LIVE – Updated at 13:11
Donald Trump has maintained temporary control of the National Guard in Los Angeles , an appeals court has ruled, in a major blow to California Governor Gavin Newsom .
The late-night decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals came swiftly after a U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled that Trump’s action was “illegal” and violated the Tenth Amendment, stating the president must return control of 4,000 troops to Newsom .
Before the ruling, the military said that by Friday evening, a battalion of 700 Marines is expected to join the National Guard in LA to protect ICE agents conducting immigration raids.
After a week of unrest , more protests against the Trump administration's ongoing workplace raids erupted in LA and across the nation, which are expected to continue through the weekend, aligning with the president’s birthday parade.
Meanwhile, LA Mayor Karen Bass enforced a third consecutive curfew in the downtown area, which is expected to continue for “a few more days.”
Key Points
- Trump maintains control of National Guard in LA – for now
- Judge ordered Trump to return troops to Newsom. An appeals court blocked the ruling
- Newsom slams senator's removal from Kristi Noem's LA news conference: 'A disgrace'
- Mayor Karen Bass places Angelenos under third night of curfew
- Marines will arrive in LA tonight, military says
Calls grow for Kristi Noem to resign in the wake of Padilla incident
12:32 , James LiddellHomeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is facing calls to resign after California Democratic Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed from her press conference in Los Angeles on Thursday and pinned to the floor.
Noem was speaking in the California city after a week of unrest that has seen residents rise up to protest raids on undocumented migrants by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, prompting President Donald Trump to send in 4,000 members of the National Guard and 700 Marines despite the objections of Gov. Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass.
“We are not going away,” Noem declared at the event. “We are staying here to liberate the city from the socialists and the burdensome leadership that this governor and that this mayor have placed on this country and what they have tried to insert into the city.”
Joe Sommerlad has more:
Calls grow for Kristi Noem to resign in the wake of Padilla incident
Mapped: the 40 cities where anti-ICE protests have erupted
12:12 , James LiddellLos Angeles remains the epicenter of unrest after protests erupted in the wake of a string of raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Friday.
Now, demonstrations have been sparked across the country, with dozens reported in at least 23 states since Friday.
After a week of protest, The Independent has identified anti-ICE protests in at least 40 U.S. cities since Friday. Our map below details where the anti-ICE protests have taken place:
Mapped: the 40 cities where anti-ICE protests have erupted across the US
1,900 'No Kings' protests across 50 states set for Trump's birthday
11:51 , James LiddellAfter dozens of flare-ups over the past week, the U.S. is bracing for a full conflagration.
To mark Donald Trump’s 79th birthday, protestors across the nation will take to the streets and join “No Kings” rallies in what is expected to be the largest single-day anti-Trump protest since his return to office.
About 1,900 rallies across 1,800 cities and all 50 states will coincide with a D.C. parade for the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary, which critics have billed as an extravagant birthday bash for Trump.
The “No Kings” protests against the president’s perceived authoritarianism are due to unfold against the backdrop of sweeping anti-immigration raids carried out by the Trump administration.
“No Kings is a nationwide day of defiance,” organizers wrote. “From city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, we're taking action to reject authoritarianism.”
The scheduled action even provoked a response from Trump himself, who wrote on Truth Social earlier this week that “those people that want to protest, they're going to be met with very big force.”
Trump revels in appeals court decision: 'We saved L.A.'
11:30 , James LiddellDonald Trump has praised the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for its decision that the president maintain temporary control of the National Guard in Los Angeles, in a major blow to California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The ruling came after a federal judge ruled that Trump’s military mobilization was “illegal” and that the president must return control of 4,000 troops to Newsom.
“The Appeals Court ruled last night that I can use the National Guard to keep our cities, in this case Los Angeles, safe,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“If I didn’t send the Military into Los Angeles, that city would be burning to the ground right now. We saved L.A. Thank you for the Decision!!!”
Fourth straight day of protest in Anchorage: 'ICE out of Alaska!'
11:16 , James LiddellA group demonstrated for a fourth consecutive day outside the Anchorage Correctional Complex, where ICE detained 39 people.
Shouting through a megaphone towards the front doors of the facility, one protester cried: “ICE out of Anchorage, ICE out of Alaska!”
