President Trump complained about "having all these people from shithole countries come here" — and singled out Haiti, El Salvador and Africa as examples — he also added that, "we should have more people from Norway." NPR, Jan 12, 2018 Norwegians in Seattle and King County , Marianne Forssblad , August 15, 2001 Imagine a place so bereft of opportunity that a quarter of the working age population leaves, a place so backwards natives are derisively called “mountain monkeys.” Such was the landscape in Norway 100+ years ago, and ever since that wave flooded into America, it’s been assumed our countries are close. Kristin’s family is from here, both my grandfathers trace back to Denmark. When we visit and say “you have to come see us” the answer’s usually along the lines of “I’d love to! JR! Dallas Cowboys! Tacos!” But not so much this year. The broadly shared story — and we heard this almost every time travel came up — was about the Norwegian tourist who got sent back home this summer because he had a meme of JD Vance on his phone, along with a picture of a marijuana pipe. Mads Mikkelsen was pulled aside by ICE after he deplaned. As Time noted “the Trump Administration has required immigration officials to improve vetting procedures for some non-immigrant visas, including social media screening of international student visa applicants.” Mikkelsen claimed he was placed in a holding cell upon his arrival and subjected to questioning "about drug trafficking, terrorist plots and right-wing extremism." Further, he said, "They took me to a room with several armed guards, where I had to hand over my shoes, mobile phone and backpack," before allegedly threatening him with a hefty fine if he did not unlock his cellphone for them. That is where the alleged meme of Vance came into play, along with a photo of Mikkelsen holding a homemade wooden pipe. Snopes, June 25, 2025 Customs agents said Mikkelsen was refused entry because of “admitted drug use.” A government form he showed reporters states “You do not appear to be a bona fide visitor for pleasure and cannot overcome the presumption of being an intending immigrant at this time because it appears you are attempting to engage in unauthorized employment.” Mikkelsen denies trying to do anything other than visit the United States, and maybe smoke a little weed in NYC. Because it’s legal there, and in Norway it’s not. US officials deny his political beliefs had anything to do with the turnaround. But the upshot of all the recent animus? Denmark and Finland have issued travel advisories to their citizens about heading to the U.S. in response to various Trump policies. Amid all this, travelers are increasingly turning away from the U.S., and the World Travel & Tourism Council said the U.S. economy is set to lose $12.5 billion in international traveler spending this year. TIME, June 25, 2025 “WE THOUGHT WE WERE FRIENDS” The New York Times describes Robert Longo as belonging to a group of artists who “used the language of mass consumption to critique a culture that had become increasingly defined by greed and self-indulgence.” That was in the 70s. “Longo’s most famous works of this period were photorealistic portraits, rendered in charcoal and graphite, of figures whose bodies twist and recoil, like they are either dancing or dying, all dressed as if they might be off to work at a midcentury office on Madison Avenue.” New York Times, August 12, 2025. Longo’s now 72, and work addressing the themes he’s spent a lifetime articulating is currently being exhibited at Louisiana Museum of Modern Art , just outside Copenhagen. Untitled (End of Empire), 2022. As exhibited, with reflections. Longo himself wondered how the recent tension between Denmark and the US might affect the show. photo by D’Angelo Lovell Williams, T Magazine Over dinner, the curator of the show, Anders Kold, quotes the opening lines of Dante’s “Inferno” in his speech: “ ‘In the midway of this our mortal life, I found myself in a gloomy wood, astray,’” adding that “the sense of danger is imminent.” He’s speaking about Longo’s small charcoal drawing of Goya’s “The Colossus” — a painting, dating to around 1808, of a giant who towers over a hillside town. But he’s also referring to what is on the minds of almost everyone in the room: the uneasy feeling that the world is changing in abrupt and uncontrollable ways. New York Times, August 12, 2025. “I feel a moral imperative to preserve the images of our shared dystopic present with the hope that something will one day change.” Robert Longo, Louisiana Exhibit Description. Louisiana, August 2025. Photos by Alan Berg unless otherwise noted. A "BS DECISION” ? Last week Norway’s government divested its $2 billion dollar stake in Caterpillar, citing ethical concerns. Fund managers say the company’s bulldozers are being used for “widespread unlawful destruction of Palestinian property” that contributes to violations of human rights and international law. Senator Lindsey Graham threw a hissy fit, firing off posts on consecutive days. Stink Eye or Jet Lag? Lindsey Graham in Tel Aviv last week. Courtesy Times of Israel In addition to tariffs, Graham threatened to deny visas to investment fund executives. This received very little media play outside of Norway, which struck me. We could go to pretty much any region in the world right now and find similar specific confusions. There are so many fissures it’s hard to see what’s happening beyond where we’re standing. But the cumulative effect is that longtime friends are backing away. With Allies Like These Who Needs Enemies? Reddit, August TEXANS CRAVING TACOS During our two weeks, we saw any number of sus takes on our cuisine. Then Hija De Sanchez blew us away. The hype kicked off in 2017. Rosio Sanchez started in Chicago, made her way to noma for a stint as head pastry chef, then branched out on her own. First with a taco stand, followed in 2017 by the more formal Sanchez , which Michelin applauds for “bold powerful flavors.” It’s one of the best meals we’ve ever had. Anywhere. A perfect example of the magic that can happen when cultures intersect. The Scandinavian countries have more than a thousand years of shared experience, and the Parliamentary systems by which they’re governed push people with differing views towards finding common ground. In London, as we were being shuttled towards our plane, from behind me I heard the welcome warmth of a familiar accent — “It feels like they’re herding cattle”. “Yup” I replied, “can’t wait to get home.” But when I turned to nod the face staring back went distant, as did the eyes. By instinct. As we move back towards America, we’re all resuming the dance with our neighbors, where we tip-toe around until we figure out if the person we’re talking with is “one of us.” Because on our shores, trust is now almost as foreign as truth. A perfect late summer night in Copenhagen’s Vesterbro district. EVENTS THIS MONTH FADERS UP DIGITAL RELEASE "One of the great Austin films...a really wonderful, fun, intimate piece about a pretty mysterious guy. Anyone hoping to understand Austin of the last 60 years should just start with FADERS UP." Richard Linklater On September 11 at 7:30pm filmmakers and special guests will present the film at Hyperreal Film Club and on Saturday, September 21 the film will screen at Austin Film Society Cinema , with a special guest to celebrate the digital release. PHOTOGRAPHER DAVID FOX SHOWCASES FIFTY YEARS OF LIVE MUSIC IN AUSTIN AT TWEEDY’S BAR. Billed as a “rock and roll memorabilia extravaganza,” the David Fox collection documents Austin’s nascent punk and New Wave scenes from 1978 to 1988 as seen through his eyes. The exhibition will remain open for at least a month, with some of the photographs migrating next door to the adjoining 29th Street Ballroom after the show wraps. Individual prints will be available for sale, along with a tabloid-sized zine featuring standouts from the collection. The Austin Chronicle, August 29th, 2025. PUNK POSTER EXHIBIT Catch artist Michael Nott aka NOXX's exhibit by @Auspopatx, September 14-November 14 @empireatx featuring punk posters from 1979-1984. NOXX turned out hundreds of posters in those years, including the one for the Dicks’ first show, Punk Prom at the Armadillo World Headquarters. HAMM DAY SEPT 23 250+ free shows across the city supporting Austin musicians, including an AWHQ showcase @eastendballroom at 6pm. That’s it for now, next month a deeper look at Fall.