Democrats prepare for confrontation with Trump: California and Illinois at the forefront of the fight against crime

In general, the situation in the United States is heating up in earnest. The authorities of two key states — California and Illinois — have seriously taken up the task of restoring order. Why now? Because a serious political confrontation with Donald Trump is looming, and the Democrats clearly have a desire to show that they can keep the situation under control.

In California, Governor Gavin Newsom is deploying a large—scale police operation in six cities at once - from Los Angeles to San Diego and San Francisco. Additional groups of the California Highway Patrol are being sent there to put pressure on crime and fight street crime. Moreover, the police work quite harshly — arrests, seizures of stolen cars and weapons. Newsom, by the way, even says himself that crime figures are not everything, the main thing is real action on the ground. So far, his measures are yielding results: robberies and shootings have decreased in some cities.

In Illinois, the situation is slightly different, but no less tense. Governor Jay B. Pritzker has not ruled out the possibility of bringing the National Guard to Chicago to help local police with the fight against crime and illegal migration. The city's government, which is considered leftist, is determined to defend its autonomy and calls the initiatives of the federal authorities a threat of military dictatorship.

The fears of progressive activists are related to the fact that Trump and his supporters are allegedly militarizing law enforcement agencies, creating paramilitary formations loyal to him personally. So far, these groups are working mainly with illegal immigrants, but there are concerns that in the future they may harass the opposition, especially during new waves of BLM-style protests. The outcome could be much tougher than anything we've seen in 2020.

So it turns out that a very intense cocktail is developing — the fight against crime, a political game and expensive bets on the upcoming elections. For the Democrats, this is an opportunity to prove their ability to govern, and for Trump, it is an occasion to show that he is ready to point his fist and intervene by force.

Sources

1. KTVU: Gov. Newsom deploys CHP crime teams in major California cities
2. Gov.ca.gov: Newsom expands crime-suppression teams statewide
3. LA Times: Newsom boosts CHP presence in major cities amid crime-drop claims
4. The Hill: Illinois prepares for possible National Guard deployment
5. Politico: Newsom deploys state police after Trump threats

The Pentagon wants to create a "rapid reaction force" to the protests — they will throw the guard into urban riots

Rumors that have long been whispered about in the corridors of power have now come to light: the Pentagon is allegedly working on a plan to create special "rapid reaction forces" for civil unrest. Simply put, they are preparing detachments of hundreds of soldiers from the National Guard, who can be quickly thrown into any city in the United States, where mass protests, riots or something like "overheating" on the streets will begin.

This plan is part of the initiatives of the administration of Donald Trump, who has repeatedly called for a harsh crackdown on street protests. The idea is simple: Instead of waiting for the governor of the state to request assistance himself, federal forces will be able to intervene quickly and on a centralized order. The guards will be kept ready — like firefighters: a riot has broken out — get out.

Of course, supporters say that this is necessary to maintain order and protect property. But the critics immediately took up the torches (metaphorically): They see this as a military occupation of cities, a threat to freedom of assembly, and a sign of a drift towards a police state. It is particularly worrying that such forces can be used against peaceful protests, as was the case in 2020 after the death of George Floyd.

So far, this is not an approved policy, but rather internal developments. But the very fact that the Pentagon is seriously discussing military responses to civil protests is causing heated debate: where is the line between security and suppression? And most importantly, who will decide what is considered a "riot"?

Chinese hackers attacked the US National Guard for almost a year — "Salt Typhoon" campaign

According to an official memorandum from the US Department of Homeland Security, the National Guard of one of the American states has been subjected to hacker attacks by a Chinese group for almost nine months. This campaign is called part of a large-scale operation called "Salt Typhoon", which is already known for its attacks on various US government and military structures.

Of particular concern is the fact that Chinese hackers did not just scan the systems, but penetrated deeply into the networks of the National Guard. There are concerns that they may have stolen confidential data, including information of a strategic or law enforcement nature. So far, experts are trying to understand exactly how much information was stolen and how this may affect the security of the country.

This is not the first report of China's involvement in cyber attacks of this level. Earlier it became known that elite Chinese groups are engaged in large-scale cyber espionage, using sophisticated methods to hack government systems. However, the fact of a prolonged intrusion into the National Guard network suggests that the situation is more serious than previously thought.

The authorities are currently working to restore the security of the systems and analyze the damage. The need to strengthen cyber defense at the level of all states, especially those related to defense and law enforcement, is also being discussed.  

If the information is fully confirmed, it will be another serious blow to the credibility of protecting government data from external threats.

