Althouse: "Trump’s brand of politics feeds on the lie that multicultural cities are frightening and chaotic. If he follows through on his threats to deploy National Guard troops..."

September 28, 2025

"Trump’s brand of politics feeds on the lie that multicultural cities are frightening and chaotic. If he follows through on his threats to deploy National Guard troops..."

"... to Portland, it won’t be for the benefit of the people who call the city home. The intent will be to incite a spectacle of chaos, manufacturing a crisis to retroactively justify the belief that Democrat-run cities are in need of forceful takeover. The provocation will be the point. Don’t fall for it. The Portland of right-wing imagination is a city engulfed by flames and violence, a vivid warning of what will befall other places if they vote for Democrats. 'Unimaginably bad things would happen to America' if Biden were elected, Trump posted in 2020, specifically citing the 'anarchy' of Portland.... The reality is that the problems facing Portland and other cities are nothing that can’t be addressed through normal governance, and that these are on the whole vibrant and quite pleasant places to live. 'Real America' can mean things like biking to get a vegan ube latte from a purple-haired barista, and if you’d like a taste of what makes America truly great, you can find it in a coffee shop—in Portland, certainly, and probably a short ride from where you live."

Writes Jacob Grier, in "100 Cups of Coffee in a City on Fire/President Trump keeps saying Portland is an anarchic hellscape in need of the National Guard. With the help of my bike and a serious caffeine addiction, I set out to discover the truth" (Slate).

It's nice to hear progressives paying respect to the virtues of federalism.

And what's ube? It's just hair-colored yam, I mean, purple yam. I take it you just buy the yam extract — commission earned — and mix it into your milky — vegan milky — coffee.

140 comments:

Peachy said...: I visited Portland before the leftwing thuggery/Dems allowed it to go to hell.
I've talked to people - Democrats - who live there and they told me without me even asking that - yes, downtown Portland is an unsafe shit hole now - and no one wants to go there. Long time businesses left... store fronts boarded up.

I loved Pearl Bakery. I think it is gone too.; 9/28/25, 8:30 AM
Peachy said...: Democrats in power are using the same language that got Charlie Kirk Killed - to get ICE agents killed.
Democrats have declared war. Screw Democrats. they are vile liars.; 9/28/25, 8:32 AM
Enigma said...: Read the ingredients on ube yam purple products: The coloring is often ADDED. It fits in perfectly with blue region feel good politics.; 9/28/25, 8:32 AM
Bob Boyd said...: Can you plug in your own Tesla in Portland or does an attendant have to do it?; 9/28/25, 8:33 AM
gilbar said...: "the belief that Democrat-run cities are in need of forceful takeover.."

there is NOTHING Wrong with Democrat-run cities!
if You are a young white girl in one, there is a GOOD CHANCE;
that you will NOT be raped and murdered today..
maybe not even tomorrow!

for MANY young white girls, being in a democrat-run city is not necessarily a death sentence. MANY survive for weeks!; 9/28/25, 8:36 AM
Peachy said...: btw- Dominion Voting should be out of Business.
Just the name of it. Total corruption.
why do we put up with this?; 9/28/25, 8:38 AM
rehajm said...: It’s disturbing part of their platform is destroying their own cities, then blaming Trump for trying to stop it. It doesn’t look like a good policy- and midterms are only a year away 😉; 9/28/25, 8:41 AM
Peachy said...: that clip is too chopped up to see the truth.; 9/28/25, 8:41 AM
Jamie said...: these are on the whole vibrant and quite pleasant places to live.

For everyone?

'Real America' can mean things like biking to get a vegan ube latte from a purple-haired barista, and if you’d like a taste of what makes America truly great, you can find it in a coffee shop—in Portland, certainly, and probably a short ride from where you live.

Ok. 'Real America' can also mean the places where they ask you if you want ranch dressing to dip your pizza crust in. It can mean the places where, when you ask for tea, you get it sweet and iced. The presence of extreme-specialty ingredients does not define 'Real America' any more than the presence of chain restaurants does. (I can't remember the last time an extreme-specialty ingredients actually enhanced the flavor, texture, or any other characteristic of my food or beverage. Goldschlager, anyone?)

This August we were passing through Colby, KS, and had dinner at a roadside restaurant. Upon tasting my salad, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that they made their own - very good - Caesar dressing. The server beamed when I confirmed it with her and said they were trying to get to the point where they made everything in-house - bread products were their next project.

I am living temporarily in a farmhouse in (if there is an "in") New Ulm, TX, an unincorporated community of a few hundred souls; a short walk from our front door is a lovely wine bar that makes great wood-fired pizza, in "town" there's an Italian joint that knows its Italian, and in an old bank building there's a speakeasy we plan to visit as soon as I'm off the painkillers for my knee replacement. I doubt that I can get "ube" here, but the Italian place has its own espresso bar and there's a bakery and coffee shop in town where I'll bet I can get anything that a French or Italian person would recognize as coffee (I doubt that Uber qualifies).

Cities used to distinguish themselves a lot more from small towns.; 9/28/25, 8:44 AM
Dogma and Pony Show said...: So the writer complains that Trump is exaggerating about how chaotic and dangerous life is in Portland. But isn't this projection? I mean, is life in America under Trump's governance as horrible as the left has tried to portray it? If the writer thinks it's now time for people to take a step back and be honest in their assessment of what's really happening in the world, he should start by admitting that the election of DJT hasn't led to any of the scary things the left predicted would befall America if he were reelected.; 9/28/25, 8:47 AM
Wince said...: Sounds like Grier's asking the commies not to riot, knowing that they will...

