Today’s Big Story

L.A. Unrest

Protesters clashed with police downtown, with crowds spilling onto a highway and demonstrators setting fire to driverless cars

I just left Los Angeles a few days ago. It was sunny and calm. But immigration sweeps in the city have prompted days of fiery protests and sparked a dispute between the state and federal government over how to respond. And Sunday’s standoff between protesters and law-enforcement officers in downtown Los Angeles capped a tense weekend in which demonstrators, police, rubber bullets and tear gas overran a neighborhood that’s home to City Hall and federal buildings.

Helicopters whirled overhead and mounted police on horseback tried to control the protesters who covered the neighborhood in graffiti that said “F— ICE,” while setting at least five Waymo driverless taxis on fire, and throwing rocks and water bottles at officers. This “escalation” came just a day after President Donald Trump signed a memorandum deploying 2,000 National Guard troops to address the protests in a move that Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom called “unlawful.”

The president on Sunday threatened a forceful response against even nonviolent actions by demonstrators, vowing to “have troops everywhere” in response to the demonstrations in Los Angeles. Trump said he was not yet at the point of invoking the Insurrection Act to quell the demonstrations but said he was watching the situation closely to determine if he will do so. He also posted on Truth Social “ARREST THE PEOPLE IN FACE MASKS” and “BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!”

Speaking to reporters, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said that almost 60 people had been arrested during the unrest that was becoming “increasingly worse and more violent.” Due to "demonstrators throwing objects" onto the southbound lanes of the 101 Freeway and “damaging multiple police vehicles,” this stretch of road would “remain closed until further notice.”

The protests began late last week as a means to push back on several immigration enforcement actions in the area. The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that ICE operations in Los Angeles last week resulted in the arrest of 118 immigrants. ICE officers issued search warrants at various spots, including outside a clothing warehouse where a tense encounter between protesters and agents occurred, the Associated Press reports. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said over the weekend that if “violence continues,” Marines at Camp Pendleton could be mobilized, prompting Newsom to describe this suggestion as “deranged.”

Trump vs. Musk

Like most of the president’s feuds, it’s getting ugly and personal

President Donald Trump on Saturday said there would be “serious consequences” if tech mogul Elon Musk funds Democratic candidates to run against Republicans who vote in favor of the GOP’s sweeping budget bill. “If he does, he’ll have to pay the consequences for that,” Trump told NBC News in a phone interview, but declined to share what those consequences would be.

Amid the fireworks of his spectacular breakup with Musk, the New York Times points out a striking admission that “once could have led to subpoenas.” As he lashed out at Mr. Musk for disloyalty, Trump threatened to cut off the billionaire’s federal contracts in retaliation, effectively acknowledging what his critics have long said, that he looks at the government as his personal instrument for dispensing favors to friends and penalizing those who cross him.

Rattled in the wake of Musk’s public attacks and apparent call for his impeachment, the Washington Post reports that Trump worked the phones over the weekend, debriefing close confidants and casual acquaintances alike. His former ally was “a big-time drug addict,” Trump said at one point as he tried to make sense of Musk’s behavior. And Musk continues to fan the flames, doubling down on his unsubstantiated claim that Trump was implicated in documents related to the convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. He questioned what he had to apologize to Trump for and mused about launching an alternative to the Republican Party, which he is now calling the “America Party”.

An Exciting French Open

After Coco Gauff’s thrilling comeback Alcaraz produces another one in five-set thriller against Sinner

Did you catch Coco Gauff claiming her second career grand slam singles title on Saturday? She came from behind to defeat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 in a thrilling French Open women’s final. The 21-year-old’s win—a repeat of her 2023 U.S. Open victory—means she is the first American since Serena Williams in 2015 to triumph at Roland Garros, and only the third this century. The victory came three years after Gauff last made the final, where she fell to Iga Światek in a disappointing loss. This time, she got to lift the trophy.

On Sunday, Carlos Alcaraz came back from two sets down to beat Jannik Sinner in a fifth-set tiebreak, retaining his title in what’s being called “one of the greatest finals ever played, in any sport.” In an exciting match, the 22-year-old trailed 5-3, 0-40 on serve in the fourth set but recovered to win his fifth Grand Slam title after 5 hours, 29 minutes, the longest French Open men's final in the Open era and the second-longest men's Grand Slam final ever.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Is Out

A new era for the handheld or too soon to tell?

Throngs of gamers stood in long lines outside of stores hours before they opened last Thursday from Tokyo to New York City in hopes of snaring a long-awaited Nintendo Switch 2 video game console. Enthusiasts have been clamoring for an upgrade to Nintendo’s eight-year-old predecessor for years. Nintendo, which is counting on the Switch 2 to boost sagging sales, has added new social features meant to lure players into online gaming. So does it live up to the hype?

IGN says the Switch 2 is bigger and better looking than its predecessor. “Even compared to my trusty old OLED Switch, the new screen looks great, and the extra real estate is a noticeable improvement … but while it may not be giving the PS5 Pro a run for its money or anything, the Switch 2 does at least feel distinctly modern again.”

Kotaku loves the “clickity click of the magnetic Joy-Con” and the fact that games load noticeably faster on Switch 2. “These aren’t lightning-fast PS5 SSD speeds, but they’re a big leap compared to the old hardware.” Oh and many reviewers remarked on the improved kickstand for leaning the console against a surface. It’s bumped up from the original’s measly singular rectangle on the right, to a more substantial, balanced stand that supports weight on both ends. And the extra USB-C port at the top allows you to charge it with a separate cable even while the Switch 2 is docked—which is a nice quality of life feature to have just in general, even if it’s not absolutely necessary.

MR PORTER’s Gift List for Discerning Dads

Just because they don't ask for it, doesn't mean they don't like nice things

It’s a fresh start.