January 1, Portland Protest Turn Violent

Good morning Middle Americans. After a lot of anticipation, the protests and counter-protests in Portland yesterday were violent, but not as violent as many thought. The Portland Police department did a good job of keep the far-right “Proud Boys” away from the far-left “antifa” or anti-fascist thugs. Here’s how the Oregonian described the scene, “after taunts and chants, the showdown devolved into a roving game of cat-and-mouse as packs of political rivals crisscrossed bridges above the Willamette River and police scrambled to keep them apart.” We have more below. 

Also California has a poop problem, and the state’s two biggest cities are struggling with solutions.  And we say so long to the great Peter Fonda, star of Easy Rider.  Read all about it. 

– Fraser Dixon 

13 Arrested After Far-Left, Far-Right Protestors Clash in Portland Oregon 

(The Oregonian) – “We wanted national attention and we got it,” said Joe Biggs, a Florida resident and former InfoWars staffer who organized the right-wing event. “Mission success.”

See the violent clashes and read more about the protests from the Oregonian here. 

California’s Biggest Cities Confront a ‘Defecation Crisis’

(WSJ) – In California at least, one is struck by the contrast between the fastidious attention paid to the social duty of scooping up and disposing of dog feces, and the rather more paralyzed and guilty reaction to the plague of human feces. 

Read more from the Wall Street Journal here. 

‘Easy Rider’ Star, 1960s Swashbuckler Peter Fonda Dies at 79

(AP) – “I’m very sad,” Jane Fonda said in a statement. “He was my sweet-hearted baby brother. The talker of the family. I have had beautiful alone time with him these last days. He went out laughing.”

The Associated Press has Peter Fonda’s obituary here.