A former U.S. Navy SEAL was convicted by a federal jury on Friday of transporting explosives with the intent to harm law enforcement officers during planned “No Kings Day” protests in California, prosecutors announced.

The Department of Justice said Gregory Vandenberg, 49, was convicted of transportation of explosives with intent to kill, injure or intimidate and attempted transportation of prohibited fireworks into California after a five-day jury trial and roughly three hours of deliberation.

Prosecutors said Vandenberg was traveling from El Paso, Texas, to San Diego, California, to attend the “No Kings Day” protests in June 2025 when he stopped in New Mexico to purchase six large mortar fireworks. 

“During this visit, he told the store clerk that he intended to throw fireworks at police officers at the upcoming protests. He asked detailed questions about the amount of gunpowder in the fireworks, their explosive impact, and their ability to harm others,” the DOJ said.

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Store employees became alarmed after Vandenberg repeatedly spoke about throwing fireworks at police and asked whether the store was going to track him, prompting them to record his license plate and contact law enforcement.

He was arrested in Arizona where federal agents discovered clothing displaying antisemitic, anti-Israel, and extremist symbols, including a t-shirt with an image of the Al-Qaeda flag.

A review of his phone also uncovered messages indicating Vandenberg harbored anger toward the U.S. government, including President Donald Trump, driven by his belief that the government was controlled by Israel and Jews.

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“People in this country are free to hold their own beliefs and to express them peacefully,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison. “What they are not free to do is use explosives to threaten or terrorize others. Vandenberg intended to turn explosives into a tool of intimidation, and this verdict sends the message that attempts to substitute violence for expressing one’s opinion has no place in our communities and will be met with federal consequences.”

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The DOJ said the court ordered that Vandenberg remain in custody pending sentencing following the verdict, which hasn’t yet been scheduled. 

He faces 10 years in prison.

Buddhist monks have set off on a trek across the country on foot that has drawn national attention as they travel from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., as a part of a monthslong journey they describe as a spiritual practice.

The more than 2,300-mile journey they have named the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center’s Walk for Peace began in late October and is estimated to conclude later this winter in the nation’s capital.

The walk, according to the group’s official page, is intended to promote peace, compassion and mindfulness during a time they say the country is marked by division and uncertainty.

“This is not a protest,” the monks say in public statements. “It is a spiritual practice.”

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The monks are affiliated with a Texas-based Buddhist meditation center.

They describe the walk as a moving meditation as they continue to pass through cities, small towns and rural communities across the U.S.

They have been greeted by supporters who have gathered along the route, walking short stretches with the group and offering food or simply observing quietly as they pass.

The Monks are keeping a blog that tracks their journey in real time. On the blog they say those who “visit the venerable monks along our path, we tie a blessing string around your wrist—a simple thread that carries profound meaning.”

According to the blog, the cord is a reminder and every time the wearer sees it, “in a moment of stress, during a difficult conversation, when patience feels impossible—it gently calls you back to the intention you set when you met us: to walk with us in spirit, to nourish peace, mindfulness, loving-kindness, and compassion in your daily life.”

 “It is a connection string between this journey and you, a tangible link that says: you are part of this walk for peace. We are walking together, always,” they write.

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In addition to the monks, Aloka, a rescue dog the monks refer to as the “Peace Dog,” has become an unexpected focal point of the journey.

During the journey, photos and videos are being shared online and show Aloka traveling along highways and sidewalks, resting during breaks and greeting supporters.

These special moments have helped the monks’ walk gain traction on social media, where their Facebook following recently surpassed 1 million followers.

Millions of supporters are sharing messages of encouragement and reflection in response to the journey.

“I am so inspired. Thank you — the United States so desperately needs this message,” one follower wrote.

Another supporter said the walk has had a personal impact on their daily life.

“Praying for you all each night. You have opened a light within me that makes me want to be a kinder, more peaceful person. I think now before speaking and have become more aware of my breathing,” the follower wrote. “Your trip has a lot of people thinking and restoring hope back in our country and peaceful thoughts throughout the day. It is simply wonderful, the journey you are on.”

Others said the message resonates with them during a turbulent period for the country.

“The message of peace is resonating with so many in America during these scary times,” another supporter commented.

So far, the Buddhist monks have made it across much of the country, prompting online searches and interest in the walk, the monks’ mission and their destination in Washington. The videos have circulated widely as the group continues eastward.

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They continue to emphasize that the walk is non-political and open to people of all backgrounds, describing peace as “not a destination, but a way of living.”

The monks say their message remains the same: peace begins with individual action — one step at a time.

Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico said during an interview posted Tuesday that the national party was “condescending” to people, and sometimes is “hostile” toward cultural issues in red states, specifically religion.

“I’m not an expert on the national Democratic Party, but I will say, just from my observations, being in a red state, someone who flipped a Trump district and was able to build this kind of coalition: Our national party is pretty condescending to people,” Talarico told The New York Times’ Ezra Klein, who asked the Senate candidate how the national party could appeal more to Texans.

Talarico, a state representative who is running against Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, in the Senate race, is a former middle school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian.

“You always hear this, especially if you are out on the coasts: Why do all these people vote against their material interests? You’ve heard that before, I’m sure. Such a condescending thing to say to somebody. It’s acting like they don’t know how to make decisions for their own lives, and they don’t know what they need,” he said.

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Talarico said people have interests outside their material interests, citing cultural, personal and spiritual interests.

“And the Democratic Party culturally, in many ways, has become hostile to some of these cultural values in red states and red communities — faith maybe being foremost among them,” he continued.

“I don’t agree with everyone who shares my faith. I don’t agree with every member of the body of Christ, but I am part of that body, and we share something deeper than partisanship. We share something deeper than public policy. We share a commitment, a witness, a practice, a tradition, and that is an opportunity for connection,” the candidate said.

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Podcast host Joe Rogan urged Talarico to run for president during an interview on Rogan’s show in July.

The Democratic state representative said shared faith can open doors for other conversations and said the party should focus on building relationships with people who aren’t necessarily supportive of the party.

“So I would just advocate for our party to think about how to actually build real relationships at scale with people who aren’t with us yet. Not only will that, I think, lead to winning, and we have a moral imperative to win in a democracy. Because if you don’t win, you don’t get power. And if you don’t get power, you can’t make people’s lives better,” he said.

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Crockett, Talarico’s chief opponent for the nomination, announced her Senate candidacy in December. 

Her campaign announcement included a video playing several soundbites of President Donald Trump attacking her. Crockett is one of the most outspoken members of Congress against Trump, who has carried Texas easily in all three of his White House races.

She has argued that she doesn’t need to win over supporters of Trump to win in Texas, which hasn’t elected a Democrat to statewide office in decades.

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“Our goal is to definitely talk to people. No, we don’t, we don’t need to. Our goal is to make sure that we can engage people that historically have not been talked to, because there’s so many people that get ignored, specifically in the state of Texas. Listen, the state of Texas is 61% people of color. We have a lot of good folks that we can talk to,” the lawmaker said in December.