Trump Sends National Guard to LA Amid ICE Raid Protests

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Protests in Los Angeles in Response to ICE Raids

Los Angeles has witnessed significant protests over the past three days in reaction to recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. President Trump has decided to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops to address the unrest, a move that California Gov. Gavin Newsom described as “inflaming tensions” and unnecessary. Over the past week, ICE announced via social media that 118 immigrants were detained in Los Angeles. Read more about the protests. See photos from the protests.

Two Waymo taxis burn near the metropolitan detention center of downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night’s immigration raid protest. Jae C. Hong/AP

• 🎧 NPR’s Adrian Florido reports that while the protests began peacefully, they grew more chaotic over time. Law enforcement employed flashbangs, tear gas, and rubber bullets to disperse the demonstrators, who responded with cinderblocks and set cars ablaze. Dozens were arrested. Demonstrator Rosa Cesaretti voiced her determination to protest: “We cannot stay home when this kind of thing is going on. Because it’s as they say: First it’s them, and then it’s you.” Gov. Newsom has urged protesters to avoid Trump’s bait and maintain peaceful protests.
• 🎧 NPR’s Deepa Shivaram notes that while Trump can call in the National Guard, it is uncommon to do so without a governor’s consent. The last instance of a president bypassing a governor in this manner was in the 1960s. Newsom has formally requested Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to have Trump withdraw the troops.

Federal Judges and Workplace Culture

Federal judges wield significant authority over their clerks, contributing to a pervasive culture of fear among these employees. NPR’s Carrie Johnson has spent over a year investigating the federal judiciary, speaking with numerous current and former clerks. She uncovered issues involving 50 judges across 26 states.

• 🎧 Johnson reports that grievances range from sexual harassment and pregnancy discrimination to bullying. Clerks’ careers and personal lives are heavily influenced by their judges. Despite improvements by the Administrative Office of the Courts over the past seven years, clerks remain outside the protection of certain civil rights laws, making them fearful of retaliation.

Tony Awards Highlight a Diverse Broadway Season

The 78th Annual Tony Awards were held at Radio City Music Hall, hosted by Cynthia Erivo. This year, no single show dominated the ceremony, reflecting the season’s diversity, according to NPR culture editor Jennifer Vanasco. For full insights and the list of winners, check Vanasco’s analysis.

Climate Solutions Week: St. George’s Water Management Plan

A group gathers in the shallow waters of the Virgin River in St. George, Utah. The river provides the desert community with water, but climate change and a growing population threaten that supply. Local leaders are looking toward recycled sewage as a solution. Ryan Kellman/NPR

NPR is dedicating this entire week to stories and conversations about the search for climate solutions for living and building on a hotter planet and how climate change affects decisions on where and how people live.

The city of St. George, Utah, like many in the American West, is experiencing rapid growth. However, climate change is intensifying heat and making rain less predictable. To address water scarcity, local leaders plan to recycle treated wastewater for irrigation purposes, thereby conserving drinking water. This initiative comes with a significant expense but is seen as a valuable investment for drought-affected areas. Learn more about how this plan could work.

Celebrating WorldPride in Washington, D.C.

Nicky Sundt of Washington, DC celebrates with the crowd during the World Pride Parade. Tyrone Turner/WAMU for NPR

This past weekend, Washington, D.C., hosted WorldPride for the first time since the event’s inception in 2000. The celebration included a vibrant parade, marking the 50th anniversary of Pride events in the capital. Explore some photos from the event.

3 Noteworthy Events

An adolescent loggerhead sea turtle named Dilly-Dally, whose front flipper was amputated after she was rescued in January suffering from predator wounds, crawls toward the Atlantic Ocean after being released, on the beach in front of Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, Fla., Wednesday, June 4, 2025. Rebecca Blackwell/AP

1. Dilly Dally, a loggerhead turtle with an amputated front flipper, has been released back into the Atlantic Ocean from a Florida animal hospital. Read more about her journey.
2. St. George isn’t alone in using sewage to tackle climate change. Discover how penguins in Antarctica might be aiding climate efforts with their excrement.
3. Coco Gauff triumphed over Aryna Sabalenka in the French Open women’s singles final, securing her second Grand Slam title. She’s the first American champion since 2015.

This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.