Politics

This Horsey cartoon from 2003 is a reminder of the bad old days of airport security. (David Horsey / Los Angeles Times) Confession time: I used to have a surly, defiant attitude from the time I arrived at an airport until I headed for a taxi at my destination — not as boldly obstreperous as … Read more

Scott Baugh came to the California Assembly two years ago, a runaway train on a wrong-way track. He was indicted on felony campaign wrongdoing charges a few weeks after taking office. Some colleagues shunned him. His career barely rolling, Baugh seemed headed downhill fast. But a funny thing happened on the way to political oblivion. … Read more

Old letters written by an Oxford friend of Democratic presidential front-runner Bill Clinton say the future governor of Arkansas sought a deferment in 1969 because he had received an induction notice, and not because he was simply anticipating the draft. Faced with disclosure of the letters, the Clinton campaign acknowledged late Saturday that Clinton received … Read more

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks alongside Gov. Roy Cooper, right, after a briefing Saturday on the damage from Hurricane Helene in Charlotte, N.C. (Chris Carlson / Associated Press) Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris pledged ongoing federal support and praised strangers helping strangers as she visited North Carolina on Saturday in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, … Read more

Ryan Walters, Oklahoma’s top education official, wants to buy Bibles that contain the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution — fitting the description of those endorsed by former President Trump. (Daniel Shular / Associated Press) Oklahoma’s top education official is seeking to purchase 55,000 Bibles for public schools and specifying that each copy contain the … Read more

Judge John G. Roberts Jr., President Bush’s choice for chief justice of the United States, said Monday that he aspired to a humble and limited role as leader of the Supreme Court, more akin to an umpire who calls the balls and strikes rather than the star player who is the center of attention. “Justices … Read more

L.A. County is starting a national search for an executive director to lead a team focused on shutting down Men’s Central Jail. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Good morning, and welcome to L.A. on the Record — our City Hall newsletter. It’s Rebecca Ellis, David Zahniser and Keri Blakinger bringing you the latest on … Read more

At a shop in Columbia, S.C., an early voting state in the presidential primaries, U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for 2020, tries on a sequined jacket that some reporters had pointed out to her. The moment prompted a sexist backlash. (Melanie Mason / Los Angeles Times) Every four years, aspiring … Read more

In a clear sign of a widening split between organized labor and the White House, AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland charged Monday that President Clinton has “abdicated” his role as leader of the Democratic Party by pressing for approval of the North American Free Trade Agreement. “The best thing that could happen to the Clinton Administration … Read more

Los Angeles Councilmember Kevin de León and then-Council President Nury Martinez confer at a City Council meeting on Oct. 4, 2022. A few days later, a secretly recorded conversation featuring them and two other Latino political heavyweights would leak online and create a national uproar. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) It’s been nearly two … Read more