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

Latest From The Los Angeles Post

Political

Election officials sue conservative voting group over refusal to produce ballot-harvesting evidence

The Georgia State Election Board is asking a judge to order a conservative voting organization to produce information to help investigate its claims of ballot trafficking in the state. The Texas-based True the Vote group filed complaints with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in November 2021, including one saying it had received “a detailed account of coordinated efforts to collect and deposit ballots in drop boxes across metro Atlanta” during the 2020 general election and in a runoff election in January 2021. True the Vote’s assertions were relied upon heavily for the film “2000 Mules,” a

Election officials sue conservative voting group over refusal to produce ballot-harvesting evidence
Political

Inflation drops to 3% and Biden hopes to turn a weakness with voters into a strength

The politics of inflation took a sharp turn Wednesday with a report showing consumer prices rose at the slowest pace since the early months of Joe Biden’s presidency. Republicans have hammered Biden over the cost of groceries, gasoline, utilities and more, saying his $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package and push for electric vehicles were responsible for pushing inflation to a four-decade high. The GOP argument has resonated with voters, but the report on consumer prices for June suggests that inflation has eased dramatically without any of the job losses that some economists and Republican leaders said would

Inflation drops to 3% and Biden hopes to turn a weakness with voters into a strength
Political

Former 'Jesus Christ Superstar' actor with Oath Keepers ties acquitted of all charges in Jan. 6 riot

A former “Jesus Christ Superstar” actor was acquitted Wednesday of conspiring with members of the far-right Oath Keepers extremist group to obstruct Congress in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack. James Beeks — a Florida resident who was playing Judas in the traveling production of the musical when he was arrested — was cleared of conspiracy to obstruct Congress’ certification of the 2020 election and civil disorder after a trial in federal court. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta convicted Beeks’ co-defendant, Ohio resident Donovan Crowl, of the same charges after hearing evidence without a jury. The

Former 'Jesus Christ Superstar' actor with Oath Keepers ties acquitted of all charges in Jan. 6 riot
Political

Army chief nominee would boost recruiting, but Tuberville blockade leaves his confirmation uncertain

The Army officer tapped to be the service’s next chief of staff outlined for senators on Wednesday his plan to fix what he described as the service’s top challenge — rebuilding recruiting — as it becomes clear the Army will again fall short of its enlistment goal. Gen. Randy George, the current vice chief of staff of the Army, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the service is looking at short- and long-term ways to improve how recruiters are chosen and deployed around the country, and to better tailor marketing to attract young people. Gen. James

Army chief nominee would boost recruiting, but Tuberville blockade leaves his confirmation uncertain
Political

Steve Bannon ordered to pay nearly $500K in unpaid legal bills

Steve Bannon must pay nearly $500,000 in outstanding legal fees to his former attorneys, a New York judge ruled. Bannon, a longtime ally of former President Donald Trump and far-right strategist, was sued earlier this year for allegedly stiffing the Manhattan law firm that has defended him against a cascade of legal troubles in recent years. In her six-page order released this week, Judge Arlene Bluth found that Bannon paid just $375,000 of more than $850,000 in legal fees he owed to Davidoff, Hutcher & Citron LLP. He was ordered to pay the balance of $480,487,

Steve Bannon ordered to pay nearly $500K in unpaid legal bills
Political

Capitol riot suspect arrested near Obama's home will remain jail until trial, judge rules

A man charged in the Capitol riot who had guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in his van when he was arrested near former President Barack Obama’s Washington home will remain in jail while he awaits trial, a federal magistrate judge ruled Wednesday. U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui agreed with federal prosecutors that Taylor Taranto represents a danger to the community if he is released. Taranto’s lawyer said the judge’s decision will be appealed. Taranto was arrested June 29 after prosecutors say he showed up in Obama’s neighborhood on the same day that former President Donald

Capitol riot suspect arrested near Obama's home will remain jail until trial, judge rules
Political

