Episode 12 - Los Angeles Unrest Stokes Fears of Escalation

Veteran journalist Gavin O’Toole unpacks the volatile unrest unfolding on the streets of Los Angeles. What began as protests against aggressive ICE raids targeting immigrant communities has escalated into a dramatic constitutional showdown between the state of California and the Trump administration.

Gavin explains the deepening political crisis, exploring the legality of deploying military forces without state consent, the risks of politicising the armed forces, and the potential consequences for America’s federal system. With the spectre of past riots looming large and civil rights under scrutiny, this episode investigates whether California’s defiance marks a turning point, or a dangerous flashpoint, in the nation's ongoing battle over immigration, authority, and democracy itself.