Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast Where Else Might Trump Send the National Guard?
Aug 27, 2025
Dan Lamothe, a U.S. military and Pentagon reporter at The Washington Post, dives into President Trump's directive for National Guard mobilization. He discusses the potential impacts on cities like Chicago and New York, questioning the blurred lines between military and civilian law enforcement. Lamothe also highlights financial concerns for service members facing pay discrepancies and explores the proposal for a domestic quick reaction force, drawing parallels with history and delving into the legal complexities of these deployments.
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New Rapid-Response Guard Role
- The executive order creates rapid-response Guard units meant to deploy to unrest anywhere in the country.
- In practice commanders focus on low-risk presence activities like subway patrols and park cleanup to avoid escalation.
Mission After Mobilization
- Deploying the Guard before defining a concrete mission flips normal military planning.
- That leads commanders to create ad hoc, lower‑risk roles rather than a clear law‑enforcement function.
Kent State As Cautionary Example
- Lamothe referenced historical incidents like Kent State when discussing Guard reputational risks.
- He noted the military has worked to avoid repeating past violent domestic interventions.