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

Latest From The Los Angeles Post

Political

Suspicious powder found at the White House when Biden was gone was cocaine, AP sources say

The White House was briefly evacuated Sunday evening while President Joe Biden was at Camp David after the Secret Service discovered suspicious powder in a common area of the West Wing, and a preliminary test showed the substance was cocaine, two law enforcement officials said Tuesday. Secret Service agents were doing routine rounds on Sunday when they found the white powder in an area accessible to tour groups, not in any particular West Wing office, the officials said. The officials were not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of

Suspicious powder found at the White House when Biden was gone was cocaine, AP sources say
Political

He was the CIA whiz kid in 'Charlie Wilson's War.' His new book offers advice for the US in Ukraine.

After the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in 1989, defeated by an insurgency equipped and guided by the U.S., a two-word cable arrived at CIA headquarters: “WE WON.” It was one of the last moments of the Cold War, credited with helping push the Soviet Union to collapse two years later. But the U.S. would leave behind a country that rapidly fell into civil war, eventually becoming al-Qaida’s training grounds for the Sept. 11 attacks and the site of a two-decade war that ended in U.S. withdrawal and defeat. Decades later, one of the architects of the

He was the CIA whiz kid in 'Charlie Wilson's War.' His new book offers advice for the US in Ukraine.
Political

In a polarized US, how to define a patriot increasingly depends on who's being asked

Millions of Americans will attend parades, fireworks and other Independence Day events on Tuesday, celebrating the courage of the nation’s 18th century patriots who fought for independence from Great Britain and what they considered an unjust government. Those events also will honor the military and those who sacrificed in other conflicts that helped preserve the nation’s freedom over its 247-year history. That is only one version of a “patriot.” Today, the word and its variants have morphed beyond the original meaning. It has become infused in political rhetoric and school curriculums, with varying definitions, while being appropriated by white nationalist

In a polarized US, how to define a patriot increasingly depends on who's being asked
Political

What's 'Bidenomics'? The president hopes a dubious nation embraces his ideas condensed into the term

President Joe Biden has long struggled to neatly summarize his sprawling economic vision. It’s been hard for voters to digest the mix of roads-and-bridges spending, tax hikes on big companies, tax credits for parents, tax breaks for renewable energy, grants to build computer chip factories, insulin price caps and slogans like “Build Back Better.” And that barely covers the full breadth of what the administration is doing and trying to do. Last week, the president gave a speech on “Bidenomics” in hopes that the term will lodge in voters’ minds ahead of the 2024 elections. But what

What's 'Bidenomics'? The president hopes a dubious nation embraces his ideas condensed into the term
Political

The Global South is on the rise – but what exactly is the Global South?

The world turned upside down iStock / Getty Images Plus The unwillingness of many leading countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America to stand with NATO over the war in Ukraine has brought to the fore once again the term “Global South.” “Why does so much of the Global South support Russia?” inquired one recent headline; “Ukraine courts ‘Global South’ in push to challenge Russia,” declared another. But what is meant by that term, and why has it gained currency in recent years? The Global South refers to various countries around the world that are sometimes described as “developing,” “less

The Global South is on the rise – but what exactly is the Global South?
Political

Democrats' new primary calendar remains unresolved. The party insists that's OK

New Hampshire is in open rebellion. Georgia is all but out. South Carolina and Nevada are on board but face stiff Republican pushback. Michigan’s compliance may mean having to cut the state legislative session short, despite Democrats controlling both chambers and the governor’s mansion. Then there’s Iowa, which is looking for ways to still go first without violating party rules. Months after the Democratic Party approved President Joe Biden’s plan to overhaul its primary order to better reflect a deeply diverse voter base, implementing the revamped order has proven anything but simple. Party officials now expect the

Democrats' new primary calendar remains unresolved. The party insists that's OK
Political

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is making a long-awaited trip to China this week

