Plus, Trump's new cell phone plan |

Tuesday, June 17, 2025


Julio Ricardo Varela: Road show

President Donald Trump sought to use Los Angeles as a test case for his most dramatic efforts to date to fulfill his campaign promise to carry out the largest deportation in U.S. history. The results show he may have overplayed his hand.

After immigration officials carried out a series of sweeps in Los Angeles, crowds began to gather, leading to protests and, in some cases, clashes with police. Trump sent in the National Guard over the objection of the governor, then the Marines. A California senator was removed from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s press event when he tried to ask questions.

So what did Americans think of all this? Roughly half said Trump has “gone too far” with the arrests of immigrants and disapprove of his handling of the protests, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.

True to form, Trump is now doubling down. In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, he wrote that he will be directing ICE to “expand efforts to detain and deport” undocumented immigrants in “America’s largest cities,” specifically naming Los Angeles, Chicago and New York City.

Even if Trump wanted to carry out mass deportations at the scale he’s promised, the logistics are nearly impossible.

Read Julio Ricardo Varela’s full column here.

 

TODAY’S QUESTION

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Do you think the Trump ‘gold card’ visas are a good idea?

Last week, the Trump administration unveiled a website promoting Trump’s idea for a “gold card” visa that would sell U.S. citizenship for $5 million.

VOTE HERE

 

 

TRUMP’S WEEK IN REVIEW

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Here are some highlights of the president’s actions over the last seven days:

  • Held a military parade in Washington, D.C. on his 79th birthday that cost from $25 million to $40 million.
  • Announced that the Trump Organization would sell a $499 mobile phone and data plan through the new Trump Mobile service.
  • Floated a plan to add another 36 countries to the travel ban, including U.S. partners such as Egypt, according to the Washington Post.
  • Was blocked by a federal judge from implementing an executive order that would require proof of citizenship to vote.
  • Passed a bill in the House, 214-212, to retroactively allow $8.3 billion in foreign aid cuts and cut $1.1 billion from public broadcasting. 

 

THE CHALLENGERS

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The news can feel overwhelming. But each week, we’re highlighting a person, organization or movement that’s sticking up for their principles or their fellow Americans. This week’s challenger is No Kings protesters.

After Trump announced a military parade would be held on June 14, a broad coalition of groups that have opposed the administration came together to organize protests in more than 1,500 cities across the country. In the end, millions of Americans attended, carrying homemade signs. Apart from a handful of incidents, the marches were largely peaceful, helping counter the president’s claims about violent agitators opposing its agenda. The large turnout also sent a powerful statement, especially when compared to the much smaller crowds for the military parade. Read more.

NUMBER OF THE WEEK

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$499

Another day, another announcement that the Trump Organization is launching a new business capitalizing on the president’s name. This time, it’s Trump Mobile, a cell phone service offering a plan for $47.45 (a nod to the President’s two terms) and soon, a $499 gold-colored phone “designed and built in the United States.” The latest in Trump branding was revealed by his two sons in the same place where ten years earlier, on the same date, their dad descended a golden escalator and launched his run for office in 2016. Since then, the company has licensed the family name to watches, sneakers, a guitar, a Bible and more. Last year, royalties for these products and services brought in more than $8 million. Learn more.


— Stephanie Ruhle, host of “The 11th Hour”

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