The intent will be to incite a spectacle of chaos, manufacturing a crisis to retroactively justify the belief that Democrat-run cities are in need of forceful takeover. The provocation will be the point. Don’t fall for it.; 9/28/25, 8:49 AM
Bob Boyd said...: I shave my yams and donate the hair to an outfit in Portland that provides free wigs for baristas suffering with alopecia or chemo therapy side effects or who have just been pulling their hair out lately over Donald Trump.; 9/28/25, 8:49 AM
Randomizer said...: The reality is that the problems facing Portland and other cities are nothing that can’t be addressed through normal governance,

Very true, but it's the normal governance that is lacking.

I spent a month in Portland in the late 90's. It was vibrant and a quite pleasant place to visit. It was "the City of Roses", had the massive Powell's book store and a 100 places to have a coffee and nice dessert.

Every local to seemed to think that everyone else in the country wanted to live there. It's not like that now. We have all seen the "spectacle of violence" videos.

Conservatives have joked about letting them have Portland, or California or some other liberal enclave. Trump isn't giving anything up. They are Americans, and he's ready to go in if that's what is required.

That is not ideal. It is authoritarian. We would all be better off if competent local authorities maintained order. If local government is corrupt, derelict or irresponsible, state authorities should step in. That isn't happening, so here we are.; 9/28/25, 8:50 AM
Howard said...: Multicultural, my arse. Gemini AI Says:

Yes, Portland, Oregon has historically been referred to as the whitest large city in the U.S. due to its high percentage of white residents, which is a result of Oregon's history of racist laws and exclusionary practices designed to create a "white utopia". While the term was used frequently in the past, more recent data shows a demographic shift, but Portland still remains predominantly white compared to other large cities.; 9/28/25, 8:52 AM
Leland said...: Multi-cultural cities my ass. Texas and Florida have cities with greater mixes of cultures than Portland, yet without the rampant crime, particularly the kind where the white kids are attacking the government with firebombs.; 9/28/25, 8:52 AM
David53 said...: How much can you shoplift without getting arrested? Asking for a friend.; 9/28/25, 8:53 AM
Political Junkie said...: DJT should "Be Like Ike". Ike federalizerd the Arkansas National Guard in 57 to enforce integration when the D governor was fighting against integration. Ike also sent in the 101st Airborne.; 9/28/25, 8:55 AM
Mr. T. said...: Oh yes because State says so!

How is that UVA rape story from Rolling Stone that they bent over backwards to praise going??; 9/28/25, 8:57 AM
Howard said...: Jinx; 9/28/25, 8:59 AM
Randomizer said...: How did Portland become multicultural?

In 2000, it was 86.6% White. In 2010, it was 72.3% White.; 9/28/25, 9:01 AM
cf said...: Oregon is so beautiful, and the weather is actually fabulous, we call it 40 minute weather, and its true, "if you don't like the weather, wait 40 minutes". Portland skies feel like the beach is just over the hill, blue blue sky w clouds creating themseves above you and growing up as they stream on towards Canada.
But The political machine is tragic. The invisible vote counting process is a killer. I could go on but I'm meeting my friend at the gym. Great that Trump is coming!!!; 9/28/25, 9:03 AM
Patrick said...: "The reality is that the problems facing Portland and other cities are nothing that can’t be addressed through normal governance"

Well? Were waiting...; 9/28/25, 9:06 AM
john mosby said...: Jamie: "Cities used to distinguish themselves a lot more from small towns."

Yes, good point. You used to have to go to a city, or at least a college town, to get foreign films, out-of-town papers/magazines, or just to talk to someone who was like you. Technology has made it possible to subscribe to the Criterion Collection and watch the movies on a giant plasma at home, while scrolling through Le Monde or The Advocate on your tablet, and texting with a fellow whatever-fancier in Kuala Lumpur. And the delivery culture means you can get fancy-schmancy foreign food, or at least the ingredients to make it, wherever you are.

And of course Dem city governments have chased lots of the multi-culti people out into the hinterland where they can set up physical multi-culti outposts like the ones you describe.

Maybe the last remaining reason for the existence of cities - hipster/elite culture - is gone? CC, JSM; 9/28/25, 9:08 AM
Jamie said...: Trump’s brand of politics feeds on the lie that multicultural cities are frightening and chaotic.

This statement feeds on the lie that Trump - and his supporters - are small-town hicks who hate everything that's not a Cracker Barrel. Trump adores NYC. He always has.

OTOH, when a "multicultural city" IS "frightening and chaotic," why would you push the lie that it's "vibrant and quite pleasant," as long as you stick to the neighborhoods where you can get ube, instead of marshalling the authority of local government to freaking FIX IT?; 9/28/25, 9:10 AM
Jamie said...: Trump isn't giving anything up. They are Americans, and he's ready to go in if that's what is required.

That is not ideal. It is authoritarian.

It's my understanding, and I'll go looking for this sometime today as the nerve block from my knee operation has finally worn off completely and I NEED DISTRACTION, that the peace-loving hippies of Portland have wheeled out a guillotine in front of the ICE building, after covering the building with graffiti and rioting to the point of local law enforcement's needing to deploy tear gas and rubber bullets. Sounds to me as if bringing in the NG to protect this federal facility and those who work there is prudent and lawful, not authoritarian.; 9/28/25, 9:17 AM
Achilles said...: The problem is that the large cities have all become the only remaining engine of the Democrat Party.

