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No Kings! What Did It Accomplish?   #359

By Hank Silverberg  


Commentary

I posted some video and photos of the local "No Kings" protest here in Fredericksburg on my social media pages yesterday. It was small by comparison

to the estimated seven to ten million who showed up across the country. We had maybe 2,000 people. 

When I posted it on a local neighborhood chat room, I got some interesting comments. Most of them polite. Some not. But here is one good question: what did these protests accomplish?

Here's my answer to that:

It sends a clear message to the White House and more importantly, Congress, that millions of Americans are so ticked off about current policy that they are willing to march in the streets in big cities and small towns to relay that message. These are not radical leftists or "communists," or "terrorists" as the GOP made them out to be. They do not "hate" America, as House Speaker Mike Johnson said from the seat of American power, the United States Capitol. They are just ordinary people who love their country and want to save it from disaster.   

The protests will help rally the average American  as we get into the 2026 election season where control of Congress is in play, and the voter's decisions could set the course for this country for decades to come. 

If Democrats can regain control of at least one house of Congress they can stop Trump's roll towards authoritarianism and bring back some balance to the United States. If the GOP holds on to the majority or gets an even bigger majority, it could push us to the brink of chaos. That could produce more dissent where the rational moderates who dominate the real world will lose control and be

overwhelmed by the wingnuts on both the right and the left. I don't want to think of the kind of division that will foster (think 1861).     

"No Kings" is not just a slogan that Donald Trump can make fun of. It was a warning that we'd better steady the boat now or we might sink it. Those in office on both the national, state and local levels better heed that warning. 

News You Might Have Missed!

Deforestation Getting Worse

Trees are of vital importance to the survival of our planet. But the world is falling short of efforts to reverse deforestation by 2030. The 2025 Forest Declaration Assessment (see link) says in 2024 alone, the Earth has permanently lost 20 million acres of forest, an area twice the size of England. That put efforts by over 140 countries to reforest the planet 63% behind the stated goal. 

The reason? Fires, like those that devastated the American west and the Amazon rainforest where millions of acres have also been stripped for farming.  

(Courtesy greenpeace.org) 
Basic science that we all learned in high school has told us that trees help keep the air clean. The fires in the Amazon alone have released nearly 800 million metric tons of C02 in 2024, contributing to climate change. 

Forest Declaration Assessment 2025 - Forest Declaration Assessment


Gaza Ceasefire Tenuous

It's been clear from the start of the ceasefire in Gaza that it's chances of success were in doubt. There was more evidence of that on Sunday when Hamas fighters opened fire on Israeli troops still operating the city of Rafah. Israel fired back with airstrikes. 

According to the Associated Press, the Hamas leadership, which continues to claim multiple ceasefire violations without any credible evidence, said its communication with remaining units in Rafah have been cut off for months, and "we are not responsible for any incident occurring in those areas." 

This comes after video surfaced of Hamas fighters executing a number of Palestinians they called gang members who had collaborated with Israel. It's a further indication of the chaos on the ground in Gaza, and a good example of why the cease fire and hopes for peace are so fragile.   


https://www.cbsnews.com/news/video-shows-hamas-fighters-executing-palestinians-accused-of-collaborating-with-israel/

Dumbest Quote of The Week!

This week's dumb quote comes from Vice President JD Vance, a repeat offender. He was asked about that Young Republican group chat in which several members made racist comments about Black people and praised Adolf Hitler. Vance said the chat was not particularly disturbing, and then said this: 

“Kids do stupid things, especially young boys. They tell edgy, offensive jokes. Like, that’s what kids do. And I really don’t want us to grow up in a country where a kid telling a stupid joke ― telling a very offensive, stupid joke ― is cause to ruin their lives.”

As usual though, Vance, who is 41, didn't know what he was talking about, and as a result sounded very stupid.  

These young Republican "kids" were in their 20's and 30's and in positions of authority in Republican circles in their states. One of them had actually run for public office in Topeka. Peter Giunta, the one who praised Hitler, is in his 30's and chairs the New York State chapter of the Young Republicans. 

They are NOT kids, Mr. Vice President. Should they be the future leaders of your party?


( You suggestions and comments  are welcome)

My recent book "The Campaign" can be purchased at the links below. Or you can buy a copy by emailing me at:  HankSilverberg@gmail.com for instructions on how to get a copy at a reduced price and with my signature)                       

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B084Q7K6M5/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

My NEWEST book is now available. It is designed for use in Public Speaking and entry level communications classes. 



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