Welcome to the beat, everyone. I'm Ari Melbourne. Our top story is an alert that is not normal in the

literal sense that normally we don't see this in America. The president trying to abuse or

widen what our traditional executive powers and doing it on a blatantly partisan basis.

Take a look at the Democratic-led cities that continuously face the threat or

enactment of the deployment of troops. This week begins with the National Guard directed to Portland,

Oregon, dealing with what Donald Trump says could be a full force effort to deal with protests against

ice. Now, the troops are not on the ground.

This is a developing story, and the city is pushing back swiftly, suing with the legal

argument that Trump would not have the authority to call in the guard here, that that is

a state power and, in a related skirmish, one where he already overstepped in California.

Portlanders also turning out Sunday to protest this.

Clashes escalating, meanwhile, in Chicago.

Ice agents seen in tactical gear walking or sort of marching downtown.

Lawmakers, who of course also locally have an obligation to deal with immigration

and security,

say they viewed this as more of an intimidation show than serious patrols.

One ICE official saying agents are making arrests based on looks, something they feel empowered

to do, a Democratic governor pushing back.

If federal agents march down busy streets, harassing civilians and demanding their papers,

what would we say?

I don't think we'd have any trouble calling it what it is.

Authoritarianism.

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