Laura Powell: Who's Most To Blame for the Latest L.A. Riots?

Attorney Laura Powell of Californians for Good Governance joins the show to discuss the civil unrest in Los Angeles following federal immigration raids.

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Laura Powell: Who's Most To Blame for the Latest L.A. Riots?

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Protests and unrest erupted in Los Angeles following federal immigration raids of a Home Depot parking lot and a clothing manufacturer. President Donald Trump ordered National Guard troops, and later U.S. Marines, into Los Angeles against the wishes of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. Downtown Los Angeles and the communities of Paramount and Compton have been wracked by riots, looting, and the burning of autonomous Waymo vehicles.

Today's guest is a self-described "former leftist…politically homeless" Californian who says that California's political establishment has enabled the violence and destruction we're currently seeing in response to the immigration raids. Laura Powell is an attorney and founder of Californians for Good Governance, which was founded to fight government overreach during the COVID-19 era. We discuss Newsom's war of words with Trump, the claim that these riots are an "insurrection," why Powell thinks Democrats are "encouraging" the chaos, whether the use of the military is federal overreach, and the role government-funded nonprofits and unions may have played in escalating the the situation in L.A.

 

00:00—Introduction and ICE raid timeline
03:38—National Guard response: provocation or necessity?
07:09—Is Newsom abdicating responsibility?
10:01—Who are the protesters and what motivates them?
16:28—How California law enforcement lost control
19:42—Federal overreach, civil liberties, and states' rights
26:28—Has California learned anything from past unrest?
30:09—Political theater: Newsom vs. Trump
46:50—Union power and the David Huerta arrest
55:42—What if large-scale deportations actually happened?
59:34—How to fix California governance

 

Mentioned in the podcast:

Newsom on X: "One of the the cornerstones of our Nation…is that our people are governed by civil, not military rule."

LAPD statement about the deployment of 700 Marines

Newsom on X: "Don't give Donald Trump what he wants."

Laura Powell on X: "I really do not want the feds to step in and restore order by declaring martial law."

Stephen Miller on X: "An insurrection against the laws and sovereignty of the United States."

"ICE arrested a California union leader. Does Trump understand what that means?" Los Angeles Times

Laura Powell on X: "EXCLUSIVE: Taxpayer-Funded Nonprofit Behind the Anti-ICE Riots in Los Angeles."

• Producer: John Osterhoudt

Comments

[Longtobefree]

Easy one. Democrats.
Next question?

[Gaear Grimsrud]

That is of course the correct answer but this is Reason so I'm going with Trump here.

[JohnZ]

The best thing Trump could have done is ….nothing. He should have kept troops out of L.A. which would have allowed the rioters to destroy what’s left of L.A. which would seal the fates of both Newscum and Bass as the worst, most incompetent politicians ever. Newscum would have to cancel any hopes of running for President and Bass would become a nobody.
Of course L.A. would lie in ruins but….that’s their problem not mine or yours.
No federal relief funds, emergency funds. Nope, nothing. The American taxpayers are NOT on the hook for this.

[bye]

But that is the same hard-heartedness that put politics ahead of people. You are a Karen Bass and Gov Newsom but you don't know it.

[MasterThief]

First answer is the rioters themselves. Next is the NGOs organizing and funding it. Finally it's Democrats and media encouraging it for the sake of their own power.

[JesseAz (Prime Meanster of Sarcasia)]

A protestor in a mask gave an interview, spelled her full name, is funded by an NGO. Dr retard was saying this is a lie earlier.

https://twitchy.com/warren-squire/2025/06/10/asheville-protester-spells-says-name-on-air-then-claims-wearing-mask-to-protect-identity-from-fascism-n2414056

[Gaear Grimsrud]

Well masks didn't protect us from fascism when we were bending the curve for two years but maybe they'll work this time.

[JohnZ]

The NGOs are most certainly involved. Georgy Swartz and several others, by the way mostly Jewish.

[diver64]

Democrats and Biden. Pretty easy. They allowed millions to flood the country. They allowed untold thousands of criminals to wander away to who knows where. The Dems in Cali invited them in with free everything and "Sanctuary" then refused to help Federal Officials under Trump enforce immigration law. Now when the law is being applied, they are siding with illegal alien criminals over American Citizens. Trump is trying to take control of a situation Newsome and others refuse to.
Of course, this is Reason so TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP

[Longtobefree]

https://notthebee.com/article/someone-did-a-deep-dive-on-whos-funding-the-la-riots-and-the-answer-is-the-lease-surprising-thing-ever

[diver64]

I've read some very good articles over the last few days tracing where the money is coming from. For Newsome to act aggrieved that the Feds are stepping in to stop rioting his state government paid for through it's funding of NGO's is laughable.

