Bulwark Takes – “No Kings Rally Coverage”

Podcast: Bulwark Takes
Date: March 28, 2026
Hosts: JVL (host), Catherine Rampell, Andrew Egger
Guests/Contributors: Bill Kristol, Joe Perdicone, Jasmine Green, Jim Swift, Ansley Skipper

Episode Overview

This episode of Bulwark Takes provides live, in-the-moment coverage and analysis of the nationwide “No Kings” protests held on March 28, 2026. The team—spread out across the country—checks in from multiple sites, discusses crowd sizes and energy, unpacks key protest themes (anti-authoritarianism, anti-war, anti-ICE, democracy protection), and interrogates the political context, including the impact of Trump’s increasingly unpopular administration and the new war in Iran.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Historical and Political Context of “No Kings”

• The “No Kings” protests are now in their third major iteration (June 2025, October 2025, March 2026), each growing in size and reach. Initially a reaction to the Trump “military parade” and anti-institutionalist impulses, they have mushroomed into a nationwide resistance movement against perceived authoritarian overreach and abuse of power by the Trump administration.
• Andrew Egger [02:40]:
  “The idea that there's this gigantic mass popular mandate for [Trump] to do anything you might want to do is completely refuted by this giant, unprecedented in size resistance movement.”
• The context has shifted from urgent defense against anti-institutional action to a broader statement of ongoing opposition as Trump’s popularity has sagged but his governance style has not changed.

2. Protest Themes and Messaging (Nationwide Dispatches)

• Protest Aims: Democracy protection (“No Kings”), anti-ICE/immigration crackdown, anti-war (specifically opposition to the new war in Iran), anti-corruption, demand for impeachment, and frustration with GOP enabling Trump.
• Bill Kristol [12:03]:
  “No ICE, no war, no kings, and then no kings—side, the democracy side, the 2026 and 2028 elections… more straightforward, if you will, pro democracy agenda … no mass deportation, no unwarranted wars... no further corruption and degradation of our democracy.”
• Despite the war in Iran being a massive political change, protest signs still lean heavily into domestic issues like ICE and threats to democracy, though anti-war sentiment is present and growing, especially in some regions.

On “The Ask” and Impact:

• Organizers and hosts repeatedly raise the question: What is the ask? Is the protest just morale, or is it building toward specific political or legislative outcomes? Is it about persuading Republican lawmakers or energizing Democratic organizing?
• Catherine Rampell [04:44]:
  “The question is, what happens next? Is there a specific ask?... Is there a demand, or an expectation that Republicans may behave at all differently going into the midterms because there is this very visible, very salient anger, rage, disappointment and patriotism?”

3. Ground Reports: Vibe, Crowd, and Notable Moments

Boston Area (Bill Kristol, Waltham)

• Large, energetic, and diverse crowd, slight differences from previous (more centrist than purely Democratic events).
• Patriotic mainstream feel—lots of American flags, little overtly leftist imagery.
• Kristol [13:19]:
  “I don't think it was just that they wanted to look centrist, patriotic, you know, Main street, mainstream, whatever you want to say, that I think they feel that way... the protesters feel that they're being patriotic in protesting. And for me that was... moving.”

DC (Joe Perdicone, Jasmine Green)

• DC saw huge engagement across multiple locations and times, spanning Virginia, Georgetown, the Mall, and Kalorama.
• High anti-war presence in DC this time. Ephemeral, creative protest art: inflatable “Elon Musk” effigy, scribbled “No Kings” signs by a child (Jasmine Green [23:07]: “I thought it was so cool. This could be in the moment or something like Jackson Pollock.”)
• Demographics: More racially homogenous and older than organizers hoped, but still with a broad base (babies to retirees).
• The official programming on the Mall focused on impeachment.
• Personal motivations abound: everything from protesting on behalf of an academic program defunded by the administration to reacting to a tragic police killing in Minneapolis.

Cincinnati (Jim Swift)

• “July 4th parade” vibe: family-friendly, older/white crowd, American flags handed out to children.
• Emphasis on voter registration and organizing—especially around ICE facilities.
• Notable lack of counter-protesters; presumed to be in the suburbs.

Chicago (Ansley Skipper)

• Optimistic, relieved mood after previous Trump-directed enforcement; anti-war and ICE still key, with “Descent is Patriotic” and other expressive signs.
• Large, diverse, cross-sectional turnout; not many counter-protesters—the event feels “sunshiny” and hopeful after a tense prior year.

