There are at least 2 reasons to protest peacefully: (1) the current administration would love to escalate tensions and violence because they have the clear advantage in fire power and an emotional base of support who feel discriminated against for both legitimate and manufactured reasons, and (2) violent protests will only further inflame factions of the electorate against each other and take the focus away from our primary and serious problem of an incredibly corrupt administration doing nothing to address the many pressing concerns of our population.
“More in Common” is an international organization that does extensive surveys. “More in Common was established with the mission of tackling the ‘us-versus-them’ divisions that pose a generational threat to the United States.” More in Common issued a report on Jan 20th titled “Beyond MAGA, A Profile of the Trump Coalition”
moreincommonus.com/publications/
[excerpt] “Drawing on surveys, interviews and group conversations conducted with over 10,000 Trump voters over 10 months concluding in early 2026, this study finds four distinct types of Trump voters: MAGA Hardliners, Anti-Woke Conservatives, Mainline Republicans, and the Reluctant Right.”
(back to my post) I believe it’s difficult or impossible to solve a problem without a clear and accurate understanding of it. While the internet can be a great resource, it’s also a cesspool of misleading garbage. Most of mainstream media isn’t much interested in sorting things out for viewers.
Every once in a while there’s some intelligent analyses and it’s up to us to recognize the useful and helpful bits as they fly by. I think one such bit of reality was broadcast on NBC’s Meet the Press this Sunday. Senator Adam Schiff has been slandered and vilified by Trump to a point that many don’t pay much attention, but he is very intelligent and got right to the point of the matter. He clearly believes we have a functional democracy and can make it work better. I agree this is not a time for doom and gloom, but for calling out the corruption and looking toward solutions.
Thanks!
TWAM Candle Making
Feb 13
5-7
Mazanita Winery
253 Laneda Ave
$35 per person
Includes scented candle made from a wine bottle and
$10 voucher towards a purchase at the Winery at Manzanita.
Simone Butler
Tasting Room Manager
503-803-2899
info@thewineryatmanzanita.com
www.thewineryatmanzanita.com
NORTH COUNTY RESISTANCE ROCK STARS WEEKLY PROTESTS IN NEHALEM, SATURDAYS NOON TO 2PM (VIDEO)
Posted on January 25, 2026 by Editor
By Laura Swanson
“We just have to be activists, we’re called to raise awareness about issues that impact us all,” said one of the North County Resistance unofficial organizers. It takes a village and the “organization” is a team effort with several people taking on various roles – sharing information, making signs, bringing snacks, and more. This grassroots group started gathering to protest almost a year ago on February 17th, last President’s Day, and have consistently had participants show up nearly every Saturday since. Recently, they’ve seen an increase in participation, and on Saturday January 24, 2026 over 85 people. “We were going to take the winter season off, but there was so much support and everyone wanted to out here …”
Many people have commented to me about “finding their people” and how impactful it is to see them out there every Saturday.
The Pioneer had been sharing videos each week from North Coast Pinball, and the videos were “going viral” – racking up over 150,000 views. When I contacted the organizers and shared this information, they were delighted and stunned. For all the negative comments on social media, this truly is making a difference. Little Nehalem, population 270 has over 70 regular protesters. The “protest” is more of gathering of goodwill and peace (for the most part) citizens exercising their freedom of speech. It’s about we the people standing up for truth and justice for ALL. The murders by ICE and CBP, the lies from our government, programs defunded, blue states punished, destroying longstanding international agreements, the list could go on anad on … and all the benefits for billionaires. This is not making America great again, it’s destroying the very fabric of our culture. America has become morally and mortally wounded – the moral foundations our country was born from, life, liberty and the pursuit of hapiness for ALL are no longer in view for many.
I know that many of the Pioneer’s readers “don’t do social media” – and there are some that do. I want to share that as we’ve become more aggressive with our social media posts, the trolls and bots have come out. As I mentioned, the videos are receiving thousands of view, and also thousands of comments. We work diligently to delete comments that don’t adhear to our standards — truth, kindness and benefit to the community. Another inspiring statistic from the social media posts – the ratio of interactions – Likes/Loves vs. Laughs – over 75% are supportive. They are the minority, but they are loud. Many of the comments aren’t from real people, but from bots and trolls – fake profiles and targeted attacks on any content that’s anti-ICE or anti-Trump. We will continue to share trustworthy, accurate information from reliable sources, such as the Associated Press, PBS and other verified news organizations.
There is hope and there are actionable endeavors for us all. The Pioneer has shared several viewpoints below – Words of Wisdom from Neal Lemery and some Positive Vibes from Jan Boal – Marc Johnson also shared his views and poem from Langston Hughes.
We are all in this together. And we are here for you. The Pioneer will continue to strive to provide accurate, trustworthy information about our communities, county, region and nation.
