Art of war kinda stuff. Just when you think you’re einning you lost. He made them think he was losing (by keeping up the flag and continuing to be fined) negotiated “the loss” by getting something he wanted (the money to go to vets), then outsmarted them by agreeing and ingeniously still got what he wanted all along (his 50 ft flag pole.) Don’t bother going against him. He will win. And ta’ll think he didn’t coerce the FBI raid? Genius. They did exactly what he wanted them to.