Yes, Mick, it looks far worse than it is.  Trump and his right wing accomplices on the ground broadcast the looting and violence as if it is destroying the entire city.

Portland, Oregon, for example, the battle with Federal agents Trump sent in, took place in a two block area of downtown.  Demonstrations later moved across the river into a small residential area.

A visitor familiar with Portland, commented, It looks just like it always has on a summer evening.

Yes , foment has been purposely made to look like it is destroying cities.  Right wing Trump activists come in, light a few fires, break a few windows, knowing that some poor, poverty stricken, mostly black persons will seize the opportunity to loot.

Until the pandemic, shopping was normal during the day.  Trump screams anarchy, violent takeover, and it leapfrogs oceans to glare from headlines overseas.