It's frustrating to watch friends and family post pictures of themselves at the protests knowing that it will make little to no difference. They're all very proud, posting their selfies with their super clever homemade signs. It feels like they're doing it more for their own internet clout than making any real change.
But I also know that people want to do something. We just don't know what.
Adam L.
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I agree with your assessment, however, let's see what happens when the protests get messy and Trump calls in the dogs and busts some heads as he said he wanted to do last time.
That may change more than a few people's mind as to how they feel about his authoritarian style.
With respect,
Ted Guggenheim
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100% correct Bob. What we need is a wildfire meme and everyone participates at the same time on one day to show the power of the people and hit these assholes in their pocketbooks (they only thing they care about and it's been working with Musk and Tesla). One day, 24 hours - like fasting for religious reasons. Stay home and don't buy a single thing at retail or Amazon/ online. That will be the real "Black Friday". In fact even better make it Black Tuesday - April 15 - Tax Day. Wake people from their slumber on single day with a single simple act that will be undeniable IMHO:
"Don't Buy Sh*t Today"
Fred Goldring
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On line may indeed be the most important battleground but I went to the anti Trump event here in Santa Rosa yesterday and was shocked to see over 5,000 people in the town center, lots of latinos, 20's-30's. It was diverse. The bottom line is that not everybody knows what to do. You've got choices; ignore what's going on, insulate yourself and hope if fixes itself or you can get off your ass and show up. Does it mean anything? It did to the thousands of people there and who those who drove by. We are not alone and we won't just shrug our shoulders.
The signs were terrific and covered so many angles. The optics are not insignificant. I guarantee you Trump is aware of the unrest but his ego won't allow him to see it as real. Hey if you can get to Mar a Lago, great, be my guest, but it's ok to do it in your community, emphasis on the 'unity' part. It felt good
The fact that quite a few democratic countries have seen huge public protests put pressure on a political figure point to its role. In S.K, the numbers in the streets led the parliament to overrule Yoon Suk's martial law decree and vote to impeach him.
Will that happen here? Not so easy but you don't have to deprogram everyone who voted for Trump. Trump got 49% of the vote. His MAGA posse is just over half that at 25%, which means that 24% of those who voted for him are not married to him. They took a shot. They can be turned around when the proof of his incompetence impacts them and they can see the growing tide of opposition. When Trump's ratings started falling this week, it was those people who accounted for the drop in his approval numbers.
John Brodey
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You want to see a protest? How about 9.5 million Auto workers, Teachers, Teamsters, Food and Commercial Workers, Electrical Workers ALL not showing up for work for a week. Standing on the streets in protest for what has happened to their Union Brothers. It won't matter if it doesn't make the headlines. What WILL Make the headlines is your kid not going to school, homes and businesses not getting serviced by union contractors, autos not being built. The American people would feel that difference in red and blue (and orange) states.
This was supposed to be the power of being in a Union. Where are the Unions? Why are they silent? Individual people, like the protests from Saturday have very little power. The Unions can stop the clock on America and yes, get noticed.
Gary Witt
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Tired tactics, If you want attention do it on tuesdays. It looked like a weekend outing
Stan Goman
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Agree with much of what you say. However and unlike 1967 the protests serve an internal function of focusing discontent.
I hope they occur every week for a year or more-I'll be out there at 82 and so should you.
Michael Harpster
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thank you.
you took the mouth right out of my words.
Robin Gelberg
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The protests may not have immediately done any good, but they didn't NOT do any good. We've got to keep the drum beat coming, louder and louder! Of course insane cheeto is hoping these will get to the point where he can use them as an excuse to declare martial law…
Mark Towns
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Bob - I COULD NOT disagree more with you. These demonstrations absolutely had to happen in person and not on the web so Trump & his lackeys could see the number of people - and the demographics of those people. Lots of gray hair. Very concerned about their retirement savings. That just doesn't come thru on the web. You should re-think this one dude.
Brett Howser
Laguna Beach
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This is so spot on. Watching those protests yesterday, I thought…nice gathering, but toothless. Innovate or evaporate, the choice is ours.
Peter Barsocchini
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In an interview with NBC News' "Meet the Press," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called it a "false narrative" that people who are close to retiring may be reluctant after their retirement savings may have dropped last week because of the stock market downturn.
"I think that's a false narrative," he told moderator Kristen Welker.
