From what I’ve seen in media, the nationwide No Kings demonstrations were a smashing success. They were huge, they were peaceful. The only incidents I’ve heard of involved Trump supporters who showed up trying to start trouble (for example).
The shootings in Minnesota put a damper on the day and also ate up most of the news coverage. The latest information I have seen says the suspect is known to be a radical evangelical who opposes abortion and LGBTQ rights. There’s some good reporting on this from Wired.
I’ve heard very little about Trump’s vanity parade, except that it happened. This is from a New York Times reporter:
Overall this was a pretty listless and low-energy parade and crowd. People wearing Trump paraphernalia far outnumbered those wearing Army hats and shirts from what I could see. There were no speakers along the parade route, so spectators couldn’t hear whatever was being broadcast by the announcers closer to the reviewing stand. People are now flooding across Constitution Avenue at 18th Street to leave.
Also,
There was one part of this that gave me confidence. It was when they were rolling the tanks through the street and the tank crews were full of smiles and waving to the admittedly small crowd. This just isn’t how you do one of these strong man parades. The soldiers are impassive. They look at …
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm.bsky.social) June 14, 2025 at 9:00 PM
2/ El Jefe. They’re a spectacle of power. This was at least in that moment the way I’d like to see American soldiers interacting with the public, smiles, hi, waving at kids.
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm.bsky.social) June 14, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Here are some good photos of the No Kings demonstrations from NPR. And check out Seattle! Over 70K in Seattle denounce Trump at massive ‘No Kings’ rally. Over 70K just in Seattle!
Wired released solid information on the suspect that seems repressed or even censored or blocked by most of the media. The sources and methods they used appeared those widely available and credible yet the major media, so far, has failed to report this information. Is one to assume intentional bias and suppression because of the evangelical connection of the suspected murderer or his connections to the armed security business?
BTK as he was known in Wichita, Kansas was also quite involved in security services which helped him elude apprehension for some time. He was known as BTK because his mode of serial killing was to bind, torture, and kill. Knowing about security devices and methods helped BTK avoid getting caught for quite some time.
Criminals seem to be learning ways to use a security facade and security training to achieve their criminal intent. This points to a serious lack of screening for those giving access, information, or training in security. That this suspect has a history in the armed security makes us all less secure. How many other criminals are trained to impersonate security officials or avoid legitimate security devices? Are those doing such training doing proper screening?
That the federal government is currently involved in arrests without identification is a comfort to no one. This murderer had a doorbell photo wearing a badge: the illusion of serving and protecting in this case it appears.
As to involvement with evangelicals or other zealots, illusion there is more common as are the warnings about probable imposters. Aware we must be always of wolves in sheep's clothing as a common deception in that domain. You are on your own to screen for those.
I participated in the No Kings protest in Sarasota, FL yesterday. It was very hot – turnout was still robust. All the placards and signs appeared to be homemade. Or, more to the point, there were not 1000 copies of the same message that screams "astroturf." I think there were thousands but much of the demonstration was strung along the four-lane state highway between a marina and a state (or city) park. My unscientific poll is that a clear majority approved of the protest. Lots of people in cars (some drivers with the wheel in one hand and phone in the other) taking video of the demonstrators and signs. There were a few Trump supporters in vehicles, but no counter-protesters. Police were present and discrete. The only time I saw them enter the crowd was to render medical assistance when I suspect someone had heat-related trauma. Most of the demonstrators were over 60. (My guess on the ratio and ages.) IMO, people my age beliece we made a difference in the 60s and 70s on civil rights and Vietnam.
Younger people don't seem to think activism changes anything. Early on in the civil rights movement (I think) most African-Americans doubted anything would come of activism. It changed when MLK became the spokesman. If democracy survives Trump and a new dictator shows up, the old guard will be gone.
There was violence yesterday. It started with four people being shot in MN, two of them to death. I have not read any credible accounts of violence by "No Kings" people. A lone wolf (it seems) shot someoene at a "No Kings" protest in SLC. A young man drove into a crowd in VA at a "No Kings" rally, injuring one. It looks like things got rowdy in Portland at an ICE facility and four federal cops were injured.
