Tangle Podcast Summary

Episode: 2,000 Protests and a Parade
Host: Isaac Saul
Release Date: June 16, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of Tangle, host Isaac Saul delves into the significant events of the past weekend: a large-scale military parade in Washington D.C. and the widespread "No Kings" protests that erupted across the United States. Balancing perspectives from both the political right and left, Isaac provides a comprehensive analysis of these events, supplemented by expert opinions and listener questions.

Quick Hits [04:33 - 10:09]

Isaac begins with Quick Hits, a segment summarizing the latest news:

1. Murder Case: A suspect has been arrested for the killing of Minnesota State House Leader Melissa Hortman and her husband, as well as the attempted killing of State Senator John Hoffman and his wife. Charges include two counts each of second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder.

2. Israel-Iran Tensions: Israel and Iran have engaged in four consecutive days of attacks. Israel claims to have killed Iranian IRGC intelligence chief Mohammad Kazemi, while Iran has targeted an Israeli oil refinery. Discrepancies exist in casualty reports, with Israel stating 24 deaths and Iran reporting 224 fatalities from Israeli strikes. Additionally, President Donald Trump has reportedly rejected an Israeli proposal to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

3. Immigration Policy Changes: President Trump has instructed ICE to pause immigration raids and arrests in the agricultural, hospitality, and restaurant sectors, acknowledging the negative impacts of previous immigration crackdowns on these industries.

4. Automotive Legislation: Trump has signed legislation preventing California from banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035. This measure revokes EPA waivers that previously allowed California's electric vehicle (EV) regulations.

5. San Antonio Flash Flooding: Severe flash flooding in San Antonio has resulted in at least 13 fatalities over the weekend.

Main Discussion: Military Parade and No Kings Protests [10:09 - 21:10]

Overview:

• Military Parade: Held in Washington D.C. to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Continental Congress. Spearheaded by President Trump, the event featured 6,700 soldiers, 84 military vehicles, and 50 aircraft.

• No Kings Protests: Simultaneously, over 2,000 protests occurred nationwide under the "No Kings" movement, opposing Trump's administration policies, particularly immigration raids.

Perspectives from the Right [11:39 - 21:10]:

• Criticism of No Kings Protests: Right-wing voices argue that the protests are ineffective and criticize their organizational themes. Adam Johnston of the Daily Caller states, “...defending their hold on institutional power while utilizing regime-aligned direct action events like No Kings to intimidate their legitimate political opposition” (11:50).

• Cost of the Parade: Billy Binion highlights the financial burden, questioning the parade's value: “From the contents of the parade itself... the price tag... $25 million to $45 million...” (12:20). Polls indicate 60% of Americans oppose the parade’s funding, with significant opposition among Democrats and independents.

• Democratic Resistance: Kimberly A. Strassel of the Wall Street Journal critiques the Democratic approach to protests as being repetitive and lacking long-term strategic impact, stating, “the resistance staged the Women's March,...but none of it has left a lasting moral claim.”

Perspectives from the Left [11:39 - 21:10]:

• Partisan Nature of the Parade: Left-leaning commentators view the parade as a display of authoritarian tendencies. Zach Beecham of Vox describes it as “a show of force in the Capitol that just happens to take place on the president’s birthday,” suggesting an erosion of the military's neutrality (15:30).

• Impact of No Kings Protests: Philadelphia Inquirer’s Will Bunch praises the protests for demonstrating widespread opposition to Trump, emphasizing their peaceful nature and large participation: “million Americans show the flag is mightier than the tank” (17:15).

• Military Neutrality Threat: Graham Parsons of The Atlantic warns that politicizing the military undermines its professional ethos and threatens civil society: “If service members and the public begin to believe that the military is not neutral but is in fact the servant of MAGA...” (19:00).

Isaac Saul’s Take [21:10 - 26:10]: Isaac reflects on his initial pessimistic expectations versus the actual outcomes:

• Protests: Contrary to his fears, the "No Kings" protests were largely peaceful and widespread, with no significant property damage or violent clashes. Exceptions occurred in Los Angeles and Portland, tied to ongoing anti-ICE demonstrations rather than the main protest movement.

