The Feds Are Accessing Police License Plate Data: US Border Patrol is accessing police data from Flock Safety-brand automatic license plate readers (ALPR) in Washington state. According to a report from University of Washington’s Center for Human Rights, at least eight law enforcement agencies in the state enabled direct, 1:1 data sharing with Border Patrol. Border Patrol also accessed at least 10 agencies’ ALPR data without permission. In a limited number of cases, law enforcement conducted searches on behalf of ICE. Additionally, out-of-state police agencies accessed our data. All of this data sharing appears to have violated the Keep Washington Working Act. The Center’s director told King 5 she worried the data was being used for immigration enforcement.

Flock Safety is Not So Safe: The report said that there are serious questions about transparency and the accuracy of Flock’s own descriptions of its network of 80,000 solar-powered, AI-powered cameras across 49 states. The company has shared police data with the feds before. As the Urbanist wrote in June, these cameras are threatening our status as a sanctuary state. Amazon just partnered with Flock to allow law enforcement to request footage from Ring doorbell users.

Blueball: Up two runs in the 7th inning, The Mariners surrendered a three-run homer to Toronto, and scored no more. The magical season is done. The M’s are pecked. The Big Dumper is tearstained. The 48th failure is complete. Seattle is not going to the World Series. I come from a family of Cubs fans. Take those shoes off your head, slip them on, and walk it off.

ICYMI: Nathalie has some strange theories about the Mariners and curses. She threatened to quit unless we printed them.

Meanwhile, I have only one thing to say to those M’s: You tried your best.

Weather: Like the heart of a Mariners fan, the day will start cloudy and gradually clear. Tomorrow will be partly sunny with a 50 percent chance of rain after 11 am. Rain is just as likely on Thursday.

They Could Use Rain Over Yonder: The Seattle Times reports that with one exception, the state cut every “person, farm, ranch, irrigation ditch and company drawing water from rivers, streams and reservoirs” in the Yakima River Basin. Cities like Cle Elum, Ellensburg, Prosser, Roslyn, Yakima received curtailment letters from the state. Everyone is still getting water inside of their homes, but residential cuts are a legitimate concern if conditions worsen in the years to come.

Denny Blaine Can Stay Open Until Spring: A judge says the city’s anti-masturbation fence, signage, and staffing are enough to keep the beach open until the next court hearing this Spring. As everyone knows, winter is prime nude beach weather.

Crisis Narrowly Averted? Police arrested a man at Atlanta’s airport after his family told police he was planning to shoot it up. Allegedly, he’d announced his plan over livestream. Police said they found an AR-15 and 27 rounds of ammo in his trunk.

He Isn’t Supposed to Do That: Crews got to work demolishing part of the White House’s East Wing for Trump’s 90,000 square foot, glass-walled ballroom without the approval of the National Capital Planning Commission. “Nothing will be torn down,” White House Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said to reporters this summer. If this were a metaphor, you’d think it hamfisted. But our dipshit, tacky President thinks national history, rules, and democracy are for suckers. So here we are.

But I Guess He Can Do This? In a 2-1 vote, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Trump has the authority to deploy the National Guard to Portland and occupy the city. The Oregon AG immediately requested that the ruling be reheard. Our sister publication, the Portland Mercury, has more.

He Probably Can’t Do This One, Right? Former FBI Director and longtime member of Trump’s personal shitlist James Comey was hit with politically motivated Department of Justice charges. He’s asking a US District Judge to dismiss the charges, citing vindictive prosecution.

More Like the Department of Bullshit: In over 35 cases, federal judges have accused the Trump DOJ of providing false information, including false sworn declarations, according to a report from 60 Minutes. One expert told the show that what they’re seeing in these cases usually happens once every 10 years. It’s really, really abnormal.

No Business as Usual: It’s day 21 of the government shutdown. Senate Democrats rejected the Republicans’ stopgap bill an 11th time yesterday. No end in sight here.

Chess Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky Dead at 29: Born in California, Naroditsky was one of the top blitz chess players in the world. He played in five US championships, earning youth and junior titles. It’s unclear how or why Naroditsky died. But according to a statement on behalf of the family, his death was unexpected.

Kenny Loggins—Leave “Danger Zone” Out of This: Over the weekend, the President of the United States posted an AI-video of a crowned Trump dropping shit on “No Kings” protestors from a fighter jet. The video was set to “Danger Zone,” Kenny Loggins’ hit from Top Gun. Loggins wants the video scrubbed. Mr. Loggins, I think we should hold onto it as evidence. For the trials.

SQUEAK: US customers sued the athletic shoe company On because they allegedly make a “noisy and embarrassing squeak.” They’re also ugly, and that’s embarrassing too, but that’s not part of the suit. 

Average On Owner, Allegedly: 

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Vivian McCall is The Stranger's interim Editor-in-Chief. In her private life, she is a musician and Wii U apologist. If you’re reading this, you either love her or hate her.

46 replies on “Slog AM: Mariners Blow It, Trump Demolishes Part of White House, Immigration Agents Access WA License Plate Data”

  1. I didn’t play the video but I heard the squeak. Also feeling validated in my long standing opinion on those ring doorbells. Those who sacrifice privacy for security will not have either one, and I don’t care about the context of the original quote.

