In this episode of Santa Clarita Weekly, Renee McKellar and Sage Rafferty dig into two urgent, intertwined stories about power, policing, and accountability. First, they examine the controversial killing of Keith Porter Jr. in Northridge by an off-duty ICE agent on New Year’s Eve, unpacking conflicting accounts of what happened, the lack of transparency from federal authorities, and why the case has sparked outrage from family, attorneys, and community leaders. They connect Porter’s death to recent ICE-related killings in Minnesota, highlighting a broader pattern of disputed narratives and aggressive tactics.

In the second half, the conversation widens to explore how far-right, white supremacist militia movements—particularly Patriot Front—are shaping modern GOP enforcement strategies. Sage previews his investigative documentary, “Valley of the Shadow,” tracing how extremist street tactics appear to be filtering into federal operations, from masked agents to mass deportation raids. The episode closes with a stark question: what happens when the levers of government begin to mirror the movements that once stood outside them?

In this episode of Santa Clarita Weekly, we examine the fault lines in American democracy — from Trump’s tariffs and their impact on jobs, to his call to “nationalize” elections, to a looming partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. We connect these national fights to Santa Clarita, including controversial positions taken by local City Council candidate Denise Lite, and what they reveal about voting rights and civil liberties. We close by reflecting on what this moment means for democracy and how we move forward together