Could just have easily tested the D5 off the coast of FL and the downrange there. Has happened a lot, with the Cape there and people.... used to this. But not in the land of fruits and nuts.
And, it didn’t “explode” at 28 secs. That is stage separation and angular light view of the rocket. Anyone who watched any clear sky launch from the Cape, heading for orbit, knows this- well documented. 3 stages on the D5, btw. The 3rd stage is way, way up in a normal offensive trajectory.
Fairly certain we shared this with the Russkies in any case because their, and our satellites (and the chicoms) could see the launch.
Remember that the vast majority of human fruits and nuts in CA are transplants from the Midwest, the South, and the Eastern Seaboard. Nancy Pelosi was born, raised, and educated in the eastern U.S. and moved to CA. It's true of nearly all of our worst leftists (Jerry Brown is an exception); on the other hand, CA's most staunch conservatives, such as Tom McLintock, are 4th and 5th generation natives.