No Kings – Warrensburg, Missouri – June 14, 2026

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Early this afternoon over 100 individuals gathered on the Johnson County courthouse lawn in downtown Warrensburg for a No Kings rally.

“America is great when our Constitution, laws & rights are upheld”

There were voter registration and initiative/referendum information tables and speeches.

Voter registration and information.

The weather was sunny and mild.

“No Kings!”

“I still believe in We the People”

“Culture war, a smokescreen for class war”

“Transpeople deserve visibility, acceptance, respect”

“Imagine being scared of diversity but not dictatorship”

“Only you can prevent Fascist liars”

“Land of the Oligarchs
Hate and Violence
Has replaced our Constitution”

“No sign is big enough to list all the reasons I’m here”

“I protect Democracy…”

“No Kings
No War
No $ for ICE
No Grift
No SAVE Act”

“No Faux King Way”

“Respect MO voters”

It was a good day to celebrate the Constitution and exercise the First Amendment.

Previously:

Warrensburg, Missouri – No Kings – June 14, 2025 (June 14, 2025)

No Kings – Warrensburg, Missouri – October 18, 2025 (October 19, 2025)

No Kings – Warrensburg, Missouri – October 18, 2025 – part 2 (October 19, 2026)

No Kings – Warrensburg, Missouri – March 28, 2026 (March 28, 2026)

Campaign Finance: promising us high regressive sales taxes

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Yeah, that’ll go over really well. Like the cost of health care, gas, and groceries.

Yesterday at the Missouri Ethics Commission for the right wingnut controlled super majority in the Missouri General Assembly and Governor Mike Kehoe’s (r) scam to abolish the income tax in Missouri and shift revenue to regressive sales taxes:

C264249 06/13/2026 Missouri Promise PAC Secure Missouri 308 East High Street Suite 300 Jefferson City MO 65101 6/12/2026 $1,500,000.00

[emphasis added]

Earlier:

C264249 05/11/2026 Missouri Promise PAC Missouri Promise Inc. 701 Market Street Suite 110 St Louis MO 63101 5/7/2026 $16,000.00

C264249 05/28/2026 Missouri Promise PAC Missouri Promise Inc. 701 Market Street Suite 110 St Louis MO 63101 5/27/2026 $1,900,000.00

[emphasis added]

A new PAC, in May:

Insulting propaganda commercials coming to a television set near you. Soon.

No on Amendment 5 (HJR 173).

“The Many will beat the Money. Resist.”

Previously:

Campaign Finance: for billionaires and millionaires (May 30, 2026)

Campaign Finance: every little bit counts (June 2, 2026)

Bait and switch (June 3, 2026)

Campaign Finance: way, way in

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Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission in opposition to the restrictive requirements on initiative petitions required by Amendment 4 (HJR 3) on the August ballot:

C253757 06/13/2026 Protect Majority Rule Missouri The Fairness Project 2300 18th St. NW, #21337 Washington DC 20009 6/12/2026 $1,000,000.00

C253757 06/13/2026 Protect Majority Rule Missouri MOVE Action 1530 S Big Bend Blvd St Louis MO 63117 6/12/2026 $400,000.00

[emphasis added]

That’s close to $2.5 million in 2026.

[….]
What Is Amendment 4?
Amendment 4 is a measure on Missouri’s August 4, 2026 ballot that would change the rules for citizen-led initiative petitions — the process Missourians have used since 1908 to put laws and constitutional amendments directly on the ballot. Today, those measures pass with a simple statewide majority. Amendment 4 would require a statewide majority plus a majority in EVERY Missouri congressional district.

The catch: politicians exempted themselves. Measures the legislature refers to the ballot still pass with a simple majority. Only initiatives that come from citizens face the higher bar.
[….]

No on Amendment 4.

Previously:

About that ‘inconvenient’ redress of grievances thing… (June 5, 2026)

Campaign Finance: but wait, there’s even more (June 5, 2026)

Campaign Finance: keep it coming

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At the Missouri Ethics Commission for the opposition to the restrictive requirements on initiative petitions required by Amendment 4 (HJR 3) on the August ballot:

C232522 06/12/2026 Missourians for Fair Governance Protect Majority Rule Missouri PO Box 2187 St Louis MO 63158 6/12/2026 $343,000.00

[emphasis added]

Governor Mike Kehoe (r) and the right wingnut republican controlled Missouri General Assembly have a plan.

It’s not a good one.

No on Amendment 4.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: but wait, there’s even more (June 5, 2026)

About that ‘inconvenient’ redress of grievances thing… (June 5, 2026)

Campaign Finance: they ain’t playing around (June 8, 2026)

Campaign Finance: “Welcome to the party, pal”

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Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission for a campaign committee opposing Amendment 3, Amendment 4, Amendment 5 and redistricting/gerrymandering:

C264301 06/12/2026 Protect Freedom and Democracy Missouri Organizing and Voter Engagement Action 438 N Skinker Saint Louis MO 63130 6/12/2026 $150,000.00

[emphasis added]

Protect Freedom and Democracy – Active
MECID: C264301
620 E Armour Blvd
Kansas City, MO 64109
[….]
Supported/Opposed Ballot Measure
Measure Election Date Subject Political Subdivision Support/Oppose
Amendment 3 11/3/2026 Anti-Abortion Amendment Statewide Oppose
Amendment 4 8/4/2026 Anti-Majority Rule Statewide Oppose
Amendment 5 8/4/2026 Everything Tax Statewide Oppose
HB1 Veto Referendum 11/3/2026 Repeal the congressional redistricting map passed in HB 1 Statewide Oppose

[….]

