11 Interviews From No Kings 3: Tyranny & the New Normal of Politics
No Kings 3 took place on March 28th, 2026. I participated and, while there, recorded 11 interviews. The video above captures the Gwinnett County No Kings event, which took place in Suwanee Town Center.
Top Video Takeaways
Here are the top 10 key ideas and concerns expressed by the participants (AI-generated from video transcript):
- Erosion of Democratic Norms: Multiple speakers, including a 96-year-old voter, expressed a primary fear that the U.S. is shifting from a democracy toward an authoritarian state or "tyranny."
- The "No Kings" Principle: A central theme was the rejection of a "king-like" presidency; protesters emphasized that the U.S. was founded on accountability rather than the dictates of a single person.
- Loss of Civil and Human Rights: Specific concerns were raised regarding the "dilution" of the Voting Rights Act, the roll-back of women's rights, and threats to the LGBTQ+ and trans communities.
- Generational Anxiety: Parents and grandparents expressed deep worry about the future, specifically regarding the safety of their children in schools and the limited opportunities for the next generation.
- Constitutional Disregard: Several participants noted that the 14th and 1st Amendments are being challenged and that politicians are "ignoring" the Constitution they swore to uphold.
- Political and Social Division: Speakers lamented the loss of "civil discourse" and the fact that political leanings are now tearing apart families and long-term friendships.
- Economic Stress: Beyond ideology, protesters cited the immediate pressure of skyrocketing prices for groceries and gas, noting that families are struggling to remain financially stable.
- Mistreatment of Veterans: An Army veteran highlighted that veterans are being treated worse than ever, arguing that the administration has failed to deliver on promises made to the military.
- The "Bus vs. Taxi" Analogy: A prominent idea that government should function like a bus (getting the collective public close to where they need to be) rather than a taxi (serving the specific interests of one person).
- Fear and Safety: A recurring sentiment was a newfound lack of safety; several women mentioned they no longer feel safe protesting in their own counties or representing American values as they once did.
If you're curious about why I was there and why I made this video, CityWatch published my article discussing my participation and sharing the video above. Here's what they published.
I’m ‘No Kings’ Because My Party Stopped BELIEVING In The CONSTITUTION
Make America Great Again. That's Trump's campaign message.
But what makes America great? It's the fact that we're a country of NO KINGS.
America was founded on the Declaration of Independence, a set of grievances against a tyrannical leader, by a group of people who had no voice or participation in the king's decision-making.
This past week, I had the opportunity to participate in a No Kings rally and interview 11 people. No Kings is a movement of people who believe that no person is above the law, including the president of the United States.
This message is something my party used to believe in, before Trump took it over. I'm a Republican who attended this last No Kings protest. I never got on the Trump train. In 2016, I saw his business and relational wreckage and voted for a Democrat president while voting Republican down-ballot. In 2020, I saw the train wreck at the end of his election-lies story. In 2024, I anticipated the dread and chaos most Americans are now feeling. My voting shifted towards those who embrace American freedom and honest elections and against those who embrace tyranny and deception.
So, ever since the No Kings events began, I've wanted to go, show support, and conduct a series of interviews to capture the protestors' sentiment and message and help spread and amplify the No Kings story. This past week, I was able to make this happen at No Kings 3. My daughter, on her own accord, made a sign and asked if I'd be going. We went together. Here's her sign.
Our constitutional order is being challenged and defied by my party, which used to espouse a commitment to the constitutional system. It's not about Republicans and Democrats. It's about an autocratic group and a pro-democracy group. We need two healthy pro-democracy parties, and we don't have two. We have one. And the one we have is struggling in its own ways. My party, Republicans, has become a toxic and authoritarian aspiring party, and that means I have a responsibility (as part of that group) to do something about it.
My personal blind spot is that I assumed my party and America would course correct. I believed things would go back to normal on their own. But new and different forces entered the societal arena, and that requires new and different forces (No Kings) to intervene.This protest participation is one more step in taking responsibility for our future, despite the vitriol I get from those in my own party, who don't want to be held accountable. May these No Kings interviews be a spark of inspiration to step into the voice in any particular way you can.
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