"Americans who want to retire right now, the Americans who put away for years in their savings accounts, I think they don't look at the day-to-day fluctuations.
"In fact, most Americans don't have everything in the market," he added.
"People have a long-term view. ... The reason the stock market is considered a good investment is because it's a long-term investment. If you look day to day, week to week, it's very risky. Over the long term, it's a good investment."
Tone deaf and out of touch. Let them eat (less) cake.
Bessent's net worth is at least $521 million, according to his December 28, 2024, financial assets disclosure by the U.S. Office of Government Ethics.
Levi Pervin
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Dem voters ARE and have been in a bubble ….at least since 2015, probably much longer.
Thank you for an excellent summation of where we are, and what must be grappled with to move forward …..that's of course if there are any moves left on the chessboard in the present race to autocracy.
John Kurzweg
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If they keep doing it there will eventually be some that get shot and that will "move the needle".
Grant Peeples
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Protesting in the USA hasn't worked since the 20th Century, which if your readers need a reminder, was over a quarter century ago. Remember when MILLIONS of people around the globe protested the War in Iraq in 2002 - 2003? Friendster and MySpace had barely gained a foothold to spread the message. Those protests didn't do sh*t to keep Cheney from helping oil companies, Halliburton and other defense contractors with that bogus war that wasted trillions and killed millions. Remember Occupy Wall Street? What came of it, the now completely handicapped Consumer Financial Protection Bureau?
I'm always left wondering what happened to hacktivist orgs like Anonymous... But you're spot on encouraging instigators and trolls heading to Truth Social to f*cj with the dipsh*t in chief. I remember from Drumpf's last administration that the "opposition" was attacking his ego online everyday and he would lose his sh*t and have a daily meltdown on Twitter. That was one of the only fun things to come out of 2017 - 2021.
-Stu Walker
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Bob, I was there in Washington. It was a joyous occasion. The best signs were hilarious. Wonderful to get everybody together. It was the vibe that mattered. The people I saw on stage were middle of the road Dems. There were few people expressing what I would consider radical opinions. Sure, a lot of "f*cj Trumps." Thoroughly enjoyable. It just felt good to be around so many other people who thought like we did. Whether it does anything or not, it sure lifted our spirits.
Best
Tom Moore
Fairfax, VA
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I'm sure it depends on algorithms, but my FB, TikTok and Instagram were flooded with images of the marches from many different cities, large and small. It was quite heartening. TikTok is, as you mentioned, the place to see what's going on (in between Judge Judy etc) but FB really surprised me today, a lot of posts from all around the country
Wendy Waldman
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I can't agree with you on this one, Bob.
Starting with the GOP townhall meetings, where those members of congress who showed up took a verbal pasting, and now, the size and number of the actions in the streets, help people move past the intense feelings of powerlessness that have gripped so many since the election and the start of Trump's and Musk's lawless rampage.
Every bonfire starts with kindling.
This is not going away.
Jim Charne
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You don't know if it moved the needle or not! Your pontifications are no more valid than mine or anyone else's. So you are the one who has his pulse on the events of the future? Let time and space do with yesterday's national community what it will… but we both know you are not the boss of fate or possibilities!
Andre Floyd
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Nail on head, Bob.
Leaders are the answer. Young Bernie's and Elizabeth Warren's and the like must be out there.
It does seem that a way to energize and motivate them to come out of the woodwork is to demonstrate that there are many potential followers for them to lead.
Massive protests will literally demonstrate that.
For that alone millions in the streets would be a good thing.
PLUS other direct actions as you say, no argument there.
DG C
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I disagree you discouraging protests. They are getting larger every week and Trump won't like a crashing stock market and tens of thousands of people in street. Never discourage people from partipating in democracy and having their voices heard. I can't believe you would do so.
If dem celebrities would do what kid rock did we'd have an impact on boycotts. It's time to start applauding the doing and stop trashing the Dems.
None of my friends were harping on letting trans athletes play for women's teams. Were your friends. I think the media made it into an issue that barely existed. It existed because Donald Trump and Bill Maher said it did? Sorry. No one I knew was focusing on it.
Annie Roboff
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I think you're spot on with everything Trump. I can't stand the fool, and I'm fearful for where our country is headed now that he's back.
