The Jim Acosta Show: No Kings Day 2.0 Live Coverage

Episode Title: JIM ACOSTA, DON LEMON AND JOY REID LIVE NO KINGS DAY COVERAGE
Date: October 18, 2025
Host: Jim Acosta
Co-Hosts: Don Lemon, Joy Reid
Guest Contributors: Rick Wilson, Jennifer Welch, Miles Taylor, Rep. Eric Swalwell, Rep. Robert Garcia, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, Jack Cocchiarella, Godfrey, Jolly Good Ginger, Glenn Kirschner, Aaron Parnas, Monique Pressley, D.L. Hughley, and more

Overview

This special episode features live, wall-to-wall independent media coverage of No Kings Day 2.0, a nationwide protest movement in response to what the hosts and participants describe as the authoritarian slide of the Trump administration. Jim Acosta, Don Lemon, and Joy Reid anchor the show, delivering on-the-ground updates, interviews, and unfiltered analysis from protests across the U.S. The conversation centers on the defense of democracy, the expanding role of independent media, constitutional rights under siege, and the diverse coalition standing up to “fascist” tendencies in contemporary America.

Main Themes

• Defense of Democracy & Constitutional Rights: Discussion on the importance of peaceful assembly and protest as fundamental American rights being tested or undermined by recent government actions, especially by ICE and law enforcement.
• Rise of Authoritarianism: The hosts argue that the Republican Party and Trump administration are pursuing policies reminiscent of pre-independence monarchy and fascism.
• Power of Independent Media: Celebration of independent, diverse voices in new media, contrasted with the perceived failures and corporate interests of legacy press.
• Unity in Resistance: Emphasis on building coalitions across race, ethnicity, religious, and political divides in opposition to autocratic governance.
• Intersectionality in Activism: Lifting up the voices and leadership of communities historically targeted by oppressive power (Black, Brown, LGBT, immigrant, women).
• Direct Reporting from Protests: Live check-ins with organizers and citizens from New York, D.C., Chicago, LA, and other locales.
• Accountability and the Future: Discussion on how to hold officials and agents accountable for abuses once the current regime passes, including calls for investigations mirroring Nuremberg-style accountability.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. No Kings Day 2.0: Scenes from the Ground

• Huge, peaceful gatherings reported in major cities.
• Protesters’ chants include themes like: “We don’t have a king in this country!” (00:43–01:50)
• Creative protest art, such as the Epstein-Trump statue and inflatables in animal costumes, infuse the events with energy and satire.
• Protest is characterized as “an outpouring of love for country,” not hatred, despite portrayals by conservative leaders (02:50–03:16, 22:01–22:10).

2. Messaging and Constitutional Crisis

• Joy Reid details how current policies, particularly by ICE, mirror British monarchy abuses protested in the Declaration of Independence, noting:
  “The Republican Party... is returning the country to the status that it had really in 1775, where you had these plantation owners... reduce everyone else to either serfdom or slavery.” (03:16–05:42)
• Ongoing attacks on First, Second, Fourth, and Fifth Amendment rights are dissected, with Don Lemon challenging gun-rights advocates on their silence:
  “Where are the Second Amendment people now?” (07:56–09:15)

3. Historical Parallels & Calls for Action

• Selma, Montgomery, and John Lewis’s legacy are cited to contextualize the current movement (11:08–12:10).
• Acosta, Lemon, and guests argue that sitting on the sidelines is not an option, echoing Charlemagne Tha God:
  “It is time to get people off the goddamn couch.” (09:21–11:08)

4. Media and Representation

• Independent media is lauded for real, diverse representation absent in mainstream outlets:
  “I’m so sick of turning on traditional TV… it’s like a blizzard. Where the black and brown people at?” – Don Lemon (13:23–13:58)
• Acosta shares his own family’s immigrant journey as a Cuban refugee and confronts “Batista Republican” hypocrisy among Cuban-American congressional Republicans (14:26–16:35).

5. Reactions to Protest from the Right

• Speakers deride efforts to brand the protests as "anti-American" or violent, calling out conservative leaders’ projection tactics: “They’re trying to brand us today as an anti-American day. That’s not even close to the truth. This place is rolling with American flags, happy people, patriotic people.” – Rick Wilson (23:32–25:14)
• The crowd size and spirit are cited as evidence of mainstream, patriotic sentiment, not extremism.

6. Demands for Accountability

• Panelists predict that those who violate civil liberties under color of authority—ICE, law enforcement—will face future prosecutions, even absent federal amnesty or pardons (27:42–28:57, 122:40–126:31).

7. Protest Voices: Street Interviews

• Protesters demand democracy, voice fears over ICE, and express hope for change (39:09–40:59, 45:07–46:26).
• The predominantly white composition of many protests is acknowledged, with both appreciation and calls for deeper diversity and responsibility (43:30–44:32).
• Immigrants recount fears and disillusionment with the U.S. government’s current direction, while others affirm their resolve to turn protest into lasting change (45:07–47:20).

8. Intersectional Analysis

• The movement is depicted as multiracial, multifaith, and regionally diverse, bringing together a coalition arrayed against white Christian nationalist authoritarianism (110:49–111:21).

9. Criticism of Mainstream Media & Information Silos

• Hosts accuse legacy media of failing to robustly cover major citizen protests and being cowed by corporate interests (192:41–193:50).
• Independent channels are promoted as the new source of truth and diversity in reporting, with panelists urging audiences to break their friends and family out of “corporate brainwashing” (251:29–253:39).

