Following a series of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Los Angeles that led to more than 40 arrests, large protests broke out across the United States. 3a1i3k

The raids, which happened in several places, including the Fashion District and a Home Depot parking lot, caused tensions that grew worse over the weekend. In Los Angeles, the protests started peacefully but became more intense, leading to fights between protesters and police.

President Trump reacted to the unrest by sending thousands of National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines to Los Angeles. This decision was strongly criticized by California Governor Gavin Newsom, who called it reckless and disrespectful. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass shared her worries about the fear spreading among the city’s residents and asked for the raids to stop, pointing out how many immigrants live in Los Angeles.

The protests grew even stronger after David Huerta, the president of the Service Employees International Union of California (SEIU), was arrested during the Los Angeles raids. According to Newseek, his release later brought relief to many, but it did not slow down the protest movement. Organizers announced more demonstrations to keep pushing lawmakers for change. A nationwide protest is expected to happen in all 50 states on June 14, which is President Trump’s birthday, showing that opposition to the istration’s immigration policies is still strong and growing.

More states rising against ICE raids 45256d

Trump stood by his decision, saying that without the military presence, Los Angeles would have been destroyed. The events in Los Angeles sparked protests in many other cities across the country. Demonstrations took place in major cities like New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Tampa, San Francisco, and Austin. In New York City, at least 20 people were arrested during a protest at Trump Tower organized by the group Rise and Resist, which focused on the deportation of migrants to El Salvador.

Protesters stopped traffic on a major highway and damaged property while law enforcement used tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash-bang grenades to control the crowd. Thousands of people ed a peaceful gathering at City Hall, while others demonstrated outside a federal building that held a detention center. ICE officials denied any wrongdoing.

In Austin, Texas, police used tear gas and pepper spray to break up protests, leading to several arrests. In Chicago, protesters gathered in Daley Plaza and outside the Chicago Police Department headquarters, accusing the police of working with ICE. In Dallas, police fired pepper balls to stop a protest, resulting in more arrests. Similar protests, some larger and more intense than others, happened in Tampa, San Francisco, and Boston, showing nationwide anger over ICE’s actions and the government’s immigration policies.

The protests revealed deep disagreements about U.S. immigration policies and how they affect communities across the country. Protesters called for major changes to immigration laws and for ICE to be shut down, arguing that its enforcement methods are too harsh and unfairly target vulnerable groups. The demonstrations also brought attention to the bigger conflict between the federal government and local leaders over immigration enforcement, which has gotten worse under the Trump istration.

The second round of US-China tariff negotiations took place in London and ended with President Trump making what seemed to be significant concessions to China. This reflects the complicated nature and high stakes of the ongoing trade war. These talks followed a 90-day pause that was agreed upon in Geneva in May and mainly focused on the contentious issues surrounding rare earth minerals and high-tech exports.

The recent phone call between President Trump and President Xi Jinping marked an important moment. Initially, Trump characterized the conversation as a success, stating that Xi had agreed to resume rare earth mineral exports. However, this agreement seems to have come after the U.S. imposed tariffs while being somewhat unaware of the potential for Chinese responses, according to NPR.

The call also resulted in an invitation for the Trumps to visit China, which indicates a level of diplomatic engagement. However, analysts suggest that the way the Chinese government presented the call, emphasizing Xi’s role as the recipient of Trump’s call and the U.S.’s initiation of the Geneva talks, suggests a possible shift in the balance of power, with China appearing to have a stronger position.

Trump seems to be giving in to China k263q

The initial escalation of the trade war saw both sides imposing base tariffs exceeding 100 percent, which caused major disruptions in global trade. The Geneva agreement temporarily eased these tariffs, bringing them down to 30 percent for the U.S. and 10 percent for China, but many existing U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods remain.

A central issue in these negotiations has been China’s control over rare earth minerals, essential for various industries, especially in auto manufacturing. China’s near-monopoly on refining these minerals has allowed it to use its exports as a significant bargaining tool. After the U.S. imposed tariffs, China retaliated by limiting rare earth exports, which affected American companies that rely on these materials.

While China has shown a willingness to speed up the export process for businesses needing rare earths, it emphasizes that its export controls are based on domestic industrial requirements. This suggests that it is unlikely to loosen its strong grip on the global market.

As found by The Conversation, the official Chinese statement after the talk stated, “The Chinese side is sincere about this, and at the same time has its principles. The Chinese always honor and deliver what has been promised. Both sides should make good on the agreement reached in Geneva.”

