2WAY Tonight with Mark Halperin

Trump Calls Portland "A Burning Hellhole," Slams Judges for Trying To Block Him From Sending Troops

Oct 6, 2025
Join Batya Ungar-Sargon, a NewsNation commentator, and Steve Olikara, a nonprofit leader focused on reducing polarization, as they delve into President Trump's controversial remarks about Portland and the Insurrection Act. They analyze the implications of potential troop deployments and their legal ramifications. The discussion also explores Trump's diplomatic position on Gaza hostage negotiations and speculates on his political leverage amid rising tensions and market stability. It's a thought-provoking roundtable on current political dynamics!
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Political Signaling Over Military Action

  • Trump uses talk of the Insurrection Act to reassure his base while avoiding actual use of troops.
  • Batya Ungar-Sargon argues he sets unreal conditions so deployment is unlikely but politically useful.
INSIGHT

Court Orders Anchor Rule Of Law

  • Using federal troops on U.S. streets raises constitutional and rule-of-law risks.
  • Steven Olikara warns disobeying court orders could trigger a creeping civil conflict.
ADVICE

Seek Local Consent Before Federalizing Forces

  • Prioritize requests from local officials before federalizing forces in cities.
  • Steven Olikara recommends aligning federal support with governor and mayor consent.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app