This Saturday, October 18, more "No Kings" protests will be held in cities all over the United States. These protests, like the No Kings Day events of June 14, are being held in opposition to President Donald Trump's policies — which the organizers view as overtly authoritarian.
Trump and his MAGA allies are furious over the protests, which House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) is calling a "Hate America event" full of Antifa agitators and HAMAs supporters.
During an episode of the New Republic's podcast, "The Daily Blast," posted on October 14, host Greg Sargent and his guest, journalist Jill Lawrence, discussed MAGA's intense reaction to the demonstrations — a reaction that, they argued, may drive turnout rather than discourage it.
Lawrence told Sargent she is "not surprised" by MAGA's reaction, saying of the October 18 protests, "This is traditional. This is constitutional. This is a right. And they're trying to turn it into something really evil. But that's because they're scared of it, and they know that it turns public opinion. The problem here is that people like Johnson and the Republicans in Congress aren't doing their jobs. They're not putting any checks and balances on the president, and they're not upholding American values or even American constitutional rights. So, this is where we are. The people have to protest. And I don't really see this working out the way they hope."
Sargent argued that MAGA Republicans are "clearly hoping for some sort of violence" at the events because that will give them a chance to "demonize the protests as terrorism and extremism." But the rhetoric of Johnson and others, Sargent and Lawrence stressed, won't necessarily discourage attendance — and may, in fact, drive turnout.
Sargent told Lawrence, "The funny thing about this, as you alluded to, is that the more people show up, the more other people feel supported. And it really is sort of a snowballing effect that can take place in these situations. And I think that's what worries them."
Lawrence responded, "I think they should be worried, because nothing they're doing is popular. And people who may support them generally on issues like crime and immigration are seeing how they carry out these policies. And (Trump) is down on his best issues in polls. The midterms, if they go ahead fairly and freely, will put a check on Trump — at least through the House."
Listen to Greg Sargent's full podcast interview with Jill Lawrence at this link.