Voices: Has Gavin Newsom got what it takes to challenge Trump?
10:55 , James LiddellSixty years is a very, very long time in fast-moving US politics. But that is how long ago it is since a U.S. president ordered the National Guard into a state without a request from the state governor.
The line between federal and state-level law enforcement is one of the many very clear demarcations of authority in the U.S. federal system. It is another hallowed line that Donald Trump has crossed.
One immediate effect has undoubtedly been to propel California Governor Gavin Newsom into the limelight again as a leader of the state-level opposition to Trump, as he became in Trump’s first term. And it has to be said that the Democrats are in sore need of such leadership.
Columnist Mary Dejevsky has more:
Has Gavin Newsom got what it takes to challenge Trump?
In pictures: Border patrol agents and protestors clash in LA
10:32 , James Liddell
Chicago protestors: 'Donald Trump, you’re a clown. Immigrants will take you down'
10:11 , James LiddellProtests against Donald Trump’s immigration raids continued for another day Thursday in Chicago, Illinois, with hundreds of demonstrators displaying signs and chanting through the streets
According to the Chicago Tribune , one group at Michigan Avenue began chanting: “Donald Trump, you’re a clown. Immigrants will take you down.”
Another protester added: “Trump forgot that Chicago fights back.”
Activists reported a wave of arrests around the city, including at immigration court.
Marines will arrive in LA tonight, military says
09:51 , James LiddellFive days after Trump vowed to deploy an elusive battalion of U.S. Marines, the military said about 700 troops will be on the ground in Los Angeles by Friday evening.
The Marines are believed to be currently stationed in a naval base south of LA.
The announcement came before an appeals court ruled that the president can maintain temporary control of the National Guard, instead of passing back the reins to California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The Marines are expected to join thousands of National Guard troops to protect ICE agents conducting immigration raids.
'It was a disgrace': Newsom condemns treatment of Sen. Alex Padilla
09:30 , James LiddellCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom has said it was a “disgrace” that California Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed and handcuffed at Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s press conference on Thursday.
“I hope we look at what happened to Senator Padilla, not through the blue or red lens, but through your own set of eyes. And just tell me that is right.” Newsom told reporters on Thursday evening.
“Anyone who knows Alex Padilla knows one thing about Alex Padilla: he is one of the most mild-mannered, decent people you’ll meet.”
“I thought it was a disgrace,” Newsom sternly added, punctuated with a finger point.
Justice department orders prosecutors to prioritise cases of protestors
09:10 , Vishwam SankaranThe U.S. Justice Department has ordered federal prosecutors to prioritise the cases of detained protestors who destroyed property.
An email from the DoJ sent to 93 U.S. attorneys urged prosecutors to ensure every case they bring gets publicized, Reuters reported.
"Push out press releases whenever you file charges in these matters. We will not stop enforcing the law, and we will not be deterred from keeping our districts safe," associate deputy attorney general Aakash Singh said in the email.
Sen. Padilla breaks silence after being forcibly removed from Noem’s presser
09:00 , James LiddellCalifornia Senator Alex Padilla has spoken out after being handcuffed and forcibly removed from a press conference held by the Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday.
Democrats expressed outrage after a video surfaced of Padilla being manhandled towards the exit after attempting to ask Noem a question concerning the Trump administration’s aggressive tactics to quell anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles.
Late Thursday evening, Padilla took to X to reflect on the incident.
Padilla said he was in the Los Angeles Federal Building for a meeting with representatives of Northern Command over Trump’s “unacceptable escalation of tension” concerning the demonstrations in the city. He then realized that Noem was speaking to reporters “just down the hall.”
He added that the DHS has continued to “increase the cruelty and the extremism” of its immigration operations.
Padilla said he was chaperoned to Noem’s presser by FBI agents and National Guard troops, before he had the “audacity” to ask a question.
“It took all of maybe a second for multiple agents to forcibly remove me from the room to pin me on the ground and handcuff me,” he said. “If they’re willing to do that to me, a United States Senator, with a question… what are they doing to a lot of the folks that are out there when the cameras are not on?”
Angelenos experience third night of curfew
08:50 , James LiddellLA Mayor Karen Bass enforced a third consecutive curfew in the downtown area, which is expected to continue for “a few more days.”
