Duration: 8 min
Hosts: Zongnan & Aiwei
Producer: Liu Chang
đź“Ť 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.
đź•’ 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
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
03:41 – Is it constitutional to federalize the Guard like this?
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
06:03 – Military pushback
“The military’s ultimate loyalty is to our Constitution, not to a particular leader.”
Coincidence?
07:20 – Revenge mode?
07:45 – Will tensions cool?
Not yet. Not while the streets still smoke and political flames are fanned from above.