MASSIVE Turnout at Anti-Trump Protests

Summary

Bulwark Takes: Massive Turnout at Anti-Trump Protests – Detailed Summary

Release Date: April 7, 2025

Hosts:

• Tim Miller
• Lauren Egan

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Overview of the Weekend Protests

The episode kicks off with Tim Miller discussing the significant anti-Trump protests that took place over the weekend. According to Lauren Egan, there were approximately 1,300 rallies of various sizes nationwide, with an estimated total of 600,000 participants based on nonpartisan estimates from Atlanta police. Notably, Atlanta alone saw around 20,000 protesters, highlighting the scale and geographic spread of the movements.

Tim Miller [00:30]:

"On Saturday, there were 1300 hands off rallies of varying sizes across the country. Organizers estimated about 600,000 total participants for a nonpartisan estimate, the Atlanta police. So there were 20,000 in Atlanta."

Diverse Motivations Behind the Protests

Lauren Egan elaborates on the diverse causes driving these protests. While some rallies focused on specific issues like national park cuts in North Carolina, others addressed broader concerns such as CDC funding reductions in Georgia or public dissatisfaction with figures like Elon Musk. This diversity underscores a unifying frustration among different communities, each voicing their unique grievances against the current administration.

Lauren Egan [01:23]:

"The anger is there, the energy is clearly there... smaller cities, like Huntsville, Alabama, Portland, Maine... it's a resurgence of energy and frustration and anger really bubble up into the public on the left."

Comparing Current Protests to Past Movements

Tim Miller draws parallels between the current protests and those from the Trump administration's early days in 2017. He notes that while the current rallies are substantial, they haven't yet reached the intensity and sheer numbers seen in other global movements. Instead, these gatherings seem to be establishing a foundation for sustained activism rather than erupting from immediate, raw emotion.

Tim Miller [02:23]:

"It felt like these rallies on Saturday were, like, you know, sticking the flag down and saying, we are here. We are going to fight this. We're not going to be scared of this."

Strategic Approaches to Mobilizing Support

The conversation shifts to the strategic intentions behind the varied protest agendas. Lauren emphasizes the organizers' aim to create a "big tent" by focusing on economic issues that resonate across different demographics and regions. By addressing local economic hardships—such as job losses in small towns—organizers hope to attract a wide array of participants, ensuring robust and inclusive support for their causes.

Lauren Egan [05:40]:

"The goal is definitely to make it a bit more big tent... focusing it on pocketbook issues, and that's going to mean different things for different people in different parts of the country."

Impact on Democratic Morale and Strategy

Tim Miller and Lauren Egan discuss the positive impact these movements are having on Democratic morale. After a period of demoralization post-election, these protests are reigniting enthusiasm and providing a sense of purpose. Lauren highlights recent electoral successes, such as Cory Booker's strategies and favorable outcomes in Wisconsin, which contribute to the party's renewed confidence.

Lauren Egan [07:14]:

"Democrats can take the House back... they got to address all these issues that we've been talking about because it makes a big difference if you win by five versus win by 20."

Spotlight on Elizabeth Warren’s Town Hall

Lauren recounts her experience at Elizabeth Warren’s town hall in North Nashville, a predominantly Black community. The turnout was impressive, with many attendees participating in subsequent protests downtown. The event showcased Warren's focus on anti-monopoly and anti-oligarch policies, aligning with her longstanding "Warrenism" approach to Democratic politics. However, Tim notes that despite the enthusiasm, there remains a strong presence of college-educated individuals, indicating a need to broaden the party's appeal.

Lauren Egan [08:41]:

"It was a really good turnout for Warren... everyone was just like happy to be amongst people who were... energized in this moment and pissed off at Trump."

Challenges Within the Democratic Party

Despite the optimistic signs, Lauren cautions that Democrats still have internal challenges to address. She mentions the importance of learning from past election cycles and ensuring strategic planning to secure significant victories in upcoming midterm elections. The goal is not only to mobilize but also to sustain the momentum by winning decisively rather than narrowly.

Lauren Egan [08:23]:

"We have a lot of lessons and a lot of things to learn from 2024. And the midterm elections are a good... there's a lot of hope that Democrats can take the House back."