It was imposed at 8 p.m. local time last night and will remain in place until 6 a.m.
NAACP condemns removal of senator from press conference
08:30 , Vishwam SankaranThe National Association for the Advancement of Colored People condemned the eviction of senator Alex Padilla from a press conference hosted by the homeland security secretary after he raised questions about the ongoing anti-immigration raids in Los Angeles.
"The forceful removal of Senator Padilla is a violation of the duties and oversight function of a sitting US senator within his own state and is a complete breach of the separation of powers," the human rights organisation's president, Derrick Johnson, said.
"It's becoming increasingly clear that the people of this nation, including our elected officials, are not safe from Trump's authoritarian regime," Johnson said, thanking Mr Padilla for "taking a stand in the face of authoritarianism".
Homeland Security vows to carry on immigration crackdown
08:00 , Vishwam SankaranHomeland Security secretary Kristi Noem said the agency would continue its immigration crackdown across the US despite continued waves of protests against its officers spreading across the country.
Ms Noem said the immigration raids would continue with agents pursuing thousands of targets.
“This is only going to continue until we have peace on the streets of Los Angeles,” she said on Thursday. (edited)
Cities where anti-ICE protests have erupted mapped
07:30 , Vishwam SankaranThe Los Angeles anti-ICE protests have led to demonstrations erupting across at least 21 US states, including nearly 40 cities, The Independent has learned.
So far, there have been at least 565 arrests at these protests. mainly in LA.
Marches have also taken place in Eugene, Raleigh, St. Louis, San Antonio, Indianapolis, and Seattle this week.
You can read more on the protests across US cities here
Mapped: the 37 cities where anti-ICE protests have erupted across the US
LA protests flare as US cities brace for weekend 'No Kings' rally
07:00 , Vishwam SankaranFollowing several days of protests against immigration raids in Los Angeles, opponents of president Donald Trump’s administration are set to rally in hundreds across several US cities on Saturday, coinciding with the president's 79th birthday.
Organisers say the “No Kings” protests are planned across nearly 2,000 locations in the US coinciding with the president's military parade in Washington to mark the Army’s 250th anniversary.
The protest is organised by a US national movement "50501" which claims to stand for democracy. The name 50501 stands for one movement of 50 protests across 50 states.
“They’ve defied our courts, deported Americans, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights, and slashed our services,” the group says on its website, referring to the Trump administration.
Trump 'can't push this state any longer', Newsom says
06:30 , Vishwam SankaranCalifornia governor Gavin Newsom said Donald Trump “can’t push this state any longer” after a federal judge declared the president's deployment of the National Guard unlawful.
“Today’s order makes clear that he is not above or beyond constitutional constraints,” Mr Newsom said at a press conference after the court issued its order.
“Today was really about a test of democracy and today, we passed that test."
Morale among California National Guard and Marines deployed in LA is underwater, report claims
06:00 , Rachel DobkinThe 4,000 California National Guard troops and 700 US Marines sent to Los Angeles in response to the ongoing anti-immigration raid protests are reportedly suffering from low morale, according to members of the veterans community, amid allegations of a chaotic initial deployment and widespread concerns of the military being drafted into domestic law enforcement.
“Among all that I spoke with, the feeling was that the Marines are being used as political pawns, and it strains the perception that Marines are apolitical,” Marine Corps veteran Janessa Goldbeck, who runs the Vet Voice Foundation, told The Guardian . “Some were concerned that the Marines were being set up for failure. The overall perception was that the situation was nowhere at the level where Marines were necessary.”
“The sentiment across the board right now is that deploying military force against our own communities isn’t the kind of national security we signed up for,” added Sarah Streyder of the Secure Families Initiative in an interview with the outlet.
Josh Marcus reports.
Morale among National Guard and Marines deployed in LA is underwater, report claims
Court allows Trump to keep National Guard deployed in LA
06:00 , Vishwam SankaranA US appeals court has allowed president Donald Trump to keep National Guard troops deployed in Los Angeles amid the protests.
The decision by the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily pauses a lower court ruling on Thursday, which blocked the mobilisation of the Guard by Mr Trump.
Thursday's ruling by US District Judge Charles Breyer had declared Trump's deployment of the Guard unlawful and ordered it to be returned to the control of California governor Gavin Newsom.
