67: Tim Pool and the Wolverine Watchmen

I Don't Speak German

An unplanned, emergency mini-sequel to our discussion of Tim Pool just a couple of days ago. Reality, displaying its customary poor timing, waited until just after we dropped our Tim Pool episode to reveal the story of the Wolverine Watchmen, a group of militia types arrested for planning the abduction and 'trial' (i.e. murder, presumably) of Michigan Governer Gretchen Whitmer. At least one of the conspirators seems to have been part of Tim's audience; Tim has been demonizing Whitmer as a dangerous tyrant for ages; and Tim himself reacted to the story in ways that combine the hilarious, disgusting, and accidentally instructive. And so here we are.

Content Warnings. Contains Tim Pool.

Links / Notes:

Episode 67: Tim Pool https://idontspeakgerman.libsyn.com/66-tim-pool

New York Times, "F.B.I. Says Michigan Anti-Government Group Plotted to Kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer" https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/08/us/gretchen-whitmer-michigan-militia.html

Continuation of Criminal Complaint regarding kidnapping plot of Gretchen Whitmer: https://www.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.miwd.99213/gov.uscourts.miwd.99213.1.1_1.pdf

Emily Lawler, MLive, "Accused Michigan terrorists found natural home among anti-Whitmer sentiment promoted by far right" https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2020/10/accused-michigan-terrorists-found-natural-home-among-anti-whitmer-sentiment-promoted-by-far-right.html

Samuel J. Robinson, MLive, "Man accused in Whitmer kidnapping plot defended Confederate statue at June protest" https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2020/10/man-accused-in-whitmer-kidnapping-plot-defended-confederate-statue-at-june-protest.html

John Agar, MLive, "Grand Rapids man, alleged leader of plot to kidnap Gov. Whitmer, had to be ‘insane,’ boss says" https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2020/10/grand-rapids-man-alleged-leader-of-plot-to-kidnap-gov-whitmer-had-to-be-insane-boss-says.html

Chad Livengood Twitter thread showing members of assassination plot at Re-open rally in June. https://twitter.com/ChadLivengood/status/1314332374759542784

Josh Russell Twitter thread collecting social media posts from assassination plot members. https://twitter.com/josh_emerson/status/1314234661820825609

Timbahontoast Twitter thread collected very non-leftist views of assasination plot members. https://twitter.com/timbahontoast/status/1314496845717143553

David Covucci and Mikael Thalen, The Daily Dot, "Pro-Kyle Rittenhouse coronavirus denier arrested in plot to kidnap Gretchen Whitmer" https://www.dailydot.com/debug/brandon-caserta-facebook-michigan-governor-kidnap/

Ali Breland, Mother Jones, "Men Who Allegedly Plotted to Kidnap Michigan’s Governor Celebrated Violent Far-Right Extremism" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2020/10/men-who-allegedly-plotted-to-kidnap-michigan-governor-celebrated-violent-far-right-extremism/

The video Jack talks about: https://youtu.be/dSxyBqA8J8o

Daily Kos article on Wolverine Watchmen and Trump’s rhetoric / domestic terror policies: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/10/8/1984983/-Trump-s-domestic-terror-policies-rhetoric-gave-flight-to-Michigan-militiamen-s-murderous-plot