The Socialist Program with Brian Becker The Mass Movement will Defeat Trump’s Agenda: Can There be a General Strike in the US? [Preview]
Oct 17, 2025
Millions are gearing up for No Kings Day, a nationwide protest on October 18. Concerns grow as the Trump administration labels demonstrators as enemy combatants while deploying the National Guard. The hosts discuss historical General Strikes and grassroots organizing efforts, including rapid mobilization for Gaza. They also challenge right-wing claims about paid protesters, questioning what makes a protest 'professional.' The No Kings movement is rooted in patriotic imagery, contrasting with the administration's efforts to demonize moderate activism.
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State Treating Protesters As Enemy Combatants
- Millions are expected for No Kings Day and authorities are treating protesters as enemy combatants.
- Brian Becker and Leanne Fulahan highlight state responses like National Guard mobilization as politically motivated repression.
Mass Scale And Nationwide Reach
- Organizers expect more than 2,400 protests and up to 18 million participants on October 18.
- Leanne notes the nationwide scale from small towns to big cities, stressing mass reach and momentum.
Delegitimizing Protests With False Labels
- Right-wing figures claim protesters are paid professionals or violent extremists like Antifa.
- Hosts show this rhetoric is used to delegitimize and criminalize dissent ahead of large demonstrations.