ECONOMY

Trump Deploys National Guard to LA, Newsom Sues, Waymos Burn

Photo of Connecticut Digital News Connecticut Digital News4 days ago
13 minutes read

President Trump deploys National Guard and US Marines to California in support of ICE arrests. Governor Gavin Newsom files suit in opposition. Protestors burn Waymos.

Context & Strategy

The White House Marching Orders That Sparked the L.A. Migrant Crackdown Wall St Journal

…in late May, Stephen Miller, a top White House aide and the architect of the president’s immigration agenda, addressed a meeting at the headquarters of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE. The message was clear: The president, who promised to deport millions of immigrants living in the country illegally, wasn’t pleased. The agency had better step it up.

Gang members and violent criminals, what Trump called the “worst of the worst,” weren’t the sole target of deportations. Federal agents needed to “just go out there and arrest illegal aliens,” Miller told top ICE officials, who had come from across the U.S., according to people familiar with the meeting.

Agents didn’t need to develop target lists of immigrants suspected of being in the U.S. illegally, a longstanding practice, Miller said. Instead, he directed them to target Home Depot, where day laborers typically gather for hire, or 7-Eleven convenience stores. Miller bet that he and a handful of agents could go out on the streets of Washington, D.C., and arrest 30 people right away.

The Big Beautiful Bill Will Bring ICE Raids to Your City David Dayen, American Prospect

Because the mega-bill is primarily about extending the Trump tax cuts, and because the most politically salient pieces are about cutting Medicaid, not much attention has been given to the surge of money that will go to immigration enforcement from this bill. The House version provided $151.3 billion in additional resources for immigration agencies, and while the Senate Judiciary Committee has not yet released its text, the targets in their budget resolution would raise that number even higher.

A big chunk of this money (about one-third) goes to border wall construction. But even more goes toward detention and enforcement. The $45 billion earmarked for building new detention centers would represent a 364 percent annual increase to the construction budget, supercharging the detention beds available to at least 125,000. The entire federal prison system only holds a little bit more than that. Then, another $27 billion is plowed into enforcement and deportation, enough to hire 10,000 more ICE officers over the next five years.

Trump Sends In Troops

Presidential Memoranda June 7, 2025 Department of Defense Security for the Protection of Department of Homeland Security Functions

In light of these incidents and credible threats of continued violence, by the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby call into Federal service members and units of the National Guard under 10 U.S.C. 12406 to temporarily protect ICE and other United States Government personnel who are performing Federal functions, including the enforcement of Federal law, and to protect Federal property, at locations where protests against these functions are occurring or are likely to occur based on current threat assessments and planned operations.

Further, I direct and delegate actions as necessary for the Secretary of Defense to coordinate with the Governors of the States and the National Guard Bureau in identifying and ordering into Federal service the appropriate members and units of the National Guard under this authority.

The members and units of the National Guard called into Federal service shall be at least 2,000 National Guard personnel and the duration of duty shall be for 60 days or at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense.

In addition, the Secretary of Defense may employ any other members of the regular Armed Forces as necessary to augment and support the protection of Federal functions and property in any number determined appropriate in his discretion.

Donald J. Trump

USNORTHCOM statement on additional military personnel in the Los Angeles Area

U.S. Northern Command has activated the Marine infantry battalion that was placed in an alert status over the weekend. Approximately 700 Marines with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division will seamlessly integrate with the Title 10 forces under Task Force 51 who are protecting federal personnel and federal property in the greater Los Angeles area.

**UPDATE** As of today, June 9th 2025, there are approximately 1700 soldiers from the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, a California National Guard unit in a Title 10 status, in the greater Los Angeles Area.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testifies before House Defense Appropriations subcommittee

Acting Pentagon comptroller Bryn MacDonnell: “So the current estimated cost is $134 million which is largely just TDY cost, travel, housing, food, etc…. coming out of their O & M (Operations and Maintenance) accounts.

Rep. Pete Aguilar (D – CA): “With the most recent deployment of the Marines, Mr. Secretary, what’s the justification for using the military for civilian law enforcement purposes in LA? Why are you sending war fighters to cities to interact with civilians? Every American citizen deserves to live in a community that’s safe.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth: “Uh, and ICE agents need to be able to do their job. They’re being attacked for doing their job, which is deporting illegal criminals that should happen in any city, Minneapolis or Los Angeles, and if they’re attacked, that’s lawless and President Trump believes in law and order, so he has every authority and he has done mobilizing National Guard or active duty troops under US code to protect federal agents in their job.

Which is exactly what we’re doing and we’re proud to do it. We’re proud to do it. 10 USC of the US Code 12406 as a legal basis that the president used cites three examples, um, and circumstances for the guard, invasion by a foreign nation, a rebellion or dangerous rebellion against the authority of the government of the United States, or the president is unable with regular forces to execute the laws of the United States, which authority is triggered here to justify the use.

