Feds Eye More Cities, Hyundai Plant Raid, Influential Pastor

Summary

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Up First from NPR – “Feds Eye More Cities, Hyundai Plant Raid, Influential Pastor”

Date: September 6, 2025
Hosts: Scott Simon, Ayesha Rascoe

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Overview

This Saturday’s episode of NPR’s "Up First" highlights three major national stories:

1. The federal government’s move to involve the National Guard in more major cities, particularly Chicago, for “public safety”—with legal and political pushback.
2. A record-breaking immigration raid at a Georgia Hyundai plant, raising diplomatic tensions with South Korea and questions about federal enforcement policy.
3. The rising influence of Idaho pastor Doug Wilson, whose Christian nationalist rhetoric is resonating among conservative thinkers and policymakers.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. National Guard Deployment to US Cities ([02:34]–[06:00])

• Renewed Threats & Legal Hurdles:
  President Trump intensifies his threats to deploy the National Guard to cities like Chicago, Baltimore, and New Orleans, citing public safety concerns—despite evidence that crime rates are actually decreasing.

• Federal & Local Tensions:

  • ICE seeks Pentagon support for operations in Chicago.
  • Local and state officials, especially in Democrat-led states, strongly oppose federal intervention.
  • Quote:
    Gov. J.B. Pritzker (IL): “None of this is about fighting crime or making Chicago safer.” ([04:14])

• Legal Challenges:

  • A federal judge ruled Trump’s summer deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles violated federal law, but the ruling applies solely to California.
  • Deployments in D.C. differ due to unique Home Rule provisions.
  • “Many experts say that what we’re seeing here…is uncharted territory and it’ll almost certainly lead to a lot more litigation.” – Kat Lonsdorf ([05:44])

• Broader Political Strategy:
  Trump is leveraging city crime narratives as a central theme for the approaching midterms.
  “He seems to think that his crackdown…will play out well for Republicans in the midterms next year.” – Kat Lonsdorf ([04:54])

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2. Mass Immigration Raid at Hyundai Plant ([06:10]–[09:52])

• Scale & Details of the Operation:

  • Nearly 500 workers (most South Korean citizens) arrested at an LG/Hyundai battery plant in Ellabelle, Georgia.
  • Touted as “the largest immigration enforcement operation at a single site in U.S. history.”
  • "This operation underscores our commitment to protecting jobs for Georgians and Americans…” – Special Agent Stephen Schrank, Homeland Security ([07:16])

• Company & State Responses:

  • Georgia officials emphasize adherence to laws.
  • LG Energy Solution confirms both companies' employees detained and pledges cooperation.
  • Hyundai asserts none of those detained were their direct employees.

• Policy Implications:

  • Large workplace raids are unusual under the Trump administration, potentially hinting at a new direction:
    “This operation is the biggest workplace raid during this administration… Does that mean it’s a big policy shift? We’re gonna have to see how frequent this becomes.” – Jasmine Garst ([08:30])

• Diplomatic Fallout:

  • South Korea expresses official concern, dispatches embassy officials, and underscores that business activities and citizens' rights must not be “unjustly infringed.”
  • Recent U.S. manufacturing investments from South Korea add sensitivity:
    “President Trump has made it a priority to bring manufacturing to the U.S… just over a week ago, he hosted President Lee Jae Myung…” – Jasmine Garst ([09:41])

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3. The Influence of Pastor Doug Wilson ([10:03]–[14:14])

• Profile: Doug Wilson

  • Pastor from Moscow, Idaho; head of Christ Church.
  • Known for open advocacy of Christian nationalism.
  • “He’s very publicly called for a Christian America where women can’t vote and non-Christians and even liberal Christians are barred from holding office.” – Jack Jenkins ([10:46])

• Washington, D.C. Influence:

  • Wilson’s denomination now has an outpost in DC, just blocks from the Capitol, attracting high-profile attendees like Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
  • “Worship is warfare” was declared in inaugural DC sermons ([12:16]), signaling the movement’s combative cultural stance.

