Start Here Monumental? National Guard Now on DC Streets
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Aug 13, 2025 Patrick Rievel, ABC's foreign correspondent reporting on Ukraine, discusses the recent deployment of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., amid rising public safety concerns. He sheds light on President Trump’s upcoming landmark meeting with Vladimir Putin and its implications, particularly for Ukraine. The conversation also touches on the future of mRNA vaccines as funding cuts loom, raising alarms among health experts. Additionally, an intriguing look at income-based traffic fines in Switzerland highlights how wealth impacts justice.
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Guardsmen Arrive, Then Monument Vehicles
- About 100 National Guardsmen arrived at the D.C. Armory to fill out paperwork and be counted before getting a mission.
- Later that night armored Humvees were staged at the Washington Monument as part of a visible presence mission.
Presence Over Patrols
- The Guard's visible placement on the National Mall may be more symbolic than operational.
- Legal limits and lack of an insurrection declaration constrain troops' law-enforcement roles.
Pre-Summit Anxiety And Reassurance
- Europe's and Ukraine's anxiety centers on Trump potentially favoring Russia in talks with Putin.
- A pre-summit call with Zelensky is meant to reassure allies before Friday's face-to-face meeting.