[Longtobefree]

https://notthebee.com/article/somebody-is-handing-out-free-riot-gear-to-la-protesters-and-i-wonder-where-the-money-is-coming-from

[JohnZ]

The money is coming from Jewish NGOs. Georgey Swartz among them .

[Longtobefree]

Do a little journalism, Liz. 3 seconds online, it ain't that hard.

[mad.casual]

“former leftist…politically homeless” Californian

[eyeroll] Who will pick our blueberries? How are people expected to sleep without beds?

Fuck your “former leftist… politically homeless” bullshit. The rioters, the immigrants, the California politicians… they didn’t all just show up 5 days ago. The Watts Riots. The Rodney King Riots. The George Floyd Riots. The current riots… you burned your own house down, again, and are now whining about being homeless. Like the rest of us don’t obviously recognize you as just another 8*1* IQ California retard who can't figure out not to play with matches in a garage full of oily rags and half-empty fuel cans.

[Mockamodo]

Government has to allow unskilled, uneducated foreign nationals to break into our nation so they can do the jobs the government pays unskilled, uneducated Americans not to do.

[diver64]

That's pretty close to on the mark.

[bye]

You both blame it on the schools but are not aware you do.
Compare " unskilled, uneducated Americans" And "but I have a diploma that says I am skilled and educated"

[Rick James]

There's a reason the media is trying to downplay these riots. So think about why they'd be interested in doing so, and you have your answer.

[Mother's Lament - (Sarc's a Nazi, not even joking)]

Reason… also Democrats.

Anyhoo, it looks like the Democrats just saw the polling data:

Mayor Karen Bass @MayorOfLA
Let me be clear: ANYONE who vandalized Downtown or looted stores does not care about our immigrant communities.
You will be held accountable.

[Gaear Grimsrud]

Yeah and they're handling out American flags. This shit is hilarious.

[Bipedal Humanoid]

What does it mean, exactly, when a rabid Leftist says "You will be held accountable" ?

[Mockamodo]

The BLM riots were considered such a success for democrats that they've created a new set of riots hoping for the same results. Once again we have mainstream media showing video of police cars on fire and buildings being looted while the reporter is telling us they're actually peaceful protests. It's "American tanks are NOT in Bagdad" as you watch American tanks roll by behind the reporter time again.

[JohnZ]

Bass and Newscum are among the most incompetent politicians to ever run a state or city.
What does that say about those who voted for them?

[JohnZ]

Just as YOU, Karen bass will also be held accountable. F*** off!

[Mother's Lament - (Sarc's a Nazi, not even joking)]

So I guess it’s an invasion then and these are enemy alien combatants. Attention SCOTUS.

President of the Mexican Senate (TODAY):

“We’ll build the wall and pay for it. But we’ll do it according to the 1830 map of Mexico… Mexicans were settled in these territories before the U.S. The Mexicans living there are in what has always been their homeland.”

The people he's calling "Mexicans" have been Americans since 1840. The people burning down LA are current Mexicans who snuck across the border. He's just declared them an invasion.

[Idaho-Bob]

La Raza redux.

Third worlders couldn't keep it, sure as hell can't maintain it, but hey we want it back after two centuries of first world infrastructure building.

[diver64]

I wondered how long it would take someone to bring up La Raza and "Aztlan" Well done. The invaders are trying to make it a reality.

[Gaear Grimsrud]

This is the president of Mexico literally calling for an invasion and it appears her biggest concern is a drop in remitences from illegals in the US. How is this not a national security issue?

[Mother's Lament - (Sarc's a Nazi, not even joking)]

President of the Mexican Senate. The President of Mexico has been dancing around the issue.

[Gaear Grimsrud]

I stand corrected but Sheinbaum hasn't been shy either.

[Rev Arthur L kuckland (5-30-24 banana republic day)]

Interesting name for a mexican

[diver64]

Not so much. She is on record siding with the rioters and calling on the US to essentially not deport anyone. What does it tell you when the President of a country doesn't want their own citizens back?

[diver64]

The President of Mexico is concerned because remitences from the US are Mexico's largest source of revenue. The Big Bill currently in the Senate puts a 3.5% tax on them. I think it should be at least 50% and require Real ID to send.

[JohnZ]

Time for regime change and nation building for Mehico.

[bye]

The bowels of Washington are on this. Expect to see her die soon.
She did a foolish thing as the cartels will NOT protect her. Her death is their benefit.

[Rick James]

Today's guest is a self-described "former leftist…politically homeless" Californian

I run into this a lot... I like to describe people like this as: "walking with a pronounced limp from an old self-inflicted gunshot wound to the foot... unwilling to discuss the circumstances of their limp"

[JesseAz (Prime Meanster of Sarcasia)]

Narrator: they continued to vote democrat every election.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

'Who's Most To Blame for the Latest L.A. Riots?'

Biden.

Who's most to blame for Biden?

Obama.

Who's most to blame for Obama?

