Evidence continues to mount that No Kings Day 3.0 was an unqualified success by every measure. Reliable data is difficult to come by—a fact that reflects the decentralized nature of the grassroots resistance. But as reports continue to trickle into the few news outlets covering NKD3, several encouraging trends are emerging:
There were more protests in red states than in prior No Kings protests. (Time, “[N]early half of the demonstrations will take place in a red or battleground state.”)
There were larger protests in red states than in prior No Kings protests.
Protesters were younger and more diverse than in previous No Kings protests.
NKD3 protests in the same locations as NKD1 and NKD2 were substantially larger.
Rachel Maddow covered the above points in her opening monologue on Monday evening, The Rachel Maddow Show - March 30 | Audio Only. Although there remain remarkably few feature articles about No Kings Day 3.0, USA Today published an overview that was fair in its descriptions. See USA Today, Red flare for Trump: ‘No Kings’ rallies a show of political force.
Per USA Today, the protests
had the broadest geographic reach of any single-day protest in the United States in more than a half-century. They included not only familiar precincts in New York and Los Angeles and Austin but also communities in all 50 states and every congressional district, including rural and Republican areas.
I continue to hear from some readers who worry about the lack of coverage, or who experienced a protest that was smaller than the equivalent No Kings 2.0 protest. As to that point, I say, “Relax.” We can’t be at peak performance at every moment in every place. The concept of “regression to the mean” is a powerful phenomenon that should not cause panic. Moreover, it appears that the NKD3 organizers attempted to funnel protesters to larger, centralized protests.
But here is the most important point: Indivisible and other groups are organizing a national boycott on May 1, 2026. See May Day Strong, No School. No Work. No Shopping.
The timing is right for a national strike. Coming off the success of NKD3, the organizers have shown that they can mobilize a significant portion of the American populace. (1 in 43 Americans participated in NKD3!) Setting the national strike one month out gives sufficient time to spread the word. Join the national organizing call on April 9 at 7:00 pm Eastern. Sign up for the national call here: May Day Strong
Let’s set expectations now: It is unreasonable to hope that we will shut down the entire economy. Some employers will threaten disciplinary actions if employees take the day off. Others give care to children, parents, and dependents. Others cannot forego a day’s wages.
But if May Day Strong has a significant impact on the national economy, it will send a powerful message to Trump and his corporate overlords that the American people can grab them where it hurts: their profits. Trump and his backers will understand the ultimate power of the American people if Trump attempts to mess with the November midterms.
In short, we should feel good about NKD3, and those feelings should increase as we receive more data on the depth and scale of the protests.
And here is the most important point: If we do not protest, Trump will interpret our apathy and resignation as signs that there are no bounds on his power or corruption.
Resistance is the only path capable of shaping the future. The rest is surrender.
We must never surrender. If we do not quit, we will win. It is only a matter of time. It won’t be easy. Nothing worthwhile ever is.
Stay strong!
Trump’s illegal war on Iran.
A chaotic situation continues to spiral out of control. Trump’s strategic objectives change constantly, often seemingly timed to manipulate the US securities markets. On Monday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump told aides he is open to ending the war without reopening the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping. See WSJ, Trump Tells Aides He’s Willing to End War Without Reopening Hormuz. (Gift article, accessible to all.)
Per the WSJ, Trump told aides “he’s willing to end the U.S. military campaign against Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed, administration officials said.”
Trump reportedly would use diplomatic pressure to force Iran to reopen the Strait to all ships. Although I am not a senior commander or administration official, relying on diplomatic pressure does not seem like a promising strategy, given that killing Iran’s senior leaders and bombing tens of thousands of targets did not persuade 9.7 million light-yearsIran to open the Strait of Hormuz but instead motivated the country to seize the strait.
If diplomacy fails, then “Washington would press allies in Europe and the Gulf to take the lead on reopening the strait.”
To be candid, that is the stupidest, most irresponsible excuse for a plan that any president has ever articulated: Negotiate until you have essentially achieved a deal, then kill the people with whom you were negotiating, bomb 10,000 targets, withdraw from the war with no clear victory, suggest diplomacy to reverse Iran’s wartime gains, and then tell our European allies to clean up our mess. Jeez!
But as bad as the outcome of Iran controlling the Strait of Hormuz would be, a worse outcome would be an attempt to open the Strait by a ground invasion. For those of you who have yet to read two articles I have previously recommended, now would be a good time to do so: See Lucian K. Truscott IV (Substack), Bloodbath and The many, many wars fought by the empire that became Iran.
Trump added to the chaos on Monday by threatening to “obliterate” Iran’s energy infrastructure if it does not agree to an “immediate cease fire.” See The Guardian, Trump threatens to ‘obliterate’ Iran’s energy grid if ceasefire not reached ‘shortly’.
