Right well if they’ll let *you* back in then maybe my bitchy and derogatory text convo with a friend in Canada this morning won’t get me barred from the States. Not that I’ll be testing it for at least 3.5 years… Respect you for not cowering and staying quiet publically and glad you have a platform that gets the word out and isn’t just venting to a friend.
I have no idea how they are running things, but it seems a big target of the administration is anyone who was directly involved with the university protests. But yeah, God knows. They may have AI trawling for posts like Webworm / online, or just random stops at customs now and then. Curious how it plays out going forward. Of course, the US is at war now, apparently - so I have given up trying to predict things!
I love that you go balls to the wall and just lay it out as it is. The things that are happening at the hands of the monkey in charge is just disgusting and also so terrifying. Keep writing. Keep reporting. Keep speaking up. Be safe, David.
A lot of really rich people too scared to speak out because they may lose money they don't need. How do they justify their silence to themselves I wonder.
I do hope David has set up some kind of a dead man's switch system, where if he doesn't check in with a friend for X hours they can launch an alert to family, friends, Webworm, lawyers, journalists... this is a nailbiting time to be vocally against the current administration and at the mercy of US Customs and Border Protection.
Wishing you save travels, safe arrival, and while you can and as long as you can, hit those utter bastards with your word sword over and over again. If you need help to extricate yourself from anything, we are ALL here to make sure you can. Kia kaha, bro. xx
The “restraint of a toddler” description is spot on, David. And then he goes to brag about it on social media - what a fucking joke.
Thank you for standing up for what’s right in this increasingly depressing world. The UK worms are happy to adopt you at any time - you’re always welcome and the kettle is on 🫖
All kudos to toddlers, who, are expressing the appropriate amount of restraint for their age. The Tangerine Menace on the other hand, is a grown ass adult.
Donald Trump must be one of the worst things that has ever happened to USA. Or the whole human world. He has now backed Iran into a corner where the only thing it can do is to fight back. How stupid is that? And the collateral damage will be catastrophic. If Iran weren't interested in producing nuclear weapons before, they will be now.
Does anyone else, BTW, realise that the Greenhouse emissions from bombing Gaza are greater than Germany's? It's not just genocide, it is also ecocide. I hate to think what those bloody "bunker buster" bombs (or whatever they're called) produced. Trump is like a child who can't resist playing with things to see what happens. "Ooooh - we've got these big, beautiful bombs! Let's find some nasty people to drop them on".
It's funny, in a far from laughable way, that people actually believed his non-interventionist stance. It's funny that anyone believes he has any convictions at all, apart from self-gratification.
I hope you will be OK, David. It takes a lot of courage to do what you are doing. And USA seems to be going from bad to worse.
Natanyahu has been trying to get American presidents to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities for so, so long. And he finally found his guy. How this country thought it was a good idea to vote in a reality TV star and failed businessman into this role will never not be weird to me.
I mean, I get it - he represented change and not the norm etc, but also COME ON!
My favourite NIN song (AFI did a fucking excellent cover, too).
I can't believe we are here again. Im an Australian and know we will just follow along stupidly behind the US into war, as always, and I fucking hate it.
I feel the same way about Australia. We have learnt nothing from Vietnam and then the gulf and Afghanistan wars. I am so angry about how weak our government has been. They have so so much blood on their hands
Good on you man. Couldn't pay me to go America honestly. Jo, my wife and your old school buddy (who got the job at Vid Ezy, not Julia btw lol), worked in a summer camp in California in the redwoods after finishing at BC. We've talked about going there one day and how it'd be cool to take our kids. Not anymore, not worth the risks with guns and politics the way it is there. We did 3yrs in Manchester in Jo's old neighbourhood around Ashton-under-Lyne, Stockport, Denton etc,, very cool place, loved it. Look after yourself dude 👊
Thanks, Caleb. America is a headjob - there are still so many amazing people here, and the nature is stunning - but then there's Trump and what the regime stands for. It's like two realities are going on at once.
As for Manchester - God, I loved it. A creative place that loves its music and feels like just the right size to me?
Same with me and my husband. 5 years ago already he was saying he'd never go there with the random mass shootings. Now with potential random deportation, there's is NO chance.
I'm just so disgusted with a lot of things here at the moment, but feeling very powerless to stop any of it. And I'm so angry at all the people who helped, in whatever small way, to put this maniac back in the White House.
Don't know else to say except good luck, safe travels, and thanks for taking a stand. Me and the cats are sending you good vibes. I'm hoping you'll still be able to meet them someday.
That’s brave David. I would certainly not wish to be in that country @ present. What is certain is that the world just became a way more dangerous place for all of us! Particularly any civilians in Iran & for those in Gaza! We are governed by idiots who are making warmongers rich beyond their dreams!
It still boggles my mind that the world has just let the ongoing genocide in Gaza happen. It's fundamentally changed how I see justice being handled on a global scale. I was naive, but I didn't think I was this naive.
