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Given the current trajectory, the nation may soon see 12 million Americans, or approximately 3.5 percent of the population, engaged in multiple forms of nonviolent mobilization. As the Center for American Progress has discussed and as political science research shows, when 3.5 percent of a nation’s population peacefully mobilizes and sustains itself at key moments, the government can be forced to meet their demands. Already, people-powered mobilizations in Minnesota during the first few months of 2026 successfully forced the Trump administration to reduce the number of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agents in the state.

By the time “Operation Metro Surge” hit Minneapolis-St Paul, Minnesota, residents were primed to fight back. From houses and stores, in cars and on bicycles, people of every age, race and political stripe dogged ICE wherever it went. The protesters wore inflatable animal costumes, flak jackets and parkas heavy enough to brave weather so cold it froze the ink in reporters’ pens. They withstood teargas, police batons and arrests. And when agents fatally shot two US citizens in January, cellphone videographers were there to record the killings – and disseminate the images around the world on social media.

Public opinion swung decisively against Trump, the then homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, and “commander at large” Greg Bovino. The government was forced to retreat.

Washington — President Trump on Thursday said he is nominating Dr. Nicole B. Saphier to be the next U.S. surgeon general, replacing his nomination of Casey Means, whose bid had stalled in the Senate for months. 

The president announced the shuffle in a pair of posts on Truth Social. In the first, he blamed Sen. Bill Cassidy for Means' nomination stalling in the wake of her confirmation hearing in February, saying the Louisiana Republican "has stood in the way" of his pick.