The leadership of these cities serves the National Party, not the people in the cities.; 9/28/25, 9:17 AM
Jaq said...: From personal experience, and I think 120 downtown business owners there have signed a petition protesting the policies, but when Burlington, VT implemented its "defund the police" agenda, the town quickly became a place that few wanted to visit. I was shopping at a mens shop downtown and the streets seemed full, and we remarked to the salesperson how busy it was, and he said "It's all college students, and they will be gone in a week or two as their semesters get underway." But they are not the ones spending money, and they are the ones who voted in the "defund the police" policies. BTW, you don't have to be a US citizen to vote in Burlington elections, either.; 9/28/25, 9:24 AM
Jaq said...: Isn't Portland the city were an actual, weapons at hand, insurrection took place? Where "protesters" used green lasers to blind Federal agents, an act which is considered a war crime by the ICC and the UN. They also threw explosives into a Federal courthouse.; 9/28/25, 9:27 AM
Aggie said...: It's better to leave Portland to its own devices, to serve as a cultural Petri dish example, to illustrate useful political counterpoints. 'Why, yes, we do have an example of the natural social outcome of your political experimentation, it's right over there'. Here, put this mask on first.; 9/28/25, 9:31 AM
Big Mike said...: ”Trump’s brand of politics feeds on the lie that multicultural cities are frightening and chaotic.”

Not actually a lie, of course.; 9/28/25, 9:34 AM
Not Illinois Resident said...: Having personally witnessed frequent frightening and chaotic lawlessness occurring in downtown Chicago in recent years, I find it hard to discredit Trump's viewpoint that criminal laws must be enforced, and if our Mayor Conehead (his official nickname) won't do so, then National Guard should be called in. Too many law-abiding residents are held captive to his progressive-socialist-marxist claptrap, while he rides around with his personal protection army of 240 Chicago cops. Read secondcitycop blog site. Chicago is unsafe whether you're in Gold Coast/downtown, or in Englewood. It sucks to be in Chicago.; 9/28/25, 9:34 AM
Kakistocracy said...: News from war-ravaged Portland. It's not good.

Dearest Ann, war is hell. I have neither saunaed nor ice-bathed in a fortnight. The kombucha, I fear, does not have adequate probiotics for my gut biome. Things have grown so dire in Portland, Oregon that residents may soon face a shortage of artisanal baked goods, almond milk rose petal beetroot lattes, and cold brew mushroom tonic.

The Antifa forces have switched from kombucha to double-shot lattes and are peppering our forces with NPR quotes and organic raisins. Our lads at ICE have taken heavy casualties - some have even been seen hugging baristas and throwing their masks away. The President mourns for them and has informed their families.

Meanwhile, the sky is filled with enemy kites raining down Tibetan prayer flags. Our forces have had to retreat to Federal Plaza and have asked for reinforcement. Pray for them.; 9/28/25, 9:46 AM
chuck said...: "Cities used to distinguish themselves a lot more from small towns."

True. I noticed when I went back to work in a smallish town and it had a Borders bookstore and the internet. Between the two most of my needs were covered. Borders went bankrupt, but Amazon has replaced it, and also provides items that I would previously have needed to visit a city to find. My smallish town is now part of the world.; 9/28/25, 9:46 AM
Beasts of England said...: ’Trump’s brand of politics feeds on the lie that multicultural cities are frightening and chaotic.’

Third world shithole cities would be a far more accurate description.; 9/28/25, 9:51 AM
Beasts of England said...: sorry; 9/28/25, 9:51 AM
Peachy said...: kak(D) mocks his make-believe world. Loser.; 9/28/25, 9:51 AM
Peachy said...: Scott Adams sez; 9/28/25, 9:56 AM
RNB said...: Downtown Portland is Mostly Peaceful. [Insert appropriate graphic]; 9/28/25, 9:57 AM
Beasts of England said...: ’The kombucha, I fear, does not have adequate probiotics for my gut biome.’

Okay, Kak - that was funny… :); 9/28/25, 9:57 AM
Skeptical Voter said...: Between 1985 and 2005 I traveled to Portland on business several times a year. Downtown Portland was a nice place--it felt a little provincial but still nice and clean. There were lots of small--and very good restaurants. Powell's bookstore was a lot of fun. Heck even Al Gore enjoyed Portland trying to find his "second chakra" with a hotel masseuse. I'd stayed at that hotel numerous times, but never found the need to use a hotel masseuse--but maybe that's just me. Portland was a little kinky--it had elected a mayor who, like Joe Biden, had a thing for his kid's babysitters. But in 2020 Portland went off the rails when the locals started firing trench mortars at the federal courthouse. I wouldn't visit downtown Portland today on a bet.; 9/28/25, 10:00 AM
Lazarus said...: There's nothing in the article for the "normies" who may think that purple-haired vegan baristas and slate writers are fine with riots and urban chaos and could live in Mogadishu so long as they could get their ube latte. The normies might want to know things like whether it's a good place to raise kids, whether you have to have someone unlock the toothpaste at the drug store, and whether you can go downtown for an evening without people throwing bricks and starting fires.; 9/28/25, 10:03 AM
Kakistocracy said...: @ Beasts of England: This summer I visited Portland in the run up to the war and attended a parade featuring a bagpiper on a unicycle. Clearly preparations were afoot for the war.