Please let us know how we can help you – resources, connections, information … we want to hear from you about how you are navigating through these uncertain times. Email to editor@tillamookcountypioneer.net.
Here are our photos and video from the North County Resistance, Saturday January 24, 2026 – lots of creativity in our community …
the Teeter for 100.00
And the dog carrier for 100.00
Looking ahead, there is hope that all Democratic lawmakers will vote to stop funding ICE. If they fail to do so, those individuals should not be reelected. ICE should be dismantled immediately, and those leading the organization should be removed from their positions—though perhaps only after experiencing the conditions of an ICE detention unit themselves for a couple of months. Witnessing these events, I am reminded of the lesson I was raised with: “two wrongs don’t make a right.” Yet, I admit to feeling a desire for those responsible to face consequences, even harsher than what I am willing to say aloud.
Please do not hesitate to email me with your feedback. We need to stick together in times like these. We must not give up!
North County Resistance will meet again next Saturday, January 31 in Nehalem, from noon to 2 PM. Thank you to the 80 people who showed up on Saturday. Our numbers grow weekly. Patty
NBCS is always looking for donations for the following items:
Personal Care Items: shampoo and baby shampoo, soap, toothpaste for adults and children, toothbrushes, personal wipes.
Pet Food: Canned Cat and Dog Food, Dry Cat Food. Also, cat litter.
You can drop these donations off during operating hours of Monday, Friday and Saturday from 10 to 2, or Wednesday from 1 to 5. We are located in the basement of the Nehalem Methodist Church.
Thank you.
We have tinkered with it, tried to shop vac out a clog, etc, but nothing yet has worked.
Thank you.
DEADLINE JANUARY 31 – There is still time to SPEAK UP to protect our drinking water by sending in your comments regarding Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) overarching management document, Forest Management Plan. The plan can be accessed at the following link: www.oregon.gov/odf/board/Documents/fmp-hcp/western-oregon-state-forests-management-plan-draft-september-2025.pdf
Drinking water must be included as a Greatest Permanent Value in the ODF Forest Management Plan.
Please send in your comments via email by January 31st at 11:55pm to:
odf.sfcomments@odf.oregon.gov
(cc: governor.kotek@oregon.gov)
Join our community meeting this coming Tuesday Jan 27, at St. Mary by the Sea Parish Hall – 275 S. Pacific Street in Rockaway Beach, from 6pm-7pm.
Agenda
1. Submit comments to ODF for the new Forest Management Plan. Talking points, discussions and letter writing materials will be available.
2. “Save the Wetlands” updates will include the January 13th LUBA Hearing.
3. Help with NCCWP’s upcoming events.
NCCWP wants no more logging and pesticide use in community drinking water sources regardless of who owns the land, and wants an end to pesticide applications near where people live, work, and recreate. Safe drinking water and clean air are part of the public trust that we all are entitled to have. Please help North Coast Communities for Watershed Protection safeguard and restore our drinking watersheds. . www.healthywatershed.org | North Coast Communities for Watershed Protection
For more information, to volunteer or to unsubscribe, contact rockawaycitizen.water@gmail.com
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to NCCWP.
You can donate by check or online via debit or credit card by visiting: healthywatershed.org/donate/.
Thank you, everyone, for working to protect drinking water!
#healthywatersheds #stoppesticides #agentorangeawareness #protectdrinkingwater #nccwp
Also. Im selling my back inversion table Brand name TETTER. Im asking 100.00
Also Im offering a chaise lounge. Dark blue used. fine shape- free. all photos coming soon
Contact: dumpsterfirearts@gmail.com
as i finished writing this, the title for this post came to me, “MURDER ON THE STREETS”
from Heather Cox Richardson. i have capitalized some words. my reaction “oh my god” came out of my mouth repeated times as i read this.
we MUST vote this criminal regime out of office. please VOTE in the november elections!
om peace namaste
written with tears
lucy brook
nehalem resident
January 24, 2026
HEATHER COX RICHARDSON
This morning, on a street in Minneapolis, at least seven federal agents tackled and then shot and killed Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse for the local VA hospital.
Video from the scene shows Pretti directing traffic on a street out of an area with agents around, then trying to help another person get up after she had been pushed to the ground by the agents. The agents then surround Pretti and shoot pepper spray into his face, then pull him to the ground from behind and hit him as he appears to be trying to keep his head off the ground. An agent appears to take a gun out of Pretti’s waistband during the struggle, then turns and leaves with it. A shot then stops Pretti’s movements, appearing to kill him, before nine more shots ring out, as agents apparently continue to fire into his body. IT LOOKED LIKE AN EXECUTION.
After he was dead, the agents walked away, apparently making no effort to preserve the crime scene, which people on the street later tried to secure by walling it off with trash bins.
