Kevin Rector

Hegseth says U.S. is 'accelerating' war on Iran, but strike at Turkey won't trigger NATO The U.S. war effort against Iran was gaining momentum Wednesday, top U.S. officials said. A U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship.

Hegseth says U.S. is ‘accelerating’ war on Iran, but strike at Turkey won’t trigger NATO (w/ Ana Ceballos):

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Sen. Padilla preps for Trump trying to seize control of elections via emergency order Padilla sent a letter to his Senate colleagues saying that any election takeover order by Trump would be 'wildly illegal and unconstitutional.'

Sen. Padilla preps for Trump trying to seize control of elections via emergency order

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Vulnerable Republicans in California's redrawn congressional districts back war in Iran Republicans facing tough reelection fights in this year's midterms are backing President Trump's attacks on Iran, which are unpopular, according to recent polling.

Vulnerable Republicans in California’s redrawn congressional districts back war in Iran

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Trump justifies Iran attack as Congress raises doubts President Trump justified attacking Iran without congressional approval by claiming the Iranian regime presented an 'imminent' threat to the U.S., which Democrats and some Republicans have questioned.

‘Imminent threat’ or ‘war of choice’? Trump justifies Iran attack as Democrats raise doubt

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

News Analysis: Trump threw some elbows in his speech, but hardly beat back his critics President Trump's nearly two-hour State of the Union speech was laced with political broadsides blaming Democrats for the nation's major problems.

News Analysis: Trump threw some elbows in his speech, but hardly beat back his critics

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Trump projects power but heads weakened into a season of tough political challenges President Trump is in a precarious position with the 2026 midterm elections just ahead, but he and his supporters express confidence.

Trump projects power but heads weakened into a season of tough political challenges

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Takeaways from Trump's State of the Union address President Trump struck a confident and defiant tone in a nearly two-hour State of the Union speech.

Takeaways from Trump’s State of the Union address

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Trans athletes face intense efforts to sideline them. These California teens are resisting Several California teenagers have found themselves at the center of an intense national debate around transgender kids participating in school sports. They aren't backing down.

Trans athletes face intense efforts to sideline them. These California teens are resisting

Voter trust in U.S. elections drops amid Trump critiques, redistricting, fear of ICE Voter trust in U.S. elections has declined across party lines ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, according to a new poll.

Voter trust in U.S. elections drops amid Trump critiques, redistricting, fear of ICE

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Judge blocks Trump administration move to cut $600 million in HIV funding from states A federal judge granted California and other states a temporary restraining order halting the administration's health funding cuts for 14 days while the litigation continues.

Judge blocks Trump administration move to cut $600 million in HIV funding from states

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California, other states sue over Trump administration's latest cuts to HIV programs California and three other states sued the Trump administration Wednesday over its plans to slash $600 million from programs designed to prevent and track the spread of HIV, including in the LGBTQ+ co...

California, other states sue over Trump administration’s latest cuts to HIV programs (w/ Gavin J. Quinton): www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Federal judge strikes down California mask ban on immigration agents, but it may be revived A federal judge on Monday struck down a new California ban on federal officers wearing masks, but an effort already is underway to revive the statute.

Federal judge strikes down California mask ban on immigration agents, but it may be revived

www.latimes.com/california/s...

Schiff endorses Swalwell for California governor Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) has endorsed Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) for California governor.

Schiff endorses Swalwell for California governor
www.latimes.com/california/s...

ICYMI over the weekend:

Trump, California and the multi-front war over the next election Local elections administrators across California say they have been preparing for once unthinkable threats to the midterms, from their own federal government.

Across California, local elections administrators are running table-top exercises to prepare for once unthinkable threats — not from local rabble-rousers, remote cyberattackers or foreign adversaries, but their own federal government.

In today's @latimes.com:

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Trump, California and the multi-front war over the next election Local elections administrators across California say they have been preparing for once unthinkable threats to the midterms, from their own federal government.

Trump, California and the multi-front war over the next election (w/ @haileybranson.bsky.social & Ana Ceballos):

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

California leaders decry Trump call to 'nationalize' election, say they're ready to resist California officials say they are ready to resist should the federal government attempt to assert control over the state’s voting system, as President Trump has suggested it should.