Portland residents should leave trash bags, shovels, and rakes out for the visiting troops to put to good use.; 9/28/25, 10:03 AM
n.n said...: The lie is that Diversity (e.g. racism, sexism, classicism, etc) are human strengths and that a hive mind can be a functional good for people, not predatory blocs in an urbane feudal regime.; 9/28/25, 10:09 AM
Bob Boyd said...: Perhaps an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. An Antifa crazy already shot up an ICE facility in Texas. Even if you don’t feel any sympathy for the ICE officers, remember that it was detainees who were shot.; 9/28/25, 10:09 AM
Beasts of England said...: ’…a parade featuring a bagpiper on a unicycle.

I’ve visited, as well, but can’t believe I missed that!!; 9/28/25, 10:10 AM
Amadeus 48 said...: I live in Chicago. The problems facing Chicago were created by normal governance.; 9/28/25, 10:11 AM
Whiskeybum said...: "The Portland of right-wing imagination is a city engulfed by flames and violence..."

Sorry, but we've all seen the videos now. You can't get away with these bs "this is fine" claims nowadays.

"The reality is that the problems facing Portland and other cities are nothing that can’t be addressed through normal governance"

Normal governance... in Portland? LOL

"'Real America' can mean things like biking to get a vegan ube latte from a purple-haired barista, and if you’d like a taste of what makes America truly great, you can find it in a coffee shop—in Portland..."

Umm... I don't think that Trump is sending in federal troops because he doesn't like purple hair or the taste of your coffee. He's sending in troops to address the attacks y'all are perpetrating against US government facilities in Portland; you know, the ones "engulfed by flames and violence".; 9/28/25, 10:11 AM
Ampersand said...: One aspect of Potland's predicament is also found in Los Angeles. I'm referring to the exodus of sensible people once things start going bad. Downtown LA was on the verge of a rebirth until homelessness shittified the place. The high end suburban neighborhoods within the city are now living on the interface between order and chaos. People just walk away, if not to Texas or Florida, to Ventura County or the tony parts of Orange County. This has fortified the electoral advantages of socialists, public employee unions, ethnic voters, and college educated fools. It's like a world run by dishonest C students.; 9/28/25, 10:14 AM
Eric the Fruit Bat said...: The guy on the bicycle looks like a GEICO caveman.; 9/28/25, 10:15 AM
Gk1 said...: I went to school with 2 progressive friends who moved there in 1993 and they are very bitter over what the city has become. Its become a quality of life issue when you have to constantly step around human scat, needles and filth when trying to go to the park or just go about your day. The city is slowly combating that but downtown Portland has become a casualty of the break down of law enforcement and they are very angry about that. I'm not thinking all of Portland will be upset to see the Feds show up to provide law and order.; 9/28/25, 10:19 AM
TosaGuy said...: The Dems always redefine words to camouflage their agenda or “redefine” problems.

Crime in cities is just fine in areas with affluent people. Crime disproportionately impacts low-income and struggling minorities.

Trump is not talking to the affluent people in cities.; 9/28/25, 10:21 AM
Jaq said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 9/28/25, 10:27 AM
Leland said...: Jinx Howard; 9/28/25, 10:27 AM
GRW3 said...: I visited Portland in '18 on business, there for five days, staying at the Embassy Suites downtown. It wasn't bad then, but it was clearly on the decline. Homeless everywhere, camped in any open space (including the hedge row that separated the main street gas station from its neighbors. Rampant drug use. Walking the streets took you through multiple marijuana clouds.

There were good things too, the Sunday riverfront market (a few steps from the hotel, VooDoo donuts, great food and Powell's Books. I wonder if any of that survives (I understand Powell's has to let the mob determine what books can be sold, under threat of violence).; 9/28/25, 10:28 AM
Lazarus said...: Was it Brian Stelter who explained that only parts of Portland were on fire and others weren't? Accepting that parts of your city are burning down and being fine with that is taking a big step towards decivilization.; 9/28/25, 10:32 AM
hombre said...: My son is a long time resident of Portland and reports that the city is in bad shape mostly because of the infestation of homeless people. Soros DA Schmidt is gone and crime has slowed. City officials are progressives who can’t govern. However, he doesn’t want the Nat’l. Guard there. I think sending guardsmen to protect federal property is one thing. Beyond that, it’s a bad idea.; 9/28/25, 10:46 AM
narciso said...: what garbage media; 9/28/25, 10:58 AM
Jaq said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 9/28/25, 10:58 AM
hombre said...: “… multicultural cities …”? Can lefties tell the truth about anything. The cities are shitholes because Democrats run them, not because they are multicultural. Trump expresses that daily.; 9/28/25, 10:59 AM
narciso said...: post millenial has the right account; 9/28/25, 10:59 AM
Gemna said...: "The reality is that the problems facing Portland and other cities are nothing that can’t be addressed through normal governance"

I do agree with this part, but that normal governance isn't happening.