  3. I’m pretty curious to hear biped’s take on the hanging shirt and how much of a stain on Seattle’s blighted landscape it represents. On the one hand, it’s a crass and vulgar message, on public display at a busy intersection. Though it does appear clean and perhaps even freshly laundered, and also lacking any funny stickers or graffiti.

  12. @4: I think it’s more that you are so, SO silly people are starting to think of as more of a pet. “What’s Biped barking at now?” “Look at him growling at that sticker!”

  16. Within a year, I expect Trump will decide that the rest of the White House doesn’t measure up to the new ballroom in size or grandeur, and bulldoze that as well to build a 47-story gold-plated palace. He really is that crazy.

  18. Lissa @12…

    You just described my 10 y.o. obnoxious Little Dog, Corabelle, who likes to yell a lot at whatever. You know why they call them pugs? Half dog, half pig. Don’t know where the ‘u’ came from, but it fits.

    And yeah, this is just an excuse to eat popcorn.

  19. @17 – more cope

    You’ll be lucky to make it through your life without being attacked by a “disadvantaged teen” that you “progressively advocated” for.

  20. Bi-pedo @18….

    WHUUTTT?

    Let’s see… I’m about one year out from retiring in my 50s, no mortgage, no debt.

    I was a ‘disadvantaged teen’ and would have loved being ‘progressively advocated’ for.

    I’m pretty fine with where I’m at right now, thank you very much.

    You asshat.

  22. By the way, anyone here remember the Tuba Man, and what happened to his killers? Probably not, you’re all too “progressive”, it went down your Memory Hole.

  27. Lissa @22…

    No, I had not seen that! That was funny as hell. And my pug just stared at me cracking up while watching it “Huh?”

    Thank you so much.

    Bi-pedo @ 20…

    Well, I certainly didn’t vote for the orange shit-gibbon who is currently destroying the White House, so once again you are completely wrong. It must be rough being wrong all the time, but I would guess Dunning-Krueger is a salve for your hurt fee-fees.

    Dumbass.

  28. CKathes dear, I wouldn’t worry too much about what trump will be doing in a year. He’s well past his sell-by date, and the best healthcare in the world won’t stop the inevitable.

    Stephen Walker is running the show. That’s what worries me, but maybe he and VP Guyliner will hate each other.

  29. @25: I am flattered that you think I’m so young! Just for that I’m going to ask that the next Slog AM be wrapped in a piece of cheese so you can swallow it more easily <3

    @26: It is a VERY funny movie, I highly recommend it 🙂

  30. “…these cameras are threatening our status as a sanctuary state.”

    First, there is no such thing as a sanctuary state (as e.g., ICE deporting persons from Seattle with impunity should have told you). The feds can obtain data from state and local governments to enforce laws, and the federal government has a monopoly on enforcing immigration laws. If it wants to invite the states to share in that monopoly, each state may elect to do so (e.g. Florida), but if the feds want that data, they will get it.

    Second, for adults, there is no such thing as an expectation of privacy in public. Walk on a public sidewalk, drive on a public road, do anything in the real or virtual public square; anyone can see and record you. Smile!

    Finally, with regards to the headline, the Mariners didn’t “blow it,” they simply lost to a better team. (Admittedly, this is not their usual method of losing, which usually involves playing worse teams, but it was how they lost this time.) My 1995 vote, against the original stadium proposal, has never, ever looked bad by the end of October.

  32. @Lissa…

    Ok, I’ve watched that clip about five times and it is still hilarious. The eyes and loaf of bread jokes kill me. I always refer to my Little Dog as an overgrown Vienna sausage.

  33. @27 Perhaps, but it looks like my time estimate was much too long. The Washington Post now reports that Trump is demolishing virtually the entire East Wing. (Imagine the rage explosion from MAGA-world if Biden — or, god forbid, Obama! — had done anything remotely like this.)

  35. @Lissa…

    Ok… just watched the whole thing and it’s amazing. Not my usual jam, but the story and animation were awesome, and I had to keep looking at the loaf of bread on my bed to make sure she wasn’t uploaded into the movie. That’s my pug right there.

    Thanks again for the recommendation, definitely on the list for next time I visit my youngest niece and nephew.

  38. I’m in your head, bro! I’m in your head! Rent free! Paying only attention to me! I need your attention! Pay me attention please. Attention. Negative attention seeking.

  39. Ballrooms are typically built in mansions, so it makes sense they’re connected. If it keeps with the architectural style, it really will be lovely.

  40. it’ll Be

    shoddy af

    built by Vandals

    knowing they’re Gonna

    Get Stiffed cuz Bonespurs’ll

    Pocket all our Hard-Earned Cash

    look for

    the Roof to

    get Blown off

    the Plumbing to Leak

    the wiring to Short likely

    Burning down the whole White House

    at about the Same Time

    Eltrumpster Shuffles

    off his Mortal Coil.

  45. @38 The ballroom’s design doesn’t matter in this case. It’s simply too big for the site. It’ll dwarf the White House itself — which I suspect will bug Trump to the point where he’ll want to replace it with something much bigger and gaudier to match the ballroom. And it doesn’t look like anyone in D.C. who technically has authority to stop him is willing to do so (“our hands are tied!”). This is real. He could very well demolish the entire house.

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