Covering the No Kings mobilizations
How COURIER covered and amplified last weekend’s demonstrations
The “No Kings” protests last weekend erupted with energy and enthusiasm as millions of Americans poured into the streets to protest the Trump administration from coast to coast. In total, there were over 2,000 rallies that brought together a diverse coalition of voices united against authoritarianism. Across the country, protesters projected a powerful message that resonated far beyond the demonstrators themselves: America has no kings, and our democracy demands active defense.
Across our network of 11 state-based local outlets and national bureau in D.C., COURIER reporters and social media correspondents were on the ground covering this large-scale mobilization from New Hampshire to Nevada. Our reporting captured not only the overwhelming turnout (CNN estimated 5 to 7 million participants nationwide) but also emphasized the diversity and breadth of the anti-MAGA coalition, and how this broad opposition movement is not only “resisting,” but also articulating a positive democratic vision, calling for an end to corruption, protection of constitutional rights, and policies that uplift the many instead of entrenched elites.
Over the course of the protests and the days following, COURIER published hundreds of pieces of original content that brought to light not only why Americans from all walks of life are standing up to this administration, but also tell the visual story of the peaceful opposition that stands in stark contrast to Trump and Republican’s ridiculous attempts to frame the protests as promoting hate, violence, or anti-Americanism. In the days that followed, our reporting has been viewed by millions of Americans on platforms where they spend their time - like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, and stands in deep contrast to the shameful decisions to bury or downplay the historic size and nature of the No Kings protests by legacy media outlets, including The New York Times:
Through profiles of local attendees, interviews with organizers and elected officials who spoke at key rallies, and user-submitted eyewitness coverage, our reporters shed light on the deeply personal stakes these demonstrations represented for Americans, with local coverage highlighted the range of issues motivating the protests, from rogue and runaway ICE enforcement, to Republican government shutdown impacts, environmental rollbacks, and the ongoing threat of military intervention in Democratic-led cities.
While the “No Kings” movement and large-scale mobilizations like these are one key piece of how we eventually win back our democracy, we need all hands on deck to keep up the momentum heading into next month’s off-year elections and next year’s midterms. That means more investment in organizing, much more investment in media with real courage, like COURIER, and sustained voter engagement to translate this energy into real political power. The massive turnout last weekend shows that millions are ready to stand up against authoritarianism, but it will take continued vigilance and strategic action to convert protest into political change.
Your support fuels the reporting that amplify these voices and hold power accountable, and together, we can secure a democratic future where the people, not kings, rule. Our democracy depends on it - and on all of us.
- Tara
You’re invited: My Conversation with Heather Cox Richardson about the Need for News with Courage
Next Tuesday at 3pm ET, tune in to @couriernewsroom on Instagram for my live conversation with prolific historian and Substack sensation Heather Cox Richardson about the historic role of brave, advocacy journalism throughout moments of political crisis, today’s new media landscape — and how Americans are turning away from legacy outlets and toward independent, values-driven media and voices they can trust.
What I’m reading this week
In small towns and rural communities, young voters say they feel unseen by leaders (NPR, 10/17)
“By the next presidential election, Gen Z and millennials are projected to make up more than half of the electorate. But many say they’ve grown dissatisfied with political leaders as they wrestle longstanding financial concerns.”
Can We Arrest Fox News Hosts for Disinformation? (Christopher Armitage, 10/21)
“The pattern is decisively consistent. First consolidate media. Then implement authoritarian policies. Controlled media redirects blame for consequences. The captured information infrastructure prevents democratic accountability from operating. A free and just nation requires an independent and ethical press. It follows then, that the profit incentive is antithetical to democracy and justice…The United States now exhibits these conditions. Fox News reaches 38% of Americans regularly. Fifty-seven percent of Republicans regularly get news from Fox News. Sinclair’s 178 stations reach 40% of households through local news that Americans trust more than national news by a ten-point margin. Musk’s Twitter has 200 million followers and around half a billion monthly users…”
What Happens if Paramount Acquires Warner Bros. Discovery? HBO Max-Paramount+ Combination, Huge Layoffs and More (Variety, 10/22)
“Warner Bros. Discovery is officially on the block, disclosing that it has received interest from “multiple parties” to acquire all or part of the company and that its board is reviewing various options. WBD didn’t say so, but David Ellison’s freshly merged Paramount Skydance is one of the bidders making a serious play for the media conglomerate.”