And so the wonderful Powell's Books now has SWAT Team-like security guards.; 9/28/25, 11:01 AM
hanuman_prodigious_leaper said...: I recall scoring free lunch in local cafe by answering question about naked lady riding horse = Coventry
Powell bookstore neighborhood; 9/28/25, 11:02 AM
DINKY DAU 45 said...: president franco true to form. Cmon please ,someone start rioting so I can quell it and call martial law(and cancel mid terms) More look over here as Johnson tries to stall the 218 vote for EPSTEIN FILE RELEASE, Just follow the bouncing ball. and yes even on the Lords day you have the foul mouthed comments Jesus says"( like Rodney Dangerfield) I GET NO RESPECT :(; 9/28/25, 11:06 AM
bagoh20 said...: Humans have a powerful ability to mentally acclimate to conditions, even stressful ones. The big divide in the country is really between those of us who are urban and those that are rural. You can live in a city and still have a rural mindset, experience, and worldview. I live right in the middle of a city, but on a 1.2 acre lot with no neighbors within earshot, and I spend a lot of time outside in the desert with few or no people in sight. I spent yesterday hiking, and most of the time saw no one, no sign of human activity, and was in complete silence, except for my tinnitus. It's hard to be the same as a person who lives in an apartment surrounded by others 24/7, who does everything with hundreds of strangers. around. These daily experiences change your personality and I think have a powerful influence on political ideology, as is indicated by the county level voting charts. It's dependency versus independence, even if only imaginary.; 9/28/25, 11:08 AM
bagoh20 said...: "...only parts of Portland were on fire and others weren't?"

That is a standard. The entire city was not burning down, so yea, things are fine. I'm sure there were a few places in Dresden that were "fine" in 1945.; 9/28/25, 11:13 AM
Stan Smith said...: My small town 25 miles south of Portland has the only 3 5-star restaurants that Forbes lists in Oregon. We are surrounded (more than 250 wineries within 20 miles; one next door) by the best of Oregon Wine Country. I hate Portland.; 9/28/25, 11:15 AM
narciso said...: he would be perfect for the raccoon city gazette; 9/28/25, 11:16 AM
Levi Starks said...: Probably a coffee shop that won’t serve you if you’re wearing a Trump hat.; 9/28/25, 11:16 AM
Levi Starks said...: Portlands answer to the suggestion that lawlessness might be a problem is to insure that lawlessness becomes more of a problem.; 9/28/25, 11:23 AM
Iman said...: I have friends with family living in a town just outside of Portland. Their family pointedly avoids the city.; 9/28/25, 11:24 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: First law of Demthink: You must resist Trump at all times, every time.

(theoretical postulate: The more Trump is resisted, the stronger he grows); 9/28/25, 11:32 AM
Kevin said...: Trump’s brand of politics feeds on the lie that multicultural cities are frightening and chaotic.

Just replace "multicultural" with "crime-ridden".

In fact, whenever you see the word "multicultural" know that the real meaning is being hidden and should be flushed out.; 9/28/25, 11:33 AM
Kevin said...: Probably a coffee shop that won’t serve you if you’re wearing a Trump hat.

Probably? As you're heckled out, you will pass a sign that informs customers the establishment welcomes diversity and will not tolerate actions by customers and employees which inhibit the creation of safe spaces and an inclusive environment.; 9/28/25, 11:36 AM
Kevin said...: "...only parts of Portland were on fire and others weren't?"

Portland is a city that is mostly not ablaze.; 9/28/25, 11:37 AM
Kevin said...: Downtown LA was on the verge of a rebirth until homelessness shittified the place.

Things going well = can't cow people into voting for a specific party.; 9/28/25, 11:39 AM
Clyde said...: “Normal governance” would first require some normal people in their government, rather than the motley collection of deviants, weirdos, grifters and loons that make up the government in blue states and cities.; 9/28/25, 11:43 AM
Clyde said...: I corrected assumed that the Governor of Oregon probably had a wife as soon as I saw her picture.; 9/28/25, 11:45 AM
n.n said...: They are anti-diversity and Pro-Choice (i.e. Diversity), Equivocation, and Intransigence.; 9/28/25, 11:51 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: “Portland is a city that is mostly not ablaze.”

The NYT factchecking Charlie Kirk : “Studies by the federal government and nonprofit groups show that slightly less than half of Black children live without a father at home as of 2023, and historically that number has not risen above about 65 percent. It also does not account for fathers who do not live with their children — after a divorce, for instance — but may otherwise be a regular presence in their lives.”; 9/28/25, 11:58 AM
Jake said...: The multicultural world is great when you’re a wealthy white person living far from all that culture.; 9/28/25, 12:01 PM
wendybar said...: Margot Cleveland
@ProfMJCleveland
·
16m
In retrospect, it was the assassination of Brian Thompson and the response that should have told us the Rubicon had been crossed.
Multiple People Shot at Michigan Mormon Church
The shooter is down, but the church is still on fire.
https://legalinsurrection.com/2025/09/multiple-people-shot-at-michigan-mormon-church/; 9/28/25, 12:10 PM
Xmas said...: Portland is perfectly safe and has no crime problems that require Federal intervention.

Also, Ice Cube's tour bus was torched in Portland a couple of days. They are still investigating, but there are good odds someone saw a bus with "ICE" on the side of it and set it on fire.; 9/28/25, 12:10 PM
loudogblog said...: One beef I have with the term "multiculturism" is that often we're not talking about multicluturism, but people who only want one culture and it's not American. How many stories have we seen about people who have been in the country for years or decades and still don't speak any English. I took my car to get smogged the other day and none of the three other customers in the shop could speak or understand any English.