I hear ya on the protests not moving the needle, but I don't think you're seeing the big picture here. My wife and daughters attended one of the protests in Port Huron, Michigan, near our house. (I couldn't go because my 97-year-old mom lives with us, and we couldn't find a caregiver, otherwise I would've been there, too) I was excited to talk to my wife when she got home about how it went.
She was ebullient! She said it felt SO GOOD to be with like-minded people! She's all over social media and has made connections on there, but to be out there interacting with people in real life was uplifting for her. I'm sure I would've felt the same if I had gone. I know Trump and Musk won't give two sh*ts about the protests, but that's beside the point. It's more important for the people to feel empowered.
Thanks,
Bill Brody
Casco, Michigan
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Of course I was out there protesting and I hear what you're saying and agree in part. But what do we do? Because I don't know what it will take to get Trump and MAGA out of power. I don't believe there will be another fair election. Musk and his crew got their hands into everything so why should I believe he will ever let go of power.
So I know the protests didn't move the needle but until someone way smarter than me comes up with something, this is what I did. Karen Merrifield in Louisiana
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We could have literally every person in the country including all the maga protesting and marching and Trump wouldn't care. It's too late. He's in power and boring matters. Meanwhile this is what's happening online:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHL6sf3sxEg/?igsh=MTl4ZDQ1amV6OGNyeQ==
It's that moronic comedian and conspiracy theorist Jim Breuer spreading lies about the government poisoning us with vapor trails in the sky. It's completely f*cjing bonkers but take a look at the comments section. It's one maniac offer the next believing it!!! We are truly living in an idiocracy. It's noble to see the protests but they are futile.
Rob DiFondi
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This is just the beginning…
The first wave of the Vietnam war protests were a mere rumble to where they ended up and to where we all remember them in pop culture. My father was a draft dodger, and grew up in a small town in southern New Hampshire…he told us stories of its growth, and always implemented in our brains to never give up the fight it's something worth fighting for. At first it was a sign in the window, then a some pickets on the side of the road, then to full blown walk outs, campus take overs and radical uprisings.
We are a couple months in to a presidency and we had large swaths of organized protests nationwide….im not only impressed but hopeful for our future. Good shall prevail.
---
Casey H. Smith || Ineffable Music Group
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Beg to differ on this one, Bob.
1,300 individual protests (est. totalling over 5 million people) across the country (and even in some mahor cities overseas) is nothing to sneeze at. And hopefully it's just the beginning.
People need to mobilize in order to open others' eyes (didn't mean that to rhyme, but the accidental poetry may well serve to underscore the point!). And when it comes to human reactions, some things never change.
Even here in nearby Cocoa, FL, I saw the crowd grow from mere dozens to over 1,000 in merely an hour. And the images of course showed proportionally greater mobilizations in the larger cities.
So maybe we do need to literally get out and spread the word, like back in the Sixties and early Seventies. Especially now that the widespread tariffs are sure to sting the MAGA-verse directly in the pocket, just like the rest of us!
Wasn't it it bad enough that the Democrats couldn't get out the vote to the extent needed back on November 5th? Well damn it, silence here again IMHO is as good as apathy.
Time to learn from our own mistakes, and preferably before the entire ship sinks!
Sincerely,
Miguel Castellanos
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All your Innovative Thinking suggestions here are spot-on, the orgs behind yesterday's protests should absolutely steal 'em for future efforts.
As for the protests not moving the needle or changing minds…I don't think that was the point this time out. Yeah, being at the Nashville rally made me (and a few thousand others) feel good, and if that's all it did, that's fine for now. I got visual in-person confirmation that I'm not alone in seeing this as a five-alarm crisis, which was encouraging. So to me, yesterday was about laying the foundation for more-targeted ongoing work (hopefully like the actions you're calling for).
Fwiw, my Lyft driver on the way home asked what the commotion was about, and when I told him it was a general protest against the Trump administration and creeping authoritarianism, he admitted that he'd voted for Trump in November—"because he is a businessman"—and now he's pissed. He cited the "crazy tariffs," deportations of legal residents (he immigrated here and is now a citizen), and education cuts. "Not what I voted for! I voted for him to make us more money, like he said."
Also fwiw: the protest was still a top headline in The Tennessean Sunday afternoon, and as I write this at 4:15pm Sunday it is still the lead story (with pics) on the homepage of my hometown paper, The Herald-Times, of Bloomington, Indiana. So while it may not have had legs nationally, it seems to have hit more locally—which ain't nothin'.
