Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds this week directed the state's National Guard to assist with Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations beginning in September.

Des Moines

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has instructed the Iowa National Guard to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations within the state. The deployment, scheduled to begin in the coming month, will see the Guard providing logistical and administrative assistance rather than engaging in direct law enforcement activities. 

The decision has received backing from Iowa Senator Joni Ernst and follows previous instances where the Guard was sent to assist with immigration efforts in other states. The move comes amid ongoing debate in Iowa about the balance between border security and the economic contributions of migrant labor, particularly in the state's significant meat-processing industry. Recent changes to federal immigration policy have already impacted local workers, highlighting the complex intersection of immigration enforcement and local economies.

Iowa governor directs state National Guard to help ICE operations

While we have been focused, I'm sure you've noticed, on President Trump's deployment of the National Guard here in Washington, D.C., National Guard will soon be mobilized in a state in the Midwest. Iowa Republican Governor Kim Reynolds this week directed the state's National Guard to assist with immigrations and customs enforcement operations. This will begin next month. Move has won the support of Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst. They are not doing the law enforcement functions, but they're providing support to those agencies. I do fully support that, and I support President Trump's initiative to make sure that our country is safer and secure. CBS News, Iowa Station. This is in Des Moines, KCCI, a phenomenal affiliate of ours. Chief Political Reporter Amanda Rooker joins me now to discuss this and so much more going on in Iowa politics. This has been a busy summer. Very busy. Talk to my audience about this move by the governor and how it's being received. Yeah. Well, it's not entirely surprising, Major. The governor in previous years has sent Iowa National Guard down to Texas to assist with immigration efforts. So it didn't shock the state necessarily that she would deploy Iowa National Guard in our own backyard in Iowa, although, as Senator Ernst mentioned, administrative logistics. Logistics. Right. Right. However, you know, they haven't deployed yet. They're going to deploy in September. We're already seeing, you know, some impact of President Trump's immigration policies in Iowa. So it will be interesting to see if that accelerates with this deployment or not. In my travels in Iowa, I came across those who said, yes, there are immigrants in Iowa, some of them undocumented, but they work in meat-processing places, they work in agriculture, and they have incorporated themselves into our communities. And an ambivalence, General, about a super-aggressive crackdown. Has that manifested itself in Iowa? I mean, Iowa is the number one hog producer in the country. I believe we have the 20—20 businesses, top meat-processing businesses in the country are in Iowa, and certainly migrant labor is important to that sector and those businesses. So, I mean, the concern about that is real. Just recently, there was 200 workers who were in Iowa through a humanitarian parole program that the president terminated. The meat-processing plant told them that their legal status had been revoked and that they were going to be let go. And that—I mean, the impact of that can't be understated, in terms of those people likely had kids in schools in that community, they had homes in that community, plus just the impact to the economy. If you lose 200 workers at a business, what does that do to the city? What does that do to the consumer at the plant? So there are lots of those questions. At the same time, I mean, many voters in Iowa in 2024 said border security was incredibly important to them. So there's a balance of they want the community to feel safe, but they don't want it to disrupt their local economy. Non-Iowa caucus-related stuff. There's real stuff going on in Iowa right now. Open governor's race, open Senate race. Really busy. It's like the caucuses ended, and then, boom, we were back to the political races. There are—there's a lot going on. So, very quickly, the Iowa Senate race, Joni Ernst— Right. Possibly. Possibly. She said within less than a month, she's going to make an announcement. About whether she's going to seek re-election. She has a campaign manager, but she hasn't made an announcement yet. And five Democrats have already jumped in. Yes. Right. It's—I mean, we're—we still have more than a year until the general election, and there are five Democrats— And five pretty serious Democrats. Yeah. I mean, you have three of them that have legislative experience that are known within the state, within the party. You have Jackie Norris, who was the former chief of staff to Michelle Obama, worked on Barack Obama's caucus campaign. And then you have a working-class veteran Democrat, so lots of different flavors, depending on where maybe the direction of the party goes. And Governor Reynolds not running for re-election. Right. And so, that is generating a lot of interest and attention. I mean, there are no term limits for governors in Iowa, so if you can get in, you could potentially stay in that seat for a long time. And so, an open-seat race is generating a lot of us. Someone I knew pretty well, Governor Terry Branstad, would tell you, you could stay there for a very, very long time. Amanda Rucker, it's so great to have you here. Thanks so much for coming by. Thank you, Major.

Talks between the U.S. President and Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded without an agreement on ending the war in Ukraine, despite being widely anticipated as a possible turning point.

Anchorage

Ukraine Invasion

Zelenskyy set to meet U.S. president Monday after no ceasefire deal

For the first time in a decade, Vladimir Putin was on U.S. soil for a much-anticipated meeting with Donald Trump. The U.S. and Russian presidents were supposed to discuss a deal to put an end to Moscow’s war against Ukraine, but they did not mention a ceasefire after the talks.

Trump, Putin wrap up talks with no mention of ceasefire

President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Alaska for a high-stakes summit over ending the war in Ukraine. Nancy Cordes and Margaret Brennan have coverage and analysis.

