Today: October 07, 2024
Today: October 07, 2024

Latest From The Los Angeles Post

Political

GOP vs. FBI: A Republican campaign to stop a new FBI headquarters is revving up after Trump probes

When Speaker Kevin McCarthy suggested recently he might stop the FBI from relocating its downtown headquarters to a new facility planned for the Washington suburbs, it was more than idle thinking about an office renovation. The nod from the Republican speaker is elevating a once-fringe proposal to upend the FBI in the aftermath of the federal indictment of Donald Trump over classified documents and the Justice Department’s prosecution of his allies, including some of the nearly 1,000 people charged in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. Moving from far-right corners into the mainstream, the emerging

GOP vs. FBI: A Republican campaign to stop a new FBI headquarters is revving up after Trump probes
Political

Judge in Trump documents case under the spotlight as arguments near

A month after former President Donald Trump was charged with mishandling classified documents, the judge presiding over the case is set to take on a more visible role as she weighs competing requests on a trial date and hears arguments this week on a procedural, but potentially crucial, area of the law. A pretrial conference Tuesday to discuss procedures for handling classified information will represent the first courtroom arguments in the case before U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon since Trump was indicted five weeks ago. The arguments could provide insight into how Cannon intends to preside over

Judge in Trump documents case under the spotlight as arguments near
Political

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds embraces role as a key player in Republican presidential race

When Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds seized the spotlight from a half dozen Republican presidential contenders on Friday by signing a restrictive abortion measure into law at an event meant to showcase the candidates, she embraced her front-and-center role in the 2024 presidential election. The standing ovation she received from some 2,000 conservative Christians gathered in Des Moines only reinforced the influence she wields, not just in Iowa but increasingly on a national stage. “I could not imagine a more appropriate place to sign this bill,” Reynolds said. “Today, the most glaring injustice of all is

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds embraces role as a key player in Republican presidential race
Political

DeSantis presidential campaign is cutting staff as new financial pressure emerges

Republican presidential contender Ron DeSantis is cutting campaign staff as he struggles to catch former President Donald Trump in the GOP’s crowded primary contest while facing unexpected financial pressure. DeSantis, the Florida governor, let go fewer than 10 paid staffers late last week to help reduce operating expenses, according to a DeSantis aide granted anonymity to discuss internal campaign strategy. The staffers were involved in event planning and may soon join a pro-DeSantis super PAC. The moves, first reported by Politico, come as DeSantis struggles to meet expectations that he represents the Republican Party’s strongest alternative

DeSantis presidential campaign is cutting staff as new financial pressure emerges
Political

Alabama rushes to adopt new congressional map amid disagreement on what district should look like

Federal judges that ordered Alabama to draw new congressional lines said the state should have a second district where Black voters are the majority “or something quite close to it” and have an opportunity to elect a representative of their choice. What exactly that map should look like is in dispute as lawmakers rush to draw new lines. Alabama lawmakers convene in special session Monday tasked by the court with adopting a new map by the end of the week. The directive comes after a surprise U.S. Supreme Court ruling that affirmed the lower court’s ruling

Alabama rushes to adopt new congressional map amid disagreement on what district should look like
Political

College students struggling with hunger face potential loss of food stamp benefits

Raised on welfare by his grandmother, Joseph Sais relied so much on food stamps as a college student that he thought about quitting school when his eligibility was revoked. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sais said, he missed an “important letter” and temporarily lost his eligibility in SNAP, the foundational anti-poverty program commonly known as food stamps. “There were times when I was taking a test and instead of focusing on the test, I’m focused on what I’m going to be able to eat tonight,” said Sais, who graduated from Sacramento State University with a

College students struggling with hunger face potential loss of food stamp benefits
Political

