West
Pentagon scaling down National Guard deployment to LA
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The Pentagon is releasing 2,000 National Guard troops from their federal mission to Los Angeles.
“Thanks to our troops who stepped up to answer the call, the lawlessness in Los Angeles is subsiding,” chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement to Fox News on Tuesday night. “As such, the Secretary has ordered the release of 2,000 California National Guardsmen (79th IBCT) from the federal protection mission.”
The Trump administration had federalized roughly 4,000 National Guard soldiers and deployed 700 Marines to Los Angeles in early June to quell anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) riots and protests.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass categorized the rescission of about half of the National Guard troops deployed to the city as a “retreat.”
4 ARRESTED IN ALLEGED BORDER PATROL OPERATION SABOTAGE ATTEMPT NEAR LA AS ATTACKS ON IMMIGRATION AGENTS SURGE
Demonstrators face a mix of U.S. Marines, National Guards and Department of Homeland Security police officers in front of the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles, California, following immigration operations on July 4, 2025. (ETIENNE LAURENT/AFP via Getty Images)
“This happened because the people of Los Angeles stood united and stood strong. We organized peaceful protests, we came together at rallies, we took the Trump administration to court — all of this led to today’s retreat,” the Democratic mayor claimed in a statement, adding, “We will not stop making our voices heard until this ends, not just here in LA, but throughout our country.”
Bass said in a press conference that the National Guard’s primary mission has been to guard two buildings that “frankly didn’t need to be guarded.”
“I am hoping that this experiment with the lives of people ends here,” she said.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom sued the Trump administration for deploying California National Guard troops despite his opposition. He argued that the National Guard troops were likely violating the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits troops from conducting civilian law enforcement on U.S. soil.
Newsom won an early victory in the case after a federal judge ruled the Guard deployment was illegal and exceeded Trump’s authority. An appeals court tossed that order, and control of the troops remained with the federal government. The federal court is set to hear arguments next month on whether the troops are violating the Posse Comitatus Act.
US Marines and National Guards protecting the entrance of the Metropolitan Detention Center as demonstrators gather in front of it following federal immigration operations, in Los Angeles, California on July 4, 2025. (ETIENNE LAURENT/AFP via Getty Images)
NEWSOM ESCALATES TRUMP IMMIGRATION FEUD WITH FOUL-MOUTHED INSULT
The deployment of National Guard troops was for 60 days, though Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had the discretion to shorten or extend it “to flexibly respond to the evolving situation on the ground,” the Trump administration’s lawyers wrote in a June 23 filing in the legal case.
Following the Pentagon’s decision Tuesday, Newsom said in a statement that the National Guard’s deployment to Los Angeles County has pulled troops away from their families and civilian work “to serve as political pawns for the President.”
He added that the remaining troops “continue without a mission, without direction and without any hopes of returning to help their communities.”
“We call on Trump and the Department of Defense to end this theater and send everyone home now,” he said.
U.S. Marines and National Guards stand in line protecting the entrance of the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles, California on July 4, 2025. (ETIENNE LAURENT/AFP via Getty Images)
In late June, the top military commander in charge of troops deployed to Los Angeles asked Hegseth for 200 Guardsmen to be returned to wildfire-fighting duty. Newsom had warned the Guard was understaffed as California entered peak wildfire season.
The end of the deployment comes a week after Bass was blasted on social media for interrupting federal authorities and National Guard troops during an operation at MacArthur Park, a known hotbed for homelessness and crime. The mayor claimed children were playing in the park when the “MILITARY comes through” and demanded to speak to ICE leadership at the scene. No arrests were reported, and online users lamented that Bass cared more for illegal aliens than Los Angeles fire victims.
On Tuesday afternoon, there was no visible military presence outside the federal complex downtown that had been the center of early protests and where National Guard troops first stood guard before the Marines were assigned to protect federal buildings, according to the Associated Press. Hundreds of soldiers have been accompanying agents on immigration operations.
Fox News’ James Levinson and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Valentine’s: Pillow fights, free portraits, dining out, and more
San Francisco was bustling on Saturday with both locals and out-of-town visitors celebrating Valentine’s Day. Couples, families, and friends could be seen strolling down the Embarcadero, stopping at the many markets, stands, and restaurants along the way.
While many people made holiday reservations at restaurants, there were plenty of other ways to celebrate too, including lots of free activities.
“It’s exciting, fun for a Valentine’s Day, and different,” said Walter Paulson of San Francisco, who said he has been to four of these pillow fights.
At the Embarcadero Plaza, hundreds of people got together to take part in the annual free pillow fight tradition. This year, participants were instructed to bring only synthetic pillows, no pillows stuffed with feathers.
San Francisco residents Allie McAndrews and Lilly Datnow were among the group of friends organizing the pillow fight.
McAndrews explained that while the San Francisco Valentine’s pillow fight had been going on for more than 20 years, the tradition hit a lull during the pandemic. She and her friend went to the fight last year and thought it was “the best thing,” but it was in need of some more organizing and publicity. McAndrews and her friend took it upon themselves to get the word out about the event this year, and to lead the group in stretches and activities (such as screaming into your pillow).
Many people showed up to the pillow fight wearing costumes. Some veterans of the pillow fight opted to wear goggles as eye protection.
Around San Francisco, couples could be seen walking hand in hand and dining at restaurants.
Others were out in search of their special someone, like those attending BART’s annual Valentraine speed-dating event, where passengers looking for love hopped aboard in the Mission District and rode the train to Millbrae and back.
At Pier 7, people could get their photos taken for free in the giant photo frame art installation on the waterfront, courtesy of the Port of San Francisco and Big Art Loop.
“Cause we’re in love with San Francisco, and it’s Valentine’s Day, and we just wanted to give back,” explained Annabelle Lee with Big Art Loop, which is the group working to install 100 public art sculptures in San Francisco.
Many out-of-town visitors said they enjoyed the Valentine’s energy in San Francisco.
“Yeah, it’s nice to be in the city. I love coming out to the city, it’s a beautiful city,” said Pinne Chao of Stockton.
Denver, CO
THE DIG: Break Stuff | ft. Miroslav Ćuk and Jeremy Poley – Denver Stiffs
The Dig is back with a recap of the first half of the season including chatter around the NBA All-Star game, the current zeitgeist, and first-half awards. Nick, Miro, and Jeremy also make some second-half predictions and try to keep Miroslav off of FBI blacklists. (NOTE: My Twitter account was hacked this week, so please disregard any DMs asking for a vote for some podcast award. Obviously, I am well-aware that this podcast has no business being awarded anything.)
The Dig is a biweekly-ish podcast for Denver Nuggets fans, hot-take appreciators, pro-America globetrotters, and all around ethical hoops enjoyers. The Dig is not for fans of floppers, flukes, and flameouts.
WARNING: Content may include Serbian idioms that would likely be, if intelligible, offensive to some listeners. Discretion advised.
Seattle, WA
Jorge Prado withdraws from Seattle SMX Round 6 with a shoulder injury
Jorge Prado posted the fastest time in qualification for Round 6 of the SuperMotocross World Championship, but a hard crash in the second session sent him off the track early to have his shoulder evaluated.
Prado was x-rayed by the Alpinestars Medical crew and showed no sign of a break, but after lining up for Heat 2 and taking the gate drop, he realized he would not be healthy enough to race.
Prado withdrew from the heat, and the team immediately announced that he would not line up for the Last Chance Qualifier.
Christian Craig was also unable to line up for the LCQ.
Last week, RJ Hampshire was forced to retire from the round after suffering flu-like symptoms.
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