Yin and Yang at a rally in Yorba Linda

On a Saturday afternoon outside the Nixon Library, two polar opposites told a story about modern America.

I drove to Yorba Linda yesterday, and parked my car a stone’s throw from the Nixon Library. Yet another pro-democracy rally was being held, this one because, the press release explained, TRUMP IS WORSE THAN THE LAST DICK IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

Like many of the events I’ve chronicled for The Truth OC, Yorba Linda featured several hundred people, banners, flags, chants. There was a familiar sense of collegiality and spirit. Many cars drove past and honked, a few drove past and offered fourth-rate expletives. This is what it is to be anti-Trump, pro-democracy in 2025. A mixed satchel of nuts and berries.

Two people, in particular, grabbed my attention …

One was a kid named Ryley Niemi. He was wearing a blue suit, dress shirt, dress shoes, red tie and a red MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN cap. He had that look. And, by that look, I mean Here to mock and goad the silly libs into saying stupid stuff I can post on my TikTok feed. Which, to my credit, was a pretty fair read. Niemi, a 20-year-old local kid, was strolling person to person with his GoPro in hand, desperate for engagement to feed his socials. I watched him a good while. Recognized the familiars. The smirk. The glare. The I-know-something-you-don’t affect. Several event organizers urged participants to ignore Niemi. “He’s just trying to egg you on …”

I, however, am drawn to eggers. Speaking to people outside your orbit is (while often exasperating) both enlightening and educational. With the rare exception of turds like Frank Rodriguez and the batshit crazy Amber Smith, you can—handled rightly—have an honorable chat with folks who oppose your stances.

So I introduced myself to Ryley. He introduced himself back. He told me he’s an entrepreneur, pro-life, anti-gay marriage, pro-guns in pretty much all scenarios. We had this quick engagement …

… but he wasn’t all that into chatting. He had libs to slay.

Later, with both our cameras off, we spoke at length. He probably thought I’d snap at him for his viewpoints—but I didn’t. As I’ve long said, while I’m very much pro-choice, I understand why people might see abortion as wrong. While I’m very much pro-gay marriage, I can understand someone being taught throughout existence that marriage is only between men and women. While I’m very much pro-gun control, there are those among us who consider the Second Amendment all but absolute. Again—I disagree strongly with all of it. But I can get why some feel that way.

To be honest, I (gasp) found the boy fairly likable. He didn’t seem as mean as some of his videos come across—just misguided. He didn’t seem dumb or especially moronic—just a little wayward. What strongly bothered me, though, was the purpose of his presence. If you check out Ryley’s feeds, he’s clearly trying to become the next regional right-wing agitator. Meaning: Show up at liberal events, get people to say wild and unhinged stuff, then share and lap up the views and LIKES. Which, I suppose, is fine. Or at least, in 2025, the sad norm. TikTok, in particular, is a land of swipe—HOLY SHIT!—swipe—HOLY SHIT!—swipe—HOLY SHIT! If you can catch a viewer’s attention for more than, oh, six seconds, you’re money. It’s not just right wingers. Or left wingers. It’s society. We have the attention spans of gnats.

So, again, I don’t actually begrudge Ryley for working the system and playing the game. What I do begrudge him for—in enormous ways—is doing it at events like the Yorba Linda rally. Were I to guess, I’d place the average age of attendees at, oh, 70. Most of those folks are probably on Facebook, some are on IG, and none are on TikTok. They don’t understand the game they’re being asked to play. Certainly don’t understand the rules. So confronting Grandpa Gus, camera in hand, pining for a freak-out … it’s just kinda bullshit. It’s cruel. Callous. Mean-spirited. Low-hanging fruit. Lord knows I loathe Trump, but I wouldn’t attend a MAGA rally, spot a group of elders and attempt to humiliate them.

I told Ryley this. Twice. Dude, please pick on someone your own age. I believe he understood my point, and maybe (maybe?) even digested it.

I dunno. I actually saw some good in the lad. Which, these days, isn’t easy beneath a red cap.

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The second person was a woman who the government now refers to as a man.

Her name is Stephanie Wade. She is the trans chair of the OC Lavender Democrats—the wonderful LGBTQ+ group based out of Orange County. In 2023, she ran unsuccessfully for a spot on the Seal Beach City Council.

A former marine who spent nine years as an enlistee, Wade can’t help but notice that, under Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth, her letters from the government now begin with “Dear Sir.” It is, she told me, a brutal and unnecessary slap in the face. Unlike the 47th president, Wade didn’t have her daddy’s doctor friend write repeated notes concerning bone spurs. Unlike the 47th president, Wade didn’t receive five draft deferments. Unlike the 47th president, Wade would never mock POWs for being captured. Unlike the 47th president, Wade would never refer to soldiers “suckers” and “losers.”

Wade told me she’s seeking no special treatment. Just fair treatment. Just humane treatment.

We spoke at length, and I found her to be absolutely kick ass …

Later on, while writing this post, I zoomed in on Wade’s Facebook page. While scrolling through her photographs, this li’l image caught my eye …

And it got me thinking again about 20-year-old Ryley Niemi who—I fear—risks plummeting deeper into an acid-filled hole. See, we exist in a time where listening has been replaced by ridiculing; where inflicting pain is far more valuable than absorbing viewpoints. At one point yesterday, I saw Niemi exchange a high five with a kid on a bicycle who was sporting a DONALD TRUMP sweatshirt. The boy was maybe 15, and he rode through the rally a few times, going out of his way to make folks feel like shit. Sticking his tongue out. Waving dismissively. Just dickish kid stuff.

The marchers were, again, mostly elders. People who have lived through the JFK assassination and the Challenger explosion; through Watergate and Iran hostage and 9.11. People who merited the respect that accompanies lives lived.

Like Stephanie Wade, they congregated in Yorba Linda to stand up for democracy and have their voices heard.

It was far more patriotic than an influencer’s TikTok feed.

Far more decent, too.

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PS: Scenes from the rally …