Drama Surrounding North Carolina Supreme Court Race

In the final segment, Tim Miller shifts focus to the contentious North Carolina Supreme Court race involving Allison Riggs, the Democratic candidate. The election was extremely close, with Riggs winning by a mere 700 votes amidst multiple recounts. Her Republican challenger is actively contesting the results in court, raising concerns about potential voting irregularities.

Lauren Egan [11:13]:

"If it is successful, her concern is that it's going to be copied in states in the 2026 elections and beyond. The fact that it's even kind of getting as far as it has is pretty wild."

Lauren emphasizes that while this is a local race, its implications are national, serving as a test case for Republican strategies to potentially undermine election integrity in future contests. Riggs warns that successful challenges could set dangerous precedents for democratic processes across the country.

Tim Miller [11:13]:

"Look no further than in North Carolina because they're looking back."

Conclusion

Tim Miller wraps up the episode by acknowledging the positive signs of increased activism and Democratic revitalization, tempered by the need for strategic planning and vigilance against electoral manipulations. Lauren Egan underscores the importance of these grassroots movements in shaping the political landscape leading up to future elections.

Tim Miller [12:31]:

"Thank you, Lauren. Have a good one. We'll be talking soon."

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Tim Miller [00:30]: "On Saturday, there were 1300 hands off rallies of varying sizes across the country..."
• Lauren Egan [01:23]: "The anger is there, the energy is clearly there..."
• Tim Miller [02:23]: "It felt like these rallies on Saturday were... saying, we are here. We are going to fight this."
• Lauren Egan [05:40]: "The goal is definitely to make it a bit more big tent..."
• Lauren Egan [07:14]: "Democrats can take the House back..."
• Lauren Egan [08:23]: "We have a lot of lessons and a lot of things to learn from 2024..."
• Lauren Egan [11:13]: "If it is successful, her concern is that it's going to be copied in states in the 2026 elections..."

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions drawn by Tim Miller and Lauren Egan regarding the massive turnout at the recent anti-Trump protests, Democratic strategies, and the fraught North Carolina Supreme Court race.

Transcript

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[Tim Miller]

Hey, everybody, it's Tim Miller from the Bulwark here with Lauren Egan. It's a reporter writing about the Democrats and the opposition. And there was much opposition this weekend. On Saturday, there were 1300 hands off rallies of varying sizes across the country. Organizers estimated about 600,000 total participants for a nonpartisan estimate, the Atlanta police. So there were 20,000 in Atlanta. Gives you a sense for what's happening there. They're in big cities. In Boston, there's a big protests focused on Rumeza Ozturk, the tough student that's got swept off the street for not bed in Silva, North Carolina. Small town, North Carolina. 300 people came together to oppose the national parks cuts in the community. So it was all different types and just wanted to make sure we were covering it and getting a sense for what was out there. And so, Lauren, at the top, what did you make of what we saw this weekend?

[Lauren Egan]

Yeah, I think, you know, one organizer texted me and said the opposition is, is alive and well and it's reentered the chat. I think there's been a lot of conversation about, like, where is everyone? Like, why are people not marching on the mall like we saw for the first Trump administration? So I think, you know, the, the anger is there, the energy is clearly there. I thought what was most interesting was not necessarily like the DC Rally because those rallies are always going to be, you know, you're always going to get people to turn out for those. But some of these, like, smaller cities, like, I think like 4,000 people turned out in Huntsville, Alabama, like 5,000 in Portland, Maine. That's kind of impressive. You know, places like, like Idaho, there was people out there protesting places where you are seeing, like, a lot of federal workers lose their jobs for. You mentioned Atlanta. That's an obvious one. So I think this past week, we've really seen just like this resurgence of energy and frustration and anger really bubble up into the public on the left.

[Tim Miller]

Yeah, I think that's right. As re entered, the chat is about Right. I got into a little trouble with some of the commenters because Lovett and I were discussing this very frustration, like, on the pod. I forget if it was last week or two weeks ago, just kind of the lack of people in the streets, and we were talking about these upcoming protests. And the way I framed it then is it kind of felt like, you know, this was a first step to start incubating these things. Like, in 2017, there was just this, like, raw emotion. People were like, fuck this, and, like, we're in streets. And it was palpable. And like, this time, like, that, like, part of it hasn't really been it. Right, right. And so, to me, it felt like these rallies on Saturday were, like, you know, sticking the flag down and saying, we are here. We are going to fight this. We're not going to be scared of this. You know, it might take a little bit to, like, really, really build. And these are big crowds, but, you know, it's not like the massive crowds that you see in, like, Serbia or, like, lately in some of these places where, you know that. Where people, like, feel very acute about the threats to their rights. But it is the kind of thing that's like, okay, we can. We can build for this. That was at least my sense. Does that feel.

