organizer Eric Deters, a retired lawyer who was fined in 2021 by the state of Ohio for the unauthorized practice of law.
• Speaking of idiots, the one leading the United States says AI has a branding problem, not an ethics or logistics problem. We should actually call it “Superior Intelligence” and watch it devour us (or, just watch as the top handful of AI companies collude with each other to successfully trick legislators into crafting guidelines that make the current heavy hitters the only ones in operation, by using scare tactics like “this will kill you.”) After banning several reputable press outlets from the White House, Trump launched a poll on his Truth Social site. “This is a Poll, and I would appreciate everybody voting! Which is the best name for this ever growing ‘Revolution?’”
• He’s also trying to launch his own TV station after the press pool collectively refused to cover him after his little stunt of barring journalists from doing their job. As Newsweek reports, the first streamed footage “featured a 2-month-old speech that Trump made at Mount Rushmore, on July 3 this year.”
• ICYMI: Even the Vatican knows ecocide is a shameful thing that should be acknowledged and prevented.
Do you think we can trick McConnell into doing the right thing now that he’s likely, uhhh…cognitively compromised?
