I need to talk with you about events beyond autism today

#AutisticAF Out Loud

Cold Open [into silence]

Friend, I haven't done this before. Usually I talk autism & neurodiversity with you. But I'm very concerned about events unfolding this weekend...

I've seen these patterns emerge before. In other countries. Authoritarian countries¹.

I have no plan of action to suggest. It's happening too fast for me to process… in my slow, deep AuDHD² way.

All I could think to do… is share my concerns with friends who care.

[Music 8 bars]

Intro

Welcome to Trigger Warnings… a new project of AutisticAF Out Loud podcast.I'm Johnny Profane. Your fiercely divergent guide to what's actually happening in the news.Gimme 10 minutes? I'll give you my neurodivergent world.

Today: Military deployments in two cities, legal challenges mounting, and one burning question: Are we witnessing democratic norms under assault in real time?

For an ever deeper dive, I’ve included footnotes and further reading in the transcript on subStack.

Content Note: civil unrest, military deployment, law enforcement actions, concerns about democratic institutions + experiences & opinions of one autistic voice... in my 70s.

Podcast

Friend,

I haven't done this before. Usually I talk autism & neurodiversity with you.

But I'm very concerned about events unfolding this weekend... and a fair number of you have asked for my neurodivergent take on larger national & global issues.

So, after thinking long & hard... about risks.. I still must share.

This weekend, federal agents raided workplaces across Los Angeles County. They arrested 121 people³.

Protests followed. Police responded with tear gas⁴ & rubber bullets against demonstrators⁵.

On Saturday, President Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard⁶ troops to Los Angeles County. On questionable Constitutional grounds⁷. As the Supreme Court recessed.

His administration called the protests an "insurrection⁸." And threatened to deploy Marines⁹.

At the same time, Washington D.C. is filling with military equipment.7 million pounds of hardware¹⁰.28 tanks. 70 tons each¹¹.Rocket launchers.7,000 military personnel¹².

This equipment arrived by train from Texas. It now sits near the National Mall¹³.

Officials say this is for an Army anniversary parade celebrating Trump's birthday¹⁴.

The largest military display in the capital in decades.

These events happen as Trump faces significant legal challenges. Courts have blocked over 180 of his administration's initiatives¹⁵.

Governor Newsom called the Los Angeles deployment "purposefully inflammatory." He said it would "escalate tensions¹⁶."

[Music 8 bars… overlapping 4 second break in speech]

I find the timing troubling.

Military force against protesters in one city. Unprecedented massive military assets staged in the capital. Simultaneous with significant legal pressure & civil unrest.

All within 72-hours.

These are documented facts. They concern me deeply.

I've seen these patterns emerge before. In other countries. Authoritarian countries.

False crises involving vulnerable targets… like migrants… as victims. Used as a fig leaf for declaring martial law¹⁷.

I have no plan of action to suggest. It's happening too fast for me to process… in my slow, deep AuDHD way.

All I could think to do… is share my concerns with friends who care.

Maybe you too?

[Music 8 bars]

Outro

Trigger Warnings is a new project of AutisticAF Out Loud. Reporting on real-world issues, from a neurodivergent perspective.

We often recognize patterns others miss. In times like these, that perspective? Essential.

If this podcast resonates, share it. The more the world hears neurodivergent voices, the greater my hopes for our future.

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Your Ko-Fi tip of any amount helps keep this resource free for them.

Or join our paid subscriber community at johnnyprofaneknapp.substack.com for ongoing support. Links in description.

A big shoutout to my wife, Kimmie, for her great song, Freedom Blvd. That link is in the description, too.

[Music]

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Footnotes

Educational Context

¹ Authoritarian countries: Nations where power is concentrated in a single leader or small group, often characterized by limited political freedoms, restricted civil liberties, and the use of military force to control civilian populations.

² AuDHD: A term combining ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and autism, used by people who are both autistic and have ADHD. Many neurodivergent individuals process information more slowly but with greater depth and pattern recognition.

