1. Here’s the thing about the politics right now: Trump desperately wants it to seem like there’s a conflict between protesters and *federal officers. And actually that’s exactly what Democratic mayors want as well. But it’s mostly a misunderstanding — or a hijacking — of things.
2. In truth in many large American cities, Portland, Seattle, Chicago, New York, Atlanta, there has been weeks of conflict between largely peaceful protestors and *local* police. And the local police have been caught on camera being extraordinarily violent over and over again.
3. This puts ostensibly liberal mayors — who run police departments — at odds with their own constituencies. These mayors love policing believe in it through and through and are terrified of the idea that they might be pressured into reining in their police.
4. And so they would LOVE to redirect the anger that is being directed at them and their vicious, violent police departments.
5. Trump of course is desperate for attention, facing sagging poll numbers and seeking distraction from his mishandling of the pandemic would LOVE to make these protests about him.
6. And he knows that it will stir up his base if he cosplays the authorian strong-man cracking down on “dangerous black people” and the “disorder” being fomented by young “antifa” radicals. That phony morality play is like catnip for his base.
7. And local big city mayors — largely liberal Democrats — are happy to oblige. They want to make this about Trump’s police rather than about their local police. Trump’s needs and liberal Democratic mayors’ needs are identical.
8. Exactly.
9. This strikes me as critical. If people want real change to policing in America, we can’t fully take Trump’s bait and make this about him. Protestors need to make sure that *local police remain the primary focus.
10. I mean sure, vote Trump out. But if you want changes to policing in America, vote your liberal mayor out as well. And your DA and most city council members too. Elect *local leaders willing to rein in your local police.
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