• Rhetoric at National Conservatism Conference (NatCon):

  • Wilson’s speech emphasized America’s Christian roots and objected to liberal immigration policies.
    Quote:
    • “It is simply a historical fact that America was deeply Christian and Protestant at the founding.” – Doug Wilson ([11:40])
    • “It is not xenophobic to object to the immigration policies of those who want to turn the Michigan Ohio border into something that resembles the India Pakistan border…” – Doug Wilson ([11:47])

• Wider Conference Themes:

  • Strong anti-immigration sentiment, preference for “white Americans with long family histories in the U.S.”
  • Overt criticism of feminism, same-sex marriage, AI, and Big Tech.
  • Several speakers voiced animus toward Islam and Muslims.
    Quote:
    • “We are less than 10 years away from one of America's great cities being run by a Muhammad.” – Jack Posobek, right-wing influencer ([13:42])

• Hostility and Targeting:

  • Islam and minority politicians, like NYC mayoral candidate Zoran Mamdani, were frequent targets.
  • “Many sessions…ended up directed at Mamdani and Muslims in general.” – Jack Jenkins ([14:09])

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• President Trump on deploying the National Guard:
  • “Well, we’re going in. I didn’t say when we’re going in. When you lose. Look, I have an obligation. This isn’t a political thing. I have an obligation, you know.” ([03:16])
• Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s statement:
  • “None of this is about fighting crime or making Chicago safer.” ([04:14])
• Homeland Security’s Stephen Schrank:
  • “This operation underscores our commitment to protecting jobs for Georgians and Americans…” ([07:16])
• Pastor Doug Wilson:
  • “It is simply a historical fact that America was deeply Christian and Protestant at the founding.” ([11:40])
  • “It is not xenophobic to object to the immigration policies of those who want to turn the Michigan Ohio border into something that resembles the India Pakistan border.” ([11:47])
• Jack Posobek at NatCon:
  • “We are less than 10 years away from one of America’s great cities being run by a Muhammad.” ([13:42])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:34] President Trump’s National Guard threats and Chicago’s legal/political reaction
• [06:10] Details of the Hyundai plant immigration raid in Georgia
• [09:50] South Korean diplomatic response
• [10:03] Doug Wilson’s influence at NatCon and in DC
• [12:10] Wilson’s DC church and Secretary Hegseth’s attendance
• [12:56] NatCon themes: anti-immigration, Islamophobia, and societal division

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Summary

This episode illustrates escalating tensions between federal initiatives and state/local resistance regarding law enforcement in U.S. cities; explores the unprecedented scale and repercussions of a workplace immigration raid amid evolving U.S. immigration policy; and chronicles the intensified focus on Christian nationalism at the heart of conservative circles, spotlighting controversial figures and their rhetoric as they continue to shape policy and public discourse. The episode is especially valuable for understanding current divides—in the law, immigration, and the intersection of religion and politics.

Transcript

[A]

South Korea wants answers after an immigration raid here in the US the raid.

[B]

Netted hundreds of workers at a site of a plant that Hyundai and a battery maker are building in Georgia. I'm Scott Simon.

[A]

And I'm Ayesha Rascoe. It's up first from NPR News. The raid near Savannah comes as the administration says it wants to send more National Guard to more cities inciting public safety.

[B]

But NPR has learned that ICE wants Pentagon support for operations in one of those target cities. We have the latest from Chicago as well as on that Savannah raid.

[A]

And here in D.C. growing influence for a pastor from rural Idaho. Why? Doug Wilson has the administration's ear. So stay with us. We have the news you need to start your weekend.

[C]

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[A]

President Trump is ramping up his threats to send the National Guard there, even after a federal judge said his use of troops in Los Angeles back in June was Illegal Chicago is just one.

[B]

Of several major cities alongside the likes of Baltimore and New Orleans, to which Trump says he would deploy the Guard for public safety, despite data showing that crime is down in those cities. NPR's Kat Lonsdorf is in Chicago and joins us now. Kat, thanks for being with us.

[D]

Hey, good morning.

[B]

What do we know now, whether or not the president's going to deploy the National Guard there?

[D]

Well, Trump has said that he will, but hasn't been specific about a timeframe. Here he is earlier this week at a press conference talking about Chicago.

[B]

Well, we're going in. I didn't say when we're going in. When you lose. Look, I have an obligation. This isn't a political thing. I have an obligation, you know.

[D]

Since then, an official has confirmed to NPR that the Department of Homeland Security has requested assistance from the Pentagon for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ice, in the Chicago metropolitan area. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. ICE and the National Guard are different. The Guard is part of the military. ICE is federal law enforcement. But in D.C. for example, Trump's deployment of the National Guard came with a larger presence from ice, too. Trump maintains that the National Guard would be sent here for public safety. You heard him there saying that this wouldn't be a political move. He sees it as an obligation. But generally, the National Guard is not used for policing. They can't make arrests or anything like that. In D.C. they've been patrolling federal property and picking up trash, that sort of thing.

