The Chris Cuomo Project

Episode: Inside the “No Kings” Protests — and What Comes Next
Date: October 23, 2025
Host: Chris Cuomo
Guest: Robert Weissman, President of Public Citizen

Overview

This episode dives deep into the origins, execution, and future of the historic “No Kings” protests—a nationwide, nonviolent mobilization of millions standing up against rising authoritarianism, unchecked money in politics, and “fringe” control by both political extremes. Chris Cuomo hosts Robert Weissman, President of Public Citizen and a principal organizer behind the “No Kings” movement. Together, they explore why the protests became the largest in American history, what they signify about American democracy, and what comes next for the movement and U.S. politics at large.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. The “No Kings” Movement: Bigger Than Party Lines

• Cuomo frames the protests not as anti-Trump, nor as a leftist or minority-driven uprising, but as a broad, majoritarian pushback—overwhelmingly consisting of older, white, middle-aged Americans (35-60)—against a system where “the money of the few trumps the interests of the many.”
  • "No Kings is not just anti Trump. It's... I care about America so much that I'm willing to put it on the line and fight... That the majority is finally starting to come together to mobilize against mere party advantage. The money. It's never been about red and blue. It's always been about green." (A, 01:20)

2. Organizing the Largest Protest in History—Nonviolent by Design

• Weissman details the planning:
  • Coalition of over 300 organizations (environmental, faith, labor, democracy, housing, etc.)
  • 2,700 events nationwide—urban, rural, and suburban
  • Focus on nonviolence, security, and de-escalation; every event host vetted and trained
  • Success built on pent-up outrage and desire for pro-democracy action, not just progressive activism
  • "You hit a certain level of energy around this and kind of break through culturally, this thing starts feeding on itself." (B, 07:36)

3. Media Coverage and the ‘Violence Bias’

• Cuomo and Weissman critique media focus:
  • The protests were largely ignored because they stayed peaceful
  • Both agree nonviolent action should get more attention
  • "Do I suck that bad that if there's violence I jump all over it and if there isn't, I ignore it?" (A, 13:38)
  • Weissman bluntly replies: "Cuomo sucks that bad." (B, 13:47)

4. Myths About Political Coalitions

• Right & Left are both fractured internally:
  • Trump’s personality cult temporarily unified the right; the left now intentionally unites against authoritarianism
  • The “herding cats” problem of progressives is overstated
  • "I think it's a myth in the first place... They’re fighting like everybody else.” (B, 09:58)
• No Kings as a pro-democracy, anti-authoritarian movement; not a leftist project

5. Threats to Democracy: Authoritarian Ambitions and Big Money

• The real threat isn’t just Trump:
  • Trump himself is less ideological, more about power and personal gain (“dominance”)
  • "He believes in dominance. So he's got the instinct of an authoritarian." (B, 19:55)
• Systemic issues: Citizens United, unchecked SuperPACs, and the "oligarchy"
  • Just 100 individuals fund 70% of super PAC money, leading to distorted policy
  • “The only division… is do we need fundamental reform or do we need to change the system altogether?” (B, 24:25)
  • Crypto and corporate money buying influence highlighted as current crises

6. Changing Political Discourse

• Demonization and Distraction:
  • Both lament the reduction of protestors to socialist radicals
  • Labeling No Kings as “Antifa” or “left-wing” is a ploy to justify repression
  • "They have an executive order that says antifa equals domestic terrorists. Now you're labeling like us like that. You're saying we've got the right to come at you with military force...” (B, 41:18)
  • Tactics to discredit legitimate opposition are a real threat to civil society

7. What Comes Next For “No Kings”

• Post-protest action:
  • Future: Rallies around Veterans Day, policy-focused advocacy, increased campus activism
  • More focus on concrete outcomes—healthcare, university freedom, hunger, etc.
  • Intent is to keep pressure bottom-up on politicians, not to become merely adjunct to the Democratic Party
  • “It is an expression of a movement. I do think it's making the Democratic politicians be better…That's the ground up way.” (B, 54:01)