2024 GOP candidates desperate to make debate stage are finding creative ways to boost donor numbers

With six weeks until the first 2024 Republican presidential debate, some hopefuls are finding creative ways to boost their donor numbers and ensure they make it on stage. Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy rolled out a plan to let people who raise money for his campaign keep 10% of what they take in from other donors. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum is offering $20 Mastercard or Visa gift cards in return for campaign donations of as little as $1. Businessman Perry Johnson is offering copies of his book in exchange for donations. The unusual efforts are in response to a Republican

2024 GOP candidates desperate to make debate stage are finding creative ways to boost donor numbers
Political

Farm fields don't just feed us. They store carbon. But a big question is how much

When Al Schafbuch cut back on plowing his Iowa fields decades ago and later began growing cover crops, he was out to save money on fertilizer and reduce erosion. He got those benefits and saw his soil change for the better, too: dark, chunky, richly organic matter that he said feels like “chocolate cake.” There’s one more big payoff that benefits everyone: tilling the soil less, and growing more cover crops, can help farmers store more planet-warming carbon in fields. More plants take in more carbon dioxide, and soil microbes breathe out less carbon when undisturbed.

Farm fields don't just feed us. They store carbon. But a big question is how much
Political

Yellen is visiting India yet again to promote closer ties and tackle global economic problems

On the heels of a trip to Beijing, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is back in India for the third time in nine months, this time to meet finance ministers from the Group of 20 nations about global economic challenges like the increased threat of debt defaults facing low-income countries. Yellen will use her time in Gandhinagar to try to foster warming relations between the U.S. and India. She also plans a stop in Hanoi, Vietnam, to address supply chain reliability, clean energy transition and other matters of economic resilience. Yellen’s goals for her time in India:

Yellen is visiting India yet again to promote closer ties and tackle global economic problems
Political

DeSantis would consider Iowa's Reynolds as running mate, calls Trump's attack of her 'out of hand'

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Saturday he would consider Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds as a potential running mate, should he win the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, and dismissed former President Donald Trump’s recent complaints about her as “totally out of hand.” “Of course,” DeSantis said when asked whether he would consider the second-term Republican. “I mean, she’s one of the top public servants in America.” Trump last week criticized Reynolds, immensely popular among the state’s GOP base, for her seemingly cozy relationship with DeSantis while stating her public neutrality as the lead Republican figure in the

DeSantis would consider Iowa's Reynolds as running mate, calls Trump's attack of her 'out of hand'
Political

Fundraising takeaways: Trump and DeSantis in their own tier as Pence and other Republicans struggle

Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis are dominating the fight for campaign cash in the Republican presidential contest, according to federal filings made public Saturday. While some struggled, like former Vice President Mike Pence, others reported significant hauls that help ensure the GOP’s 2024 primary will be crowded for the foreseeable future. On the Democratic side, President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign has quickly amassed a sizeable fortune. But longshot Democratic primary opponent Robert Kennedy Jr. also raised enough to ensure he won’t be ignored. Overall, the 2024 presidential class’s second-quarter filings with the Federal Election Commission, covering

Fundraising takeaways: Trump and DeSantis in their own tier as Pence and other Republicans struggle
Political

The Iowa caucuses are six months away. Some Republicans worry Trump may be unstoppable

He’s been indictedtwice. Found liable for sexual abuse. And he’s viewed unfavorably by about a third of his party. But six months before Republicans begin to choose their next presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump remains the race’s dominant front-runner. Early leaders don’t always go on to win their party’s nomination, but a growing sense of Trump’s inevitability is raising alarms among some Republicans desperate for the party to move on. Some described a sense of panic — or “DEFCON 1,” as one put it — as they scramble to try to derail Trump and change

The Iowa caucuses are six months away. Some Republicans worry Trump may be unstoppable
Political

Why a single senator is blocking US military promotions and what it means for the Pentagon

Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville is waging an unprecedented campaign to try to change Pentagon abortion policy by holding up hundreds of military nominations and promotions, forcing less experienced leaders into top jobs and raising concerns at the Pentagon about military readiness. Senators in both parties — including Republican Leader Mitch McConnell — have pushed back on Tuberville’s blockade, but Tuberville is dug in. He says he won’t drop the holds unless majority Democrats allow a vote on the policy. For now, the fight is at a stalemate. Democrats say a vote on every nominee could tie up

