Duration: 8 min

Hosts: Zongnan & Aiwei

Producer: Liu Chang

📍 Los Angeles is on edge, again. After aggressive ICE raids sparked citywide protests, President Trump deployed the National Guard without state approval. Protesters threw bricks. Marines were put on standby. And Governor Gavin Newsom fired back.

In this episode, Zongnan and Aiwei unpack a dramatic standoff between federal force and local resistance, and what it tells us about Trump’s strategy, America’s immigration wars, and the military’s role in civil unrest.

🕒 Highlights

00:00 – Intro: What makes this LA protest different?

This is the first time the National Guard has been activated without a governor’s request since 1965…

00:29 – The protest turns violent

• ICE launched mass raids across Los Angeles starting June 6
• Protesters blocked highways and clashed with police
• Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass condemned the raids
• Fireworks, concrete, and tear gas exchanged in the streets
• Trump deploys 2,000 National Guard troops on June 7, then 2,000 more on June 9

01:49 – Trump’s quote on using the Insurrection Act:

“Dependent on whether or not this is an insurrection… but you have violent people, and we are not letting them get away with it.”

02:11 – ICE and Trump’s immigration agenda

• 3,000 daily arrest goal
• Workplace raids and legal status rollbacks
• YouTube comments cheer: “Fly the Mexico flag in Mexico.”

03:41 – Is it constitutional to federalize the Guard like this?

• National Guard is normally under governor control
• Newsom calls Trump’s move illegal and immoral

Quote: Gov. Gavin Newsom

“Resend the order. It’s illegal and unconstitutional… You’re putting real people’s lives at risk. It’s time for you to be a commander of the United States of America.”

05:13 – Is this part of Trump’s political playbook?

“The cycle of protest, violence and repression often benefits the right.” – The Economist

• Crackdowns provoke protests, which justify military response
• A way to assert dominance over Democratic-led cities

06:03 – Military pushback

• Former U.S. Army North Commander Jeffrey Buchanan:

“The military’s ultimate loyalty is to our Constitution, not to a particular leader.”

• A $45 million military parade is scheduled for June 14 -- Trump’s 79th birthday

Coincidence?

07:20 – Revenge mode?

• Trump lost LA County, now sends troops in
• Pardoned Jan. 6 rioters, now cracks down on protestors

07:45 – Will tensions cool?

Not yet. Not while the streets still smoke and political flames are fanned from above.