And hey (*pops breath mint*), it was important enough for Bob Lefsetz to write about it the next day, so, we got that goin' for us!!
~Dean Moore
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Let me know when your ox is being gored!
People big and small (not at all meant in a pejorative way) are getting hurt:
In the grocery store
In the public schools
In their jobs
In their loss of jobs.
In obtaining service and/or benefits they earned or deserve.
In their healthcare, not medicare or medicare. RESEARCH, this hurts us now and in the future and it's gonna hurt our kids too!
In the stock market
Even the trumpers are getting screwed ('cept the super rich ones). They had no idea he was going to hose them so badly.
Musicians? They've had their heads up their asses, since?
Since 1969 (right)?
Some of my friends were out protesting this weekend-it did make them feel good
More of us need to get out there.
There is alot at stake...I think what they show us is a distraction (bread and circuses)...
I want to know what's going on behind the scenes (AI, messing with the $$, manipulating bitcoin).
I would not put it past them to literally be stealing from the treasury.
Enjoy your Sunday!
Av Miller
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My two-cents about yesterday's protests is somewhat different from yours, in this regard:
No one I talked to thought they were going to change the Trump Administration's tactics, policies or beliefs. "Moving the Needle" was not the goal.
The protests were simply a visual and physical statement, to non-verbally say: "The Mid-term elections are coming, and there are a lot more discontented voters than you realize. Be prepared."
That, to my mind, was the purpose of the 1,300 protests across the country. Simply a "show of force and unity". It takes no effort to log on and click on something. But to get out of bed, drive somewhere distant, and assemble en masse, takes a lot more human effort.
But to reach the younger pro-MAGA crowd, you're right — 60's style protests won't appeal to or move them. They thrive on their bromance with the Joe Rogan's and Ben Shapiro's of this country, and only when they suffer severe economic damage ("It's the economy, stupid") will they re-think their rigid positions.
In the end, it all comes down to economics, no matter what subject lurks on the surface. "If I lose my job, lose my house, lose my benefits, lose my insurance, my pension plan gets trashed, and my parents and grandparents lose their benefits too, thus forcing me to help them, THEN I will rethink how I voted and for whom." Voila……
Lance Hicks
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Bob I think you're missing one group of Americans that probably were paying attention. GOP members of congress. When folks are turning up in relatively large numbers in deep red counties in Nebraska, Montana, Arkansas, Idaho, etc, etc, not to mention swing districts all over the country, I do think it may move a needle enough to make a difference. With tens of millions of folks within 10-15 years of retirement watching their 401K vaporize before their eyes, threats to cut medicare and medicaid, and with all the meddling with Social Security, the idea that in 2026 several GOP seats could go to the Dems should not be taken lightly and will deal a major blow to the Trump carnage agenda. We're talking fewer than 10 seats out of 435. And most of those folks don't give a rat's ass what is being posted on the NYT site let alone TikTok. I don't disagree with you that there is a war being waged and we Dems/Libs/Lefties need to figure our sh*t out for the long game, but these small skirmishes can add up as long as we're relentless in starting them.
Also, I don't think most folks believe for a second that Trump cares about these protests at all, but I bet Elon does.
Gary Ferenchak
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Of course, yesterday won't change Trump's mind, and only a fool would believe it could. Yesterday was about telling our leaders that they have fallen behind us. With the exception of a handful, the Democratic Party apparatchiks are sitting at home, hiding behind their hands and expecting the world to do their work for them.
People on the street make it clear what's expected of their leaders. Me, I hope there's a lot more demonstrations coming, and I hope to see you there.
Andy Romanoff
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Wow, I have never been so disappointed in one of your posts. I am disappointed you didn't attend your own LA rally. I went and I've got cancer. The protest was in Portland Oregon and there were 10,000 people there. MANY were in wheelchairs or walkers and the vibe was positive because it was a real joy to see like minded people standing up for what they believe.
Actually doing something real is better than sitting at home b*tching about it. There was really good news coverage in Portland and it was the #1 story. I taped every news channel last night so I could see what was said. I don't care what Thump thinks.......I know there are people around me that are as unhappy as I am about all the horrible things he's putting us through.
I think he's crashing the stock market so he can buy up stock at a low price with his insider info on who's coming back and who is not.
