The Daily Beans — "No Kings II" (feat. Leah Greenberg) October 16, 2025 | MSW Media

Episode Overview

In this episode, hosts Allison Gill and Dana Goldberg bring a snarky, in-depth look at the current political and social justice news leading into the nationwide "No Kings II" day of protest. The episode covers breaking developments from Pentagon press access walkouts to legal blockades on Trump administration actions. The centerpiece is a deeply insightful interview with Leah Greenberg, co-executive director of Indivisible, previewing the scale and stakes of No Kings II. Listeners are encouraged to get involved and find empowerment through collective action.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

Major Headlines & News Analysis

[00:00–23:47]

• Pentagon Press Exodus — Dozens of Pentagon reporters turned in badges and left after refusing to comply with new Trump administration media restrictions (06:00). All major outlets, including Fox News, refused to sign the new terms, leaving only OANN on the inside.
  • Memorable quote: “So anyway, that’s all that’s left. OANN and Tim Pool and probably a couple Russians.” — Allison Gill (07:47)
• Brown University Defies Trump’s Extortion Bid — Brown joined MIT in rejecting a federal plan to tie funding to Trump-aligned conditions, citing threats to academic freedom (07:57).
  • Notable quote: “By its nature and by various provisions [the compact] would restrict academic freedom and undermine the autonomy of Brown’s governance...” — quoting President Christina Paxson (08:31)
• Federal Judge Blocks Layoffs — Judge Susan Ilston halted Trump’s federal worker layoff plan amid the shutdown, finding probable illegality and breach of statutory protections (09:15).
• Devastating Alaska Floods — After Typhoon Ha Long, at least one dead, two missing, 50+ rescued in hard-hit remote communities (11:46).
• Young GOP Racism Scandal — Multiple young Republican staffers ousted after leaks from racist group chats; JD Vance’s dismissive defense sparks outrage (14:47).
  • “It was such a Brock Turner response JD Vance...some of them are 40 years old. Get out of here with this shit.” — Dana (15:02)
• Swastika in Congressional Office — Photo surfaces of an altered American flag with a swastika pinned in a Republican staffer’s cubicle (16:17).
• LA County Declares Emergency Over ICE Raids — County acts to mobilize resources, provide legal aid and rent relief to immigrant communities besieged by federal raids (17:43).
  • “What’s happening in our community is an emergency, and Los Angeles County is treating it like one.” — Supervisor Lindsay Horvath (17:40)
• Restraining Order Against Rep. Corey Mills — Florida judge bars Mills from contacting or mentioning ex-girlfriend Lindsay Langston after credible threats (19:43).
  • “Even had the respondent’s testimony been truthful, his response is irrelevant...” — Judge Coberlein (20:21)
• Speaker Mike Johnson vs. Hakeem Jeffries C-SPAN Debate Announced — First-of-its-kind televised debate announced amid Congressional disarray; skepticism that Johnson will attend (21:18).
  • “I bet he chickens out.” — Allison (22:24)

Deep Dive: No Kings II and Indivisible's Leah Greenberg

Interview Segment [26:29–45:35]

Scale, Purpose and Growth of No Kings II

• Unprecedented Scope
  • “We are literally already at the single most widespread protest in American history before a single person shows up on Saturday.” — Leah Greenberg (26:56)
    • 2,500 events nationwide—already surpassing the previous record
• Strategic Mobilization
  • No Kings II is part of an ongoing series aimed at regular, mass mobilization to confront authoritarian consolidation. The movement’s “big tent” strategy stresses inclusion and coalition-building across ideological divides.
  • “We are in this period where a would-be fascist is trying to close civic space, is trying to consolidate power. And so a regular large scale...demonstration of defiance is a really important part of combating that.” — Leah (27:54)
• Republican Smears & Authoritarianism
  • Greenberg addresses Republican attempts to rebrand “No Kings” as an “anti-American” or “hate America” event:
    • “They are afraid to say out loud the word No Kings because that exposes the entire lie...” (28:57)
  • The rhetoric is framed as both “ridiculous and sinister,” feeding into a broader pattern of authoritarian repression of civil society since the assassination of Charlie Kirk (30:08).
• Roots of No Kings
  • Emerged from the “50:51” grassroots movement: 50 states, 50 capitals, 1 protest.
  • Tied to historical American anti-monarchy sentiment—“It summed up something so...central to what it is to be American... our pride in our democracy, our representation, the fact that we don't want to be governed by an imperious, unaccountable force.” (32:04)
• Lessons from Past Movements
  • From Indivisible’s beginnings post-2016, borrowing tactics from the Tea Party’s local pressure playbook, to learning from the broad reach and challenges of events like Occupy Wall Street and Families Belong Together.
  • Growth in demand: “We’ve seen about 120% increase in new groups since 2024. People are focused, flooding in.” — Leah (32:04)
• Movement Goals & Tactics
  • “The act of having this kind of mass national protest is about holding open civic space for everything else that needs to happen.” (40:26)
  • Foster “collective defiance” through in-person and digital actions; expand organizing by helping attendees form ongoing local relationships.
  • Inclusivity emphasized, including virtual/online participation for differently-abled activists (44:30).

Key Quotes from Leah Greenberg

• “So much of this depends on the local leadership, the creativity, the passion and the dedication of regular people...They also have a lot of wisdom about what they need to do wherever they are.” (37:17)
• “This is not left versus right. It’s top versus bottom. It’s the king versus us.” — Allison Gill (38:19)
• “We want to create that narrative of a growing popular opposition...you need to worry not just about what Donald Trump might do, but you actually need to worry about us too.” (40:26)
• “If we are serious about building a popular movement for democracy, we’re going to work across ideological lines...with people we don’t always agree with. And that is good.” (37:17)

How to Get Involved

• Find or host events at nokings.org (45:24)
• Virtual options and ongoing digital activism opportunities available for all (44:30)

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• “This is so fucked up that even the introverts are here, people.” — Allison (02:51)
• “They’ve also argued that the government’s use of riffs...would break the Anti-Deficiency Act rules and that forbids the government from obligating or expending any money not appropriated by Congress.” — Allison (09:58)
• “Unbelievable, but it’s believable.” — Dana (05:34)
• “More than 50 people have been rescued, some plucked from the rooftops.” — Dana (11:58)
• “They drive wedges...so that we’re fighting with each other instead of fighting them. And I think that’s what’s so fundamental about the No Kings movement.” — Allison (38:19)

Key Timestamps

• [00:00–03:49] — Opening headlines, show banter, context on No Kings II and events calendar
• [03:49–23:47] — Rapid-fire news breakdown ("Hot Notes")
• [26:29–45:35] — Leah Greenberg interview: history, strategy, inclusion, and future of No Kings movement
• [45:35–59:11] — Listener good news segment: community stories, shout-outs, positive actions

Additional Resources & Calls to Action

• No Kings II Participation: Visit nokings.org to find or host an event; virtual and accessible actions are available.
• Support Progressive News: Become a patron at patreon.com/thedailybeans
• Follow Dana Goldberg: Watch her Instagram (@DGComedy) for a special announcement.

Episode Vibe & Final Thoughts

The episode mixes urgency with lighthearted camaraderie, blending acute concerns over threats to democracy (press restrictions, federal layoffs, anti-immigrant crackdowns) with the inspiring scope of grassroots resistance and mutual support. The conversation with Leah Greenberg offers not just information but hope and practical pathways for listeners, celebrating the power of collective, cross-ideological action—summed up in the defining slogan: No Kings.