As journalist Philip Bump noted, administration officials didn’t even pretend to wait for more information before jumping straight to “the opponent of the state deserved it.”
Mitch Smith of the New York Times reported that federal agents have blocked state investigators from the scene. Drew Evans of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, a statewide investigations team that specializes in police shootings, told reporters his agency had obtained a search warrant—a rare step—but the federal government still refused them access.
Tonight, in a lawsuit against Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem and other administration officials, Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison asked a judge for a temporary restraining order to prevent DHS agents from destroying evidence related to the shooting. The suit noted the “astonishing” departure from normal investigations, seemingly trying not to preserve evidence but to destroy it. A judge, who was appointed to the bench by Trump, immediately granted the restraining order, barring the administration from “destroying or altering evidence” concerning the killing.
Ernesto Londoño of the New York Times reported that federal officials also “have refused to disclose the identities of federal agents involved in Saturday’s shooting, as well as the names of federal agents who have shot people in recent days.”
Minnesota police have refused to obey the federal officers, though. Local law enforcement has been talking to witnesses and finding videos of the shooting. Minneapolis police chief Brian O’Hara said at a press conference: “Our demand today is for those federal agencies that are operating in our city to do so with the same discipline, humanity, and integrity that effective law enforcement in this country demands. We urge everyone to remain peaceful.”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has said that it, rather than the FBI, will investigate the shooting. But, as Alex Witt of MS NOW noted, DHS had already issued a statement about the shooting, which FALSELY ASSERTED that Pretti had “approached US Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun” and that he “violently resisted” as “officers attempted to disarm” him. The statement continued that “an agent fired defensive shots” and added that Pretti “also had 2 magazines and no ID—this looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement.” lucy’s words, “THESE ARE LIES.”
“So,” Witt noted, “they’re gonna be investigating that which they’ve already issued a summary about…. It would seem that it’s a closed book?”
After repeatedly being exposed as liars over previous accusations against those they have shot, the Department of Homeland Security has so little credibility that Witt is not the only journalist calling out the federal agents for lying. Devon Lum of the New York Times wrote: “Videos on social media that were verified by The New York Times contradict the Department of Homeland Security’s account of the fatal shooting of a man by federal agents in Minneapolis on Saturday morning.
“The Department of Homeland Security said the episode began after a man approached Border Patrol agents with a handgun and they tried to disarm him. But footage from the scene shows the man was holding a phone in his hand, not a gun, when federal agents took him to the ground and shot him.”
But LYING TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE (lucy’s capitalization) is the only option for the administration when we can, once again, all see what happened with our own eyes. Pretti did have a permit for a concealed handgun and appeared to have carried the gun with him, although witnesses say he never reached for it. Tonight Noem doubled down on the lie, saying again: “This looks like a situation where an individual arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement.”
When the Democratic Party’s social media account posted: “ICE agents shot and killed another person in Minneapolis this morning. Get ICE out of Minnesota NOW,” White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller replied: “A would-be assassin tried to murder federal law enforcement and the official Democrat account sides with the terrorists.” The Democrats’ social media account responded: “You’re a f*cking liar with blood on your hands.” lucy’s words, “THAT IS THE TRUTH.”
In the wake of Pretti’s shooting, Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote to Minnesota governor Tim Walz to suggest he could “bring back law and order to Minnesota” if he handed over the state’s voter rolls to the Department of Justice. (this is where, sitting in my living room by my morning fire, i spoke into the silence of the room, OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD!) As Jacob Knutson of Democracy Docket noted, SHE EXPLICITLY TIED THE ADMINISTRATION’S VIOLENCE IN THE STATE TO ITS DETERMINATION TO GET ITS HANDS ON VOTERS’ PERSONAL DATA BEFORE THE 2026 ELECTION. (my words, “BRIBERY ATTEMPT FROM OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT? EVERY AMERICAN CITIZEN NEEDS TO VOTE–VOTE THESE CRIMINALS OUT OF OFFICE!). Minnesota has voted for the Democratic candidate running against Trump in the past three presidential elections, but he insists that he really has won the state each time. (my words, FRUMPF IS A LIAR)
As G. Elliott Morris of Strength in Numbers wrote: Republicans could stop this at any time they wanted to.
“All it would take to end the murder of American citizens by an untrained government goon squad is 16 Republicans in Congress voting with Dem[ocrat]s to defund ICE (or 23 to impeach and remove Trump—3 in House & 20 in Senate). That’s it. 23 Americans can vote for the public and end all of this.”
