Nicola's Donuts and Democracy House Party

I feel like our country is on fire. Between ICE, the war in Iran, voter suppression threats, erosion of women’s rights, you know, ALL THE THINGS it just feels like ongoing daily trauma. And that’s for me, in a position of enormous privilege. 

I *want* to do something, but I look around and it’s so hard to know what can actually make a difference. I can call our reps, but they are already doing what they can. I can write postcards, but I write slowly and my hand gets sore so I can't do much. I can donate money to candidates, but it’s also hard to know who and whether that helps. 

In the midst of all that, I found an organization called Donuts + Democracy. It was mentioned in a comment on a Heather Cox Richardson post, as a way to help register young voters, and I immediately thought, that is something *I CAN DO*, and it makes a lot of sense. So I looked them up and donated some money. 

More recently I watched a webinar they ran and I donated more! Their model *works* and they have data to support what they’re doing. 

Here are some facts many people don't know:

• 47% of young Americans — 25 million eligible voters — are not registered to vote.

That's not a problem. That's an opportunity. Because here's the thing: when young

people register, they show up. 

• In 2020, 86% of registered young voters cast a ballot — and delivered a Democratic trifecta. 
• In 2025, young voters were the only age group to shift left, delivering decisive wins across the country.

The path to a 2026 Blue Wave runs right through college campuses. There are 18

million eligible young voters on college campuses across this country — and they are the most powerful, most under invested voting bloc in America.

So why aren't we winning them already? Two reasons:

1. Structural barriers — 45% of young non-voters in 2024 said they didn't know how to register, lacked information, time, or transportation. (The right has compounded this with voter suppression tactics targeting campuses directly.)
2. An enormous spending gap — the right has outspent the left 10-to-1 targeting young voters, pouring over $1.2 billion into youth outreach in the last 5 years alone.

Donuts + Democracy is closing that gap!!! 

For every $2 donated, they reach a young voter, get them registered, help them make a plan to vote, and make sure they know their voice matters.

Since their launching in October 2024, they have:

* engaged 120,000+ students

* supported 500+ events

* reached 150+ campuses across 23 states

* partnered with 100+ organizations. 

Now they want to scale. The 2026 goal: 250,000 young voters. 750+ events. 60+ competitive House, Senate, and statewide races.

Join me to hear how it all works on April 26, 7pm Eastern time and how you can be part of making it happen. RSVP here

Bring friends. Bring family. Bring your network. We will learn more about the org and hear from some of the students doing the work on campus. Bring a drink, and bring your optimism. We can do this!!!

 

With hope (and donuts),

Nic

 

To Learn more about Donuts + Democracy - check out

• D+D Impact Video
• D+D Website
• Why Invest In Young Voters Summary
• 2026 Target States Chart
• D+D Substack
• D+D Instagram (to see all their student events)

No Kings 3 Tips & Tools: Pre-Event Checklist

No Kings 3 Tips & Tools: Final Prep + Day-Of Checklist

Last week, we talked about creative resistance. For our final Tips & Tools, we’re bringing everything together with a quick, practical checklist for organizers and attendees. At this point, the goal isn’t more planning. It’s making sure your event runs smoothly, safely, and with strong visibility.

Final Prep (This Week)

• Make sure your team has completed at least one safety or marshal training (virtual or in-person). Check out our calendar for several online trainings this week. You can also view past trainings at NoKings.org. 
• Confirm roles: safety lead, peacekeepers, first aid team (if needed), press contact, photographer, and headcount tracker.
• Do a quick media check-in. Confirm who’s coming, resend your press release if needed.
• If you will have speakers, confirm attendance, gathering point, schedule, and time limits. Ensure your audio system is in good shape.
• Prep your visuals: signs, props, music, anything that adds energy and visibility.
• Prep handouts. This could include small flyers or preprinted business cards with a QR code or link to your organization's mailing list signup form. Many more folks may attend than have signed up via Mobilize. Make sure you capture and hold their interest!
• Connect with a service organization like a local food pantry with the event. Invite them to host an information/donation table.
• Some organizers also collect cash donations for local groups to show that No Kings is about caring for the community as much as protesting the Administration. Let attendees know you'll be collecting cash donations. Print QR codes that lead to the group's donations page for those who don't bring cash. Safety-pin these to the back of your coat for hands-free access.
• Set up Signal chats. You may want one just for safety marshals and a separate one for organizers. Or include everyone in the same chat if you're a small group.
• Finalize plans for carpooling if you plan to attend several events throughout the day.
• Send your final email to Mobilize signups with logistics, safety reminders, parking advice, ADA information, donation information, and tone (peaceful, welcoming).