Biden and Zelenskyy praise each other despite divisions over Ukraine war

President Joe Biden wants Ukraine to win the war against Russia. But he doesn’t want World War III — especially with nuclear weapons. Balancing those two goals has been difficult, and the tension was on particular display at the NATO summit in Vilnius this week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made an emotional, even caustic, demand for a clear path toward joining the alliance. But Biden, who was to try to showcase NATO’s strength in a sum-up speech Wednesday evening, was not willing to take that step, even as the United States continues to provide more weapons and

Biden and Zelenskyy praise each other despite divisions over Ukraine war
Political

Turkey's parliament won't ratify Sweden's NATO membership bid before October, Erdogan says

Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said Wednesday that Sweden’s NATO membership bid would not be ratified by Turkey’s parliament before October. He said at a news conference at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, that the process would have to wait until after lawmakers return from a summer recess. “The parliament is not in session for the upcoming two months … but our target is to finalize this matter as swiftly as possible,” he said. Turkey on Monday withdrew its objections to Sweden joining the alliance, a step toward the unity that Western leaders have been

Turkey's parliament won't ratify Sweden's NATO membership bid before October, Erdogan says
Political

Did US deviate from usual sanctions after China balloon incursion? GOP chairman subpoenas documents

The House Foreign Affairs chairman said Wednesday he subpoenaed the State Department for classified documents that could indicate whether the U.S. deviated from its plans for sanctioning China after a Chinese surveillance balloon traversed sensitive military sites across North America Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said he has subpoenaed the department’s “competitive actions” calendars, a classified list of actions the Biden administration had laid out to counter China aggression, including sanctions and export controls on Chinese companies like tech giant Huawei. McCaul had asked Secretary of State Antony Blinken to voluntarily deliver the documents in May and accused

Did US deviate from usual sanctions after China balloon incursion? GOP chairman subpoenas documents
Political

Ex-US attorney, who appeared on 'Survivor,' to face state senator in Washington AG race

Nick Brown, who recently stepped down as U.S. attorney in Seattle, announced Wednesday he’s running to be Washington’s next attorney general, setting up a contest with state Sen. Manka Dhingra, a longtime prosecutor herself. Brown, 46, served less than two years as the top federal prosecutor for western Washington before stepping down in June in anticipation of the campaign. He was the state’s first Black U.S. attorney. The Democrat previously worked as general counsel to Gov. Jay Inslee, as a litigation partner at a prominent Seattle law firm and — in a less common qualification for the

Ex-US attorney, who appeared on 'Survivor,' to face state senator in Washington AG race
Political

How the shooting of Ralph Yarl demonstrates the fiction of a colorblind society in America

Ralph Yarl is showing signs of recovery after he was shot in April 2023 by a neighbor in Kansas City, Kan. ABC News Given the gunshot wounds to his head and arm, the fact that Ralph Yarl was able to celebrate his 17th birthday on May 7, 2023, is a modern-day miracle. Less than a month earlier, on April 13, Yarl had gone to pick up his twin younger brothers from a play date in the Northland section of Kansas City, Kansas. Instead of going to NE 115 Terrace, Yarl went a block away to NE 115 Street Place, where

How the shooting of Ralph Yarl demonstrates the fiction of a colorblind society in America
Political

3 tax prep firms shared 'extraordinarily sensitive' data about taxpayers with Meta, lawmakers say

A group of congressional Democrats reported Wednesday that three large tax preparation firms sent “extraordinarily sensitive” information on tens of millions of taxpayers to Facebook parent company Meta over the course of at least two years. Their report urges federal agencies to investigate and potentially go to court over the wealth of information that H&R Block, TaxAct and Tax Slayer shared with the social media giant. In a letter to the heads of the IRS, the Justice Department, the Federal Trade Commission and the IRS watchdog, seven lawmakers say their findings “reveal a shocking breach of taxpayer

3 tax prep firms shared 'extraordinarily sensitive' data about taxpayers with Meta, lawmakers say
Political

Pence would ban abortions when pregnancies aren't viable. His GOP rivals won't say if they agree

