Trump’s own unorthodox rise looms large in nominations fight
For weeks, President-elect Donald Trump has faced a barrage of criticism over his nomination of Pete Hegseth for Defense secretary. Hegseth, an Army National Guard…
How Latino Republican flipped a heavily Democratic Assembly district
BRAWLEY, Calif. — While Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez, a newly elected Republican, was taking the oath of office in Sacramento last week, the phones of two supporters…
Column: How Ronald Reagan’s words live on in Donald Trump’s rhetoric
SACRAMENTO — Running for president, Ronald Reagan repeatedly promised to “make America great again.” Thirty-six years later, Donald Trump grabbed the line and became the great…
Trump’s first term brought a vaccine. His second could bring retreat
President Trump once celebrated the COVID-19 vaccines released at the end of his first term as “one of the greatest achievements of mankind,” echoing the…
A trade war could hit California agriculture hard, study says
As President-elect Donald Trump vows to impose tariffs on imports from China, Mexico and Canada, economists are warning that a retaliatory trade war could cause…
New York mayor warms to Trump; doesn’t rule out becoming Republican
NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Eric Adams appears open to switching parties to become a Republican, as he declined to rule out a future…
Trump welcomed by Macron to Paris, joined by Zelensky in their meeting
PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Donald Trump to Paris on Saturday with a full a dose of presidential pomp and they held an impromptu…
Ex-porn actress alleges Anthony Weiner told her to cover up online activities
Reporting from New York — As Rep. Anthony Weiner remained in hiding and on leave from his job, a self-described dancer and former porn actress who…
Councilmember-elect Ysabel Jurado looks to lobbyist to run her office
Good morning, and welcome to L.A. on the Record — our City Hall newsletter. It’s David Zahniser, with a little help from Dakota Smith and…
As voters shift right, Democrats flipped 3 House seats in California
The electoral map in November was largely a sea of red, but there is a bright spot — or really, three — for Golden State…
TikTok loses court bid to stop U.S. ban. Supreme Court appeal expected
TikTok’s future in the U.S. is now in greater jeopardy after the popular social video app lost a major court battle Friday as it tries…
Trump offers a public show of support Hegseth
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump on Friday offered a public show of support for Pete Hegseth, his embattled choice to lead the Defense Department, whose confirmation…
Trump taps ex-Border Patrol chief to head Customs and Border Protection
WASHINGTON — The picture of who will be in charge of executing President-elect Donald Trump’s hard-line immigration and border policies has come into sharper focus after…
Biden considering preemptive pardons before Trump takes office
WASHINGTON — President Biden is weighing whether to issue sweeping pardons for officials and allies who the White House fears could be unjustly targeted by President-elect…
Meghan Daum: Newt Gingrich’s debt to Bill Clinton
So it’s official. No one really cares that Newt Gingrich is an egotistical, vainglorious scoundrel, at least where women are concerned. Sure, his ex-wife went…
A city council race was tied so this California city drew straws to decide who won
When it came down to deciding a tied race for a Galt City Council seat, the longest straw won. Three people ran this year for…
Campaigns without end: Today’s presidential marathons took root in 1968
Reporting from MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa — He’s back. And he’s been back. And back and back and back.Since June 28, 2017 — 1,224 days before election day…
U.S. job growth is strong in November, but retailers pull back
WASHINGTON — Job growth rebounded in November from the weather-related stall in hiring the previous month, fresh evidence that the labor market remains healthy despite signs…
California voters wanted tough on crime. What happens now for reforms?
Criminal justice reform advocates spent the summer warning that efforts to oust California’s progressive district attorneys and undo sentencing reforms would undermine a decade of…
Newsom touts California efforts on fentanyl. Will it matter to Trump?
Each day, thousands of people drive or walk into the U.S. from Tijuana at Otay Mesa, a port of entry that is one of the…