Los Angeles Is Not In Crisis feat. Mayor Karen Bass

Summary

What A Day - Episode Summary: "Los Angeles Is Not In Crisis feat. Mayor Karen Bass"

Release Date: June 17, 2025
Host: Jane Coaston
Guest: Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles

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1. Introduction to the Los Angeles National Guard Controversy

The episode opens with host Jane Coaston addressing recent political tensions surrounding the deployment of the California National Guard in Los Angeles. This move, initiated by former President Donald Trump in response to anti-immigration raid protests, has sparked significant legal and political debates.

Key Points:

• Legal Battle: A federal appeals court is set to decide whether Trump's deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles can continue. Initially, a court ruled in favor of Governor Gavin Newsom, declaring Trump's use of the National Guard illegal. However, this ruling was temporarily paused by the 9th Circuit Court.

• Trump's Justification: President Trump defended the deployment, claiming it was essential to prevent protesters from "ripping Los Angeles apart" (01:27).

  Donald Trump (01:27): "So the protesters, if we didn't have the National Guard on call and ready, they would rip Los Angeles apart."

2. In-Depth Interview with Mayor Karen Bass

Jane Coaston sits down with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to discuss the implications of the National Guard deployment and the broader impact of immigration raids on the city.

Impact on Los Angeles:

• Economic Strain: Mayor Bass highlights the detrimental effects of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids on local businesses, particularly those reliant on immigrant labor. She notes a significant downturn in business activity, drawing parallels to the COVID-19 pandemic's economic impact.

  Karen Bass (03:47): "Even though it's only lasted for a couple of weeks, it's been a body blow to the economy... It has just wrecked havoc and created a sense of fear."

• Community Fear: The raids have instilled fear within the immigrant community, leading to decreased participation in necessary legal processes and risking individuals' legal status.

  Karen Bass (05:04): "People disappear... They have no access, no contact with their family members to let them know that they're okay."

Legal and Legislative Challenges:

• Limited Government Response: Mayor Bass expresses frustration with the federal government's overreach, stating that the executive branch, particularly under Trump's leadership, has sidelined other branches of government, making legislative solutions difficult.

  Karen Bass (06:38): "Congress is majority rules and Democrats are not in the majority now... We really have one branch of the government and that's the executive."

Community Resilience:

• Unified Efforts: Despite the challenges, Mayor Bass emphasizes the importance of community solidarity and support. She mentions collaborative efforts with over 100 community organizations to mitigate the human toll of the raids.

  Karen Bass (07:43): "We stay together and support each other... Everybody is being touched by this."

3. Broader Political and Legal Developments

Following the interview with Mayor Bass, the podcast transitions to other pressing national and international issues.

Israel-Iran Conflict Escalation:

• Military Actions: Israel has intensified its attacks against Iran, including striking a state-run television station during a live broadcast, resulting in significant casualties on both sides.

  Jane Coaston (11:12): "Israel claims it's only targeting sites connected to Iran's nuclear and missile program, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke about the possibility of targeting Iran's Supreme Leader."

• U.S. Involvement: President Trump publicly opposed plans to target Iran’s Supreme Leader, citing concerns over escalating the conflict.

  Eric Trump (10:19): "U.S. officials tell us that the president flatly rejected a plan... His concern is that this would escalate the conflict beyond where it is already."

Trade and Tariffs:

• US-UK Tariff Deal: President Trump announced a new tariff agreement with the United Kingdom, characterized by partial tariff exemptions on steel and goods, though some tariffs remain in place.

  Donald Trump (14:10): "The UK is very well protected. You know why? Because I like them, that's why. That's their ultimate protection."

Immigration Enforcement Funding:

• ICE Financial Strain: The podcast highlights reports that ICE may exhaust its funds by the next month due to the administration's aggressive deportation targets of 3,000 undocumented individuals per day. Legislative efforts appear stagnant, with potential emergency measures looming.

Judicial Rulings on NIH Funding Cuts:

• Legal Reprimand: A Massachusetts federal judge deemed the Trump administration's cuts to NIH grants for research on diversity-related topics as illegal, ordering the restoration of funds.