The statement ended with, “The meeting in Geneva was very successful, and produced a good deal. The U.S. will work with China to execute the deal. The U.S. loves to have Chinese students coming to study in America.”

The differing interpretations of the Geneva agreement reveal a widening gap between the two nations. Trump seems to have a big issue in China while trying to deal with his issues in LA. If he keeps overextending himself, things may get much worse than a reported fall of MAGA.

Kindness is a resource that seems to be in short supply these days. Donald Trump and his party of bigots have gaslit many in the U.S. into thinking just like them and as such it feels like acts of comion have become rarer and rarer.

The U.S. is in a miserable condition at the moment as the president seems hellbent on sinking into authoritarianism. But despite this, good people are still out there and they’re defying Trump in the best way possible — with kindness.

La Ceiba Restaurante is an El Salvadorean establishment in Compton, much of the staff consist of immigrants to the U.S. Despite the violent clashes between anti-ICE protesters and the police in L.A. and other parts of California, the restaurant remained open and it’s just as well it did. 

Over the weekend, workers were filmed helping police deputies who had received minor injuries during the protests. Multiple armed police officers suffering from exposure to tear gas entered the establishment and were treated by staff who washed their eyes and tried to keep them cool by fanning them. They even provided the police with food.

Kindness in the face of Trump’s cruelty 734u5o

Donald Trump has been using ICE to terrorize and deport people without due process. While his ers will defend him and claim his policies focus on illegal immigrants, we’ve seen the Trump istration deport legal citizens a few times now. On top of that, the president has sought to end birthright citizenship before. Clearly this is an attack on anyone who isn’t a homegrown caucasian American.

Despite this, the workers and the owner of the restaurant did everything they could to help the police. La Ceiba Restaurante is run and owned by Elizabeth Mendoza, an immigrant from El Salvador. Speaking to KCAL News, Mendoza explained that she sympathized with the protesters as the ICE raids were affecting many of her customers.

“My kids, my husband, we’re okay. But I know a lot of people who came… They don’t have papers. They don’t have anything. But they want to work.”

She claims she kept her restaurant open to “help when the people need me.” This wasn’t just for the protesters as Mendoza would prove she was capable of extending her kindness to anybody. When asked why, Mendoza stated it wasn’t about siding with one or the other, she sees both the deputies and the protesters as her beloved customers.

The owners and workers at La Ceiba Restaurante have proven themselves to be much kinder and braver than Trump could ever hope to be. While the president divides the people of the U.S. people like ElIzabeth Mendoza prove that we can all get along despite our differences.

New Jersey’s primary election on Tuesday is set to be the most competitive and expensive in the state’s recent history, with both parties preparing for what analysts expect to be a close race in November. The election to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy has drawn significant attention as one of only two gubernatorial races this year.

The Republican primary features Jack Ciattarelli, who nearly unseated Murphy in 2021, facing off against former radio host Bill Spadea. On the Democratic side, six candidates are competing, including Rep. Mikie Sherrill, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller, and former state Senate President Steve Sweeney.

According to Politico, Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin, during his recent visit to the state, expressed optimism about the Democrats’ chances, stating that “there’s a lot of buyer’s remorse” regarding Trump, which “provides an opportunity to Democrats in this state to expand our coalition, bring people back into the fold who may have left us.” Martin’s comments follow recent polling showing a dip in Trump’s approval in New Jersey. 

Trump’s influence shapes primary dynamics 1z4s4p

Former President Donald Trump’s presence continues to loom large over both primaries, with Republican candidates Ciattarelli and Spadea engaging in ongoing disputes over their loyalty to the former president. Despite Trump’s endorsement of Ciattarelli, the competition has remained fierce, with Trump recently reaffirming his through a telerally and social media posts.

The race has attracted unprecedented financial investment, with candidates and independent expenditure groups collectively spending $120 million. This record-breaking spending is expected to increase further during the general election campaign.

This primary marks the first election without the traditional “county line” ballot layout, which historically gave party-backed candidates advantageous ballot positions. The new office-block format, common across the country, has created opportunities for candidates who lack traditional party to compete more effectively.

The outcome of Tuesday’s election could provide crucial insights into the broader political landscape, particularly regarding the Democratic Party’s direction. The success of either centrist candidates like Gottheimer and Sweeney or progressives such as Baraka and Fulop could indicate potential strategies for Democrats nationwide as they prepare for elections.

A growing divide has emerged within the Republican party as GOP hawks attempt to persuade former President Donald Trump to abandon diplomatic efforts with Iran and military action alongside Israel.

