A reflection on how far we have come in a year.

June 20, 2026

Note: Due to limited internet bandwidth, I cannot host my regular Saturday livestream. Instead, I will release a short, pre-recorded video message at 9 a.m. Pacific / Noon Eastern to address reader questions and comment on the week’s news. Submit questions here: Reader Questions.

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It has been a year since the resistance gained its footing with the first No Kings protest. Today, we stand strong as Trump reels from crisis to crisis, weakened to the point of mockery. We are winning; we need only remain steadfast in our efforts to reclaim democracy.

Trump is doing his best to ensure Democratic victory in 2026 and 2028 by taking a wrecking ball to the economy, national security, foreign policy, the military, and social norms of decency, fairness, and tolerance. Let’s take a look at a few of the leading stories, recognizing that embedded in the bad news and national embarrassment are signs of resistance among Democrats and painful epiphanies among Republicans.

Italian Prime Minister Meloni says Trump fabricated story of interaction at G7 conference.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni fashioned herself as an Italian version of Donald Trump, prompting Trump to preen and gloat about his influence on Europe’s emerging MAGA movement. When Italy did not respond to Trump’s call for NATO nations to open the Strait of Hormuz through force, Trump’s relationship with Meloni soured.

After the G7 conference this week, Trump told an interviewer that Prime Minister Meloni “begged” him to let her be in a photo with Trump. As with almost every story told by Trump, it was a complete fabrication designed to make Trump look strong and powerful.

Meloni reacted with fury, posting a short video that said Trump invented the story. See Italy PM Meloni ‘stunned’ by Trump’s claims she begged him for a photo.

Meloni said,

Italy and I never beg, and some things deserve an immediate response. Donald Trump’s declarations are totally invented. Frankly, I am stunned. I don’t know why the US president behaves this way towards his allies. It’s not the first time it’s happened; I can only say it’s unfortunate he doesn’t show the same determination towards the West’s enemies.

Italians rallied to Meloni’s side and the country’s foreign minister canceled a planned trip to Washington next week.

Here’s the point: Everyone knows Trump is lying. He does it all the time. But this lie has damaged relations with a staunch US ally at a time when the US has few friends abroad. Moreover, the incident has the hallmarks of Trump’s misogyny, which causes him to believe that all women swoon and fawn when in the presence of his spray-on tan, elevator shoes, and presidential comb-over.

Truly pathetic and reprehensible.

Trump dispatches National Guard troops to prevent tourists from taking souvenirs from rapidly deteriorating Reflecting Pool.

Lucian Truscott IV reports on Substack that National Guard troops “have been assigned by Donald Trump to patrol the edges of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to protect floating slabs of freshly-applied American Flag Blue paint from being carried away by tourists as souvenirs.” See Lucian Truscott’s Newsletter, Trump has called out the National Guard to protect his floating chunks of badly applied and criminally contracted paint from tourists.

The Reflecting Pool debacle has come to symbolize all that is wrong with Trump’s administration: corruption (a no-bid contract to a Trump donor), narcissism, incompetence, and deceit (the National Park Service claims the water is “crystal clear”).

The Trump donor who was awarded the no-bid contract runs a business that is aptly named “Greenwater Services.” You can’t make this up.

Trump lauds new “Air Force One” for its “luxury.”

Trump believes that the “affordability crisis” is a Democratic hoax. Good. Let’s hope that is the Republican campaign platform heading into 2026 and 2028.

On Friday, Trump proved, once again, that he is completely out of touch with the economic struggles faced by tens of millions of Americans. In a press conference to reveal the new Air Force One—a “gift” from Qatar that cost the US taxpayers $400 million—Trump said he had “transformed [the jet] into a flying White House at a level of luxury that nobody has ever seen before.”

Boasting about a “level of luxury that nobody has ever seen before” is not the winning message that Trump believes it to be. As I said, Trump is doing his best to ensure Democratic victory in 2026 and 2028. I can’t wait to see what the Bridge Brigade protesters do with Qatari Force One.

The Iran peace deal is faltering as Iran takes advantage of Trump’s desperation.

The Iranian government correctly recognizes that Trump agreed to the memorandum of understanding because he was “desperate.” It has, accordingly, begun to take advantage of Trump by exploiting the agreement’s ambiguities and asymmetries that favor Iran.

For example,

Iran has begun the process for imposing fees for transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Before the war, Iran did not impose fees on ships passing through the Strait. See The Guardian, Iran announces plans to bring in maritime fees for strait of Hormuz.

Iran says that it will not begin discussing nuclear issues until Israel halts operations in Lebanon. See Institute for the Study of War, Iran Update Special Report, June 19, 2026.
Per the ISW,

Iran is attempting to condition US-Iran nuclear negotiations on the United States compelling Israel to halt operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Tying the US-Iran nuclear negotiations to the Lebanon issue not only helps Iran advance its strategic objective of preserving Hezbollah but also enables the regime to delay nuclear negotiations while reaping the economic benefits of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Iran’s Supreme Leader have distanced themselves from the MOU. Just as Trump is attempting to throw JD Vance under the bus for agreeing to the MOU, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and Supreme Leader have told the Prime Minister that the government is responsible for the MOU and future negotiations. See NYTimes, Iran’s Supreme Leader Says He Dislikes Deal With U.S., but Allowed It.

