As disgusting as it was to see a journalist doing her job being purposefully shot, that was far from being the worst thing seen during the Los Angeles protests. Many would argue that the worst thing was Trump sending in the National Guard in the first place. (And, as an update, on Monday, Trump sent 700 Marines to LA.)
California Gov. Gavin Newsom called Trump sending in the National Guard “illegal and immoral.”
In fact, California officials said on Monday that they would file a federal lawsuit, saying Trump is overstepping his federal authority and violating the U.S. Constitution.
The Los Angeles Times’ Laura J. Nelson and Kevin Rector wrote, “California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta said the lawsuit will accuse Trump and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of violating the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which spells out the limits of federal power.”
In a statement, Bonta said, “Federalizing the California National Guard is an abuse of the President’s authority under the law, and not one we take lightly.”
However, many feel that Trump is getting exactly what he wants from this.
The New York Times’ Tyler Pager wrote, “It is the fight President Trump had been waiting for, a showdown with a top political rival in a deep blue state over an issue core to his political agenda. In bypassing the authority of Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, a Democrat, to call in the National Guard to quell protests in the Los Angeles area over his administration’s efforts to deport more migrants, Mr. Trump is now pushing the boundaries of presidential authority and stoking criticism that he is inflaming the situation for political gain.”
Pager points out that local and state authorities did not ask for federal help, and that the temperature and number of protesters were turned up because of the presence of the National Guard.
In fact, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass went on CNN on Monday and said the presence of soldiers was making things worse, asking Trump to “please dial this back” and adding, “This was not necessary and has created a sense of fear. It feels deliberate, like they are deliberately trying to create chaos in the city.”
The New York Times editorial board wrote a strong editorial published Sunday: “Trump Calling Troops Into Los Angeles Is the Real Emergency.”
The board wrote that Trump sending the guard into LA was “both ahistoric and based on false pretenses and is already creating the very chaos it was purportedly designed to prevent.”
Meanwhile, Trump further inflamed matters when he endorsed the idea of Newsom being arrested. Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked Trump, “Gavin Newsom is daring (border czar) Tom Homan to come and arrest him. Should he do it?”
Trump answered, “I would do it if I were Tom. I think it’s great. Gavin likes the publicity, but I think it would be a great thing.”
Newsom responded on social media with, “The President of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting Governor. This is a day I hoped I would never see in America. I don’t care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican this is a line we cannot cross as a nation — this is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism.”
On Monday, after Trump sent Marines, Newsom called it a “provocation.”
The doctor is … in?
CNN’s Brian Stelter reports that Dr. Phil McGraw, better known as Dr. Phil, was embedded with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during their immigration raids last week that have sparked the protests in Los Angeles.
According to his conservative television channel, MeritTV, Dr. Phil was there “to get a first-hand look at the targeted operations.” He also had exclusive access to Homan, the border czar, and interviewed him before and after the raids.
Stelter wrote, “McGraw’s presence on the ground in L.A. reinforces the made-for-TV nature of Trump’s immigration crackdown. The former daytime talk show host was embedded with ICE officials in Chicago back in January, when some federal agents were told to be camera-ready for a show of force at the very start of President Trump’s second term.”
Splitting up
Warner Bros. Discovery will be split into two public companies by next year. One will feature the streaming and studios company, including HBO Max, and the other will include TV networks, including CNN, TNT Sports and Discovery
CEO David Zaslav will be in charge of “Streaming & Studios,” while CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels will lead “Global Networks.”
In a statement released by the company, Zaslav said, “By operating as two distinct and optimized companies in the future, we are empowering these iconic brands with the sharper focus and strategic flexibility they need to compete most effectively in today's evolving media landscape."
Wiedenfels said, “This separation will invigorate each company by enabling them to leverage their strengths and specific financial profiles. This will also allow each company to pursue important investment opportunities and drive shareholder value. At Global Networks, we will focus on further identifying innovative ways to work with distribution partners to create value for both linear and streaming viewers globally while maximizing our network assets and driving free cash flow.”
So what does this all mean?
CNN’s Brian Stelter wrote, “Monday’s announcement is Warner Bros. Discovery’s answer to investor pressure and intensive industry-wide change. As the cable television business contracts in the streaming era, Zaslav is offering shareholders a way to invest in the growing HBO Max part of the business without exposure to cable. That said, the networks that are part of the second company continue to boast strong profits and global audiences.”
Dickie V signs extension
A special shoutout to ESPN’s Dick Vitale. The college basketball analyst has been signed to a contract extension through the 2027-28 season. The announcement was made Monday, which was Vitale’s 86th birthday.
Vitale returned to the air in February after being out for two years while fighting cancer for the fourth time. He has been with the network almost since its start in 1979, and has called more than 1,000 games.
I’ve known Vitale for years. He’s a good man, and his enthusiasm for college basketball is both genuine and important to the game. In addition, his tireless efforts fighting pediatric cancer have been consequential and admirable.
The Athletic’s Richard Deitsch wrote, “Whether you thought Vitale was too over-the-top or too beholden to his favorites — both of these points have merit — his passion for college basketball has always been clear. His commitment to fighting cancer has been noble. It’s nice to see ESPN extend him for a couple of years. I hope he gets to go out — whenever that is — on his own terms.
Making ends meet
