Podcast Summary: "America Has No Kings"

Podcast: What A Day
Host: Jane Coaston
Date: October 17, 2025
Guest: Erica Chenoweth (Political Scientist, protest and democracy scholar)

Overview

This episode centers on the “No Kings” protest movement, the right-wing backlash against it, and broader trends of government attempts to curtail left-wing protest and speech. Jane Coaston interviews protest researcher Erica Chenoweth about peaceful assembly, the misuse of government power to quash dissent, and the resilience of democracy. The episode also covers political headlines including John Bolton’s indictment, Washington gridlock, US-Venezuela tensions, Trump’s latest moves with Putin and Zelensky, and the resignation of Oklahoma’s controversial schools chief.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The “No Kings” Protests: Scale and Reactions

[00:02 – 01:58]

• Jane Coaston recounts Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s blackjack winnings in Las Vegas (donated to charity), then shifts to the national “No Kings” protests scheduled for the upcoming weekend, noting their broad reach and increased scope since June.
• Escalated Political Response:
  • Republicans have intensified rhetoric, shifting from mocking protestors ("intersectional clown shows") to warning of existential left-wing threats.
  • Notable Quote:
    "Apparently every attendee is a Hamas super soldier who obviously hates America." — Jane Coaston [01:25]
• Texas and DC lawmakers call for National Guard deployments in anticipation (Gov. Abbott in Austin, Sen. Marshall in DC).

Interview: Erica Chenoweth on the Nature and Impact of Protest

[02:09 – 10:19]

1. Who Is Attending the No Kings Protests?

[02:44 – 03:49]

• Event is a reprise of large-scale June protests, with expectations for even greater turnout.
• Data show protests are happening not just in "blue" urban enclaves but "in counties where Donald Trump won the election," especially in "deeply red areas."
  • Notable Quote:
    "People from unlikely corners of the country...are turning up in ways that might be otherwise surprising to your listeners." — Erica Chenoweth [03:37]

2. Are Protestors “Paid Agitators”?

[03:49 – 05:12]

• The “paid protester” narrative lacks evidence—participants are not professional agitators.
• Protests are "overwhelmingly peaceful":
  • "99.7% of the events feature no property damage, no injuries to protesters or police." [04:42]
  • "These are overwhelmingly nonviolent and peaceful actions." — Erica Chenoweth [05:12]

3. Government Targeting of Protest

[05:12 – 08:03]

• GOP is seeking to criminalize or delegitimize the movement, including via IRS scrutiny of donors and organizations.
• Tactics are reminiscent of "aspiring authoritarians" worldwide—"systematic mischaracterization" of opposition as criminal to justify government crackdowns.
• Chilling effects on free assembly are a major worry.
  • Notable Quote:
    "The First Amendment is the First Amendment. That’s the thing." — Erica Chenoweth [06:18]
  • "If we don’t express our rights, they’re not self-enforcing. We have to use them in order to keep them." — Erica Chenoweth [08:00]

4. The “3.5% Rule” for Successful Resistance

[08:03 – 10:19]

• Chenoweth’s landmark research shows that no authoritarian regime survived when at least 3.5% of the population engaged in sustained, nonviolent resistance.
• Historical context: This threshold is descriptive (not predictive)—success depended on broad-based strategy, not just hitting numbers.
  • Notable Quote:
    “None of the movements had failed after they had mobilized 3.5% of the population.” — Erica Chenoweth [09:20]
    “Should be interpreted with caution.” — Erica Chenoweth [09:48]

Political Headlines & National News

1. John Bolton Indicted

[14:04 – 15:54]

• Former Trump NSA John Bolton was indicted for mishandling classified info.
• Tone: Coaston jokes about classified docs "in his gilded bathroom." Bolton claims he's the latest victim of Justice Department weaponization.
  • Notable Quote:
    "I think he's a bad guy. It's too bad. But that's the way it goes." — [Jane Coaston & Erica Chenoweth, parodying Trump at 14:08]

2. Government Shutdown & Health Policy Gridlock

[15:54 – 16:10]

• The Senate remains deadlocked over reopening the government, with Affordable Care Act subsidies at the center.
• Republicans offer a "guaranteed vote"; Democrats remain skeptical of vague promises.

3. US-Venezuela Confrontation

[16:10 – 18:22]

• US military actions, possible covert ops, and Trump's rhetoric have escalated tensions with Venezuela.
• Venezuelan President Maduro compares US threats to failed wars and coups, warns against regime change.
• Notable Quote:
  “No to regime change, which reminds us so much of the endless failed wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and so on.” — Venezuelan President Maduro [17:52, translation]

4. Trump, Putin, and the Peace Prize

[18:34 – 19:42]

• Trump phones Putin, claims to seek momentum for an eventual "peace" deal in Ukraine (and perhaps a Nobel bid).
• Zelensky continues to lobby Trump; weapons for Ukraine are on the table.
• Notable Quote:
  “Trump threatened to provide Ukraine with Tomahawk cruise missiles”—Jane Coaston [19:01] “Cooler heads might eventually prevail, though thanks to him.” — Jane Coaston quoting Trump’s Truth Social [19:42]

5. Oklahoma Schools Controversy

[19:42 – 21:54]

• Education chief Ryan Walters, notorious for culture-war stunts (forced prayer videos, Bible curriculum, anti-woke litmus tests), resigns.
• Even Republicans denounced him as an “embarrassment to our state.”
• New superintendent cancels the Bible plan and vows to focus on education.
• Notable Quote:
  "He seemed to view [the position] as a license to make Oklahoma schools as Trumpy as humanly possible." — Jane Coaston [20:46] “Instead, he wants to do something wild and crazy. Focus on Oklahoma’s schools.” — Jane Coaston [21:49]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On escalation of right-wing rhetoric:
  "Now they seem to be arguing that the No Kings protests are only attended by antifa super soldiers and funded by, I don't know, the G.O.T." — Jane Coaston [03:30]

• On peaceful protest data:
  "99.7% of the events feature no property damage, no injuries to protesters or police." — Erica Chenoweth [04:42]

• On repression and democratic rights:
  "The government cannot punish or censor people for expressing ideas it disagrees with. That’s the fundamental point." — Erica Chenoweth [07:38]

• On the changing locations of protest activity:
  "We're seeing a lot more protest happening in counties where Donald Trump won the election than we did...during his first term." — Erica Chenoweth [03:26]

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:02 – 01:58: Introduction, background on No Kings protests, political reactions
• 02:09 – 10:19: Interview with Erica Chenoweth (protest scale, motives, government crackdown, 3.5% rule)
• 14:04 – 15:54: John Bolton indictment and politicization of the Justice Department
• 15:54 – 16:10: Senate gridlock over ACA subsidies
• 16:10 – 18:22: Venezuela tension, US covert actions, and diplomatic fallout
• 18:34 – 19:42: Trump-Putin-Zelensky triangle and peace summit possibilities
• 19:42 – 21:54: Oklahoma education leadership meltdown and course correction

Tone and Style

• The episode balances brisk, sardonic news analysis with thoughtful discussion. Jane Coaston maintains a skeptical, irreverent tone, especially when highlighting hypocrisy or excess.
• Guest Erica Chenoweth grounds the episode in research and caution about simple answers.

Conclusion

This episode of What A Day delivered sharp, research-backed reporting on the current wave of protest in America and the evolving tactics of governmental suppression. It dove into the broader struggle over democratic free speech, the strategy and impact of nonviolent resistance, and the ways power is wielded (or abused) at the highest levels. With quick pacing, humor, and real expertise, the episode distills complicated civic tumult into what matters today—and what's likely to shape tomorrow.