  Judge William Young (15:09): "I've never seen government racial discrimination like this, and I would be blind not to call it out."

Corporate Developments:

• Eric Trump's T1 Mobile Launch: Eric and Donald Trump Jr. launched T1 Mobile, promoting an "America First" ethos. Despite claims of manufacturing in the USA, analysts are skeptical about the authenticity of these assertions.

  Jane Coaston (16:31): "Industry analysts are skeptical, saying it's most likely a reskinned Android phone made in China."

4. Conclusion and Production Credits

The episode concludes with a brief mention of upcoming segments and production acknowledgments, which are summarized below:

• Strict Scrutiny Segment: An advertisement for "Strict Scrutiny," featuring legal analysis by constitutional law scholars.

• Producer Credits: Recognition of the production team, including Desmond Taylor, Raven Yamamoto, Emily Foer, and others.

Note: Advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections have been excluded from this summary as per the episode guidelines.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Donald Trump (01:27): "So the protesters, if we didn't have the National Guard on call and ready, they would rip Los Angeles apart."

• Karen Bass (03:47): "It has just wrecked havoc and created a sense of fear."

• Karen Bass (05:04): "People disappear... They have no access, no contact with their family members to let them know that they're okay."

• Karen Bass (06:38): "We really have one branch of the government and that's the executive."

• Donald Trump (14:10): "The UK is very well protected. You know why? Because I like them, that's why."

• Judge William Young (15:09): "I've never seen government racial discrimination like this, and I would be blind not to call it out."

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This episode of "What A Day" provides a comprehensive look into the ongoing political and social challenges facing Los Angeles, particularly in light of federal immigration policies and the deployment of the National Guard. Through insightful discussions with Mayor Karen Bass and coverage of broader national and international issues, listeners gain a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted crises impacting communities today.

Transcript

[Jane Coston]

It's Tuesday, June 17th. I'm Jane Coston and this is Whataday, a show that says if you get a text from a foreign number saying it's the dmv or as the text I got said bmv and telling you that you owe money for tolls in the state you don't live in, there's like a hundred percent chance it's a scam. The more you know on today's show, more tariff deals are under way maybe. And the Trump family's latest grift is gold, fits in your pocket and will supposedly be made in the usa, but currently isn't. But let's start with the great city of Los Angeles, the current location of the California National Guard, but not if Governor Gavin Newsom has anything to say about it. Today, a federal appeals court will decide if President Donald Trump's deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles in response to anti immigration raid protests will continue. A court ruled in the governor's favor on Thursday stating that Trump's use of the National Guard was illegal. But the ruling was paused by the 9th Circuit that same day. The deployment is part of a larger battle between the President of the United States and his administration, who seem to think that Los Angeles is a desperate, crime ridden hellhole, and the leadership and citizens of Los Angeles who say it is definitely not. It's me. I'm citizens. On Sunday, President Trump argued that sending in the National Guard was essential.

[Donald Trump]

So the protesters, if we didn't have the National Guard on call and ready, they would rip Los Angeles apart. They come and they check and they say, is the National Guard going to be there? And if the National Guard's being there, then they don't even show up.

[Jane Coston]

I don't think that's true. On Truth Social. That same day, Trump announced that he had recalibrated his mass deportation plan to emphasize raids on immigrants living in cities like Los Angeles, New York and Chicago, and minimize raids on farms, the hospitality industry, and in rural areas, places where hundreds of thousands of undocumented folks are working. According to the New York Times, this came after a call from Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who told the President that, quote, farm groups had been warning her that their employees would stop showing up to work out of fear, potentially crippling the agriculture industry. Now the president can go after his two least favorite things, immigrants and cities, especially those led by Democrats. One of those Democrats is Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. I spoke to her on Monday afternoon in advance of the appeals court ruling. Mayor Bass, welcome to Whataday.

[Karen Bass]

Thank You.

[Jane Coston]

On Tuesday, a federal appeals court is scheduled to hear arguments in the case over whether President Trump can control National Guard troops that are currently stationed in la. How would the situation on the ground and even the tone in the city change if the court says that California Governor Gavin Newsom can take back control?

