L.A. Times - Politics

California AG Bonta open to Warner Bros. settlement talks if Paramount 'stops playing games'

Meg James — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 21:20:17 GMT

California's top prosecutor blasts Paramount-Warner Bros. conduct as 'amateur hour.'

Canada retaliates in rapidly escalating U.S. trade war

Michael Wilner — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 15:32:31 GMT

The new duties will hit a variety of American products with tariffs as high as 50%, including steel, dairy products, appliances and farm equipment.

Chabria: Sheriff Chad Bianco can't catch a break. That's a good thing

Anita Chabria — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco confiscated ballots, claiming he was investigating election fraud. California's Supreme Court justices called Bianco's logic "bizarre."

Newsoms list Sacramento-area mansion for $7.5M, plan to exit city governor once called 'so dull'

Iris Kwok — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 22:59:00 GMT

The 12,700-square-foot mansion in Fair Oaks — an unincorporated community in Sacramento County bordering the American River — has been listed for $7.5 million.

California Supreme Court appears skeptical of sheriff's authority to seize ballots

Sonja Sharp — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 22:48:32 GMT

The state's high court heard arguments Monday in the dispute over whether Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco had the authority to seize more than 600,000 ballots in last year's special election in what he claimed was an investigation into potential voter fraud.

Supreme Court for now allows Trump to plan new mail ballot rules. California to sue again

David G. Savage, Kevin Rector — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 21:38:04 GMT

California officials stressed that the court's ruling does not allow final implementation of the new rules requested by Trump.

To further isolate Iran's economy, U.S. rolls out 'D-Day' sanctions

Ana Ceballos, Nabih Bulos — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 21:05:13 GMT

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the measures as the opening of an all-out financial assault on the Iranian government and its trade partners.

Prominent Latino group blasts proposed Paramount-Warner merger

Meg James — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:53:28 GMT

The group urged California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta to continue his fight to block David Ellison's $111-billion deal, saying it would have a "devastating and unacceptable impact on Latinos."

Emily Compagno joins Fox News' 'The Five' as co-host

Stephen Battaglio — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 18:29:39 GMT

The former attorney will depart "Outnumbered" for the top-rated program starting Sept. 8.

California cancels mediation session for the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery deal

Meg James — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 13:48:43 GMT

Paramount-Warner Bros. merger talked delayed as California's Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta accuses studio of 'playing games.'

Paramount accuses Mark Ruffalo of 'antisemitic tropes' on the eve of mediation talks in antitrust battle

Meg James — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 21:55:44 GMT

Amid caustic political charges, Paramount executives and lawyers representing 12 states are set this meet this week to see if a truce is possible.

Will Trump interfere in the midterms? Democrats and their allies are preparing

Kevin Rector, Justine McDaniel — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Across California and the nation, Democratic leaders and voting rights advocates are ramping up coordination and gaming out responses to a raft of potential actions by the Trump administration to subvert the November vote or deny its outcome.

Barabak: Ripple or blue wave? This race will test Democratic strength in November

Mark Z. Barabak — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The contest in Nevada's 2nd Congressional District should be a shoo-in for Republicans. But a problematic candidate, inflation and Trump's unpopularity give Democrats not far-fetched hopes for a massive upset.

'Every advocate's nightmare': Inside ICE's strategy to sidestep local oversight laws

Andrea Castillo — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

In some instances, contracts have been changed to declare that the centers are simply not subject to local or state laws. In others, ICE has purchased facilities owned and operated by private companies.

Trump cites national security as Supreme Court weighs challenge to ballroom

David G. Savage, Michael Wilner — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 21:44:10 GMT

The Trump administration says the massive new White House ballroom is urgently needed for national security, to protect the president, his staff and guests from attacks.

Aisha Wahab wins election to complete former Rep. Eric Swalwell's term

Nicole Nixon — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:08:43 GMT

Wahab, a progressive state senator from the East Bay, defeated BART President Melissa Hernandez in a special election to complete Swalwell's term.

Eric Swalwell briefly detained as feds seize his phone at San Francisco airport, source says

Richard Winton, Dakota Smith, Michael Wilner — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 17:39:22 GMT

The latest developments in the federal inquiry come four months after Swalwell dropped his gubernatorial bid, denying allegations of sexual assault and misconduct.