Now we're getting somewhere. Choose your favorite globalist WEF-DNC-left wing billionaire.

[Mother's Lament - (Sarc's a Nazi, not even joking)]

Here's Obama before your favorite globalist WEF-DNC-left wing billionaires decided to replace the population.

[NCMB]

“ Who's Most To Blame for the Latest L.A. Riots?”

The people rioting?

[Roberta]

The rioters, duh!

[CE]

The people lighting the cars on fire and blocking the freeway?

[AT]

"Most to blame" implies a scale of blameworthiness.

Let's not screw around.

To blame: Illegals. Journalists. Democrats. Leftists. Marxists. Globalists. Reason dot com. Anyone who funds any of them or provides them funding even slightly.

Not to blame: ICE. Americans supporting ICE. Waymo. Property owners. Business owners. The cops. Koreans on rooftops.

NGL, the greatest moment of these riots was that Aussie lefty jOuRnaLisT taking a rubber bullet in the leg. I'm going to make the sound of that round and her shriek on impact my new ringtone.

[Rev Arthur L kuckland (5-30-24 banana republic day)]

Waymo is owned by Google, who funds dems. They get what the deserve

[JohnZ]

Google was created by DARPA

[Gaear Grimsrud]

Three libertarian articles today regurgitating the DNC talking point of the day that Trump is responsible for rioting in LA. I think I see a trend here.

[DesigNate]

Noticing the revealed bias is like noticing the abject hypocrisy: don’t do it if you don’t want people to think you’re an icky Republican!

[Brett Bellmore]

You don't refute, "It was centrally planned and funded because all the tents were identical" by pointing out that it was the cheapest tent on Amazon.

Central planners will buy a bunch of the cheapest tent. People buying tents for themselves will have varying preferences for cost vs quality. If everybody has the same tent, it's probably because somebody else bought a bunch, and handed them out.

Like the high end gas masks being handed out now to the rioters, and the pre-printed signs.

[diver64]

Quite a number of the signs actually have the name of the NGO funded by California printed right on the bottom of them. All of this was preplanned months ago.

[bye]

FBI Arrests Foreign Invader Who Distributed Anti-Gas-Mask Face Shields to Rioters; Man Is a Member of a Latino Gang Paramilitary "The Brown Berets"

[Brett Bellmore]

Wow. Having listened to the whole thing, it was unusually balanced for Reason and this topic. They seem to have actually internalized that deporting illegals IS popular, and IS going to happen.

This would all be much less disruptive if we hadn't had a couple generations of the federal government deliberately not enforcing immigration laws. But we did.

I don't think either Trump or Newsom are going to back down. And the law is pretty unambiguously on Trump's side here, (But will the courts care?) and the optics are great for him, too. So it's going to get ugly in California.

[diver64]

The optics are what counts right now not the caterwauling of the left.
The image of a guy in a mask standing on a car waving the Mexican Flag while vehicles burn around him will never go away. No amount of spin by the Dems are going to fix that.

[bye]

FBI Arrests Foreign Invader Who Distributed Anti-Gas-Mask Face Shields to Rioters; Man Is a Member of a Latino Gang Paramilitary "The Brown Berets"

[JohnZ]

As one poster already stated: the Democrats. Primarily DHS head Mayorcass, Biden, Harris and the entire DHS, FBI, in fact most of Washington, D.C. Then there are the idiots who voted for other idiots like Biden, Newsom, karen Bass and the entire government in Sacramento. You're all idiots.
You get what you voted for!
This is what our system produces: garbage in-garbage out.

[Uncle Jay]

Well, call me silly, but I would blame the rioters, looters and vandals for the violence in Los Angeles.

[CharlieG]

The blame belongs with the incompetent government in California at all levels.

[GOD OF PENGUIN ISLAND]

Liz @ 12:10 "I never want to indulge the super conspiratorial"

In a discussion about paid rioters.

What's the name of the podcast again?

[bye]

FBI Arrests Foreign Invader Who Distributed Anti-Gas-Mask Face Shields to Rioters; Man Is a Member of a Latino Gang Paramilitary "The Brown Berets"

[bye]

LA racked by fires (while Mayor does the watusi in Africa) and then crushed by riots...at the least this is Lori Lightfool all over. Mayor must be to blame.

Then Gov Newsom , knowing that Brown Beret has been implicated, does ZERO.
FBI Arrests Foreign Invader Who Distributed Anti-Gas-Mask Face Shields to Rioters; Man Is a Member of a Latino Gang Paramilitary "The Brown Berets"

Why did we need a discussion. None of my neighbors or co-workers or acquaintances sees this other than ...bad guys are here illegally and government does shitall nothing until Trump steps in.

[bye]

You can't blame the mayor for the fires , she was --- get this!!--- in Africa. I was at a disco when my 6 unattended children were killed, so you can't blame me.