[Karen Bass]

Well, I think it would lower the temperature considerably because they never should have taken control away from the governor to begin with. If we had needed the National Guard, we had no problem calling the governor. He has always been cooperative. The situation never rose to the level of unrest that required the National Guard. What people should know is that Los Angeles is 500 hundred square miles. The protests were in about two square miles. So certainly a geographic area that our local police department and with assistance from mutual aid from the sheriffs and other nearby cities could handle appropriately, and they did just that.

[Jane Coston]

What has the impact of the immigration raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement been on LA thus far? What are you hearing from business owners and from immigrants themselves?

[Karen Bass]

Even though it's only lasted for a couple of weeks, it's been a body blow to the economy. You have sectors of our economy that cannot function without immigrant labor, which is, I guess why the President decided to back up off of agriculture and restaurants. But I will tell you, we don't have massive agricultural fields in the city of Los Angeles. And then when he says he's going to back up on restaurants and hotels, which ones does that mean a McDonald's or does that mean just a five star restaurant? And the same thing with hotels. So he has created a sense of uncertainty and just outright fear. Yesterday I went to an iconic area of the Mexican American community, Mariachi Plaza, that should have been bustling because it was Father's Day. I went to restaurants, there were literally no customers. When I talked to the owners, they told me that this felt like the height of the of COVID And so you had a sense of absolute fear, which is people not going out, not going to work. So it has just wrecked havoc and created a sense of fear. And just think about it. Two weeks ago, everything was fine in la.

[Jane Coston]

Where are ICE officials taking folks who are getting swept up in these raids? Have you been told about what's happening to these people?

[Karen Bass]

No, that's part of the problem. People disappear. We know that there's a couple of federal detention centers, but are they there? Are they someplace else? They have no access, no contact with their family members to let them know that they're okay. They have no access to legal counsel. And I mentioned those two things. Family members and legal counsel, because historically that access has been provided. We are fortunate in LA to have a very well developed, well established and respected immigrant rights community. And they've been doing this for decades, actually. And they have said this is the first time they have ever had an experience like this.

[Jane Coston]

There has been at least one case of a US citizen being held by ICE in Montebello, California, which is about 20 minutes away from LA proper. Have you heard of any other similar incidents?

[Karen Bass]

Oh, yeah, absolutely. We've also heard of people who were going to. Going, appearing for their annual immigration appointment. They are here legally, they are not citizens, but they are here with papers and their obligation is to show up once a year. And when they show up now, they don't know whether they're going to be detained. You know what that means to me is that now that that word has gotten out in the community, there'll be a lot of people who will be too afraid to show up. And then you know what that means. Then they will fall out of status and then they will be considered, quote, unquote, illegal.

[Jane Coston]

You're a former member of Congress. How are you working with your former colleagues to protect your city? Have you spoken to your former colleagues? What are they doing to stop these raids?

[Karen Bass]

Well, you know, I mean, I speak to my colleagues all the time. As a matter of fact, we had a press conference last week with members of Congress and the state legislature all standing in solidarity with each other, all doing everything we can to stop the raids. But, you know, in Congress it's majority rules and Democrats are not in the majority now, so they can speak up. But getting legislation passed and all of that is virtually impossible in a Congress like this. And in my opinion, both the leader of the House and the leader of the Senate have essentially acquiesced their own power to the White House. The judiciary is shaky. We don't know where they're going to go. In the past, we would have just said, okay, we don't like this, this is crazy, but we know the courts will stop that. We can't rely on that anymore. So my view is, is that we really have one branch of the government and that's the executive.

[Jane Coston]

Now, you've been talking about the disruption that's happened in LA and the disruption that you've attributed to administration sending the National Guard in. How do you reset after this moment and moving forward?

[Karen Bass]

Well, I don't think you reset after the moment. I think you reset during the moment. And so what it is very important is that we stay together and that we support each other and that all of the organizations. I did a press conference last week also here with 30 mayors from the county and with the community organizations. We did a an event with an hour's notice and there were over 100 community organizations here. So we're all feeling this, whether you know immigrants personally, which is a rare person in Los Angeles that doesn't. But everybody is being touched by this and then I think the human toll is really moving and hurtful to all Angelenos.

