I thought I’d be up super late last night, and planned to watch news coverage of the L.A. protests until the wee hours of the morning. But I felt out of sorts all day yesterday, which infected my cartooning, and sleepiness hit me heavy at 11 p.m. after a dinner of runny egg salad sandwiches (I had to do something with a dozen recently-expired eggs before leaving town Saturday, and I used too much mayo), so I went to bed.
I woke up at 5 a.m. this morning, and I was ready to go. But I dreaded turning on my TV. I was afraid I’d find nothing but coverage of deaths and a city burning. But no, I didn’t find any of that. The most disturbing thing I learned was that Lauren Tomasi, a reporter from Australia’s Channel 9 News, was struck by a rubber bullet while she was doing her job.
Sure, some buildings were damaged, some cars burned (that may not have been Teslas), other cops were looked at the wrong way, and there were 27 arrests, but nothing major. How disappointing for Republicans and MAGAts.
27 people arrested during a protest in Los Angeles isn’t surprising. Now, if there are 27 arrests in Fredericksburg, then you’d have a story, at least a local one.
Trump said things are looking “REALLY BAD” in a call to “BRING IN THE TROOPS.” Someone forgot to turn off Grandpa’s caps lock. But the “troops” he deployed aren’t necessary because the LAPD should be enough for this situation. When Trump deployed 2,000 members of the National Guard, it was to control only 400 protesters. And now Pete Hegseth wants to bring in the Marines. These guys want a fight.
Governor Gavin Newsom plans to sue Trump for his unlawful deployment, which was not requested by the state.
Newsweek reported “mass lootings” had broken out during the night, and said there were two videos of it, yet didn’t show the videos in its story or even provide any photos. A reporter from CNN on the scene couldn’t find any evidence of looting. Newsweek claimed a gas station and a Jordan’s sneakers store were looted, but even if true, two stores are not “mass” looting.
The problem for Trump is that the situation isn’t as bad as he wants it to be. Trump wants heads cracked open by police batons, buildings burning, cops killed, kids killed, and to watch a repeat of the 1992 Rodney King riots, but it’s not happening. Deploying the National Guard only throws gas on the flames of the situation, which is what Trump wants. A better way to calm things down would be to stop the random ICE raids where criminals aren’t found.
And while a few protesters burned cars and threw Molotov cocktails (I thought Pete Hegseth liked cocktails. Dammit. That’s a cartoon), they weren’t firing rubber bullets indiscriminately. Whichever law enforcement agency shot the Aussie reporter, the LAPD, Highway Patrol, or Homeland Security (Yes, they’re there too, but only on Kristi Noem’s order to murder protesting puppies) has no excuse for shooting a reporter last night. The video shows a cop aiming directly at the reporter. Whoa! I just now watched that. It made me jump! Look to the left of the reporter, and you’ll see the cop aiming directly at her.
The LAPD has no comment, probably because they haven’t crafted their lie yet. The cop should be fired. If this Justice Department weren’t under a fascist government, I’d call for them to investigate this, too. It’s a clear violation of the First Amendment. As a journalist, this seriously pisses me off.
Nick Stern, a British photojournalist, told The Guardian that he had been wounded by what was probably another rubber bullet fired by police. He had to be taken to a hospital for surgery.
A New York Times reporter was also hit by a rubber bullet last night.
Three journalists shot by police in one night is ridiculous. Maybe the cops will claim the reporters were looting.
Trump’s birthday parade: I’m flying out of Washington on Sunday, so I figured I might as well leave early and attend the parade on Saturday. I’ll blog about it for you and report what actually happens, like how infested the city is by MAGAts. Wait until you see the shirt I plan to wear. I hope I don’t get shot by a rubber bullet.
California: I’m flying to California on Sunday, and I’ll be staying in a friend’s home for ten days. Of course, I'll be working the entire time. It’s not in Los Angeles, but it’s in easy access to where I’m staying. If shit’s still going down, I might check it out. You know I live dangerously.