Key takeaways from investigation into Edison's role in the deadly Eaton fire

Melody Petersen — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

New evidence from government investigators and court filings raise questions about Southern California Edison's claim that it operated its electrical system safely before last year's deadly Eaton fire.

Californians are more concerned about Trump interference in midterm than fraud, poll finds

Kevin Rector — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Californians are more concerned about the Trump administration interfering in the state's midterm elections than they are about voter fraud, noncitizens voting illegally or foreign interference, according to a new poll.

Arellano: In Karen Bass' bad debate night, she even trashed taco vendors

Gustavo Arellano — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Again and again, Bass went after Raman in the pettiest, most personal ways. She kept mocking her as a supposed egghead with no real-life governing experience.

Paramount-Warner merger could erase 4,500 jobs in L.A., report says

Meg James — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 23:45:42 GMT

Paramount's merger with Warner Bros. Discovery could lead to massive job losses, battering an already fragile L.A. entertainment economy.

Trump-backed candidates struggle, and other takeaways from Florida, Wyoming, Alaska primaries

Christopher Buchanan — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 21:51:21 GMT

A democratic socialist won the Democratic nomination in a Florida Senate race over a moderate favored by the party establishment.

MS NOW will launch direct-to-consumer streaming service on Sept. 9

Stephen Battaglio — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 17:43:51 GMT

MS NOW is calling subscribers "members" and is promising a more connective experience with its content and talent.

Anxiety grips Pacific allies as Trump pulls back

Michael Wilner — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

President Trump's move to curtail military drills with South Korea has stoked anxiety in Asia, as the region's sole U.S. aircraft carrier heads to the Mideast.

California voters favor progressive candidates, split over democratic socialism, poll finds

Justine McDaniel — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

California voters are more inclined to back progressives running for office than mainstream Democrats, a new poll found, though a marked generational divide separates those who favor each camp.

Arellano: Why Catholics must take the lead to rebuke MAGA in the midterms

Gustavo Arellano — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Trump is a walking manifestation of the seven deadly sins, to the point that he has depicted himself as Jesus and a pope on social media.

Becerra pledges to debate Hilton — more than once — between now and Nov. 3

Seema Mehta — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Democrat Xavier Becerra pledged on Tuesday to participate in more than one debate against Steve Hilton, his GOP rival in the California governor's race.

CAA boss warns of threat to California's film and TV jobs program

Wendy Lee — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

CAA's chief executive warned state leaders that a corporate tax credit cap threatens the state's film and TV jobs program.

The fake L.A. mayor poll adds to challenges facing the public opinion industry

Ben Wieder — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 22:41:13 GMT

The fake opinion survey showing Karen Bass with a commanding lead in the L.A. mayoral race comes amid a wave of low-quality polls that have missed the mark in marquee races.

Supreme Court is urged to block Trump's huge new ballroom so Congress can decide

David G. Savage — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 21:07:48 GMT

The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued to block the ballroom, arguing that the president lacks authority to erect new buildings on government property.

Last-minute state legislation could help Stan Kroenke-backed San Diego arena, prompting outcry

Dakota Smith — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 20:55:36 GMT

A state lawmaker from San Diego has proposed fast-tracking the construction of an arena and housing project, drawing criticism from opponents who argue the site is not suitable for large-scale development because of flooding.

'Brazen act of self-dealing': Democrats seek to block a Trump-linked crypto bank

Ana Ceballos — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 20:43:41 GMT

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency granted conditional approval for the Trump family's World Liberty Trust Co. to become a bank handling cryptocurrency and digital assets.

ABC sues FCC, alleging Trump-fueled retaliation in TV license fight

Stephen Battaglio — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 14:16:17 GMT

The Disney-owned network asked a U.S. District Court to issue a temporary restraining order to stop the FCC's action. The agency says it is investigating ABC stations over whether the company's diversity and inclusion policies are in violation of federal anti-discrimination laws.

Hiltzik: A political farewell to one of the best friends Social Security ever had in Congress

Michael Hiltzik — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Rep. John Larson fought hard in Congress to protect Social Security. Will his much younger successor play the same role?

