# Martial Law in Today's America - daily report **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [August 14, 2025, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martial-law-in-todays-america-daily-report/1022021 "2025-08-14T02:43:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2025, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martial-law-in-todays-america-daily-report/1022021/101 "2025-09-28T13:41:08Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > Second verse, same as the first. And I recall an additional line which seems appropriate: > A little bit louder, and a little bit worse. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2025, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martial-law-in-todays-america-daily-report/1022021/102 "2025-09-29T03:39:58Z")
That last bit kind of sums up this entire administration, doesn’t it? Except, of course, it’s a lot louder and a lot worse. As to why he’s hankering to attack blue cities and states: don’t forget he’s the one who’s decided that not only is he America, but any insult to him is, in fact, treason. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2025, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martial-law-in-todays-america-daily-report/1022021/103 "2025-09-29T06:50:30Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > … any insult to him … You misspelled “lack of fawning obeisance.” ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2025, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martial-law-in-todays-america-daily-report/1022021/104 "2025-09-29T08:23:07Z")
[Oregon and Portland are suing the felon and his co-conspirators.](https://www.aol.com/news/oregon-sues-trump-administration-over-020000658.html) (The **bolding** is mine.) > [@](#): > > The state of Oregon and the city of Portland have sued the Trump administration to stop it from deploying National Guard troops to Portland. > > The suit names President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Defense Department, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and the Department of Homeland Security as defendants. It asks a federal court in Portland to stop the Trump administration from deploying troops and declare the deployment unlawful. > > White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said that Trump’s actions were “lawful” and that they would “make Portland safer.” > > “President Trump is using his lawful authority to direct the National Guard to protect federal assets and personnel in Portland following months of violent riots where officers have been assaulted and doxxed by left-wing rioters,” she said. > > A Pentagon spokesperson declined to comment on the suit and on the Oregon Army National Guard deployment, citing a standing policy of not commenting on active litigation. > > DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit Sunday night. > > In the suit, Oregon and Portland claim the federal government does not have grounds to call in the guard and said the city has seen “small” protests near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in recent weeks. > > **“When the president and I spoke yesterday, I told him in plain language that there is no insurrection or threat to public safety that necessitates military intervention in Portland or any other city in our state," Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek said in a news release Sunday. “Despite this — and all evidence to the contrary — he has chosen to disregard Oregonians’ safety and ability to govern ourselves. This is not necessary. And it is unlawful. And it will make Oregonians less safe.”** ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martial-law-in-todays-america-daily-report/1022021/105 "2025-09-30T05:42:41Z")
[The felon’s shock troops are looking for violent crime in Chicago.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/dhs-goons-patrol-blue-city-141722065.html) > [@](#): > > Camouflage-clad federal agents stormed Chicago’s downtown on Sunday, parading through some of the city’s wealthiest enclaves in a bizarre display of political theater. > > Livestreams caught Border Patrol officers outside Tribune Tower and Millennium Park, detaining people as Customs and Border Protection boats prowled the Chicago River. > > But the show really turned heads when the agents, decked out in camo with “Border Patrol” patches, marched into the Gold Coast, a neighborhood better known for luxury boutiques than immigration crackdowns. That’s like saying Beverly Hills is the hotspot of gang violence in California. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martial-law-in-todays-america-daily-report/1022021/106 "2025-10-01T00:55:45Z")
_This is a crosspost from the clusterfuck thread._ (Crosspost) [He’s no longer a wannabe dictator. This shows it more than anything else.](https://www.aol.com/articles/trump-hegseth-set-meet-hundreds-040954126.html) (The **bolding** is mine.) > [@](#): > > QUANTICO, Va. (AP) — [President Donald Trump](https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump) on Tuesday proposed using American cities as training grounds for the armed forces and spoke of needing U.S. military might to combat what he called the “invasion from within.” > > Addressing an [audience of military brass](https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-hegseth-meeting-military-commanders-4ceb8026bff7c652b08c08e8afb1df99) abruptly summoned to Virginia, [Donald Trump](https://www.yahoo.com/people/donald-trump/) outlined a muscular and at times norm-shattering view of the military’s role in domestic affairs. He was joined by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who declared an end to “woke” culture and announced new directives for troops that include “gender-neutral” or [“male-level” standards](https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-military-fitness-infantry-special-operations-247fbd7a4f9d0ba79111194139208fa5) for physical fitness. > > The dual messages underscored the Trump administration’s efforts not only to reshape contemporary Pentagon culture but to enlist military resources for the president’s priorities and for decidedly domestic purposes, including quelling unrest and violent crime. > > **“We should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military,” Trump said. He noted at another point: “We’re under invasion from within. No different than a foreign enemy but more difficult in many ways because they don’t wear uniforms.”