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will travel to Beijing Thursday as part of an ongoing Biden administration effort to thaw U.S.-China relations, a senior Treasury official said Sunday. Yellen, who has called the notion of an economic decoupling from China “disastrous,” has frequently said in the past year that she would like to visit China. She says the two nations “can and need to find a way to live together” in spite of their strained relations over geopolitics and economic development. Yellen will meet this week with Chinese officials, U.S. companies doing business in China and with Chinese

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is making a long-awaited trip to China this week
Political

Prosecutor in the Hunter Biden case denies retaliating against IRS agent who talked to House GOP

The federal prosecutor leading the investigation of President Joe Biden’s son Hunter is pushing back against claims that he was blocked from pursuing criminal charges in Los Angeles and Washington and denies retaliating against an IRS official who disclosed details about the case. In a two-page letter to House Republicans on Friday, U.S. Attorney David Weiss in Delaware defended the lengthy investigation into Hunter Biden’s financial dealings that ended last month with a plea with the Justice Department that likely spares Biden from time behind bars. Weiss, who was named to that post by President Donald Trump

Prosecutor in the Hunter Biden case denies retaliating against IRS agent who talked to House GOP
Political

Biden's upcoming European trip is meant to boost NATO against Russia as the war in Ukraine drags on

President Joe Biden will head to Europe at week’s end for a three-country trip intended to bolster the international coalition against Russian aggression as the war in Ukraine extends well into its second year. The main focus of Biden’s five-day visit will be the annual NATO summit, held this year in Vilnius, Lithuania. Also planned are stops in Helsinki, Finland, to commemorate the Nordic country’s entrance into the 31-nation military alliance in April, and Britain, the White House announced Sunday. Biden will begin his trip next Sunday in London, meeting with King Charles III. The president did

Biden's upcoming European trip is meant to boost NATO against Russia as the war in Ukraine drags on
Political

'Parental rights' group Moms for Liberty plans nationwide strategy for school board races in 2024

Moms for Liberty, a “parental rights” group that has sought to take over school boards in multiple states, is looking to expand those efforts across the country and to other education posts in 2024 and beyond. The effort is setting up for a clash with teachers unions and others on the left who view the group as a toxic presence in public schools. The group’s co-founder, Tiffany Justice, said during its annual summit over the weekend in Philadelphia that Moms for Liberty will use its political action committee next year to engage in school board races nationwide.

'Parental rights' group Moms for Liberty plans nationwide strategy for school board races in 2024
Political

For presidents, July Fourth is a day to chill or strut or get an earful of red, white and boo

Through history, the Fourth of July has been a day for some presidents to declare their independence from the public. They’ve bailed to the beach, the mountains, the golf course, the farm, the ranch. In the middle of the Depression, Franklin Roosevelt was sailing to Hawaii on a fishing and working vacation. It’s also been a day for some presidents to insert themselves front and center in the fabric of it all. Teddy Roosevelt drew hundreds of thousands for his July Fourth oratory. In 2019, Donald Trump marshaled tanks, bombers and other war machinery for a celebration

For presidents, July Fourth is a day to chill or strut or get an earful of red, white and boo
Political

The 2024 Republican presidential field keeps growing. So why aren't there more women?

As Republicans keep jumping into the 2024 race for president, one demographic group seems notably lacking: women. More than a dozen candidates are seeking the nomination, including several long shots who announced their bids in recent weeks, in what is the party’s most diverse presidential field ever. Yet Nikki Haley, a former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina governor, is the only woman among the bunch. America has never had a female commander in chief and Republicans historically have focused less on electing female candidates in general than the Democratic Party. And while women make up more than

The 2024 Republican presidential field keeps growing. So why aren't there more women?
Political

Trump returns to campaign rallies, draws thousands to small South Carolina city ahead of July 4

Former President Donald Trump on Saturday marked a return to the large-scale rallies of his previous presidential campaigns, speaking to thousands gathered in the streets of a small South Carolina city on a blazing day ahead of the July 4 holiday. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be to kick off the Fourth of July weekend than right here on Main St., with thousands of hardworking South Carolina patriots who believe in God, family and country,” Trump said to a roaring crowd standing on asphalt as temperatures climbed into the 90s. It wasn’t immediately clear how many