The private pressure campaign has sparked concerns among Trump’s allies, who are working to maintain the diplomatic course led by special envoy Steve Witkoff. Conservative figures, including talk show host Mark Levin, have been actively lobbying Trump to allow Israel to strike Iranian nuclear sites.

“Levin and Murdoch are all over Trump all the time. I actually think they hurt their case because I know Trump,” revealed a longtime Trump confidant. “Once he’s kind of made his mind up, you can come at him later from a different angle, but you keep pressing, he digs in.” Additionally, Trump recently said he believes there could be progress in Iran nuclear talks. 

Growing tensions between diplomatic efforts and calls for military action 4n68l

The situation has led to a coordinated defense of Trump and Witkoff’s diplomatic approach. After Levin’s recent White House meeting with Trump, Tucker Carlson publicly challenged Levin’s stance, stating there was no credible intelligence suggesting Iran was close to building a nuclear weapon.

MAGA loyalists have expressed concern over coverage from Rupert Murdoch’s media outlets, particularly the New York Post, which has criticized Witkoff’s diplomatic efforts. Some in Trump’s inner circle view these attacks as attempts to undermine the ongoing negotiations with Iran. JD Vance also criticised the way Trump’s foreign policy is often presented. 

The istration maintains its commitment to diplomacy, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that while Trump listens to various voices, he remains the final decision maker. The president has indicated his preference for a diplomatic solution while acknowledging other options if negotiations fail.

Currently, Witkoff is pursuing a proposal that would allow Iran to enrich uranium at low levels as part of a regional enrichment consortium. While Iran insists on maintaining domestic enrichment capabilities, Trump has established this as a red line in negotiations, leaving Witkoff to bridge the gap between these positions.

The debate reflects a broader split within the Republican Party regarding foreign policy. While traditional hawks view Witkoff’s diplomatic efforts skeptically, the more restrained wing of the party s reducing tensions with Tehran. This division has become particularly apparent as Trump continues to prioritize diplomacy over military action, despite pressure from traditional allies like Israel.

The United States Marine Corps is an expeditionary force primarily designed for combat, so it’s a dark day for the nation when they’re deployed by Donald Trump against ordinary Americans. Marines being deployed on U.S. soil isn’t unheard of, but in recent history they’re generally tasked with disaster relief in the wake of natural disasters.

That means Trump mobilizing 700 marines onto the streets of Los Angeles to battle civilians is yet more proof that America is in deep trouble. Even the LAPD has sounded a note of extreme caution over the arrival of the Marines, saying that they’re not coordinated with police movements and so represent a “significant logistical and operational challenge”.

California Governor Gavin Newsom is horrified at Washington effectively declaring war on California with a military incursion. Taking to X, he praised the Marines as serving a “valuable purpose” to the country but underlined that “they are not political pawns.”

U.S. Marines serve a valuable purpose for this country — defending democracy. They are not political pawns.

The Secretary of Defense is illegally deploying them onto American streets so Trump can have a talking point at his parade this weekend.

It’s a blatant abuse of power.…

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 10, 2025

Newsom argues that: “The Secretary of Defense is illegally deploying them onto American streets so Trump can have a talking point at his parade this weekend. It’s a blatant abuse of power. We will sue to stop this. The Courts and Congress must act. Checks and balances are crumbling. This is a red line — and they’re crossing it. WAKE UP!”

Provoke and violently respond 1g6368

It’s fairly clear what Trump is trying to do, and Newsom called it out in a statement. The ICE raids that snatched away people’s friends, family, and co-workers were intentionally aggressive and violent, designed to inflame existing tensions against ICE. They knew protests would erupt and, as Newsom explained, the aim was to intentionally cause chaos on the streets.

A few agent provocateurs in the crowd, a bit of property damage, and Trump has his justification to send in the military to stamp out the disobedience. Other states will be nervously watching as California becomes an explicit warning of what’ll happen to any state that dares to stand against the Trump regime.

Trump is creating civil war in the US

Deliberate creation of a situation whereby he can deploy the National Guard (and has)

Then declare martial law

Then kill Americans

MAGA : this is what you wanted

Enjoy. pic.twitter.com/GgnxpwaqqW

— Stop The Bollocks with Mirabel (@MirabelTweets1) June 8, 2025

Many on social media say these events sound like the beginning of a second civil war. Ordinarily, talk like that is overly dramatic, but with Trump unleashing the Marines on the residents of Los Angeles, who knows?

