This weekend's No Kings demonstrations drew an estimated crowd of millions across the US to protest President Donald Trump's policies and his willingness to push the boundaries of presidential authority.
It was a moment for likeminded Democrats, liberals and some anti-Trump Republicans to rally together at a time when the American left has little formal power in national politics. But where do they go from here?
By most accounts, the turnout at Saturday's events - in major US cities like Chicago, New York, Washington and Los Angeles, as well as hundreds of smaller towns – was higher than expected and surpassed the first No Kings rally in June.
Congressional Republicans had warned that the demonstrations would be anti-American, and some conservative governors had put their law enforcement and National Guard on alert in case of violence. The massive rallies turned out to be peaceful – a carnival, not carnage. In New York City, there were no protest-related arrests, and the gathering in Washington DC featured families and young children.
Today all across America in numbers that may eclipse any day of protest in our nation's history, Americans are saying loudly and proudly that we are a free people, we are not a people that can be ruled, our government is not for sale, Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut said in his speech to the Washington DC rally.
Just down the street from the No Kings gathering in the nation's capital, the White House responded to the protests with derision.
While Republicans may be downplaying the significance of the marches, the scale of the turnout – along with Trump's net negative approval rating in major opinion polls - hints at a Democratic opportunity to rebound from last year's electoral defeats.
The party still has a long way to go, however. Polls suggest only a third of Americans view it favourably - the lowest for decades - and Democrats are divided over how to mount an effective opposition to Trump when they no longer control either chamber of Congress.
Liberals took to the streets on Saturday for a variety of reasons, including Trump's aggressive immigration enforcement and his tariff policies. Some of the frustration was also directed at Democratic leaders. We're just taking it on the chin, and we're not speaking out, one march attendee told NBC News.
The Democrats have been more combative over the ongoing government shutdown, and at least so far, the public seems to be assigning at least as much blame for the impasse to Trump and the Republican majority.
Then there are the upcoming elections, which could serve as a barometer for whether this anti-Trump sentiment translates into electoral success for Democrats. Yet, crack remain within the party coalition, evidenced by primary battles expected in several states next year.
Former Vice-President Kamala Harris's book tour has been interrupted by pro-Palestinian protestors objecting to Biden administration's Middle East policies, indicating growing discontent among the party’s base. The upcoming months appear crucial for the Democrats as they seek unity and strategy amid these challenges.