[Lauren Egan]

Yeah, totally. And I think people, like, after the election, everyone was so demoralized. I mean, think about, like, people are like, I'm turning the news off. Like, fuck this shit. Like, I can't watch it anymore. And I think now we're starting to see basically, like, thermostatic backlash is beginning. People have recovered a bit, you know, just from the, like, immediate shock of it. And some of the organizers were describing it to me as, like, this is all about creating muscle memory. And so, to your point, like, this isn't just it. It's like, we got to keep showing up, you know, when Trump keeps doing crazy stuff, like, we've got to build that sort of energy and habit of getting out there and protesting. But also, it's. It's like, it's a long four years. Like, you know, it is. And so I think there was a sense among organizers, like, okay, right after the election, like, we've got to be strategic in how we ask people to spend their time when everyone's so exhausted and so tired, like, you need a minute to recover and then get ready for all the organizing that we have to do over the next few years.

[Tim Miller]

I want to ask you another more of a strategic question for the organizers, but let's play a Couple clips from the rallies for people who didn't get out to kind of see what the vibe was like.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hands off, hands off.

[Tim Miller]

Hands off, hands off. The thing that jumps out to me, right, this is, I guess, the ban and flooding the zone with shit thing. You can just tell, like, from the signs and just from the, you know, these types of protests. It's not like George Floyd, right, where it's like there's this rallying point around one thing, right? It's like, like we mentioned it was the national parks. For some people, it's the CDC cuts in Georgia. It's fucking. People are pissed at Elon. Like, some of it is, like, felt like old Resistance, 2017 stuff. There were some funny signs from old ladies calling Trump the C word. You know what I mean? Like, it's a little bit. And so I do wonder for organizers, you know, how are they thinking about, like, do we want to find one inflection point? Like, is Elon. It is one of these other actions it, you know, or do you want to kind of get as many people into the game as possible by letting the protest be a little bit kind of amorphous and what exactly they're protesting?

[Lauren Egan]

Yeah, I think the goal is definitely to make it a bit more big tent. Even if you think back to, like, the women's march, like, obviously that was so focused on women and the pussy hats, like, all that kind of stuff. And like, it was a lot of, like, grounding that and rooting that and like, more social issues. And I think now, especially this past week with tariffs and everything and doge, they feel like you. You make this big tent by focusing it on pocketbook issues, and that's going to mean different things for different people in different parts of the country. For some people, that might mean, you know, tariffs, for example. For others, it could be that their whole, like, parks department in Idaho got cut and everyone in this small town is out of a job all of a sudden. So I think the, you know, the organizers, the lens of their. Their thinking about this is really like, yeah, those pocketbook economic issues and bring as many people as you possibly can into the tent by making it just about that. And that message will again, like, look different in different parts of the country.

[Tim Miller]

All right. For me, it was a good start. Okay. It's good to see folks out there. It was.

[Lauren Egan]

It was a decent week for Dems, you know.

[Tim Miller]

Well, I kind of. Partially because they're starting to organize and get their muscle and get their backbone and partially because, like, the administration's Fucking things up so bad that they're making it easy for them. So, you know, it's a little bit. Sometimes being lucky is better than being good, I guess. I want to talk to you about. You also went to an Elizabeth Warren event over the weekend. I'd like to ask you about that, but since you brought it up, what is your, like, in your sources? And when you're talking to Dems, are people feeling like they're starting to find their footing after the Cory Booker thing? A little bit? Like, are you sensing a change in vibe at all?

[Lauren Egan]

Totally. The Cory Booker thing. People were really excited about that in part because as we know, the parties had a really hard time breaking through any media environment. Obviously, you know, people saw that. And so there's a lot of, you know, strategists I was talking to this past week. They were like, finally someone figured out how to like, capture people's attention. It only took a few months of us like trying every trick in the book. So you couple that with obviously the Tuesday night elections, that Wisconsin Supreme Court race, big deal. There's a. Dems are feeling really good. They're feeling like they finally kind of like got their mojo back. But to your point about, like, you know, it's one of these things where it's like, don't get too excited. Like, yes, Trump is making this easy for you guys, but like, you still have a lot of, a lot of issues that the party internally has to work out. And you know, some pollsters I was chatting with were like, okay, we really want to like, chill. Like, it's great to find some hope. It's great that we're getting some energy back. But like, let's not forget, like, we have a lot of lessons and a lot of things to learn from 2024. And the midterm elections are a good, like, there's a lot of, I think, hope that Democrats can take the House back.