Donald Trump’s decision to bring in the National Guard to quell the protests in L.A. have been criticized by people across the country. While he may try to justify it, Trump’s own words from five years ago have come back to haunt him.

A viral video from sometime around 2020 shows Trump answering questions about restoring law and order to the country. Responding to the interviewer Trump triumphantly claimed that he had restored order, “except in Democrat run cities.” 

The National Guard was deployed in L.A. over the weekend, a move which has been branded as “dangerous” by experts. The decision was made in response to anti-ICE protests which had erupted across the city. According to Donald of the past, he could not do anything as he was unable to call in the National Guard unless the local governor had specifically asked him to.

“We have laws, we have to go by the laws. We can’t move in the National Guard, I can call insurrection but there’s no reason to ever do that even in the Portland case. We can’t call in the National Guard unless we’re requested by a governor.”

So it seems Trump was well aware of the law and more than happy to follow it back then. But the current Donald would never let something as insignificant as the law get in his way. Despite California governor Gavin Newsom making it clear that he did not give approval for the National Guard to be sent to L.A., Trump has done so anyway.

Donald Trump has commandeered the National Guard 301o6b

Newsom accused the president of commandeering the National Guard, calling it “illegal and immoral.” The California governor also vowed to sue Trump while the president has threatened to have him arrested.

Of course Trump likely doesn’t care for what the law says. He probably doesn’t even care for what he said five years ago either. He’s shown multiple times that he lacks principles and integrity and the worst part is people will defend this behavior. Trump hid behind the law as an excuse for his actions back in 2020 because it suited him then. Now that the law no longer serves his purpose he’s happy to cast it aside.

On X many called out the president’s current involvement in the L.A. protests. One indvidual called out the president for being a hypocrite, but that’s not exactly a surprise for Donald Trump any more. 

Even Bernie Sanders chimed in as he offered a grave warning claiming that Trump’s deployment of the National Guard “is about expanding his never-ending grasp for more power. It is about moving this country toward authoritarianism.”

Ultimately it seems as though Trump is knowingly ignoring the laws. The interview from 2020 proves that he is aware that what he’s doing is a gross misuse of his power, and yet he’s doing it anyway.

We’re guessing that the of the National Guard and Marine Corps have conflicting feelings about being ordered to wage war on American citizens. They signed up to protect their country, and here they are, strolling down the streets of Los Angeles with the ‘enemy’, their fellow Americans.

But this is precisely what Donald Trump wants, and he’s using military force against ordinary citizens as a show of power: this is what will happen to you if you resist your friends, family, and co-workers being suddenly snatched by masked ICE goons in tactical gear.

As you might imagine, California Governor Gavin Newsom is furious that the President has ordered troops onto his streets and has already vowed to launch legal action defending the principle of states’ rights. It should be underlined that the President ordering troops onto domestic streets is extraordinarily rare, with the last time way back in 1965 when LBJ used them to protect civil rights marches.

Logistical failure 4w4734

But, as with all things to do with the Trump istration, they talk a big game but always forget about the details. In this instance, nobody considered where 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines would be quartered in Los Angeles. After all, the Third Amendment of the Constitution expressly forbids “the quartering of soldiers in private homes without the owner’s consent”.

You sent your troops here without fuel, food, water or a place to sleep.

Here they are — being forced to sleep on the floor, piled on top of one another.

If anyone is treating our troops disrespectfully, it is you @realDonaldTrump. https://t.co/4i8VIiYZLr pic.twitter.com/sUYD2KHu6O

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 9, 2025

All of which is why Trump’s troops are curled up in a dank and dingy warehouse with no amenities and forced to sleep on a damp concrete floor. Newsom highlighted this shabby treatment on X: saying “You sent your troops here without fuel, food, water or a place to sleep” and that “If anyone is treating our troops disrespectfully,” it’s Donald Trump.

Tellingly, MAGA’s defence is that this is normal for soldiers “at war”. So, I guess there you have it, Trump is now at war with the state of California, a conflict he is intentionally escalating and provoking. When the dust settles, the message to ordinary Americans will be clear: dissent against the Trump regime will not be tolerated, and if there is any other mass protest against him, expect it to end with citizens staring down the barrel of a soldier’s rifle.

The next flashpoint will be his multi-million-dollar North Korea-style birthday parade this coming weekend. Protests are expected, but at this point, we wouldn’t be surprised if soldiers attacked those involved, arrested en masse, and tossed them into some extrajudicial hellhole.

