Don's Army: Is Trump politicizing the military? | Planet America

Planet America Weekend Edition Summary

Key Concepts:

• Illegal deployment of National Guard and Marines
• Politicization of the military
• Trump's use of military for personal/political gain
• Gavin Newsom's political maneuvering
• US-China trade relations and tariffs
• Rare earth metals and export controls

1. Trump's Illegal Use of Military Force

• Main Point: President Trump illegally deployed the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles to assist with protests against immigration raids, exceeding his authority and politicizing the military.
• Details:
  • Trump cited Title 10 section 12406 as legal basis, but this only refers to National Guard, not Marines.
  • Defense Secretary Hegsth couldn't cite constitutional authority for Marine deployment.
  • A federal court ruled the takeover of the California National Guard illegal.
  • Trump's actions are designed to inflame the situation for political gain.
• Irony: Federalizing the National Guard renders them useless for domestic law enforcement, as they can't act in that capacity when federalized.
• Quote: "He is not a monarch he is not a king and he should stop acting like one." - John Baron

2. Military Parade and Protests

• Main Point: Trump's planned military parade in Washington D.C. is a vanity exercise with unsettling echoes of authoritarian regimes, coinciding with major protests across the country.
• Details:
  • The parade is ostensibly to celebrate the Army's 250th anniversary, but also falls on Trump's birthday.
  • Trump stated protesters would be met with "very big force."
  • "No Kings" protests are planned in 1500 locations, avoiding direct confrontation with the parade.
  • Trump's memo allows deployment of National Guard and Marines wherever protests are "likely to occur."

3. Trump's Politicization of the Military

• Main Point: Trump is using the American military for his personal and political benefit, breaking with tradition and precedent.
• Details:
  • Trump gave an openly partisan speech at Fort Bragg, violating the Hatch Act.
  • Military personnel are not permitted to attend campaign-style political rallies in their uniforms.
  • Trump played his campaign warm-up song and troops shouted their approval.
  • Trump announced the restoration of old names to bases and forts associated with pro-slavery forces from the Civil War, including Fort Roberty Lee.
  • Trump encouraged the army to boo the media.
• Quote: "We're not a college or a university we're not interested in your woke garbage and your political correctness what is that" - Trump at Fort Bragg.

4. Israeli Strike Against Iran

• Main Point: Israel launched air strikes against Iran's nuclear program, potentially escalating regional conflict, while Trump's administration may be increasingly marginal to allied decisions.
• Details:
  • It's unclear if the US assisted in the strike.
  • Trump attempted to dissuade the Israelis unsuccessfully.
  • The US may be seen as a less reliable ally due to deals with the Houthi and Hamas that didn't consider Israeli interests.
  • A series of strikes may set back Iran's nuclear ambitions but not eliminate the infrastructure.

5. Gavin Newsom's Political Ambitions

• Main Point: Gavin Newsom is positioning himself as a leader of the Democratic party and a potential presidential candidate in 2028, using the protests and Trump's actions to his advantage.
• Details:
  • Newsom gave a speech criticizing Trump's deployment of troops, framing it as an assault on democracy.
  • Newsom is term-limited as California governor and may run for president in 2028.
  • Newsom is trying to make himself the opposition for Trump.
  • Newsom has tacked to the center politically and is engaging with conservative figures.
• Quote: "Democracy is under assault before our eyes this moment we have feared has arrived" - Gavin Newsom.

6. US-China Trade Deal

• Main Point: Trump announced a trade deal with China, but the details are misleading and the deal may not be as favorable to the US as claimed.
• Details:
  • Trump claimed a 55% to 10% tariff advantage, but this is based on adding existing tariffs.
  • The deal involves relaxation of export restrictions for China, including jet engines and ethane.
  • China is putting a six-month limit on rare earth export licenses for US automakers.
  • China is buying Airbus aircraft instead of Boeing.
• Counterpoint: The inflation rate came in at 1%, or 2.4% for the year, despite expected price increases due to tariffs.

7. Trump's Musical Aspirations

• Main Point: Trump claims to have a high aptitude for music, despite evidence to the contrary.
• Details:
  • Trump said he could have been a great musician if his father hadn't frowned upon it.
  • Trump plays music on a sound system at Mar-a-Lago.
  • Trump punched his music teacher in the second grade because he didn't think he knew anything about music.

Synthesis/Conclusion:

The Planet America Weekend Edition highlights President Trump's controversial actions, including the illegal deployment of military forces, the politicization of the military, and a questionable trade deal with China. It also examines Gavin Newsom's political ambitions and the potential for escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. The episode paints a picture of a highly polarized political landscape with significant legal and ethical concerns surrounding the actions of the US President.