Populism Not All That Popular

“Some carried signs, including one that read: ‘No peaceful transition.’ Police cleaned up behind them as they marched, and authorities used chemical spray in an attempt to disrupt the vandalism. They ultimately herded the group away from the inauguration parade route with a large number of police vehicles and officers in riot gear, and they used concussion grenades — which make a loud noise — to break up the crowd.” Sadly, some of the protests around DC became chaotic as participants blocked entrances, broke windows, and set fires.

+ Donald Trump drained the swamp…of inaugural attendees. The crowds in attendance for the event were much smaller than the past couple of inaugurations.

+ “This started out tonight being a small little concert, and then we had the idea maybe we’ll do it in front of the Lincoln Memorial. I don’t know if it’s ever been done before. But if it has, very seldom. And the people came by the thousands and thousands, and here we are tonight, all the way back. All the way back.” That said, the Inaugural eve concert didn’t draw big crowds either.

+ There will certainly be comparisons between today’s events and Saturday’s long-planned women’s march on Washington. How many people will be there (and at similar events in other cities)? Like everything, the answer to that question will be political. From FastCo: The science and politics of counting the crowds at the inauguration and women’s march.