[B]

Elected officials in Chicago are, are not in line with this, are they?

[C]

No.

[D]

Governor J.B. pritzker, a Democrat and a big opponent of Trump, has come out strongly against it. In a statement, he said, quote, none of this is about fighting crime or making Chicago safer. And many other local politicians here, you know, senators, alderman, have said similar things. Democratic lawmakers in many other cities, Baltimore, for example, have said they plan to push back if Trump follows through with his threats. In Louisiana, though, Republican Governor Jeff Landry says he would welcome the troops if Trump sent them to New Orleans. And, you know, Trump himself has recently made crime an even bigger part of his political agenda, hoping that voters see big city crime as a major problem. And he thinks, he seems to think that his crackdown on it, while mostly performative, will play out well for Republicans in the midterms next year.

[B]

And what's the latest on the legal challenges?

[D]

Well, earlier this week, a federal judge in California ruled that Trump's deployment of the National Guard there in LA in June violated a federal law that limits the use of the military for domestic law enforcement. But that ruling, which the Trump administration can appeal, only applies in California. In D.C. where the National Guard has been deployed for about a month, Trump has the authority to do so because of what's called the Home Rule act that gives him command of DC's National Guard. But that too doesn't apply to these other cities. You know, I'll note that even in DC, DC's Attorney General still sued the Trump administration on Thursday over that deployment, saying it's illegal. There are times when the National Guard can legally be used in civilian law enforcement, but generally speaking, it has to be requested by each state's governor. Many experts say that what we're seeing here with it being potentially forced on states is uncharted territory and it'll almost certainly lead to a lot more litigation.

[B]

NPR's Kat Lansdorf in Chicago. Kat, thanks so much for being with us.

[D]

Thank you.

[A]

Hundreds of workers were arrested by immigration authorities at a Hyundai plant near Savannah, Georgia this week.

[B]

Agents detained nearly 500 people in what Homeland Security is calling the largest immigration enforcement operation at a single site in U.S. history. NPR immigration correspondent Jasmine Garst joins us. Jasmine, thanks for being with us.

[E]

Hi Scott.

[B]

What do we know about this large operation?

[E]

So the raid happened in Ellabelle, Georgia, which is right by Savannah, at a construction site for an electrical vehicle battery plant which is co owned by LG Energy Solution and the Hyundai Motor Group. It involved several law enforcement agencies. Homeland Security says this was a months long investigation and it culminated with a search warrant. They arrested four hundred and seventy five people, most of whom are South Korean citizens. And Homeland Security says the workers detained were in the US illegally or working at the site unlawfully. They said some overstayed their visas, others unlawfully crossed the border. Here's Special Agent Stephen Schrank.

[B]

This operation underscores our commitment to protecting jobs for Georgians and Americans, ensuring a level playing field for businesses that comply with the law, safeguarding the integrity of our economy and protecting workers from exploitation.

[E]

So far, no charges have been filed against the company or the workers, but officials say it is an ongoing investigation.

[B]

Now the plan was a major economic project supported by the state of Georgia and part of a multi billion dollar facility that employs about 1200 people. How have Georgia officials and the companies responded?

[E]

The Georgia Department of Economic Development told NPR in a statement that they expect, quote, anyone doing business in Georgia to follow federal and state laws. Meanwhile, LG Energy Solutions said in a statement that employees of both companies have been taken into custody and that they are cooperating. But in a separate statement, Hyundai said none of those detained were Hyundai employees.

[B]

Now, of course, the Trump administration has had a campaign going to detain and arrest immigrants unlawfully in the US but large workplace raids have so far been relatively rare. Do you think this represents a shift in policy?

[E]

The Trump administration has vowed to hold companies accountable for employing people in the country illegally. But so far, the policy has focused on arresting immigrants in smaller raids at a wide array of places, from Home Depot parking lots to construction sites and some farms. But this operation is the biggest workplace raid during this administration, and it happened in a red state in Georgia. On the same day. On Thursday in central New York State, a food manufacturing plant was raided and dozens of people suspected of being in the country illegally were detained. Does that mean it's a big policy shift? We're gonna have to see how frequent this becomes.

[B]

And as you mentioned, most of those arrested were South Korean nationals. What response has there been from South Korea?