Still a fan but please get out there and see for yourself next time. And I liked some of your ideas for what would really make an impression on the jerk.
Katie Bradford
Portland, OR (live free or die)
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By the way, I am aware of your point that our protests need to grow and get much, much bigger. I have been watching the protests in Turkey and Serbia. Makes ours look pitiful.
At the same time, not as an excuse, but as a reason why we need to wake people up, Turkey has been sliding this way with Erdogan for at least 15 years and Serbia has obviously had a much different history than us as well.
They know what they are protesting against. Americans are still in the bubble and too many don't think it can happen here.
Jan Jankingston
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THINK LOCAL!
I agree with your points here but the idea that local media does not even exist, that local media coverage means nothing, is an oversight that is hard to process.
Agreed, I learned nothing about these protests from the major national newspapers and their apps.
I live in Asheville, NC. Roughly 8000 people were at the downtown protest. I was not there. But, the local media coverage shared through their social media pages, the many community groups that I belong to, and the dozens of local friends who posted about the protest made me feel like I was part of the experience.
Asheville is very liberal and the surrounding areas get real red real quick. The joke, that is funny but true, is that you can see rainbow flags ten miles away from where you can see confederate flags.
It is the 2 and 3 time Trump voters who are showing up and joining a brand new conversation at these protests here. These people did not vote for Elon Musk. These voters had no way of knowing that grocery prices would go up and lots of local jobs would be lost within the first 10 weeks. Their news sources told them to expect the opposite during the campaign. The Republicans in this horribly gerrymandered state are afraid to take stages in front of their own voters. The National Forest service is a big employer in this area - nobody knew that our friends working there would get fired by a guy named Elon Musk. That was not mentioned during the campaigns.
If the fight back is going to accomplish anything, it is going to emerge from the grassroots. LOCAL MEDIA and local social media content is all over covering this story.
Mark McLaughlin
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I didn't know about this until the very day it was happening , but I was under the weather all week, so that played into it as well.
This is just round one. Wait till the weather improves after a few more months of turmoil… gonna be a long, angry summer.
Pocatello, Idaho, of all places, had a big turnout. Republican bastion if there ever was one. People there are realizing they need federal funding as much as any big city liberal. All white people, too. Nothing close to BLM in those parts. I lived there long enough to know I didn't want to stay for long.
Brace yourself. This is far from over.
Stephen Gordon
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I get it. Why would he care. He already believes he's above the law. He was elected, look at EVERYTHING he's already gotten away with.
My only hope is that all the protests will result in a bigger/collective grass roots movement to swing the midterms and beyond.
Steve Anderko
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With all respect Bob, think you're wrong.
Check CNN's lead story:
https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/05/us/hands-off-protests-trump-musk?cid=ios_app
Millions marched on Saturday-you think that won't move the needle at a time when the GOO has instructed their reps to not hold town hall meetings? People become empowered attending and the feeling I got was they will come back again and again and bring friends.
Grass Valley, Ca pop: 14,000 had a turn out of nearly 3,000 people! I marched in Glendale and there were well over 1000. The few MAGAs who drove by seemed rather timid, barely raising a middle finger and lacking the swagger and bold behavior we've seen in the past. Many drivers honked and held signs and upside down flags (distress signal).
Importantly what Hands Off! achieved was uniting multiple organizations and leveraging their collective followings to create over 1400 events nationally plus numerous international protests.
I first marched for civil rights I. The 60s and times do change. One thing I know for sure, American democracy isn't going down without a fight. Freedom ain't free, never was. My father like so many others fought nazis and fascists. Now it's our turn-this is OUR fight.
Stay tuned,
Ricky Schultz
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Disagree, Bob. All the viral tiktoks and tweets in the world are just shouting into the void if you can't take your ass out into the streets. Shows the entire world that there are a bunch of us who aren't just going to roll over without a fight. We need real world protests just as much, if not more, than the online game.
Sean
MPLS
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Praise the effort and the process.
Getting off your ass and speaking with your feet has never been harder in an era when we're all rendered feckless and perpetually distracted at the altar of technology and 24-7 media.
And don't pretend or posture that you know what these protests did or didn't too just cause you can compare it to Vietnam and you've got more years of experience to draw from.
Resist the urge to just call balls and strikes from the sidelines. Far too easy.
Cultivating good feelings puts energetic credits in the bank. Fights are about momentum and rhythm.
