Ann Frank began writing her diary on June 14. We began writing the future.
You came. You stood with us. You were all amazing. We are not done.
This week
By Sabra Briere, editor
The week, as we know it, always ends of Saturday. This time I’ll start there, and work my way back.
By all measures, June 14, in Santa Rosa, in Sonoma County, in California, in the US — heck, all across the world, where ever it was experienced as a NO Kings in the US day — was astounding. Sure, in some pockets, there were authorities behaving badly. And a few participants with impulse control issues. And some provocateurs hoping to start something. Overwhelmingly, though, the protests were not violent, didn’t result in property damage, engaged all kinds of people, left participants smiling and yet determined, and still made the news of the the military birthday march pale in comparison.
Mission accomplished. As they say.
I had written a lot more about the protests, and the news. And I’ve deleted all that work. Because late last night (as he always does) the current president announced that he’s going to direct ICE and others to attempt even more mass roundups of, well, brown people in cities across the country.
I hate to sully this newsletter with his words. It’s clear that his birthday military march was a dud. It’s also clear that he failed to have the violent protests he wanted on Saturday, so there will be even greater provocation in the cities to try to create the chaos he craves. Our efforts to remain non-violent will be tested.
Will Trump Chicken Out again? Likely. But not before even more damage is done to our country. Who will stop him? Will the National Guard refuse illegal orders? Will the Marines? Will the police?
Here’s what Indivisible National had to say about the protests on June 14th:
To get a sense of how much today’s protests eclipsed Trump’s birthday parade, just do a search of virtually any US city on social media. The top results are likely No Kings protests, with videos that show crowd sizes that photos just can’t do justice.
We’ve said that a massive, nationwide mobilization like today can change the narrative, grow our movement, build our organizing muscles, and deliver a jolt of courage -- something much needed after Trump’s recent attempts to quash dissent with violence.
But a single day of protest -- even historically large protests like today -- will not alone defeat the fascist takeover of our government.
We need to ensure that the incredible organizing and inspiring courage of today’s protests continue to spread. We need to do the hard work of organizing those who turned out today and those who were watching into a sustained, broad-based movement that’s prepared for the hard work that comes ahead.
Next week will not be better. We have to be prepared that the president will try to create more opportunities to place soldiers in our communities. Our resistance is not futile. But it won’t be pretty.
In the News
Late on Friday at man dressed in clothing reminiscent of a police uniform, knocked at the doors of two different, pro-choice legislators in Minnesota. When the doors were answered, the man shot both the legislators and their spouses. A surviving legislator was shot 9 times; he was still in surgery on Sunday. His wife was shot 8 times. His colleague, the former Speaker of the Minnesota House, died of her wounds, as did her husband. The man who shot both legislators (Vance Luther Boelter) remains at large; he possessed a long list of pro-choice Minnesota residents, and flyers for local No Kings rallies.
Our thoughts remain with the family of Melissa Hortman, and hope for a speedy recovery for both John and Yvette Hoffman.
About the Protests
By Sabra Briere
Saturday’s protest in Santa Rosa may have brought out between 5-7,000 people. The protest in Petaluma maybe another 1,000. Hundreds more were in Sonoma, Sebastopol, Jenner, Healdsburg, Cotati, and Cloverdale. I don’t have numbers, but I have reports of positive experiences.
There are those who would divide us. Because there are always those who want to break things. I’m not interested. I hope you aren’t, too. All too often we aim our lethal tongues at each other instead of supporting different approaches.
Division is the cheap way of gaining power — that’s what the current president uses.
We’re building a movement, and we aren’t done yet. Our elected leaders are still too cautious. Our institutions are too timid.
But together, we are stronger, more resilient, more able to build the bonds necessary to solve tomorrow’s problems. And together, we are INDIVISIBLE.
Let us all remember that. These are trying times. We will support each other as we stand strongly together
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Bob Burnett was born in Hollywood and attended Stanford. He became a denizen of Silicon Valley and helped found Cisco Systems. After retiring he has dabbled in political activism, founding an Indivisible group in Berkeley, and now volunteering here in Sonoma County. Lucky us.
Failing Trump Attacks LA
by Bob Burnett
Donald Trump doesn’t like to fail. After a week in which he suffered a series of defeats, Trump did what he does best: divert media attention. Trump launched high-profile ICE raids in Los Angeles. When residents protested, ICE overreacted, Trump escalated and (illegally) called in the national guard.
