U.S. towns plunge into debates about fluoride in water
NEW YORK — For about 50 years, adding cavity-preventing fluoride to drinking water was a popular public health measure in Yorktown, a leafy town north of…
Musk’s budget crusade may cause a constitutional clash in Trump’s second term
WASHINGTON — When Elon Musk first suggested a new effort to cut the size of government, Donald Trump didn’t seem to take it seriously. His eventual…
Lawmakers jet set to Maui and Asia to discuss energy, transportation for California
This is the season for California lawmakers to travel across the globe, some to lush beachside resorts with schmoozing lobbyists, at no cost of their…
Donald Trump has a chance to become a true education president
Donald Trump had the right idea about education during his first administration: Judge potential employees by their skills and experience, not their degrees. Open up…
Trump taps Rollins as Agriculture chief, completing proposed slate of Cabinet secretaries
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday he will nominate former White House aide Brooke Rollins to be his Agriculture secretary, the last of his picks…
Trump courted smaller faith groups, including Amish and Chabad
A social-media tribute to Coptic Christians. A billboard in Amish country. A visit to a revered Jewish gravesite. While Donald Trump had a lock on…
U.N. climate talks dissolve into factions on plan for poorer nations
BAKU, Azerbaijan — Tenuous hope for a deal for a giant funding package for poor nations to curb and adapt to climate change emerged late Saturday…
Vance takes on visible transition role, trying to boost Trump job picks
WASHINGTON — After several weeks working mostly behind closed doors, Vice President-elect JD Vance returned to Capitol Hill last week in a new, more visible role:…
A powerful new task force must make Measure G a reality. Who will get a seat?
Good morning, and welcome to L.A. on the Record — our City Hall newsletter. It’s Rebecca Ellis updating you on L.A. local government news, with…
Trump taps Fox News personality, surgeon, ex-congressman for health agencies
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump on Friday nominated Dr. Marty Makary to lead the Food and Drug Administration, selecting a surgeon and author who gained national…
Laura Richardson wins Senate District 35, defeating Michelle Chambers
Laura Richardson emerged the victor of the competitive, costly and feisty election to win a South Los Angeles seat in the state Senate — completing…
Lessons from my four decades of covering politics: Prepare to be surprised
WASHINGTON — Because they are all-or-nothing contests, American elections lend themselves to over-interpretation.In 1988, Republican Vice President George H.W. Bush defeated Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, winning…
Democrats rally behind first out transgender member of Congress
At a Democratic caucus meeting Tuesday, Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) watched as colleagues approached and offered their support to Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D-Del.), who will…
Despite Trump’s election, Jack Smith has one more job to do
In George Orwell’s classic depiction of an authoritarian society, “Nineteen Eighty-four,” a key component of political control is the state’s erasure of history: “Every record…
These young Latinos backed Derek Tran against Michelle Steel
The $254,000 that Chispa spent in this year’s most expensive U.S. House race barely registers as a drop in the proverbial bucket.The money, which the…
Column: Electoral college system is a bad way to pick a president
SACRAMENTO — Before this year’s presidential election slips into gloomy history, we should pause to slam our moldy, undemocratic vote-counting system called the electoral college.If Donald…
Trump picks Bessent as Treasury secretary, Vought top budget official
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump announced Friday that he’ll nominate billionaire hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, an advocate for deficit reduction, to serve as his next…
California’s Lake County defends slow ballot counting after election
LAKEPORT, Calif. — Maria Valadez would like everyone to chill out.Every election, the prickly Lake County registrar follows California’s litany of voting laws and certifies thousands…
What to know about Pam Bondi, Trump’s new pick for attorney general
NEW YORK — Pam Bondi, a former Florida attorney general, was chosen by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as U.S. attorney general hours after his first…
A fateful night in Monterey: Pete Hegseth and allegations of sexual assault
On the afternoon of Oct. 12, 2017, a nurse at Kaiser Permanente called the Monterey Police Department to report that a patient had come in…