It’s a new committee:

Welcome to the party.

Joined at the hip

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It’s kind of difficult to distance yourself from an increasing unpopular and disengaged cult leader when his dark money people keep dumping mailers in your district joining the two of you at the hip.

Brandon Phelps (r) [2025 file photo].

Still no complaints from Brandon Phelps (r) about these PAC expenditures.

In today’s mail:

“President Trump’s school choice agenda is a grand slam!….”

Privatizing K-12 education and defunding Warrensburg R-VI Schools is not going to go over very well in this legislative district.

“….Representative Brandon Phelps
Stood up for President Trump and our families when we needed it most….”

What, no mention of affordable housing, access to affordable health care, nor grocery and gas prices? Go figure.

“…Education Freedom Agenda…”

If you’re sitting at a table with grifters and you’re wondering who the mark is, it’s you.

Paid for by American Federation for Children, Inc.
[….]

Who?

[….] The American Federation for Children (AFC) is a conservative 501(c)(4) dark money group that promotes the school privatization agenda via the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and other avenues. It is the 501(c)(4) arm of the 501(c)(3) non-profit group the Alliance for School Choice.[1] The group was organized and is funded by the billionaire DeVos family, who are the heirs to the Amway fortune. [….]

American Federation for Children
November 30, 2016
Bill Oberndorf will succeed Betsy DeVos as chairman of the American Federation for Children. Bill brings more than 25 years of experience in helping to advance the cause of parental choice and education freedom. Read more about him!
[….]

About AFC

THE CAUSE
When funding for education follows students to the school of their choice, families win. We believe all parents should have a wide range of high-quality educational options to choose from, regardless of income.
[….]

What could possibly go wrong?

“…When funding for education follows students to the school of their choice…” Defunding local public schools.

Nope.

Follow the money. It’s always the money.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: dismantle the public good, privatize everything (July 28, 2018)

Campaign Finance: Public education, eh? (September 15, 2019)

Campaign Finance: oxymoron (July 14, 2020)

Campaign Finance: of, by, and for the children (July 24, 2020)

Campaign Finance: in a name, sort of (October 6, 2020)

Campaign Finance: Who profits? (July 12, 2022)

Campaign Finance: Why not just name it ‘The Committee to Defund Public Education in Missouri’? (July 11, 2024)

Campaign Finance: the money behind the “school choice” voucher scam designed to defund public education (July 30, 2024)

What a friend we have in Donald (r), and Betsy, and…June 10, 2026)

What a friend we have in Donald (r), and Betsy, and…

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It’s kind of difficult to distance yourself from an increasing unpopular and disengaged cult leader when his dark money people dump a mailing in your district joining the two of you at the hip.

Brandon Phelps (r) [2025 file photo].

And, so far, no complaints from Brandon Phelps (r).

In the mail this week:

Representative Brandon Phelps
Stood up for President Trump and our families when we needed it most
Call & thank him for fighting for Missouri parents and kids!
[….]
Voted to fully fund public schools
Championed school choice for families
Expanded parental rights
Raised pay for Missouri teachers

“…Championed school choice for families…” Uh, we’re certain the patrons of and teachers and professionals serving Warrensburg R-VI Schools would like to know about this.

Thank you!
Representative Brandon Phelps
For standing with President Trump & his education freedom agenda

Donald Trump (r) is calling the shots for our local public schools? Yeah, no.

Paid for by American Federation for Children, Inc.
[….]

Who?

[….] The American Federation for Children (AFC) is a conservative 501(c)(4) dark money group that promotes the school privatization agenda via the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and other avenues. It is the 501(c)(4) arm of the 501(c)(3) non-profit group the Alliance for School Choice.[1] The group was organized and is funded by the billionaire DeVos family, who are the heirs to the Amway fortune. [….]

American Federation for Children
November 30, 2016
Bill Oberndorf will succeed Betsy DeVos as chairman of the American Federation for Children. Bill brings more than 25 years of experience in helping to advance the cause of parental choice and education freedom. Read more about him!
[….]

About AFC

THE CAUSE
When funding for education follows students to the school of their choice, families win. We believe all parents should have a wide range of high-quality educational options to choose from, regardless of income.
[….]

What could possibly go wrong?

“…When funding for education follows students to the school of their choice…” Defunding local public schools. Yeah, that’ll go over really well in the 54th Legislative District.

Follow the money. It’s always the money.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: dismantle the public good, privatize everything (July 28, 2018)

Campaign Finance: Public education, eh? (September 15, 2019)

Campaign Finance: oxymoron (July 14, 2020)

Campaign Finance: of, by, and for the children (July 24, 2020)

Campaign Finance: in a name, sort of (October 6, 2020)

Campaign Finance: Who profits? (July 12, 2022)

Campaign Finance: Why not just name it ‘The Committee to Defund Public Education in Missouri’? (July 11, 2024)

Campaign Finance: the money behind the “school choice” voucher scam designed to defund public education (July 30, 2024)