Per the Times,

Mr. Khamenei said he had authorized the agreement because Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, had accepted responsibility for it and committed to protect the rights of Iranians and the “resistance front,” likely a reference to the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, which is at war with Israel.

“He has also stated explicitly that if the American side seeks excessive demands, he will not submit to them,” Mr. Khamenei wrote, referring to Mr. Pezeshkian.

None of this looks good for the long-term success of negotiations over Iran’s nuclear enrichment program. Indeed, on Friday, the Revolutionary Guard briefly claimed that the Strait of Hormuz was closed due to violations of the MOU by Israel’s presence in Lebanon, a claim that Iran’s foreign ministry denied. See Tehran says Strait of Hormuz remains open after confusion | Euronews.

One final note of importance: The MOU lifts sanctions against Iran. But Trump does not have the authority to lift sanctions against Iran. See WSJ, op-ed by Joshua Claybourn, Not So Fast—Congress Gets a Say on the Iran Deal. (Gift article accessible to all.)

Per Claybourn’s op-ed,

In the case of President Trump’s prospective deal with Iran, [lifting sanctions] would be unlawful and unconstitutional. It would violate the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 (INARA), which was enacted while the Obama administration was negotiating its Iran nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

INARA requires congressional review for any agreement related to Iran’s nuclear program before sanctions relief can move forward. More generally, the president can’t use diplomacy to nullify sanctions Congress enacted or disregard the limits Congress placed on his power to waive them.

In short, Trump didn’t have authority to waive sanctions against Iran, a key element of Iran’s agreement to re-open the Strait of Hormuz. At the current rate of complications, Congress will never have the opportunity to review the MOU, which will likely collapse of its own weight. But if Congress does get the opportunity to review the MOU, it will set the stage for an epic rebuke of Trump by Democrats and Republicans alike.

The administration’s war on women, Black Americans, and LGBTQ people.

The New York Times has published an extensive investigation into Pete Hegseth’s war on women and Black officers up for promotion in the military. The Secretary of Defense has no role in granting or denying promotions to senior officers. But the Times discovered that Pete Hegseth is personally intervening in dozens of decisions to deny promotions to women and Black officers. See NYTimes, Inside Hegseth’s War on Diversity and Blocked Promotions of Women and Black Officers.

The Times article is shocking. Hegseth is overseeing a purge of women and Black officers from senior leadership roles (general or admiral). He is doing so based on personal biases against women and Black officers. It will take a generation to repair the damage to the military’s senior leadership.

Separately, the National Park Service is preemptively closing access to Dupont Circle ahead of Pride Day celebrations in D.C.—an attempt to prevent public expression on public land. Despicable.

See National Park Service fences off Dupont Circle ahead of major Pride celebrations - WTOP News.

When Trump is no longer in charge of the executive branch and the military, many agencies and services must undergo an intensive internal review to determine how they were so easily led astray from the core mission and commitments. While Trump and Hegseth can order the military to block the promotions of women and Black officers, he is able to do so because the senior leadership has acceded to Trump’s agenda. So, too, with the Park Service, which has become a public relations hit squad for Trump—covering up the Kennedy Center name and blocking Pride celebrations on land under the supervision of the Park Service.

Pathetic.

Opportunities for Reader Engagement

“How We Win: Turning the Arizona Legislature Blue in 2026”

Tuesday, June 23, 8:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM PT on Zoom

REGISTER HERE

Arizona’s state legislature is one of the most reactionary and harmful in the nation, and only razor-thin margins keep Republicans in power. But 2026 is shaping up to be the opportunity we need to end extremist right-wing control and protect elections in this important swing state.

Join Markers For Democracy and Purple To Blue — two Giving Circles partnering with The States Project to support the closest campaigns with resources and proven strategies to flip the Arizona Legislature blue.

We have two great speakers for an informative discussion. TSP’s Regional Political Director for Arizona, Justin Perez will explain our path to winning. And we have the lively former Senator Christine Marsh, educator and AZ Teacher of the Year, who is running again to represent AZ’s 5th District near Phoenix.

Register(free) HERE. If you can’t make it, but want to support an Arizona flip, you can give to Purple To Blue and Markers For Democracy and both are lucky to have MATCHING FUNDS now to double your impact.

Concluding Thoughts

We have come a long way in one year. In June 2025, DOGE was still in full swing. Although Elon Musk had just exited the building as a “special government employee,” the unlawful and draconian cuts would continue for months. Trump was imposing illegal tariffs and had deployed 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles, in the first invasion of a major city. The military gave Trump the parade he wanted by rolling tanks through the streets of Washington, D.C. Trump waged a 12-day war against Iran, triumphantly claiming he had “obliterated” Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile and processing facilities.

