National Guard in Chicago? A City on Edge

This week we examine US President Donald Trump's continuing threat to deploy the National Guard to Chicago, explaining the legal, political, and community contexts, and how the prospect is being faced up to by state, city and civil groups concerned for their liberties. While presenting the facts as we understand them, we also take an editorial perspective, focussing on local fears about the threat and against the backdrop of an uneasy rhetoric among some political figures and social media influencers in the wake of the shooting of Charlie Kirk. As always, we invite listeners to join us in holding intentions and offering prayers for wisdom, protection, and unity as the situation unfolds. Intentions and prayers start at 23 minutes 10 seconds. Suggested Intention Focus for this week This week, as Chicago braces itself for a possible uncertain period of civil unease, we suggest holding as our main intention: We will that wise heads will prevail in the White House among those who have the ear to advise the President on the real incidence of crime in Chicago, and the wisdom or otherwise of deploying the National Guard into the city. Please join us in holding this. Chapter markers: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:55 The Threat in Chicago 00:02:52 Political Reactions and Concerns 00:11:07 National Guard Deployment Circumstances 00:17:57 Chicagoans’ Fears and Responses 00:21:19 Criticism of the Presidential Threat 00:22:45 Intentions and Prayers Sources referenced in this episode: https://abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-national-guard-news-how-could-president-donald-trump-use-illinois/17656837/ https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/04/us/chicago-national-guard-deployment-preparations https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posse_Comitatus_Act https://news.wttw.com/2025/09/08/potential-ice-raids-national-guard-intervention-poses-challenges-chicago-police-ground https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/after-two-day-manhunt-suspect-charged-shooting-two-minnesota-lawmakers-and-their-spouses https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/charlie-kirk-shot-video-civil-war-b2824764.html https://organizingmythoughts.org/what-do-we-say-when-the-soldiers-come/ https://theconversation.com/trumps-deployment-of-the-national-guard-to-fight-crime-blurs-the-legal-distinction-between-the-police-and-the-military-264548 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gj489q6e0o https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5ylyd9lkkqo https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/presidents-power-call-out-national-guard-not-blank-check https://www.brookings.edu/articles/whats-the-presidents-legal-basis-for-sending-national-guard-troops-to-dc-streets/ https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trump-cities-national-guard-constitution-1.7629219 https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-national-guard-deployment-in-question-ice-immigration-crackdown/ https://www.irishtimes.com/world/us/2025/09/11/its-not-a-deployment-its-an-invasion-chicago-reacts-as-trump-mulls-sending-in-national-guard/ https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2025-09-09/trump-is-seizing-on-crime-and-immigration-to-send-troops-to-american-cities https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/09/09/chicago-braces-potential-national-guard-deployment-amid-trump-threats.html https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/09/09/chicago-braces-potential-national-guard-deployment-amid-trump-threats.html https://www.npr.org/2025/09/07/nx-s1-5533191/trump-chicago-threat-baltimore-new-orleans https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/09/04/trump-national-guard-chicago-democracy-00541248 https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-administration-says-it-launches-ice-crackdown-illinois-2025-09-08/ https://www.theusconstitution.org/litigation/newsom-v-trump/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/08/restoring-law-and-order-in-the-district-of-columbia/ Join us in person for intention holding: https://www.legacylabyrinthproject.org/events-1 Labyrinth Activist Network Zoom calls https://insighttimer.com/cliverj Daily intention holding with Clive on Insight Timer. Our websites: www.heartfulimpact.com/ Our show website. https://globalhealingresponse.com/ Global Healing Response ~ Offers a wealth of prayers, suggested practices and prompts in response to environmental catastrophe, conflict, and other world events. https://www.legacylabyrinthproject.org/ Legacy Labyrinth Project ~ Creating global energetic connections through the labyrinth; inspiring active intention sending using the labyrinth via labyrinth activism. https://www.clivejohnsonministry.com/ Clive Johnson Ministry ~ Events and offerings aimed at building beloved community, including weekly energy holding vigils and Power of Eight group. https://insighttimer.com/cliverj ~ Daily intention holding. Impact! Is presented by Ellen Bintz and Clive Johnson. It is produced by Impact Productions. Our show content is hosted by Podbean and available from all major podcast platforms. Our theme music is by Chris Collins. ...