I actually come from a multicultural family. Most of the people in my family speak both English and Spanish. I would never dream about living in another country and refusing to learn the language and culture there.

As far as big cities being dangerous, that's a product of the economics of the area and the motives of the local elected government; not multiculturism. But it's easy for some people to overlook that and refer to the people who worry about the high crime in cities as bigots.; 9/28/25, 12:15 PM
Leora said...: Perhaps if people stopped setting fire to buildings in Portland people could be convinced that there wasn't a problem.; 9/28/25, 12:36 PM
AndrewV said...: I have tried to stay west of the Hwy 26 tunnel and out of Portland proper as much as possible ever since the city had over one hundred straight nights of riots in 2020.; 9/28/25, 12:40 PM
narciso said...: that would be helpful it could clear out any confusion; 9/28/25, 12:42 PM
Earnest Prole said...: Portland is one of the least multicultural cities in America — whiter than an aspirin in a bathtub.; 9/28/25, 12:44 PM
narciso said...: https://x.com/DataRepublican/status/1972328734108835850; 9/28/25, 12:45 PM
Mason G said...: "Even if you don’t feel any sympathy for the ICE officers, remember that it was detainees who were shot."

If you're talking to the left here, remember that these are same people who celebrate the mutilation of their own children's genitals.; 9/28/25, 12:55 PM
james said...: It's an odd claim to make. Trump lived in one of the world's most multicultural cities for almost all of his life. He's clearly rich enough to avoid the unpleasant aspects, but his love for the city that ultimately betrayed him despite all he did for it suggests he's fine with multicultural cities.; 9/28/25, 1:02 PM
Jupiter said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 9/28/25, 1:14 PM
Jupiter said...: "The reality is that the problems facing Portland and other cities are nothing that can’t be addressed through normal governance ..."
The reality is that the problems facing Portland and other cities are the direct result of the "normal governance" taught in the university's schools of "Public Administration", and practiced by a predatory guild of "public servants" and their butt-buddies in the NGOs, feeding on the taxable assets of their victims.; 9/28/25, 1:15 PM
Jupiter said...: Although it has been suggested that the parlous state of the modern large, American city has been brought about intentionally by certain malefactors of great wealth, in order to drastically lower the price of urban real estate. When they have bought all they want, they will shitcan their bogus woke DAs, and the cities will be restored. Kind of like the fires in Maui and Malibu.; 9/28/25, 1:18 PM
Jupiter said...: It's kind of amusing that this pissant Grier refers to "multicultural cities. Portland Oregon is a thoroughly white city in a thoroughly white state in the thoroughly white Pacific Northwest. There is a sizeable parasitical colony of feral Negroes that subsist there, preying upon each other and the white citizenry, but they are not actually incorporated into its social fabric, except for the legal system.; 9/28/25, 1:23 PM
Rocco said...: My particular neighborhood in my suburb was a “majority minority” area when we moved in. But that doesn’t seem to count as “multicultural” enough to my lefty friends/family. I guess it’s because most of the families are those boring middle class professional families.; 9/28/25, 1:37 PM
ALP said...: This resident of Oregon concurs with others: casting Portland as "multicultural" is laughable. We moved to Oregon from a military area south of Tacoma. THAT was a multicultural city, but it isn't on anyone's cultural radar.; 9/28/25, 1:58 PM
Rabel said...: the lie that multicultural cities are frightening and chaotic; 9/28/25, 2:07 PM
buwaya said...: San Francisco is doing somewhat better. We were all the way down market street, to Civic Center (Asian Art Museum, Public Library, City Hall) on market day, and there were few hobos, and none of the obvious fentanyl victims I saw last year (that was bizarre). The street life is very much as it was in 2019, though there is much less of it. Downtown is still way down, obviously the big office buildings are still mostly empty and the stores are decimated, but not quite as bad as I thought, Macy's and Nieman Marcus are still open on Union Square.
The big art supplies store, Trader Joes and Target seem to be doing well, which is good as I had requests for "only in America" things.; 9/28/25, 2:18 PM
buwaya said...: Blick art supplies is a good reason to go to downtown SF. Think of a supermarket of oil paints and canvases (and etc ad infinitum). 2021-23 it was guarded like a fortress, but now it's normal.; 9/28/25, 2:23 PM
buwaya said...: Though there was much talk of it closing Whole Foods SF downtown is still open. SF feels like a smaller city on the whole, but a functional one. For a while there it was a total "Omega Man" vibe. In 2021-22 in the evening downtown I felt like Charlton Heston (gotta admit, not a bad thing) among the zombies.; 9/28/25, 2:29 PM
Steve Austin Showed Up For Work. said...: I live in Portland. I've driven by the ICE protest on Bancroft on the way to the Old Spaghetti Factory restaurant. There was a guy on the corner holding up a sign that said "DIVEST WHITENESS." He was white. It's very Portland.

I was downtown a couple days ago. There are more homeless people than you'd see in Denver. None of them bothered me. It's not as nice as it was 10 years ago, or even in 2019. But that's all.

Last night I was outside to see the ISS fly over, and I saw a number of different manned helicopters and drones instead. They were still at it when I went to bed. Why? I don't know.

People use metaphors in speech. The problem with our politics is that everyone forgot they are metaphors. No, Portland is not a war zone. No, it's not chaos. Come and look if you don't believe me.