But Mr Breyer's order was paused after a short time.
A panel of judges is expected to hold a hearing on Tuesday to consider Mr Breyer's order.
Hundreds of protesters assembled outside of Portland ICE detention center
05:40 , Rachel DobkinAt least 400 protesters assembled outside of a Portland ICE detention center Thursday night, The New York Times reported.
The crowd chanted, “Say it loud and say it clear, immigrants are welcome here!”
Ramming cars and raiding churches: The ways ICE is becoming more aggressive in arresting migrants
05:20 , Rachel DobkinRamming cars, sledgehammering windows and raiding churches in pursuit of migrants appears to be the new norm for Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Trump’s America.
Democratic lawmakers have questioned “the appropriateness, proportionality, and execution of ICE tactics, ” while immigration attorneys say the agency’s approach has escalated after a series of high-profile incidents over recent weeks.
“When ICE was first active in 2003, it was supposed to protect Americans and people living within the United States,” immigration attorney Michael Cataliotti told The Independent. “Not any more. These days, ICE is a tool being used to scare, arrest, detain, and fill up the prison systems under the guise of ‘Protecting America.’”
Cataliotti said that under previous administrations, ICE had more “humanity” compared to now. “This is astonishingly different,” the New York-based attorney said. “It's a tremendous violation of norms, like going into churches, which were always considered off-limits, or, simply, assault and battery and reckless endangerment, when they're driving cars into folks.”
Rhian Lubin reports.
Ramming cars and raiding churches: ICE getting more aggressive in arresting migrants
Newsom slams Trump with Marvel movie reference
05:00 , Rachel DobkinCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom slammed President Donald Trump, telling reporters Thursday night, “He creates a problem and then he tries to be a hero in his own Marvel movie.”
Newsom’s comments were in response to a reporter’s question about Trump admitting on Truth Social Thursday his “aggressive” immigration policy is deporting “very good, long time” farmers and that America “must protect our farmers.”
Here is the president’s full Truth Social post:
“Our great Farmers and people in the Hotel and Leisure business have been stating that our very aggressive policy on immigration is taking very good, long time workers away from them, with those jobs being almost impossible to replace. In many cases the Criminals allowed into our Country by the VERY Stupid Biden Open Borders Policy are applying for those jobs. This is not good. We must protect our Farmers, but get the CRIMINALS OUT OF THE USA. Changes are coming!”
Curfew on downtown Los Angeles is in effect for the third night
04:42 , Rachel DobkinStarting 8 p.m. Pacific/11 p.m. Eastern, a curfew was enforced on Los Angeles for the third night.
Officials first announced the curfew Tuesday after anti-ICE protests in the city got criminal after dark.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said Tuesday the curfew would be in effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. local time “to stop the vandalism, to stop the looting.”
She later said the curfew would remain in effect indefinitely.
According to New York Times reporter Orlando Mayorquin reporting from Los Angeles, local police were arresting the few protesters that remained after the curfew.
Appeals court pauses judge ruling for Trump to return National Guard troops to Newsom
04:35 , Rachel DobkinAn appeals court has paused a judge’s ruling for President Donald Trump to return the thousands of National Guard troops he deployed to Los Angeles in response to anti-ICE raids back to California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Judge Charles R. Breyer had ruled Thursday night that Trump’s actions were “illegal,” and “he must therefore return control of the California National Guard to the Governor of the State of California forthwith.”
The Trump administration appealed Breyer’s ruling, which led to the pause.
In pictures: Anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles today
04:20 , Rachel DobkinProtests against President Donald Trump’s immigration raids continued in Los Angeles on Thursday.
Trump team sends removal notices to more than half a million migrants allowed into the country under Biden program
04:00 , Rachel DobkinThe Department of Homeland Security started handing out termination notices to thousands of migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela this week after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a decision that allows the Trump administration to end a Biden-era humanitarian parole program.
Notices reviewed by CNN warned the migrants that if they do not leave voluntarily , they could face enforcement measures including detention and removal, “without an opportunity to make personal arrangements and return to your country in an orderly manner.”
The humanitarian parole program, introduced by the Biden administration, granted eligible migrants permission to enter the United States on a two-year stay. Approximately 530,000 citizens from the four countries were allowed in under the program.
