Some members have been asking for a written version of this:
The upcoming elections are stirring fears of potential unrest, with groups like ANTIFA preparing for action. What’s surprising to many is how these groups manage to profit from their arrests during protests. Below, I’ll outline the mechanics of how ANTIFA and other radical groups make money by being detained—and how it all ties back to your tax dollars.
1. Legal Observers: The ‘Eyes’ on the Ground
When protests escalate, you’ll often see people in green hats labeled ‘Legal Observer’ walking around. These individuals are part of the National Lawyers Guild (NLG), a progressive organization that claims to monitor for legal violations. However, they focus solely on documenting police actions, not the conduct of rioters. Their purpose? To provide footage and testimony that supports legal claims against law enforcement, setting the stage for lawsuits and compensation.
2. Strategic Arrests and Bail Protocols
Protesters often write a phone number on their arms—the hotline for the NLG. This group is prepared to bail out anyone arrested, ensuring that those detained don’t stay in jail for long. Once released, the charges are frequently dropped, especially in cities with sympathetic district attorneys. This lack of prosecution means that, while the protesters might have been arrested, their records remain clean.
3. The Lawsuit Strategy
Once charges are dismissed, the real profit-making begins. Protesters, with the help of NLG and other legal defense teams, file lawsuits against cities for unlawful arrest or excessive force. Citing police use of tear gas, rubber bullets, or other crowd control measures, they claim damages and seek settlements.
Cities have paid out substantial sums in response to these lawsuits:
Denver paid $1.6 million to seven individuals.
Austin, Texas disbursed $17.3 million.
Philadelphia compensated 343 protesters, totaling around $9.5 million.
These settlements, drawn from taxpayer funds, serve as a financial boon for the arrested individuals and the legal organizations involved. The lawyers’ fees are covered, and the remainder helps fuel future protests.
4. Recycling Bail Funds
Here’s where the process becomes even more lucrative. When someone posts bail—say, $2,500—and the case is later dropped, the bail money is returned to the individual who was arrested. However, this money was initially donated by organizations or activists—not paid by the protester. When it’s refunded, the protester pockets the cash, effectively receiving “pay” for getting arrested.
5. Funding Sources: A Network of Support
This entire cycle is sustained by grants and donations. Progressive groups like the National Lawyers Guild, Earth First, and others receive substantial funding:
Grants from the EPA for “environmental justice” initiatives can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Nonprofits like the Sierra Club allocate funds to radical groups under the guise of environmental or social justice support.
Private donors and political figures contribute to bail funds. For example, Vice President Kamala Harris once promoted a bail fund that paid for protester releases.
6. The ‘Higher’ Purpose and Repercussions
Many rioters see this as a lucrative gig. Those who are jobless, underemployed, or ideologically driven don black clothing, mask up, and head to protests knowing there’s little risk and plenty of potential reward. They can spend a night throwing firecrackers, confronting police, and causing damage—all while knowing that sympathetic legal teams will cover their bail and potentially help them profit from it later.
This system not only fuels ongoing protests but ensures that rioters face minimal long-term consequences. With district attorneys in certain cities declining to prosecute and legal observers documenting police actions exclusively, the cycle continues unchecked.
Final Thoughts
This pattern is not hyperbole—it’s reality. I’ve seen it firsthand, spoken to those involved, and documented how the money flows. As we head into another election season, this model of monetizing protest arrests will likely intensify. Stay informed and be aware of how these mechanisms impact communities and taxpayers alike.
Today I went to visit one of the power plants destroyed by Russia in the Kyiv region. It was an amazing sight. This was one of the largest power production facilities in Kyiv and was completely taken off line by a salvo of missiles in April. It is old enough that many of the parts were somewhat irreplaceable.
How can one guy be so consistently wrong and yet remain so confident about himself?
You make friends easily on the sleeper train, when you are packed four to a compartment. No idea who you will get and they don’t care if it’s co-ed.
Her home in Donetsk was destroyed by the Russian army, and she was forced to flee to Odessa. She’s been struggling to make ends meet, and this Christmas was looking bleak. But when I mentioned her story on a recent live, you all sent funds unsolicited, so we passed them along and surprised her.
The Syrian Civil War, a theater of unrelenting chaos since 2011, just escalated dramatically. Insurgents breached Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, on Friday, marking the first major attack on the city by opposition forces since 2016. Two car bombs detonated at the city’s western edge opened the way for fierce clashes between insurgents and government forces, forcing residents to flee under a hail of missiles and gunfire.
This offensive, launched Wednesday, saw thousands of fighters storm through northwestern Syria, sweeping through villages and towns and adding new uncertainty to an already volatile region. The Middle East is reeling from the wars in Gaza and Lebanon with Israel, and Aleppo’s fall into chaos once again underscores how unresolved conflicts can reignite with devastating consequences.
Unlike the last siege of Aleppo in 2016—when government forces, heavily backed by Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah, expelled opposition fighters—this time there’s little sign of significant pushback. Reports indicate government troops are retreating, and insurgents are urging them to surrender via social media. With Hezbollah and other Iran-linked groups distracted by their battles closer to home, Damascus may find itself without the reinforcements it once relied on.
The Messy Reality of Syria’s Civil War
This breaking news is a stark reminder of the war's complexities. The U.S. supported the Free Syrian Army (FSA) for years through the CIA’s “Timber Sycamore” program, which supplied training, arms, and equipment to anti-Assad forces. However, the U.S. quickly found itself entangled in a moral and strategic web. Many opposition groups, including those affiliated with the FSA, have ties to Sunni extremist organizations like Al Qaeda. Meanwhile, Shia Hezbollah terrorists have fought alongside the Assad regime, aligning with Russia and Iran.
In Syria, the U.S. has supported groups that sometimes clash with one another, and even with other U.S.-backed forces. The Kurds and Yazidis stand out as defenders of religious minorities and staunch opponents of ISIS, but they too are polarizing. Kurdish factions like the YPG have Marxist roots, complicating their position as "good guys" in the eyes of some allies.
A Cautionary Tale
The renewed fighting in Aleppo adds another layer to Syria’s already tangled narrative. It’s a theater where few factions are unequivocally virtuous, and where alliances shift like desert sands. The Assad regime and the Kurdish SDF stand out as entities that have offered some protection to religious minorities, but even they are far from universally trusted.
In conflicts like these, it’s tempting to simplify the narrative—to cheer for the side that appears less abhorrent. But the truth is, in Syria, there are no simple choices. The only certainty is that innocent civilians will once again pay the price as regional powers and international players pursue their competing interests.
As Aleppo burns, the lesson is clear: tread carefully when choosing sides. Sometimes, it’s not about “good guys” versus “bad guys.” It’s about survival in a world of shifting allegiances and harsh realities.
