Seattle democratic socialist Mayor Katie Wilson is being mocked online over the «irony» of residents in the blue-run city erecting barrier walls in a desperate attempt to stop out-of-control shootings.

Just months after Wilson took office in Seattle, terrified residents in the city’s Aurora Avenue corridor decided to take matters into their own hands to address near-nightly shootings believed to be connected to criminal turf wars, prostitution and illegal trafficking. After weeks of gang-related shootings and high-speed car chases, some residents spent Memorial Day weekend blocking off their own streets using metal planters, dirt, gravel, logs and chunks of concrete. The barricades were set up to block at least three streets leading into the neighborhood.

Though such artifices could incur fines, one resident named Peter Orr told KTVB 7, «It’s either this, or bullets in my neighbor’s houses.»

News of the neighborhood barricades in Seattle has garnered scorn for Wilson’s policies online.

TERRIFIED RESIDENTS IN CRIME-PLAGUED BLUE CITY THROW UP GIANT BARRICADES TO STOP CHAOS

Among these was conservative commentator Paul Szypula, who wrote on X, «The Irony is Undeniable.»

«When progressive policies result in neighborhoods literally barricading themselves off… that says everything,» he wrote, adding, «What should Seattle leaders be doing so residents don’t feel forced to do this?»

Popular conservative account Libs of TikTok mocked, «Seattle residents are now building WALLS on their blocks to keep out criminals.»

Commentator Eric Daugherty posted, «Furious blue city residents in Seattle are now building their OWN BARRICADES to BLOCK streets because shootings are so high Omg. This is MADNESS.»

Residents near Seattle’s Aurora Avenue erected makeshift barricades after repeated shootings and rising gun violence in the neighborhood. (Fox 13 Seattle)

«The socialist mayor is IGNORING IT,» he added. «BLUE CITIES ARE COOKED!»

Constitutional analyst Jonathan Turley wrote, «Nothing says socialism more than citizen barricades.»

DEM WHO WELCOMED SOCIALIST MAYOR’S ‘CHANGE’ NOW SOUNDING ALARM OVER BILLIONAIRE EXODUS: ‘GRAVELY CONCERNED’

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson’s staff abruptly ended an interview with a local news reporter last week after he pressed her on rising gun violence and surveillance cameras in the city after a recent shooting. (David Ryder/Reuters)

He mocked, «In this case, Les Miserables are seeking to protect their property. After electing a mayor who once called for the defunding of police, Seattle neighborhoods are reverting to self-help measures.»

Wilson, who was sworn into office this January, wrote in a 2020 opinion piece about the defund the police effort that «there’s never been a better time to try.»

In the piece, Wilson posited «there’s a strong argument for simply disbanding police departments and starting over,» reasoning that «institutional culture change is hard.»

«Leaving aside debates on the left about whether police abolition is possible under capitalism, or at all, let’s stick with the current movement demand of cutting the SPD [Seattle Police Department] budget by half. That’s a lot of officers. It may sound alarming, until you realize that U.S. police perform numerous functions for which armed personnel, trained for violent conflict, are unnecessary or unsuited — and often, unsurprisingly, cause harm,» she wrote.

BISHOP BARRON SLAMS ‘BORDERLINE COMMUNISTS’ SANDERS, MAMDANI AHEAD OF TRUMP PRAYER EVENT: ‘ECONOMY THAT KILLS’

The Space Needle stands among downtown buildings in Seattle, Washington. (Al Drago/Getty Images)

As mayor, however, Wilson has not moved to cut the police by half. She has responded to recent shootings by launching a «multi-pronged gun violence strategy,» in which she convened a panel of experts to help the city reduce retaliatory shootings, address youth violence and coordinate efforts between police, schools and community groups.

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Wilson has paused expansion of the city’s CCTV surveillance and license plate reader programs pending a privacy audit, while maintaining existing police camera systems in high-crime areas, including the Aurora Avenue corridor.

Fox News Digital reached out to Wilson for comment.

The official Democratic National Committee  X account ignited a social media firestorm on Wednesday afternoon in a profanity-laden online spat with President Donald Trump’s chief policy advisor, Stephen Miller.

«Shut up, you ugly f—» @TheDemocrats wrote.

The comment was made in response to Miller’s own jeering of James Talarico, the Democratic Senate candidate in Texas.

«The Democrats made history in Texas by nominating their first transgender senate candidate,» Miller said, needling Talarico over his physical appearance.

WHAT THE F—-? DEMOCRATS TURN TO PROFANITY INSTEAD OF POLICY

The moment quickly drew reactions from conservative onlookers online.

Stephen Miller’s wife, Katie Miller, wasted no time and went straight for the DNC’s social media handler.

«Paulina Mangubat is who runs the Democrats’ account. She’s 30, unmarried with no kids. Put your name on it next time,» Miller said. «This is what a sad, unhappy female liberal looks like. It’s why Pew reports 50% of them have been diagnosed with a mental condition,» she added, referring to the Pew Research Center.

TEXAS SENATE HOPEFUL TALARICO IN HOT SEAT FOR CALLING MEN IN WOMEN’S SPORTS A ‘FAR RIGHT CONSPIRACY’

Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff, and his wife, Katie Miller, an aide for DOGE, attend the White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday, April 21, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc)

Conservative media personality Benny Johnson also weighed in.

«This is the party that spent years lecturing America about civility, unity and healing. The party that cried when Trump was ‘mean’ on Twitter. This is who they really are. And they wonder why they keep losing,» Johnson said.

«The official Democratic Party,» the Libs of TikTok wrote in its own post, highlighting the spat.

«I’m sure this will get the votes you need,» conservative radio host Dana Loesch posted on X.