³ 121 people arrested: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted multiple workplace raids across Los Angeles County on Friday, June 6, 2025. ICE officially reported 44 administrative arrests at three locations during Friday operations, with the total reaching 121 across the broader week-long operation. Sources: Al Jazeera, Los Angeles Times, CBS Los Angeles, Times of India

⁴ Tear gas: Chemical compounds that cause temporary irritation to eyes, nose, mouth and lungs, used by law enforcement for crowd control. Federal agents and LAPD used tear gas, flash-bang grenades, and pepper spray against protesters gathering outside federal buildings where detained individuals were being processed. Sources: Al Jazeera, New York Times, ABC News, NBC Los Angeles

⁵ Rubber bullets and police response: Less-lethal ammunition designed to incapacitate rather than kill, though they can cause serious injuries. Federal law enforcement and LAPD officers in riot gear used rubber bullets, pepper balls, and flash-bang grenades to disperse crowds protesting immigration raids. Sources: ABC News, NBC Los Angeles, Sky News, USA Today

⁶ National Guard: Part-time military forces that normally serve under state governor authority but can be federalized by the president. Trump deployed 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles without Governor Newsom's request - the first such federalization without governor consent since 1965. Sources: Reuters, New York Times, Washington Post

⁷ Constitutional grounds: Trump invoked Section 12406 of Title 10 U.S. Code, which allows federal deployment when there is "invasion, rebellion, or inability to execute federal law." Legal scholars debate whether immigration protests constitute legitimate grounds for this rare federal override of state authority. Sources: New York Times, Washington Post, Steve Vladeck Legal Analysis

⁸ "Insurrection" declaration: The Trump administration characterized Los Angeles protests as an "insurrection" to justify military deployment. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller used this term, though legal experts question whether immigration protests meet the historical definition of insurrection. Sources: Times of India, Mother Jones

⁹ Marines threat: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that active-duty Marines at Camp Pendleton were "on high alert" and could be deployed "if violence continues." This would represent a significant escalation beyond National Guard deployment to using active military forces against civilians. Sources: Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Reuters

Military Hardware Documentation

¹⁰ 7 million pounds of hardware: The Army's 250th anniversary parade features approximately 7 million pounds of military equipment being transported by train from Fort Cavazos, Texas to the Washington D.C. area for the June 14, 2025 celebration. Sources: CNN, The Hill, The Morning News

¹¹ 28 tanks, 70 tons each: The parade includes 28 M1A1 Abrams tanks, each weighing approximately 70 tons (140,000 pounds). These main battle tanks are equipped with 120mm smoothbore cannons and represent America's primary armored fighting vehicle. Sources: CNN, The Hill, Stars and Stripes, Reuters

¹² 7,000 military personnel: Approximately 6,600-7,000 soldiers from various states are participating in the parade and festival, with over 150 vehicles and 50 aircraft involved in the celebration. Sources: Associated Press, The Hill, Reuters, Army Aviation Heritage Foundation

¹³ Equipment near National Mall: Military vehicles and equipment are staged in West Potomac Park adjacent to the National Mall, with steel plates being laid on roads to protect infrastructure during the parade route along Constitution Avenue. Sources: CNN, The Morning News

¹⁴ Army anniversary and Trump's birthday: The U.S. Army's 250th anniversary (established June 14, 1775) coincides exactly with President Trump's 79th birthday on June 14, 2025. Army officials state the anniversary celebration was planned independently, with the parade component added at Trump's request. Sources: Associated Press, Reuters, Washington tourism guide

Legal and Political Context

¹⁵ 180+ court blocks: As of June 6, 2025, federal courts have issued at least 180 rulings temporarily blocking Trump administration initiatives, representing an unprecedented level of judicial pushback against executive actions in the first months of his second term. Sources: New York Times Legal Tracker, USA Today, Fox News

¹⁶ Newsom's statements: California Governor Gavin Newsom called Trump's National Guard deployment "purposefully inflammatory" and warned it would "escalate tensions." He formally requested the withdrawal of federal troops, calling the deployment a "serious breach of state sovereignty." Sources: Politico, Reuters, Deadline

¹⁷ Martial law: The temporary replacement of civilian government with military authority, typically declared during emergencies. While Trump has not formally declared martial law, legal experts note the military deployment patterns and rhetoric raise concerns about potential steps toward military control of civilian areas. Sources: ACLU Analysis, Steve Vladeck Legal Commentary

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