Morris also pointed out that in December, Trump’s approval rating was negative in 40 states, including 10 he won in 2024. That covers 30 seats currently held by Republicans. Pretti’s shooting will likely erode Trump’s support further. Tonight, even right-wing podcaster Tim Pool reacted to Pretti’s killing by noting that it looked as if the agent had disarmed Pretti before the other agents shot him. “I don’t see Trump winning this one,” Pool commented.
The funding bill for DHS is effectively dead in the Senate, as Democrats have said they will not support any more funding for DHS. Tonight, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) told reporters: “Senate Democrats will not provide the votes to proceed to the appropriations bill if the DHS funding bill is included.” But the July law the Republicans call the One Big Beautiful Bill Act poured nearly $191 billion into DHS through September 30, 2029, with almost $75 billion going to ICE and $67 billion going to Customs and Border Protection (FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, got just $2.9 billion).
Representative Seth Moulton (D-MA) had more to say: “What we just saw this morning on the streets of Minneapolis is another OUTRIGHT MURDER by federal officials. And let me just be clear, those federal ICE officers are ABSOLUTE COWARDS. I am a Marine veteran standing here telling you to your face they are unprofessional, pathetic cowards. Because if a Marine, an 18 year old Marine, did that in Iraq in the middle of a war zone, he would be court-martialed because it is murder. And you pathetic little cowards who have to wear face masks because you’re so damn scared, couldn’t even effectively wrestle a guy [to] the ground, so you needed to shoot him? This is why ICE needs to be prosecuted. Yeah, I voted to defund it, but ICE, you need to be prosecuted, and Director [Todd] Lyons, who’s running ICE right now, I hope you’re hearing this from this Marine to you. You guys are criminal thugs. You need to be held accountable to law if you think you can enforce it, and you need to be prosecuted right now.”
Just hours after the killing of Alex Pretti, agents pinned U.S. citizen Matthew James Allen to the street while he screamed: “I have done nothing at all. My name is Matthew James…Allen. I’m a United States citizen…. You’re gonna kill me! Is that what you want? You want to kill me? You want to kill me on the street? You’re going to have to f*cking kill me! I have done nothing wrong.” Nearby, his sobbing wife screamed: “Stop please! Stop!! Please!! We were just running away from the gas. That’s all we were doing.”
Tonight, Susan and Michael Pretti, the parents of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, issued a statement:
“We are heartbroken but also very angry,” they said.
“Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital. Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately, he will not be with us to see his impact.
“I do not throw around the ‘hero’ term lightly. However, his last thought and act was to protect a woman. The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He had his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down, all while being pepper sprayed.
“Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man.”
U.S. citizen
I feel like $75.00 is a fair price because it’s complete, in great shape, and not very common.
Shoot me an email for questions.
Selling for
$125.00
971-324-0149
May you weep and feel better
May you cry out in anger and curse and stomp
Our world has a plethora of things that make us stumble, weep and anger
And it has soul saving beauty
In the everchanging and luminous light whether dazzling or subtle gray
In music and art in all its forms
In bright rainbows and dramatic clouds
In the unknowable vast radiance of the heavens
In the embrace of loved ones
In the bosom of our family and friends
In the perfect cup of a beloved beverage sipped in a quiet place of restoration
In the breathtaking views of mountains
In the joy and laughter around a table
In the magic and mystery of seeds
In the majesty of the forest and the roar of the ocean
In the wonder of the myriad life forms on our planet
In the release and euphoria of vigorous exercise
In a mindful walk in nature
In random acts of kindness
In the satisfaction of work and play well done
In caring and being cared for
In spiritual renewal wherever you find it
In the celebration of coming together of like minds to create gifts of humanity for our world
In sharing your unique gifts
In being given unexpected gifts
In providing mutual aid
In the astonishing beauty of place everywhere around the globe
Let us keep on keeping on and put our drops of love into the world.
“Persistence and ingenuity” are our watch words. (taken from a novel by Joanna Miller)
Barbara McLaughlin
Photo credits
Carrot hug by Zoe Colosimo from FB
Hugging trees by Amazing World from FB
The tree that doesn’t give up by Ana Klein from FB
Contact – dumpsterfirearts@gmail.com
Come join us for Yoga with veterans, with Molly and with Janet. It’s fun, healthy, complementary and will limber you up. Everyone is welcome. Molly and Janet are excellent teachers.
Here is the info:
Yoga with Molly
Day – Monday
Time – 10:45 PST
Place – Tillamook YMCA
If you can’t join in person, you can still zoom in via the following link.
us06web.zoom.us/j/85009203244?pwd=kewlp3KzlW0sKcbRbW8m3xMy0t5yOA.1
Yoga with Janet
Day – Wednesday
Time – 10:30 PST
Place – NCRD in Nehalem
If you can’t join in person, you can still zoom in via the following link:
us02web.zoom.us/j/82315818270
See you there.
Brian
With heartfelt gratitude,
Crissi