[Jane Coston]

Mayor Bass, thank you so much for taking the time to join me.

[Karen Bass]

You're welcome. Thank you for having me on.

[Jane Coston]

That was my conversation with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. We'll get to more of the news in a moment, but if you like the show, make sure to subscribe. Leave a five star review on Apple Podcasts. Watch us on YouTube so you can see all of the crazy footage we've got in this episode and share with your friends. More to come after some Ads this is an ad by BetterHelp. Men today face immense pressure to perform, to provide, and to keep it all together. So it's no wonder that 6 million men in the US suffer from depression every year. And it's often undiagnosed. It's okay to struggle. Real strength comes from opening up about what you're carrying and doing something about it so you can be at your best for yourself and everyone in your life. If you're a man and you're feeling the weight of the world, talk to someone. Anyone. A friend, a loved one, a therapist. Therapy can be really helpful for learning positive coping skills and how to set boundaries. It empowers you to be the best version of yourself. And it's definitely not just for those who've experienced major trauma. With over 35,000 therapists, BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform, having served over 5 million people globally. And it works with an App store rating of 4.9 out of 5 based on over 1.7 million client reviews. It's convenient, too. You can join a session with a therapist at the click of a button, helping you fit therapy into your busy life. Plus, you can switch therapists at any time. As the largest online therapy provider in the world, BetterHelp can provide access to mental health professionals with a diverse variety of expertise. Talk it out with BetterHelp, our listeners get 10% off their first month at betterhelp.com wad that's betterhelp.com Wade.

[Eric Trump]

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[Unknown]

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[Jane Coston]

Here'S what else we're following today. Israel escalated its attacks against Iran on Monday, striking a state run television station during a live broadcast. As you can see if you watch us on YouTube, the anchor quickly runs from her desk as debris flies around her head. It came after Iranian strikes on Israel killed at least eight people. That's according to Israeli officials. Israel claims it's only targeting sites connected to Iran's nuclear and missile program, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with ABC News on Monday about the possibility of targeting Iran's Supreme Leader.

[Eric Trump]

But U.S. officials tell us that the president flatly rejected a plan, an opportunity that that the you that the Israelis had to take out the supreme Leader. Do you understand his concern? My understanding is his concern is that this would escalate the conflict beyond where it is already.

[Karen Bass]

It's not going to escalate the conflict.

[Jane Coston]

It's going to end the conflict. On Truth Social Monday, President Trump urged people in the Iranian capital of Tehran to leave writing, quote, iran should have signed the deal. I told them to sign. What a shame and waste of human life. Simply stated Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. I said it over and over again. Israel's military earlier in the day issued an evacuation warning for people in part of Iran's capital. The Iranian Health Ministry says at least 224people have been killed by strikes since Israel started attacking Iran last week. Israel's government says at least 24 people have died in Israel.

[Donald Trump]

We just signed a document. This is Swoop. Sorry about that.

[Eric Trump]

Very important document.

[Donald Trump]

Little windy out here. Give me that little we just signed it and it's done.

[Jane Coston]

On Monday afternoon, President Trump both literally and figuratively dropped a new tariff deal with the United Kingdom. He announced the deal alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and dropped a few pages of it in the process. While Starmer said it was, quote, a very good day for both of our countries. Some details remain up in the air. In early May, the US Agreed to exempt the UK from any tariffs on imported steel, but never actually made things official. This latest agreement doesn't quite manage that either. For now, steel from the UK will still be subject to a 25% tariff, which isn't bad compared to the 50% tariff President Trump imposed on everyone else. Back in late May, Trump told reporters he'd have more info for them later on whether or not those tariffs would ultimately go down to zero. A couple of things we do know. A 10% levy is remaining in place on most goods from the UK that includes cars, which had previously been subject to a 27.5% tariff. President Trump said the UK was well positioned when it comes to future tariffs for one very important reason.

[Donald Trump]

The UK Is very well protected. You know why? Because I like them, that's why. That's their ultimate protection.

