If democracy had airbags, they’d have deployed by now. Instead, we’re gripping the wheel as disinformation fuels the crash and the people in charge keep cutting the brakes. I spiked my covfefe with Baileys this morning. It’s a survival strategy, not indulgence. The Baileys is kicking in, so let’s get into it.
1. They Actually Floated Bombing Mexico. Yes, Really.
I warned about this earlier this week. Shocking, I know. It’s almost like I spent years in the room with these people. This debate isn’t new; I was there for versions of it in Trump 1.0. And now here we are again. Newly obtained details show the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) actually urged drone strikes against cartels and targeted killings on Mexican soil, alarming White House and Pentagon officials who reminded them Congress hasn’t authorized such action.
President Claudia Sheinbaum just made history as the first woman to lead El Grito on Mexico’s Independence Day in over 215 years. Mom and I stayed up to watch with tears of pride in our eyes. She has been clear: Mexico’s sovereignty is not up for negotiation. And this week, she stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney to announce a new strategic partnership on trade, infrastructure, and security. Their message: if the U.S. destabilizes, Mexico and Canada will move forward together. Let’s not forget that Trump has a pattern of disrespecting our allies. He’s taunted Canada as becoming the “51st state” while slapping them with tariffs. Tariffs today, drone strikes tomorrow, that’s the trajectory we’re on. The fact that this debate is happening at all should set off alarms. Once the door to U.S. military action against Mexico cracks open, it won’t close easily. It’s no coincidence our closest neighbors are preparing to walk without us, and the rest of the world is taking notes.
🚁 DEA’s Wild Pitch, Bomb Mexico: WaPo | 🍁 Canada & Mexico Team Up: CBC
2. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Workers Hunted by Conspiracies
I’ve seen firsthand how FEMA is always an easy political target, but the new documents are chilling. After last year’s deadly hurricanes, armed militias hunted FEMA workers in North Carolina, the FEMA director was swatted, and senior staff were doxxed. Relief teams were trying to save lives while looking over their shoulders. The details are a stark reminder of the world we’re living in, where disinformation doesn’t just spread online, it directly endangers lives and hampers rescue efforts. And now, with Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem gutting the very resources FEMA used to counter these threats, the risks fall on all of us. Disasters don’t check your ballot before they strike. When FEMA fails, it’s your neighbors, your family, maybe even you, who pay the price.
⚠️ FEMA Staff Swatted & Doxxed: Bloomberg
3. Cancel Culture, MAGA Style: Proud Boys Go Hunting
Fresh out of prison thanks to Trump’s blanket January 6 pardons, Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio is boasting that MAGA has finally learned to “play dirty.” He says his network is targeting people who posted critically about Charlie Kirk’s assassination, pressuring employers to fire them and claiming more than 100 “scalps” so far. (Scalps—that’s what they’re calling it. You read that correctly.) Vice President J.D. Vance even encouraged the campaign on Kirk’s own show. This is more than internet trolling; it’s an intimidation tactic designed to chill free speech and punish dissent, as militias seize Kirk’s death to recruit and flex power. Tarrio himself admitted the hypocrisy:
“I guess it’s kind of hypocritical of us after saying, ‘oh free speech’ or whatever, but the problem is the right isn’t good at fighting dirty. Now they’ve figured it out. And it’s working.”
🎯 Enrique Tarrio Brags MAGA Can “Play Dirty”: The Atlantic
4. Ted Cruz Breaks with Trump Over FCC’s Mob Tactics
When Republican U.S. Senator Ted Cruz calls something “dangerous as hell,” you know the guardrails are gone. The Texas senator blasted Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr for threatening ABC and Disney over Jimmy Kimmel’s remarks about Charlie Kirk’s assassination, likening Carr’s “easy way or hard way” warning to a mob shakedown. Trump, meanwhile, praised Carr and even suggested that broadcasters who criticize him could lose their licenses. Republicans once railed against cancel culture; now they’re running it straight from the Oval Office. State censorship is in full effect.
🎭 FCC vs. Kimmel, Cruz Calls Out “Mob Play”: NBC
5. The Atlantic’s Fact-Based Journalism, Now Free for Students
Amid so much media capitulation and censorship, here’s something worth celebrating and sharing. The Atlantic is providing every public high school with free digital access to all its journalism and 168 years of archives. That means students and teachers can explore ideas, history, and fact-based reporting without barriers. As The Atlantic put it, “an informed citizenry is essential to our democracy.” Please share this news with teachers, parents, and neighbors who know high schoolers, because access to truth matters.
📖 Unlocking 168 Years of Ideas: The Atlantic
🌱 Inspiration For Your Soul
Nearly 300 miles of western Missouri are being reimagined into a living corridor of wildflowers and pollinator habitat. The Highway 13 Butterfly Trail winds through twelve counties and small towns that are turning roadsides, parks, and empty lots into vibrant ecosystems. It’s not just about beauty: monarchs, bees, and hummingbirds are in crisis, and pollinators are responsible for nearly a third of our food crops. By restoring native habitat, this grassroots effort is creating a lifeline for biodiversity while also boosting rural economies through ecotourism. The Butterfly Trail is equal parts conservation project, community revival, and an invitation to travelers: stop, explore, learn, and support small towns. Imagine if every state did this—connecting local pride, economic opportunity, and ecological resilience. This isn’t just a trail, it’s a movement. Sounds like I need to plan a road trip through beautiful Missouri!
The Autumn equinox is on Monday, a reminder that even in chaotic times, seasons still turn and new chapters begin. Ringo and Stevie say happy fall, y’all! 🍂🐾
Until next time,
Olivia
In addition to having knowledge and experience, you are a darn good writer. Public schools and The Atlantic are on the “right track”. Appreciate you continuing to serve us without a taxpayer paycheck!
The butterfly trail 🦋 Thanks for that. We all could use some joy in these stressful times.