We should be outraged by Trump’s LA attack. Rather than be consumed with rage, we must acknowledge that Trump took such desperate measures because he is failing. Focusing on his failures suggests what we should do next.
Within the past few days, there have been 6 notable failures:
1.Trump labeled “Taco.” The week of May 26th brought the revelation that Wall Street insiders have a nickname for Trump: “Taco.” It’s based upon his decision-making style: “Trump always chickens out.”
Trump hates to be laughed out. We need to subject him to ridicule.
2. Trump’s falling out with Musk. No sooner had Trump thanked Elon Musk for leading DOGE than Musk attacked Trump’s budget reconciliation bill and called for Trump to be impeached.
We must celebrate the fall of Elon Musk. If we can bring Elon down, we can bring other Trump co-conspirators down.
3. Trump’s reconciliation budget bill stalled in the Senate. Trump pushed for the bill to be finished by July 4th but now acknowledges that it may not be ready until later in the year.
The latest Quinnipiac Poll ( https://poll.qu.edu/poll-release?releaseid=3924 ) shows that only 27 percent of respondents support Trump’s reconciliation budget bill. (By the way, only 38 percent of poll respondents approve of the way Trump is handling his job.)
On May 9th, Treasury Secretary Bessent told Congress the US debt ceiling must be increased by mid-July. Congress has been focused on Trump’s reconciliation budget bill that includes a debt ceiling increase. If this mammoth bill is not signed by July 4th, then there will have to be a separate bill to increase the debt ceiling. To pass, Republicans will need the support of Democratic legislators.
Stalling the reconciliation budget bill is a twofer: We’ve delayed an “abomination” and created an opportunity for Democratic legislators.
4. Trump’s tariff policy is not working. His policy is based on the notion that all nations are taking advantage of the United States. On April 2nd, Trump unveiled double-digit tariff rates on US trading partners. The Trump tariff rate placed on each country was calculated by taking the U.S. trade deficit with each country and dividing it by that country’s exports to the U.S., then halving that figure. (An extremely unconventional approach.)
The latest Quinnipiac Poll indicates that only 38 percent of respondents support Trump’s approach to trade and tariffs. Trump predicted that his reciprocal tariffs would result in dozens of new trade deals, “90 deals in 90 days.” We’re seventy days in and the results have been unimpressive: a partial trade agreement with Great Britain. (As of June 12, there’s a partial agreement with China pending.)
5. Trump’s immigration policy is failing. Disappointed by the latest deportation numbers. Trump’s assistant Stephen Miller recently increased the daily deportation quota to 3000. ( https://www.reuters.com/world/us/ices-tactics-draw-criticism-it-triples-daily-arrest-targets-2025-06-10/ )
The latest Quinnipiac Poll reports that only 43 percent of respondents support Trump’s stance on immigration (and only 40 percent support mass deportation). This is Trump’s best issue, and he is “underwater” by eleven percent.
Public sentiment is turning on Trump and the judiciary has handed him defeat after defeat. (This week, Kilmar Abrego Garcia was returned to the US from El Salvador and a judge ordered Mahmoud Khalil released from custody.)
6. Trump’s foreign policy is failing. The latest Quinnipiac Poll reports that only 34 percent of respondents support Trump’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine war. The latest Quinnipiac Poll reports that only 35 percent of respondents support Trump’s stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Trump has failed as world a leader. Trump’s tariff policies, and abrasive manner, have turned our allies against us.
Summary: Faced with a series of failures and embarrassments, Donald Trump tried to divert voters’ attention by attacking Los Angeles. While we must be outraged by this, we should also acknowledge it’s an indication that organized opposition to Trump is gaining traction. Trump is frustrated because his fascist agenda has stalled. Take heart! The opposition is winning.
Trump’s job approval has fallen to 38 percent and is headed lower. As Trump experiences more failure and humiliation, he will lash out again. We must continue to respond non-violently. We are nearing the tipping point when Trump’s fascist regime will fail.
Guest Editorials
This is a short talk by Heather Cox Richardson.
https://youtube.com/shorts/NZt--YAfhIM?si=uC9j36dy56FEe3-D
Some movements deserve poetry.
JUN 09, 2025
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