GOP's "paid protestor" theory reappears in Los Angeles

Crash Course subscribers can now join the conversation — click the speech bubble icon to leave a comment or click the heart to like this post.

The news, in brief …

• Hegseth blasted by Democrats over military deployment in Los Angeles

  The defense secretary came in for a drubbing from Congressional Democrats over his decision to deploy troops in Los Angeles. “Threatening to use our own troops on our own citizens at such scale is unprecedented, it is unconstitutional, and it is downright un-American,” Sen. Patty Murray said.

• Trump plans to scrap FEMA

  Trump said he hopes to “wean” states off of the federal emergency response agency that offers support and funding after natural disasters. “A governor should be able to handle it, and frankly, if they can’t handle it, the aftermath, then maybe they shouldn’t be governor,” he shared.

• Elon Musk expresses "regret" for posts attacking Trump

  The former DOGE head said he “went too far” in posts linking the president the the late alleged sex trafficker (and confirmed Trump associate) Jeffrey Epstein.

• Weinstein convicted on sex crimes charge in retrial

  The disgraced Miramax co-founder was found guilty on one count of committing a criminal sexual act.

Make me smarter …

Stephen Miller can't make America white. LA is paying for his impotent rage

The protests in Los Angeles can be traced back to the chrome dome of one man. Read more. 

They never rage in Southern California

Less than four years ago, MAGA true-believers stormed the Capitol armed with zip-ties, novelty flags and (admittedly excellent) fur hats on the disproven belief that Joe Biden had stolen the presidential election.

As very real ICE raids are being carried out across Southern California at the behest of Republicans, those same conspiracy-brained GOPers can’t see an organic response to injustice. The president himself floated the idea that demonstrators in Los Angeles were paid to protest on Wednesday.

"They're tough. They're smart. They're probably paid many of them. As you know, they're professionals," he said.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard echoed the improbable idea after falling for a prankster’s post on Craigslist seeking tough guys in L.A..

"This is something that the Department of Justice and the FBI are looking into. Who is funding these protestors?" she said during a stop by Fox News. "We've seen the ads put up on Craigslist offering people thousands of dollars a week to go out and conduct these violent and dangerous riots."

Ultimately, the paid protestor theory is just one more layer of abstraction from the real and justified anger that Angelenos and other right-minded Americans feel seeing agents of the state disappear people off the street. As the Trump administration prepares to unleash the troops on American citizens, these hoaxes otherize protestors, making it that much easier for cops, ICE agents and soldiers to see them as enemy combatants.

What do you think? Do the highest levels of the Trump adminstration actually believe the paid protestor theory? Does it matter if they do? Sound off in the comments. 

Support our bold journalism: Become a Salon member today.

Before you go …

Now Donald Trump is corrupting the military — and perverting its loyalty

Troops in LA are just the starting point. How much further will he go? Read more.

In partnership with

The Daily Newsletter for Intellectually Curious Readers

Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.

Join for free today!