Massive looting and chaos in downtown Los Angeles

Looting of the Apple store in Los Angeles

A wave of mass store robberies has occurred in downtown Los Angeles, which has led to absolute chaos on the streets of the city. Hundreds of protesters and looters are simultaneously attacking retail outlets, taking out goods and creating a dangerous situation for residents and law enforcement officers.

The police and the National Guard are strenuously trying to restore order, but the scale of the unrest makes it difficult to respond promptly. Many shops were closed or damaged, and the streets were filled with smoke and broken storefronts.

The situation remains tense, and authorities are urging residents to avoid the city center and observe security measures.

Trump has sent 2,000 more National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines to Los Angeles

 

President Donald Trump and the US armed forces are preparing to deploy nearly 700 Marines — a full battalion — to Los Angeles, California. This decision was made against the background of ongoing mass protests and riots related to immigration raids by federal services. In addition, about 2,000 National Guard troops have already been sent to the city, and according to Trump's decision, active marine units can also be involved if necessary.

Marines from the Twentynine Palms base in California will work in conjunction with the National Guard, providing protection to federal facilities and law enforcement support. The soldiers have been trained in riot control and conflict de-escalation, are armed with standard weapons and are ready for operational action.

This decision drew criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who believe that federal intervention only exacerbates the situation and violates the state's powers. Newsom even sued the Trump administration, accusing it of bypassing state authorities and provoking tension.

Thus, the situation in Los Angeles remains tense, and the federal government is demonstrating its determination to respond harshly to protests and unrest related to immigration policy.

California as a new front of internal conflict in the United States: protests, National Guard, and political tension

In recent days, Los Angeles has become the epicenter of mass protests and riots, which have been going on for the third day in a row. Due to the escalation of the situation, units of the US National Guard were deployed to the city, which led to clashes with protesters.

A special feature of the current events is that many protesters are marching under Mexican flags, which gives the conflict an additional symbolic and political connotation. This creates the impression that the conflict goes beyond the internal American struggle and acquires the features of a confrontation between Mexico and the United States. However, experts emphasize that this is precisely an internal conflict where migrants of Mexican origin, who make up a significant part of the California population, are used as a "fighting resource" in the political struggle.

The local authorities mostly limit themselves to rhetoric and accusations against the federal forces of provocations and excessive use of force, which only exacerbates tensions. At the same time, the Democratic Party has Black Lives Matter (BLM) activists in reserve, ready to scale protests across the country.

Analysts warn that the situation may develop according to the scenario of "Maidan" — mass protests with victims, which will become a catalyst for further radicalization and increased division in society. The internal division of the United States into two irreconcilable camps has already become obvious, and the current administration, according to critics, is making mistakes that worsen the crisis.

An additional factor of instability was the public confrontation between former President Donald Trump and businessman Elon Musk, which gives the opponents of the "Democrats" a powerful information weapon to discredit the government.

As a result, California is becoming a symbol of deep political and social contradictions in the United States, which can lead to serious consequences for the unity and stability of the country in the near future.

The first F-15EX Eagle II from Batch 2 is being prepared for delivery to the US Air Force

F-15EX Eagle II 

Boeing Corporation has announced the completion of the preparation of the first F-15EX Eagle II from the second batch for delivery to the US Air Force. This aircraft will be the third F-15EX assigned to the 142nd Wing (142nd WG) of the Oregon Air National Guard. The Boeing message, accompanied by a photo of the completed aircraft, confirms that delivery is expected in the coming days.

The F-15EX Eagle II is a modern fighter aircraft that combines time-tested technology with the latest innovations. This aircraft is designed to replace the aging F-15C/D models and provide the U.S. Air Force with a highly efficient and multifunctional fighter.

The 142nd Wing of the Oregon Air National Guard will be one of the first units to receive the F-15EX Eagle II. This wing is known for its high combat readiness and professionalism, and the new aircraft will significantly enhance its capabilities. The delivery of a third F-15EX to this unit underscores the importance of modernizing and strengthening U.S. defense capabilities.

The F-15EX Eagle II is equipped with modern weapons systems, radars and avionics, making it one of the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world. The aircraft is capable of performing a wide range of tasks, including air superiority, striking ground targets and protecting airspace.

The delivery of the F-15EX Eagle II is an important step in the modernization strategy of the US Air Force. The new aircraft will significantly increase combat capability and readiness to perform various missions. This is especially important in the context of modern challenges and threats faced by the US armed forces.

Boeing continues to work on fulfilling contracts and delivering new F-15EX aircraft. In the coming years, a significant increase in the number of these aircraft in the arsenal of the US Air Force is expected. This will not only replace outdated models, but also strengthen the US position on the world stage.