The Foreign Desk White House vs City Hall
5 snips
Sep 13, 2025 
Ashley Parker, a senior political analyst at MSNBC, discusses the National Guard's deployment and its implications for urban governance. Quinton Lucas, the Mayor of Kansas City, shares insights on President Trump’s controversial approach to Democrat-run cities. Historian Rick Perlstein provides historical context, examining the fraught relationship between Republican administrations and urban areas. The conversation dives into the rising tensions between federal authority and local governance, the narrative surrounding policing, and the impact of increased militarization on community perceptions.
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National Guard As Visible But Limited Presence
- Ashley Parker describes National Guard troops doing beautification and acting like a tourist attraction in D.C. stations and on the National Mall.
- She also witnessed a stabbing where nearby Guardsmen did not prevent the suspect escaping, showing mixed effects.
Militarised Streets Chill City Life
- Ashley Parker says the military presence chills everyday life for undocumented and Latino residents, reducing restaurant and school attendance.
- That fear forces people to alter routines, causing broader economic and social disruption in neighborhoods.
Request Agencies, Not Spectacle Troops
- Mayor Quinton Lucas urges cities to request federal agencies that target organised crime rather than National Guard deployments.
- He asks for collaboration with FBI, DEA, and ATF to address drugs, trafficking, and illegal guns instead of spectacle forces.