4. The Meaning and Limits of Protest — Can Patriotism Be Claimed by the Left?

• The “No Kings” events are seen (by hosts and participants) as genuinely patriotic, in contrast to the grievance/anti-institutional, personality-cult elements of Trump rallies.
• JVL [41:37]:
  “At the Trump rallies, what you saw was … real idol worship... belief that America was fundamentally rotten… The difference with the no Kings… they see Trump as a guy who has hoodwinked Americans. And so, like, Americans are good. They’ve just been misled by this bad person... there was a huge supply of, like, inflatable costumes,”
• No Kings crowds intentionally avoid “messiah” figures (no idolizing AOC, Bernie, etc.) and instead emphasize broad-based, non-hierarchical opposition.
• Andrew Egger [33:31]:
  “You’ve had this weird opportunity for a sort of small C conservative, anti Trump sort of coalition to form… basically saying the way that Our institutions were constituted before Trump came in, took a wrecking ball to them... they were worth protecting.”

5. Scale and Political Consequences: Does Size Matter?

• Hosts discuss the so-called “3.5%” threshold for mass protest movements as catalysts for regime change, but treat it with skepticism.

• This protest’s turnout may not have exceeded October’s, which raises strategic anxieties about movement momentum.

• JVL and others stress, however, that the key is sustained, broad, and visible dissent, not just breaking arbitrary records.

  • JVL [55:32]:
    “None of these protests that we've seen look like step changes from October… If this ticks backwards to like five million or God forbid, four million, especially at a time when things have just gotten much worse for Trump… that would be interesting. And it would mean something.”

6. Uncertainty and the Path Forward

• The movement’s ability to sustain and channel its energy remains unsettled. While highly visible, this coalition is diffuse, messy, and institutional representation (especially from Democratic leaders) remains indirect.
• The dominant feeling at many sites is a tension between hope and anxiety about what comes next, compounded by uncertainty about whether Republican legislators will respond to visible mass dissent or continue to hew to Trump’s line.
• Andrew Egger [60:12]:
  “You have to keep going out there. [Trump] is out there every day spreading his propaganda… and they're starting to kind of cringe away from that. And that's all good. But … you hear him speak about the question of where the American people are, I mean, it is so obvious that he is floating further and further into the clouds of 'Everybody loves Me.' ... Just, we got to be out here selling the counter narrative.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Kristol on protestor demographics and energy [12:03]:
  “It was sort of a… lot of people coming up and saying, hey, you're here too. Yeah. Are you a Democrat yet? Are you still an Independent? ... It was centrist, patriotic, you know, Main street, mainstream, whatever you want to say.”

• Jasmine Green on multi-generational turnout [24:10]:
  “The number of old folks who were in sort of roll with rolling walkers in 30 degree weather. Like, I just thought, God bless you guys...these are people who are showing up not for themselves but for their grandchildren. And it was… pretty inspiring and touching.”

• Host on comparison between Trump and No Kings movements [41:37]:
  “At the Trump rallies… lot of us, them. A lot of, like, those people are the enemies of the real people. … The difference with the no Kings, no Kings really does… stay away from deifying any person… It’s a very ecumenical.”

• On the limits of protest and mass [55:32]:
  “Part of the ask is really just size and scale… If this ticks backwards to like five million or God forbid, four million… That would be interesting. And it would mean something. … we shouldn’t be Pollyanna about that.”

Timeline of Important Segments

• [01:00–04:37] — Opening context: The evolution and meaning of “No Kings” protests; current political climate.
• [07:08–15:22] — Bill Kristol on Boston/MA protests, evolving protester mix, and themes (anti-ICE, anti-war, pro-democracy).
• [15:22–16:44] — Discussion: Why anti-war is (or is not) dominant messaging this time.
• [17:57–21:10] — Joe Perdicone reports on DC: size, vibe, protest art, and themes.
• [21:51–27:12] — Jasmine Green reports from DC Mall: demographics, standout protest signs, localized motivations, and official event messages.
• [27:20–32:11] — Jim Swift from Cincinnati: organizing efforts, crowd atmosphere, lack of counter-protesters, and local context.
• [33:07–44:34] — Open debate: Can the left reframe patriotism? Contrasts with MAGA movement, analysis of protest energy and inclusiveness.
• [49:00–53:56] — Ansley Skipper from Chicago: mood, themes, relief after ICE actions, crowd diversity, and broader protest movement reflection.
• [55:04–63:06] — Final analysis: importance of protest scale, sustainability, and the challenge of converting protest energy into political outcomes.

Conclusion

This “No Kings Rally Coverage” episode offers a rich, on-the-ground portrait of a nationwide movement at an inflection point. While palpable anger at Trump’s unaccountable power, the Iran war, and institutional breakdowns are universal themes, the prevailing mood is one of dogged optimism, patriotism without jingoism, and a struggle to define the movement’s next concrete step. The episode underscores both the power and limitations of mass protest in America’s current moment—messy, ecumenical, resistant to simple asks, but vital as ongoing demonstration of dissent.

Curated and summarized in the spirit of the Bulwark: focused, honest, and intent on daylighting the stakes of the political moment.