«Hilarious these are the same people that complain about Trump being mean,» conservative influencer Caleb Hull posted on X.

«This is where the median Democratic staffer’s comms instincts are,» Manhattan Institute VP Jesse Arm posted on X.

When asked about the post, Talarico’s campaign referred Fox News Digital to their own response online, calling Miller’s comments «Talarico Derangement Syndrome,» a riff on «Trump Derangement Syndrome,» a favorite phase of the president’s to describe his critics.

The exchange also drew some scrutiny for Miller from accounts like Occupy Democrats, a left-leaning account that offered a defense of Talarico.

«To point out the incredibly obvious here: James Talarico is not transgender. He is a cisgender, heterosexual Christian man with a loving girlfriend. Of course, even if he were trans (or nonbinary or gay or any other identity), that would in no way affect his ability to serve the people of Texas. What matters are his politics.»

But at least one Democratic strategist decried the post.

SELECTIVE OUTRAGE: TRUMP, DEMOCRATS MAINLY DENOUNCE THE OTHER SIDE’S SCANDALS

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller listens during a meeting with President Donald Trump and oil company executives in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 9, 2026. (Saul Loeb/AFP)

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«As a lifelong Dem who’s donated free consulting to House Dem staffers, I find this so, so embarrassing for us. We complain about the right’s behavior, and now we’re doing stuff like this? Come on, Democrats. Do better,» Jack Appleby wrote in a post of his own.

The DNC post is one of many profanity-laced online posts popping up across social media as Democrats push an aggressive and edgy online strategy to go after Republicans. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s rapid response account has repeatedly cursed out critics, including telling a conservative reporter earlier this year to «f— off.»

The DNC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

En una decisión que podría tener delicados efectos en la crisis política que conmueve a Bolivia, el Congreso nacional abrió la puerta para que el presidente Rodrigo Paz pueda declarar un estado de excepción ante los bloqueos que paralizan al país, lo que le permitiría apelar a los militares y restringir algunas libertades para frenar las masivas protestas en su contra.

Con más de dos tercios de votos a favor, los diputados siguieron los pasos del Senado y eliminaron el martes a la noche una norma que limitaba desde 2020 la capacidad del presidente de declarar estados de excepción. Esta derogación, impulsada por el oficialista Partido Demócrata Cristiano, fue exonerada del proceso común para ser tramitada en solo una semana.

El presidente carece de mayoría propia en el Parlamento y debe apelar a alianzas circunstanciales para gobierno luego de haber llegado al poder hace seis meses. Desde inicios de este mayo, Rodrigo Paz enfrenta cortes de rutas, bloqueos en calles ciudadanas y protestas de campesinos, obreros y transportistas para exigir medidas contra la crisis económica.

Algunos grupos exigen también su renuncia, en especial aquellos instigados por el ex presidente Evo Morales, actualmente prófugo de la justicia que lo juzga por trata de personas y abuso de una menor con la que tuvo un hijo cuando dirigía el Estado boliviano (2006-2019). El líder cocalero está refugiado en su feudo del Chapare, protegido por los suyos que resisten cualquier intento de la policía por cumplir el arresto pedido por la justicia boliviana. Morales niega los cargos y acusa al gobierno de Paz de persecución política.

En una entrevista exclusiva con Clarín, Rodrigo Paz dijo que apuesta al diálogo para terminar la crisis. Pero aclaró que la Constitución permite otros escenarios. “Tiene márgenes muy claros sobre mandatos específicos para escenarios como estos”, afirmó a este diario.

Eso fue antes del voto en el Congreso que lo habilitó a declarar un estado de excepción. Ayer miércoles, el presidente advirtió a los manifestantes que la crisis “está llegando al límite”.

“El país necesita orden y esto está llegando al límite (…) El tiempo se acaba. Convocamos al diálogo”, dijo el mandatario de centro derecha, en un acto público en La Paz. “El que quiera destruir la patria se las va a ver con este presidente y con toda la fuerza de la Constitución”, advirtió, en alusión a los estados de excepción. “A los policías, a las Fuerzas Armadas: siéntanse seguros de que su pueblo los está respaldando”, agregó.

La Paz, sede del gobierno, y la vecina ciudad de El Alto, son el epicentro de las protestas y bloqueos, que han causado escasez de alimentos, medicinas y combustible. Según el presidente, los efectos en la economía llegan a los 600 millones de dólares de pérdidas.

El estado de excepción limitaría las libertades de movilidad y reunión, vitales para protestar. Además, el mandatario podría sacar a los militares a las calles para apoyar a la policía en la contención de las marchas. Los críticos de esta revocación alertan ante el riesgo de violaciones a los derechos humanos. Los defensores, en cambio, estiman que permitirá solucionar la situación en La Paz, que sufre un grave desabastecimiento por los bloqueos.

Cuando asumió la presidencia interina en 2019 la derechista Jeanine Añez, el Congreso, entonces aún controlado por el Movimiento al Socialismo de Morales, buscó atar de manos al gobierno en la represión de las protestas. Bajo esa ley, los estados de excepción debían ser aprobados por los parlamentarios, que además podían modificarlos para evitar posibles abusos de poder. El gobierno de Paz asegura que las protestas buscan «alterar el orden democrático» y acusa al prófugo Morales de impulsarlas.

Consultado sobre el líder cocalero, el presidente Paz lo calificó «un enfermo embrutecido por el poder». «Ese es el rol, así de claro. Es un hombre que está embrutecido por el poder y hará todo lo posible para, más allá de muertos, más allá de la confrontación, más allá de destrozar a Bolivia, derrocar este proceso democrático», sentenció.

Fuente: AFP, AP y Clarín