Politics

California’s Sen. Dianne Feinstein, 89, faces pressure to resign from some on the left as she deals with health problems. Her former Senate colleague Barbara Boxer warns fellow progressives to be careful what they wish for. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Barbara Boxer was once among the most liberal members of the U.S. Senate, … Read more

A retired World War II Navy crewman, challenging one of Vice President George Bush’s most familiar stories of his personal bravery, Friday contradicted Bush’s account of why he parachuted from his plane and left behind two crew mates who died at sea 44 years ago. Chester Mierzejewski, who was the turret gunner in another plane, … Read more

In Arizona, election fraud conspiracy theories rage on as the vote count continues Republican Kari Lake could still catch up to Democrat Katie Hobbs in Arizona’s contentious race for governor. Election workers continue to tabulate ballots in several counties, including Maricopa, the state’s most populous and vote-rich. Officials have asked for patience, stressing in daily … Read more

Homes are seen in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Chimney Rock Village, N.C. (Mike Stewart / Associated Press) You can’t always predict the weather, but you can predict the politics that accompany major weather events. Good leaders respond promptly to disasters because it’s the humane thing to do and it’s their job. But the … Read more

Vice President Kamala Harris has not publicly said if she plans to run for California governor in 2026. (Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press) Kamala Harris could make history as the first woman and person of color to be elected California governor. But she’d need to really want the job. She couldn’t see it as merely … Read more

Industrial and business groups send Trump a deregulatory wish list More than a hundred industrial trade groups and chambers of commerce are urging President-elect Donald Trump to weaken or eliminate numerous Biden administration regulations on energy, air pollution, recycling, worker heat protections, consumer safeguards and corporate financing, claiming that the rules are “strangling” the nation’s … Read more

Labor leader Lorena Gonzalez, center, helped devise an election strategy that shunned partisanship and focused instead on the value of hard work and the failings of a “do-nothing” Congress. (Ariana Drehsler / CalMatters) Democrats have a growing problem with union members and working-class voters, a building block that’s been foundational to their political success. Lorena … Read more

In the latest aftershock from President Obama’s move to bar the deportation of some young illegal immigrants, Republican Sen. Marco Rubio has apparently abandoned his plan to offer a conservative alternative to the Dream Act. Rubio, a Cuban American often mentioned as a potential running mate for presidential candidate Mitt Romney, said Obama’s announcement last … Read more

Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kerry has raised more money from California than any candidate has ever collected in one state in any election. Fueled by a fierce sentiment against President Bush, California donors have given nearly $3 million more to Kerry’s presidential bid than Bush has raised from his home state of Texas, traditionally … Read more

PTA mom Michelle Petersen was targeted in a disinformation campaign that may have cost her a school board seat. One expert said it was “only a matter of time” before the tactic was used in local races. (Mark Z. Barabak / Los Angeles Times) Michelle Petersen was sitting in her home office a few days … Read more