  “Tens of thousands of people hit the streets in Philly alone... with zero reports of significant property damage” (22:00).

• Military Parade: The parade was underwhelming, lacking the anticipated grandeur and facing criticism for being a wasteful expenditure. Despite showcasing impressive military hardware, it did not become the focal point of authoritarian concerns.

  “The parade ended up just not generating that much interest. It was a kind of sleepy affair...” (24:30).

• Political Optimism: Isaac views the successful, peaceful protests and the uneventful parade as positive indicators of American democracy's resilience.

  “These moments that provide genuine political optimism can be so easily overshadowed. So we should celebrate when our messy, pluralistic society produces some perfectly acceptable political expression.” (26:00).

Questions Answered: Judicial Recourse Against Presidential Defiance [27:29 - 32:47]

Listener Question: Daniel from Chicago inquires about the judicial branch’s options if the President refuses to comply with a court ruling: “Wouldn't Congress need to start impeachment proceedings? What are the odds of this Congress, which has been sitting on its hands thus far, actually doing anything?”

Response: Isaac references a discussion with Ray Brescia, a professor at Albany Law School:

• Impeachment: Congress can impeach and remove the President or any executive branch member who defies the law, but requires a two-thirds majority in the Senate, making it unlikely given the current Republican majority.

  “Impeachment is a normal tool... but under the current Congress, ... a conviction in an impeachment proceeding is even more unlikely.” (28:15).

• Contempt of Court: Judges can hold executive agents in contempt, leading to criminal or civil charges. However, enforcing these could trigger a constitutional crisis and is also considered unlikely.

  “Enforcing charges against federal agents would involve the U.S. marshals, potentially creating an intergovernmental power struggle...” (30:00).

• Historical Compliance: The Trump administration has complied with all court orders to date, reducing the immediate concern of defiance.

Numbers and Statistics [29:39 - 32:47]

Isaac presents key statistics related to the weekend's events:

• Military Parade:

  • Last U.S. Military Parade Before 2025: 1991, celebrating the end of the Gulf War.
  • Cost: Estimated at $40 million.
  • Military Equipment Used: 45 million tons.
  • Public Opinion: 64% of U.S. adults oppose funding the parade, with 88% of Democrats and 72% of independents against it, contrasted by 65% of Republicans in support.

• No Kings Protests:

  • Total Participation: Approximately 5 million protesters across 2,100 towns.
  • Major Cities:
    • Los Angeles: 200,000
    • Philadelphia: 100,000
    • Seattle: 70,000

• Have a Nice Day Story:

  • Survey by RhodesScholar: 94% of individuals aged 50-98 report higher happiness levels when they age adventurously, staying active, traveling, and continuing to learn.

Conclusion

Isaac wraps up the episode by highlighting the significance of the peaceful, large-scale protests and the underwhelming military parade as indicators of current American political climate and societal resilience. He emphasizes the importance of celebrating democratic expressions and the ongoing commitment to upholding constitutional rights.

Notable Quotes

• Adam Johnston, Daily Caller [11:50]:

  “...defending their hold on institutional power while utilizing regime-aligned direct action events like No Kings to intimidate their legitimate political opposition.”

• Billy Binion [12:20]:

  “From the contents of the parade itself... the price tag... $25 million to $45 million...”

• Zach Beecham, Vox [15:30]:

  “A show of force in the Capitol that just happens to take place on the president’s birthday... authoritarian Dear Leader style politics.”

• Will Bunch, Philadelphia Inquirer [17:15]:

  “Million Americans show the flag is mightier than the tank...”

• Graham Parsons, The Atlantic [19:00]:

  “If service members and the public begin to believe that the military is not neutral but is in fact the servant of MAGA...”

• Isaac Saul [26:00]:

  “These moments that provide genuine political optimism can be so easily overshadowed.”

Further Information

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