[Jane Coston]

Sure, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been busy trying to keep up with the Trump administration's goal of deporting 3,000 undocumented people per day. And apparently the flurry of activity is hitting ice's pocketbook. On Monday, Axios reported that ICE could run out of cash by next month. And it's not like someone didn't warn Trump about a cash crunch. Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Murphy warned Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem about it during a subcommittee hearing last month. I say this with seriousness and respect, but your department is out of control. You are spending like you don't have a budget. You're on the verge of running out of money for the fiscal year. One fiscal escape hatch might be the president's big, beautiful bill that is not very beautiful. If it passes, it could funnel 75 billion more dollars to ICE through 2029. If that doesn't happen soon, though, the president could declare a national emergency to divert funds to ICE from other parts of the government. He wouldn't do that, would he? A federal judge in Massachusetts said the Trump administration's cuts to National Institutes of Health grants for research on diversity related topics are illegal, which tracks. Massachusetts District Judge William Young on Monday ordered the NIH to restore much of that funding. That includes hundreds of grants that featured support for research on gender identity and equity in health care. Young admonished the administration for the cuts. It started earlier this year, he said. I've sat on this bench now for 40 years. I've never seen government racial discrimination like this, and I would be blind not to call it out. And he's a Reagan appointee. Young's ruling comes after Democrat led states, unions, researchers and public health organizations. You know, people who know things sued in two separate cases to save NIH funding.

[Eric Trump]

More and more, our company is evolving into various sectors and you know, but, but there is kind of a key to that and that is America, right? I mean the fact that all your customer service will be done in America, it's going to be done in St. Louis, Missouri. I hope I was allowed to give that out. And making phones in America. It's about time we bring products back to our great country.

[Jane Coston]

Eric And Donald Trump Jr. Announced the launch of T1 Mobile Monday. Eric grabbed a mic to boast about the company's America first ethos. You know Eric Trump, the Trump sibling who looks like a glass of milk. No, I will not be taking any questions. Not much of this is super new. T1 mobile resells network service from the country's three biggest carriers AT&T, Verizon and T Mobile. The company bills its T1 phone as made in America, but industry analysts are skeptical, saying it's most likely a reskinned Android phone made in China. But on the bright side, for the price of $47.45 per month, you won't just be getting texts, international calls, telehealth access and roadside assistance. You'll also help enrich the Trump family, which has made no bones about pursuing private business interests in real estate, cryptocurrency and even branded Bibles, despite the massive conflicts of interest they might present. And that's the before we go, when the opinions are flying fast and furious, the host of Strict Scrutiny, are here to play everyone's favorite game. Is this legal? With the Supreme Court handing down major decisions in Trump's second term, Melissa Murray, Leah Littman and Kate Shaw, your friendly neighborhood constitutional law scholars, are breaking down. What's happening at the highest court and where to focus your attention when the news feels overwhelming? Expert legal analysis in plain English, hot off the precedent. New episodes of Strict Scrutiny drop every Monday. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or watch on YouTube. That's all for today. If you like the show, make sure you subscribe. Leave a review. Wonder at how Trump's pick to run the Federal Aviation Administration said he had a commercial commercial pilot's license and doesn't. And tell your friends to listen. And if you're into reading and not just about how Brian Bedford, the CEO of Republic Airways, stated on the airline's website that he had a commercial pilot's license until journalists started asking questions and then the word commercial magically disappeared. Like me. What a Day is also a nightly newsletter. Check it out and [e-mail] subscribe I'm Jane Coastin and honestly, can just one one person in this administration be normal? Just one? Please. Water Day is a production of Crooked Media. It's recorded and mixed by Desmond Taylor. Our associate producers are Raven Yamamoto and Emily Foer. Our producer is Michelle Aloy. We had production help today from Johanna Case, Joseph Dutra, Greg Walters, and Julia Claire. Our senior producer is Erika Morrison and our executive producer is Adrienne Hill. Our theme music is by Colin Gilliard and Kashaka. Our production staff is proudly unionized with the Writers Guild of America east.

[Unknown]

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