The media clampdown on the protests is a signal that the powers that be are at least somewhat aware of the implications. It's not an exaggeration to say that if a significant percentage of America's skilled labor force that keeps the lights on, clean water pumping, and food stocked on the shelves were to start monkeywrenching, the country could be plunged into utter chaos within a month. There's no way that they can just crush something like that with direct force, either. The US military and state security forces, for all of their potential for violence and subversion, aren't capable of maintaining the hugely complex supply chain that fuels our cities and lifestyle. It's also not something the behind the scenes oligarchs can easily address, either. They depend on servants, supplies, and manufactured goods to keep their decadence going too.