Two senior leaders of the Women’s March, Tamika Middleton and Rachel O’Leary Carmona, offered a stark assessment of American democracy under the second Trump administration and outlined the disciplined organizing strategy they hope will sustain progressive resistance. Tamika Middleton, the group’s chief political and strategy officer, and Rachel O’Leary Carmona, its executive director, told Unknown host Charlie Stone that the country cannot be a real democracy as long as a MAGA governing force remains in power. Ms. Middleton argued that the movement’s central aim is not to defend the Constitution but to consolidate authority around Donald J. Trump or his eventual successor. The conversation served as both reflection and strategic roadmap. With the last weekend of Women’s History Month approaching, the Women’s March is channeling that discipline into concrete action. The organization is mobilizing its network to participate visibly in the nationwide No Kings protests scheduled for this Saturday, March 28, 2026. The interview revisited the alleged emotional shock waves that followed Mr. Trump’s victories over Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Kamala Harris in 2024. Both women described the 2017 Women’s March, as fueled less by Mr. Trump’s election itself than by the collective grief and anger over the defeats of two highly qualified female candidates. That sense of setback has not faded, the guests said. Many newer activists experienced the 2024 outcome as a splash of cold water, prompting renewed mobilization even among those who had stepped back from politics. Middleton noted the visceral frustration captured in online memes, including one observing that even North Korea might install a woman leader before the United States does. Rachel O’Leary Carmona pointed to the recently released Epstein files (more than 3.5 million pages made public) by the Justice Department, as a rare issue capable of forging unlikely coalitions. She noted that everyone hates a pedophile, creating broad public revulsion that transcends typical partisan lines. Carmona highlighted what she called elite impunity: powerful figures appear shielded through heavy redactions that protect predators more than survivors, while only lower-level female accomplices like Ghislaine Maxwell have faced significant consequences. In her view, the files expose a two-tiered justice system in which the Epstein class evades accountability that ordinary citizens cannot. She argued that this widespread anger over elite protection could serve as a bridge for cross-party organizing, particularly with non-MAGA conservatives who share frustration with government overreach and unaccountable power. By focusing on universal demands for transparency and justice for survivors, rather than immediate partisan attacks, progressives might find tactical common ground even with traditional Republicans disillusioned by the files’ handling. Carmona suggested that such limited alliances, built on concrete accountability rather than ideological alignment, could help isolate the MAGA governing force and strengthen broader resistance to what she described as its authoritarian project. A central tension explored in the discussion was how to handle potential defectors from the MAGA coalition, including rank-and-file supporters or even prominent figures who might begin to distance themselves. Stone asked whether such individuals would be welcomed with open arms. Both guests responded with measured skepticism. We don’t trust it, Ms. O’Leary Carmona said, particularly when it comes to powerful actors who still have significant stakes in the current order. She emphasized the need to scrutinize their ultimate endgame. Ms. Middleton advocated what she called emotional discipline, warning that venting anger at would-be defectors might feel satisfying but could drive them back into the MAGA fold. In a polarized environment, she argued, the priority must be actions that demonstrably advance the goal of defeating what she described as an authoritarian project, including elements associated with Project 2025. Rachel O’Leary Carmona stated explicitly that she is prepared to embrace former Trump supporters, saying am I welcoming MAGA defectors with open arms? I am, I am, provided the outreach is guided by strict emotional discipline rather than raw anger. Tamika Middleton echoed this pragmatic stance, warning that alienating potential allies could simply push them back into the MAGA fold, and stressing that long-term victory requires doing the things that make us win, not the things that necessarily feel good.
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