But something momentous happened in June 2025: The resistance gained its footing. The first No Kings Day took place on June 14, 2025, serving notice that the resistance was coming to reclaim democracy. The ensuing year has not been easy, but everyday Americans proved that they were up to the task of staring down militarized police, ICE, and Border Patrol agents. We lost some important cases in the Supreme Court but fought back successfully in redistricting battles. We flipped dozens of seats in special elections. We have seized the momentum and taken control of the narrative.

Trump is weak to the point of mockery. Protesters are showing up at the Reflecting Pool wearing T-shirts that say, “Team Algae.” By acclamation, Trump’s memorandum of understanding with Iran was an instrument of surrender for the United States—something that had not happened in the previous 250 years. Trump’s corruption continues unabated, but the electorate is angry over the disparity between the obscene wealth of the Epstein Class and working-class Americans struggling to pay for gas.

In a year, the tide has turned because we refused to quit. Imagine where we will be in another year, having won the House and possibly the Senate. We are on the right path. We must continue all that we are doing, and be prepared to redouble our efforts as each new challenge arises. We can do that; it is what we have been doing for the last eighteen months.

Stay strong! Talk to you tomorrow!

Pro-democracy protest photos.

Please send to rbhubbell@gmail.com. Include city and state.

Please send photos in the body of the email rather than in a cloud-based document or folder.

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Indivisible Kansas City Bridge Brigadiers show our message for Juneteenth today.

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These were photos from the Visibility Brigade of Paramus that were taken on June 19th 2026.  

Gabriela Soto, whose husband was abducted by ICE as he bought diapers for his children, was a special guest at our action this afternoon.  

You can read more about her story here : https://www.nj.com/essex/2026/05/how-one-womans-fight-made-her-husband-an-ice-target-heres-what-he-said-from-inside-detention-calavia-robertson.html

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Friday June 19, 2026 - Vancouver, WA - Banners Over I-5 Resistance Rally & Celebration of Juneteenth on the Evergreen Blvd bridge over the I-5 Freeway. Happy Freedom Day!

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Photos from our weekly Face Down Facism in Berkeley, CA. June 19, 2026. Some of our group spun off to become strolling protest singers. 🎶🎶

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In response to the arrest of 15 Minnesota ICE protesters by Federal Prosecutors. June 18th, 2026, Minneapolis, MN.

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Queen Anne Resist group - celebrating Juneteenth. Protests every Friday, 4-5 p.m, at Dravus Overpass, between Queen Anne and Magnolia. Seattle, WA. Will have a rally on July 4 at the same location.

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Gorman Road - Howard County (MD) - Over I-95. A busy day today, with almost 50 of us in joyous celebration on Juneteenth. We had messages of resolve and solidarity. We reached over 23,000 vehicles below us, with some great honking in response. 

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Sheffield, MA weekly Friday protest on Main St.

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Indivisible Worcester MD and the Democratic Women’s Club of Worcester County celebrating Juneteenth in West Ocean City, MD, on

Friday, June 19.

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North Country Resilience volunteers protested in two locations today. Eight volunteers held “Signs of Fascism” in the center of fairly red Lisbon, New Hampshire, and were surprised by the number of waves, honks, and flashing headlights from passing cars. 

Later in the afternoon a smaller group displayed messages on the  Franconia Notch I-93 overpass in Franconia, NH, where once again the response was very positive, and the predicted thunderstorm did not materialize.

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Cary NC Downtown demonstration honoring Juneteenth and opposing Jim Crow 2.0.

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A small but dedicated group on the Penn St Bridge in Reading PA. I just joined the group in March, but the others have been there every week for 18 months. Lots of honks every week!

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Today in north suburban Chicago, a small but intrepid group gathered at an overpass as we do on Friday afternoons… today we added an 8647 banner and got plenty of beeps! Other messages were “Fund Healthcare Not Warfare” and “ Resist Trump Lies!”

Felt great, as always, when the big trucks honked!!!

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South Deerfield,Massachusetts

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Charlotte NC: Indivisible Charlotte with our new Signs of Freedom campaign. We’ve held many signs naming outrageous behavior and asking leaders to do better. Now we are saying what freedom means to us. In a few months we will remind our neighbors that their votes can restore these freedoms.

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photos from the 2 weekly protests we attend - Wednesdays in South Berwick, Maine - Saturdays in Wells, Maine. This week the response from drivers has been better then ever - A LOT of happy honks and thumbs up with only a handful of middle fingers - we’ll take it!

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Thirty-four folks singing songs and carrying signs, June 18, Hopewell, NJ. Democracy on the Corner continues, every Thursday, 5:30-6:30 pm.

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Marquette is a “university town” in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. We’ve been gathering every Saturday for over a year now. Begun by three Quaker women, our weekly count hovers around 35, with more when tourists and students are here.

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Concord, Massachusetts