Federal powers and talk of policing and military takeovers or interventions in cities?
Law pointer of relevance today. The federal government is of limited authority, meaning it only has the powers specifically given to it within the U.S. Constitution, and other powers are reserved to the states, or to the people. That's the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Immense power where it exists, but limited to those enumerated powers.
Fellow humans, as we debate law and government and anything else, let's be consistent and reasonable, regardless of which party or person or cause we are supporting (or opposing or perhaps demonizing).
Some people say they are for "states rights" or "limited federal government", or are "originalists" or "textualists". If so, let's apply that to these acts and words (not try to excuse it or minimize it). "States rights" shouldn't be selectively invoked only in the circumstances when you agree with the state, but disagree with the federal government.
Of course, the District of Columbia is not a state (maybe it is time that it becomes one). But Chicago is within a state, as are other cities mentioned as the subject of federal policing and military intervention.
Every city and place has crime problems. We can disagree with many of these city's approaches to crime (I often do).
But this is definitely not the way to address it. This is is simply divisive, inefficient, harmful, and worse.
And government officials and employees should follow the U.S. Constitution, never violate it, nor even talk or imply they might do something that might violate it.
From the NYT:
"D.C.’s mayor acknowledged local officials could do little to block what was expected to be a 30-day takeover of the capital’s policing. President Trump suggested his action might be expanded to other cities."
"Mr. Trump also threatened to expand his efforts to other cities, including Chicago, if they did not deal with crime rates he claimed were “out of control.”
NYT: Live Updates: Trump Orders National Guard to Washington and Takeover of Capital’s Police
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/08/11/us/trump-news
#law #policing #criminaljustice #nationoflaws