Clashes in LA, Abrego Indictment, Cartel Influencers
Ep. 324 w/ Shownotes
Ravi opens with a deep dive into the unfolding chaos in Los Angeles, where the Trump administration has deployed federal agents and Marines to respond to the ongoing immigration protests. He breaks down what we know so far, why the deployment of federal troops may set a dangerous precedent for civilian law enforcement, and what else is at stake from a legal and constitutional perspective.
Antón Barba-Kay, author of A Web of Our Own Making, then joins the show to explain how Mexican drug cartels have become social media influencers. Ravi and Anton discuss cartel propaganda, TikTok as a national security threat, and the flattening of culture in the digital age.
Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 321-200-0570
For Trump, This Is a Dress Rehearsal (The Atlantic, 6/8/25)
The White House Marching Orders That Sparked the L.A. Migrant Crackdown (The Wall Street Journal, 6/9/25)
What to Know About the Los Angeles Protests and Trump’s Response (The Wall Street Journal, 6/10/25)
Bondi Bends on Abrego Garcia (The Wall Street Journal, 6/8/25)
The Los Angeles protests. (Tangle News, 6/9/25)
What is the Insurrection Act, and what happens if Trump uses it to quell LA protests? (ABC News, 6/9/25)
A Web of Our Own Making (Anton Barba-Kay, 6/11/23)
How Drug Cartels Took Over Social Media (The Atlantic, 4/26/25)
Antón Barba-Kay | The Politics of AI and the Fate of Liberal Democracy (Notre Dame CCCG, 4/2/25)
Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show: 321-200-0570
Follow The Branch on Instagram
Subscribe to Lost Debate on Apple