In a Republican presidential field full of opponents to abortion rights, Mike Pence stands out in his embrace of the cause. The former vice president, who is seeking the White House in 2024, is the only major candidate who supports a federal ban on abortion at six weeks, before many women know they’re pregnant. He has advocated pulling from the market a widely used abortion pill that has a better safety record than penicillin and Viagra. And he’s implored his Republican rivals to back a 15-week federal ban as a minimum national standard, which several have

Pence would ban abortions when pregnancies aren't viable. His GOP rivals won't say if they agree
Political

Even in states that have them, few US adults support full abortion bans, AP-NORC poll finds

The majority of U.S. adults, including those living in states with the deepest limits on abortion, want it to be legal at least through the initial stages of pregnancy, a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds. The poll was conducted in late June, one year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, undoing a nationwide right to abortion that had been in place for nearly 50 years. While the laws have changed over the past year, the poll found that opinions on abortion remain much as they were a year ago: complex,

Even in states that have them, few US adults support full abortion bans, AP-NORC poll finds
Political

FBI director set to clash with Republicans on the Trump case, Hunter Biden and more

The director of the FBI will face some of his harshest critics in Congress on Wednesday as he testifies before a House committee that is leading several investigations into claims that the law enforcement agency unfairly targets conservatives. FBI Director Chris Wray’s appearance before the House Judiciary Committee is expected to be contentious. Republicans are prepared to aggressively question the director on several fronts, including the recent indictment of former President Donald Trump, the ongoing investigation into President Joe Biden’s son and the push for a new FBI headquarters. It’s just the latest display of the new

FBI director set to clash with Republicans on the Trump case, Hunter Biden and more
Political

Budget troubles won't change California Gov. Gavin Newsom's goals for 2nd term, he tells AP

Throughout the various crises in California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s first term — devastating wildfires, the bankruptcy of the nation’s largest utility, the deadly COVID-19 pandemic — the state’s record-smashing budget surpluses were always there to smooth things over. Now, as Newsom moves to build his national profile for political aspirations beyond the governor’s office, looming multibillion dollar deficits could threaten to unravel the things on which he’s staked his reputation, including free kindergarten for every 4-year-old and free health care for low-income residents regardless of their immigration status. On Monday, after signing a budget that cut,

Budget troubles won't change California Gov. Gavin Newsom's goals for 2nd term, he tells AP
Political

NATO prepared to back Ukraine in its fight against Russia — but not to extend membership

NATO leaders prepared to provide Ukraine with more military assistance for fighting Russia but only vague assurances of future membership as the alliance’s summit draws to a close on Wednesday. A draft agreement states that Ukraine can join NATO “when allies agree and conditions are met.” The ambiguous outcome reflects the challenges of reaching consensus among the alliance’s current members while the war continues, and it is likely to leave Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy unsatisfied. Although Zelenskyy planned to attend the summit’s final day, he has been sharply critical of what he described as NATO’s “absurd”

NATO prepared to back Ukraine in its fight against Russia — but not to extend membership
Political

Alabama senator says white nationalists are racists after weeks of declining to say so

Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville on Tuesday backed off his defense of white nationalists, telling reporters in the Capitol that white nationalists “are racists.” Tuberville’s brief comment in the hallway, after a regular weekly lunch with his GOP Senate colleagues, follows several media interviews in which he has repeatedly declined to describe white nationalists as racist. And it comes as the Alabama Republican is also receiving criticism from both Republicans and Democrats for his monthslong blockade on the confirmation of all senior military officers in protest of a Defense Department abortion policy. In a May interview, Tuberville suggested

Alabama senator says white nationalists are racists after weeks of declining to say so
Political

Senators call for Supreme Court to follow ethics code like other branches of government

The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, responding to Associated Press investigative stories on the Supreme Court, said Tuesday it was time for the justices to bring their conduct in line with the ethical standards of other branches of government. “If they just establish the basic standards of every other branch of government, it would give us much more confidence in their integrity,” Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said. He commented in Vilnius, Lithuania, where he was attending the NATO summit as part of the U.S. delegation. The AP published stories showing that Justice Sonia Sotomayor, aided by her staff, has

