Politics

Militant Trump supporters near the Senate chamber after storming the U.S. Capitol to interrupt Congress’ ratification of Joe Biden’s election. (Getty Images) Four years of incendiary, divisive and dishonest rhetoric from President Trump culminated with long-predicted violence Wednesday as a mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol, breaking its windows and doors, vandalizing offices and … Read more

Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy resigned abruptly Monday, apparently hoping to spare the Clinton Administration the embarrassment of an independent counsel’s investigation of allegations that he abused the perquisites of office and improperly accepted sports tickets and trips from businesses. Espy’s surprise decision to step down by Dec. 31 ended prematurely the once-promising tenure of the … Read more

Here is the text of President Clinton’s inaugural address Wednesday: My fellow citizens. Today, we celebrate the mystery of American renewal. This ceremony is held in the depth of winter. But, by the words we speak and the faces we show the world, we force the spring. A spring reborn in the world’s oldest democracy, … Read more

Statewide Offices California Results U.S. Senator 99% Precincts Reporting Votes % Democratic Alan Cranston, inc. 1,769,987 81 Charles Greene 162,143 7 John H. Abbott 121,743 5 Robert J. Banuelos 75,816 3 Brian Lantz 63,830 3 Republican Ed Zschau 718,317 37 B. Herschensohn 575,521 30 Mike Antonovich 175,838 9 Bobbi Fiedler 139,540 7 Ed Davis 127,230 … Read more

Reps. Barbara Lee, left, and Katie Porter, right, have each signaled their intent to seek the Senate seat occupied by fellow Democrat Dianne Feinstein. Rep. Adam B. Schiff is expected to soon enter the contest as well. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associted Press) The waiting and seeing is over. The contest to replace Sen. Dianne … Read more

Elena is a mother of three and grandmother from Chiapas, Mexico. After many years living in the United States, she plans to return to Mexico for fear of being captured by ICE. Here, she is photographed on April 8 in California. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California … Read more

Four years ago, California voters poured sugar in the insurance industry’s gas tank. Fed up with rising premiums and what they saw as the industry’s indifference to their pain, they voted themselves a 20% rate rollback and other reforms under Proposition 103. The vote sparked similar legislation across the country and prompted much soul-searching in … Read more

Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took his fight against liberalism to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 1 WASHINGTON — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis delivered a well-rehearsed blast at California this week, calling it too left, too “woke,” too expensive. And as proof, he declared, Californians and … Read more

In a monotonous beige office block, two floors up from Escape hair salon in Claremont, the really big questions never stop coming. What would Aristotle think about gun control? How might Jefferson cope with campaign finance reform? Could Abraham Lincoln straighten out California’s energy mess? Can anybody? These and other vital matters of statecraft press … Read more

Former Assemblyman Raul Bocanegra, D-Pacoima, speaks at the Capitol in Sacramento in May 2017. (Rich Pedroncelli / AP) Three months after Assemblyman Raul Bocanegra resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment, an Assembly investigation has found the Pacoima Democrat likely engaged in “unwanted conduct” toward three subordinate employees while he worked as a legislative staffer. The … Read more