Politics

Former U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee and Loren Taylor are the leading candidates in a special election for Oakland mayor. Voters ousted the city’s last mayor in November amid frustration with crime and homelessness. (J. Scott Applewhite / AP; Yalonda M. James / San Francisco Chronicle) On a recent Saturday in March, several hundred people filled … Read more

For nearly 25 years, Charlie Sykes was one of the most powerful and influential voices in Wisconsin. He cheer-led policies that turned this historically progressive state into a model of conservative governance. He made and destroyed political careers, using his perch on Milwaukee talk radio to help vault figures such as House Speaker Paul Ryan … Read more

It was billed as the most important speech of Bill Clinton’s presidency. It was also–for a few minutes–the wrong speech. When Clinton stepped to the lectern Wednesday night to speak about health care, there was a TelePrompTer in front of him to scroll the text of his speech. The machine began displaying a speech, but … Read more

Assemblyman Jack Scott lost a son when a host accidentally shot him in the head during a dinner party. Ken LaCorte lost a sister when a robber shot her and her boyfriend. Senseless tragedies by any measure, but what sets Scott and LaCorte apart are the roles the killings have played in each man’s life. … Read more

Suddenly, Asian Pacific Americans have been thrust to the forefront of presidential politics–unfortunately, in a light that is less than positive. Long after the election is over, Asian Pacific Americans will be affected by the stereotyping that has seemingly become the norm in the John Huang controversy. A leading fund-raiser for the Democratic Party until … Read more

Hawaii Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono delivers remarks at the Capitol on Jan. 23. (Michael Reynolds / EPA-EFE/REX) Less than a week before eight people — including six Asian women — were killed in the Atlanta-area shootings congressional Democrats introduced legislation that would bolster the Department of Justice’s ability to address COVID-19 hate crimes. The bill, … Read more

Ever since California voters passed Proposition 8, defining marriage in the state as between one woman and one man, my wife and I have been arguing about it. She was appalled by the vote, and even more appalled when I told her that I wasn’t. “You’re such a bigot,” she said, “not to mention a … Read more

Democratic presidential front-runner Michael S. Dukakis cut short campaigning in California on Thursday to hurriedly fly home to Boston, where his wife, Kitty, was hospitalized for “urgent” surgery on her neck. Doctors were to operate on Mrs. Dukakis, 51, early this morning at Massachusetts General Hospital to remove two deteriorating spinal discs. A spokesman said … Read more

Driving away from Savannah and into the swampy heart of southeast Georgia, Old South charm fades to decomposing autos forming bunkers in front of nearly every house along U.S. 82. An automobile driver battles for lane rights against semis stacked with pine logs roaring toward the pulp mill. The AM car radio options are country-and-western … Read more

This California wine country town is multicultural. So why do so many feel invisible? Paso Robles is idyllic: Victorians line its streets; wine tasting rooms ring a grassy plaza; country roads wind through oak groves; and grapevines stream like braids over steep hillsides. Children walk to school on their own, and on warm evenings, couples … Read more