In anticipation of the coming weekend, like others, I had my eyes glued on what the news would report and how the community would react.
The events over the past weekend juxtaposed with each other. What we see is the unfolding of a new political identity. The 1967 words of Bob Dylan come to mind (but sound better when expressed by Jimi Hendrix).
The prophetic words framed a discourse of business over humanity, politics over reality. We are looking at the world from the watchtower. The continued events from the past week (June 9–13, 2025) heading into the weekend (June 14, 2025) contextualize the widening divide between classes, political ideologies, and economic security. How much further these divisions will expand is based on the amount of stress forthcoming.
“President Trump hosted the country’s largest military parade in decades in D.C. yesterday evening. It marked 250 years of the U.S. Army — and coincided with Trump’s 79th birthday.
“‘Every other country celebrates their victories. It’s about time America did, too,’ Trump said in remarks at the end of the parade. The president also received a commemorative flag as the crowd sang ‘Happy Birthday’” (Axios, June 14).
This event, planned for over two years before President Trump took hold and made a radical shift, was not intended to be politicized. However, the executive did what this executive has consistently done, made the changes with a stroke of a pen, and most likely internal threats to the organizing team.
The other sound that comes to mind rings from Bob Marley.
Bob Marley is not advocating for war. Rather, he’s articulating internal differences, pressures, and oppression that push communities to act. The dominant political body sees these actions in alignment with a discourse of war, even minor. The oppressed body politic sees the actions of the oppressors as acts of war. Both ends of the candle are burning, and will put the other out. The collateral damage is the remaining populist.
Immigration protests put Democrats in tricky territory
“Nationwide protests against President Trump’s crackdown on immigration are putting Democrats in tricky political territory ahead of the high-stakes midterms” (The Hill, June 15).
The Democratic Party has its hands full navigating multiple waters. The economy, the protests, the midterm elections, and still recovering from the past presidential elections, while keeping an eye on the future appointments. Remaining silent at these times is not an option for the party. The uphill battle they continue to walk seems to never end. Pressure is part of the political process. Negative light will be shed. Turning to infighting (Axios, June 16) works far less in favor of the party. If the public gains further information on any unsettled issues between the Democrats, it could further hurt the party, which is pressing on the upcoming midterms to gain seats in both houses.
Words From The Wanting Controller
Leave it to a mayor to downplay any complications or unrest in their jurisdiction. Mayor Bass has a riddle past when it comes to attention to the city of Los Angeles. With all eyes on the city for one week, the mayor needs to move to triage mode, and she does with full political-ese.
Using the word “shocking” is itself shocking to hear from the mayor. How can such a lifelong politician use words with a trivial posture? Even when pressed by the interviewer, the mayor sidesteps accurate statements or any reassurance of control and equitable discourse regarding the current affairs. It’s a lesson in how to divert a question and answer with an absent mind. Addressing facts is a discipline incumbent upon anyone holding a position of influence. What we hear from Mayor Bass is the opposite.
“More than 5 million people took part in “No Kings” rallies in over 2,100 cities and towns across the country.
“While most rallies were peaceful, there were reports of clashes between police and protesters during a Los Angeles “No Kings” rally, where days-long fiery demonstrations against ICE raids have been taking place” (Axios, June 15).
All around the country. What is striking is the amount of fear expressed by the administration about unrest and violent disturbances. America is founded on the right to speak out against government and oppressive actions. The stereotype that such socio-political protests are reserved for bygone eras (1960s, 1970s) is a slap in the face to those who took to the streets, rain or shine. Providing space for such abject voices is important. Noting the importance of remaining calm and peaceful, even when yelling through a megaphone, is equally important.
‘No Kings’ Rallies Draw Big Crowds
“Americans turned out en masse in communities across the country Saturday, raucously pushing back on what they see as President Donald Trump’s widening authoritarianism, attacks on immigrants and deep cuts to scores of federal programs,” (Washington Post, qtd in the Political Wire, June 16).
Claiming Political Identity
The nationwide protesters defied blistering heat, political pressure, and ongoing threats from ICE and police presence. What the protesters claim is what has been stated multiple times across major reporting sources.
The growing imperialistic colonial autocratic ideology, as I coined at the start of the year, is moving from an ideology to a lived experience. When others in the political circles referenced the Trump administration as being an oligarchy, they were missing the point. The Trump administration is an autocracy. I’ve been firm on this point since writing about the current executive. Added the colonial discourse, coupled with the highly visible imperialistic doctrine, drew me to claim the current administration as it is, an imperialistic, colonial, and autocratic political.
There were moments when journalists were framing the current executive as a neo-Moist regime. Though present, and I admit to using this phrase with frequency for an episode, an imperialistic, colonial, and autocratic political presence appears to fit the moments. Further, this political identity, though it functions as an ideology, appears to have no release on the pressure to fortify this identity as a national identity.
An Underwhelming Military Parade
“For an event that relied on mesmerizing production and an awe factor for spectators, a number of logistical obstacles and muted enthusiasm were palpable on the ground.
“Reporters for The New York Times who attended the parade described an at-times underwhelming performance and crowds dispersing early amid a light drizzle” (New York Times, qtd in the Political Wire, June 15).
“Tanks, troops and flyovers in D.C. as Trump gets his military parade (Washington Post, qtd in the Political Wire, June 15).
The Trump era is working to make America a Big, Beautiful representation of his big, distorted imagination. The politicization of America’s military anniversary lowers the bar on the American identity. This drops the U.S. to the levels of China, Russia, and in line with such historical military parades as seen in Germany. Where was this intended to go? What possibly could this event have secured for a national identity?
What this Big, Beautiful, Expensive, Underwhelming parade did, besides put the bill on the backs of the working class, is project a presence of a political tide turning to the world. The three-hour-long parade coincided with political protests, but did not affect the support for the president. Rather, the political protests had the inverse effect of further solidifying his already rock-solid base. It only took between $25–$45 million (factually.co) and ongoing press coverage by Fox News to tip the hat in favor of the MAGA base.
If the American populist believes these manner of actions are isolated, think again. The president is locked on the concept of the American identity to be Big and Beautiful, made in his image. The trend is leading to the norm: Make America a Big, Beautiful, Bill (defined by his agenda and favoring his investors) Again or MABBBA for short.
