What can National Guard troops REALLY do in Chicago?

About this episode

The episode discusses the legal and logistical implications of deploying National Guard troops in Chicago amidst federal intervention.

From the earliest days of the United States, there has been a debate about where the power should lie: with the states or with a central U.S. government? Now, that debate is playing out in Chicago and the suburbs. As the Trump administration gears up to send in federal troops to bolster "Operation Midway Blitz" and its mass deportation program, state and local officials are fighting back. To help explain the legal and logistical possibilities of all of this, we're joined on the Takeaway this week by Civic Federation President Joe Ferguson and former general Richard Hayes who once served as the highest-ranking member of the Illinois National Guard.

People in this episode

Guests: Joe Ferguson, Richard Hayes

Topics covered

• National Guard
• Chicago
• federal troops
• Operation Midway Blitz
• mass deportation
• state vs federal power

Keywords

• Civic Federation
• Illinois National Guard
• Trump administration

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Chicago, the United States, U.S.

More episodes of The Takeaway with Alex

• Olympics 2026 behind the scenes: 100-DAY COUNTDOWN to Milan-Cortina! · October 29, 2025 · 31 min
• Bulls 2025 Season Preview: Adam Amin on Giddey, Coby, Matas, his favorite calls + DJ side hustle · October 22, 2025 · 40 min
• Why do we have Daylight Saving Time? · October 10, 2025 · 21 min
• What happened to Jimmy Hoffa? Clues, cover-ups, new details · September 26, 2025 · 26 min
• What the Dallas Cowboys documentary DIDN'T show (ex-defensive coordinator tells all) · September 21, 2025 · 37 min
• Charlie Kirk assassination: Shooter search, FBI updates, political beliefs, reactions · September 11, 2025 · 16 min