National Guard, Toxic Books, & Ed the Zebra

News without the noise

Adam Rogers
June 09, 2025

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Trump has federalized California's National Guard against Governor Newsom's wishes to respond to immigration protests in Los Angeles.

The president ordered 2,000 troops to deploy on Sunday after what press secretary Karoline Leavitt called attacks by "violent mobs" on ICE officers during deportation operations that led to over 100 arrests.
The move creates a constitutional confrontation, with Trump seizing control of state National Guard units under presidential authority typically reserved for domestic rebellion or when states cannot maintain order. Trump spoke with Newsom for 40 minutes Friday before deciding to override state control.
Tensions escalated Sunday afternoon as thousands of protesters blocked the 101 freeway and confronted around 300 deployed Guard members at the Metropolitan Detention Center, where immigration detainees are held. Police used tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash bangs to disperse crowds on the third day of demonstrations. Governor Newsom formally requested that Trump remove the troops, calling their presence a "serious breach of state sovereignty.”
The federalization of state troops against a governor's wishes is rare, with the last major precedent being Eisenhower federalizing Arkansas's National Guard in 1957 during the desegregation of Central High School in Little Rock.

Colombian presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay survived an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Bogotá.

The 39-year-old right-wing senator from the Democratic Center party was shot twice in the head and once in the knee while he was speaking to supporters in the Fontibón neighborhood. Uribe underwent neurosurgery and vascular procedures and "came out well from the surgery,” according to his wife.
A 15-year-old boy was arrested at the scene with a firearm, while two other people were wounded in the shooting. Colombia's government deployed military, police, and intelligence forces to investigate the attack.
Colombia has a bloody history of political violence, with nearly 2,000 local politicians assassinated between 1980 and 2023. The pattern continues with 364 political leaders attacked in the past year alone, including 91 killed. Uribe's father was a journalist who was kidnapped and killed in 1991 during one of the country's most violent periods.

Carlos Alcaraz saved three match points in a historic comeback, while Gauff ended a decade-long American drought at the French Open.

Carlos Alcaraz rallied from two sets down to defeat Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2) on Sunday, capturing his second straight French Open title and fifth Grand Slam. The Spanish star saved three match points in the fourth set, joining Novak Djokovic as the only players to come back from two sets down in a French Open final.
The men's contest lasted 5 hours and 29 minutes - the longest French Open final in the Open Era - culminating with Alacariz dominating the decisive fifth-set tiebreak 10-2. The defeat extended Sinner's losing streak against Alcaraz to five straight matches, including last year's French Open semifinal.
Coco Gauff defeated world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 on Saturday to become the first American woman to win the French Open since Serena Williams in 2015. The 21-year-old rallied after losing the first set in a tiebreak, dominating the final two sets to claim her second Grand Slam title.

National parks face a severe staffing crisis as the Trump administration cuts forces Yosemite scientists to clean toilets. A record 331 million visitors strained services last year. Now, the labor force is down 13%. (More)

The SPCA and Raleigh Animal Control rescued over 100 dogs from a North Carolina puppy mill where animals were packed five-to-six per cage in filth. (More)

The FAA is limiting Newark Airport to 28 arrivals and departures per hour on weekends through December due to staffing and equipment challenges, causing delays. (More)

Rwanda quit the Central African States economic bloc after being denied chairmanship over its alleged support for M23 rebels capturing Congo cities. (More)

Iran expanded dog walking bans from Tehran to eighteen more cities this week, citing health concerns. It also prohibits transporting dogs in vehicles. (More)

Israel Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the military to block an aid boat carrying twelve activists, including Greta Thunberg, toward Gaza. (More)

US stock markets closed higher on Friday (S&P +1.03%, Nasdaq +1.20%, Dow +1.05%). Better-than-expected nonfarm payrolls data pushed stocks higher. (More)

China agreed to fast-track rare earth mineral exports to the US and EU after Trump-Xi talks, as 75% of American companies face supply shortages. (More)

Westinghouse is in talks with US officials about deploying ten large nuclear reactors following Trump's executive orders to fast-track reactor licensing. (More)

Cynthia Erivo hosted the 78th Tony Awards Sunday at Radio City Music Hall, with "Maybe Happy Ending" winning Best Musical and “Purpose” claiming Best Play. (More)

Portugal defeated Spain 5-3 on penalties after Sunday's 2-2 Nations League final draw in Munich, claiming their second tournament championship. (More)

Sovereignty defeated Journalism Saturday in the 157th Belmont Stakes at Saratoga, becoming the first horse since 2018 to win two Triple Crown races. (More)

England’s High Court Judge Victoria Sharp ruled lawyers must verify AI research after cases included dozens of fake citations generated by ChatGPT-like tools. (More)

St Andrews researchers developed a device detecting arsenic in Victorian-era green book covers, addressing century-old toxicity threatening library workers and researchers. (More)

USC scientists discovered Nup98 protein forms protective droplets around damaged DNA in tightly packed genome regions, preventing genetic mistakes that could lead to cancer. (More)

Ketchup once sold as a medicine.

The top small US cities for food and drink.

Almost 60% of US adults say they have money in a retirement account.

Ed the Zebra was captured after more than a week on the run in Tennessee.

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