People use metaphors, but then they forget they are metaphors. It's not real. They're just words.; 9/28/25, 2:33 PM
Steve Austin Showed Up For Work. said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 9/28/25, 2:43 PM
Steve Austin Showed Up For Work. said...: @ALP: Lewis-McChord?

Yeah, Tacoma is never talked about by anyone. Portland is very high-visibility for such a small city.

And you're right, Portland is not very multicultural in reality. It has a culture and people can choose to like it or not. But it's not that varied. If you want conservatives, though, you can drive 15 minutes to the suburbs like West Linn or Sherwood and see all the pickup trucks you wish. Which is fine.; 9/28/25, 2:43 PM
Dave Begley said...: “ The reality is that the problems facing Portland and other cities are nothing that can’t be addressed through normal governance ….”

But normal governance hasn’t worked for years in Portland.; 9/28/25, 3:07 PM
Bob B said...: Early in the COVID crisis, Trump made noise about federalizing the response. Governors, particularly Democrats, raised federalism backed by the media. Trump agreed to letting the states dictate policy. Trump, of course, was nonetheless blamed for all failures by the Democrat governors and the media.; 9/28/25, 3:14 PM
Steve Austin Showed Up For Work. said...: @Dave Begley

But that's Portland's problem, isn't it?

Voters are sovereign. They fuck up. Sometimes, they learn.; 9/28/25, 3:36 PM
tcrosse said...: "People use metaphors, but then they forget they are metaphors. It's not real. They're just words."

Words like Fascist and Racist; 9/28/25, 3:37 PM
Mason G said...: "But that's Portland's problem, isn't it?"

It is as long as they're not using federal funds to help run the city.

But they are. According to the city's website, Portland received $98 million in FY2025.

https://www.portland.gov/federal/federal-grants; 9/28/25, 3:51 PM
Iman said...: Yep, those pickup trucks are the only difference.; 9/28/25, 3:57 PM
OSU '92 said...: I am a Portland resident of 40 years. Its always been liberal but the last 10 years have been a horrific leftwing experiment gone bad. Downtown, once beautiful and safe, is a ghost town with businesses leaving and not coming back due to crime and homelessness, which are problems intentionally not being addressed by govt. It has been absolutely heart breaking to watch.; 9/28/25, 4:01 PM
Iman said...: Or you can watch Portlandia… which reflects some of the weirdness/mental illness of Portland proper minus the homeless, hard drugs, violence, filth, etc….; 9/28/25, 4:01 PM
narciso said...: in the yeas before the great madness, they set that horror police drama grimm in portland, now I know its not metaphorical; 9/28/25, 4:09 PM
Eva Marie said...: @OSU ‘92
“problems intentionally not being addressed by govt.”
This seems to be happening in several cities in the US.
What’s your best guess as to the reason?; 9/28/25, 4:10 PM
narciso said...: they are trying to destroy the great cities,; 9/28/25, 4:11 PM
Steve Austin Showed Up For Work. said...: @tcrosse

Yes, pretty much.

Going back to the gentleman with the "DIVEST WHITENESS" sign, I don't see how that's not a racist sentiment. It's ridiculous because of the context, but that's Portland for you.

Nor is calling every Republican president of my lifetime a fascist useful.

Reality is not words.; 9/28/25, 4:14 PM
Steve Austin Showed Up For Work. said...: @Mason G

Oregon is represented in Congress, and federal funds come from Congress. Talk to your local House rep.

Seriously, America really is a democracy. The voters really do choose the leaders. If you don't like it, there's a lot of other places to live. I'm not popular for saying that around here at the moment, but it's just as true now as it was last year.; 9/28/25, 4:16 PM
Steve Austin Showed Up For Work. said...: @OSU '92

I agree. I got here in 2015 and it's downhill, especially 2020 and after. It's recovered a little since 2023, but it's still much worse than it was.; 9/28/25, 4:19 PM
Steve Austin Showed Up For Work. said...: @Iman

My favorite truck was a 1991 Dodge Ram 250 with the in-line six.

Yours?; 9/28/25, 4:25 PM
Mason G said...: @Steve Austin Showed Up For Work

"Oregon is represented in Congress, and federal funds come from Congress.

That sure sounds like Portland's problems end up being America's problems, doesn't it?; 9/28/25, 4:25 PM
Big Mike said...: Just as a reminder:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.. [Emphasis added]

Right now, from the other side of the continent, Portland appears to be a place that is far from tranquil, and where justice depends on political persuasion. In the absence of any effort on the part of local or state officials to repair the situation, one can argue that Trump has an obligation to get the government involved.; 9/28/25, 4:29 PM
Jim at said...: We did several jobs in Portland in the late-80s. Stayed in hotel just off Burnside. Walking distance to Civic Stadium. Clubs on the riverfront. Had a great time each time.

Was living in Tacoma and seriously considered moving to Portland. Maybe enrolling at Portland State.

Now? Not even on a dare.; 9/28/25, 4:30 PM
Steve Austin Showed Up For Work. said...: @Big Mike

Other than the federal building, and it's just one building, there's nothing going on.

I have no problem with the feds dealing with whatever problem there is regarding federal property. However, the rest of the city is a local government, in a state, and there's no federal problem.

