Start Here Trump Eyes Chicago in Crime Crackdown
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Aug 25, 2025 Jay O'Brien, ABC's Capitol Hill correspondent, discusses the Pentagon's plans for deploying National Guard troops to combat crime in Chicago. He highlights the tension between local governance and federal authority amidst declining crime statistics. The episode also delves into the complicated legal case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who faces deportation after being wrongfully sent to El Salvador. Additionally, it touches on the ongoing investigation into former national security advisor John Bolton and the implications of these political strategies.
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Federal Crackdown In D.C. Raises Constitutional Flags
- The Trump administration invoked extraordinary federal power to declare a crime emergency in Washington, D.C. and mobilize National Guard and federal law enforcement.
- The move bypassed local leaders and raised constitutional and democracy concerns about federal control of city policing.
Plans To Extend D.C. Model To Other Cities
- The White House is planning to prototype D.C.-style deployments in other Democratic-run cities, including Chicago.
- Legal power to federalize or use troops outside D.C. is limited, making such deployments legally and politically contentious.
Legal Limits On Deploying Troops In States
- The president's authority is strongest in D.C.; in states he can mainly call up the National Guard for civil unrest or protect federal property.
- Governors and courts remain key legal checks on deploying active-duty forces inside state borders.