Billionaires ready to spend big to fight California wealth tax

Nicole Nixon — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 02:01:10 GMT

A group funded by Google co-founder Sergey Brin and other billionaires gave $5 million to a group opposing Proposition 40, the proposed wealth tax on the November ballot.

House Ethics Committee announces sexual misconduct investigation into Rep. Jimmy Gomez

Ben Wieder — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 22:23:31 GMT

The committee said it is investigating allegations that Gomez engaged in "inappropriate sexual contact with a House staffer." He said he did not violate the law or House ethics rules.

Paramount demands $1.9 billion from states, citing Warner deal delays

Meg James — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 18:51:02 GMT

Tech scion David Ellison's company wants the coalition of 12 states and the WGA to cover the 'ticking fees' that Paramount could incur due to Warner deal delays.

Business and labor square off in West Valley's 3rd District L.A. City Council race

Gavin J. Quinton — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 15:10:46 GMT

Tim Gaspar touts his work as a small business owner, while Barri Worth Girvan says her time in the public sector will make her a stronger advocate for Valley constituents.

California backtracks on good-government policies in divided Trump era

Seema Mehta — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

In an era of even more bitter divisions in the state and nation, political and governmental reforms face severe threats.

Trump turns to containing the fallout from setbacks in Iran

Michael Wilner — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The current approach — an economic choke hold on Iran — is being led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Inside the bitter war over cows and wilderness at Point Reyes

Susanne Rust — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Dairy farmers grazing cows in Point Reyes were paid to leave, but now they want back in. They claim the park needs grazing to keep a lid on invasive species. The Trump administration is sympathetic.

California defends childhood vaccination schedule against Trump efforts to weaken it

Rong-Gong Lin II — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The defense comes after President Trump issued an executive order recommending that the singular measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine should be separated into three, and that all childhood immunizations should be given at separate visits.

Trump says USS Abraham Lincoln deployment 'not nearly long enough' amid outcry from families

Christopher Buchanan, Ana Ceballos — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 21:13:51 GMT

Lawmakers are pressing for answers amid reports that sailors aboard the San Diego-based carrier have endured food shortages, plumbing failures and severe fatigue.

Court ruling narrows pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients

Andrea Castillo — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 20:20:22 GMT

A new ruling by an administrative immigration court ends a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients who are married to U.S. citizens.

California's bid to outlaw 'glow-in-the-dark rabbits' and 'unicorn horses' fails

Dakota Smith — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 02:16:34 GMT

A bill that would have banned the sale of genetically-modified pets for cosmetic reasons died in committee Thursday.

Feds settle lawsuit with L.A. County Sheriff's Department over concealed firearm permits

Connor Sheets — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 22:16:43 GMT

The U.S. Department of Justice claimed "a huge win for the residents of Los Angeles County and for the Second Amendment," announcing a settlement Thursday in a lawsuit filed against the Sheriff's Department over delays in processing applications for permits to carry concealed firearms.

Commentary: Trump is sued over selling early access to his posts on Truth Social

Lorraine Ali — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 22:04:13 GMT

President Donald Trump gets sued by media organizations for selling early access to his Truth Social posts.

Those shock gloves ICE plans to buy can bring strong men to their knees in less than a second

Christopher Buchanan — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 21:35:34 GMT

The Department of Homeland Security plans to spend up to $20 million on gloves that deliver painful shocks to detainees.

Kennedy Center board votes to close venue for two years, inscribe Trump's name on building

Jessica Gelt — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 19:04:56 GMT

The Kennedy Center's board of trustees on Thursday voted to move forward with President Trump's plan to close the building for renovations and to inscribe his name on the building to commemorate the upgrades.

Hollywood unions split: DGA, IATSE seek settlement while WGA fights to block Paramount-Warner merger

Meg James — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 17:03:21 GMT

Union leaders are asking David Ellison commit to keeping Paramount's operations in Hollywood and maintaining historic levels of film production in the U.S.

Becerra holds strong lead over Hilton in race for California governor, new poll shows

Nicole Nixon — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

As the campaign for California governor heads into the general election, Democrat Xavier Becerra maintains a strong lead over Republican Steve Hilton, according to a new poll.