Elon Musk is gradually discovering that in his bitter feud with Donald Trump, he is truly alone, as all the so-called allies he earned by funding the president’s campaign and augmenting his MAGA principles evaporated the second he dared to bash their leader. And clearly, power can beat even blood, as the billionaire’s father has chosen to ditch his son as well.

There is no love lost between Errol Musk and his son. Elon has described his father, on many occasions and in many colorful words, as a “terrible human being” and someone who is “evil.” As for Errol, he has always been painfully critical of his son, even telling an Australian radio station in 2022 that he wasn’t proud of Elon and said he “needs to take a weight loss pill.”

Evidently, he has no plans of ever quitting insulting his son with his cutting, public remarks.

So far, Trump and Elon’s bickering match has only managed to make a mockery of America, with even Russia making fun of the fight and offering everything from asylum to the billionaire to brokering a peace deal. And just like Russia, which believes that Trump will beat Musk in this battle and force the Tesla CEO to seek asylum, Musk’s father also believes that his son will lose this fight.

During a political conference in Moscow, Errol claimed his son was “PTSD from the White House” and added that it was stress that made Elon go against Trump, who will rise as the victor in their petty tantrum battle.

“Trump will prevail – he’s the president, he was elected as the president. So, you know, Elon made a mistake, I think. But he is tired, he is stressed.”

Seemingly an avid fan of Trump – and Putin, whom he called a “very stable and pleasant man” being maligned by Western media – Errol went on to double down on painting a picture where Elon was unstable, given the months of stress he handled to keep Trump’s campaign alive and then running DOGE. “They are very tired and stressed, so you can expect something like this,” he added.

But he believes that the feud between Elon and Trump is very “small” and would be “over tomorrow.”

Well, that’s debatable. 

Since the drama started – with Musk openly and brashly thrashing Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” – it has only escalated, with the former going so far as to accuse the president of being in the controversial Epstein files. In retaliation, the POTUS has threatened to put a stop to U.S. government contracts with the likes of Tesla and SpaceX.

How will their bromance bounce back from something like this? It might. After all, stranger things have happened in America. Trump became the president of America, didn’t he?

Barbra Streisand never holds back when it comes to calling Trump out for his antics.

And this time, she’s done it again, setting the internet ablaze with one deliciously simple social media post. It’s the kind of statement that makes Trump’s fanbase squirm because, deep down, they know she’s right. While they’re busy shouting about “freedom” and “patriotism” at rallies, their guy is out there cozying up to authoritarian regimes, undermining allies, and treating the rule of law like a suggestion.

Last week, Ukraine pulled off one of its most daring operations yet: a large-scale drone attack that targeted Russian military airfields. Dubbed “Spiderweb,” the operation damaged or destroyed 41 Russian aircraft, including bombers and radar planes, and caused an estimated $7 billion in damages. It was a bold, strategic move that showcased Ukraine’s resilience and ingenuity. Trump dismissed the country’s chances weeks ago, claiming, “Ukraine doesn’t have the cards.”

As Ukraine fights for its survival, Russia responded to the “Spiderweb” attack with overwhelming force, launching a record 479 drones in a single night. The scale of the retaliation is staggering, and it’s a brutal reminder of the stakes in this war. But where’s Trump in all this? Too busy playing dictator-in-training back in the U.S. to care about defending democracy abroad.

This week, Los Angeles became a battlefield as thousands of protesters took to the streets, furious over what many see as Trump’s latest crackdown on immigrant communities. And Trump’s response? Did he meet with local leaders? Address the root causes of the unrest? Of course not. Instead, he decided to by California’s governor entirely and deploy the National Guard, invoking a rarely used federal provision that basically screams, “I don’t care about your state’s autonomy.”

For context, the last time a president pulled this stunt was in 1965, when Lyndon B. Johnson sent troops to Alabama—not to crush protests, but to protect civil rights activists. Trump’s version is the polar opposite: using federal power to shut down dissent. Whether it’s deploying troops to suppress protests, dismissing the struggles of a democratic ally, or spreading conspiracy theories about elections, Trump’s actions consistently reveal a disdain for democratic principles.

Some might dismiss Streisand’s tweet as just another celebrity opinion, but that would be missing the point. Streisand’s voice matters because she’s saying what so many people are thinking but might be too afraid to say. She’s calling out the absurdity of Trump’s actions with a clarity and directness that cuts through the noise.

While Donald Trump’s political strategy seems to involve shouting at Elon Musk and cosplaying as a tinpot dictator in California, the real threat to his 2024 victory might be bubbling up in an unlikely place: Rockland County, New York.