I don’t know. You just read it yourself and people can listen themselves, but it sounds like all three to me. If you’ve got millions of illegals and you don’t know where they’re coming from, they’re waving flags from foreign countries and assaulting police officers and law enforcement officers.

That’s the problem. The governor of California is unable to execute the laws of the United States. The governor of California has failed to protect his people along with the mayor of Los Angeles, and so President Trump has said he will protect our agents and our guard and Marines are proud to do so.”

Exclusive: DHS secretary sought military arrests and drones in Los Angeles in leaked letter San Francisco Chronicle

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to direct the military to detain or arrest “lawbreakers,” a move one expert called “a grave escalation.”

A letter sent Sunday from Noem to Hegseth, obtained by the Chronicle, requested that the Pentagon give “Direction to DoD forces to either detain, just as they would at any federal facility guarded by military, lawbreakers under Title 18 until they can be arrested and processed by federal law enforcement, or arrest them.”


Gavin Newsom’s Political Journey

Newsom called the Abrego Garcia deportation fight a ‘distraction.’ Then came the pushback Los Angeles Times April 21, 2025

‘Pod Save America’ Slams Gavin Newsom For Calling Man’s Mistaken Deportation A ‘Distraction’ Huffington Post April 18, 2025

Gavin Newsom praises congressman’s El Salvador trip after deportation controversy The Sacramento Bee April 25, 2025

Californians doubt Newsom is focusing on his day job, poll finds Politico May 7, 2025

Newsom Responds to Trump

Newsom-Trump truce explodes as president deploys troops against his wishes California Matters

(The) carefully calibrated truce, forged in the wake of January’s devastating wildfires across Los Angeles, appeared to implode over the weekend when Trump sent the California National Guard into the city against Newsom’s wishes to quell immigration enforcement protests.

Newsom’s furious, at times vitriolic, response — comparing Trump to a dictator and calling him a “stone cold liar” for supposedly misrepresenting a phone call between them — harkens back to the immediate aftermath of the November election, when the governor was poised to  assume national leadership in the resistance  to the second Trump administration. Just two days after Trump’s re-election, Newsom practically invited a confrontation with the president by  announcing a special legislative session to set aside funding for litigation against the federal government.

That provocation has come to fruition seven months later with troops in the streets and a pending court challenge to the president’s constitutional authority.

“Many of you called me out as, ‘It’s too extreme. Shouldn’t you be working with Donald Trump during his transition?’ when I called that special session,” Newsom told a reporter  during an interview Sunday night with Fox LA. “We knew something would happen. But I gotta say, I never expected Donald Trump to do this.”

Newsom has rallied Californians and his liberal base with his open defiance, even sending a fundraising email Sunday morning about the National Guard deployment. The posturing nevertheless puts both the governor and his state at increasing risk of reprisal.

Constitutional Crisis?

Trump suggests border czar should arrest Newsom CNN

Reporter: “Gavin Newsom is daring (White House Border Czar) Tom Homan to come and arrest him.

President Donald Trump: Did he do it? I would do it. Our job. I think it’s great that Gavin likes the publicity, but I think (arresting him) would be the right thing. He’s done a terrible job. Look, I like Gavin Newsom. He’s a nice guy, but he’s grossly incompetent.

Homan says Trump administration has “no intention to arrest” Newsom — after Trump says “I’d do it” CBS Evening News

…”border czar” Tom Homan told CBS News on Monday “there’s no intention to arrest” California Gov. Gavin Newsom, after President Trump suggested he was open to the idea — escalating a war of words over the protests and law enforcement response in Los Angeles.

“That whole thing’s been taken out of context,” Homan said. “They haven’t crossed a line yet … If you cross that line, I don’t care who they are — the governor, the mayor, whatever — and when you commit a crime against ICE officers, we will seek prosecution.”

Contending Narratives

The disparity btwn what’s actually happening in Los Angeles and the way it’s being mischaracterized is one of the biggest stress tests of modern media in recent memory. Botted socials, AI, old clips, declining literacy—it’s like seeing a broken emergency response system hit by a storm.

— Mina Kimes (@minakimes.bsky.social) Jun 10, 2025 at 4:57 PM

Statement from ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons on assaults against federal law enforcement officers in Los Angeles June 6

“What took place in Los Angeles yesterday was appalling. As rioters attacked federal ICE and law enforcement officers on the LA streets, Mayor Bass took the side of chaos and lawlessness over law enforcement.

