Daily Digest: May Day protesters demand elimination of ICE & Cascadia prepares for fewer dolls for the holidays
Thank you!
To all the readers who signed up for a subscription in my first month writing this newsletter, thank you! I'm humbled that twenty-one of you agreed to support my work, and I'm deeply grateful. An update: I've decided to make Cascadia Journal – both the daily digest and my weekly essays – free to anyone who cares to read it. And if you appreciate the work I do keeping you informed of what's happening in Cascadia please consider supporting my work.
Also, if you missed this week's essay on how I've shifted to thinking from a more Cascadian, bioregional perspective, take a moment to read it this weekend.
May Day protests across Cascadia support workers
OPB reports on how May Day protests across Oregon and Washington were part of a global series of actions critical of the Trump administration's authoritarian, anti-trans, anti-immigrant policies. An event in Seattle's Cal Anderson park saw thousands of supporters demanding the elimination of ICE and the closing of the Northwest Detention Center. KUOW reported last week that detentions at the privately operated NWDC in Tacoma are up 50 percent, and US Rep Emily Randall has called for closure of the facility, where there have been at least 6 suicide attempts since 2024, according to a UW human rights report.
Feds "investigate" gender polices in WA schools
In the category of Trump administration meddling in gender-affirming policies it has no business in, the Department of Education announced it's "investigating" the WA Dept of Public Instruction for policies that support trans students. Trump supporters would do well to follow the example of actor Robert De Niro, whose daughter recently came out as trans: "I don't know what the big deal is."
Microsoft drops collaborator law firm
The New York Times reported that the Redmond-based software company Microsoft is doing the right thing – dropping a law firm that caved to Donald Trump's demands and shifting its business to a firm, Jenner & Block, that is actively opposing Trump's executive orders. Meanwhile, Amazon briefly said it would include itemized costs of Trump tariff's in online orders – only to reverse itself after Jeff Bezos got call from King Donald and decide to become a karp (someone who opposes authoritarianism but won't give up any power to fight it).
"Fewer dolls" as Cascadia ports brace for drop in trade
As Dear Leader warned Americans there may be fewer dolls for kids this Christmas thanks to his trade war with China, the Washington State Standard reports that the Port of Seattle is bracing for a 40 percent drop in trade, estimated to cost Washington state 19,000 jobs and $1.7 billion in lost business income. You have to wonder a what point will business leaders in the Pacific Northwest realize being tied to the US authoritarian regime isn't profitable anymore?
An 18-year old candidate ponders the future of the left in BC
The Tyee has a great essay by Jager Rosenberg, an 18-year-old NDP candidate for the seat of West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast in Canada's federal election. Though he's glad "Maple-MAGA" lost, he offers thoughts on how social democratic parties such as the NDP can do better in future elections. Meanwhile, plenty of BC voters are annoyed that east coast media companies called the results of Canada's federal election just minutes after polls closed in British Columbia – and many BC voters also support proportional representation.
Poetry by Abi Pollokoff
Over at Crab Creek Review, you can read "what is it you taste when you die in the night," an absolutely lovely poem by Abi Pollokoff, who's also the managing editor for Poetry Northwest Editions. Her phrase "silver silt" (and many others) are worth the price of admission.
Have a great weekend! --Andrew Engelson