** And in more DPRKesque dictatorial fashion, he blathers this tidbit. > [@](#): > > Trump encouraged the audience at the outset of his speech to applaud as they wished. He then added, “If you don’t like what I’m saying, you can leave the room — of course, there goes your rank, there goes your future.” Some laughed. And what was co-conspirator Hegseth’s contribution to this photo op? > [@](#): > > Before Trump took the stage, Hegseth said in his nearly hourlong speech that the military has promoted too many leaders for the wrong reasons, based on race, gender quotas and “historic firsts.” > > “The era of politically correct, overly sensitive don’t-hurt-anyone’s-feelings leadership ends right now at every level,” Hegseth said. That’s telling the assembled career military officers, those who’ve dedicated their entire adult life to serving their country, that “too many” of them do not deserve the rank they hold. They will be cashiered. The only question is how soon that will happen. Speaking of Hegseth’s view of the military, under his stellar leadership, it’s quite likely military suicides will increase. Why do I say this? > [@](#): > > Hegseth said he’s easing disciplinary rules and weakening hazing protections, focusing on removing many of the guardrails the military put in place after numerous scandals and investigations. > > He also said he was ordering a review of “the department’s definitions of so-called toxic leadership, bullying and hazing to empower leaders to enforce standards without fear of retribution or second guessing.” > > He called for changes to "allow leaders with forgivable, earnest or minor infractions to not be encumbered by those infractions in perpetuity.” > > “People make honest mistakes, and our mistakes should not define an entire career,” Hegseth said. > > Bullying and toxic leadership have been the suspected and confirmed causes behind numerous military suicides over the past several years, including of Brandon Caserta, a young sailor who was bullied into killing himself in 2018. Do you recall this old joke? _What’s the difference between the military and the Boy Scouts?_ _The Boy Scouts have adult leadership._ The United States Armed Forces no longer have adult civilian leadership. (/CROSSPOST) ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martial-law-in-todays-america-daily-report/1022021/107 "2025-10-01T22:07:07Z")
Meanwhile in Memphis, we are still waiting for the National Guard to show up. They’ve been saying within two weeks for a couple weeks now. I imagine Trump has forgotten all about us. It’s not flashy, it doesn’t get him headlines, so it really doesn’t matter to him. There are some members of the ABC agencies who are apparently assisting the local police force. It was reported that they made 9 arrests and found 2 illegal guns. The city is ready for them, though, if this is any indication. [![](https://i.imgur.com/udoaPJt.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/udoaPJt.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martial-law-in-todays-america-daily-report/1022021/108 "2025-10-02T04:49:46Z")
After weeks of speculation, it’s time for the invasion of Memphis. Pam, Pete WAR! and Stephen (new nickname I saw - Naziferatu) flew in this afternoon to kick off the operation. (I thought the air smelled sulphureous.) There have been members of the ABC agencies in town for several days. I don’t see that it got any national play, which must be disappointing for them. It just doesn’t have the pizazz you get from a war-torn Portland or Chicago. But I’m sure they hope they can get some violence out of it. Pam gave the cops permission to, well… > [@](#): > > Bondi said she fully supports law enforcement and says they will charge “anyone who touches a police officer” with assault. > > “There’s no higher calling than being a police officer,” Bondi said. “…We want cops to be cops again. You can go out there and do your job.” Stephen echoed this. > [@](#): > > Miller said law enforcement is “unleashed” to arrest people on any charges they see as harmful to the city, National Guard troops and vehicles were seen in a staging area. Memphis is an interesting place to test out soldiers on American streets. It’s a blue city not only in a red state, but in a red county where 61% of the voters went for Trump in 2024. That says a lot since just 30% of the population of Memphis is white. The county below us in Mississippi is red. The county across the river in Arkansas is red. It goes without saying that all of those Republicans are thrilled with this. I honestly don’t know what they expect is going to happen. You can put soldiers on the streets and, yes, crime will go down. That’s how it works in police states. But that does not solve the issues that lead to crime which will still be there when they leave. If they leave. Activists are talking about push-back but I don’t know what they plan to do. It could get ugly fast. I guess we will see where this goes. I have no idea what’s in store. > **[‘You are unleashed’: White House officials prep law enforcement for National...](https://www.actionnews5.com/2025/10/01/bondi-hegseth-arrive-memphis-amid-memphis-safe-task-force/)** > > U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrived in Memphis on Wednesday afternoon amid the Memphis Safe Task Force rollout. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martial-law-in-todays-america-daily-report/1022021/109 "2025-10-02T04:52:44Z")
I spoke too soon. I started a thread for Memphis. [National Guard joins the Memphis Safe Task Force experiment - The BBQ Pit - Straight Dope Message Board](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-guard-joins-the-memphis-safe-task-force-experiment/1023587) ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martial-law-in-todays-america-daily-report/1022021/110 "2025-10-02T14:00:59Z")
