Predator Drones Are Being Flown Over Protesters In Los Angeles
This isn't the first time they've been pulled into domestic surveillance duty. During the protests sparked by the murder of George Floyd in 2020, CBP flew them over Minneapolis to keep eye on the protestors there. This drew swift criticism at the time, including by Democratic members of Congress, and Predators do not appear to have been used for this purpose again until now. That said, aerial surveillance of protests, notably by helicopters, is a common practice. The question now is whether unmanned platforms will start being used more regularly, particularly under an aggressive Trump administration.
Read more: The Best-Looking Pickup Trucks Ever Sold, According To Our Readers
The Predator B drones (which are called "Reapers" in their military variation) used by CBP are strictly surveillance aircraft; they are not armed with any ordnance. While they do have radar systems, those are mostly useful for detecting vehicles; what's relevant here is their electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors, basically cameras capable of seeing into both visible and infrared spectrums. Eyes in the sky, in other words.
The Department of Homeland Security has released some footage captured by the Predators on X, cut with some intimidating music in a clear effort to push a specific narrative (the post's text, "California politicians must call off their rioting mob," is not exactly subtle or, for that matter, accurate). Low-rent movie trailer music aside, the footage does demonstrate the drone's ability to capture wide-angle shots of the situation.
For what it's worth, CBP told The War Zone that the drones are specifically "providing officer safety surveillance" and are "not engaged in the surveillance of First Amendment activities." Given that clashes with protestors is what's at issue, though, that's functionally not much of a distinction.
Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox...
Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNBC
a minute ago
- CNBC
How Tim Cook convinced Trump to drop made-in-USA iPhone — for now
President Donald Trump has made clear that he wants Apple to make iPhones in the U.S. Apple CEO Tim Cook is doing what he can to appease the commander in chief, without making that ultimate concession. Cook on Wednesday appeared at the White House with President Trump to announce plans to spend about $600 billion over four years in the U.S. Apple didn't announce the made-in-USA iPhone that Trump wants, but Cook got to tout Apple's position on U.S. production. Some of Apple's most valuable parts, such as its glass and facial recognition sensor, are made by U.S. companies that Apple has worked with for years. Final assembly is only a small, though very critical, part of iPhone production. "The final assembly that you focus on, that will be elsewhere for a while," Cook said Wednesday in the Oval Office. Trump appeared happy enough, for now. "He makes many of the components here, and we've been talking about it," Trump said. "The whole thing is set up in other places, and it's been there for a long time in terms of cost and all, but I think we may incentivize him enough that one day he'll be bringing that back." Experts said Cook's announcement seemed designed to get Apple out of Trump's crosshairs with respect to tariffs. Trump announced during the public meeting that the administration planned to place a tariff on chips that would double their price, but Apple — which relies on hundreds of different chips for its devices — would be exempt. "CEOs are realizing that they do have to do something, and what they've discovered is that if they give the president something to brag about without destroying their company, that the problem might go away for a certain amount of time," said Peter Cohan, professor of strategy and entrepreneurship at Babson College who has written case studies on Apple. The gambit worked. Apple stock rose 5% on Wednesday and another 3% on Thursday. "What Tim Cook demonstrated in the first administration was a real savvy navigation of the treacherous waters," said Nancy Tengler, CEO of Laffer Tengler Investments, which holds a position in Apple. "I thought this announcement was super-important symbolically, because the president is looking for headlines." The centerpiece of Apple's announcement was the so-called American Manufacturing Program, which Apple said was designed to incentivize other companies to make parts for computers in the U.S. By Apple committing to purchase parts and expand its relationship with U.S. suppliers, it could give those companies the skills and capacity to expand their business. And it lets Apple take some credit for supporting the 450,000 total jobs at its suppliers. A closer look at the members of the program shows that Apple is leaning on some of its longest-tenured partners. All together, Apple said that its U.S. suppliers are on track to make 19 billion chips for its products this year. That level of business doesn't appear overnight. For