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While You Were Offline: The Media Crucified Yolo Minneapolis. Very Unfair! Sad!

It’s not every day scientists discover seven new Earth-sized planets, but that definitely happened this week—and it wasn’t even the biggest deal to hit the world’s social feeds. The internet also showed online troll Milo Yiannopoulos the door. President Donald Trump continued his assault on the media at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Oh, and the administration withdrew federal protections for transgender students to use bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity in public schools. In all, it was a big week—things might have slipped through the cracks. Here, as always, are the important bits you might have missed on the world wide web.

The Sweded Version of Events

What Happened: The White House’s war on terror persisted with President Trump referring to an attack abroad that… never actually happened? Where It Blew Up: Twitter, media reports What Really Happened: Continuing reality’s current trend of living just beyond parody or satire, last weekend Trump made reference to what sounded like a terror attack in Sweden. “You look at what’s happening last night in Sweden,” he yelled during a speech about taking in immigrants. “Sweden, who would believe this? Sweden. They took in large numbers. They’re having problems like they never thought possible.” The thing is, nothing bad had happened in Sweden the night before, as pointed out gently by none other than the country’s former prime minister:

Sweden? Terror attack? What has he been smoking? Questions abound. http://bit.ly/2m78uHV

— Carl Bildt (@carlbildt) February 19, 2017

Others on Twitter were equally confused:

Literally the biggest incident of Sweden last night was a horse called Biscuit being rescued from a well. http://bit.ly/2lH563e

— Grapey (@Grapeykins) February 19, 2017

Shocking new images of the Swedish massacre #swedishincident http://pic.twitter.com/CGxSXuBcED

— Allyson Derwent (@AllyAllyOh) February 19, 2017

Pray for Sweden. #LastNightInSweden #SwedenIncident http://pic.twitter.com/cZmOW2pXm7

— MadlyMad (@Madly_Mad) February 19, 2017

In response to #lastnightinsweden, Sweden has deployed their elite force of Super Troupers. http://pic.twitter.com/Qk4cdWriwz

— Courtney (@CHydeDesign) February 19, 2017

The, let’s be generous and call it a gaffe, was course up by a concerned media, while Sweden itself expressed curiosity about what was going on:

@fuadmb About #swedenincident #lastnightinsweden unclear to us what President Trump was referring to,have asked US officials for explanation

— Embassy of Sweden US (@SwedeninUSA) February 19, 2017

Apparently Trump was speaking about something he’d seen on Fox News the night before…

My statement as to what's happening in Sweden was in reference to a story that was broadcast on @FoxNews concerning immigrants & Sweden.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 19, 2017

…but even that turned out to be less than real since the Swedish cops interviewed for the piece later in Sweden days after Trump’s comments, a fact seized upon by the right wing to suggest that was

Hey Don, this is @Sweden speaking! It's nice of you to care, really, but don't fall for the hype. Facts: We're ok! http://bit.ly/2m6Yyhq http://bit.ly/2lHiX9I

— @sweden / Fredrik (@sweden) February 20, 2017

*Looks into the camera like Jim from The Office* http://bit.ly/2m6SnKC

— @sweden / Fredrik (@sweden) February 20, 2017

This week’s owner of the account was 22-year-old Max Karlsson, who

What happened in Sweden Friday night? Did they catch the Bowling Green Massacre perpetrators?

— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) February 19, 2017

Yolo, Milo. Yolo

What Happened: It’s been quite a week for Breitbart’s former tech editor. Where It Blew Up: Twitter, media reports What Really Happened: Milo Yiannopoulos has had a helluva week. Following what some thought was a triumphant appearance on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, the journalist and professional troll went on to have a spectacularly bad week after old interview footage in which he appeared to condone relationships between adults and children surfaced. Soon after the video began to circulate, CPAC cancelled his speaking gig at the conference and publisher Simon & Schuster announced it would no longer be releasing his book, Dangerous. Soon thereafter, Yiannopoulos resigned from Breitbart.

Seriously, think about that; he became so radioactive that it seemed best to quit a site known for its bigotry and paranoia. At a press conference midweek, Yiannopoulos said he planned to find a new publisher for his book and launch a self-owned media venture to capitalize on his newfound notoriety.

In one of the funniest responses to the entire thing, Twitter collectively decided to rename Yiannopoulos, robbing him of vanity searches.

Cc: Yolo Minneapolis http://pic.twitter.com/QJMTuAe89P

— IRONY MAIDEN (@dubsteppenwolf) February 21, 2017

YOLO MINNEAPOLIS??? I'M DEAD.