How Democrats plan to rein in Trump should they win in November

Ana Ceballos — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

For Democrats, impeachment remains an option, but they are reluctant to make it a centerpiece of their agenda this time.

In another key primary test, a favored progressive is upset in Wisconsin governor's race

Christopher Buchanan — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 19:16:24 GMT

After polling showed progressive Francesca Hong up by double digits, the establishment-backed David Crowley won the Democratic nomination for governor in Wisconsin.

Trump again asks Supreme Court to save USPS mail ballot plan after second lower court loss

Kevin Rector — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 17:26:54 GMT

The Trump administration again asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene to save President Trump's plan for the U.S. Postal Service to place new nationwide limits on mail voting.

State lawmakers seek tougher rules for industrial facilities after Boyle Heights fire

Dakota Smith — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Two state lawmakers want cold storage companies to take care of local communities after industrial disasters.

As Americans bet on elections, L.A. officials weigh how to safeguard voters

Justine McDaniel — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

L.A. County could become among the first major election jurisdictions to implement guidance or policy related to prediction markets.

Inside David Ellison's desperate fight for Warner Bros.

Meg James — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Paramount's board has approved David Ellison's contingency plan to move headquarters from Hollywood as early as this fall, according to people familiar with the situation.

Senator 'deeply troubled' by utility threats

Melody Petersen — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The chair of the California Senate's utilities committee said Tuesday he was "deeply troubled" by electric company executives' recent threats to take action to protect their shareholders if they don't get legislation in Sacramento to limit their wildfire liabilities.

Becerra, Hilton offer promises on AI, gas prices, healthcare — and starkly contrasting views

Seema Mehta, Nicole Nixon — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 03:50:16 GMT

The two candidates for California governor came to Sacramento offering policy agendas that were both sweeping and vague. Both were quick to belittle the promises by their rival.

'California's coast is not for sale.' State battles Trump plan to limit coastal oversight

Rosanna Xia — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 18:07:28 GMT

Hundreds of Californians rallied at a federal hearing to protest a Trump administration push to wrest regulatory control over the state's coastline.

L.A'.s first ethics chief, Benjamin Bycel, dies at 84

Jenny Jarvie — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:03:20 GMT

Benjamin Bycel worked as an attorney for the ACLU and later as a civil rights lawyer in Santa Barbara, successfully arguing a landmark California Supreme Court case. In 1991, he took on his most high-profile role: founding director of the Los Angeles Ethics Commission.

Race to replace Pelosi enters the AI group chat

Iris Kwok — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Scott Wiener's congressional campaign launched a chatbot parodying rival Connie Chan, sparking a rebuke from Pelosi and illustrating the minefield politicians navigate when using AI.

Your guide to the California governor's race: Xavier Becerra vs. Steve Hilton

Nicole Nixon — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton are competing in the race for California governor. Here's what you need to know about the candidates.

For L.A. college students, the GOP's $20-burrito debate is about more than lunch

Melody Xu — Sun, 9 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Conservatives debate online whether college students should be more frugal on food, or if the younger generation is contending with a larger affordability issue.

Judge rejects challenge to California attorney general's description of voter ID measure

Kevin Rector — Fri, 7 Aug 2026 20:16:49 GMT

A state judge Thursday rejected a challenge to how California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta's office summarized a strict new voter ID measure on November ballots.

Cassidy says he supports Blanche for attorney general, likely paving way for confirmation

Ana Ceballos — Fri, 7 Aug 2026 14:18:59 GMT

Blanche's path to confirmation has been complicated over a settlement of Trump's lawsuit against the IRS that has drawn intense scrutiny from Republicans and Democrats alike.

After Supreme Court loss, Trump again targets birthright citizenship with new orders

Kevin Rector — Fri, 7 Aug 2026 02:13:45 GMT

Trump called the Supreme Court decision 'very unfair,' and said the new orders were an attempt to end birthright citizenship by other means.

Tight vote on Blanche exposes deep skepticism of Trump's Justice Department

Michael Wilner, Ben Wieder — Thu, 6 Aug 2026 19:19:13 GMT

The confirmation of Todd Blanche hangs on the support of two Republicans who have repeatedly criticized President Trump's stewardship of the department.

