Trump Doubles Down On L.A. Troop Deployment: “Los Angeles Would Be Burning”
Plus: RFK Jr. Removes Entire CDC Vaccine Panel, Citing Bias Concerns
Good afternoon,
If you’re up late and the skies are clear, it might be worth going outside to see the moon.
Tonight’s Strawberry Moon will take on a reddish or orange hue and sit low on the horizon. It’s set to reach its peak around 3:45 a.m. ET, but is meant to be dreamy all evening.
If I get any good pics I’ll share with you tomorrow in ICYMI.
Lauren
Producer
🚨 ONE IMPORTANT THING
Trump Defends Military Deployment To L.A. Amid Looting As Protests Grow Across The U.S.
Approximately 700 U.S. Marines were mobilized by the Trump administration Monday to support the National Guard in LA amid anti-ICE protests.
Hours before, California sued the Trump administration for deploying 2,000 National Guard troops there without California Governor Gavin Newsom’s consent. Under President Trump’s order, they were told to remain there for roughly 60 days to help disperse protesters.
It follows an Immigration and Customs Enforcement crackdown in L.A., with officers announcing Saturday that 118 undocumented immigrants were arrested the week prior. That includes more than 40 on Friday alone during raids at two Home Depots, a store in the fashion district, and a doughnut shop.
ON THE GROUND
While most of the protests have been peaceful, some turned violent, with people setting Waymo cars on fire and throwing fireworks at police. On Sunday, demonstrators threw cinderblocks on California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers on the 101 Freeway in Los Angeles.
There were more than 40 arrests and at least five law enforcement officers were injured during the protests.
Things were calmer in L.A. today, but solidarity protests have already emerged in San Francisco, Sacramento, Houston, San Antonio, Chicago, and New York, with at least 30 new protests planned for this week in major cities across the country.
President Trump dismissed concerns Tuesday that deploying 700 Marines and 4,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles escalated violence. Instead, he called the response necessary and appropriate, and warned other cities that protesters could be “met with equal or greater force” if similar unrest occurs.
“By doing what I did, I stopped the violence in L.A.,” Trump told reporters. He contended that if he hadn’t deployed the military, the situation in L.A. would be much worse.
“Right now Los Angeles would be burning, just like it was burning a number of months ago with all the houses that were lost,” Trump said, referencing the January wildfires.
It follows a night of escalating violence in the city, as anti-ICE protests intensified in downtown Los Angeles. Some individuals looted, graffitied, and vandalized several stores, including an Apple Store and a CVS Pharmacy. LA Mayor Karen Bass (D) blamed the violence on “fringe groups” and said over 100 people were arrested Monday night.
“I do not believe that individuals who commit vandalism and violence in our city are truly supporting immigrants,” Bass said. “If you support immigrants and their right to be in our city, you would not be tearing it apart or vandalizing it.”
TRUMP VS. NEWSOM
California authorities have said the protests were already weakening when the president sent in the National Guard. On Tuesday, Trump said he called California Gov. Gavin Newsom yesterday about the L.A. protests, telling him he’s “got to do a better job. He’s done a bad job, causing a lot of death, a lot of potential death.” California authorities have not reported any deaths during the protests. Newsom wrote on social media that the president never called.
The Democratic governor also filed an emergency motion on Tuesday to block Trump’s military deployment. A federal judge denied California's request for an immediate restraining order and set arguments for Thursday.
WHAT’S NEXT
Anti-ICE demonstrations also took place Monday and Tuesday in New York City, Austin, Texas, and other major U.S. cities. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers Tuesday that the National Guard troops and Marines in Los Angeles will cost at least $134 million over 60 days.
Despite suggesting he might, Trump has yet to invoke the Insurrection Act in response to the protests and said Tuesday the protests are dying down because of his actions.
“If there’s an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it,” and added, “I could tell you there are certain areas of Los Angeles that you could have called an insurrection.”
🚨 ONE THING WE’RE FOLLOWING
RFK Jr. Ousts All 17 Experts On CDC Vaccine Advisory Panel
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday removed all 17 members of the federal vaccine advisory panel — the group that guides which shots are recommended for Americans.
In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Kennedy accused the committee of being a “rubber stamp for any vaccine” and plagued by conflicts of interest. He said the move is necessary to restore trust.
Health experts say it could do the opposite — especially during a growing measles outbreak and declining childhood vaccination rates. Some top medical groups are alarmed. The American Academy of Pediatrics called the move part of an "escalating effort by the Administration to silence independent medical expertise and stoke distrust in lifesaving vaccines."
WHAT THEY DO
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, ACIP, makes official recommendations that shape public health policy and insurance coverage. Most of the members, who typically serve four-year cycles and are not political appointees, have backgrounds in pediatricians, epidemiologists, immunologists, or other sciences. Committee members also must disclose any potential conflicts of interest at the start of each public meeting.
Kennedy, who has long criticized the panel and founded an anti-vaccine group, has already forced out top vaccine scientists and altered federal vaccine guidance.
As Health Secretary, Kennedy has the authority to make these changes, but the sweeping ouster is unprecedented.
The CDC committee is set to meet June 25–27 on several vaccines, and HHS says the meeting will proceed. That gives the agency about two weeks to fill the panel.
⏳ SPEED READ
🚨NATION
Trump announces $1,000 government-funded accounts for American babies (GUARDIAN)
Trump warns 'any' protesters at military parade will be 'met with heavy force' (ABC)
Trump team plans to send thousands of migrants to Guantanamo starting as soon as this week (POLITICO)
What to watch in New Jersey's primaries (NBC)
More Congress members are 70 years or older than ever before (MO NEWS)
🌎 AROUND THE WORLD
UK, Canada, and Western allies sanction two far-right Israeli government ministers (CNN)
Russian strikes in Ukraine hit Kyiv and kill two in Odesa (BBC)
A former student opens fire at an Austrian school, killing 10 and taking his own life (AP)
New Pew study says Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world (NPR)
📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH
World Bank says global economy "running into turbulence" (AXIOS)
Disney to pay almost $439 million to take full control of streaming service Hulu (AP)
Mark Zuckerberg is reportedly recruiting a team to build an AI ‘superintelligence’ (CNN)
Study finds increased screen time linked to aggression, anxiety, low self-esteem in kids (ABC)
🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Kendrick Lamar dominates BET Awards with top prizes (BBC) while Doechii uses her platform to criticize Donald Trump (MSNBC)
Diddy's ex testifies she pushed him to go to rehab after noticing the effects of heavy drug use (FOX)
Simone Biles apologizes to Riley Gaines, argues for “competitive equity” after conflict over swimmer’s stance on trans issues (YAHOO SPORTS)
Bernadette Peters reacts to Cole Escola's 2025 Tony Awards gown homage: “I wore my chest hairs in a different pattern” (PEOPLE)
ICYMI FROM THE 📲
In case you missed it… TSA is poking fun at what qualifies as a REAL ID — just over a month after the new policy requiring the federal IDs for air travel went into effect. The head of TSA said nearly 7% of U.S. travelers did not meet the enhanced ID requirements and enforcement so far has been somewhat lenient (travelers without REAL ID-compliant identification can have “additional screening”).
A quick reminder of what counts: enhanced driver’s licenses, passports, military identification cards, and permanent resident cards.
What doesn’t count? Your Costco membership, Best Buy Rewards cards, library cards 😉