Creative note: I did not want any words in this cartoon. I just wanted Trump with the head of flames. But I knew that in a year or so, when I look at this cartoon again, I wouldn’t remember what it was about. I do that a lot.
I had two other ideas that came to me quickly, both of which I liked. I got the idea for today’s cartoon before 6 a.m., and it’s my favorite of the three. I wrote six ideas yesterday and gave up writing around 7 p.m., and not being crazy about any of them. That’s how it goes sometimes.
I was finally able to drop off Carole’s signed print today and check my mail (only to find one letter from one of you guys, purchasing two subscriptions). So, I wrote today’s blog at Curibita. Sorry, Jean. Your coffee gift card still hasn’t arrived. I’m suspecting that the confusion of my mail going from one post office to a stack of mail in another post office is preventing me from getting all my mail.
Music note: I listened to Oasis, which I’m kinda rediscovering. They’re great, but I was turned off the band by Wonderwall, which the radio wouldn’t stop playing. I was living in Jackson, Mississippi, and I’d actually turn the radio to one of the country stations each time Wonderwall came on. Do you know how much I hate country music? A few years later in Virginia, after I started running an open mic, I’d hear Wonderwall every night by newbie guitar players, which just made me hate Oasis even more (karaoke made me hate Love Shack by the B52s. 15 college girls all trying to be the lead singer at the same time does not sound good). Now, I’m giving Oasis a second chance and liking what I’m hearing…except for Wonderwall. I have to keep skipping that one.
I will never like Love Shack, but otherwise, Cosmic Thing is an outstanding album.
I have always liked Champagn Supernova, which most people hate because of the stupid lyrics, “Slowly walking down the hall, faster than a cannonball,” but I think I like that because those are stupid lyrics. I like contradictions in song lyrics.
The group is still a bit too nasally for me. Guess what song just leaped into my head. Agh!
Group nickname: I’m still working on it. I’ll get back to you. Keep those suggestions coming. A couple of new suggestions are “Peezers” and “PeezHeads.” Maybe “PeezyHeads.”
Drawn in 30 seconds:
Timelapse:
Support your local cartoonist: If you want to support the cartoonist, please donate through PayPal to clayjonz@gmail.com, Venmo to clay-jones-87, or snail mail it to Clay Jones, P.O. Box 3721, Fredericksburg, VA 22402. All support is appreciated.
Signed prints: Each signed print costs $40.00. Every cartoon at Claytoonz is available. Payment is accepted through PayPal, Venmo (clay-jones-87), or snail mail to Clay Jones, P.O. Box 3721, Fredericksburg, VA 22402. Add to the note what you’re purchasing.
Tales From The Trumpster Fire: Signed copies of my second book are $50 and available only through me. I currently have four copies in my personal stash. Add to the note what you’re purchasing.
Knee-Deep In Mississippi: There are only seven copies left of my first book, published in 1997. They can be purchased for $40.00. Let me know which cartoon you are buying in the note.
Rodney King riots of 1992? I'm guessing that he's more interested in riots from earlier, when America was Great.
Like, Birmingham in 1962. Or, Chicago in 1968. Or, even, Kent State in 1970.
Wow about Newsweek tho it does reiterate my point about their rightward movement about another toon.
Read (in another substack? elsewhere?) earlier today that this is what he did about Portland, OR - say the city was aflame and the PFD said NOPE. Where did I see a great video of LA protestors line dancing? It was peaceful. LAPD put out a statement that it had been.
Forget too where I read the ICE-empowered folks include J6ers and that the masks are to ensure unlike on J6 full faces aren’t captured. Wonder then who all is really “insurrecting” in LA.
For No Kings Day: we’re taking guesses: Inaug was moved last minute bc it was “too cold”. They tore down the expensive viewing stand. The Army (250 is greater than 79; they planned first) will set up by 6/12 we’re told. He himself could change his part last minute but WHERE do you do a parade with tanks indoors at “the last minute”?
Seriously, really: be safe. We expect the red hats to be everywhere on our Blue streets.