There are many other places with real problems that the resources could be better used solving. It's a waste here. I live here, I'm looking out the window at Portland... and I don't have an opinion on what the feds should do wherever you happen to be living.; 9/28/25, 4:37 PM
Steve Austin Showed Up For Work. said...: @Mason G

Sure, if you want the next Democratic administration taking that attitude, right?

Federalism is federalism is federalism is constitutional government is separation of powers. Believed it last year, and I believe it now.; 9/28/25, 4:39 PM
Mason G said...: Again, from: https://www.portland.gov/federal/federal-grants

What City bureaus receive the most federal grants?
Top six City bureau recipients of federal grants as of June 30, 2025

Portland Bureau of Transportation
Portland Housing Bureau
Portland Bureau of Emergency Management
Portland Police Bureau
Portland Fire and Rescue
Bureau of Planning and Sustainability

Between them, that's a third of a billion dollars, coming mostly out of the pockets of people who don't live in Portland and I'm not seeing anything on that list that should be paid for by anybody except the citizens of Portland.; 9/28/25, 4:40 PM
Steve Austin Showed Up For Work. said...: Maybe I should just go down the road a mile and look at the ICE building? There's supposedly some march going on today according to local TV. I saw various helicopters and drones flying around last night. Supposedly, the feds arrested one person. I don't have to depend on national media to tell me what to think about this stuff. I can just go look.; 9/28/25, 4:41 PM
Peachy said...: 4:29 Big Mike

Well said. Wisdom not found anywhere in the corrupt democratic msm.; 9/28/25, 4:43 PM
Steve Austin Showed Up For Work. said...: @ Mason G
Compared to what? Other cities the same size?

If you want to go back to the way the US worked before the majority of the tax revenue was collected by the federal rather than the state governments, fine. There's a constitutional amendment that can be repealed. Otherwise, so what?

Again, Oregon is represented in Congress and in the electoral college. There's no reason why Oregon or Portland shouldn't get federal grants like every other state and DC. We vote here, too.; 9/28/25, 4:44 PM
Mason G said...: "Sure, if you want the next Democratic administration taking that attitude, right?"

As long as it is applied to everyone equally wherever they live, sure. I can see how people who refuse to live within their means might object but I don't have a problem with it.

Another federal dollar recipient in Portland is "Vibrant Communities"...

About Vibrant Communities
The Vibrant Communities service area attracts people to Portland and makes this a great place to live, work, do business, or visit. We create welcoming spaces and opportunities for human connection by uniting recreation, arts, parks and youth programming to maximize resources and intentional community-building.

They got $1.6 million, taken from people all over the country, in 2025. Anyone here care to explain how on earth this is something that people not living in Portland should have to pay for?; 9/28/25, 4:50 PM
narciso said...: high potency drugs, social isolation that the lockdowns exacerbated, collapse of law enforcement, nihilistic propaganda, where did we think this would end,; 9/28/25, 4:50 PM
narciso said...: you vote for stupid candidates like blumenaer just one example, (the death panel guy); 9/28/25, 4:51 PM
narciso said...: of course it's up to independent journalists like andy ngo to tell the truth, because the local papers won't; 9/28/25, 4:56 PM
Craig Mc said...: "The reality is that the problems facing Portland and other cities are nothing that can’t be addressed through normal governance..."

Restoring normal governance is the point.; 9/28/25, 4:56 PM
Mason G said...: "There's no reason why Oregon or Portland shouldn't get federal grants like every other state and DC."

I didn't say Portland shouldn't get them but everyone else should. Funding local projects like this (send money to DC, DC sends money back) is beyond retarded. Of course some of that money will never leave DC and end up in the pockets of the federal bureaucracy infesting that swamp.

If Portland (or anybody else, for that matter) wants light rail, nice parks, vibrant community agencies or anything else like that, they should pay for them themselves. If I want a patio in my backyard, I don't insist that everybody on the block be forced to help me pay for it.; 9/28/25, 5:05 PM
Iman said...: My fave was my ‘56 Ford F100 with a 351 V8 that finished its days as an ice cream truck after getting nailed by a slow moving train on a foggy early morning at a crossing in Orange, Ca., Steve Austin.; 9/28/25, 5:29 PM
Lazarus said...: People are most enthusiastic about multiculturalism when and where it doesn't yet exist.; 9/28/25, 5:33 PM
Josephbleau said...: “ If Portland (or anybody else, for that matter) wants light rail, nice parks, vibrant community agencies or anything else like that, they should pay for them themselves. If I want a patio in my backyard, I don't insist that everybody on the block be forced to help me pay for it.”

But that is not the point, if Congress did not centralize the tax money then how could they brag to their voters that they have given them millions for free. Incumbents always get re-elected for reasons.; 9/28/25, 5:47 PM
Josephbleau said...: Portland is 5.8% black and 11% Hispanic so I guess the hippies are right, the white people are the problem!; 9/28/25, 5:55 PM
narciso said...: 'we have met the enemy, and they are us' as one wag put it,; 9/28/25, 5:59 PM
Mason G said...: "But that is not the point, if Congress did not centralize the tax money then how could they brag to their voters that they have given them millions for free."

Yes, I agree that my point is not how it affects the ability of congresscritters to be able to brag how much OPM they got for their voters.

It's that that money shouldn't be on the table for the taking to begin with.; 9/28/25, 6:07 PM
narciso said...: probably the apportionment via Powell v US, had something to do with it, also the abuse of the Commerce clause, to involve every form of social activity; 9/28/25, 6:12 PM