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. indiemusicbox.com.
Our logo artwork is by AltoClassic (Getty Images/istock).
Contact us via Facebook Messenger from the Impact! Facebook group, or using any of the contact methods mentioned on our websites.
Impact! www.heartfulimpact.com.