I think the question I’d have is how/where the Tennessee state, and Shelby County authorities fit into all this. I mean, except for pretty limited circumstances, the Federal law enforcement agencies don’t really have jurisdiction for most of those criminal acts that they’re talking about, and the NG has none at all. So it’s going to take cooperation by the county sheriffs, county DAs, and city police in order to actually _do_ anything. And if as you say, Memphis is a blue city, then I suspect the city government will direct their cops to not get in the way, but not help either. So in my estimation, it’s just more performative bullshit that doesn’t actually amount to anything. They’ll show up, puff out their chests, make a big show, and then claim that crime went down as a result, because as you say, with all that law enforcement, or at least uniformed presence, criminals will likely lay lower than usual. But also, like you say, it’s not going to actually result in more arrests, convictions, or any fundamental change in the crime rate or reasons for crime. It’s like a city square with a bird problem; lead a pack of dogs through there, and the birds will clear out temporarily, but they’ll come right back, as you _haven’t done anything_ to actually repel the birds in a longer-lived fashion. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martial-law-in-todays-america-daily-report/1022021/111 "2025-10-02T14:08:24Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > I don’t see that it got any national play, which must be disappointing for them. I think it would be bad for the public to not have it be televised, but I wonder how Trump would react if the media just decided not to cover it at all. Would Trump keep this up if he wasn’t getting all this attention? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martial-law-in-todays-america-daily-report/1022021/112 "2025-10-03T04:53:29Z")
[I’ll be damned. The black helicopters are real. And they’re run by Cruella de Vile.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/ice-barbie-ordered-midnight-raid-152411778.html) > [@](#): > > Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has ICE agents literally raining from the sky. > > Videos show Black Hawk helicopters flying above Chicago, where [NewsNation](https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/immigration/border-coverage/suspected-tren-de-aragua-arrested-chicago/) reports ICE agents rappelled out of choppers onto an apartment building’s rooftop during an overnight raid against alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. > > The massive action—carried out in the early hours of Tuesday morning—was the largest to date as part of the so-called “Operation Midway Blitz,” said NewsNation’s Ali Bradley, who witnessed it on the ground. > > Gregory Bovino, a U.S. Border Patrol commander-at-large, claimed that gang Tren de Aragua was operating inside the five-story apartment building on the city’s South Side that was raided. He told NewsNation that around 30 migrants were taken into custody, using his time in front of the camera also to assert that he is neither a “Nazi” nor is he in the “Gestapo.” And I am requesting the thread title be changed to **Martial Law in Today’s America**. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martial-law-in-todays-america-daily-report/1022021/113 "2025-10-03T04:59:40Z")
Good call. We are at the point where an omnibus thread is probably a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martial-law-in-todays-america-daily-report/1022021/114 "2025-10-03T06:33:22Z")
I’m not sure what the National Guard are doing here. There’s no evidence that they are on the streets, like in DC or LA. There have been law enforcement actions in some of the poorest parts of the city today with apparently a combination of LEOs. They are doing a lot of traffic stops in some areas and apparently calling ICE when people can’t present their papers. > [@](#): > > “They’re just doing mass core pullovers in low-income neighborhoods. To me, that’s at odds. We have a right to freely travel. We have a right to drive our cars,” said Demster. “And they’re pulling people over for absolutely no reason just to identify their immigration status,” [Latino group raises concerns after task force arrests | WREG.com](https://wreg.com/news/local/latino-group-raises-concerns-after-task-force-arrests/) They claim there were 93 arrests in the last 72 hours. This is causing a problem at the jail because there aren’t enough staff to handle that many in a short time. Looks like somebody didn’t think this through. Big surprise. > [@](#): > > “I think this operation, unfortunately, will cause a breakdown in our criminal justice system. In several areas, it’s going to create a bottleneck, a severe bottleneck in processing and detention,” said Rardin. [‘A breakdown:’ Retired asst. DA says more help is needed at 201 Poplar as Memphis Safe Task Force arrests continue](https://www.actionnews5.com/2025/10/02/breakdown-retired-asst-da-says-more-help-is-needed-201-poplar-memphis-safe-task-force-arrests-continue/) 201 Poplar is the city jail. Looking like a clusterfuck so far. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martial-law-in-todays-america-daily-report/1022021/115 "2025-10-03T08:10:51Z")
Title changed at OP’s request. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martial-law-in-todays-america-daily-report/1022021/116 "2025-10-03T09:36:56Z")
Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martial-law-in-todays-america-daily-report/1022021/117 "2025-10-03T17:22:11Z")
Wouldn’t it be nice if all the money and manpower that had gone into this blatant violation of constitutional rights had gone into feeding and housing the needy? ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martial-law-in-todays-america-daily-report/1022021/118 "2025-10-03T17:28:10Z")
I just have to say: my heart _aches_ as I look back across the ocean at my former homeland. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martial-law-in-todays-america-daily-report/1022021/119 "2025-10-03T18:11:57Z")
I am wondering when some of this chaos will hit smaller towns and rural areas? I live near and frequently visit large cities in the US but reside for the most part in a small town. It breaks my heart to see the mess that is now Washington, DC which is one of the cities I visit frequently. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martial-law-in-todays-america-daily-report/1022021/120 "2025-10-03T18:17:54Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > > Bondi said she fully supports law enforcement and says they will charge “anyone who touches a police officer” with assault. Man, that’s going to be rough on their wives… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martial-law-in-todays-america-daily-report/1022021.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martial-law-in-todays-america-daily-report/1022021.md?page=7)