Hiltzik: Alan Simpson’s legacy was tainted by his attacks on Social Security
Reading the obituaries for former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.), who died at 93 on March 14, you would think he was a pleasure to have…
L.A. touts success at blocking tee time brokers from city golf courses
For years, it was an open secret: Brokers scooped up tee times at public golf courses across Los Angeles and sold prime slots online, profiting…
After rift on shutdown, California Democrats refocus budget fight on Medicaid
After a bruising Washington battle that averted a government shutdown but broke their party in two last week, leading California Democrats are trying to project…
Taiwan has been important to the U.S. Here’s why
TAIPEI, Taiwan — China considers it a part of the Chinese nation. The United States considers it a roadblock to further Chinese influence in Asia. No…
Trump’s transactional diplomacy is reshaping U.S.-Taiwan relations
TAIPEI, Taiwan — For decades, the U.S. has played an important role in maintaining the delicate relationship between Taiwan and China, which considers Taiwan to be a…
Power lines suspected in Eaton fire needed ‘ignition risk’ repairs
As investigators work to determine the cause of the Eaton fire, the focus has narrowed to several parallel power lines just outside Altadena owned by…
The Tren de Aragua gang started in a Venezuelan prison. It’s now deep in U.S. politics
CARACAS, Venezuela — Debates over President Trump’s hard-line migration policies are focused on the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, to some a ruthless transnational criminal organization and…
Declassified JFK assassination files released by Trump administration
President Trump released a cache of unredacted classified documents on Tuesday related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, but experts say the…
Trump vows to ramp up U.S. production of ‘clean coal’
President Trump this week continued to make his environmental priorities clear by vowing to open up hundreds of coal power plants in the United States…
‘I helped elect her’: Protesting Medi-Cal cuts at O.C. rep’s office
Hundreds of healthcare workers and others massed in Anaheim Hills on Tuesday, shouting their anger over expected cuts to Medicaid and what they stand to…
Roberts criticizes Trump’s call for impeaching judge who ruled against his deportation plans
WASHINGTON — The growing clash between President Trump and the federal courts escalated Tuesday, when Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. rebuked the president’s call for impeaching…
Pentagon aims to cut up to 60,000 civilian jobs. About a third of those took voluntary resignations
WASHINGTON — Roughly 50,000 to 60,000 civilian jobs will be cut in the Defense Department, but fewer than 21,000 workers who took a voluntary resignation plan are…
Commentary: Yes, Newsom’s new podcast is cringe. But is it also smart?
Gavin Newsom’s new podcast, “This is Gavin Newsom,” has Democrats in a tizzy. Republicans too.It has been nearly universally panned (or celebrated, depending on your…
Judge rules DOGE’s USAID dismantling likely violates the Constitution
WASHINGTON — A federal judge ruled Tuesday that the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development likely violated the Constitution and blocked billionaire Elon Musk’s Department…
Top House Democrats seek DOGE details, questioning if it operates ‘outside the bounds’ of U.S. law
WASHINGTON — Top Democrats on the House Judiciary and House Oversight committees have filed a lengthy Freedom of Information Act request questioning whether the Trump administration’s DOGE…
Trump and Putin spoke for more than an hour as U.S. seeks Russian sign-off on plan to end Ukraine war
WASHINGTON — President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a lengthy phone conversation on Tuesday as the White House pushes for Russia to sign off on…
Trump administration guts board of U.S. Institute of Peace, a nonprofit agency
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration fired most of the board of the U.S. Institute of Peace — an independent nonprofit organization established and funded by Congress that…
Irish leaders slam mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor for cozy White House visit with Trump
LONDON — Irish eyes aren’t smiling on Conor McGregor’s St. Patrick’s Day bromance with President Trump.The mixed martial arts fighter’s anti-immigration remarks and criticism of the Irish…
Contributor: Deportation raids terrorized my family. And we had papers
I grew up believing I was the grandson of an undocumented immigrant. My mother, raised in an adobe home in New Mexico behind the county…
Will Korea’s ‘sensitive’ country designation impair cooperation with U.S.?
SEOUL — A revelation that the U.S. Department of Energy has designated South Korea as a “sensitive country” — a label reserved for nations deemed to pose…