This sure feels like momentum-building to me.
Can you acknowledge that?
With respect from Culver City,
Daniel Max
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Thx Bob - all good and all true. Finding a way for the "movement" to maximize where it matters most on social media is for sure the needed thing! What these protests do in my mind is a bunch of things - it matters to those taking part that we are not alone - that we are in a common and hopefully growing group - and if needed could be mobilized to even greater numbers. Also it gives strength to the congress and gov depts and officials being attacked that THEY are not alone - that there is a movement behind them to continue to resist and object and, fight them in the courts! As well it is strength and momentum to support turnout and candidates in '26 - it is still a slim majority and can be taken back (assuming no voting process shenanigans). I'm a child of the 60s/70s - this is how this nation and democracy was formed - this is how we'll get it back!
Thx Bob as always
Peter van Roden
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Excellent analysis of yesterday's events and what needs to happen.
William Bratton
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Well done — you did manage to piss me off. That's no small feat.
That said, you couldn't be more off-base here. I chalk it up to the kind of "wisdom" that comes with age — and maybe a bit too much comfort in cynicism. You're a brilliant curmudgeon, no doubt, and I love your takes on music, culture, and the business of both. But politics is a different beast, especially now. The rules are changing in real time, and none of us can say with certainty how it will all shake out — which is exactly why your judgment feels prematurely dismissive.
To say the protests didn't move the needle less than 14 hours after they happened? That's not analysis, that's impatience. You of all people know how long it can take for a cultural shift to register. Yesterday wasn't about making the front page — it was about building momentum, organizing, showing up. And yes, it did move the needle. Just not in the ways your metrics are trained to see. Yet.
This is a movement that understands the long game. As the MAGA machine tears through institutions, everyday Americans are going to start feeling the pain — at the dinner table, at the doctor's office, in their kids' schools and their own damn Social Security checks. That's when the shift will hit — and that's when the groundwork laid yesterday will matter most.
I'd tell you to have more faith and patience, but those aren't really your brand. And maybe that's why your opinions are so sharp. But on this one? I'd bet heavy that you're wrong.
You keep doing you. Me? I'll be in the streets with others who still believe action matters — even if, for now, all it does is remind us we're not alone.
And if that's all it accomplishes?
Then f*cjin' A — count me in.
Brian Allman
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Okay, Bob.
So, what to do?
as you say, flood social media, esp "Truth Social"
organize, to the extent possible -- and, man, it appears REALLY hard to do with any impactd -- economic boycotts
What else?
What the f*cj else?
Seriously ... help us out, here. If you see some avenues, please write about them.
I'm in a little, regional group of Dems in the reddest district in Maine and we're regularly getting 26-30 people to our monthly meetings -- and in between, we're all:
writing and calling reps and senators,
training ourselves to not be triggered as we try to have conversations with maga folks we know,
writing letters to local newspapers (which are still read by everyone in rural places, btw, except high school kids and younger),
beginning to use tik tok and other platforms -- I even think I can talk my grandkids into doing some short videos; all four are between 24 and 18 and they're paying attention,
going to protests (which builds energy, brings in new people to do the above ... is this useless, do you think?)
WHAT ELSE ??
Or, are you saying it's already f*cjing OVER and don't bother??
Kevin Ritchie
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I am seeing it from abroad, Bob, thought I would give you another perspective.
-The protests hit the news here
-Yesterday's actions and images are today's material for social media, my feed is full of them
-O see it as the beginning of people taking action and not leaving it to politicians
-People in the street might impress the judges/justices, who ultimately will block Trump's actions. USA has a worse situation in the supreme court than we had in Brazil. Every kid of pressure counts
-I believe in a mix of old and new protest forms, don't give up on people willing to go to the streets
-International pressure and support counts, seeing people protesting from abroad matters
I liked your idea of overflowing Truth Social. Spread the word. Pillows ans cars are easy to avoid, stop using Twitter, IG and WhatsApp ia the hard move. I'd rather see TikTok suspended for good than seeing it in the hands of another American tech oligarch.
Cheers
Caio Wendel
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Just as an FYI, Indivisible which was started and still run by committed people much younger than baby boomers, had meetings with several other young focused activist groups well before April 5 for local hosts … I attended and was sadly not impressed by what was planned.