The Trump administration has criticized the program, claiming that it allowed “poorly vetted” migrants into the country. But the program does require applicants to pass background checks and secure a financial sponsor to ensure they would not become a public burden.
Andrea Cavallier reports.
Trump team sends removal notices to more than 500K migrants
Trump admin is appealing order to return control of National Guard to Newsom
03:38 , Rachel DobkinThe Trump administration is appealing a federal judge’s order that the president return control of the National Guard to California Governor Gavin Newsom, according to a legal brief filed Thursday night obtained by The New York Times .
Gavin Newsom responds to court victory over National Guard: 'Today, the people won'
03:32 , Rachel DobkinCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom said in a Thursday night address that a judge’s order for President Donald Trump to return control of the state’s National Guard proves the president “is not above or beyond constitutional constraints.”
He shared a clip of his address on X, writing, “The Constitution sets forth limits, and that includes the President of the United States. Today, the people won.”
In an unprecedented move, Trump deployed thousands of National Guard troops and 700 Marines in Los Angeles in response to the anti-ICE protests in the city.
Trump ordered to return control of National Guard troops to Gavin Newsom after ‘illegal’ order over LA protests
03:25 , Rachel DobkinGuard troops it deployed to the Los Angeles protests back to state officials, a federal judge ruled on Thursday.
The decision sets up a potential standoff over the fate of the roughly 4,000 guardsmen who the White House has tapped to respond to the ongoing unrest.
“[President Trump]’s actions were illegal—both exceeding the scope of his statutory authority and violating the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution,” Judge Charles R. Breyer wrote in a stunning Thursday evening ruling, referring to the amendment preserving certain powers of the states from federal interference. “He must therefore return control of the California National Guard to the Governor of the State of California forthwith.”
The court’s order, which the Trump administration immediately appealed, is set to take effect at noon on Friday.
Josh Marcus reports.
Trump must return National Guard troops to California’s control after ‘illegal’ order
Arnold Schwarzenegger called for bipartisan cooperation for immigration reform: 'If there’s a will there’s a way'
03:20 , Rachel DobkinActor and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has weighed in on the recent Los Angeles immigration protests that have since sparked similar movements across the nation.
Speaking to Access Hollywood at Wednesday’s season two premiere of his Netflix action series FUBAR , the former Republican politician, 77, was asked his thoughts on the “current unrest happening in Los Angeles.”
“I hope that the locals and the state and the federal government work together,” Schwarzenegger said, calling on bipartisan cooperation to bring immigration reform.
“That the democrats and the republicans work together to solve this issue because I think we need immigration reform, and I think they can do it,” he added. “If there’s a will there’s a way. I just encourage them to work this out.”
Inga Parkel reports.
Arnold Schwarzenegger wades in on government response to ICE protests in LA
DHS calls LA mayor's claims about ICE showing up in homeless shelters 'blatantly false'
03:00 , Rachel DobkinThe Homeland Security Department called Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ claims about immigration agents showing up in homeless shelters “blatantly false.”
During a press conference Thursday, Bass claimed that ICE officials “entered our city and provoked the city by chasing people through Home Depots and car washes and showing up at schools and today, showing up at emergency rooms and homeless shelters.”
DHS slammed Bass in an X post later Thursday, saying her rhetoric “demonizes the brave men and women of law enforcement.”
Newsom slams Trump, calling his deployment of the National Guard 'a dangerous abuse of power'
02:40 , Rachel DobkinCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom slammed President Donald Trump for deploying thousands of National Guard troops and 700 Marines in Los Angeles amid anti-ICE protests.
He wrote on X Thursday night, “Donald Trump is using brave American soldiers as props in his political performance...It’s a dangerous abuse of power.”
The National Guard has been protecting federal buildings and accompanying federal agents on ICE raids in Los Angeles.
Anti-ICE protests continue in Chicago Thursday evening
02:20Protests over President Donald Trump’s ICE raids and mass deportation efforts that erupted in Los Angeles last Friday have spread to other major cities like Chicago.
Chicagoans took to the streets Thursday evening, chanting, “Get up, get down, Chicago is an immigrant town,” The New York Times reports.
The Times spoke to Rick Lucas, a nurse from Ohio who joined the protest while visiting The Windy City.
“I’m concerned that ICE is going to come into our hospital, disrupt patient care and rip families apart,” he said.