Good luck, David. I’m hoping hoping hoping that by the time I wake up tomorrow, you’ll have safely & smoothly re-entered the US. We need more journalists & humans like you here. Thank you for your integrity & for fighting the good fight. Sending all the good vibes out to you from us here in Oakland CA.
Godspeed, David. Thanks for fighting the good fight. Keep us posted on your safety and arrival status, please. I’m very glad to hear you’re working with the lawyers back in California. The courts are the only major societal institutions fighting back against this madness.
They are fighting but it's so slow. But we have to try, right? From my perspective it seems like the most useful thing I can do besides coverage and being loud about how cooked and unjust it all is.
👍💪🫂 Not a surprise you are standing up to be counted - doing the right thing is ALWAYS the right thing to do 👏 Among other reasons for bombing Iran, I think distraction from the pushback about the ICE raids is a classic trumpy selfish "look over there" tactic. I think the protests against him grow as a result of this as well - I'm hoping so anyway 🤞
Hope you get back to your house safely, but be assured the Worms will raise hell if you are detained 💪💪💪 or targetted in any way 👍
The world feels on fire right now but the insane people in power keep adding fuel. Either that or pretending everything is fine like the NZ government. I hope you make it through customs ok and admire your courage to keep reporting. I used to enjoy visiting the US but can ever see myself going back again. It’s not just Trump. The whole government system is morally bankrupt and devoid of compassion.
My friend's husband is active duty military. They were told by a high ranking superior that "we are going to war with an estimated 10% chance of winning and an expectation of heavy casualties". He said morale is at an all time low and he hasn't heard any support for this idiotic decision from his fellow soldiers. Those men and women are in a very tough spot and I feel for them.
Thank you, David for your continued stand against this craziness while in the face of potential consequences for yourself. The Flightless Bird episode LA Protests was excellent!
Customs cleared in Atlanta. Now onto LAX.
Right well if they’ll let *you* back in then maybe my bitchy and derogatory text convo with a friend in Canada this morning won’t get me barred from the States. Not that I’ll be testing it for at least 3.5 years… Respect you for not cowering and staying quiet publically and glad you have a platform that gets the word out and isn’t just venting to a friend.
I have no idea how they are running things, but it seems a big target of the administration is anyone who was directly involved with the university protests. But yeah, God knows. They may have AI trawling for posts like Webworm / online, or just random stops at customs now and then. Curious how it plays out going forward. Of course, the US is at war now, apparently - so I have given up trying to predict things!
Yay
I love that you go balls to the wall and just lay it out as it is. The things that are happening at the hands of the monkey in charge is just disgusting and also so terrifying. Keep writing. Keep reporting. Keep speaking up. Be safe, David.
I don't understand how those with privilege and any kind of platform cannot go balls to the wall.
Thanks, Ruthie.
A lot of really rich people too scared to speak out because they may lose money they don't need. How do they justify their silence to themselves I wonder.
Wealth > Values
Freakin fact! Where are all of the privileged people with a platform??? Speak the fuck up and find your balls!
They prefer not to risk losing support from sponsors and that kinda thing I guess. Stay neutral, stay safe, stay filthy rich.
Use your privilege if you have it. Be risky. Take a side. Money means little.
David, can you post at least once a day, so that we know you are okay? After 24 hours of silence, we'll be raising hell. Stay safe, e hoa.
I'll check in when I land in America, and pin to the top of the comments.
I do hope David has set up some kind of a dead man's switch system, where if he doesn't check in with a friend for X hours they can launch an alert to family, friends, Webworm, lawyers, journalists... this is a nailbiting time to be vocally against the current administration and at the mercy of US Customs and Border Protection.
Back and safe and no switch triggered.
he did several weeks ago, lets hope its not needed
Wishing you save travels, safe arrival, and while you can and as long as you can, hit those utter bastards with your word sword over and over again. If you need help to extricate yourself from anything, we are ALL here to make sure you can. Kia kaha, bro. xx
The “restraint of a toddler” description is spot on, David. And then he goes to brag about it on social media - what a fucking joke.
Thank you for standing up for what’s right in this increasingly depressing world. The UK worms are happy to adopt you at any time - you’re always welcome and the kettle is on 🫖
I had *the best* time in Manchester. Apart from 2.5 less pleasant days working on that Alex story, a glorious time. Beautiful people, places, times.
Years since I briefly lived there but it's a awesome city.
All kudos to toddlers, who, are expressing the appropriate amount of restraint for their age. The Tangerine Menace on the other hand, is a grown ass adult.
Donald Trump must be one of the worst things that has ever happened to USA. Or the whole human world. He has now backed Iran into a corner where the only thing it can do is to fight back. How stupid is that? And the collateral damage will be catastrophic. If Iran weren't interested in producing nuclear weapons before, they will be now.
Does anyone else, BTW, realise that the Greenhouse emissions from bombing Gaza are greater than Germany's? It's not just genocide, it is also ecocide. I hate to think what those bloody "bunker buster" bombs (or whatever they're called) produced. Trump is like a child who can't resist playing with things to see what happens. "Ooooh - we've got these big, beautiful bombs! Let's find some nasty people to drop them on".