Many media outlets and commentators skip over the part where making threats against civilian infrastructure is either a war crime or a crime against humanity. As a nation, we cannot devolve to a point where we accept the fact that our president routinely threatens war crimes. I wrote about this subject in a previous newsletter, and I reprint the authorities in the footnote below. 1
The Guardian’s article (linked above) does acknowledge that threatening to destroy civilian infrastructure is a war crime:
[Trump] said if a deal was not struck – including to reopen the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane – US forces would destroy “all of their electric generating Plants, Oil wells, and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalination plants!)”. Destroying civilian infrastructure such as power and water facilities would be illegal under international humanitarian law and would probably constitute a war crime.
What should we make of the fact that Trump is (a) telling aides he will walk away from the war without opening the Strait of Hormuz, (b) actively planning for a land invasion of Iran, and © threatening to commit war crimes if Iran does not agree to an immediate ceasefire and agree to open the Strait of Hormuz?
Any objective observer would raise a serious question about whether Trump has control over his mental faculties and can act as commander-in-chief during wartime.
But we have seen this movie before. We know that Trump is cornered and lashing out to buy time. Unfortunately for Trump, the US isn’t the only party involved in the war against Iran, which has a say in when hostilities end.
Indeed, on Monday, Iran struck an oil tanker that was docked in Dubai’s port. A drone strike damaged the vessel’s hull and started a fire on board. As a result, oil prices moved higher. See Bloomberg, Iran War: Iran Strikes Fully Laden Kuwait Oil Tanker in Dubai Port Area.
Meanwhile, no oil tankers transited the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. See Strait of Hormuz Live Tracker — Shipping Disruption Dashboard | HormuzTracker.
In short, Trump has no strategic plan for winning the war, so he may blunder his way into escalation. The American people are abandoning him at an accelerating rate—giving us an opening to regain control of Congress. Read on!
Opportunities for Reader Engagement
Meet Seth Bodnar, Independent Candidate for US Senate from Montana
I will be moderating a Senate Circle event for Seth Bodnar on Tuesday at 5:00 pm Pacific / 8:00 pm Eastern. Seth Bodnar is an independent candidate for US Senate from Montana. Sign up here: Seth Bodnar - Montana Independent Candidate for US Senate
I want to take a moment to explain why I am supporting an independent candidate in Montana.
Six months ago, the “conventional wisdom” was that Democrats could gain control of the House, but Republicans would maintain control of the Senate. Today, the possibility that Democrats will break the Republican hold on the US Senate is real.
Realistically, Democrats need the support of several independent Senators to break Republican control of the Senate. Currently, two independents—Angus King and Bernie Sanders—help constitute the 47-member “Democratic caucus” that battles daily with the 53 Republican Senators. Democrats will need to flip four seats to break Republican control of the Senate.
There are about a half-dozen Republican seats that are potentially flippable. At the same time, we must defend all Democratic seats, including a few that are vulnerable. Maximizing the potential number of seats that flip from Republican to Democratic or Independent is paramount. Hence, we should help the two independent candidates who have a reasonable chance of winning a seat currently controlled by a Republican.
Seth Bodnar is one of two independents with a reasonable chance of winning—although deep red Montana is still an uphill battle. But the Montana race is wild. Everyone expected incumbent Senator Steve Daines to run for re-election, but two minutes before the filing deadline, he dropped out, and a hand-picked successor filed papers (eight minutes before the deadline) to run as a Republican. Thus, Montana is an open seat that was put into play two minutes before the filing deadline.
There are four candidates vying for the Democratic nomination. As of March 4, 2026, the four Democrats had $27,000 on hand (combined), indicating that none had mounted a serious campaign as of that date. See Montana Free Press, Bodnar launches Montana U.S. Senate run
Seth Bodnar’s entry into the race as an Independent has immediately drawn attention in Montana and nationwide. After incumbent Steve Daines dropped out and Seth Bodnar joined the race, a leading “race prediction” outlet downgraded the race from “Safe Republican” to “Likely Republican.”
Seth Bodnar is a strong candidate—former President of the University of Montana, Green Beret, graduated first in his class at West Point, and is pro-housing, pro-healthcare, and pro-public-lands—vital issues in Montana. And, as Trump’s illegal war becomes increasingly unpopular as it hurts farmers and consumers, a former Green Beret with a distinguished service record will be well-positioned to capture public sentiment against the war and convert it to success at the ballot box.
We still face uphill battles in flipping Republican Senate seats in Montana, Nebraska, Iowa, and Ohio. But the only way we will do so is by making the attempt. Supporting Seth Bodnar is one way to maximize our chances of breaking Republican control of the Senate.
Join me on Tuesday evening, March 31, 2026, at 5:00 pm Pacific / 8:00 pm Eastern, as I moderate a discussion with Seth Bodnar. Sign up here: Seth Bodnar - Montana Independent Candidate for US Senate
Consider supporting a fledgling effort by two readers to tell the stories of immigrant communities abused by ICE.
