Politics

Right here in River City. For Iowa’s smallest television station–in the community that was the model for home-town son Meredith Willson’s “The Music Man”–the months preceding Monday’s caucuses are a rare moment on center stage. These are times when the national media come through, candidates come a-courting and the sun shines even when it snows … Read more

THERE WAS HYPE in the air as it became clear that Sen. Joe Lieberman’s fortunes were turning southward in his primary battle against millionaire vanity candidate — and now Democratic nominee — Ned Lamont. For Lamont’s supporters, their veins coursing with “nedrenaline” (yes, they really use that word), his victory sent the clear signal that … Read more

Asylum seekers wait in Reynosa, Mexico, last year. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) The Biden administration announced the final version of its long-awaited U.S. asylum overhaul Thursday, aiming to speed up processing at the border and alleviate backlogs throughout the country’s immigration courts. Fixing asylum, a process that can drag out for years, was … Read more

Amid allegations that Veterans Affairs Secretary Tomas Alvarado sexually harassed women and retaliated against other workers, the state Senate Rules Committee postponed a vote on his confirmation Monday, raising the possibility that he will fail to win approval. As Alvarado was appearing before the committee, the state Department of Health Services announced Monday that it … Read more

Then-Los Angeles City Councilmember Kevin de León speaks at a groundbreaking ceremony on skid row in January 2022 for an affordable housing project developed by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. (Michael Owen Baker / Los Angeles Times) Former Los Angeles Councilmember Kevin de León is facing an $18,750 ethics fine for voting on city council decisions … Read more

President Reagan has forecast a great closing act for his final year in office, which started this week. But on Capitol Hill 1988 should be considered a year of lowered expectations. The calendar itself makes the likelihood of major new initiatives improbable. The presidential nominating conventions will take a big bite out of session time, … Read more

Former FBI directors James B. Comey, left, and Robert S. Mueller III. (Associated Press / AFP/Getty Images) It’s not the first time James B. Comey and Robert S. Mueller III find themselves together at the center of an unfolding Washington drama. Former FBI Director Robert Mueller named special prosecutor for Russia investigation » In March … Read more

After years of unsuccessful efforts, advocates of immigration reform see Democrats’ “Build Back Better” bill as their best chance of enacting a pathway to citizenship for people who are in the country illegally. (Associated Press) A key Senate advisor on Sunday said existing rules will not allow Democrats to include a pathway to citizenship for … Read more

As Arnold Schwarzenegger campaigns to become California’s next governor, he frequently touts his success in sponsoring a $550-million initiative last November to expand before- and after-school activities for hundreds of thousands of youngsters. But Proposition 49, which marks Schwarzenegger’s only previous foray into public policy in California, is not expected to add a dime to … Read more

Then-President Clinton greets Aren Almon and others after a prayer service for the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing on April 23, 1995. (Pat Sullivan / Associated Press) Thirty years after the deadliest homegrown attack in U.S. history, former President Clinton returned to Oklahoma City on Saturday to remember the people who were killed and … Read more