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This week, U.S. President Donald Trump intensified his administration’s conflict with the Democratic leadership of Illinois.
He first dispatched several hundred National Guard troops, some from Texas, to Chicago. Then, he publicly called for the arrests of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
In response, both officials took to social media to assert their positions, as shown below.
Trump has further threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act.
He has also issued the concerning National Security Presidential Memorandum 7, as reported by Ken Klippenstein.
Are any of these actions serious? One might argue that Trump’s intentions appear to be focused on seizing authoritarian control, potentially trying to provoke political adversaries into futile acts of defiance.
Thus far, the Democrats seem largely unaware of the reality of kinetic conflict and are struggling to move beyond mere empty rhetoric and legal actions.
Given the current environment, the legal route seems both inadequate and ineffective under the corruption prevalent in the Trump 2.0 era of our judicial system.
But what happens if the situation spirals out of control?
What if either Trump or the Democrats inadvertently “creates a shoot?”
A “work” encompasses everything happening within the scripted realm of wrestling. What viewers witness during a WWE show is a work, and with the influence of social media, much of what wrestlers communicate online is also curated to evoke audience reactions. The objective of a work is to engage the audience—cheering for the good guy or booing the villain.
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On the other hand, a “shoot” refers to authentic moments that break the scripted illusion. It exists outside the show or character narrative.Fans of wrestling want to be engaged in the performance. While most audiences recognize wrestling as scripted entertainment, the allure of being involved emotionally encourages spectators to invest—both emotionally and financially—into the spectacle. Being part of the narrative is often what fans find most enjoyable.
American political partisans also desire to be engaged.
Many wish to escape the ongoing deterioration of shared reality by believing we are on the cusp of a significant national political upheaval, despite the fact that no one can truly understand what such a scenario would entail.
The Latest Tomfoolery
https://t.co/bVKM0nAR83 pic.twitter.com/wGjIVlXmAg
— Nat Wilson Turner (@natwilsonturner) October 8, 2025
Pritzker issued a statement on Sunday:
“This evening, President Trump is ordering 400 members of the Texas National Guard to deploy in Illinois, Oregon, and various other U.S. locations without any direct communication or coordination from federal officials.”
“We must now recognize this for what it truly is: Trump’s invasion. It began with federal agents, continues with the federalized Illinois National Guard being used against our wishes, and now extends to military troops from another state. I urge Governor Abbott to immediately withdraw support for this decision and refuse to participate. There is no justification for a President to send military forces into a state without the consent or knowledge of state officials. Our National Guard members deserve better than to be used as political instruments. Now is the time for every American to voice opposition and help halt this madness.”
Texas Governor Greg Abbott countered:
I fully authorized the President to deploy 400 members of the Texas National Guard to ensure federal officials’ safety.
Federal protection is non-negotiable—either fully enforce it or stand aside and let the Texas Guard fulfill its duty.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) October 6, 2025
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also weighed in:
This is not the first instance where Trump has attempted to unjustly arrest a Black individual. I will not back down. pic.twitter.com/MQdHtzis3t
— Mayor Brandon Johnson (@ChicagosMayor) October 8, 2025
Notably, Trump has previously sent forces to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
Are We Already Experiencing a Clampdown?
Tucker Carlson, who has recently been in the spotlight for his controversial views on the situation in Gaza, adopted a full Christian nationalist stance while endorsing Trump’s actions regarding ICE in his latest video:
“Why does America seem to be edging toward civil war? Because the divisions within its population have become unbearable. People increasingly feel they have nothing in common with those living near them and prefer to distance themselves.”
“Diversity, while often touted as a strength, is commonly perceived as a weakness. Like a marriage without shared interests, a country without common ground will inevitably face strife.”
“To prevent civil war, we must identify common threads among our citizens and emphasize those. Unfortunately, identifying that commonality is a daunting challenge at this point.”
“Ultimately, the only realistic path toward national unity may lie in a spiritual awakening. Recognizing our shared humanity and divine origin could change perceptions and reduce tensions.”
“However, we must act swiftly to restore order, as a lack of structure often paves the way for despotism. A chaotic environment leads people to seek strong leadership, and therein lies the danger.”
Many speculate that Trump and his Deputy Chief of Staff, Stephen Miller, are deliberately inciting confrontation to justify further authoritarian actions.
Thomas Edsall elaborates in The New York Times:
“In recent weeks, Trump has ignited what can only be described as a form of partisan civil war, aimed at consolidating power in a nominal democracy while undermining opposition.”
“His strategy involves leveraging the military, the Department of Homeland Security, and ICE, combined with punitive measures against critics and the use of fiscal power to manipulate funding to his advantage.”
In light of Trump’s recent actions, many within the national security apparatus express their intent to resist. For instance, Brigadier General Alan R. Gronewold pointed out that National Guard troops trained for “protective crowd control” will now be redirected to protect protestors at ICE facilities.
However, the ability to organize substantial resistance appears bleak. As Aurelian recently noted, effective grassroots organization requires consensus and structured effort, which are hard to come by in today’s political climate.
This lack of organization is compounded by the noticeable technological advantages of ICE over ordinary citizens. According to recent revelations, ICE has acquired a surveillance tool that collects vast amounts of location data from millions of mobile phones, further enhancing its capabilities.
The looming threat of pervasive surveillance is just one aspect of the troubling landscape we’re navigating today. Despite these challenges, it’s essential to remain vigilant and engaged within our political context.
Ultimately, the reality of 2025 is unlike anything before; the unpredictability of a nationwide civil conflict could lead to devastating outcomes for all involved.