10. The Political Stakes

• The urgency of voting, organizing, and not falling for lies from those in power is hammered home.
• 2026 midterms, gerrymandering, autocracy, and the threat of military-enforced elections are repeatedly discussed as looming dangers (106:15–107:18, 229:17–230:38).

11. On Democratic Party & Messaging

• Democratic leaders are implored to be more effective communicators and meet people where they are, not just at election time (231:40–235:30).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Crowd Energy:
  “This is a pressure valve being released… People are pissed off. They are frustrated, they are angry, and they want to voice that frustration and say, we don’t have a king in this country.”
  – Jim Acosta (00:43–01:50)

• Historical Warning:
  “If somebody were to brandish a weapon at one of these armed masked thugs… in a red state… y’all going to put them in prisons. The armed populace is actually being weaponized against unarmed immigrants and U.S. citizens, including military veterans… Right wingery, that’s Nazism. It’s ethnic cleansing.”
  – Joy Reid (07:56–09:15)

• On Antifa & Protest Mythology:
  “Understand there’s no such thing as Antifa… When you say anti-fascist is the enemy, you’re also saying you are a fascist.”
  – Joy Reid (35:30–36:44)

• On New Media:
  “Look at the diversity… My spicy white folks out there saying… they know that their demographic is most responsible for this mess, and… are taking full responsibility and putting their chest in it.”
  – Joy Reid (43:30–44:32)

• On State Violence & Accountability:
  “Once this administration is out of power… there’s going to be hell to pay. These imbeciles will not kill the rule of law.”
  – Glenn Kirschner (124:07–126:31)

• On Why Protesters Show Up:
  “I don’t want to be accused in the future of being silent.”
  – Protester (40:12)

  “I think it’s important to see diversity out here, but it’s important that white people are fighting back and using their two days off on the weekend to come out here.”
  – Protester (39:11–39:50)

• On the Nature of American Resistance:
  “People always ask, what would I have been doing in history if I were back then? This is what they did in Selma. Recall that... What you all are doing, if you are at a no Kings rally today, is doing what they did in Selma—testing the rights of the First Amendment to be applied to the people who want to resist tyranny and authority.”
  – Joy Reid (11:08–12:10)

• On Voting and Culminating Action:
  “People have to not only take to the streets on No Kings Day, they have to take to the streets on election day. They have to make sure these voices are heard at the ballot box.”
  – Jim Acosta (84:19–85:50)

• On Black Women and Intra-Community Dynamics:
  “Can we get some of these tap-dancing black men to stop attacking black women publicly, especially when they don’t know what the f they’re talking about?”
  – Don Lemon (238:12–239:16)

  “Who you are entertaining and stepping for are the white conservatives who will discard you as soon as they’re done with you. So, Stephen, we’re just telling you right now—Django is on the side of the people and will continue to fight for black women, with black women, and against the enslaver and against you.”
  – Joy Reid (239:16–241:49)

• On Hope and the American Experiment:
  “The American people are going to save this country. It is starting with these voting circumstances, it is starting with independent media rising up in this country, giving people the real voice that they deserve.”
  – Jim Acosta (249:26–250:32)

Important Segments with Timestamps

• Live from the D.C. Protest:
  00:21–01:50: Jim Acosta describes the crowd and atmosphere on F Street, D.C.
• Joy Reid’s Constitutional Rant:
  03:16–05:42: Joy lays out how the Republican Party’s actions mirror monarchical abuses.
• Don Lemon on Constitutional Rights:
  05:42–07:56: Lemon discusses the constitutional crisis and the misuse of the Second Amendment narrative.
• On Black, Brown, and “Spicy White” Participation:
  13:04–14:00: Hosts joke about the diversity missing from legacy media and uplift the present coalition.
• ICE as Secret Police:
  16:35–16:46: Acosta and Reid call out ICE’s tactics as reminiscent of dictatorship “Secret Police.”
• Rick Wilson on Protest Growth:
  20:16–21:43: Wilson describes the large Tallahassee crowd and rising urgency.
• Chicago ICE Sweep Reports:
  95:42–99:51: Lemon describes abuses in Chicago, including wrongful arrests of U.S. citizens.
• Antifa and Protest Branding:
  35:30–37:05: The panel deconstructs how “Antifa” is used to delegitimize all anti-fascist protest.
• Bernie Sanders' Rally Speech:
  160:38–162:55: Full-throated defense of “no kings” and America’s founding anti-monarchical purpose.
• Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett on Leadership & Division:
  228:07–233:12: On resistance in Texas, voter communication, and the importance of inclusion.

Noteworthy Closing Messages

• On Unity in Resistance:
  “We are a squad, and I think we're the best squad personally... If you want to get breaking news, you want to get it from this dynamic trio: Jim Acosta, Don Lemon, Joy Reid.”
  – Joy Reid (251:29–251:59)

• On Participatory Democracy:
  “You can be informed without being inundated… Turn the TV off. Support independent media.”
  – Don Lemon (256:03–end)

Final Thoughts

The episode is a rollicking, emotional, and deeply engaged call to action, weaving together live reporting, historical context, intersectional coalition building, and the unapologetic defense of constitutional democracy. Emphasizing both hope and vigilance, the hosts and their guests stress the need for resistance, real journalism, and solidarity—with a bold, direct appeal for audiences to get off the sidelines and into both the streets and the voting booth.

This summary aims to comprehensively cover the intense, fluid, and empowering spirit of this unique collaborative episode. For additional context or specific quotes, refer to the indicated timestamps.