Challenges Faced by ‘No Kings’ Movement Around Midterm Elections

Over the weekend, approximately 3,000 events took place across the country, organized by a group with a significant mission: to prepare voters for the upcoming midterm elections. Known as “No Kings,” the organization worked tirelessly, ensuring people checked their voter registration, understood their rights, and created a plan to vote. However, during this nationwide effort, the group encountered a major obstacle when their main Instagram account was suspended.

The incident lasted around 90 minutes, according to Newsweek. During this time, the organizers were unable to access their account’s administrative tools, effectively reducing their ability to interact with supporters. Meta apologized for the suspension, attributing it to an automated system mistakenly flagging the account due to high activity. Yet, organizer Ezra Levin questions whether this was merely a technical error. He drew parallels to a similar situation in Brazil.

In Brazil, a court recently ruled against Meta for allegedly favoring authoritarian forces there. The country is heading into a presidential runoff later this month, involving left-wing incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and right-wing contender Flávio Bolsonaro. Meta’s role has been contested, with Lula’s campaign claiming unfair restrictions on their content. A report from the nonprofit CTRL + Z highlighted over 1,000 instances of decreased visibility and censorship predominantly affecting pro-Lula material.

Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court responded by demanding Meta ensure equitable treatment for both candidates, imposing substantial fines for any breaches. Meta attributed these issues to technical challenges and its election safeguards, but such explanations might seem convenient for a private corporation managing platforms that millions depend on for political updates.

The “No Kings” movement underscores concerns regarding what they perceive as excessive power concentrated in President Trump’s administration, which they claim undermines democratic principles. This perception is supported by a Washington Post–ABC News–Ipsos poll indicating that 66 percent of Americans feel Trump leverages the presidency for personal gain. Allegations include ignoring the emoluments clause, dissolving regulatory teams while accumulating cryptocurrency wealth, and receiving extravagant gifts from foreign entities. This suggests systemic problems beyond a single platform or algorithm, centered around transparency and fairness in digital political discourse.

Lindsey Granger, a NewsNation contributor and co-host of The Hill’s commentary show “Rising,” discusses these issues in her on-air commentary.