example, Apple said that all of its cover glass for iPhones and Apple Watches would be made by Corning, in Kentucky, and that it would spend $2.5 billion on that effort. It's a powerful symbol — while the phone might be screwed together in China or India, the surface that users touch around the world will be made in the U.S. But Apple has pointed to Corning as a critical American supplier in the past. The company's glass has been used on the iPhone since its first version in 2007. While Apple typically doesn't let its suppliers talk about their relationships, former COO Jeff Williams hailed Corning's glass in 2017, when it got an "investment" from the Apple Advanced Manufacturing Fund. Apple followed that up with a $250 million commitment in 2019, and $45 million in 2021. Analysts are skeptical that the partnership could substantially improve Corning's revenue. Morgan Stanley analysts wrote on Thursday that Corning "already produces 100% of the cover glass for Apple's phones and tablets," adding that Corning's glass business called Specialty Materials is worth about $2 billion per year. Apple also highlighted its partnership with Coherent, a longtime supplier of lasers for Apple's facial recognition hardware, which is made in Texas. Morgan Stanley pegged the business at about $100 million per year, and said Apple has options including Lumentum and Sony. The iPhone maker said it expanded a partnership with Texas Instruments to make chips in Texas and Utah. Texas Instruments has long supplied chips for the iPhone, such as circuits to control USB interfaces or power displays. Apple said it would partner with Samsung, another key supplier of parts like iPhone displays, to launch an "innovative new technology for making chips," without offering additional details. Apple declared that it will partner directly with companies in the semiconductor chain, even if they typically sell services or goods to Apple suppliers. Other partnerships are with Applied Materials, a tooling company, GlobalFoundries, a chip foundry, and GlobalWafers America, which is suppling Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company and Texas Instruments with made-in-USA wafers, the starting point for a batch of chips. GlobalFoundries manufactures chips for Broadcom, which supplies wireless chips for iPhones. Both will work with Apple to develop and manufacture 5G components in the U.S. Meanwhile, Apple will buy millions of advanced chips made by TSMC in Arizona, where it will be the factory's largest customer. Cook joined former President Biden at the plant in 2022 and committed to buying chips from the factory. Apple said it would invest in and become a customer at an Arizona Amkor facility, which packages and tests chips, the final stage before installation in a computer. Apple also said it would expand existing data centers for artificial intelligence in North Carolina, Iowa, Nevada and Oregon. It's highlighted these data centers in the past in spending commitments. While Apple's announcement sent partner stocks up, JPMorgan Chase analysts warned in a note on Thursday that "the new and expanded engagements might not be completely incremental to global revenues and outlook." Trump had a different take. "Oh, I love that you're doing this," the president said, after reading a list of Apple's commitments. Apple has little to worry about when it comes to who will hold the company accountable for its promises. The company doesn't break out U.S. spending, and most of Apple's suppliers are contractually required to keep the information secret. Apple doesn't report how much its new campuses in Austin or North Carolina end up costing. Additionally, the $600 billion headline number likely includes lots of regular expenses. Apple said in February that its $500 billion commitment included payments to U.S. suppliers, direct employment, data centers for Apple Intelligence and corporate facilities, as well as spending on Apple TV+ productions in 20 states. Apple started publicly announcing U.S. spending during Trump's first administration in 2018, at a rate of about $70 billion per year. In February, the company committed to $125 billion per year. Wednesday's announcement brings that figure to $150 billion annually. That's still a fraction of Apple's total spending. In Apple's fiscal 2024, Apple spent $210 billion globally on cost of goods sold, $57.5 billion on operating expenses, and $9.45 billion in capital expenditures for nearly $275 billion in global spending during the period. Teffler said she didn't think the newly announced spending would be material to Apple's profitability, especially since it already has relationships with the various companies such as Corning. "They're going to spend money somewhere," Tegler said. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives, who previously predicted a made-in-USA iPhone would cost billions to produce and would leave consumers paying $3,500, said the Wednesday announcements indicate a much different approach. He said it's "the cost of doing business."