Local police made 17 arrests during protests in Chicago on Tuesday, per the Times . Those protesters were charged with aggravated battery, reckless conduct and criminal damage to government property.
LA man charged with assaulting federal officer during protest
02:04 , Rachel DobkinChristian Damien Cerna-Camacho of Boyle Heights is accused of assaulting a federal officer during an immigration protest, NBC Los Angeles reported.
Protesters claim Cerna-Camacho punched the officer.
The man is also accused of telling federal officers he had guns and was going to shoot them.
Cerna-Camacho had his first court appearance Thursday, which his wife and five-month-old baby attended. He was denied bail.
Democrat senator says Alex Padilla's detainment is 'the kind of stuff you see in Russia and China'
02:00 , Rachel DobkinSenator Mark Kelly, a Democrat who serves on the Armed Services Committee, said on CNN in reaction to Senator Alex Padilla being handcuffed during a DHS press conference: “This is the kind of stuff you see in Russia and China, not the United States. It’s un-American.”
Padilla was forcibly removed, restrained, and handcuffed during a press conference Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem held Thursday when he attempted to question her on the Trump administration’s response to the anti-ICE raids in Los Angeles.
Washington erupts after agents handcuff Democratic Senator at DHS Secretary press conference
01:40 , Rachel DobkinWashington erupted at the site of Sen. Alex Padilla of California being forcibly removed and pinned to the floor during a press conference with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Almost immediately, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer denounced the apprehension of Padilla during a speech on the Senate floor.
“I just saw something that sickened my stomach, the manhandling of a United States Senator,” Schumer said. “We need immediate answers to what the hell went on.”
Padilla’s apprehension came as the House of Representatives was voting. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, a Democrat of Texas, could barely speak to The Independent because she was saddened by it.
“I’ve been saying this for months now, Donald Trump wants to be a dictator, and this is the latest escalation in what has been a very, very concerning series of events in recent weeks,” Rep. Yassamin Ansari of Arizona told The Independent .
Eric Garcia reports.
Washington erupts after agents handcuff Democratic Senator at Noem’s press conference
IN FOCUS: How Donald Trump is getting his own back on LA – the city that bet against him
01:20 , Rachel DobkinStephen Armstrong writes:
Hollywood had assumed it could last year’s election win with its vibes-based Brat summer. Kamala Harris was heavily boosted by star power from George Clooney and Bruce Springsteen to Oprah Winfrey and Billie Eilish… the roll call is long and includes Michael Keaton, Leonardo DiCaprio, Julia Roberts, Eva Longoria, Jennifer Aniston and Cardi B. Even California’s Republican former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger voted Harris/Walz. But it turns out popular right-wing podcasters Joe Rogan and Theo Von hold more cultural sway than Taylor Swift and Beyonce.
Six months on and LA is a febrile place. In an unprecedented move this week, Trump seemingly declared war on the city and deployed thousands of National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles without California governor Gavin Newsom ’s permission. More than 400 people have been arrested in LA since protests erupted in the wake of a string of raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Friday, including 330 undocumented migrants and 157 individuals facing charges of assault or obstruction...
The first signs of a collision course being set between Trump and America’s progressive culture scene were in February with his takeover of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a bi-partisan national cultural centre based in Washington DC...
LA is a progressive town, which puts it at odds with the drive for Maga populist ideas in America’s cultural life, but there are hints that moviegoers are now starting to question Hollywood’s progressive instincts. Fan reaction to The Last Jedi, The Rise of Skywalker, Eternals and The Marvels was a howl of fanboy fury about “forced diversity”. Left-leaning documentary company Participant Media – which made An Inconvenient Truth – ran out of money and closed last year, while Am I Racist? was 2024’s highest-grossing documentary – chiming with a new cultural zeitgeist which Trump is now fully encapsulating.
Read on...
How Donald Trump is getting his own back on LA – the city that bet against him
LA mayor takes a jab at Trump administration, saying city will uphold 'our constitution'
01:15 , Rachel DobkinWatch: Mike Johnson suggests punishment for Sen. Alex Padilla after Kristi Noem conference incident
01:05 , Rachel DobkinAlex Padilla says there was 'no apology' from Kristi Noem following his detainment at a DHS press conference
01:02 , Rachel DobkinSenator Alex Padilla, a California Democrat, said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem did not apologize to him after he was forcibly removed by Secret Service and FBI officials at a press conference she held Thursday.