Granderson: Don't let Abdul El-Sayed's identity eclipse his actual politics

LZ Granderson — Thu, 6 Aug 2026 17:19:39 GMT

Questions about his electability have little to do with his résumé and more to do with him being the son of Egyptian immigrants who prays five times a day.

Warner Bros. Discovery earnings tumble amid film studio struggles

Meg James — Thu, 6 Aug 2026 16:21:23 GMT

Box office duds weighed down the company's gains in streaming as the industry waits to see whether Paramount will succeed in buying Warner Bros.

FCC votes in favor of lifting limits on TV station ownership

Stephen Battaglio — Thu, 6 Aug 2026 16:01:35 GMT

The 2-1 vote allows station ownership groups to expand their coverage beyond 39% of the U.S.

British authorities approve Paramount's Warner Bros. deal

Meg James — Thu, 6 Aug 2026 12:50:24 GMT

Paramount now has clearances from around the world, but David Ellison's company still faces an antitrust trial in California in its battle with state attorneys general

ICE's healthcare payment system collapsed. Are detainees still getting off-site care?

Andrea Castillo, Gabrielle LaMarr LeMee — Thu, 6 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

With a new payment system still not in place, advocates for immigrant detainees fear some are going without necessary treatment as medical providers near a year without compensation.

Michigan Senate victory boosts progressives as Democrats wrestle with party's direction

Christopher Buchanan, Justine McDaniel — Wed, 5 Aug 2026 21:53:07 GMT

El-Sayed's victory will put to the test in a swing state the broader strength of the progressive movement, which has found success in deep-blue places like New York City and Los Angeles.

Primaries on the West Coast are complete. Here are November races to watch

Justine McDaniel — Wed, 5 Aug 2026 17:40:57 GMT

The Western states hold four of the nation's 18 toss-up races as rated by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.

L.A. County weighs a grant fund to keep indie films from leaving

Cerys Davies — Wed, 5 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Indie filmmakers say California's tax credit skips them. L.A. County's proposed Evergreen Fund would offer grants instead — if it survives the budget.

Arellano: What gets me so angry about California's proposed billionaire tax

Gustavo Arellano — Wed, 5 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

What Prop. 40 supporters don't get is that you can only smack a goose so much to give more until it bites back, which is what California billionaires are increasingly doing by throwing their cash around to defeat any political candidate exuding a whiff of progressivism.

Utilities threaten action if lawmakers fail to cut their wildfire liability risk

Melody Petersen — Wed, 5 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Top executives of California's two biggest utilities warned they would take action to protect their shareholders if Sacramento lawmakers fail to pass legislation limiting their companies' liabilities for wildfires sparked by their equipment

Trump arrives in Los Angeles for GOP fundraiser. Newsom bemoans 'overdue' wildfire relief

Clara Harter, Ana Ceballos, Seamus Bozeman — Wed, 5 Aug 2026 00:29:08 GMT

President Trump touched down in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening and headed directly to his Rancho Palos Verdes golf course to headline a fundraiser for the Republican Party.

Paramount quarterly profit falls amid bruising merger battle

Meg James — Tue, 4 Aug 2026 22:32:03 GMT

A federal judge has set a March 2 trial to determine whether David Ellison's Warner Bros. takeover can move forward.

$207 billion saved for California from 82 lawsuits against Trump administration, Bonta says

Kevin Rector — Tue, 4 Aug 2026 19:21:59 GMT

California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta credited his lawsuits against the Trump administration for protecting more than $200 billion in funding, defending core civil rights and removing military forces from Los Angeles streets.

Paramount's David Ellison says critics don't get his politics

Meg James — Tue, 4 Aug 2026 16:14:19 GMT

In an op-ed, Ellison tries to allay worries that he can be trusted to run CNN

Blanche's attorney general nomination passes first test, now faces full Senate vote

Ben Wieder — Tue, 4 Aug 2026 15:14:51 GMT

Acting Atty. Gen. Todd Blanche has a cleared critical hurdle in his bid to be confirmed to the post after swaying Republican holdouts on a Senate committee to advance his nomination for a floor vote.