Newsweek
a minute ago
- Newsweek
Democrats' Chances of Flipping Congress From Republican Control Next Year
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Democrats are building an early lead in congressional polling ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, but it's yet to be seen whether the party's momentum can be enough amid the threat of mid-decade redistricting. Viet Shelton, spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, told Newsweek that Democrats are confident they will "re-take the majority powered by an aggressive message focused on fighting for lowering prices and holding Republicans and Trump accountable for their record of broken promises." Newsweek also reached out to the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) for comment via email. Why It Matters The midterms are still more than a year away, so early polls are far from definitive. Still, they are an important gauge of voter sentiment about both Democrats and Republicans as candidates begin ramping up their campaigns. Historically, the party in the White House loses seats in the midterms, and recent polls show President Donald Trump's approval has fallen since the start of his administration, fueling Democratic optimism about a 2018-esque blue wave. But several GOP-led states may redraw their congressional boundaries to become more favorable to Republicans in an attempt to thwart Democratic gains. While blue states like California say they will redraw their own maps to retaliate, the full impact of these mid-decade redraws in states like Texas or Missouri could limit Democratic gains in November 2026. What To Know A flurry of recent polls have delivered good news for Democrats, showing them ahead of Republicans on the generic ballot, which asks voters which party they'll be supporting, rather than specific candidates. A CNBC poll released Thursday, for instance, showed Democrats with a 5-point lead on the generic ballot. Forty-nine percent of respondents said they would vote for Democratic candidates, while 44 percent said they'd back Republicans. That's up from a lead of 48 percent to 44 percent in April. The poll surveyed 1,000 adults nationwide from July 29 to August 3. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. The latest poll from YouGov and The Economist showed Democrats up 6 percentage points—44 percent to 38 percent. It surveyed 1,528 registered voters from August 1 to August 4. An Emerson College poll showed Democrats with a more modest 2-point lead—44 percent to 42 percent. It surveyed 1,400 registered voters on July 21 and July 22, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, speaks during a news conference on June 27, 2024, in Washington, D.C. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, speaks during a news conference on June 27, 2024, in Washington, context, in 2024, Republicans won the House popular vote by about 2.6 points and won a 220-215 majority. In 2022, Republicans won the popular vote by 2.7 points and secured a 222-213 majority. In 2020, Democrats won the popular vote by 3.1 points and also had a 222-213 majority. In 2018, the midterm of Trump's first term in office, Democrats won a 235-199 majority, picking up 41 seats. These polls show a lead for Democrats, but are not predictive of a blue wave like in 2018, Raymond La Raja, professor of political science and co-director of University of Massachusetts Amherst's polling program, told Newsweek. This is because Trump is more of a "quantified figure" to voters this time around, and Democrats are more demoralized after the 2024 losses, he said. "I think Democrats are very disappointed about the loss in 2024. They think the party made mistakes that demoralized them. The base doesn't think they're fighting hard enough against the Trump administration," La Raja said. "In many ways, there's not much they can do. They lack power in both chambers. They're frustrated about that." Democrats likely need polling giving them a 7- or 8-point lead over Republicans in generic ballot polling to indicate a blue wave, he said. The economy will be a key factor in the midterms. If it falters, Democrats are more likely to pick up more seats. But if it hold steady, gains may be more limited, La Raja added. Grant Davis Reeher, professor of political science at Syracuse University, told Newsweek that Trump being underwater on major policy issues like immigration and tariffs does not "bode well" for the GOP, but a "huge wave" may be less likely for Democrats. "I would expect Republicans to lose the House, and have thought so since election day. Only George W. Bush was able to increase his party's majority in the House, and that was not a typical mid-term, given 9-11," he said. "The Republican margin is razor-thin, so any kind of set-back would likely knock them out of the majority. But I wouldn't expect to see a huge wave, in part because we are even more polarized than before, and that tends to make movement from one party to the other more difficult." How Americans are experiencing the economy in the months leading up to the midterms will be decisive for Democrats' returns, he said. Midterms 2026: What Do Betting Odds Show? Betting odds also give Democrats an advantage in the midterms for the House of Representatives. Polymarket shows them with a 71 percent chance of flipping the chamber. However, Republicans are favored in the Senate, where Democrats face a challenging map to win back control from the GOP's 53-47 majority. GOP-held seats in Maine, won by former Vice President Kamala Harris, and North Carolina, which Trump carried by only 3 points in 2024, present their best opportunities to flip a seat next year. But no other swing states are up for grabs, meaning they'll need to flip seats Trump won by the lower double-digits, like Alaska, Iowa, Ohio or Texas, to win back control. Will Redistricting Threaten Democratic Majority in 2027? The impact of redistricting remains an open question. Texas, with Trump's support, kicked of the redistricting "arms race," with Republicans proposing a map that could give them up to five new seats. States