Post Reports Inside Trump’s plans to send troops into more American cities
8 snips
Aug 25, 2025 
Dan Lamothe, a Pentagon reporter for The Washington Post, dives into the controversial plans to deploy troops in Chicago and other American cities. He uncovers the Pentagon's motivations and the legal grounds for this initiative. The discussion offers insights into past troop deployments in Los Angeles and D.C., and explores the ethical implications of using military forces for urban crime control. Lamothe also highlights the financial costs to taxpayers and the mixed feelings among service members regarding these domestic missions.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Military As Political Fix
- President Trump views the military as a solution for domestic city problems and has been fixated on using it for years.
- That fixation drove Pentagon planning for multiple cities before his public statements about Chicago.
Scale Of Possible Deployment
- Planning options include roughly a brigade: three to five thousand National Guard troops for a city like Chicago.
- That likely would require federalizing the Illinois Guard and mirrors moves used in Los Angeles previously.
Expect Legal Battles First
- Legal routes are limited: governors can deploy Guards under state authority but Illinois' governor opposes it here.
- Federal options exist but are narrower and will likely face swift court challenges if used.