Democracy News Rundown: Hands Off protests and student visas

Happy Monday! Here are some events moving our democracy that you might have missed:

👉 Hands Off protesters mobilize for a second time on Easter

The second “Hands Off” protest in opposition to the Trump administration took place last weekend across the country on the steps of several state capitol buildings. Outside the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, protesters held colorful cardboard signs that read “No King No Tyranny No Fascists USA” and “Fire Musk.” In Minnesota, approximately 10,000 people showed up to rally against the administration and bring attention to climate change.

Most of these rallies are organized under the 50501 movement — 50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement — a fight to uphold the Constitution in response to President Trump’s policies on immigration, economy, international relations and climate. Host Stephanie Gerber Wilson of Freedom Over Fascism was at the first set of Hands Off protests in Lexington, Massachusetts. Click here to read her experience and watch a short interview with an organizer.

👉 International students are suing Trump over canceled visas

Two international students at Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania, are suing the Trump administration for a permanent reinstatement of their student status after their visas were revoked without explanation. A judge ruled in favor of the Indian nationals and blocked the administration’s cancellation. A class action lawsuit was also filed against the administration by several American Civil Liberties Union affiliates.

The U.S. has revoked nearly 1,500 student visas since the beginning of this year, including at institutions like Penn State University, Columbia University and University of California, Berkeley, citing students’ involvement in pro-Palestinian activism. In more extreme cases, green card holders have also seen their residence status terminated.

The Politics Guys: How Political Protests Happen

Have you ever wondered how protests like the Hands Off movement happened in the first place?

In this episode, host Mike Baranowski talks with protest expert Adam Swart on the difference between throwing tantrums and getting things done, and how every significant protest is a paid protest.

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This is Jessie Nguyen, The Democracy Group's Community Manager. Here are some of my favorite podcasts this week, check them out!

Village SquareCast: UNUM Series: OUTRAGED with Dr. Kurt Gray

In his most recent book, Outraged, psychologist and researcher Kurt Gray argues that liberals and conservatives might have more in common than you think — including the same moral mind. He shares how to better understand the "other side," delving into the roots of our conflicts in this episode.

Democracy Works: How 2020 changed America

America saw the rise of TikTok dances and online meeting platforms like Zoom at the height of the pandemic when the whole world shut down five years ago. This episode traveled back to 2020, exploring how one of the most consequential years in America is still shaping the country.

An Honorable Profession: How Government Can Get Sh*t Done with Jennifer Pahlka

Trust in the government and elected officials has been at an all-time low in recent years. Guest Jennifer Pahlka, former deputy chief technology officer during the Obama administration, attributed the lack of trust to many factors, including inefficiency. If you're curious about ways to fix these problems, tune in!

FEATURED EXPERTS

The Great Battlfield: Jeff Jarvis on Journalism and the Political Crisis in the U.S.

Jeff Jarvis is a journalist, TV critic and author. He's a professor emeritus at City University of New York's Graduate School of Journalism and the creator of the blog BuzzMachine. His latest book, The Web We Weave, explores the history of the internet and how well-intentioned regulation might not be enough to fix misinformation on the web.

TPNR: McKay Coppins on Journalism, the Threats to Our Freedoms and the Power of Inquiry

McKay Coppins is an award-winning journalist and staff writer at The Atlantic. He's a frequent contributor to MSNBC and CNN. Coppins was one of Forbes' "30 under 30" media pundits in 2012. He is the New York Times bestselling author of Romney: A Reckoning, a biography of Mitt Romney published in 2023.