like Missouri, Indiana and Florida could also give Republicans more seats if they redraw. On the other hand, Democratic states like California, Maryland and New York are eyeing their own redistricting in response to Texas. But Democrats in some of those states are likely to face legal challenges to redistrict due to independent commissions or other laws making it more difficult to undertake mid-decade redraws. If this is a low-pickup year for Democrats, it is "plausible" this redistricting could outright cost them a majority," according to La Raja. Reeher said it's hard to know how either party will win on this front ahead of the midterms. "There will be tons of lawsuits, and a lot of these redrawn districts will be in limbo, perhaps right up until the election," he said. "Hard to say who 'wins' on this, on a short-term basis. Long-term, we all lose if this becomes the new normal." What People Are Saying Reeher also told Newsweek: "As to why the party of the president typically loses seats in a mid-term, it's because we have a two-party system, and the out-party has two years to criticize what the in-party is doing, or trying to do, and the struggles of the president are front and center in the media for everyone to see. And people simply tire of each president, to some degree. There's a natural tendency toward buyer's remorse and a desire to check what is being done. Political human nature is at the root of it all. "Presidents also tend to ask their party's more marginal members to make some tough votes to get their agendas through in the first couple years, when their political capital is highest, and there's often a reaction against those votes by the voters in those marginal districts. That's what happened in the Tea Party's response to Obamacare, for example, and something similar may happen with the OBBB [One Big Beautiful Bill Act] in this election cycle. Some Republicans made some hard votes in favor on that bill." Shelton also told Newsweek: "The midterms are shaping up to be a referendum on who is going to lower costs and improve the lives of everyday Americans, not the wealthiest few. By all accounts, the Republican trifecta is failing miserably and we're seeing an escalating level of buyer's remorse amongst the public. People hate the Big, Ugly Law, oppose price-spiking tariffs, and are showing their displeasure at rallies and town halls across the country. House Democrats will re-take the majority powered by an aggressive message focused on fighting for lowering prices and holding Republicans and Trump accountable for their record of broken promises." CNN Harry Enten wrote in a July 25 X post: "Trump's drop w/ indies is his biggest danger sign. There seems to be no bottom. He owns the worst net approval w/ indies 6 months into a presidency (-29 pt), beating his own record. Wave adios to the GOP House majority if his net approval on inflation w/ indies (-45 pt!) holds." What Happens Next The midterms will be held November 3, 2026. New Jersey and Virginia elections held in three months will be earlier gauges of the Trump administration's popularity.
Newsweek
a minute ago
- Newsweek
Who is Stephen Miran? Donald Trump's Pick for Key Federal Reserve Role
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. President Donald Trump on Thursday announced his intent to nominate Stephen Miran, chairman of the White House's Council of Economic Advisers, to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Miran would temporarily fill the seat left vacant by Biden appointee Adriana Kugler, who is stepping down Friday. If confirmed by the Senate, Miran would serve until January 31, 2026. The appointment marks Trump's first opportunity in his second term to exert more direct control over the Federal Reserve—an institution he has repeatedly criticized. Trump last week lashed out at Fed Chair Jerome Powell on social media, calling him "a stubborn MORON" for not cutting interest rates amid his sweeping new tariffs. Stephen Miran, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors, walks at the White House, June 17, 2025, in Washington. Stephen Miran, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors, walks at the White House, June 17, 2025, in Washington. Associated Press Miran has emerged as a vocal defender of Trump's economic agenda, particularly the 2025 tax cuts and the broad tariff regime. He has argued these policies will drive economic growth and help reduce budget deficits, while minimizing the risk of inflation. His nomination is likely to raise concerns over political influence at the Fed, an institution long prized for its independence. "What we're seeing now in real time is a repetition once again of this pattern where the president will end up having been proven right," Miran said on MSNBC. "And the Fed will, with a lag and probably quite too late, eventually catch up to the president's view." The Fed's independence is considered critical to its ability to make politically difficult decisions, such as raising interest rates to control inflation. All Fed governors vote on key monetary policy decisions, including rate-setting and financial regulation. With Miran on the board, Trump would likely gain a reliable vote in favor of rate cuts. Kugler, the departing governor, supported Powell's position that interest rates should remain steady while the Fed assesses the inflationary effects of Trump's tariffs. The Fed held rates steady at 4.3% during its meeting last week, though two Trump-appointed governors—Christopher Waller and Michelle Bowman—dissented. Even with Miran's appointment, many of the Fed's 12 voting officials remain wary of inflationary pressure from Trump's policies. After the July jobs report, Miran criticized Powell again, asserting that Trump had been proven right on inflation in his first term and would be again. "I think our position begins with dismantlement of your program. That is our position today," Miran told MSNBC, adding that "at the margin we're not going to find other ways to find compromise between the two countries." This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
