California is burning again—and it didn’t take long! Just over five months ago, wildfires raged, and Governor Newsom struggled to manage the crisis. Mayor Bass faced similar challenges with the LA wildfires. The Democratic Party’s leadership is on full display with each disaster.
The Los Angeles Protests of 2025: A City in Turmoil
In June 2025, Los Angeles erupted in protests after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid to service criminal warrants based on a large criminal conspiracy ICE is/was investigating. The investigation related to:
• Money laundering.
• Tax evasion.
• Customs fraud.
• A company that under-declared over $80 million in goods and failed to pay $17 million in fees.
• A larger conspiracy involving numerous businesses potentially laundering money in Mexico and Colombia.
What Has Happened
On June 6, protests began peacefully but turned violent, with clashes near the Federal Building and 101 Freeway. Protesters burned Waymo cars, looted businesses, and threw rocks, while LAPD used tear gas and rubber bullets. Over 100 arrests occurred, including union leader David Huerta. President Trump federalized the California National Guard, deploying 2,000 troops, followed by 2,000 more and 700 Marines by June 9, costing $134 million. Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass condemned the move, with Newsom suing the Trump administration for violating state sovereignty.
What Is Happening Now
As of June 10, protests continue but are less violent, with a peaceful City Hall rally. Sporadic looting persists, and 4,000 Guard troops and 700 Marines remain deployed. Newsom added 800 local officers, insisting they suffice. California’s lawsuit challenges the federal troop deployment, while immigrant communities face ongoing tension and businesses suffer losses.
Anticipated Outcomes
If peaceful protests continue and ICE raids ease, unrest may subside. The lawsuit’s outcome could limit federal overreach or embolden further interventions, possibly via the Insurrection Act. Politically, the divide deepens, with Democrats decrying Trump’s tactics and Republicans framing protesters as “insurrectionists.” LA’s Latino communities may demand aid to recover, and the protests could spark immigration reform debates or stricter enforcement.
Karmi’s Opinion
Will be adding this to the Trump Tally under the “Strong” category (see #12)—currently at this:
Strong:
1) Pre-Jan 20 was very well organized w/ Trump quiet. CoS Susie Wiles has done a great job!
2) Quickly picked Admin & staff pre-Jan 20.
3) Inauguration Day 2025 shows total preparation made by good leader – unlike being unprepared during his first term.
4) Moved fast on illegal immigration promises – plus lots of helpful EO’s.
5) Have to give Trump a Strong on his choice of Pete Hegseth as SoD – and solid work by the GOP Senate to get him confirmed!
6) Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) continues to expose government waste, cutting regulations, and restructuring federal agencies. Early impact has been *AMAZING*!
7) Trump calls Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) a “fantastic guy,” and I also like him. Hey, we think our Far-left dissidents are bad, but compared to Saudi Arabia’s dissidents ours are closer to a Mother Teresa. Trump bringing MbS in to host a summit between himself and Putin is a great move. A great move that builds a stronger relationship with MbS, empowers MbS, whilst also opening negotiating ‘Doors’ for talks with Russia and Iran.
8) Has stood by his Team during the Signal disaster so far, which I respect, so am adding this to the Strong category on 3/30/25. In his first term Trump was quick to blame and to dismiss, but has been more composed this time—other than the Russia/Ukraine war. The Team was made up of mostly inexperienced people, so some early slip-ups are to be expected.
9) 4/6/25 update: Tariffs roared onto the scene last week, as a massive addition to Trump’s playbook—and they’ve got both sides of the aisle sweating. Republicans are jittery, split down the middle, with many clutching their pearls and warning of a midterm “bloodbath” if the Tariffs backfire. Democrats, meanwhile, have unleashed their “Hands Off!” movement, rallying around cries of “funding cuts and a spiraling trade war.” Those cuts are torching the DEM’s secret cash reserves & hidden vote buying money, leaving them desperate and praying for Trump’s Tariff gambit to flop. But here’s the kicker: I’m taking their protests and pleas as glowing proof that Trump’s Tariff agenda is hitting all the right nerves—an indicator that many DEMs fear that Trump’s Tariffs are going to work.