Yes, Rockland County—the leafy Hudson Valley suburb known for commuter trains and cranky school board meetings—has now become the unexpected epicenter of a brewing electoral mess that could unravel the myth of Trump’s suburban resurgence.

The billionaire beef and banana republic vibes 1k6q2j

But first, the circus: Trump is currently trading barbs with Musk like it’s a high school slap fight. Musk slammed Trump’s spending plan as a disaster, and Trump, naturally, threatened to yank Tesla’s subsidies. It only escalated from there. Meanwhile, over in California, the former president sent National Guard troops into Los Angeles without so much as a “Yo, Gov”—prompting Gavin Newsom to sue and declare Trump’s move “dictator-ish.”

If you thought this was a normal day in Trump World, congratulations—you’re paying attention.

Meanwhile, in Rockland: recount roulette 2s1e5h

But while Trump is playing cable-news dictator, Rockland County could upend Trump’s presidency—and not through punditry, but through something way scarier to him: math.

A lawsuit filed by the election watchdog group SMART Legislation is demanding a full hand recount of the 2024 presidential and U.S. Senate ballots in Rockland. Why? Because, in several districts, machines counted votes for Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand but somehow zero for Kamala Harris. Either Harris became wildly unpopular in certain ZIP codes, or something went sideways in tabulation.

It gets juicier: Independent Senate candidate Diane Sare claims more people swore under oath that they voted for her than the number of votes officially counted. Add that to the voter affidavits alleging their ballots were ignored, and you’ve got what smells like a bipartisan recount disaster—and possibly a very awkward audit.

A judge isn’t laughing it off, either. On June 6, New York Supreme Court Justice Rachel Tanguay refused to toss the case. Instead, it’s heading to discovery, where election officials may soon enjoy the legal version of a full-body search: depositions, document dumps, the works.

The next court hearing is set for September 22, 2025—so circle your calendar, or at least keep your popcorn warm.

Why this matters (Spoiler: a lot) 434i4y

Rockland wasn’t just any blue-to-red flip in 2024—it was Trump’s strongest showing in New York since the Reagan era. If a full recount reveals that ballots were miscounted or ignored, it could trigger recount demands in similar suburban districts across the country. That’s how Rockland County could upend Trump presidency—not with a bang, but with a very nerdy, very legal paper cut.

So while Trump is busy lobbing threats at billionaires and acting like California is his private war zone, Rockland County might quietly become the crack in the dam.

And if the vote count really is off? That tantrum in Sacramento might be nothing compared to the one we’ll see at Mar-a-Lago.

Donald Trump has once again reminded us that he’s not here to play by the rules, and honestly, are we even surprised anymore?

This time, he’s taken his “law and order” shtick to a whole new level, sending National Guard troops into Los Angeles without so much as a courtesy call to California’s governor. And why? Because people are protesting his immigration crackdown. Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, known for her sharp rhetoric and no-nonsense commentary, took to the social media platform X to break down what she sees as a calculated series of events.

For three nights straight, downtown LA has been a battleground. Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets, furious over what they see as a brutal and inhumane campaign targeting immigrant communities. By Sunday night, tear gas was in the air, rubber bullets were flying, and the city was left smoldering.

Here’s the thing: deploying the National Guard into a state without the governor’s consent is not normal. In fact, it’s so not normal that it hasn’t happened since 1965, when Lyndon B. Johnson sent troops to Alabama during the civil rights movement. But let’s be clear: those troops were sent to protect civil rights activists and enforce desegregation. Trump’s move? It’s the opposite.

Invoking a rarely used federal provision, Trump claimed there was a “rebellion or danger of rebellion” against the government. Translation: protests against his policies are inconvenient, so he’s sending in troops to shut them down. Governor Newsom isn’t having it. He went on MSNBC to declare Trump’s actions illegal, immoral, and unconstitutional, and he’s filing a lawsuit to back that up. Newsom also pointed out that this isn’t about keeping the peace. It’s about stoking chaos. Trump thrives on disorder—it gives him an excuse to play the strongman, to paint himself as the savior of a nation he’s actively destabilizing.

While Trump rants on Truth Social about “thugs” and demands mass arrests, real people are living in fear. Immigrant communities in California are already on edge, thanks to an uptick in deportations and ICE raids. Now, they’re watching their neighborhoods turn into militarized zones. So yeah, Crockett was right to sound the alarm. And if we’re not careful, this playbook could become the new normal. That’s the scariest part of all.