Bulwark Takes Military In The Streets?! This Is MARTIAL LAW by Another Name
Jun 10, 2025
Ryan Goodman, co-editor of Just Security and national security law expert, joins Sam Stein to unravel a controversial memo that could unleash military force on American streets. They dissect the alarming legal implications of federal troops engaging civilians without state approval. Topics include the erosion of civil liberties, the potential overreach of federal authority, and the chilling effects on peaceful protests. With a closer look at the Posse Comitatus Act and future government actions, Goodman raises critical questions about the balance between order and rights in America.
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Broad, Preemptive Military Authority
- The June 7th memorandum broadly authorizes federal military force including National Guard and armed forces to respond not only to violence but also to protests.
- It also allows preemptive deployment nationwide without a governor's request, raising significant First Amendment concerns.
Potential to Suppress Protests
- The inclusion of "protests or acts of violence" gives legal cover to suppress nonviolent protests.
- Preemptive action based on what "are likely to occur" breaks usual last-resort principles for federal military deployment.
Nationwide Deployment Power
- The memorandum has no geographic limits and applies nationwide, not just Los Angeles.
- Federal forces can be deployed preemptively anywhere, overriding governors' control of the National Guard.