Day-Of: Organizers

• Arrive early to set up any tables, tents, or other equipment.
• Do a quick team huddle to focus and energize.
• Confirm your Signal chat is up and running. Check in every 20 minutes or so to make sure everyone is paying attention.
• Make sure safety marshals are visible and positioned at strategic points. Remind them to focus on observing their surroundings and to check the Signal chat often.
• Greet media and help them get what they need.
• Greet speakers and ensure they remain close until they have spoken.
• Take photos and short videos to capture the energy. Before doing so, let folks know they should hold their signs in front of their faces if they don't wish to be visible.
• Distribute handouts so people can stay connected after the event.
• Keep messaging consistent: peaceful, welcoming, community-focused.
• Take a head count about halfway through the event, after latecomers arrive but before folks start drifting away. Thank people for coming and remind them how to stay involved

Day-Of: Attendees

• Dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes.
• Prep your phone. Consider basic privacy steps like turning off facial/fingerprint ID, limiting location services, and using airplane mode when possible. Make sure you can still access what you need (contacts, maps, emergency info) before the event.
• Bring water and any essentials you’ll need. Bring extras for folks who may have forgotten.
• Follow directions from safety marshals.
• Stay on sidewalks and out of the road. Cross streets only at crosswalks and pay careful attention. Drivers can be distracted by large crowds.
• Stay aware of your surroundings and support de-escalation. Remind folks to "smile and ignore" negative attention.
• Bring a sign, wear a fun costume, or just bring your positive energy!

One More Thing

Your event doesn’t need to be perfect. It needs to be visible, peaceful, and welcoming. When people see their neighbors showing up calmly and confidently, it builds momentum—and that’s what this is all about.

No Kings 3 Tips & Tools: Creative Resistance

No Kings 3 Tips & Tools: Building Joy, Fun, and Creativity into Our Resistance

Last week, we talked about safety planning. This week, we’re focusing on something just as important: bringing joy, humor, and creativity into our demonstrations.

Why Does Creative Resistance Matter?

Joyful protest sends a powerful message. It shows our neighbors that they are not alone and that it is safe to participate in peaceful civic action. It reminds people that standing up for democracy can be welcoming, hopeful, and community-building. 

Creativity also helps counter the narrative that protesters are angry, violent, or dangerous. When families show up with music, costumes, and laughter, it becomes very clear that we are ordinary people standing up for our communities. Humor can also take the wind out of the sails of those who show up looking to harass or intimidate.

Creative demonstrations also attract attention. Local and regional media outlets love a strong visual—costumes, music, playful signs, and unexpected moments that photograph well and tell a story. When your event is colorful and creative, it’s more likely to be shared by reporters, photographers, and on social media, helping your message travel beyond the people standing on the sidewalk that day.

Ideas for Creative Resistance

Across the country, communities are finding their own ways to express the spirit of creative resistance. There is no single formula. The goal is to let each town’s personality shine while keeping the focus on peaceful, positive visibility. Some creative ideas we’ve seen include:

• Costumes and visual themes. The frog costumes that started in Portland have now spread across the country. Other groups create themed outfits tied to local identity or humor.

• Bubble guns and playful visuals. In Holliston, bubble guns have become a signature element—turning a roadside standout into something joyful and memorable.

• Music and singing. Some demonstrations bring portable speakers or musicians and adapt well-known songs with protest lyrics. Sites like the Raging Grannies song archive share humorous, sing-along protest lyrics that groups often use.

