logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2025
9m 20s

The National Guard arrives in Chicago. W...

NPR
About this episode

The clock is ticking for Chicago and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.

President Trump has deployed the National Guard to the country’s third largest city, and he says they’ll begin operations no later than Wednesday.

Pritzker, a democrat, and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson are fighting the administration’s efforts in the courts.


Trump says Chicago and other cities need the National Guard on the streets. Illinois governor JB Pritzker says it’s an "invasion." What now?

For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org

Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

This episode was produced by Megan Lim.

It was edited by Courtney Dorning.

Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.



See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

Up next
Yesterday
How will the Fed’s interest rate hike affect costs, the midterms?
The Federal Reserve voted to raise its benchmark interest rate for the first time in three years. That means it will cost more to borrow money - at a time when many people are feeling squeezed by high prices. How could the Fed's decision affect people's finances and the midterms? ... Show More
7m 56s
Apr 2026
What can Montgomery Alabama teach Americans about Civil Rights?
The landscape of Montgomery, Alabama is a monument to Civil Rights, but is America losing touch with the lessons of that movement?Montgomery, Alabama was the setting for much of the battle for Civil Rights. As the country celebrates its 250 anniversary, NPR’s Debbie Elliot went t ... Show More
9m 52s
Sep 15
Tech leaders are debating how risky AI is. What does Bill Gates think?
AI leaders are warning about the threats posed by further advances of the technology and actively asking it to be regulated. What does Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, think about the future of AI and where it should go?This episode was produced by Connor Donevan and Erik ... Show More
10m 53s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2025
President of Peace Invades Chicago (feat. JB Pritzker)
Donald Trump ramps up his attacks on American citizens, fighting in court to be able to deploy national guard troops to Chicago, and declaring that Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson should be imprisoned. Jon and Dan react to Trump's threats, the deployme ... Show More
1h 49m
Oct 2025
Trump Claims ‘Rebellion’ in American Cities
<p>Over the past week, ICE and border patrol agents have clashed with Chicago residents, and federal guard troops arriving in the city might inflame tensions further.</p><p>Julie Bosman, Chicago bureau chief for The Times, and Mattathias Schwartz describe the situation on the gro ... Show More
34m 31s
Oct 2025
Trump deploys the National Guard
The president is attempting to send the National Guard into two American cities for two (seemingly) different reasons with two (for now) different results. This episode was produced by Denise Guerra and Danielle Hewitt, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard and K ... Show More
25m 55s
Oct 2025
Chicago vs. ICE
Chicago has been dealing with a lot these days. The city has been a battleground for the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown and efforts to deploy the National Guard. On today’s show, Kimberly asks WBEZ’s Sasha-Ann Simons about what it’s like to be there now. And, we’ll ... Show More
30m 10s
Oct 2025
Troops Headed To Chicago; Troops To Portland Blocked For Now
Donald Trump versus American cities, red states versus blue states. A battle over power boils over between the gavel and the ground. Plus, as ICE confrontations multiply across Chicago, the city is now declaring some areas free from raids. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ... Show More
45m 4s
Sep 2025
IL Gov. Pritzker On Crime, Immigration, Trump's 'Power Grab'
JB Pritzker is in a battle with President Trump over crime and immigration--or really, Pritzker says, over a power grab. Pritzker has so far blocked Trump's effort to deploy the National Guard to Chicago, but immigration agents have arrived. As they did, Pritzker sat for a wide-r ... Show More
32m 2s
Aug 2025
US Cities Under 'Military Occupation?'
National guard troops now carry weapons on the streets of DC ... and Chicago might be next. City officials say they don't need a "military occupation," but do they have the power to stop. Plus, vocal Trump critics are on guard, wondering who's next after the FBI's John Bolton rai ... Show More
46m 7s
Oct 2025
Fed Versus Blue
For the past four months, President Donald Trump has been sending the National Guard into cities that protest his policies. First, it was Los Angeles. Then, it was Washington D.C. And now, it’s Portland, Oregon and Chicago. An Oregon federal judge blocked Trump’s deployment of th ... Show More
27m 33s
Oct 2025
Trump's War on Blue America
Donald Trump orders National Guard troops to Chicago and Portland, making good on his promise to generals to use American cities as "training grounds." Jon, Tommy, and Lovett discuss the court order—issued by a Trump-appointed judge—that blocked the deployment in Portland, the mi ... Show More
1h 26m