[Tim Miller]

Sure.

[Lauren Egan]

But the margins matter. And so a lot of strategists being like, we got to address all these issues that we've been talking about because it's makes a big difference if you win by five versus win by 20. That's an entirely different ball game.

[Tim Miller]

Totally agree with, with those strategists on that. What, so what was the scene like at the, at the Warren Town hall?

[Lauren Egan]

I was actually surprised by. It was a really good turnout for Warren. A lot of people were going to.

[Tim Miller]

Where was it? Sorry, I didn't. I don't think I said that.

[Lauren Egan]

You were in Tennessee.

[Tim Miller]

Where was it?

[Lauren Egan]

Yeah, Yeah, I was in, at this high school in North Nashville, which is a predominantly black part of town, and a lot of people were showing up to the Warren event and then going back downtown to where some of these protests were going on. So busy day for, for, for those folks. But it was part of this, these events that the DNC is doing around the country to sort of like highlight Republicans that are not hosting their own town halls. It kind of felt like for folks there, like, it was just like a big, like, you know, security blanket type hug. Like, everyone was just like happy to be amongst people who were like, you know, energized in this moment and pissed off at Trump. But, you know, I think when I talk about, like, Democrats needing to figure some things out that they messed up on in 2024, the Warren rally is a really good example of that. It's this working class area of town, but, like, everyone in there is, you know, wearing their, like, Vanderbilt alumni T shirts and carrying their Parnassus like book bags, which are. That's. That's the Aunt Patrick bookstore here in Nashville. So to me, that kind of underscored, like, there's energy here, people are pumped. But I don't know, you're still just reaching like a ton of, you know, college educated type folks. And there's the party. Still got some work to do on that.

[Tim Miller]

What about, what about her message? Like, what was she focused on oligarch stuff or something?

[Lauren Egan]

Yeah, and for her, it's like a lot of like, you know, cfpb, anti monopoly type stuff. She was like leaning really hard into that. Obviously, that's, that's her whole thing and kind of really going into a bit more of like this populist type message that Warren's obviously like, really known for. But, you know, and I chatted with her a bit before, before her speech, and we were kind of talking about like, you know, she's like, I really think that this is a time for sort of the Warren ism brand of Democratic politics to have a moment. Like, Trump and Elon Musk are making the case for, you know, for this anti monopoly, anti oligarch type thing that I've been doing my whole entire career.

[Tim Miller]

All right, last thing, unrelated to all of that, but I've been very remiss on the pod by not focusing very much on this, on the drama around Alison Riggs and the Supreme Court race, North Carolina, that's getting like, crazier and crazier. You interviewed her for a while, and I want to put a link to this to that for people who didn't see it here in the description, but just, just, just really quick, like the TLDR and what the situation is with that North Carolina Supreme Court race.

[Lauren Egan]

Yeah, basically it was a really close supreme court race in 2024. The, there was multiple recounts. Allison Riggs, the Democratic candidate, won by not that much, 700 votes. But there are recounts.

[Tim Miller]

Yeah.

[Lauren Egan]

And her Republican challenger has just been like going at it in court with her and it's just like a giant, giant mess. And essentially, you know, we talk about like elections getting stolen and when we talk about, you know, just trying to overturn elections, like look no further than in North Carolina because they're looking back.

[Tim Miller]

Now, I guess, at like 60,000 votes. They got to cure them. And you know, there's just a lot of chicanery happening.

[Lauren Egan]

Totally. And when I talked to her, she was kind of like, yes, this is just a local race. It's a local North Carolina race, but everyone in the country should be paying attention to it. This is argument she's making because she's like, this is the Republican playbook. They are testing it out here in North Carolina. If it is successful, her concern, which I think she's very right to say this, is that it's going to be copied in states in the 2026 elections and beyond. And the fact that it's even kind of getting as far as it has is, is pretty wild.

[Tim Miller]

All right, people, check out that interview. Thousand rigs. Thank you, Lauren. Have a good one. We'll be talking soon.

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