• Creative signs. Funny or clever signs often get shared widely on social media and help a message travel far beyond the demonstration itself.

• Street theater and playful satire. Skits, mock ceremonies, or exaggerated characters can highlight the absurdity of harmful policies in ways that stick with people.

Balancing Creativity and Care

Humor can be a powerful organizing tool, but it also requires care. The goal is to mock the powerful institutions and decision-makers responsible for harm, not the communities that are suffering from it. Satire works best when it exposes hypocrisy or absurdity while keeping the moral focus clear. 

If you’re thinking about using humor or performance in your demonstration, these resources offer thoughtful guidance:

• The Museum of Protest: Humorous Skits and Pranks

• New Tactics: Using Humor to Expose the Ridiculous

At its best, joyful protest reminds people what we’re fighting for—not just what we’re fighting against. It turns a moment of resistance into a moment of community. And sometimes, a little laughter is exactly what helps people find the courage to show up.

No Kings 3 Safety Planning Tips

  

No Kings 3 Tips & Tools: Safety Planning

Last week, we shared tips for publicizing your event. This week, we're talking about safety. No Kings National takes safety seriously. Every event is required to designate a Safety Lead and complete a written Safety Plan.

Why? Because we are organizing in a tense political moment. Careful planning protects participants, prevents escalation, and ensures no one has an excuse to crack down on peaceful demonstrations. When we are calm and prepared, we show our communities that it is safe to lift up our voices.

Creating a Safety Plan

The Safety Plan template is available in the No Kings Host Toolkit and must be completed for every event. Plans will look different depending on your format and location, but at a high level, they include:

• Event overview (including primary safety concerns)
• Safety team (peacekeepers and safety lead roles and contact information)
• Support needs (medical, jail support if needed, press coordination)
• Communication (team communication plan and how you’ll communicate with attendees)
• Exit, dispersal, and emergency meeting point

All No Kings events are committed to lawful, nonviolent action, no civil disobedience, and no weapons of any kind.

Finding Safety Marshals & Volunteers

It can be challenging to find enough safety marshals, especially if you're not sure how many folks will attend. Some organizers estimate the need for 1 marshal per 50 attendees (for larger, more complicated events), or per 100 attendees (for brief, less complicated events). It can also help to plan for safety by zones. Think about where your event will take place. Think about potential safety choke-points, such as streets, crosswalks, public buildings, etc.

Before seeking safety support, come up with a brief statement of what a peacekeeper or safety marshal will need to do. For example, they must attend safety training prior to the event, provide their cell phone number and agree to be on Signal for the duration of the event, and focus on observing rather than holding signs or participating actively in the demonstration. 

To find volunteers, start by emailing your Mobilize list and asking directly. Then reach out to aligned local groups, such as Democratic Town Committees, Indivisible groups, diversity organizations, faith communities, and others. Ask each to provide 1–2 volunteers.

Training Opportunities

There are many virtual and in-person safety trainings. Recommend that your volunteers visit the No Kings training hub to view one or more past trainings and to find upcoming virtual sessions.

An in-person Safety Marshal Training is also being offered in Millis on March 11 from 6-9pm. This training will focus on site safety preparedness and practical de-escalation strategies for community demonstrations. Learn more and register here.

Strong organizing is safe organizing. When we prepare well, our message stays front and center, and our communities feel confident showing up. For more safety and de-escalation resources, check out our public Google folder, No Kings National Days of Action. It includes direct access to the No Kings Host Toolkit, a sample safety plan, and other tips and tools.

No Kings 3 Publicity Tips

 

No Kings 3 Tips & Tools: Getting the Word Out (Publicity Planning)

Last week, we shared tips about locking in your event date and time. Now it’s time to plan your publicity. Strong turnout doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because organizers treat outreach as part of organizing, not an afterthought.

Tip 1: Wait until your Mobilize link is live. Then use it everywhere.

Do not widely publicize your event until your Mobilize page is active. Once it is live, make that link the center of every message. Emails, Facebook posts, calendar listings, press releases, QR codes, business cards—everything should point to the same RSVP link.

