{"id":2585279,"date":"2026-03-30T11:07:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T15:07:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/contrived-no-kings-protests-dont-appear-to-be-grassroots-joe-concha\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T11:09:22","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T15:09:22","slug":"contrived-no-kings-protests-dont-appear-to-be-grassroots-joe-concha","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/contrived-no-kings-protests-dont-appear-to-be-grassroots-joe-concha\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Contrived\u2019 \u2018No Kings\u2019 protests don\u2019t appear to be \u2018grassroots\u2019: Joe Concha"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcontrived-no-kings-protests-dont-appear-to-be-grassroots-joe-concha%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2585279&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>&#8211; The Washington Examiner columnist Joe Concha argues that the nationwide No Kings protests were not organic or grassroots, but contrived.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; A Fox News Digital investigation is cited, claiming about 500 groups with an estimated $3 billion in <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >annual revenue backed<\/a> the protests.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Concha notes elements like paid participants, manufactured signs, and actors such as Jane Fonda reading from a script, describing the event as scripted or contrived.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; He suggests the protests were designed for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-this-average-american-is-voting-for-donald-trump\/\" title=\"Why This Average American Is Voting for Donald Trump\">social media<\/a> and political impact, implying many participants would vote for the Democratic nominee in the next election.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The piece also discusses CPAC\u2019s 2028 straw poll, which favored JD Vance (53%), with Marco Rubio at 35%; the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/professor-shelter-animals-are-being-euthanized-because-of-capitalism-white-supremacy\/\" title=\"Professor: Shelter Animals Are Being Euthanized Because Of \u2018Capitalism,\u2019 \u2018White Supremacy\u2019\">author argues<\/a> non-Vance\/Rubio candidates would <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/abortion-clinics-push-supreme-court-to-fast-track-challenge-to-texas-law\/\" title=\"Abortion Clinics Push Supreme Court To Fast...Track Challenge to Texas Law\">face long odds<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Additional commentary includes perspectives from Ted Cruz and Rand Paul on potential 2028 bids.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">&lsquo;Contrived&rsquo; &lsquo;No Kings&rsquo; protests don&rsquo;t appear to be &lsquo;grassroots&rsquo;: Joe Concha<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2545317\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><em>Washington Examiner <\/em>columnist <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/author\/joe-concha\/\">Joe Concha<\/a> said he finds it hard to believe the nationwide &ldquo;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/no-kings\/\">No Kings<\/a>&rdquo; protests are &ldquo;organic.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>A network of around 500 groups with an estimated annual revenue of $3 billion was behind the coordinated No Kings protests held Saturday, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/500-groups-3b-revenues-behind-nokings-protests-communist-call-revolution\">according to<\/a> a Fox News Digital investigation. Concha said the only word he could think of to describe No Kings was &ldquo;contrived,&rdquo; citing how actress and activist Jane Fonda was &ldquo;reading a script&rdquo; as she spoke at a protest in St. Paul, Minnesota.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4509118\/trump-oil-iran-venezuela\/\">Trump states &lsquo;preference&rsquo; to take oil from Iran like with Venezuela<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4501540\/april-social-security-direct-payment-worth-994-out-in-two-days\/\">April Social Security direct payment worth $994 goes out in two days<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4509075\/trump-threatens-obliteration-irans-energy-grid-new-deal-isnt-reached-new-regime\/\">Trump threatens obliteration of Iran&rsquo;s energy sites if new deal isn&#8217;t reached with &lsquo;new regime&rsquo;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;I thought this was organic, just speak from the heart. [Robert] De Niro, same thing, was tripping all over his script when he was reading his as well,&rdquo; Concha said on Fox News&rsquo;s <em>Fox &amp; Friends First<\/em> on Monday. &ldquo;And let&rsquo;s repeat that number you just said, Todd, Carley: $3 billion behind these so-called protests? That doesn&rsquo;t exactly seem grassroots or organic.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; max-width: 640px; max-height: 360px; min-width: 320px; min-height: 180px; overflow: hidden;\">\n<div style=\"position: relative; width: 100%; padding-top: 56.25%;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/share.grabien.com\/share?id=3453174&amp;userid=11311&amp;usertype=user&amp;loginid=9421&amp;playercolor=%23000000&amp;playersize=auto&amp;code=c5c3cae13ac55d0cae321515730f5814\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0px;\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&ldquo;And we saw several videos of people at these protests who said they were paid to march and they were carrying signs that were made for them, so this appears to be pretty much a made-for-social-media event,&rdquo; Concha said. &ldquo;And quite frankly, again, that word contrived, I can&rsquo;t get away from because, again, all the people that are there will vote for the Democrat nominee in the next presidential election.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Concha also asked how people could march and chant &ldquo;No kings&rdquo; when the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-party\/\">Democratic Party<\/a> &ldquo;installed&rdquo; former Vice President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kamala-harris\/\">Kamala Harris<\/a> as its presidential nominee in July 2024. He added that <em>WikiLeaks<\/em> showed the Democratic National Committee did &ldquo;everything&rdquo; to install former Secretary of State <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hillary-clinton\/\">Hillary Clinton<\/a> over Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bernie-sanders\/\">Bernie Sanders<\/a> (I-VT) in 2016.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Looking ahead to 2028, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4508661\/cpac-straw-poll-vance-2028\/\">the Conservative Political Action Conference&rsquo;s annual straw poll<\/a> found 53% of respondents prefer Vice President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jd-vance\/\">JD Vance<\/a> as the GOP&rsquo;s next presidential nominee. Secretary of State <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/marco-rubio\/\">Marco Rubio<\/a> followed with 35%.<\/p>\n<p>Concha said this poll is a message for any Republican not named Vance or Rubio: &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t bother running for president next time around.&rdquo; He said any candidate who does &ldquo;will lose&rdquo; unless they are &ldquo;approved by MAGA&rdquo; or working in the Trump administration.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/daily-memo\/4508835\/what-the-cpac-straw-poll-says\/\"><strong>BYRON YORK | WHAT THE CPAC STRAW POLL SAYS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ted-cruz\/\">Ted Cruz<\/a> (R-TX) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4508650\/ted-cruz-2028-bid-2026-gop-success\/\">sidestepped questions about the 2028 election<\/a>, telling the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that his current focus is on &ldquo;continuing to deliver major victories.&rdquo; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3889445\/ted-cruz-downplays-report-setting-up-2028-white-house-run\/\">He also sidestepped a report<\/a> in November on a potential 2028 run.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/rand-paul\/\">Rand Paul<\/a> (R-KY) said <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4508526\/rand-paul-50-50-running-president-2028\/\">he is &ldquo;50-50&rdquo; about running for president again<\/a> when asked about a <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> headline titled, &ldquo;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4498339\/rand-paul-presidential-campaign-2028\/\">Rand Paul sounds like he&rsquo;s running for president<\/a>.&rdquo; Both Paul and Cruz ran for the Republican nomination in 2016 before Donald Trump won it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Concha: No Kings protests seem contrived, not organic<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2632,"featured_media":2585280,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26088031537224-e1774873731483.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[76804,12132,73071,76788,3970],"class_list":["post-2585279","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-contrived","tag-grassroots","tag-media-analysis-2","tag-no-kings-2","tag-protests"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26088031537224-e1774873731483.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2585279","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2632"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2585279"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2585279\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2585283,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2585279\/revisions\/2585283"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2585280"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2585279"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2585279"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2585279"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}