Is No Kings a Turning Point? (Plus a baseball bonus on Ohtani!)

·53 min·5 clips

Congressman Eric Swalwell describes the massive 'No Kings' protest turnout and its patriotic, anti-fascist sentiment.

The episode begins with Harry Litman welcoming Congressman Eric Swalwell, who represents California's 14th District and serves on the House Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees. Swalwell, a former prosecutor, discusses attending 'No Kings' protests in Sacramento and Pleasanton, noting large turnouts and a patriotic, anti-fascist vibe. He criticizes the White House's rhetoric labeling the protests as 'hate America' rallies. Swalwell then elaborates on his metaphor of democracy as a table supported by four legs: Congress checking executive power, an independent judiciary, a free press, and public protest. He argues the first leg is already broken due to congressional inaction, and the midterms are essential to prevent further erosion. The conversation shifts to the government shutdown, with Swalwell explaining Democrats' focus on extending healthcare subsidies as a linchpin issue. He also analyzes the James Comey indictment, questioning whether defendants should seek jury trials or motions to dismiss. Swalwell shares personal experiences of being targeted by Trump, mentioning his listing in Kash Patel's book as an 'enemy of the state,' but emphasizes resilience and collective action. In the bonus segment, Litman interviews retired AP baseball writer Ben Walker about Shohei Ohtani's recent performance for the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he hit three home runs and struck out 10 batters. Walker describes it as a magical, cartoon-like feat but argues Rick Wise's 1971 no-hitter with two home runs might be greater. They discuss Ohtani's potential as the best player ever, the romance of baseball, and the game's global reach. The episode concludes with promotional content for the Contrarian media venture and production credits.

As heard by us

A protest conversation narrows into institutional accountability, with a baseball debate saved for the bonus.

The episode sets the No Kings protests against the harder question of what resistance can actually do once the chants fade. Harry Litman starts with Congressman Eric Swalwell, who recalls more than 10,000 protesters at the state capitol in Sacramento before turning to the…

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Want to move from Sacramento's No Kings crowd into a brisk, lawyerly debate over what accountability can actually reach?

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