Podcast Summary: The Joy Reid Show – "TJRS Bonus Episode: The Karen Bass Interview"

Release Date: June 10, 2025

In this engaging bonus episode of The Joy Reid Show, host Joy-Ann Reid conducts a comprehensive interview with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. The conversation delves deep into recent ICE raids in Los Angeles, community responses, political implications, and the broader impact on the city's socio-economic landscape.

1. Overview of Recent ICE Raids in Los Angeles

Mayor Karen Bass opens the discussion by addressing the unsettling ICE raids that transpired last Friday in Los Angeles. These operations targeted three primary locations: a Home Depot and two warehouses.

• Mayor Bass: [00:57] “Mayor Bass, thank you much so much for being with us.”

• David Huerta: [01:07] “It was Friday. That's right.”

Details of the Raids: David Huerta explains the nature of the raids, highlighting the chaotic scenes reminiscent of a war zone, with federal agents deploying flashbangs to disperse protesters during the ICE operations.

• David Huerta: [01:10] “They showed up in multiple workplaces throughout the city. Three to seven work sites were raided. It sounded like a war zone.”

He emphasizes that these raids targeted not criminals but everyday workers, fostering fear and chaos within the community.

• David Huerta: [02:16] “It's just, it creates a sense of fear and chaos in the city that feels very deliberate.”

2. Lack of Prior Notification and Community Response

Mayor Bass raises concerns about the absence of prior warnings to city officials and law enforcement about the impending raids.

• Mayor Bass: [02:23] “What were the two other locations?”

• David Huerta: [02:25] “They were warehouses, basically.”

Mayor Bass points out the absence of communication with the LAPD and the school district, questioning the administration's modus operandi.

• David Huerta: [02:30] “We have a very sophisticated, well-established immigrant rights movement here that essentially has been promoting a rapid response network.”

3. Impact on the Community and Economy

The raids have had a profound impact on Los Angeles' immigrant communities, disrupting daily lives and the local economy dependent on immigrant labor.

Fear and Uncertainty: Residents express fear about attending work, school, and public spaces, fearing sudden detentions.

• David Huerta: [12:22] “People sometimes going to countries that they have no connection to. And the fear that that is.”

Economic Disruption: The mayor discusses how the intimidation tactics threaten the stability of industries reliant on immigrant workers, such as construction and hospitality.

• David Huerta: [15:20] “You have a disruption of our economy. This is a city that is based on immigrant labor.”

4. Activation and Deployment of the National Guard

A significant point of contention is the federal government's decision to deploy the National Guard in Los Angeles without the city's consent, marking a potential overreach of federal authority.

• David Huerta: [07:36] “I actually think they're testing out what happens when the federal government seizes power.”

He questions the necessity of the National Guard's presence, given the relatively peaceful circumstances preceding the raids.

• David Huerta: [08:35] “Our city is vast. Vast.”

5. Police Response and Vandalism During Protests

The mayor addresses the aggressive response from federal agents and the subsequent vandalism during protests, distinguishing between peaceful demonstrators and those inciting chaos.

• David Huerta: [06:32] “There is a large protest that is expected today, and it's mainly so that it doesn't get out of control.”

He insists that the majority of protests remain peaceful, with only a minority engaging in destructive behavior.

6. Family and Emotional Impact of Raids

The emotional toll on families is palpable, with constant fear eroding the sense of security within immigrant households.

• David Huerta: [11:25] “There are people who woke up today saying, well, I don't know that I'm going to go to work, because there's people in my workforce, or maybe me, who doesn't have documents.”

7. Mass Deportation Policies and Legal Immigrants

The discussion shifts to the controversial policies pushing for mass deportations irrespective of an individual's criminal background, impacting even those with legal statuses.

• David Huerta: [12:37] “Today I learned that people who are showing up for their immigration appointments, their annual check-ins, they're here. They're not citizens, but they are legal in the sense that they have green cards, they're going through the process that even they are being detained.”

This raises concerns about the erosion of trust in legal immigration processes.

8. Sanctuary City Policies and LAPD's Role

Mayor Bass explores the complexities of sanctuary city policies, questioning the LAPD's role in preventing federal detentions without escalating tensions.

• Mayor Bass: [16:23] “Should the LAPD be intervening to help people who are being dragged off by ICE officers?”

• David Huerta: [16:43] “I think that our notion of what was meant by sanctuary city is getting tested like it has never been tested before.”

9. Potential Legal Actions Against the Federal Administration

The mayor hints at possible legal actions by Los Angeles against the federal government's unauthorized use of the National Guard and aggressive immigration enforcement.

• David Huerta: [19:07] “Now, in Los Angeles, we have an independent elected city attorney. And I know that she is looking at what the ramifications are for the city and whether or not there should be suits.”

10. Impact on Major Events and Tourism

The deployment of federal forces and the ensuing instability threaten major events like the World Cup and international perceptions of the United States' safety.

• David Huerta: [22:25] “Maybe I won't go play in the United States because the United States is not safe. That's a horrible thing to think that people would view our country that way.”

He underscores the potential long-term damage to tourism and international relations.

11. Investigation into Mayor Bass and Other Mayors

A contentious issue arises with the revelation that Mayor Bass, along with other mayors, is under investigation for anti-Semitism by the Justice Department's task force led by Leo Terrell.

• David Huerta: [24:38] “I received a notification that I was under investigation for anti Semitism... Leo Terrell is a well-known attorney in Los Angeles.”

• Joy Reid: [25:50] “Because we have tolerated, we have tolerated anti Semitism for the last four years and basically the Trump administration and thank goodness President Trump is in office.”

Joy Reid comments on the gravity and unexpected nature of such investigations.

12. Democratic Party's Role and Future Outlook

The conversation concludes with reflections on the Democratic Party's efforts and hopes for future leadership under figures like Speaker Jeffries to address and protect communities from such federal overreach.

• David Huerta: [27:15] “I absolutely remember when I was there with President Trump's first term and I remember the angst that people felt around the country that the Democrats weren't doing enough.”

He expresses cautious optimism about the party's capacity to effect meaningful change.

Notable Quotes:

• David Huerta: “[04:07] Exactly. When no one asked for help, the night when I was trying to prevent this from happening...”
  On the unnecessary escalation during ICE raids.

• Mayor Bass: “[07:15] Do you believe that the Trump administration is setting up a situation where the LAPD will potentially go too far...”
  Questioning federal intentions behind the National Guard deployment.

• David Huerta: “[12:22] People sometimes going to countries that they have no connection to...”
  Highlighting the confusion and fear caused by detaining legal immigrants.

Conclusion

Mayor Karen Bass and David Huerta provide a detailed and critical analysis of the recent federal actions in Los Angeles, emphasizing the disproportionate impact on immigrant communities, the erosion of trust in local authorities, and the broader implications for civil liberties and the city's economy. The episode underscores the urgent need for coherent policies that protect vulnerable populations while maintaining public order.