Frankly I was looking for something a lot closer to Selma or Chicago/Dem Convention because blood in the streets against peaceful protesters by an ugly mob gets more attention than peaceful protestors and protesting.
Cory Booker used Tik Tok well, and followed up with extremely well attended town halls all over NJ yesterday, and the other Dem elected officials holding town halls in Repub districts have been doing a great job with constituents of all sides and getting press.
And agree, it's all about $$$… as soon as the tariffs kick in at retail I think you'll see very different protests. Right now, I think people are stocking up on the essentials that will go up in price… The Costco I went to in NJ was a mob scene yesterday, but everyone shopping was polite and kind to each other.
This AM a Nebraska Republican ( Senate) talked on CBS about a bill he and other republicans are crafting with some dems including Maria Cantwell. He nailed it, and wasn't afraid to say what other republicans haven't said… though Rand Paul has.
No one knows what to do and everyone is burnt out, if not afraid.
Regards
Amy Krakow
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While I agree with you that the online area is of great importance when it comes to spreading a message, I disagree that taking to the streets is pointless. The idea behind protest in the street is to build a sustainable movement and message that over time cannot be easily ignored. To use your example of Vietnam, that is what happened. How many people do you think are aware that the first major protest against American involvement in Vietnam happened in 1960? And that, of course, did not move public opinion at all. Nor did the protests in 1964 and 1965, when the public still largely supported the war. It wasn't until 1967 that the tide really started to turn – seven years after the first major protest.
For people to expect one protest to move public opinion is foolhardy. It never happens that way.
Best,
Wes R. Benash
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Protesting these rich twats is the most patriotic thing we can do. I disagree with your take that it doesn't matter.
Sara Joseph
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C'mon Bob. What's old school is believing that the point of the events yesterday was instant change. Or that it was to "piss Trump off". He's not going to change his mind on anything. He's a narcissist. I know because I was married to one for 16 years. One comment I saw on YouTube said, "I went to a hands off protest in flower mound TX….about 600 people showed up. I was afraid I would be the only one." That was the point. To get people connected IRL to other people in their own communities, to learn they're not alone in how they feel and what they believe.
I don't think anyone who attended yesterday believes that "we're done". This was just the beginning.
Gwen Gayhart
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It may move the needle for people who are equally out of touch, i.e., senators and representatives.
Craig Anderton
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So during the previous episode of Trump, there was an organization called SOMA Action... (SOMA=South Orange Maplewood). There have been protests at Bedminster almost constantly. There have even been protests and civil disobedience inside the ropes at the golf course. I photographed a lot of it. It doesn't break through.
I think where people are missing is that this regime is not concerned with protests or it's electability. That should tell you something. They've had a decade to write this project plan and I would imagine they addressed elections day one. There aren't gonna be any more. Whether it's another declaration of an emergency that the Republican Congress doesn't fight… Or simply shutting down all independent election inquiry… there aren't gonna be any more elections. So watching Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jefferies gather information tidbits for their next campaign commercials? It's cute right? Like they don't know yet.
Another inescapable conclusion. Project 2025 isn't the final "Project". I'm a professional project manager by training… Previous life. This is a phased project plan. If you're really considering trying to bring manufacturing back to the United States to compete with China, you're gonna need to reduce the American labor force to a level of desperation where it will accept Chinese level wages +33%, which is the current tariff. How would you do that? You'd use the tariffs to break the unions… And you'd cause an economic Great Depression level event. You'd purposely capsize the economy.
This is government by the one percent of the other 99%. This is owners… And The owned. Fight like hell.
When our political leaders on the right side of history start using words like general strike and tax revolt… That's when I'll believe they understand what the MAGA project is.
Matt Peyton
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No idea how you could be so out of touch.
Seems impossible really.
WTAF
Michael Montes
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Hi Bob — I respectfully disagree with your take on the protests.
It worked for the millions who showed up around the country who now know they are not alone, sitting at home — or wherever — staring at their phones, at tiktok like you. I think it' about people realizing that there is a grand coalition of all classes that can be rallied. It won't happen with one protest. It will hopefully grow to include the young and people of all races. The only thing that will scare our elected officials into standing up is the fear of losing office. So the Town Halls matter. It all matters now. Including your screeds.