Why a single senator is blocking US military promotions and what it means for the Pentagon
Political

Efforts to deceive are a top concern among state election officials heading into 2024

Efforts to deceive the public about voting and elections remain a top concern for state election officials as they dig into preparations for the 2024 election. Misinformation and the emergence of generative artificial intelligence tools to create false and misleading content were cited in interviews with several secretaries of state gathered recently for their national conference. Other top concerns were staffing and the loss of experienced leaders overseeing elections at the local level. The officials were gathered in Washington, D.C., for the annual summer conference of the National Association of Secretaries of State. “The cliché here is

Efforts to deceive are a top concern among state election officials heading into 2024
Political

US sending F-16 fighter jets to protect ships from Iranian seizures in Gulf region

The U.S. is beefing up its use of fighter jets around the strategic Strait of Hormuz to protect ships from Iranian seizures, a senior defense official said Friday, adding that the U.S. is increasingly concerned about the growing ties between Iran, Russia and Syria across the Middle East. Speaking to Pentagon reporters, the official said the U.S. will send F-16 fighter jets to the Gulf region this weekend to augment the A-10 attack aircraft that have been patrolling there for more than a week. The move comes after Iran tried to seize two oil tankers near the

US sending F-16 fighter jets to protect ships from Iranian seizures in Gulf region
Political

New Mexico's top election official met with federal prosecutors for 2020 special counsel probe

The top state election official in New Mexico has spoken with federal prosecutors as part of the special counsel’s probe into the 2020 election, the official’s spokesman said Friday. The meeting with New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver occurred sometime in the past few months, according to spokesman Alex Curtas, who declined further comment. The Justice Department has spent months examining pressure campaigns by Trump associates aimed at getting battleground states won by Democrat Joe Biden to undo the results of their elections. Special counsel Jack Smith and his team have issued subpoenas to election

New Mexico's top election official met with federal prosecutors for 2020 special counsel probe
Political

Appeals court pauses order limiting Biden administration contact with social media companies

A federal appeals court Friday temporarily paused a lower court’s order limiting executive branch officials’ communications with social media companies about controversial online posts. Biden administration lawyers had asked the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans to stay the preliminary injunction issued on July 4 by U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty. Doughty himself had rejected a request to put his order on hold pending appeal. Friday’s brief 5th Circuit order put Doughty’s order on hold “until further orders of the court.” It called for arguments in the case to be scheduled on an

Appeals court pauses order limiting Biden administration contact with social media companies
Political

Trump asks top Georgia court to disqualify election probe prosecutor and toss grand jury report

Lawyers for former President Donald Trump are asking Georgia’s highest court to prevent the district attorney who has been investigating his actions in the wake of the 2020 election from prosecuting him and to throw out a special grand jury report that is part of the inquiry. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been investigating since early 2021 whether Trump and his allies broke any laws as they tried to overturn his narrow election loss in Georgia to Democrat Joe Biden. She has suggested that she is likely to seek charges in the case from a

Trump asks top Georgia court to disqualify election probe prosecutor and toss grand jury report
Political

House Republicans push through defense bill limiting abortion access and halting diversity efforts

The House passed a sweeping defense bill Friday that provides an expected 5.2% pay raise for service members but strays from traditional military policy with Republicans add-ons blocking abortion coverage, diversity initiatives at the Pentagon and transgender care that deeply divided the chamber. Democrats voted against the package, which had sailed out of the House Armed Services Committee on an almost unanimous vote weeks ago before being loaded with the GOP priorities during a heated late-night floor debate this week. The final vote was 219-210, with four Democrats siding with the GOP and four Republicans opposed. The

House Republicans push through defense bill limiting abortion access and halting diversity efforts
Political

