Ali Velshi: Protests demonstrate why, despite Trump's actions, America is still a democracy

Political Commentary & Analysis - The report criticizes Donald Trump's deployment of the military to Los Angeles without the governor's consent, deeming it unlawful and unnecessary, further stating that Trump's claims about the situation in Los Angeles are false [1] - The report highlights concerns about the erosion of democratic norms and the potential for authoritarianism in the US, drawing parallels to historical and contemporary examples of autocratic regimes [6][15][20] - The report emphasizes the importance of resistance and protest as a means of safeguarding democracy and preventing the normalization of actions perceived as anti-democratic [5][16][18] Social & Political Impact - The report mentions planned protest events across the country to declare "no kings in America," coinciding with Trump's birthday and a military parade [1] - The report alleges that ICE agents are targeting non-criminals, leading to protests that Trump sought to suppress [1] - The report references a United States senator being pushed to the ground and handcuffed for questioning the Homeland Security Secretary [3] Media & Disinformation - The report accuses the Trump administration of gaslighting the public about the situation in Los Angeles [1] - The report claims that Russian media is amplifying conspiracy theories on social media about the protests in Los Angeles [2] - The report cites Arnold Schwarzenegger's statement that the media is exaggerating the extent of the problems in Los Angeles, potentially harming tourism [3] Financial Implications - The report mentions an estimated $45 million price tag for a military parade, which is criticized in light of budget cuts and healthcare concerns [8] - The report also mentions the $134 million cost of deploying the National Guard troops to Los Angeles [9]