California leaders decry Trump call to ‘nationalize’ election, say they’re ready to resist

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

‘Spy Sheikh’ Bought Secret Stake in Trump Company $500 million investment for 49% of World Liberty came months before U.A.E. won access to tightly guarded American AI chips.

An Abu Dhabi royal backed a secret $500 million investment in Trump’s crypto company. Months later, U.A.E. won access to tightly guarded American AI chips.

Trump officials have tried to justify ICE shootings. Is it backfiring in court? The Department of Justice has lost five cases in Los Angeles against defendants accused of assaulting immigration agents, leading former government officials to warn that the Trump administration face...

Trump officials have repeatedly released inaccurate information when trying to justify ICE shootings. Is it creating a credibility crisis for federal law enforcement in court?

My latest w/ @brittnymejia.bsky.social

www.latimes.com/california/s...

New message from top Democrats: The U.S. Justice Department can't be trusted Leading Democrats' remarks that the U.S. Department of Justice cannot be trusted hold stunning implications for American democracy, and followed a week of equally stunning actions by the department.

New message from top Democrats: The U.S. Justice Department can’t be trusted:

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

California Democrats help lead counter-offensive against Trump immigration crackdown Democrats seized on a growing sense, shared by some Republicans, that the campaign has gotten so out of hand that the political winds have shifted heavily in their favor.

California Democrats help lead counter-offensive against Trump immigration crackdown:

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

San José Mayor Matt Mahan, a Newsom critic and political moderate, enters race for California governor San José Mayor Matt Mahan of announced he is running for California governor, joining an already crowded field.

San José Mayor Matt Mahan, a Newsom critic and political moderate, enters race for California governor:

www.latimes.com/california/s...

Immigration agents, leaders defy best practices honed by U.S. police for half a century Police leaders, civil rights advocates and other experts say the actions of immigration officials and agents run counter to law enforcement's best practices.

Immigration agents, leaders defy best practices honed by U.S. police for half a century

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Is California's proposed billionaire tax smart policy? History holds lessons Critics of California's proposed billionaire tax say similar measures in Europe failed. Backers of the measure say they took lessons from those failures in drafting the California proposal.

Is California’s proposed billionaire tax smart policy? History holds lessons

www.latimes.com/california/s...

Justice Department drops demand for records naming transgender kids treated at Children's Hospital L.A. The U.S. Department of Justice has agreed to stop seeking medical records that personally identify young patients who received gender-affirming care from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, according to ...

Justice Department drops demand for records naming transgender kids treated at Children’s Hospital L.A.

www.latimes.com/california/s...

Trump's first-year actions sparked a fiery legal war, and stunning rebukes from judges The Trump administration in its first year has claimed sweeping executive power and tested U.S. laws. Federal judges warn that American jurisprudence and democracy are under threat.

ICYMI:

Trump’s first-year actions sparked a fiery legal war, and stunning rebukes from judges:

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

11 stunning moves by Trump in his first year back in office In the last year, President Trump has taken unprecedented actions, some in line with his campaign promises and others in direct conflict with them.

Deploying immigration forces, troops
Threatening to take Greenland
Demolishing East Wing
Deposing Maduro
Pardoning Jan. 6ers
Berating Zelensky
Investigating opponents
Instigating tariffs
Bombing Iran
Waffling on Epstein
Targeting birthright citizenship
www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

11 stunning moves by Trump in his first year back in office In the last year, President Trump has taken unprecedented actions, some in line with his campaign promises and others in direct conflict with them.

11 stunning moves by Trump in his first year back in office

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Judge dismisses DOJ lawsuit demanding California voter rolls, calling it a threat to democracy A federal judge dismissed the U.S. Justice Department's lawsuit demanding California's voter rolls, calling the request 'unprecedented and illegal.'

Judge dismisses DOJ lawsuit demanding California voter rolls, calling it a threat to democracy

www.latimes.com/california/s...

Avenging Billy: How amateur sleuths took on a gay porn actor’s haunting Hollywood murder Local sleuths help find a suspect in gay porn actor Bill Newton's murder. His dismembered head and feet were found in a Hollywood dumpster in 1990.

I previously wrote about the wild sleuthing recounted in filmmaker and sleuth Rachel Mason's film for the @latimes.com here:

Avenging Billy: How amateur sleuths took on a gay porn actor’s haunting Hollywood murder

www.latimes.com/california/s...