[E]

The South Korean government expressed concern. Embassy officials were sent to the city sight of the raid. A foreign ministry spokesperson said, quote, the business activities of our investors and the rights of our nationals must not be unjustly infringed. I just want to point out that President Trump has made it a priority to bring manufacturing to the U.S. in fact, just over a week ago, he hosted President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea, who pledged to invest an additional $150 billion in the U.S. and including in battery factories.

[B]

NPR's Jasmine Garst. Thanks so much.

[E]

Thank you for having me.

[B]

The National Conservatism Conference convened in Washington, D.C. this week, bringing together an influential group of conservative political and religious leaders. Speakers included Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, several US Senators and senior Trump administration officials.

[A]

But one of the most anticipated speakers at natcon was a pastor from Idaho named Doug Wilson. Jack Jenkins of Religion News Service was at the conference all week, and he's here now to tell us more about it. Hi, Jack.

[B]

Hey.

[A]

So who is Pastor Doug Wilson and why were people so eager to hear from him at this conservatism conference featuring all these big name political speakers?

[F]

So Wilson is based out of Moscow, Idaho, where he leads Christ Church. He's been around for decades, and during that time, he slowly built his own Christian empire of sorts. But it's really over the past five years that he's become a national figure, in part because of his open embrace of Christian nationalism. He's very publicly called for a Christian America where women can't vote and non Christians and even liberal Christians are barred from holding office. And he's won some political allies. And Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth attends worship at two of the churches in Wilson's denomination.

[A]

So what did Wilson have to say?

[F]

Well, this was Wilson's second time speaking at natcon, and he's a popular figure there. You could see him getting mobbed in the hallways by fans in the conference. And during his talk, he laid out his argument for why the US should be a nation led by and for Christians, while also expressing his views on immigration.

[B]

It is simply a historical fact that America was deeply Christian and Protestant at the founding.

[F]

And he also said in the meantime.

[B]

It is not xenophobic to object to the immigration policies of those who want to turn the Michigan Ohio border into something that resembles the India Pakistan border. That kind of nonsense from our utopian social engineers is actually the root of our current set of practical dilemmas.

[A]

And he's not limiting himself to this one annual conference.

[F]

That's right. So back in July, he established a sort of outpost of his Idaho church that meets just a few blocks from the US Capitol. It's currently housed in a space rented from a right wing think tank. And in the first sermon delivered there, one of Wilson's pastors declared, worship is warfare. He later praised the Department of Government Efficiency and described the US As a fallen and lapsed nation that has drifted from its Christian roots. And I was there for that first service and it was packed. And not only that, Secretary Hegseth was sitting right near the front and he's been there multiple times since. And folks expect him to be back in the pews again this Sunday when Wilson himself is expected to preach back.

[A]

To the National Conservatism Conference. What else did you hear there?

[F]

There was a lot of opposition to immigration and a clear preference for white Americans with long family histories in the U.S. other speakers and panelists criticized feminism and same sex marriage. And there was also an interesting amount of animus directed at AI and Big Tech. But if there was a recurring theme, it was many speakers made a point to denigrate Islam and Muslims. One speaker told me he believes Muslim immigration should be zero. And others insisted that Islam as a religion is just incompatible with American values. Still others mentioned the New York City mayoral campaign of Zoran Mamdani, a Muslim American, and Jack Posobek, a right wing influencer who was recently invited to travel with Hegseth on an international trip, had this to say.

[B]

As I stand here today, we are less than 10 years away from one of America's great cities being run by a Muhammad.

[F]

That was pretty typical rhetoric from this conference. And as I watched many sessions over the course of the week, there was a clear desire to move past points of friction in this conference over Israel and other topics and instead to disparage a common enemy. And much of that ended up directed at Mamdani and Muslims in general.

[A]

That's Jack Jenkins of Religion News Service. Thank you for joining us.

[F]

Thanks so much for having me.

[A]

This story was produced through a collaboration between NPR and Religion News Service.

[B]

And that's up first for Saturday, September 6th, 2025. I'm Scott Simon.

[A]

And I'm Ayesha Rascoe.

[B]

Andy Craig produced today's podcast along with Dave Misdich and elena Tuarek. Ed McNulty edited with Hadil El Shalchi, Alina Hartunian, Eric Westerfeld and Daniel Wood.

[A]

Our director was Michael Radcliffe, our technical director was David Greenberg, and we had engineering support from Nisha Hyness, Zoe Vangenhoven and Ted Mebane.

[B]

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[A]

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[B]

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[A]

You gotta do it.

[G]

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