News Analysis: Gianni Infantino's Kushner-linked World Cup scheme jeopardizes his FIFA reign

Kevin Baxter — Tue, 4 Aug 2026 11:00:00 GMT

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is losing the support of international soccer's top federations after a scheme to sell a stake in the World Cup is exposed.

California sues Trump to block latest tariffs, sharing of needy families' data with ICE

Kevin Rector — Mon, 3 Aug 2026 20:33:30 GMT

California sued the Trump administration twice Monday, to block President Trump's latest round of tariffs and to block his administration from sharing needy families' personal data with immigration officials.

Trump set to visit L.A. for fundraiser. Attacking Newsom is on the agenda

Ana Ceballos — Mon, 3 Aug 2026 19:55:16 GMT

The president is scheduled to attend a Republican National Committee dinner Tuesday night at Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Democratic states urge Supreme Court to block Trump's new limits on mail ballots

David G. Savage — Mon, 3 Aug 2026 19:43:09 GMT

President Trump's executive order required the U.S. Postal Service to use state-by-state lists of eligible voters who may send a ballot by mail.

Proposed Trump overhaul of Head Start raises anxiety for California providers and families

Moriah Balingit, Kate Sequeira — Mon, 3 Aug 2026 14:38:27 GMT

President Trump's administration is planning a major overhaul of the Head Start program.

Holdout GOP senators now back Blanche after he signs an order killing $1.8-billion fund

Ben Wieder — Mon, 3 Aug 2026 14:17:07 GMT

Acting Atty. Gen. Todd Blanche issued a formal order terminating President Trump's $1.8-billion "anti-weaponization fund" to compensate his political allies.

Will California voters 'orphaned' in top-two primary be strategic in November House races?

Kevin Rector — Mon, 3 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

California voters left without a candidate from their own party after the top-two primary could still hold strategic sway in key congressional contests.

Billionaire tax is endorsed by California Democrats, deepening party divisions over Prop. 40

Nicole Nixon — Sun, 2 Aug 2026 22:41:33 GMT

The California Democratic Party backed Prop. 40, a 5% billionaire tax for healthcare, despite heavy pushback from Newsom and labor leaders.

Barabak: Democrats are at each other's throats — this time over the 2028 calendar

Mark Z. Barabak — Sun, 2 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The choice of which state begins the presidential balloting turned into a needlessly divisive conflict over race and ethnicity. Nevada didn't take South Carolina's selection well.

Though California could be key to House control, it now has few battlegrounds

Justine McDaniel — Sat, 1 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

California's redistricting has helped drive a decrease in the number of competitive congressional districts nationwide, a new analysis found. The battlegrounds that are left could have national consequences.

Newsom boasts of California's upcoming minimum wage increase, criticizes Trump for ignoring workers

Iris Kwok — Sat, 1 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

California's statewide minimum wage is set to rise next year.

News Analysis: Why Gianni Infantino's secret attempt to sell World Cup stake backfired so spectacularly

Kevin Baxter — Sat, 1 Aug 2026 02:23:24 GMT

Gianni Infantino's FIFA presidency is on life support after his abandoned attempt to sell a stake of the World Cup to private equity draws international outrage.

Paramount, state attorneys general spar over antitrust trial date

Meg James — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 22:40:00 GMT

California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta would like Paramount-Warner antitrust trial to unfold in April. Paramount is pushing for November.

Steve Hilton challenges Xavier Becerra to agree to a series of debates in California's governor's race

Nicole Nixon — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 21:43:38 GMT

Hilton, a Republican, claims his Democratic rival Xavier Becerra has not committed to six debates in the race for California governor.

Trump touts Hamas disarmament deal, but uncertainties remain

Ana Ceballos, Nabih Bulos — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 20:32:00 GMT

Hamas confirmed it would begin disarmament, but said it was contingent on Israel halting all attacks in Gaza and fulfilling provisions of the first phase of a ceasefire deal signed in 2025.

Judges nix Trump's mandatory immigrant detention policy, teeing up Supreme Court fight

Sonja Sharp — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 19:20:49 GMT

The 9th Circuit was one of two appellate courts to issue rulings this week against the Trump administration, finding that immigrants who are detained away from the border are entitled to a bond hearing to decide whether they should be freed or remain in detention while their case proceeds