Down & Dirty: Bass' Actions Stoking LA Riots, claims Former Acting ICE Director
Arsonists Torch Waymo Autonomous Vehicles; Service in Downtown LA Temporarily Halts
In an honest chat on 'Varney & Co.', former Acting ICE Director Jonathan Fahey lays into LA Mayor Karen Bass over her handling of anti-ICE riots.
Waymo, a subsidiary of Google's parent company Alphabet, pulls their self-driving cars from downtown LA after some vehicles were torched during anti-ICE protests. This move follows federal immigration raids.
Waymo swiftly withdrew its autonomous vehicles from downtown LA and plans to hold off serving the area for a while, citing safety concerns as their top priority. They're still planning operations in other LA areas, though.
A spokesperson confirmed Waymo is in contact with the authorities.
An angry mob attacked an autonomous Waymo vehicle during an anti-ICE protest in downtown LA, CA, on June 8, 2025. (Benjamin Hanson/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
*RIOTERS RAMPAGE AT LAPD HQ AS ANTI-ICE PROTESTERS CLASH*
LAPD confirmed Sunday at 9:15 p.m. that multiple autonomous vehicles were engulfed in flames in the downtown area during ICE raids.
Stopped in their tracks? Not a bit! Stemming from a series of ICE raids, a wave of riots swept across the city, with protestors demanding an end to deportations.
President Trump responded by deploying thousands of National Guard troops to LA, despite local leaders arguing it only escalated tensions. Gov. Gavin Newsom urged the administration to withdraw these troops, returning them to Newsom's command.
A Waymo car burns amidst riots in LA, June 8, 2025. (Benjamin Hanson/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
With flags representing freedom suddenly scorched, Los Angeles saw flag burnings and flag spitters as anti-ICE anger boiled over.
LA Mayor Karen Bass expressed being 'saddened' by the vandalism, emphasizing the widespread graffiti throughout downtown LA.
Waymo, for its part, isn't convinced its vehicles were specifically targeted. They're working closely with law enforcement to assess the situation, prioritizing the safety of their riders and employees who fortunately remained unharmed.
Aside from the Waymo vehicles, the LAPD confirmed incidents of vandalism and looting in downtown LA after the rioters refused to disperse overnight on Sunday.
The LAPD's Central Division is urging residents, businesses, and visitors to stay vigilant, reporting any criminal activity as officers tackle various trouble spots. (See? Can't have a riot without a lil' (sic) persuasion!)
- The escalating tension in Los Angeles, fueled by politics and general-news events such as ICE raids and anti-ICE protests, has led to incidents involving technology, including the burning of Waymo's self-driving vehicles, which are part of the broader field of gadgets and advanced technology.
- The increase in crime and justice issues, exemplified by the riots and vandalism in Los Angeles, has brought technology, including autonomous vehicles like those manufactured by Waymo, unexpectedly into the spotlight, revealing the interconnectedness of various social and technological spheres.
