No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen | "Trump Makes HUGE Miscalculation Over No Kings"

Episode Date: October 19, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the massive nationwide "No Kings" protest—America's largest-ever single-day demonstration—and Donald Trump and Republican leaders’ failed attempt to paint the protest as a violent, anti-American event. Host Brian Tyler Cohen dissects how the GOP’s narrative collapsed in the aftermath of a peaceful 7-million-strong protest, revealing deeper strategies of fear and misinformation on the right. The episode features interviews with Senator Adam Schiff, Rep. Dan Goldman, Rep. Robert Garcia, and national security expert Ned Price, exploring topics including the weaponization of government, efforts to suppress the Epstein files, judicial challenges to Trump’s use of military force, and a chilling new Pentagon policy targeting press freedom.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. GOP’s “No Kings” Protest Narrative Collapses

• [00:01]–[04:21]

  • Republicans spent the week rebranding the “No Kings” protest as a violent “Hate America rally.”
  • Trump’s rhetoric was intended as a pretext to justify deploying troops or invoking the Insurrection Act.
  • Despite dire warnings, the protest was entirely peaceful: "Virtually zero violence anywhere in country, despite a staggering 7 million people... the biggest single day protest in American history." (Cohen, [01:43])
  • NYPD: zero arrests; LA protest: no violence.
  • “Which means that Trump and Republicans are left looking really stupid for an entire week fear mongering...” (Cohen, [02:15])
  • Quote:

    "We managed to get seven fucking million people to be completely peaceful. Which gives a window into the Trump team’s strategy as it relates to all of the violence they’re claiming."
    — Brian [02:37]

• Culture War and Distraction:

  • Republicans gin up fake violence to justify escalations (e.g., military deployments).
  • Culture wars (on DEI, “woke Starbucks cups”) serve to distract the working class from the GOP wealth/power agenda.
  • Quote:

    “Everything else, the culture war stuff, that’s window dressing. It’s so that their working class base doesn’t realize they’re being fucked over. That is the game they play.”
    — Brian [03:31]

2. Senator Adam Schiff on Trump’s Authoritarian Moves and DOJ Weaponization

• [04:21]–[18:42]

  • Trump is expanding use of government powers to target political enemies; Schiff himself is now high on the “enemies list.”
  • Trump’s DOJ has prosecuted enemies, replacing resistant attorneys with loyalists to secure indictments.
  • Quote:

    “This is the worst abuse of the Justice Department we've ever seen. And the president certainly is making it clear he's only getting started.”
    — Schiff [05:55]

• Weaponizing Federal Power (Military & Media):

  • Use of troops in US cities, FCC pressure to silence critics, leveraging powers for extortion, and intimidating universities/law firms are part of the same pattern.
  • On Republican colleagues:

    “Are they willing to say anything publicly or do anything legislatively? Thus far, the answer is no. They are fully intimidated.”
    — Schiff [07:48]

• Danger of the Insurrection Act:

  • Real concern that Trump will “invoke the Insurrection Act” using any pretext, especially as courts block his other actions.
  • Even Trump-appointed judges are blocking troop deployments—“untethered by facts.” [10:02–10:05]
  • Schiff has “no confidence” Supreme Court will check Trump:

    “I have no confidence in the Supreme Court and its willingness to stand up to this president because they simply have refused to do so up to this point.”
    — Schiff [11:12]

• ICE Lawlessness & Legal Remedies:

  • Reports of ICE acting as "Trump’s secret police"—illegal violence, detentions, refusal to self-identify.
  • “Litigation is really one of the most important tools we have” ([12:04]), but accountability under current administration is unlikely.

• Will Democrats Ever Hold Trump Accountable?

  • Host presses on Dems’ past timidity (Garland, “optics over action”).
  • Schiff insists future accountability is essential:

    “There has to be accountability. Otherwise those that are engaged in these lawless actions will feel there’s no repercussion...”
    — Schiff [14:07]

• Ethical Reforms for Attorneys:

  • Proposes bar associations strengthen standards to prevent future abuses.
  • “People like that who are demonstrating courage… These people are heroes.”
    — Schiff, on officials refusing illegal orders [17:19]

3. Rep. Dan Goldman on GOP Stalling and Epstein Files Cover-Up

• [18:46]–[35:37]

  • House Speaker Mike Johnson refuses to swear in Rep-elect Adelita Grijalva, preventing 218 signatures needed for the Epstein files discharge petition.
  • On Johnson’s excuses:

    “He is very disingenuously and deceptively lying about what's going on… She just wants to be sworn in… they have no representation.”
    — Goldman [21:02–21:40]

• Epstein Files and GOP Hypocrisy:

  • Discharge petition would force House vote; Johnson delays to block release (protect Trump).
  • GOP campaigned on Epstein file transparency—now blocks it, claiming process issues.
  • Quote:

    “Donald Trump is covering up what appears to be his own involvement in Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking ring. And Mike Johnson, as a puppet of Donald Trump, is doing everything he can to perpetuate the COVID up.”
    — Goldman [24:39]

• GOP Stuck in “Pretend Opposition”:

  • Many Republicans privately support transparency but “follow what leadership wants.”
  • “They have completely, you use the right word, supplicated themselves to Donald Trump. There is no check and balance from Congress.”
    — Goldman [27:21]

• Process Details:

  • Even if the bill passes, Trump would likely veto it (“wants to avoid... being in a situation where he has to veto”).
  • Republicans invent new ways to delay; Johnson even stopped the legislative clock on tariffs to avoid votes.
  • Quote:

    “He literally put in the rules that the clock on that particular bill... would stop. So it would never get to 15 days and it would never be ripe for a vote...”
    — Goldman [31:18]

• No Kings Protest & Antifa Designation Concerns:

  • Trump’s executive order branding antifa as terrorists used to justify potential mass arrests at protests.
  • “The point of doing it is to allow this massive flexibility and leeway because it's undefined to define it however you want to define it.”
    — Goldman [34:06]
  • Importance of peaceful protest emphasized.

