Padilla was right to challenge Noem's right-wing lunacy

George Skelton,
Tribune News Service
Sen. Alex Padilla had heard all he could stand from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. For good reason. She was sounding like a military dictator and brushing off California voters. So the California senator interrupted her. He tried to ask a question — and wound up being shoved out of the room by federal bodyguards, strong-armed to the floor and handcuffed. This is how the Trump administration intends to 'Make America Great Again'? The unprecedented act of disrespecting and roughing up a US senator occurred at the Westwood federal building during a Noem news conference Thursday. Padilla, a Democrat, was standing behind reporters when the secretary said federal agents would continue to conduct immigration raids in Los Angeles indefinitely.
'(We'll) continue to sustain and increase our operations in this city,' Noem said. 'We are not going away,' she emphasized. 'We are staying here to liberate the city from the socialist and the burdensome leadership that this governor and this mayor have placed on this country.' Definitely fighting words.
'Liberate' the city? That's the sort of language used by dictators — fascist, Communist or any Third World despot. 'Socialist' leadership? A pejorative straight out of the right-wing playbook of political talking points. Was Noem saying the Trump administration's real goal is to overthrow Gov. Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass because of their 'burdensome' regimes?
Perhaps the secretary has forgotten what she presumably was taught in civics class. But Noem, 53, was governor of South Dakota. And before that she was a member of the US House of Representatives and a state legislator. So she knows about the election process. And we can only conclude that, at her news conference, she was talking without thinking.
Because in America, the 'liberators' are the voters. Not immigration agents, Cabinet secretaries or even the president. California citizens reelected Newsom by a 59% landslide vote in 2022. The Democrat will be termed out of office next year — a policy set by voters, not by some federal administration. Bass also was elected in 2022 by a margin of nearly 10 percentage points. If Angelenos want to liberate themselves from her, they'll have the opportunity when she's up for reelection next year. Socialist is such a tired characterization of practically any policy the political right doesn't like. You could tag lots of government spending with socialism — including Social Security and Medicare. Anyway, Padilla listened to Noem's dumb comments about liberating citizens from the governor and mayor, and, he said later in TV interviews, 'it was just too much.'
He broke in with a shouted question.
OK, he shouldn't have done that. There's a protocol at formal news conferences. Only reporters ask questions. Certainly not visiting politicians. And questioners really shouldn't interrupt the person at the lectern, although it happens. This wasn't a Senate committee hearing in which Padilla could ask anything he wanted — when it was his turn. He wasn't 'doing his job' at Noem's event, as his Democratic colleagues later asserted. He was there as an observer. If he wanted to ask the secretary a question, this wasn't the time or place. But his emotional reaction to Noem's comments was totally understandable. Padilla ordinarily is a very polite guy, extraordinary civil — calm, soft-spoken, the opposite of an aggressive loudmouth.
But he is passionate about the cause of immigrant rights and comprehensive reform that would offer a path to citizenship for undocumented people. It's what inspired him to enter politics.
He was motivated by Latino activists' losing fight in 1994 against Proposition 187, which would have denied most public services to immigrants living here illegally if it wasn't tossed out by a judge. Padilla, 52, is a proud L.A. native, the son of Mexican immigrants. His dad was a short-order cook, and his mom cleaned affluent people's houses. He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a mechanical engineering degree. But he caught the political bug and was elected to the L.A. City Council at age 26.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Middle East Eye

