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Massive Crowds Tell Trump 'Hands Off' My Government

What A Day

Published: Mon Apr 07 2025

Hundreds of thousands people across the country spent part of their Saturday at ‘Hands Off’ rallies to protest President Donald Trump and his administration. Organizers say there were more than 1,300 rallies scheduled, from Portland, Maine, to San Diego, California. But while progressives and liberals pretty much agree on what we’re against, we've been struggling to figure out what, exactly, are we for? And if Democrats are the party that believes governance is good, why aren’t the outcomes better? Marc Dunkleman, the author of the new book ‘Why Nothing Works,’ joins us to answer some of those questions. And in headlines: A judge ordered the Trump administration to return a man wrongfully deported to El Salvador, a second unvaccinated child in Texas has died of measles, and TikTok lives to see another day in the U.S.

Summary

Podcast Summary: What A Day – Episode: "Massive Crowds Tell Trump 'Hands Off' My Government" (April 7, 2025)

Introduction

In this episode of What A Day, hosted by Jane Coston from Crooked Media, listeners are guided through significant events shaping the United States as of April 7, 2025. The episode delves into widespread anti-Donald Trump protests, an in-depth interview with Mark Dunkelman on the stagnation of progressive governance, and a series of pertinent national news updates. This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions drawn throughout the episode.

1. Nationwide Anti-Trump 'Hands Off' Protests

Overview The episode opens with a detailed account of the large-scale 'Hands Off' protests that erupted across various cities and towns in the United States. These demonstrations are a unified stance against the Trump administration's policies, particularly targeting Social Security, Medicare, free speech rights, and economic management.

Key Highlights:

  • Scale and Locations: The protests attracted hundreds of thousands of participants nationwide. Notably, an estimated 100,000 attended the rally in Washington, D.C., while 30,000 joined in Chicago. Other significant protests were reported in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Charlotte, North Carolina.

  • Representative Maxwell Frost's Statement:

    • Timestamp [02:30]: "They're the ones that are screwing us over on the jobs. They tell us that trans people are a threat to our children, but they're the ones dismantling public education."

  • Attendee Britt Castillo's Perspective:

    • Timestamp [05:10]: "Regardless of your party, regardless of who you voted for, what's going on today, what's happening today is abhorrent. It's disgusting."

  • Missoula, Montana Rally:

    • Over 1,000 individuals gathered to oppose both President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, highlighting concerns over Social Security and human rights.

Insights: The protests underscore a significant public dissent against the current administration's approach to governance, emphasizing issues like dismantled public services, climate crisis denial, and inadequate responses to national public health emergencies.

2. Interview with Mark Dunkelman: "Why Nothing: Who Killed Progress and How to Bring It Back"

Discussion Overview Jane Coston engages in a comprehensive discussion with Mark Dunkelman, a fellow at Brown University and the author of Why Nothing: Who Killed Progress and How to Bring It Back. The conversation explores the reasons behind the stagnation of progressive governance and what steps can be taken to rejuvenate it.

Key Topics:

  • Government Inefficacy:

    • Timestamp [04:10]: Dunkelman asserts, "Government doesn't work. The Democrats are fundamentally the party of government. And if government doesn't work, that's a problem for us politically."

  • Historical Shift in Progressivism:

    • Dunkelman traces the decline of progressivism to the 1960s and 1970s, highlighting a pivotal shift from building robust institutions to decentralizing power, influenced by events like the tumultuous 1968 convention.

  • Hamiltonian vs. Jeffersonian Impulses:

    • Timestamp [07:09]: Dunkelman explains, "There are two impulses within progressivism... the Hamiltonian impulse to pull power up into institutions... and the Jeffersonian impulse to push power down."

  • Balancing Accountability and Efficiency:

    • Timestamp [09:13]: "You have to build the transmission line that's bringing the clean energy... through some forest. Someone needs to be able to make that decision about where it's going to go."

  • Acceptance of Unavoidable Losses:

    • Timestamp [10:11]: Dunkelman emphasizes, "The essence of what Government is... choosing who the losers are going to be."

Conclusions: Dunkelman advocates for a renewed balance between centralized authority to implement large-scale projects and ensuring governmental accountability. He suggests that progressives must embrace decision-making processes that, while sometimes resulting in unpopular outcomes, are essential for addressing critical issues like climate change and infrastructure development.

3. Current National News Highlights

Deportation Case: Kilmar Abreu Garcia

  • A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to return Kilmar Abreu Garcia, a Maryland man wrongfully deported to El Salvador, by the end of the day on April 7th.
  • Timestamp [15:00]: "Congress said you can't do it and you did it anyway." – Judge criticizing the administration's actions.

Supreme Court Ruling on Teacher Grants

  • The Supreme Court upheld the Trump administration's executive order to eliminate teacher training grants aimed at diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Timestamp [16:00]: Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, calling the majority’s involvement "equal parts unprincipled and unfortunate."

Measles Outbreak in Texas

  • A second child death from measles complications marks a concerning trend, with over 500 cases reported in Texas alone.
  • Timestamp [17:00]: Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. advocates for vaccination, despite previous downplaying of outbreaks.

Trump Administration and TikTok

  • President Trump extended the deadline to ban TikTok in the U.S. by another 75 days, amidst ongoing negotiations that have been stalled due to retaliatory tariffs from China.
  • Timestamp [19:00]: Trump expresses hope for a deal despite challenges with Chinese counterparts.

Right-Wing Influencers’ Narratives

  • Benny Johnson and Milo Yiannopoulos propagate messages against consumerism and advocate for manufacturing jobs, despite seeming contradictions in their actions and economic policies.
  • Timestamp [20:00]: Right-wing rhetoric is critiqued as a mere sales technique disconnected from practical ideology.

4. Advertisements and Promotions (Excluded from Summary)

Note: As per instructions, all advertisements, including promotions for products like Zebiotics Pre Alcohol and Cosentyx, have been excluded from this summary to maintain focus on content-rich sections.

5. Closing Remarks

Jane Coston wraps up the episode by reiterating the significance of understanding the multifaceted political landscape and the importance of informed civic engagement. She encourages listeners to engage with diverse perspectives to navigate the complexities of contemporary governance.

Conclusion

This episode of What A Day provides a comprehensive overview of the current socio-political climate in the United States, highlighting massive public protests against the Trump administration, critical analyses of progressive stagnation, and pressing national issues ranging from public health crises to international tech negotiations. Through engaging discussions and insightful interviews, Jane Coston ensures that listeners are well-informed about the pivotal events shaping their world.

Notable Quotes:

  • Maxwell Frost (Rep.) at National Mall:
    "They're the ones that are screwing us over on the jobs... they're the ones doing nothing about the national public health emergency of gun violence."
    [02:30]

  • Britt Castillo (Protester):
    "What's happening today is abhorrent. It's disgusting."
    [05:10]

  • Mark Dunkelman (Author):
    "Government doesn't work. The Democrats are fundamentally the party of government."
    [04:10]

  • Mark Dunkelman (Author):
    "The essence of what Government is... choosing who the losers are going to be."
    [10:11]

  • Judge on Deportation Case:
    "Congress said you can't do it and you did it anyway."
    [15:00]

  • Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson (Supreme Court):
    "These conservative colleagues' eagerness to get involved... was equal parts unprincipled and unfortunate."
    [16:00]

This summary aims to provide a thorough yet concise overview of the episode's content, ensuring that both regular listeners and newcomers can grasp the essential discussions and takeaways without needing to listen to the full episode.