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The resistance won't be broadcast, but it could have webbed feet and protruding eyes.

Furthermore, it may involve a unicorn's horn or the plumage of a chicken.

While protests opposing the administration persist in American cities, protesters have embraced the spirit of a local block party. They've provided salsa lessons, distributed snacks, and performed on unicycles, as armed law enforcement look on.

Mixing comedy and political action – an approach social scientists term "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. However, it has emerged as a defining feature of American protest in recent years, adopted by all sides of the political spectrum.

One particular emblem has proven to be especially powerful – the frog. It originated when a video of a clash between an individual in an inflatable frog and immigration enforcement agents in the city of Portland, became an internet sensation. From there, it proliferated to protests across the country.

"There's a lot going on with that humble frog costume," states an expert, a professor at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who studies performance art.

From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to discuss protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, a web comic frog co-opted by extremist movements throughout a previous presidential campaign.

Initially, when this image first took off on the internet, its purpose was to express specific feelings. Later, it was deployed to show support for a candidate, even one notable meme shared by that figure personally, depicting the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

The frog was also portrayed in right-wing online communities in darker contexts, as a hate group member. Users exchanged "rare Pepes" and established digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "that feels good", became a shared phrase.

But its beginnings were not so controversial.

Its creator, artist Matt Furie, has expressed about his disapproval for its co-option. His creation was meant as simply a relaxed amphibian in this artist's universe.

This character first appeared in an online comic in 2005 – non-political and notable for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which documents Mr Furie's efforts to reclaim ownership of his creation, he said the character was inspired by his experiences with companions.

Early in his career, Mr Furie experimented with uploading his work to early internet platforms, where the community began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As its popularity grew into the more extreme corners of the internet, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from the frog, even killing him off in a comic strip.

But Pepe lived on.

"It proves the lack of control over symbols," states Prof Bogad. "Their meaning can evolve and be reclaimed."

Until recently, the notoriety of this meme resulted in frogs became a symbol for the right. A transformation occurred recently, when an incident between a protestor dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon spread rapidly online.

The moment occurred shortly after a directive to deploy military personnel to the city, which was described as "war-ravaged". Protesters began to congregate at a specific location, near an ICE office.

Emotions ran high and a officer deployed a chemical agent at a protester, targeting the ventilation of the inflatable suit.

The individual, the man in the costume, quipped, remarking it tasted like "spicier tamales". However, the video became a sensation.

Mr Todd's attire was not too unusual for the city, famous for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that delight in the absurd – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

The costume even played a role in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and Portland, which claimed the use of troops was illegal.

While a judge decided that month that the president had the right to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, noting in her opinion the protesters' "propensity for donning inflatable costumes while voicing their disagreement."

"Some might view the majority's ruling, which accepts the government's characterization as a war zone, as merely absurd," she wrote. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

The deployment was stopped legally subsequently, and personnel are said to have left the area.

But by then, the frog had transformed into a powerful anti-administration symbol for progressive movements.

This symbol appeared in many cities at anti-authoritarian protests that fall. Frogs appeared – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They appeared in small towns and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

The frog costume was backordered on online retailers, and saw its cost increase.

Controlling the Optics

What brings both frogs together – is the dynamic between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

This approach is based on what Mr Bogad terms a "disarming display" – usually humorous, it acts as a "disarming and charming" display that highlights your ideas without needing directly articulating them. It's the goofy costume you wear, or the symbol you share.

Mr Bogad is both an expert in the subject and an experienced participant. He's written a text on the subject, and taught workshops around the world.

"You could go back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to express dissent a little bit and while maintaining plausible deniability."

The idea of such tactics is three-fold, he says.

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