Politics

Protesters demand the release of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka after his arrest at a federal immigration detention prison in the New Jersey city Friday. (Angelina Katsanis / Associated Press) Newark Mayor Ras Baraka on Saturday denied trespassing at a new federal immigration detention center during a confrontation that led to his arrest while the Democrat … Read more

Machhadie Assi in Dearborn, Mich. (Emily Elconin / For The Times) The five young Muslim Americans huddled around a table inside the Yemeni coffee shop, pouring adeni chai into curved red and gold glasses. Voice by voice the discussion turned to why they must make their presence felt on Nov. 3, and the need to … Read more

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) may have as much as $99 billion more to spend to woo GOP senators wary of the party’s legislation rolling back the Affordable Care Act, according to a new report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. But it remains unclear if that will be enough to preserve health insurance … Read more

Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar speaks during a Capitol Hill news conference on Feb. 7. (Saul Loeb / AFP/Getty Images) Rep. Ilhan Omar said late Sunday that she’s faced increased death threats since President Trump spread around a video that purports to show her being dismissive of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. “This is endangering lives,” she … Read more

Cargo is loaded onto a container ship on the right while the normally bustling berths sit empty, left, as Trump’s tariff’s are plunging volume as much as 35% as ships from China cancel their trips to the Port of Los Angeles on May 9, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) … Read more

Vice President Kamala Harris’ biggest assignment is addressing the root causes of migration from Latin America. But some question how seriously she is engaging on the issue ahead of a big summit this week in Los Angeles. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times) Vice President Kamala Harris has spent just three days in Latin America since President … Read more

When somebody asked Willie Sutton, the famous thief, why he robbed banks, he had a good answer: “That’s where the money is.” The same statement could explain why more state and federal politicians seem to be targeting wealthy Americans, prosperous service industries and skilled professions for many of the new taxes everyone expects in the … Read more

MORE THAN a few people have been puzzled by Sen. John McCain’s dogged opposition to the updated GI Bill of Rights now before Congress. The dissonance between McCain’s military-man image and his actions on this issue have introduced a jarring note to his presidential aspirations — and have highlighted the shoddy treatment many Iraq war … Read more

Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II (D-Mass.) announced Friday that he is pulling out of politics. “There is no greater honor than serving in the Congress, standing up for what you believe,” the 45-year-old, six-term congressman declared. “But it’s time to reconsider my priorities.” Citing a desire to spend more time with his wife and twin … Read more

Gov. Pete Wilson’s suit seeking $2.4 billion from the federal government for the costs of illegal immigration was rejected Tuesday by a federal appeals court, which said the dispute was political, not legal. Wilson has repeatedly accused the Clinton administration of failing to control the nation’s borders and leaving the states with the bill. He … Read more