Fractured: The Stories of Those Left BehindFractured is a new social media campaign that bears witness to the sustained human impact of the cruel and unconstitutional acts committed by ICE/CBP against our immigrant communities. To date, no one has explored the full ripple effects of ICE’s detentions, violence and murders on family, friends, neighbors, employers and others. That is our goal.
Through emotionally powerful stories rooted in American ideals of fairness and dignity, Fractured raises public awareness of these human costs and documents this reality for future accountability.
To learn more about our project and to offer financial support, click here. The producers of Fractured are seeking angel investors or small donors to help bring this project to fruition. Check out the slide deck at the link for more information.
The stories of Fractured are so compelling that they must be told. We hope you’ll help us tell them.
Concluding Thoughts
The resistance is doing a great job of resisting Trump’s lawless agenda. But Trump is helping to drive down his favorability ratings and that of the Republican Party by refusing to back down from his mistakes. It appears that he may escalate the war against Iran because he is incapable of admitting defeat. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that Trump will not raise taxes to pay for the war—leaving only cuts to existing programs or larger deficits to pay for the war against Iran.
Trump’s favorability ratings continue to fall. On Monday, a new poll showed Trump at 33% favorability, with a net negative rating of -29 points. See The Hill, Donald Trump’s approval rating hits 33 percent, a new low, in poll. But Trump’s war against Iran is even more unpopular than his personal unfavorable ratings:
On the issue of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, only 29 percent of respondents in the Amherst poll said they supported Trump’s handling of strikes against Iran. Sixty-three percent disapproved of his job on this issue.
We can’t use polls to assuage our fears. Rather, we should view them as tools that help us sharpen and focus our messaging. On NKD3, there were many signs that linked the war to high prices (“Drop prices, not bombs!) Trump’s war against Iran was a gross miscalculation that has—so far—resulted in a more radical and powerful Iran. The connection to the economy is immediate and apparent—higher gas and oil prices, higher fertilizer prices, and higher home energy costs.
So, polls are tools to help us win elections; they are not elections. But the trend in polls over time can help us calibrate our compasses and test our grip on reality. The most recent spate of polls proves that there is nothing wrong with our radar. Trump is historically unpopular and the grassroots resistance movement is accelerating his rapid decline. If we keep it up between now and November, we will increase our chances of winning control of the Senate—an outcome that seemed out of reach only a few months ago!
Stay strong, everyone!
Daily Dose of Perspective
NGC 2403 is an intermediate spiral galaxy 9.7 million light-years from Earth, and is about 90,000 light years in diameter.
No Kings Day protest photos
Tarrytown, NY - No Kings 3
Minneapolis, MN (no photo, just a comment)
I just participated in a protest/rally for the first time in my life! It was amazing and encouraging! Lots of people and honking horns. I’m so glad I went!
*****************************
Belfast, ME
A large crowd gathered in Belfast Maine for No Kings 3 on a “balmy” 28 degree day! There were people in inflatable lobsters wearing a QR Code that directed people to the local Indivisible website where they could get more information and actions
No Kings Photos from Great Barrington MA
Culver City, CA
Concord, MA! Great speakers — Deval Patrick, former gov, Kim Driscoll, L Gov. and Rufus Griffiths, former US Ambassador to Denmark. We missed you!!
Photos from the Santa Fe NO Kings rally at the State Capitol (the Roundhouse)
Montrose, CA (Glendale, Foothills area), Many residents of Sunland-Tujunga
About 7000 marching through downtown Traverse City Michigan today!
Greetings from Paris/Vienna, a faithful reader from abroad. Photos from Paris:
No Kings San Francisco
Greetings from No Kings, Brookline, MA! 💪
Enormous No Kings turnout in Bothell WA (part of the Seattle metro area).
Port Charlotte, FL at the intersection of US 41 and Murdock Circle, our usual place.
No Kings Port Charlotte, FL
Portland, ME
Little Rock, AR No Kings rally
Durham NC
NO KINGS in NiceAbout 250 people gathered on the Quai des États-Unis in Nice, France, under the gaze of the city’s replica Statue of Liberty.
Greenville SC
Frederick, MD
Franklin (Macon County) NC a deeply red rural county in Western NC. We sense some of the Republican voters in our area are beginning to grasp, and question, the costs of their loyalty.
No Kings Arden Arcade (Sacramento) 3/28
Asheville No Kings 3
A reminder of why we’re at war with Iran.
Before discussing the lunacy of such attacks, let’s pause for a moment to recognize that targeting and destroying civilian infrastructure is recognized as a war crime under the Rome Statute, the treaty establishing the International Criminal Court. See Rome Statute, Article 8, defining prosecutable war crimes to include, “Intentionally directing attacks against civilian objects, that is, objects which are not military objectives.”
If attacks on civilian infrastructure lead to widespread civilian suffering and deaths, the acts would also be classified as “crimes against humanity.” See Rome Statute, Article 7. (Note: The US is one of a handful of nations that refuse to recognize the Rome Statute. However, the refusal of the US to abide by international law is not a defense to the war crimes or crimes against humanity.
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