— Kelsey olmes (@kelseyrholmes42) February 21, 2017

Honestly Yolo Minneapolis has been on my news radar for way way way to long and I'm ready for him to be irrelevant again.

— paul (@Paul_Copeland) February 21, 2017

Yolo Minneapolis resigned from beeffart

— mycahm (@pleasantsmell) February 21, 2017

Of course, some people had to ask the obvious question:

Not sure who originally coined it, but Yolo Minneapolis really cracks me up http://bit.ly/2m7587S

— Christopher Hayes (@chrislhayes) February 21, 2017

OK who was the first person to call him Yolo Minneapolis

— Quinn Sutherland (@ReelQuinn) February 21, 2017

The answer appears to be Twitter user @EmperorCaddick, who has the earliest mention of the term we could find, way back in February 2016, made directly to Yiannopolous himself before he was banned from Twitter:

@Nero Your new name is Yolo Minneapolis, you're welcome.

— Emperor Caddick (@EmperorCaddick) February 2, 2016

The Takeaway: Won’t someone please think of the real Minneapolis in all of this?

Let's not insult the Twin Cities by calling him "Yolo Minneapolis"

— Miss Filthy Pinko (@travelswbrindle) February 21, 2017

WaPo’s Trek Into Darkness

What Happened: The Washington Post has a new slogan. The response has been well, mixed. Where It Blew Up: Twitter, media reports What Really Happened: Earlier this week, the the rest of the media failed to notice. Twitter, too, caught the new tagline:

The Washington Post's new slogan "Democracy Dies in Darkness" crystallizes in 4 words the danger of Trump's explicit war on the free press. http://pic.twitter.com/buqu0xqKGZ

— Jonathan Riley (@JonRiley7) February 23, 2017

The Washington Post: Democracy Dies in Darkness*

*Breitbart News: Starts breaking all the lightbulbs

— Nick Jack Pappas (@Pappiness) February 22, 2017

Washington Post changes its slogan to "Democracy dies in darkness" In a related story, Breitbart changes its slogan to "We are the darkness"

— Gary Rancid (@garyrancid) February 22, 2017

WaPo's new slogan is "Democracy Dies in Darkness." It's meant as a warning, but right now, it feels more like a prophecy.

— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) February 23, 2017

Not everyone was on board with it, however.

The best thing about the Washington Post's new "Democracy Dies in Darkness" slogan is the story about Lindsay Lohan directly under it http://pic.twitter.com/8hH0FhZCeU

— Josh Billinson (@jbillinson) February 22, 2017

Next move for Washington Post: multiple piercings, eyeliner, unironically shopping at Hot Topic http://pic.twitter.com/TyyIYGY4v1

— David Hines (@hradzka) February 22, 2017

I thought WaPo's slogan was "You have 0 free articles left this month."

— Andy Craig (@AndrewRCraig) February 22, 2017

I wish WaPo had gone with my suggestion for their slogan "The blog you get for free with Amazon Prime"

— Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) February 22, 2017

New WaPo slogan is scary, but metal AF

— Clur Pewpeyson (@unicornpewpey) February 23, 2017

excited to announce our new HuffPost slogan:

The Night is Dark and Full of Terrors

— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) February 22, 2017

And then there were the Trump fans, who—of course!—took the new slogan as a personal affront to their beloved leader and America as a whole:1

WaPo is right "Democracy Dies in Darkness", but who exactly is threatening our Democracy with fake news and slanderous hit pieces?

— SirBlankFace (@animeaddict1324) February 22, 2017

Agreement on slogans dies on social media, that’s for sure. The Takeaway: It’s not just the Post that’s offering this kind of warning; the New York Times is launching a new ad campaign about the need to promote truth above all these days. What’s next?

WaPo: "Democracy Dies In Darkness." NYT: "The truth is more important now than ever." The Onion: "No longer able to outdo reality."

— Ryan McGee (@TVMcGee) February 23, 2017

#ProtectTransKids

What Happened: As the government lifted guidance protecting trans kids in schools, the internet decided to step in to remind those kids that they’re not alone. Where It Blew Up: Twitter, media reports What Really Happened: This week, the Trump administration reversed guidance to public schools on allowing transgender students to use the bathroom that reflects who they are.

It was a decision immediately picked up by the media. But even though the administration isn’t looking out for trans kids, the internet is. Almost as soon as the news broke, #ProtectTransKids began trending across Twitter and other platforms:

75% of trans students report feeling unsafe in school. @realDonaldTrump should #ProtectTransKids – not undermine their safety.

— HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) February 22, 2017

42% of trans kids attempt suicide. Forty. Two. Percent.#ProtectTransKids because their lives matter just as much as anyone else's

— alex jacob (@crucifalex) February 22, 2017

Sending love to all the trans students out there. You matter. #ProtectTransKids http://pic.twitter.com/PTy2rTJmuV

— Sarah McBride (@SarahEMcBride) February 22, 2017

This is what democracy looks like: hundreds outside of the White House to tell transgender students we've got your back. #protecttranskids http://pic.twitter.com/KYIeBwvlBO

— ACLU National (@ACLU) February 22, 2017

Trans community: we are fighting for you EVERYDAY. You are SEEN & VALUED. We arent giving up and we know you won't either #ProtectTransKids http://pic.twitter.com/ine19BLcdQ

— LGBT Caucus (@LGBTEqCaucus) February 23, 2017

At the same time—and perhaps emboldened by the support for the topic on social media—the very, very small overlap between trans activists and Trump supporters started speaking out about the subject, asking the president to change his mind:

. @realDonaldTrump u gave me the honor 2 sing at your inauguration. Pls give me & my sis the honor 2 meet with u 2 talk #transgender rghts

— jackie evancho (@jackieevancho) February 23, 2017

Well @realDonaldTrump, from one Republican to another, this is a disaster. You made a promise to protect the LGBTQ community. Call me. http://pic.twitter.com/XwYe0LNUOq

— Caitlyn Jenner (@Caitlyn_Jenner) February 24, 2017

A lost cause? Well, maybe not. After all, it’s recently emerged that the administration might go back on changes to the National Security Council because it had made them by mistake. So maybe!

The Takeaway: OK, this might be the best slogan yet.

How great is this sign at #Stonewall? #ProtectTransKids #ProtectTransYouth http://pic.twitter.com/dw4YbL4Wef

— Women's March (@womensmarch) February 24, 2017

Capture the Flag

What Happened: Sometimes, you have to take a stand against bigotry. Other times, a running jump is the better option. Where It Blew Up: Twitter, media reports What Really Happened: On the one hand, this is just fine even without the backstory, so let’s start fresh and just enjoy:

real. http://pic.twitter.com/dvnbtq2aQb

— deray mckesson (@deray) February 23, 2017

It’s just as good from a different angle:

NEW VIDEO: Muhiyidin d'Baha jumps protest line at last night's Confederate flag demonstration… MORE: http://bit.ly/2lHebsG #chs http://pic.twitter.com/Lt4xjNSD8U

— Charleston CityPaper (@ChasCityPaper) February 23, 2017

Seriously. Wasn’t that refreshing? Let’s go to the people and see what they thought:

Issa bird. Issa plane. Issa brave black man. http://bit.ly/2lHjKqR

— da (@idaisokay) February 23, 2017

Capture the flag just got real http://pic.twitter.com/d7h61MOhZH

— AllGamesDelta (@AllGamesDelta) February 23, 2017

The way my man jumped for the Confederate flag like Neo and Trinity jumping between buildings has me absolutely weak tho. http://pic.twitter.com/qwmiLLAnIa

— KYLE + (@kylebillable) February 23, 2017

I am SCREAMING at the Black man that jumped over the baracade to take down that white man's confederate flag. This is real life.

— ecca (@MJStarLover) February 23, 2017

I had to remix this dudes confederate flag Lambeau Leap #sorrynotsorry http://pic.twitter.com/hXq6EX1WJp

— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) February 23, 2017

So here’s the backstory: the hero in question is Muhiyidin Elamin Moye, an activist and Black Lives Matter leader, and he’s grabbing a Confederate flag from a protestor outside an appearance by activist Bree Newsome at the College of Charleston. There’s more than a little irony here; Newsome, of course, came to national attention in 2015 for removing the Confederate flag from the South Carolina state house grounds.

Moye’s actions quickly got up by media after going viral. The media attention also drew hundreds of people to a crowdfunding campaign created to help cover Moye’s legal fees.

Donate to & share this bail fund for the hero that snatched the confederate flaghttp://bit.ly/2m7pNIXhttp://pic.twitter.com/NqC01DA4Hk

— agitator in chief (@soit_goes) February 23, 2017

It might not be the system working as it’s supposed to, but it’s definitely a system working right. Good job, internet. The Takeaway: You know what? Let’s just watch this again.

real. http://pic.twitter.com/dvnbtq2aQb

— deray mckesson (@deray) February 23, 2017

Damn.

1Correction at 10:13 am PST on 2/28/2017: An earlier version of this story incorrectly included a tweet here that was not from a Trump supporter. It has been removed.