Capitol riot suspect arrested near Barack Obama's home indicted on firearms charges

A Capitol riot suspect who had guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in his van when he was arrested near former President Barack Obama’s Washington home has been indicted on federal firearms charges, authorities said Friday. Taylor Taranto, 37, was already facing misdemeanor charges stemming from his alleged involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot, and a grand jury indicted him on additional felony charges alleging he illegally carried a firearm without a license and unlawfully possessed a large-capacity ammunition feeding device, prosecutors said. A magistrate judge earlier this week ruled that Taranto, of Pasco, Washington, must remain behind

Capitol riot suspect arrested near Barack Obama's home indicted on firearms charges
Political

Biden and Democrats raised $72 million-plus for his 2024 race since he opened his campaign in April

President Joe Biden and the Democratic National Committee raised more than $72 million for his reelection in the 10 weeks since he announced his 2024 candidacy, his campaign announced Friday, in a strong but not record performance by an incumbent. That is all the money raised between April 25, when Biden made his announcement, and the end of June, and includes donations to his campaign and to a network of joint fundraising arrangements with the national and state parties. By comparison, President Barack Obama raised $85.6 million during the April-to-June quarter in 2011 when he launched his

Biden and Democrats raised $72 million-plus for his 2024 race since he opened his campaign in April
Political

Serbia halts arms exports after US sanctioned the country's spy chief for alleged illegal arms trade

Serbia suspended all arms exports for 30 days, the defense minister said Friday, just days after the United States imposed sanctions on the Balkan country’s intelligence chief over alleged illegal arms deals and other criminal activities. Defense Minister Miloš Vučević said that the export ban is necessary in order to fulfill the needs of the Serbian army and boost its combat readiness amid the simmering crisis in the Balkan region. “It does not mean Serbia is going to war or calling for war, but we are looking at all security risks and challenges,” Vučević said. Serbian

Serbia halts arms exports after US sanctioned the country's spy chief for alleged illegal arms trade
Political

DeSantis to become 1st GOP candidate to file for South Carolina primary during visit next week

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis plans to file his 2024 candidacy for South Carolina’s Republican presidential primary when he’s in the first-in-the-South voting state next week, becoming the first GOP hopeful to do so. DeSantis will file his paperwork at the state GOP headquarters in Columbia on Tuesday, his campaign told The Associated Press on Friday. DeSantis will make his candidacy official during his third campaign swing through South Carolina, where Republican hopefuls have been stumping for more than a year already. On Monday, he makes a stop in Tega Cay, an affluent community on Lake Wylie

DeSantis to become 1st GOP candidate to file for South Carolina primary during visit next week
Political

Why Trump's prosecution for keeping secret documents is lawful, constitutional, precedented, nonpartisan and merited

Special counsel Jack Smith speaks to reporters on June 9, 2023, in Washington about the investigation of Trump’s retention of classified records. AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File Donald Trump and his allies have responded with a variety of objections to his federal indictment, brought in June 2023 by special counsel Jack Smith. The federal charges – the first against a former president – listed 37 counts of obstruction of justice and wrongful retention of classified documents after Trump left office in January 2021. Trump pleaded not guilty. The objections made by Trump and his allies: The former president simply cannot

Why Trump's prosecution for keeping secret documents is lawful, constitutional, precedented, nonpartisan and merited
Political

Biden making $20 billion available from 'green bank' for clean energy projects

The Biden administration is making available $20 billion from a federal “green bank” for clean energy projects such as residential heat pumps, electric vehicle charging stations and community cooling centers. Two programs, worth $14 billion and $6 billion, respectively, will offer competitive grants to states, tribes and nonprofits to invest in clean energy projects, with a focus on disadvantaged communities, the White House says. Vice President Kamala Harris, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan and other officials will announce the grant competitions Friday at a historically black university in Baltimore. Congress created the green bank, formally known

Biden making $20 billion available from 'green bank' for clean energy projects

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