27 minutes ago

• Middle East Eye

US strikes on Iran: How the world reacted

US forces struck three Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday following mounting pressure from Israeli officials for American intervention. President Donald Trump said US warplanes had "obliterated" the sites and called on Iran to return to the negotiating table. The strikes have sparked international concern, with several countries condemning the attack and urging all sides to halt further escalation. Here's how the world is responding: Iran New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the US strikes, accusing Washington of committing a "grave violation" of the UN Charter, international law and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. "The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences," Araghchi wrote on X. "Every member of the UN should be alarmed by this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behaviour." He added that, under the UN Charter's self-defence provisions, Iran "reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interests and people". Israel Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump for ordering the strikes, calling it a "bold decision" backed by the "awesome and righteous might of the United States". In a video address, Netanyahu said the move would "change history". "History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world's most dangerous regime the world's most dangerous weapons." Qatar Qatar voiced concern over the US strikes, warning of dangerous regional consequences. In a statement, the Qatari foreign ministry said it "regrets the deterioration of the situation" following the bombing and is "following with great concern the developments targeting the sisterly Islamic Republic of Iran". The ministry warned that the current tensions could lead to "catastrophic repercussions" both regionally and internationally. Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia expressed its "great concern" following the attacks, according to a statement by the foreign ministry on X. "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is following with great concern the developments in the sisterly Islamic Republic of Iran, represented by the targeting of Iranian nuclear facilities by the United States of America," the Saudi foreign ministry posted on X. The kingdom "expresses the need to exert all efforts to exercise restraint, de-escalate and avoid escalation", calling on the international community to boost efforts in such "highly sensitive circumstances" to reach a political solution to end the crisis. Oman Oman, which was mediating nuclear talks between the US and Iran, has strongly condemned the US strikes. The Gulf state "expresses deep concern, denunciation and condemnation of the escalation resulting from the direct air strikes launched by the United States on sites in the Islamic Republic of Iran," the official Oman News Agency said. Iraq Iraq has warned the US that attacks on its neighbour Iran threaten peace and stability in the Middle East. "This military escalation constitutes a grave threat to peace and security in the Middle East and poses serious risks to regional stability," government spokesperson Basim Alawadi said. UK British Prime Minister dubbed Iran's nuclear programme a "grave threat to international security" but fell short of condemning Trump's actions. "Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat," said Starmer. "The situation in the Middle East is volatile and stability in the region is a priority. We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis." European Union The EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has called for de-escalation and a return to negotiations. "I urge all sides to step back, return to the negotiating table and prevent further escalation," Kallas wrote on X, adding Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and that EU foreign ministers will discuss the situation on Monday. China A flash commentary from China's government-run media asked whether the US is "repeating its Iraq mistake in Iran". The online piece by CGTN, the foreign-language arm of the state broadcaster, said the US strikes mark a dangerous turning point. "History has repeatedly shown that military interventions in the Middle East often produce unintended consequences, including prolonged conflicts and regional destabilisation," it said, citing the American invasion of Iraq in 2003. It said a measured, diplomatic approach that prioritises dialogue over military confrontation offers the best hope for stability in the Middle East. Australia An Australian government spokesperson said Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes pose a threat to international peace and security. "We note the US president's statement that now is the time for peace," the spokesperson said, acknowledging the "highly volatile" security situation in the region. "We continue to call for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy," they added. New Zealand New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said his country is deeply concerned by recent developments, including Trump's announcement of US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. "Ongoing military action in the Middle East is extremely worrying, and it is critical that further escalation is avoided," Peters said. He added that New Zealand "strongly supports efforts towards diplomacy" and urged all parties to return to negotiations, noting that "diplomacy will deliver a more enduring resolution than further military action". Mexico Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called for urgent diplomatic dialogue amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. "In line with our constitutional principles and Mexico's long-standing commitment to peace, we reiterate our call to de-escalate tensions in the region," the ministry said in a statement posted on X. "The restoration of peaceful coexistence among the states of the region remains our highest priority." Venezuela Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil strongly condemned the US air strikes, calling them a dangerous act of aggression. "The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela firmly and categorically condemns the bombing carried out by the United States military, at the request of the State of Israel, against nuclear facilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan complexes," Gil said in a Telegram post. He urged an immediate cessation of hostilities and warned of the grave consequences of further escalation. Cuba Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel strongly condemned the US bombing, saying it constituted a "dangerous escalation" and a serious violation of the UN Charter. He added that it "plunges humanity into a crisis with irreversible consequences".

