Marines invade California. Who's next?
In his June 10 Oval Office press conference, Trump said that “people who want to protest will be met with very big force”, adding that such individuals “hate our country.”
All you fascists, bound to lose. — Woody Guthrie
Woody’s words still ring out like a rallying cry: defiant, hopeful, and unflinchingly clear about which side of history it aims to be on. It’s more than a lyric—it’s a promise grounded in solidarity and struggle.
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From the Halls of Montezuma to the shores of Santa Monica…
“It’s easier to get in than get out.” That old maxim has never felt more alive than it does in the streets of Los Angeles today. For the thousands of federal troops stationed across the city, the tanks parked beside taco stands, and the barricades shadowing murals of resistance, that phrase looms like prophecy.
When the Trump administration deployed active-duty Marines alongside the National Guard under the pretext of “border integrity” and protest control, they may have imagined a swift show of strength—occupy, stabilize, depart. But cities aren’t just grids and highways; they’re living histories. And L.A., with its long memory of Watts, of Rodney King, of ICE raids and sanctuary fights, doesn’t forget who comes uninvited.
What began as a calculated demonstration of force has now become something messier: lawsuits, mass civil disobedience, and accusations of overreach. Even within military ranks, there are murmurs of uncertainty about what “success” looks like here. That’s the problem with occupation—it’s easy to cross a border. It’s harder to exit without leaving scars. Weapons superiority doesn’t guarantee victory.
As of now, the deployment of federal troops—including approximately 700 active-duty Marines and over 4,000 National Guard members—to Los Angeles is set to last at least 60 days, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The problem for Trump and Hegseth is that, once again, they have no exit strategy. When and if the troops finally pull out of L.A., it will be to the jeers, not cheers, of thousands.
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Tom Homan, Trump’s “border czar,” is threatening to arrest elected officials like Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson if they were to “interfere” with federal immigration enforcement efforts. They arrested Newark’s Mayor Ras Baraka as he was attempting to inspect the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark last month.
But Newsom, still considered a potential Democratic candidate for president in 2028, called their bluff. He responded defiantly, saying, “Come and get me, tough guy. I don’t give a damn.” Newsom also announced plans to sue the Trump administration over the illegal deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles.
Newsom’s stance is exactly what we need and should expect from Democratic leadership. However, it’s typically not what we’re getting.
Shia Kapos in today’s Illinois Playbook:
The politics of it all: Trump’s aggressive action in California — sending in the National Guard and Marines to deal with protests typically handled by local police — is putting Democrats across the country on the spot.
Do they speak out against the action or lay low so as not to call attention to their own cities and states?
What’s your prediction?
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More Woody:
Oh, why does a vigilante man,
Why does a vigilante man
Carry that sawed-off shotgun in his hand?
Would he shoot his brother and sister down? —Vigilante Man
So what are these untrained guardsmen and combat-trained Marines supposed to do as the situation escalates? Will they be called on to shoot protesters with real, rather than rubber bullets? Possibly, their own family members and friends? How many will obey such orders after taking an oath to defend the Constitution rather than the convicted felon in the White House?
This isn’t just a policy dispute—it’s a power play and a trial run for future military adventures into sanctuary cities, testing the courts, and jailing political opponents. Trump has already issued a warning about protests planned for his June 14th birthday military parade. In a June 10 Oval Office press conference, he said that “people who want to protest will be met with very big force”, adding that such individuals “hate our country.”
It’s the kind of move Woody Guthrie was responding to: the creeping normalization of fascism under the guise of law and order.
That’s why here and now is the place and time to stand up to and roll back the fascist tide.
COMING UP FRIDAY, JUNE 13TH, ON HITTING LEFT
My guest will be Ken Cloke, renowned mediator, arbitrator, and expert in conflict resolution. As the Director of the Center for Dispute Resolution, Ken has spent decades navigating complex disputes, fostering dialogue, and advocating for transformative mediation practices.
His work spans labor disputes, political conflicts, and community reconciliation, and he’s the founder of Mediators Beyond Borders, dedicated to global peacebuilding. With a rich history in activism, dating back to his time at UC Berkeley, Ken brings a deep understanding of both movement politics and conflict resolution.
Friday, we’ll be discussing mediation, neutrality, tyranny, and resistance—themes at the heart of his recent writings and ongoing work.
TUNE IN 11-NOON CDT TO WLPN 105.5 FM IN CHICAGO AND STREAMING LIVE ACROSS THE GLOBE AT lumpenradio.com
