Just like their local comrades, the occupiers park wherever they want. Never mind that it’s an active lane of traffic. This, while they execute a warrant on a hamburger at Huey’s, no doubt.

Whatever would we have done without these 219 "special deputized" federal agents?

The president just gathered the highest ranking officers in the military to tell them that he may order them to kill American citizens -- and that they better follow his orders. All in response to a series of crises that have no basis in reality. I don't know how to yell any louder.

So exhausting..

What Trump's Secret Police did today.

Trump: "Things that take place in the home they call crime....If a man has a little fight with the wife, they say this is a crime."

EXTREMELY excited to report that I have just purchased a gift subscription to the Onion for my local books-to-prisoners program (they also accept periodicals). Support good journalism, give incarcerated people a chance to laugh. Win-win! cc: @theonion.com

"Memphis is crying out for leaders who act with both head and heart, leaders who pray with their feet." I have seen Tami Sawyer in action. She walks this talk. We need more like her.

“This happened because a whole chain of people did not do their jobs. Most of them work for the sheriff.”

Check out our latest email newsletter. Sign up and learn more at justcity.org t.e2ma.net/message/xewe...

The Shelby County Jail is outdated, but an old jail should NOT be deadly anymore than a new one should. Seven men have lost their lives in the jail this year alone - none of them because of the age of the building. We need sweeping changes to leadership and policy before we build a new jail.

“Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.” Helluva way to sign a birthday card.

900 is a lot.

What might one call a police-type force that insists on operating secretly in this way.

I don't care even a little bit about the Karen Read case but this part is important:

I'm beginning to think the State of Tennessee doesn't prioritize human rights. nashvillebanner.com/2025/06/13/t...

We had a deal. All of the current violence is because Trump pulled us out of the deal.

We defeat fascism on street corners in the rain. We defeat fascism in community centers on a Saturday morning. We defeat fascism by going wherever we have to go. But it’s looking like we’re probably going to have to leave the house.

Totally normal stuff

My friend @kerrycoeo.bsky.social is pretty good at rock n roll shows, but he's much better at writing and pitching good stories to good reporters. Check him out:

Andy Ogles has found his villian. The congressman from Maury County — under investigation for campaign finance problems — is targeting Mayor Freddie O'Connell with a congressional investigation over immigration. And Nashville is stuck in the crossfire. Column: @scavendish.bsky.social

“If we fail to adjust to what is actually happening around us — not just what we think is happening — it won’t just make us think our cities are more dangerous than they really are. It’ll sap energy for the reforms that can really make a difference.” www.vox.com/good-news-ne...

Shelby County, TN has nearly 3,000 men, women, and children in jail this morning. The vast majority have not been convicted and cannot afford bail.

“They don’t care. They don’t care if it’s legal or not. It just doesn’t matter anymore.”

Thanks @memphisflyer.com for letting us celebrate in your pages this week. Join us on June 8 at Minglewood Hall for a proper celebration featuring @roywoodjr.bsky.social, @justinjpearson.bsky.social, and much more! Tickets at justcity.org/standup

The kind of callous indifference we've come to expect. Black lives, Black leadership, Black prosperity, Black agency, Black cities. None of it matters.

Highly recommended reading on the COVID crime spike and "the roaring crime decline" since then. johnkroman.substack.com/p/explaining...

👀

🧵

The Klan and ICE agents both wear masks. And they do so for the same reason.

One of the best local stories of the year is the Central High jazz band that advanced last night to the top 10 out of the top 30 in the world!

“[P]olice departments in America have a culture that rewards silence, valorizes aggression and demonizes those who dissent to problematic behavior.” www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...

The masks.

On the verdict in the trial of three former Memphis police officers charged in the killing of #TyreNichols

“That’s sort of the really tragic part of this whole entire case. Had Mr. Nichols pulled over when he got the blue lights and submitted to the officers’ questioning or whatever, in all likelihood, they wouldn’t have arrested him.” Or whatever.

“What I’ve heard is deeply disturbing… dragnet operations like this do nothing to improve public safety - they terrorize families…” NASHVILLE Rep. @aftynbehn.bsky.social (D) reacts to the ICE & @TNHighwayPatrol raids in immigrant communities last night

I memorized a poem this week! Thanks, @nytimes.com

"Memphis doesn’t need another corporate footprint. Memphis needs visionaries. Memphis needs defenders. Memphis needs leaders who love our people more than they fear political fallout."

Liberation . . . from jobs!

If you think regular authoritarianism is bad, try it while watching the Memphis Grizzlies give up a 29 point lead in a playoff game. At home.

“Today, right now—and I mean right this second—you have the most power you’ll ever have in the current fight against authoritarianism in America,” writes @adriennelaf.bsky.social. If you wait to speak out against autocrats, you have already lost: https://theatln.tc/Dub5DrW8

Grizzlies Game 2 loss was just close enough to hurt a little more dailymemphian.com/subscriber/s...

Cops lie.

Francis was a parish priest. It was obviously his favorite part of the job. So if he simply refuses to meet you, you have a problem. I'm not surprised he sent Parolin to lecture Vance. Parolin is probably even money to be the next Pope. "My death won't get you out of this."

Geography lesson at today’s Pro-Due-Process rally.

Jesus’s parents were unwed and undocumented. So he got what he deserved. by J. D. Vance