Politics

SO THERE’S a smoking crater where Don Imus used to sit. That’s fine with those of us who never understood the appeal of his grizzled-codger shtick, which always sounded like Rooster Cogburn reading “The Turner Diaries” anyway. But if we’re going to administer a ritual flaying to every blowhard who channels the ugly American id, … Read more

An Obama administration push urging lawmakers to oppose legislation that would effectively halt a program for refugees from Syria and Iraq failed to convince eight California Democrats who joined their Republican colleagues Thursday to pass the measure by a veto-proof majority. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough sat … Read more

GOP Rep. Michelle Steel has sent fliers to Vietnamese American voters about Democratic rival Jay Chen that he and his supporters argue wrongly paint him as a communist sympathizer. (Associated Press) The campaign flier sent to Vietnamese American voters in Orange County is heavily doctored and designed to inflame. A Democratic congressional candidate is photoshopped … Read more

Former President Trump prepares to speak to reporters after his arraignment on federal conspiracy charges in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 3. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press) Even as the criminal cases against Donald Trump dominate headlines, a different, less publicized wave of litigation is building that could endanger his presidential ambitions: efforts to exclude him … Read more

Georgia’s State Election Board members discuss proposals for election rule changes at the state Capitol in Atlanta on Friday. (Mike Stewart / Associated Press) Georgia’s State Election Board on Friday voted to approve a new rule that requires poll workers to count the number of paper ballots by hand after voting is completed, a change … Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Ron Paul supporters at the Republican National Convention erupted in fury Tuesday over decisions that weakened their delegate count and other rule changes that will make it harder for non-establishment candidates in future elections. Several members of the Maine delegation walked out of the Tampa Bay Times Forum after the convention affirmed … Read more

Sen. John McCain presented a memento to fellow Republican Sen. Ted Stevens when they met in the Senate earlier this year: a key chain with a small battery-operated pig’s head. “You’re still an oinker,” the presidential candidate told Stevens, the Alaskan renowned for legislative pork that benefits his state. A Stevens spokesman said the gesture … Read more

State Sen. Steve Cohen is usually on the other side of the door when Tennessee’s upper house starts its workday with a prayer. Cohen often finds himself on the other side, whether during Senate prayers or votes on the Ten Commandments. And it’s not because he’s the only Jew among 33 senators, although that’s what … Read more

Maggie Ellis spent more than 20 years as a teacher, including 10 at a public school, before she learned a dirty little secret: She won’t be getting all the Social Security she would be entitled to in retirement. Ellis’ current job, as a fifth-grade teacher in the Elk Grove Unified School District, isn’t covered by … Read more

Campaign Notebook: I spent 3 days in the ‘blue wall’ states. Here’s what voters told me It’s hard to believe after the Fox News interviews, the daily barrage of screaming ads and all the history on these two candidates that anyone would be left undecided with less than three weeks until election day. Yet there they … Read more