Searching YouTube this morning for video on "No Kings", I was astounded at the volume of comments by MAGA keyboarders. The desperation of these folks to convince people not to believe what the visual evidence proves defies reason. I've seen the same phenomenon with the facebook page of my Congresswoman, a Democrat.
I saw clips of the DC parade. tanks rolling by sparse groups (not crowds) standing along on the sidewalk, bleachers behind them half-empty. Other clips of the National Mall were also sparsely attended. Accounts that I read by people who were there reported lines at security and protesters with bullhorns delivering their message to a captive audience. Some never got to see the parade because they were unwilling to wait in the long lines in the summer heat. (Why do I think Miller decided to put his people in charge of searching everyone which created an impossible bottleneck?) If you believe it, hotel reservations in the DC area were way below what a major event should spark.
I spend some time pondering the contradiction. Evidence suggests that many thousands of devoted Trumpsters spend time flooding social media with propaganda but relatively few care enough to show up for Dear Leader at a parade he's lusted for. What gives? I saw this same phenomenon after J6 when I counterprotested a rally in DC in support of the J6 people being arrested and charged. Reporters and cops outnumbered the MAGA supporters 10 to 1. There was no nationally organized counter-protesting to "No Kings" that I'm reading about. The violence seems to be a few lone-wolf nuts. But Trump won a plurality of the vote in November. These people contribute, not caring that Trump puts their money in his pocket. They buy his overpriced junk, shoes, watches, and bibles.
Trump is thier retribution. (And 'they' is a gross generalization butI think there's an explanation for what 'they' are doing.) MAGA has grwn up on a diet of greivance since Rush Limbaugh hit the airwaves. Greivance is their emotnional fix and they seek it out daily on righty-airwaves. Trump, they hope, will kick ass because he hates who they hate. But they are strictly, "Let's you and him get in a fight." Especially after J6, they are vocal supporters from the sidelines. They love the ananimity of a screen name. Rallies used to provide and outlet for the blood lust but attendance was dropping because Trunp in the flesh is a disappointment. Too much hot air. The parade wasn't going to proved the same outlet for rage, just sitting in the heat watching heavy armor roll by.
https://www.facebook.com/douglas.hughes.56
There has been some interesting discussion of the "marching" in Trump's military parade. One viewpoint is that US troops after boot camp don't march. As a Navy vet, I'd say that's true. But even in Navy boot camp, it's emphasized. (Why? Because it's the most fundamental exercise to train people to operate in unison. Coordinated action is essential in all branches.)
All the troops who were volunteered for the parade knew about it months before the parade. A refresher in marching would have taken a few days. In a few weeks, they could have been precise and sharp. Also, the video I saw showed troops in fatigues, not dress uniforms. This was a choice – who made it, I have no idea.
My personal opinion is that officers obeyed legal orders – they showed up with the equipment and soldiers exactly as ordered. Nobody in authority tried to make the event a tribute to DJT. It was a huge middle finger for the idea of making the Army a prop in Trump's reality show. There's not a lot of stuff in the government more "real" than the violence the military can bring. A parade to glorify the president was an insult they had to endure and the Army was eloquent in their reply.
There has been some interesting discussion of the "marching" in Trump's military parade. One viewpoint is that US troops after boot camp don't march. As a Navy vet, I'd say that's true. But even in Navy boot camp, it's emphasized. (Why? Because it's the most fundamental exercise to train people to operate in unison. Coordinated action is essential in all branches.)
All the troops who were volunteered for the parade knew about it months before the parade. A refresher in marching would have taken a few days. In a few weeks, they could have been precise and sharp. Also, the video I saw showed troops in fatigues, not dress uniforms. This was a choice – who made it, I have no idea.
My personal opinion is that officers obeyed legal orders – they showed up with the equipment and soldiers exactly as ordered. Nobody in authority tried to make the event a tribute to DJT. It was a huge middle finger for the idea of making the Army a prop in Trump's reality show. There's not a lot of stuff in the government more "real" than the violence the military can bring. A parade to glorify the president was an insult they had to endure and the Army was eloquent in their reply.