Trump escalates his battle with California

This story appeared in The Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here. Welcome to The Logoff: President Donald Trump is sending troops to Los Angeles amid unrest over his immigration policies, a threat to civil liberties and another example of the president claiming that an emergency justifies a major expansion of his power. Catch me up. What’s going on here? Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents last week raided workplaces in Los Angeles, as part of the Trump administration’s larger goal of mass deportation of undocumented immigrants. Residents protested over the weekend, and, the Los Angeles Times reports, there has been “widespread” vandalism and damage around the city. Trump on Sunday announced he would begin sending in 2,000 National Guard troops — against California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s wishes. Then this afternoon, Trump’s administration began mobilizing more than 700 Marines to be deployed in LA, CNN and other outlets report. What’s next? Newsom is suing the administration over the National Guard takeover, arguing Trump overstepped his authority by sending in the Guard against a state governor’s wishes — which hasn’t happened since 1965. Is Trump breaking the law? Using federal troops for domestic law enforcement is generally illegal, but Trump is citing emergency powers, claiming without evidence that LA has been “invaded and occupied” by migrants. LA authorities acknowledge there is civil unrest but argue the use of military force will only escalate the situation, and it’s clear that LA is not in the grip of a foreign power. What’s the big picture? The president is citing a false pretense to send active-duty military troops to a city where residents are protesting — some peacefully, some violently — his policies, even as local leaders say conventional law enforcement is capable of restoring order. This will undoubtedly have a chilling effect on free speech, and it’s yet another expansion of the president’s authority. And with that, it’s time to log off… I want to take a minute to thank Cameron Peters for filling in while I was away. I was out because The Logoff lost one of its most dedicated readers, the world lost one of its great people, and I lost my best friend. You can read about Ernest Brusubardis II here. The only thing I have to add is that Ernie continually chose to love, support, and take care of the people around him — and for that, I’m endlessly grateful. Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you back here tomorrow.