Senators call for Supreme Court to follow ethics code like other branches of government
Political

Ukraine is the hot topic at the NATO summit – the most important work is all in the details happening behind the scenes

President Joe Biden and other world leaders are together at the 2023 NATO summit in Lithuania on July 11, 2023. Pauline Peleckis/Getty Images A summit is literally the highest point on the mountain. In diplomatic terms, summits like the NATO meeting, held on July 11 and 12, 2023, in Vilnius, Lithuania, mark important gatherings of world leaders. The question of Sweden’s and Ukraine’s joining NATO, which is a political and military alliance of 31 countries from Europe and North America, was a central topic heading into this year’s summit. While Sweden is now set to join the alliance, there is

Ukraine is the hot topic at the NATO summit – the most important work is all in the details happening behind the scenes
Political

Man who stormed Capitol while free on attempted murder charge gets over 3 years in prison for riot

A North Carolina man who stormed the U.S. Capitol while awaiting trial for shooting a teenager in the head was sentenced on Tuesday to more than three years in prison for attacking police officers with a flagpole during the riot. Matthew Jason Beddingfield, 22, was free on pretrial release for an attempted murder charge in Johnston County, North Carolina, when he joined the riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Outside the Capitol, Beddingfield flashed a Nazi-style salute after attacking police officers with a pole attached to an American flag, according to federal prosecutors. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols sentenced Beddingfield to

Man who stormed Capitol while free on attempted murder charge gets over 3 years in prison for riot
Political

Joint Chiefs nominee wins over lawmakers but faces uncertain fate because of senator's hold

President Joe Biden’s pick to serve as America’s top military officer warned senators Tuesday of the difficulties posed by any potential conflict in Asia and described how he would use lessons learned from the Ukraine war to help the U.S. military prepare. But Air Force Gen. CQ Brown Jr. may not be able to apply those lessons anytime soon, even after being well-received in a confirmation hearing to serve as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Brown’s nomination is among more than 260 being stalled by Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama. He is

Joint Chiefs nominee wins over lawmakers but faces uncertain fate because of senator's hold
Political

EPA sets stricter limits on hydrofluorocarbons used in refrigerators, air conditioners

The Environmental Protection Agency is enforcing stricter limits on hydrofluorocarbons, highly potent greenhouse gases used in refrigerators and air conditioners that contribute to global warming. A rule announced Tuesday will impose a 40% overall reduction in HFCs starting next year, part of a global phaseout designed to slow climate change. The rule aligns with a 2020 law that calls for an 85% reduction in production and use of the climate-damaging chemicals by 2036. Officials said refrigeration and air conditioning systems sold in the United States will emit far fewer HFCs as a result of the rule, the

EPA sets stricter limits on hydrofluorocarbons used in refrigerators, air conditioners
Political

US formally rejoins UNESCO after five-year absence

The United States on Tuesday formally rejoined the U.N.’s scientific, educational and cultural organization after a five-year absence. The U.S. return to the Paris-based UNESCO was based mainly on concerns that China has filled a leadership gap since the U.S. withdrew during the Trump administration. UNESCO’s governing board voted last week to approve the Biden administration’s proposal for the U.S. to rejoin. On Monday, the U.S. delivered a document certifying it would accept the invitation. On Tuesday, UNESCO’s Director General Audrey Azoulay said it was official. A welcome ceremony with a flag-raising and VIP guests is expected

US formally rejoins UNESCO after five-year absence
Political

Biden administration plans to cap how much families pay for child care through a government program

Vice President Kamala Harris said Tuesday that the government plans to put a cap on how much families pay for child care as part of the Child Care & Development Block Grant program. Speaking to reporters, Harris went through the details of a proposed rule by the Department of Health and Human Services that follows an executive order on the issue that President Joe Biden signed in April. Families would pay no more than 7% of their income for child care through the program and child care providers would find it easier to be paid on time.

Biden administration plans to cap how much families pay for child care through a government program

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