David Hershkovits
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As someone who was at the Bryant park protest I respectfully disagree. This is a time when all peaceful means are necessary to protest the loss of our freedom and democracy to an oligarchy. Did it change anything today? No, but it takes some energy to actually do something physically like march in a peaceful protest. I can make the same argument that posts online don't change anything. But it's the collective energy and communication by all possible means that shows we the people are here. Otherwise you have the silence that leads to totalitarian rule. It's not a game of long flashy Touchdown passes. It's moving the ball forward by an inch a foot a yard, and gradually making positive change happen. We Americans are not as divided as we think…it is not the issues but how we talk about them. The internet is quick feel good potato chips. We have to get up off the couch and do things to make a difference. And it's a long grueling game…nothing will fix this overnight. Let the hard work begin.
Tobey Ritz
P.S. Again the protests were not meaningless. You're right about the long game though. The protests anlone are not the answer. But I was ready to quit, I'm 65 let the young people carry the ball. But the protests re-energized me to work and get off my ass and get back in the fight. If they did that for 10% of the people who attended that alone is a pebble dropped in a pond…it has no effect. But what if the disturbance causes ripples that energized more people to feel they aren't powerless and organize. To take more action. Sure, it can be nothing…but maybe in the ocean it becomes the barely noticeable wave that becomes a tsunami when it reaches the shore….maybe just maybe it's a start of something big. We need a leader but a leader is not someone who manipulates, it's someone who gets people to see they have common cause for good, and to work for a tide that floats all boats to see the shared interests…not winners and losers, but a path on which everyone has enough…everyone wins. Trump is a great manipulator. He leads people down a path of self destruction. Please don't confuse that with leadership.
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Hi Bob, up until yesterday my role in fighting the Maga take over has been arguing on social media, all Meta sites, X, and now Blue Sky. Good idea about getting on truth social, but I'm a little scared of drawing attention to myself and my rants about Trump on his platform.
Yesterday my wife and me made up signs and got to the main San Diego protest site downtown an hour before the march was supposed to begin. There were literally thousands of people overflowing the civic center outdoor area, holding signs waiting at least an hour for the march to start. the huge turnout shocked me since there were other protests planned in coastal cities that are part of San Diego county as well, Oceanside, Encinitas, Carlsbad, etc.
The organizers of this event and the local Democratic Party and any liberal candidate looking for an audience of liberal voters really blew it. There was a stage set up and a mic, and NOBODY GOT UP TO SPEAK TO THIS CAPTIVE AUDIENCE ABOUT THE EVILS OF TRUMP AND MUSK. Over an hour of thousands of fired up liberal protestors and not a single leader or person speaking to the crowd. The crowd was over weight with boomers and senior citizens and very few under 40 year olds, but all were eager for someone to listen to and direct them. Finally around 12, with no instructions the crowd started to move East for the march down the streets. There were so many protesters it took 2 hours to complete a one mile very orderly march.
There were hardly any cops in view except trailing the last in the crowd. There were zero visible local news people interviewing marchers or filming them (this leads to lots of conspiracy theories of where the hell was the media. This was a huge event in San Diego news wise).
In fact as you pointed out most of the coverage of this event and the hundred or so other ones in the country with way more people than ever expected only seemed to be covered on the internet. When we got home we tried to see anything about the huge crowd on local network news and there was zilch. WTF, did Trump somehow intimidate network news?
For me this live experience served as a perfect metaphor of why the Dems lost the last election and why they can't muster the slightest resistance to the Trump/Musk takeover and breaking of the government. At every one of these protest events there should have been a Democrat Congress person speaking to the protesters or if no Congress person was interested enough maybe even a local liberal Democrat or celebrity speaking and leading their protests. and as far as I know this only happened in the DC event where Jamie Raskin spoke and I don't know who else because the print media took a day off from reporting on this overwhelming example of "we the people" speaking out against Republicans and Trump.
The Democrats have millions of voters begging for leadership, a message, and direction, and the party and it's name brands and elected officials are CLUELESS AND DON'T KNOW HOW TO LEAD. This is why a lying, cheating, traitorous, felon, rules America.
Today's Ny Time has a single picture on front page of one of the protests in Ashville NC and a short story buried on page 19 about the day of protests. What spell does Trump cast??
Alan Segal
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"Trump bought a Tesla at the White House... This broke protocol and possibly the law, but he felt a need to defend Elon Musk"
Ya think? I'd bet you a pound to a penny that trump hasn't paid for it: And that the cheque'd bounce
Roger Maltby
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