What we know about the high-stakes summit between Trump and Putin

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin have arrived in Alaska ahead of their high stakes talks on Ukraine. The expected one-on-one meeting between Trump and Putin has expanded to include U.S. officials Steve Witkoff and Marco Rubio and other Russian officials.

Trump, Putin arrive in Alaska for historic summit

Israel's far-right finance minister approved the construction of a controversial new settlement in the West Bank, saying it "finally buries the idea of a Palestinian state." But it's unclear if this move will actually go through. Rights groups swiftly condemned the plan.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israeli finance minister approves new West Bank settlement

U.S. President Donald Trump indicated in an interview that he hoped to push Russian President Vladimir Putin toward a second meeting but acknowledged there was a chance Friday’s meeting would not succeed.

Washington

Trump shifts tone, confident on deal to end Ukraine war

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalei Smotrich said a plan to add more than 3,000 homes to a controversial settlement in the West Bank would bury ‘the idea of a Palestinian state.’

Israel furthers plan for settlement that divides the West Bank

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London. This comes one day before U.S. President Donald Trump is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska to discuss a possible ceasefire in Ukraine.

London

Zelenskyy, Starmer meet ahead of Trump, Putin summit in Alaska

Speaking in the Oval Office on Thursday, President Trump sounded optimistic about his upcoming summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

Trump says he thinks Putin and Zelenskyy will make peace

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced plans to build another immigrant detention center, dubbing it the "Deportation Depot." The facility will be in North Florida.

Jacksonville

DeSantis announces plan to build another immigrant detention center

President Trump had a virtual call Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday in Alaska. After the call, Zelenskyy said he told Mr. Trump that "Putin is bluffing."

Ukraine's Zelenskyy warns President Trump ahead of meeting with Putin

U.S. President Donald Trump said he would ask the Republican-controlled Congress to extend federal control of Washington's city police force beyond 30 days, escalating his campaign to exert presidential power over the nation's capital.

Trump wants to extend federal control over Washington police

With just hours left to reach a deal on plastics, negotiators in Geneva were scrambling to resolve a deadlock caused by “red lines” of member countries. Nations are crafting the first global, legally binding treaty on plastics pollution at the United Nations office in Switzerland.

Geneva

Global plastics treaty talks in Geneva stall as deadline looms

At least 123 people have been killed in 24 hours, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says people will be given the opportunity to leave Gaza before a planned ground offensive, but no one is being pushed out.

Israeli strikes pound Gaza ahead of planned ground offensive

America's NATO allies stood firmly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of the face-to-face meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. The European leaders showed a united front that there should be no peace deal without Ukraine's involvement.

Kyiv

NATO allies stand with Ukraine ahead of Trump-Putin summit

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement must improve conditions for detainees at New York's 26 Federal Plaza, a judge ruled Tuesday.

New York

Judge rules ICE must improve conditions for detainees at NY facility

National Guard troops arrived in Washington, D.C., following President Donald Trump's deployment and federalization of local police to crack down on crime in the nation's capital.

National Guard troops arrive in Washington, D.C.

U.S. President Donald Trump said that he had a "very good call" with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, days before his scheduled Alaska meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump had 'very good call' with Zelenskyy ahead of Putin meeting

Israel's military chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, has approved the framework of a plan for a new offensive in Gaza. CBS News Middle East reporter Courtney Kealy has more details.

Israeli military chief approves 'framework' for new Gaza offensive

President Donald Trump said Wednesday there will be “very severe consequences” if Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn’t agree to stop the Ukraine war after Friday’s summit.

Trump warns of 'severe consequences' if Russia doesn't stop war

A Wisconsin woman on Tuesday was found guilty in the United Kingdom of trying to kill a man at point-blank range in 2019. Aimee Betro, 45, was part of a plot with two other co-conspirators to murder Sikander Ali, prosecutors said.

Birmingham

American woman found guilty of UK murder-for-hire plot

Record-high temperatures across Europe are fanning wildfires across the continent. Experts say a warming climate and an increase in flammable vegetation from rural depopulation are major factors.

Madrid

Historic heat fuels fires across Europe

Hungary's PM Viktor Orbán said the EU attempts to set conditions for a meeting to which leaders of the EU were not invited. He also called for an EU-Russia summit.

Brussels

EU leaders rally behind Ukraine ahead of Trump-Putin talks

President Trump said Monday he expects that Russia and Ukraine will "land swap" certain territories as part of an eventual ceasefire deal. Mr. Trump is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.

Trump claims 'land swapping' between Russia, Ukraine will happen

Taylor Swift confirmed her 12th studio album, "The Life of a Showgirl," in a teaser for her upcoming appearance on her boyfriend Travis Kelce's podcast. Swift did not disclose the release date of the album.

Taylor Swift announces new album, 'The Life of a Showgirl'

U.S. President Donald Trump said that his planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday will be to "feel out" the leader as pressure mounts for Russia and Ukraine to make a peace deal.

Breakdown