The National

3 hours ago

• The National

UAE's nuclear authority says US strikes on Iran had 'no impact' on the Emirates

The UAE on Sunday moved to reassure the public that US strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran had 'no impact' on the Emirates. The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) said relevant national authorities are closely monitoring developments related to nuclear facilities in Iran. The US military bombed three nuclear sites in Iran, President Donald Trump said on Saturday night, calling the attacks a 'spectacular military success'. 'Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated,' he said. FANR said that "there are no impacts on the UAE resulting from these developments", in a statement shared by state news agency Wam. "FANR confirmed that it is well-informed and continuously following up on the situation, in coordination with international partners, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and receives regular updates through official channels," the statement said. "FANR stated that, based on ongoing monitoring of the situation, it confirms that there are no impacts on the UAE resulting from these developments. "It also urges the public to rely on official sources for information and to avoid spreading rumours and unverified news." The IAEA said on Sunday that there had been no increase in off-site radiation levels following the attacks on the Iranian nuclear sites. IAEA director general, Rafael Mariano Grossi, said he will call for an emergency meeting of the agency's board of directors in light of the 'urgent situation' in Iran. 'In view of the increasingly serious situation in terms of nuclear safety and security, the Board of Governors will meet in an extraordinary session tomorrow, which I will address,' Mr Grossi said. 'As of this time, we don't expect that there will be any health consequences for people or the environment outside the targeted sites,' he said. 'We will continue to monitor and assess the situation in Iran and provide further updates as additional information becomes available.'

Gulf Today

4 hours ago

• Gulf Today

Pakistan formally recommends US President Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

The Pakistani government has decided to formally recommend US President Donald Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership' during the recent India-Pakistan crisis. In a post shared on X on Friday night, the government said the international community bore witness to unprovoked and unlawful Indian aggression, which constituted a grave violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity, resulting in the tragic loss of innocent lives, including women, children, and the elderly. In May, a surprise announcement by Trump of a ceasefire brought an abrupt end to a four-day conflict between India and Pakistan. Trump has since repeatedly said that he averted a nuclear war, saved millions of lives, and grumbled that he got no credit for it. Pakistan agrees that US diplomatic intervention ended the fighting, but India says it was a bilateral agreement between the two militaries. "President Trump demonstrated great strategic foresight and stellar statesmanship through robust diplomatic engagement with both Islamabad and New Delhi, which de-escalated a rapidly deteriorating situation," Pakistan said. "This intervention stands as a testament to his role as a genuine peacemaker." Governments can nominate people for the Nobel Peace Prize. There was no immediate response from Washington. A spokesperson for the Indian government did not respond to a request for comment. Trump has repeatedly said that he's willing to mediate between India and Pakistan over Kashmir region, their main source of enmity. Islamabad, which has long called for international attention to Kashmir, is delighted. In a social media post on Friday, Trump gave a long list of conflicts he said he had resolved, including India and Pakistan and the Abraham accords in his first term between Israel and some Muslim-majority countries. He added: "I won't get a Nobel Peace Prize no matter what I do." Pakistan's move to nominate Trump came in the same week its army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, met the US leader for lunch. It was the first time that a Pakistani military leader had been invited to the White House when a civilian government was in place in Islamabad. Following the Indian aggression, Pakistan "launched Operation Bunyan-um Marsoos — a measured, resolute, and precise military response, the post read and noted that the response was executed to exercise the country's "fundamental right to self-defence' and "carefully to re-establish deterrence,' defending its "territorial integrity while consciously avoiding civilian harm.' The post further said that "at a moment of heightened regional turbulence,' President Trump "demonstrated great strategic foresight and stellar statesmanship through robust diplomatic engagement with both Islamabad and New Delhi.' It continued that the US president de-escalated a rapidly deteriorating situation, ultimately securing a ceasefire and averting a broader conflict between the two nuclear states that would have had catastrophic consequences for millions of people in the region and beyond. The post said that this intervention stands as a testament to Trump's role as a genuine peacemaker and his commitment to conflict resolution through dialogue. The government also acknowledged President Trump's "sincere offers to help resolve the longstanding dispute of Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan - an issue that lies at the heart of regional instability. "Durable peace in South Asia would remain elusive until the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions concerning Jammu and Kashmir,' it said. The government noted that President Trump's leadership during the 2025 Pakistan-India crisis "manifestly showcases the continuation of his legacy of pragmatic diplomacy and effective peace-building.' The post said that Pakistan remains hopeful that Trump's "earnest efforts' will continue to contribute towards regional and global stability, particularly in the context of ongoing crises in the Middle East, including the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Gaza and the deteriorating escalation involving Iran.