It's funny, in a far from laughable way, that people actually believed his non-interventionist stance. It's funny that anyone believes he has any convictions at all, apart from self-gratification.
I hope you will be OK, David. It takes a lot of courage to do what you are doing. And USA seems to be going from bad to worse.
Natanyahu has been trying to get American presidents to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities for so, so long. And he finally found his guy. How this country thought it was a good idea to vote in a reality TV star and failed businessman into this role will never not be weird to me.
I mean, I get it - he represented change and not the norm etc, but also COME ON!
My favourite NIN song (AFI did a fucking excellent cover, too).
I can't believe we are here again. Im an Australian and know we will just follow along stupidly behind the US into war, as always, and I fucking hate it.
I feel the same way about Australia. We have learnt nothing from Vietnam and then the gulf and Afghanistan wars. I am so angry about how weak our government has been. They have so so much blood on their hands
Good on you man. Couldn't pay me to go America honestly. Jo, my wife and your old school buddy (who got the job at Vid Ezy, not Julia btw lol), worked in a summer camp in California in the redwoods after finishing at BC. We've talked about going there one day and how it'd be cool to take our kids. Not anymore, not worth the risks with guns and politics the way it is there. We did 3yrs in Manchester in Jo's old neighbourhood around Ashton-under-Lyne, Stockport, Denton etc,, very cool place, loved it. Look after yourself dude 👊
Thanks, Caleb. America is a headjob - there are still so many amazing people here, and the nature is stunning - but then there's Trump and what the regime stands for. It's like two realities are going on at once.
As for Manchester - God, I loved it. A creative place that loves its music and feels like just the right size to me?
Yeah, Manchester was great. Keep up the good work mate and stay safe 👊
Same with me and my husband. 5 years ago already he was saying he'd never go there with the random mass shootings. Now with potential random deportation, there's is NO chance.
I'm just so disgusted with a lot of things here at the moment, but feeling very powerless to stop any of it. And I'm so angry at all the people who helped, in whatever small way, to put this maniac back in the White House.
Don't know else to say except good luck, safe travels, and thanks for taking a stand. Me and the cats are sending you good vibes. I'm hoping you'll still be able to meet them someday.
I would really like to know what Congress does, exactly. It's been really stunning to watch.
That’s brave David. I would certainly not wish to be in that country @ present. What is certain is that the world just became a way more dangerous place for all of us! Particularly any civilians in Iran & for those in Gaza! We are governed by idiots who are making warmongers rich beyond their dreams!
It still boggles my mind that the world has just let the ongoing genocide in Gaza happen. It's fundamentally changed how I see justice being handled on a global scale. I was naive, but I didn't think I was this naive.
Good luck, David. I’m hoping hoping hoping that by the time I wake up tomorrow, you’ll have safely & smoothly re-entered the US. We need more journalists & humans like you here. Thank you for your integrity & for fighting the good fight. Sending all the good vibes out to you from us here in Oakland CA.
Safely back via Atlanta, and onto LA. Thanks, Donna. Good vibes back to beautiful Oakland.
Godspeed, David. Thanks for fighting the good fight. Keep us posted on your safety and arrival status, please. I’m very glad to hear you’re working with the lawyers back in California. The courts are the only major societal institutions fighting back against this madness.
They are fighting but it's so slow. But we have to try, right? From my perspective it seems like the most useful thing I can do besides coverage and being loud about how cooked and unjust it all is.
Hope they won't be silenced any time soon!
👍💪🫂 Not a surprise you are standing up to be counted - doing the right thing is ALWAYS the right thing to do 👏 Among other reasons for bombing Iran, I think distraction from the pushback about the ICE raids is a classic trumpy selfish "look over there" tactic. I think the protests against him grow as a result of this as well - I'm hoping so anyway 🤞
Hope you get back to your house safely, but be assured the Worms will raise hell if you are detained 💪💪💪 or targetted in any way 👍
The world feels on fire right now but the insane people in power keep adding fuel. Either that or pretending everything is fine like the NZ government. I hope you make it through customs ok and admire your courage to keep reporting. I used to enjoy visiting the US but can ever see myself going back again. It’s not just Trump. The whole government system is morally bankrupt and devoid of compassion.
Back, via Atlanta, and safe. On to write another day.
My friend's husband is active duty military. They were told by a high ranking superior that "we are going to war with an estimated 10% chance of winning and an expectation of heavy casualties". He said morale is at an all time low and he hasn't heard any support for this idiotic decision from his fellow soldiers. Those men and women are in a very tough spot and I feel for them.
Thank you, David for your continued stand against this craziness while in the face of potential consequences for yourself. The Flightless Bird episode LA Protests was excellent!
My son just joined the army- I really feel for the military families too. (As well as everyone else in the world thrown into this mayhem).
Be safe. And as the whakatauki says: Kaua e Mate Wheke, Me Mate Ururoa
Or, don't die at all!