NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?

SUMMARY

For perspective on the Trump administration’s deployment of active duty Marines to Los Angeles and the federal call-up of the National Guard, Geoff Bennett spoke with James McPherson, an under secretary of the Army during the first Trump administration, and retired Maj. Gen. David Baldwin, the top military commander of National Guard forces in California from 2011-2022.

View the transcript of the story.

News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. When did President Trump deploy National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles?
2. Who is interviewed for this segment, and what are their backgrounds?
3. What is the authority that President Trump is claiming allows him to deploy the military against protests within the United States?
4. Why are Marines not trained for domestic law enforcement, according to Rear Admiral James McPherson?
5. How does the National Guard normally operate, according to Maj. Gen. David Baldwin?

FOCUS QUESTIONS

In this segment, Rear Admiral James McPherson says, "Rules of engagement are defined as the circumstances and the limitations that U.S. forces can initiate or continue combat engagement. Rules of engagement are designed for combat engagement. What these Marines and the National Guard will be acting under are called rules for the use of force. They are very, very different."

Why do you think McPherson stresses the important difference between "rules of engagement" and "rules for the use of force"? How are the military and police forces trained differently, and how do you think that might affect the military's actions in Los Angeles?

Media literacy: Why do you think the producers chose retired military leaders for this segment instead of leaders currently serving?

WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO

What is the Insurrection Act, and what powers does it give a president?

• First, read this explainer on the Insurrection Act from the Brennan Center (you can skim the list of cases where it's been used).
• Next, watch the video before on advocacy for limiting presidential powers around the Insurrection Act. After watching the video, discuss — how would you reform the act to limit the potential for presidential abuse?

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