8. Is This the Birth of a New Populist, Majoritarian Movement?

• Cuomo posits No Kings could break the two-party lock:
  • He urges Weissman to see No Kings as more than an oppositional force, but an organizing principle for a new American majority
  • “This could be it, Robert. This could be… a pure new populist movement. We're not Democrats who are mobilizing for them to resist Trump. We're a lot more than that...” (A, 56:44)
• Weissman’s position:
  • Emphasizes Public Citizen’s non-partisanship but agrees: majoritarian economic populist agenda is broadly popular and transcends parties
  • “The reason that agenda doesn't get realized... is not Democrat, Republican. It's because of the power of big money. So if we can cut through that with a populist, an economic populist agenda. Yeah, I think that's the winning ticket, and that's transparty.” (B, 59:30)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Cuomo, on the essence and power of the movement:

  • "No Kings is not just anti-Trump... it’s that the majority is finally starting to come together to mobilize against mere party advantage. The money. It’s never been about red and blue. It’s always been about green." (01:20)

• Weissman, on organizing scale and unity:

  • "We had 7 million people by our estimate, on the streets in every state, almost every congressional district..." (04:46)
  • “We’re nonpartisan, but we do define ourselves as progressive...but I don’t think this is particularly left, the No Kings. It's really pro democracy and anti authoritarianism.” (06:44)

• Humorous exchange about media priorities:

  • Cuomo: "Do I suck that bad that if there's violence I jump all over it and if there isn't, I ignore it?" (13:38)
  • Weissman: "Cuomo sucks that bad." (13:47)

• Weissman, on the dangers of being labeled “antifa”:

  • “There’s no organization in this country called, that identifies as itself as antifa...But when they say antifa, they have an executive order that says antifa equals domestic terrorists...” (41:18)

• Cuomo, on why the discourse is broken:

  • “Because it's antagonistic, it reduces you, it cheapens you, it otherizes you. And that's where our politics is.” (40:03)

• A hopeful vision:

  • Weissman: “If we can cut through [big money] with a populist, an economic populist agenda...that’s transparty.” (59:30)

Key Timestamps

• 00:00-03:49 — Cuomo on the meaning and makeup of No Kings
• 04:46-08:40 — Weissman describes the mechanics of organizing the protests
• 09:58-11:38 — Myths of coalition building; right and left both fractured
• 13:39-15:30 — The media and the bias for covering violence
• 19:52-21:26 — Trump’s motivations: dominance and authoritarian tendencies
• 23:51-26:19 — The real problem: money’s dominance in politics
• 31:20-32:10 — Trump’s love of the Gilded Age; symbolism and myth
• 35:21-39:49 — The ICE debate—legality, tactics, and the “how” of law enforcement
• 41:18-45:28 — The danger of using “antifa” as a blanket justification for crackdown
• 54:01-56:44 — What’s next: Small and large actions, focus areas, expanding the coalition
• 56:44-61:03 — Can No Kings become a true new-party movement?
• 61:03-end — Summing up: The pursuit of hope, not just being “against,” but building “for”

Conclusion

Chris Cuomo and Robert Weissman present the No Kings movement as an inflection point in American civic life—bigger than Trump, bigger than the left-right binary. The historic, peaceful protests, ignored in part because they defied violence-centric media narratives, symbolize a broad, cross-demographic demand for majoritarian, pro-democracy, anti-authoritarian reform. The battle, both agree, is not just against demagogues, but against the systems of money and influence that have hollowed out true representation. Both point to future actions that arc beyond oppositional politics and toward a positive, populist, majoritarian agenda—one that could redefine what it means to be American and politically engaged.

For more detailed discussions, memorable exchanges, and ongoing No Kings developments, follow The Chris Cuomo Project and Public Citizen’s updates.