4. Rep. Robert Garcia on the Fight Against Epstein Files Suppression

• [35:41]–[47:26]

  • Johnson now actively complicit in the Epstein files cover-up, refusing to seat elected Rep. Grijalva.
  • Arizona AG plans litigation against Johnson for blocking certification and representation.
  • Grijalva “has an office with no phone lines, no staff… can’t vote.”
    — Garcia [37:38]

• International Fallout:

  • Prince Andrew relinquishes titles under continued Epstein-related accusations.
  • Garcia: more is coming—"this is going to continue to come out," and Congress will “expose every single person.”
    — Garcia [39:01]

• Mike Johnson’s Hypocrisy:

  • Appeals to faith ring hollow: “He is a huge hypocrite here for saying, leaning into his faith, leaning into support for these women, and yet playing cover up... for Donald Trump.”
    — Garcia [41:30]
  • Stresses that regardless of party, all perpetrators must face justice.

• Ongoing Delay Tactics:

  • Johnson has no long-term plan: “I think they're going to try to delay... every single chance they can.”
  • Oversight Committee will persist—“If Mike Johnson thinks we're going to stop... he's crazy.”
    — Garcia [43:09]

• Military Deployments & Court Resistance:

  • Concern Trump will invoke the Insurrection Act.
  • Noteworthy that lower courts (including Trump appointees!) are blocking Trump’s actions:

    “Judges that have been appointed by Republicans and Democrats… are out there in this country saying, enough.”
    — Garcia [46:04]

  • But “the court that is probably doing the most harm right now is the Supreme Court.”

5. Ned Price on Pentagon Crackdown on Press Freedom

• [47:29]–[62:44]

  • Pentagon under Trump appointee Pete Hegseth introduces draconian new policy: reporters keep access only if they agree to publish only DOD-approved info.
  • Even conservative outlets (including Fox News!) refuse, recognizing the First Amendment violation—only OANN signs on.
  • Quote:

    “They don’t want independent reporters. They want stenographers.”
    — Ned Price [50:07]

• Broad Bipartisan Press Resistance:

  • “The really important one is Fox [rejecting the policy]... Pete Hegseth’s former employer."
    — Price [52:39]
  • Right-wing outlets need “some degree of credibility… even they realize just how in contravention this is to their work that is protected by the First Amendment.”
    — Price [55:26]

• Potential Outcomes & Lessons:

  • If TV networks unite and refuse coverage, the administration faces a damning media blackout—“when Donald Trump turns on Fox, he’s not going to see Pete Hegseth there standing at the podium...”
    — Price [54:50]
  • Price hopes this solidarity inspires similar resistance at the White House, especially after prior incidents like banning AP over naming the “Gulf of Mexico.”
  • Outlines possible “off ramp”: drop the signed agreement yet maintain Pentagon prerogative to expel critics—“not ideal,” but averts total surrender of press freedom.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Brian Tyler Cohen ([03:31]):

  “Everything else, the culture war stuff, that’s window dressing. It’s so that their working class base doesn’t realize they’re being fucked over. That is the game they play.”

• Sen. Adam Schiff ([05:55]):

  “This is the worst abuse of the Justice Department we’ve ever seen. And the president certainly is making it clear he’s only getting started.”

• Rep. Dan Goldman ([24:39]):

  “Donald Trump is covering up what appears to be his own involvement in Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking ring. And Mike Johnson, as a puppet of Donald Trump, is doing everything he can to perpetuate the COVID up.”

• Rep. Robert Garcia ([41:30]):

  “He is a huge hypocrite here for saying, leaning into his faith, leaning into support for these women, and yet playing cover up and being a part of this massive cover up around Jeffrey Epstein for Donald Trump and for who, God knows who else.”

• Ned Price ([50:07]):

  “They don’t want independent reporters. They want stenographers. They want people who are going to write press releases rather than stories about them.”

• Ned Price ([52:39]):

  “The really important one is Fox ... Pete Hegseth’s former employer.”

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [00:01] – Show opens, B.T. Cohen details "No Kings" protest fallout
• [04:21] – Interview: Sen. Adam Schiff
• [18:46] – Interview: Rep. Dan Goldman
• [35:41] – Interview: Rep. Robert Garcia
• [47:29] – Interview: Ned Price
• [62:44] – Episode closes

Conclusion

This episode of "No Lie" highlights the collapse of the GOP’s fear narrative around the No Kings protests and exposes deeper authoritarian inclinations—suppression of protest, weaponization of the DOJ, desperate stalling in Congress to cover up for Trump, and a blatant Pentagon attack on press freedom. Interviews with key politicians and a national security journalist reveal bipartisan alarm and society’s fragile institutional checks, as well as ongoing battles for transparency, accountability, and the survival of democracy in America.