Ask anyone helping you spread the word to use that exact link. This builds your attendee list, allows you to communicate updates quickly, and demonstrates momentum.

Tip 2: Plan your outreach in waves.

Think in phases rather than one big announcement.

• 4–6 weeks out: Save the date + basic details ("Plan ahead to join us!")
• 2–3 weeks out: Why this action matters ("Show up for our country and community!")
• 1 week out: Strong reminder, emphasizing peace ("Stand with your neighbors in positive, peaceful protest!")
• 48 hours out: Final push ("It's not too late to make your voice heard!")

Assign responsibility and set deadlines. Post to your organization's website, newsletter, and event calendar. Assign someone to contact the local press, using the press release templates provided in the No Kings 3 Host Toolkit. Post to local event calendars and social media pages. Make personal invitations. Clear roles prevent last-minute scrambling.

Tip 3: Be strategic about public postings.

Community Facebook pages and open event calendars can help with visibility, but they can also attract trolling or harmful backlash. If your community has experienced online harassment in the past, tread carefully. You may decide to prioritize trusted networks and direct outreach instead of broad public blasts.

Reach out directly to aligned groups in your town: diversity and inclusion groups, LGBTQ+ organizations, faith communities, immigrant justice advocates, senior centers, unions, and of course your local Democratic Town Committee. A personal email goes much further than a generic announcement. Ask these folks to promote your event, including the all-important Mobilize link.

Tip 4: Use local media wisely.

Send a short, clear press release to local news outlets 3-4 weeks in advance. Emphasize your commitment to nonviolent action and community safety. Include a contact name and phone number for follow-up. One thoughtful follow-up email is appropriate. Repeated chasing is not.

For more detailed information and sample language, check out our public Google folder, No Kings National Days of Action. It includes direct access to the No Kings Host Toolkit, a sample publicity plan, and official No Kings graphics (images, sign templates, official colors, and more).

Advocacy in Action: Your Guide to Protecting Civil Liberties in Massachusetts

Massachusetts is at a critical crossroads, and the actions taken on Beacon Hill this session will define the state’s commitment to civil liberties and the rule of law. It is time for all of us to reach out to our state legislators and urge them to take their cues from a comprehensive legislative agenda focused on protection, transparency, and justice.

When you call your State Senator and State Representative, ask them to prioritize the following three pillars and the critical PROTECT Act.

1. Build "Firewalls for Freedom"

Our state resources should never be weaponized against our own neighbors. We must urge legislators to support the Safe Communities Act (H.2580 / S.1681) and the Dignity Not Deportations Act (H.1588 / S.1122). These bills create essential firewalls between local governance and federal immigration overreach, ensuring that Massachusetts remains a place where everyone can access emergency services, schools, and courts without fear.

• Learn more about Firewalls for Freedom

2. Protect "Technology for Liberty"

In an era of rapid digital expansion, our privacy rights must keep pace. Legislators need to support bills like the Location Privacy Act and measures to curb face surveillance. Protecting our digital "papers and effects" from warrantless government access is a fundamental necessity for a free society.

• Explore the Technology for Liberty agenda

3. Strengthen "Democracy & Voting Rights"

The right to vote is the foundation of all other liberties. We are calling for the passage of the Voting Rights Act, which would remove barriers to the ballot box and ensure that every voice in the Commonwealth—particularly in historically marginalized communities—is heard and represented.

• View the Democracy & Voting Rights priorities

4. Pass the PROTECT Act (HD.5608)

The PROTECT Act (An Act promoting rule of law, oversight, trust, and equal constitutional treatment) is a broad and vital legislative package filed by the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus. This bill overlaps with and reinforces our civil rights priorities by:

• Prohibiting state and local officials from sharing personal information with ICE.

• Requiring transparency in law enforcement hiring to ensure officers align with standards of bias-free policing.

• Establishing a secure locator system so families can find detained loved ones.

• Read more about the PROTECT Act via the MIRA Coalition

Here is a concise script designed to be read at a natural pace, ensuring the legislative aide can accurately capture the bill numbers and your primary request.