Padilla was forcibly removed, restrained, and handcuffed during Noem’s press conference when he attempted to question her on the Trump administration’s response to the anti-ICE raids in Los Angeles.
The congressman told CNN’s Erin Burnett Thursday night that when his handcuffs were taken off, he was offered a meeting with the secretary.
Padilla said there was "no apology, no acknowledgment whatsoever” from Noem about the incident.
“But it’s the Trump administration, so I’m not holding my breath for decency, decorum or manners here,” he added.
ANALYSIS: Trump may get more than he bargained for by picking a fight with Los Angeles
01:00 , Rachel DobkinJohn Bowden writes:
The media-savvy Trump was eager for an opportunity to spin the narrative back against his opponents. On the issue of anti-ICE demonstrations in Los Angeles, he thought he had it.
But even as polling shows that Americans largely to not support the sometimes-violent protests which have broken out in Los Angeles for the past several days, polling released this week indicates Americans are just as opposed to Trump’s handling of the situation — and are souring on his immigration agenda overall.
Read on...
Trump may get more than he bargained for by picking a fight with LA
Trump says Newsom should have been 'thanking' him for deploying the National Guard
Friday 13 June 2025 00:40 , Rachel DobkinPresident Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social Thursday night that California Governor Gavin Newsom should have been “thanking” him for deploying the National Guard in Los Angeles amid anti-ICE protests.
“Incompetent Gavin Newscum should have been THANKING me for the job we did in Los Angeles, rather than making sad excuses for the poor job he has done. If it weren’t for me getting the National Guard into Los Angeles, it would be burning to the ground right now,” Trump said.
Instead, Newsom has sued the Trump administration to stop the deployment of thousands of National Guard troops and 700 Marines in the city, and called it “theater, madness, unconstitutional.”
A ruling on the matter is reportedly expected within the hour.
Legal expert believes judge will find Trump's National Guard order 'illegal'
Friday 13 June 2025 00:30Ryan Goodman, a former special counsel at the Defense Department, said on CNN that he believes the judge overseeing California’s lawsuit against Donald Trump’s deployment of thousands of National Guard troops in Los Angeles will rule that the president’s order is “illegal.”
Goodman thinks the judge will find Trump “did not properly federalize the National Guard,” but that his deployment of 700 Marines on the city is “a separate matter” and that “he does not think he has enough evidence” to stop them.
During today’s hearing, Newsom’s attorney warned that the Trump administration was enacting a “dangerous expansion of executive power” by sending in the Guard against the wishes of state and local leaders, while the DOJ lawyer argued Trump rightfully used his powers as commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
LA officials back Newsom's lawsuit against Trump, say it was local police who stopped bad actors in protests
Friday 13 June 2025 00:20 , Rachel DobkinThe city of Los Angeles filed a legal document Thursday in support of California Governor Gavin Newsom’s lawsuit to stop Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops and Marines amid protests against the president’s immigration raids, The Associated Press reports.
The document stated the Los Angeles Police Department deployed nearly 600 officers to “put an end to the day’s unlawful assemblies, looting, vandalism, and other violence.”
The National Guard has been protecting federal personnel and property, while local law enforcement is doing crowd control.
The city of Los Angeles said in the document that local law enforcement is prepared to respond to large protests, while the military is “trained in combat and warfare.”
An attorney for Newsom’s office and an attorney for the Trump administration had gone head-to-head in federal court Thursday for a hearing on California’s lawsuit, The Independent ’s Josh Marcus reports.
During the hearing, Newsom’s attorney warned that the Trump administration was enacting a “dangerous expansion of executive power” by sending in the Guard against the wishes of state and local leaders.
The Trump administration’s lawyer argued the president rightfully used his powers as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and that the National Guard order would’ve been lawful even without invoking the federal law in question, 10 U.S. Code § 12406.
Gavin Newsom responds to Kristi Noem's claim that the governor didn't return her call
Friday 13 June 2025 00:00 , Rachel DobkinHomeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said California Governor Gavin Newsom didn’t return her call amid the protests against immigration raids in Los Angeles.