10) Immigration and Judicial Overreach have been festering problems, long overdue for a reckoning—and Trump and his administration have finally stepped up to the plate. They’ve zeroed in on both whilst looking for “fixes” that will shakeup the status quo to its core. On immigration, Trump’s team is doubling down, tightening borders and slashing loopholes that have been exploited for years, much to the chagrin of open-border advocates. Meanwhile, the Judicial Overreach crackdown is targeting activist judges and bloated court rulings, aiming to restore balance and rein in decades of unchecked oversteps. These moves aren’t just Band-Aids—they’re sledgehammers to a broken system, and the howls of protest from the usual suspects only prove how badly these reforms were needed.
11) Lots of hard work and a very energetic start to his second term. Will it payoff or will a Perfect Storm destroy him in the midterms?
12) LA Riots 2025: California *BURNING* … Again: Democrats have repeatedly highlighted the January 6 Capitol attack as a defining moment of unrest. Yet, this focus has opened the door to addressing the broader wave of insurrectionist riots that have plagued our nation for years—particularly since 2015-16. President Trump and his Administration are taking decisive action to end these violent riots, demonstrating strong leadership in restoring order.
Weak:
1) Failed to end Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours.
2) Re-designates Iranian-backed Houthis as terrorists – lets Iran continue to back them!?!
3) neo called it an “unforced error” on Trump’s part. Most commenters agreed. ‘Twas an internet vision of Trump starring as the Hare in ‘The Tortoise and the Hare’. Horrid response to Air collision above the Potomac – horrid response to a National Tragedy. Probably doesn’t bode well for confidence in his future response/s to a National Emergency…?
4) Still early into the Breaking News about ‘Second Buddy’ Putin and President Trump opening negotiations on Ukraine’s future; however, if this is Trump’s opening move in the negotiations, it is an incredibly ill-informed and/or naive one. Thusly, such an opening deserves a spot under the Weak category on the Trump Tally…Geez!?
5) President Trump may have been a *BIG* ‘wheeling-dealing fish’ in the New York pond, but it is starting to look like he is outta his league in bigger waters. His opening negotiations with Putin has earned him a comparison to Neville Chamberlain—an unfortunate comparison that seems to be sticking. To make matters even worse, ‘US officials have backtracked’ – that will be President Trump backtracking on his ridiculous opening negotiation offer to Putin of ‘Nato membership and US security guarantees were off the table for Ukraine’.
6) This one will remain in bold—a 100% disaster for America. Have never saw such horrid American Diplomacy—Trump & Vance were both disaster, with Vance leading the way, but both showed their Aggressive, Loud, Rude, Angry, and Undiplomatic sides. The video from that link shows what a disaster it was for America and the Free World.
7) His handling of the Russia/Ukraine negotiations has continued to be a disaster. Ukraine has been fighting Russia’s aggression for over 10 years now, so hopefully they can recover from Trumps horrid mistakes. The CRINK Axis has showed Trump’s flaws – in that he attempts to coddle Russia whilst warning Iran—and to some degree North Korea also. Maybe Trump has finally realized that Putin is Playing him in these negotiations… 🤞 (NOTE: new 3/30/2025 add to Weak category)
8) 4/29/2025 update: President Trump has continued to show weakness towards Russia and Iran over his First 100 Days in Office. Meanwhile, CRINK—the growing axis of authoritarian states (China, Russia, Iran, North Korea)—poses a serious challenge. Fortunately, he has finally realized that Putin has been ‘tapping’ him along – maybe soon he will also realize that Iran is doing the same. He needs to stop helping Putin rebuild the failed Russian military, i.e., give Ukraine the long range weapons they need and increase the other weapons & ammo that Ukraine has been receiving. Even Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) realizes the folly in trying to negotiate with Iran—telling Trump he should ‘Waste that shit’ – in reference to Iran’s nuclear facilities whilst he still has time.
9) Trump gives Putin a ‘two-week deadline’ to make progress on a ceasefire. Trump is blinded by his hatred for Ukraine—for not giving his political opponent’s head on a platter. If this continues, Trump’s legacy risks being defined not by a Nobel Peace Prize but by enabling America’s longtime enemy to rebuild its military strength.