To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes

Jim Acosta: No Kings and Trump's AI Jet

Oct 21, 2025
Jim Acosta, a veteran journalist and White House correspondent, dives into the significance of the "No Kings" rallies, exploring their diverse and peaceful nature. He critiques Trump's AI video, arguing it reflects contempt for Americans and could backfire politically. The conversation also touches on Trump's foreign policy, particularly his questionable ties with Putin, and the messy implications these have on U.S. diplomacy. They discuss the erosion of democratic norms and the institutional pushback from the military and media against these authoritarian trends.
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INSIGHT

Nationwide Peaceful Resistance Resurfaces

  • The No Kings rallies showed nationwide, peaceful protest energy without a single march on Washington.
  • Jim Acosta says this demonstrates a broad, diverse resurgence of civic resistance that can sustain a long struggle.
ADVICE

Turn Momentum Into Strategy

  • Transform protest energy into sustained political organization rather than expecting instant results.
  • Charlie Sykes warns activists and Democrats to convert morale boosts into concrete strategies for midterms.
INSIGHT

AI Stunt Reveals Contempt And Opportunity

  • Trump's AI video is a provocative act that reveals contempt for political opponents and the public.
  • Jim Acosta argues Democrats should weaponize the imagery to highlight how Trump's policies harm everyday Americans.
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