Newsom’s office told NBC Los Angeles in response to Noem’s claim: “The governor spoke with the president directly on Friday and had multiple exchanges with DHS secretary’s boss, Susie Wiles.”
Morale among California National Guard and Marines deployed in LA is underwater, report claims
Thursday 12 June 2025 23:40 , Oliver O'ConnellThe 4,000 California National Guard troops and 700 US Marines sent to Los Angeles in response to the ongoing anti-immigration raid protests are reportedly suffering from low morale, according to members of the veterans community, amid allegations of a chaotic initial deployment and widespread concerns of the military being drafted into domestic law enforcement.
Josh Marcus reports from California.
Morale among National Guard and Marines deployed in LA is underwater, report claims
California warns of ‘dangerous expansion of executive power’ in lawsuit challenging Trump’s National Guard order
Thursday 12 June 2025 23:23 , Josh MarcusThe Trump administration and the state of California squared off on Thursday afternoon in federal court, as the Golden State challenges the president’s controversial decision from last week to federalize thousands of state National Guard troops and deploy them to respond to the Los Angeles protests.
During the hearing, an attorney for Governor Gavin Newsom’s office warned that the Trump administration was enacting a “dangerous expansion of executive power” by sending in the Guard against the wishes of state and local leaders.
California also expressed alarm at the ongoing presence of the federalized troops alongside immigration officers conducting operations around Los Angeles, suggesting such tactics were an ongoing violation of the Posse Comitatus Act, which bars federal troops from being used for domestic law enforcement unless the president invokes the Insurrection Act, which he so far hasn’t.
“If that's not a violation of the Posse Comitatus Act, nothing is,” an official for the governor’s office said, pointing to June 10 photos of the deployed troops standing guard as ICE agents made arrests.
California argues the deployment, which has swelled to encompass 4,000 National Guard troops, violates federal law on the topic, which describes presidents giving orders to state National Guard branches “through the governors.”
The Trump administration, for its part, argues the president rightfully used his powers as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and that the National Guard order would’ve been lawful even without invoking the federal law in question, 10 U.S. Code § 12406.
The White House also says it transmitted its orders to a state official who handles National Guard-related issues, despite not working with Newsom directly.
Judge Charles R. Breyer, who is hearing the case, often appeared skeptical towards the Justice Department’s position, pushing back on an administration lawyer for his position that courts didn’t have the authority to weigh in on whether there was an active rebellion against federal authority justifying the use of the National Guard.
Breyer described such thinking as tantamount to giving the president unchecked power, where, "If he says it, it’s so."
Removal notices to more than half a million migrants allowed into the country under Biden program
Thursday 12 June 2025 23:14 , Oliver O'ConnellThe Department of Homeland Security started handing out termination notices to thousands of migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela this week after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a decision that allows the Trump administration to end a Biden-era humanitarian parole program.
Notices reviewed by CNN warned the migrants that if they do not leave voluntarily , they could face enforcement measures including detention and removal, “without an opportunity to make personal arrangements and return to your country in an orderly manner.”
Andrew Cavalier has the details.
Trump team sends removal notices to more than 500K migrants
Watch: Lauren Boebert and JB Pritzker clash over Jan 6
Thursday 12 June 2025 22:56 , Oliver O'ConnellColorado Republican Rep Lauren Boebert and Governor JB Pritzker clashed in the House of Representatives today over the Capitol riot of January 6, 2021, in which Trump supporters attempted to overturn the 2020 election, versus the protests and unrest happening in Los Angeles.
IN FOCUS: Is Trump’s America in the middle of a coup?
Thursday 12 June 2025 22:43 , Oliver O'ConnellSam Kiley writes:
In conducting a coup in an impoverished undeveloped nation there is a basic to-do list. You capture the presidency , the courts, take over the international airport, emasculate the legislature, decapitate the military of potential opponents, storm the local TV station and declare a new dawn.
Bigger countries require more effort, like the mass mobilisation of xenophobia through false-flag attacks and terror scares, but from Moscow to Monrovia, the patterns are the same – an autocrat takes power in the name of national salvation.
With Donald Trump in power for a little over four months, questions are swirling as to whether this process is happening to what was the most powerful democracy on earth.
Read on...
Is Trump’s America in the middle of a coup?
