Congratulations to all the theater enthusiasts across America! You’ve truly shone. Whether you were performing on stage or taking part in marches, your dedication deserves applause. As heartfelt as Chuck Schumer’s love for outdoor grilling, I extend my genuine pride to all the drama aficionados who showcased their talents.

Everyone deserves recognition for their efforts!

I recall a time when my son participated in soccer, and a fellow parent suggested we contribute to a “participation” award for finishing in 6th place. It’s akin to the symbolic awards received by those who protested and performed on Saturday. Their posters served as their trophies, capturing everything from frustration to hopeful visions.

These demonstrations were colorful displays, filled with spirited dancing and enthusiastic speeches. By the time Sunday rolled around, participants had their trophies in hand—those very signs—and stories of their vibrant street performances. Whether under the sun or amidst the rain in places like St. Louis, these moments will be cherished. Over the next few years, they’ll fondly recall their role in what they believe was a stand for democracy and a challenge to authority.

When one of our sons was playing soccer, a team mom wanted me to pay for a “participation” trophy (actually for 6th place, which is the “PT” equivalent: 

I said: “Ah, Karen (not her real name), they’re in 6th place… my son doesn’t want a 6th place trophy”. She was stunned and looked at me like I had just set her shih-tzu on fire. She sputtered out: “but, but, they played hard…and they deserve our support!” 

The people who marched, danced, and gave silly speeches on Saturday, drove home with their participation trophies – their posters being their trophies. Signs ranged from nasty to delusional to downright demented. But trophies they are. And, on Sunday, that is all they had, really. Well, that and stories about dancing in a city street. It will be their moment in the sun (or rain if you live in St Louis). In the three years before Trump leaves office, they will weave myths about how they saved democracy and intimidated a “King”. 

It’s all theater.  

I know two people who went to “No Kings” marches. Both are female, and both are full of drama. One is a full-blown Boomer hippie. Both have hard-working husbands, neither of whom went to either this rally or the long-forgotten one in June. Facebook is the forum for both – announcing who they had met and showing “No Kings” signs. Let’s hug. 

And now it’s Sunday. Nothing has changed except the day of the week. The sun came out, pro football will be played, and Trump is still the president, not a king. But millions have their participation trophies. Their signs will end up in the garage or in a corner of a room. And Trump is still be president and not a king.  

Although No Kings clowns will first take a hit from an inhaler and bellow about Trump being Hitler and the Republicans being fascists, they are historically illiterate about both.  

If one were to quiz the theater kids and ask them to explain why the Weimar Republic collapsed and Nazism rose, 99% of them would be deer in the headlights. What was Article 48 that allowed Hitler’s rise to tyranny? 

The same for defining fascism. They do it with crayons and a 1st graders definition. 

My buddy Jennifer Oliver O’Connell has a terrific Hot Take on the rally kids. 

Maybe No Kings clowns fancy themselves as the reincarnation of Maximilien Robespierre or maybe Henri Frenay. More likely the latter, if they only knew who he was. It’s no coincidence that both are French.  

Today’s leftists have convinced themselves that they’re “revolutionaries” fighting for the republic – saving the republic, saving democracy or some iteration of that tired trope. But many, far too many, want to channel Robespierre. Maximilian’s sign-carrying goons stormed a prison, then guillotined thousands of royals. And when he and his bloody band Terror Reigners ran out royal heads to lop off, they butchered even the butchers. The left is laden with haters who, if given the chance, would, I think, lead many to the butcher’s blade. When Robespierre became too much of a king for the Jacobins, they removed his head. We’ve seen plenty of evidence that the American left can be a violent lot. 

Jay Jones isn’t an anomaly. He just got caught. People tossing rocks and rockets at ICE agents because they can. They have been given permission by Mayors and Governors of blue cities and states. You don’t hear of that sort of violence happening in, say, Florida. When violence isn’t tolerated, violence either doesn’t happen or it’s quickly stopped.  

The collective left cannot resist calling everyone they hate Hitler or a fascist, and therefore, they are all Henri Frenay. Frenay was a French Officer when Germany rolled over his army and country. He was captured but then escaped. After his escape, he became a French resistance leader. Leftists like to cosplay that they are the 21st Century equivalent of French Resisters – wearing a beret over an eye and carrying TNT to blow up a theater, but all of them just went home with their silly signs 

They woke up today, as I did, with one unchanged reality. Trump is still president, not a king. The theater kids didn’t storm the Bastille. They didn’t “go underground” because there isn’t a need to. No one is coming to round you up, kids.   

None of them are Robespierre, or Frenay, or Anne Frank. More like Barney Frank after a bender.  

The good news? On Saturday, all the No Kings theater kids got their participation trophies and went home.  

Congrats, Kids. I am so proud of you!