Smoldering low grade civil war is a far more likely beginning to METAR relevant disasters than over the top actions, and we are seeing Hegseth and national government making dangerous initial moves in that direction.
My policeman nephew in the SF Bay Area acknowledged that they have done initial examination of the possibility of contradictory orders from Fed, State, and City governmental bodies.
It is very bad that we are now playing potentially lethal games of “chicken”, and I am glad that most of my investments are invulnerable to our civil stupidities.
The next chapter has begun with this extremely ugly violent arrest of a well known, loved, and strongly supported labor unionist:
I do not see any easy off ramps from this idiotic road leading to deadly civil conflict, conflicts centered squarely against the people who keep the economy running in the biggest city in the biggest port and tech city in the nation. [Stephen Miller, the Federal Government’s (TIG version) tool behind the scenes, is running what is clearly a purposefully dangerously plan of incitement. He is a West Los Angeles denizen I have long known and distrusted, and I am not at all surprised he is the guy the 2025 gang has chosen to run their game here.]
POTUS and the Executive branch are running amok,
SCOTUS/Judiciary have been careful and timid and powerless in enforcement, and
COTUS drools incoherently on life support.
The ultra-wealthy and powerful, with their besotten social media audiences, seem committed to achieving a total victory even if that means pushing the USA into a dangerous and violent power struggle. They may discover that USAian Unions see themselves as major power players in the running of our Republic, and that their alarm bell might now be ringing its loudest in decades, almost certainly awaking the civil rights wing of many religious denominations and others who have been quiescent.
I believe a very big storm is now roaring towards our normal METAR reports, one of almost entirely political rather than intrinsically economic/monetary/fiscal origins, and one that must be weathered for some time to come.
I was a kid during the '60’s, was aware of the War, and the protests, and the riots, but on a very superficial level. Have read a lot on it, so do now have a better understanding of how alienated and divided the Country was back then.
The current times feel very much like a replay of the '60’s. Will not be at all surprised if/when riots and violence break out, if we continue to escalate down this path. A modern day Kent State occurrence seems likely to happen. So far, immigrants have been the target. Like most people in the Country, I think we should have controlled entry into the Country. But make no mistake about it, America needs immigrants.
The target will shift from immigrants, though. There is a good chance that social safety nets are going to get clipped, and maybe lopped-off would be a better descriptor. This will effect millions of Americans. How do they react when their health care is cut back and is too expensive to buy without the subsidies that came from the Government ? How do Americans react when FEMA is AWOL ? We’ve already seen that happen, I believe in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missouri, where even the State Politicians in the same Party that is in power were sounding the alarm that Federal aid has been severely lacking. I watched DeSantis give a presser to his constituents at the start of hurricane season, telling them to not expect any help from FEMA during an emergency.
I agree that this is METAR related. We are seeing the onset of the breaking down of America, and it’s meant to be reshaped into the form envisioned by Project 2025. That’s an ugly form, imo.
Other news sources are now doing a fairly good job of covering the story.
If by “the writer” you mean author of the article, she (I respect her a lot — an experienced hire out of the Sacramento Bee showing “old school” journalistic virtues) is raising warning flags, quoting some, and staying carefully neutral.
I grew up in the Los Angeles Civil Rights movement (went to a training workshop in 1958 when I was 7 years old), and know most of the oldsters and some of the youngsters. I also know a lot of the Labor Movement guys. I would be amazed if they do not do all that they can in planning and in management of any demonstrations to keep them rigorously non-violent (that IS where the power lies), but ugliness begets ugliness, and Stephen Miller, the GIC wookie, loves it ugly. Unfortunately he isn’t stupid, and so he will seek to provoke and not step over any red lines publicly.
There are slavering dogs of war on both sides, and Miller will do all he can to provoke some idiot to “cry havoc and let slip” and so I fear something darkly idiotic will occur.
I have my fingers crossed and my portfolio prepped. California is the Big Blue power that the authoritarian right will have to subdue if they want to rule, and so it is inevitable that a lot of battle will happen in my old back yard.
*** I am not a subscriber to my hometown Los Angeles Times because the owner went AWOL from taking the risks needed to serve his city and subscribers, somewhat but not as egregiously as Bezos at Washington Post), but I am now abroad and so got it for free here in Spain (I am on an 8 hour ferry from Mallorca to brother-in-law in Valencia).
We have been on this road for a while. Recall the Federal agents grabbing people off the street and stuffing them into unmarked vans in Portland in 2020?
I remember reports of the #43 regime developing plans to use Federal troops to seal off access to entire cities, and letting contracts to KBR to build concentration camps “in case of an immigration emergency”.
Most of the protesters may well be peaceful demonstrators. But there are always others in the crowd with their own agenda. Opportunity for looting. Or to create a news worthy event to publicize the issue.
I think we understand that Mr Trump will not allow a Portland style incident on his watch.
“I think we understand that Mr Trump will not allow a Portland style incident on his watch.”
Seriously ?? Who was President in the Summer of 2020 ??
Who was President during the George Floyd unrest ?? I’m pretty sure it wasn’t Biden, and it wasn’t Obama. Who was Prez between Obama and Biden ??
Truly remarkable that you are touting Trump as the symbol of law and order.
I’m going to buck the trend and agree. He doesn’t want a Portland type event. He wants something more along the lines of Jan 6, where the violence being done is by his supporters and against those who want to rein him in.
Do they have the same training to deal with China? Or will that training go on hold while we fight over LA because we have problems in the oval office?
Weren’t criminal emotional problems called abnormal psychology in high school classes?