“Our brave officers were vastly outnumbered, as over 1,000 rioters surrounded and attacked a federal building. It took over two hours for the Los Angeles Police Department to respond, despite being called multiple times. The brave men and women of ICE were in Los Angeles arresting criminal illegal aliens including gang members, drug traffickers and those with a history of assault, cruelty to children, domestic violence, robbery, and smuggling.

“These violent rioters will be held accountable if they harm federal officers, and make no mistake, ICE will continue to enforce our nation’s immigration laws and arrest criminal illegal aliens. Sanctuary politicians would do well to remember that impeding our efforts only endangers their communities, law enforcement officers, and the detainees they claim to support.”

Los Angeles Protests Amplified by Influencers and Online Creators New York Times

Outfitted with their own makeshift press helmets and vests, many creators — many of whom lean conservative — have livestreamed entire days of coverage and posted to social platforms like X and streaming sites like Twitch and YouTube. During some of the week’s most violent moments, Trump officials like Stephen Miller and billionaires like Elon Musk chose to amplify what the creators published, causing the posts to go viral and feeding the narrative that the violence has been out of control.

False Flags Ken Klippenstein

Channel 5, the gonzo-style show hosted by YouTuber Andrew Callaghan, sent a balaclava-donned correspondent to the streets to talk to the protesters.

“They’re terrorizing U.S. citizens,” one man said of law enforcement’s deployment of tear gas to disperse the protests. The clear emphasis on how this affects people in general — not just immigrants — surprised me.

Another protester, a black woman named Alex Walls from Louisiana, told CNN that the deportations were “disturbing” to children. “You’re separating people from their kids, families, and whatnot,” she said. “Ya’ll got kids don’t understand what’s going on, seeing this going on. It’s very disturbing.”

Others said explicitly that their motive was to impede the deportations, like Ron Gochez, who also told CNN: “ For every single minute that we were here resisting against the Border Patrol, that was time that they were not out deporting people in our community.”

2,000 LA anti-ICE rioters take over 101 Freeway downtown as self-driving cars are lit on fire in chaotic scene New York Post

Only a third of Americans are backing the LA protests over the ICE raids, poll finds The Independent

Around one in three Americans (36 percent) said they  approve of the protests  against Immigration and Customs Enforcement, compared to 45 percent who disapprove, a YouGov  poll of more than 4,200 U.S. adults found. Of those polled, 19 percent said they were not sure.

Test Case for Martial Law? What Trump Might Really Be Doing In Los Angeles. Steven Donziger

It’s virtually unheard of for a President to take over a state national guard — which is a reserve force of the US Army — without a formal request from the state’s Governor. Yet California Governor Gavin Newsom has condemned Trump’s move and is suing him over it. But if the Trump-Miller anti-immigrant crusade keeps going in the same direction, I believe Trump’s next step will be to try to invoke an obscure statute from 1807 called the Insurrection Act (see here for an explanation) to turn the actual US army into a policing force that can be unleashed against US citizens. This has long been on his authoritarian wish list. In my view, this easily could lead to martial law, curfews, and shoot to kill orders in certain neighborhoods. He’s already called for Governor Newsom’s arrest.

Trump is using federal law enforcement to try to create a spectacle of violence that can be used to justify turning the US military against the people.

Waymos

LAPD Publishes Crime Footage It Got From a Waymo Driverless Car404 Media

Waymo is rapidly expanding in Los Angeles; anecdotally, I see many Waymos driving around town every day, and the company just announced that the autonomous vehicles have expanded the geographic region in which they would operate in the city and that it would soon begin testing them on Los Angeles freeways. The proliferation of Waymo cars also means the proliferation of roving surveillance cameras. LAPD has shown an interest in obtaining footage from autonomous vehicles that operate in the city; last year we reported on a case in which the  LAPD obtained footage from an autonomous food delivery robot to investigate a crime. 

A Waymo spokesperson told 404 Media that it does not proactively give footage to police.

Why people are burning Waymos Taylor Lorenz

As police begin to leverage tech like Waymo cars, protesters are becoming more aware of the surveillance infrastructure being built into modern life. Many activists have called attention to the fact that social platforms, like Meta, have handed user data over to the police. (In 2022, Facebook handed the data of a mother and daughter facing criminal charges for allegedly carrying out an illegal abortion to law enforcement). And more of the public is becoming aware of tools like facial recognition software, that the police have begun to use heavily.

When I asked a few protesters on the ground yesterday why they thought the Waymos were burning, they told me that the cars “spy” on people and could be recording protest footage. We still don’t know who exactly set fire to the cars or why, but it’s clear that more people are perceiving Waymos as an extension of the police surveillance infrastructure.

Different Strategic Approaches

Heroes & Villians

Brian Wilson, June 20, 1942 – June 11, 2025

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Photo of Connecticut Digital News Connecticut Digital News4 days ago
13 minutes read
Photo of Connecticut Digital News

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