

Episode 28: No Faux King Way
This is America: Checked In for the Checked Out by Rachel Bitecofer & Aaron Murphy
E28
Oct 21, 2025
25:21
Episode notes
This week Rachel and Aaron unpack the GOP’s framing of thousands of peaceful “No Kings” protests as “Hate America” rallies. How, exactly, did Republicans lose control of the narrative–at least for a weekend? Plus, why House Speaker Mike Johnson refuses to swear-in America’s newest member of Congress. And what do Venezuelan boat strikes have to do with disgraced Congressman George Santos?
LINKS:
- ABC’s This Week: Jonathan Karl interviews Speaker Mike Johnson
- NBC’s Meet the Press: Kristen Welker interviews Senator Rand Paul
- ABC News: Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva on ‘delay tactics’ in being sworn into Congress
- The Cycle on Substack
- Hit ‘Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game
Keywords
Trump
MAGA
Hit 'Em Where It Hurts
Fascism
Rand Paul
ICE
Jeffrey Epstein
Shutdown
Venezuela
George Santos
No Kings
Mike Johnson