Politics

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz kicks back in his International Harvester Scout II with his aptly named dog, Scout. (Courtesy of Tim Walz) In 2007, when Tim Walz was a freshman congressman, he told a reporter that his dream car was a 1973 Chevrolet Camaro, noting, “I’m kind of a muscle-car guy.” What he was actually … Read more

(Los Angeles Times illustration; photo by Getty Images) In one of the most crowded primary races for Los Angeles County district attorney in the history of the office, 12 candidates have raised a combined $6.8 million in campaign contributions. Nathan Hochman, who previously ran for state attorney general as a Republican, is leading the pack … Read more

In the latest skirmish over Proposition 8, the state’s ethics agency and Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown filed briefs in federal court this week challenging an attempt to change campaign finance disclosure laws. Supporters of the November ballot measure that banned gay marriage went to court earlier this month seeking to throw out a decades-old state … Read more

Thomas J. Barrack Jr. drew worldwide attention for bailing out Michael Jackson when the singer’s Neverland Ranch was on the brink of foreclosure. A couple years later, Barrack’s purchase of Miramax studios with actor Rob Lowe and other partners vaulted him into the Hollywood elite. Barrack was chairman of Miramax for six years. Now, Barrack’s … Read more

San Francisco lawyer Harmeet Dhillon delivered a Sikh prayer at the start of Tuesday’s session of the Republican National Convention. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) When Harmeet Dhillon first ran for vice chairwoman of the California GOP, rivals whispered that the Indian-born Sikh would slaughter a goat at the lectern. On Tuesday … Read more

Mike Sexton is white and a Republican who lives in an affluent suburb of Fort Worth, where many neighbors back President Trump and some work in law enforcement. Rage wells up in his voice as he says that George Floyd, a Black man, was “basically lynched.” Shawn Ashmore is an independent who lives nearby in … Read more

Rep. Katie Porter expresses no regrets over her unsuccessful bid for U.S. Senate and says her endorsement of former rival Adam B. Schiff is wholehearted and sincere. She won’t rule out another try for political office, but has no immediate plans to run. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) Katie Porter is seated at Starbucks, … Read more

Former President Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama look at her official White House portrait during its unveiling Wednesday. (Andrew Harnik / Associated Press) Historically, former presidents and first ladies return to the White House during their successor’s term for the official unveiling of their portraits. That didn’t happen over President Trump’s four years … Read more

Elon Musk, who has turned the former Twitter into a fount of misinformation, joined former President Trump onstage in Butler, Pa., last weekend for an awkward moment seen round the world. (Jim Watson / AFP/Getty Images) Multibillionaires are eccentric. It’s common knowledge, like water is wet, fire is hot, “Joker: Folie à Deux” is a … Read more

Beset by differences within the Republican Party, presidential candidate Bob Dole and his advisors are now quietly struggling over what he should say about China, one of the main foreign policy issues of the 1996 campaign. Dole has been invited to give a keynote address about Asia policy later this month at ceremonies at the … Read more