Trump returns to campaign rallies, draws thousands to small South Carolina city ahead of July 4
Political

An anti-Trump video shared by the DeSantis campaign is 'homophobic,' says a conservative LGBT group

A prominent group that represents LGBT conservatives says a video shared by Ron DeSantis ′ presidential campaign that slams rival Donald Trump for his past support of gay and transgender people “ventured into homophobic territory.” The “DeSantis War Room” Twitter account shared the video on Friday — the last day of June’s LGBTQ+ Pride Month — that features footage of Trump at the Republican National Convention in 2016 saying he would “do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens.” Trump had been pledging protection from terrorist attacks weeks after the shootings at the Pulse

An anti-Trump video shared by the DeSantis campaign is 'homophobic,' says a conservative LGBT group
Political

In 370 days, Supreme Court conservatives dash decades of abortion and affirmative action precedents

Overturning Roe v. Wade and eliminating affirmative action in higher education had been leading goals of the conservative legal movement for decades. In a span of 370 days, a Supreme Court reshaped by three justices nominated by President Donald Trump made both a reality. Last June, the court ended nationwide protections for abortion rights. This past week, the court’s conservative majority decided that race-conscious admissions programs at the oldest private and public colleges in the country, Harvard and the University of North Carolina, were unlawful. Precedents that had stood since the 1970s were overturned, explicitly in the

In 370 days, Supreme Court conservatives dash decades of abortion and affirmative action precedents
Political

Biden will host Sweden's prime minister at the White House as the Nordic nation seeks to join NATO

President Joe Biden will host Sweden’s prime minister at the White House on Wednesday in a show of solidarity as the United States presses for the Nordic nation’s entry into NATO, a bid stalled by objections from two members of the Western military alliance. Biden and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson plan to “review our growing security cooperation and reaffirm their view that Sweden should join NATO as soon as possible,” the White House said a statement Saturday. The leaders also will discuss the war in Ukraine and China. Sweden and neighbor Finland dropped their long-standing military neutrality

Biden will host Sweden's prime minister at the White House as the Nordic nation seeks to join NATO
Political

New state laws target contentious topics of gender, guns and abortion

New state laws taking effect Saturday target some of the most divisive topics in America including abortion, gender and guns. Meanwhile, some motorists heading out for an extended Independence Day vacation may face higher taxes at the fuel pump. The start of July marks the start of the budget year in most states and also is a common date for new laws to take effect. This year, state legislatures continued a partisan push in opposite directions on contentious issues. As a result, people in some Republican-led states will face new restrictions on abortion and gender-affirming treatments while residents in some

New state laws target contentious topics of gender, guns and abortion
Political

Affirmative action for white people? Legacy college admissions come under renewed scrutiny

The next big fight over college admissions already has taken hold, and it centers on a different kind of minority group that gets a boost: children of alumni. In the wake of a Supreme Court decision that strikes down affirmative action in admissions, colleges are coming under renewed pressure to put an end to legacy preferences — the practice of favoring applicants with family ties to alumni. Long seen as a perk for the white and wealthy, opponents say it’s no longer defensible in a world with no counterbalance in affirmative action. President Joe Biden suggested colleges

Affirmative action for white people? Legacy college admissions come under renewed scrutiny
Political

Battle over Wisconsin's top elections official could have ripple effects for 2024

A fight over whether Wisconsin’s top elections official will keep her job has potential implications for the 2024 presidential contest in a perennial battleground where statewide margins are typically razor thin. Meagan Wolfe, the nonpartisan administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, has been a target of conspiracy theorists who falsely claim she was part of a plan to rig the 2020 vote to secure President Joe Biden’s victory over Donald Trump in the state. Republicans who control the state Legislature have called for Wolfe to resign over how she ran the 2020 contest, even though multiple

Battle over Wisconsin's top elections official could have ripple effects for 2024
Political

The Supreme Court just issued its biggest rulings of the year. Here's what you need to know.

The Supreme Court just finished issuing its biggest decisions of the term, killing President Joe Biden’s $400 billion plan to cancel or reduce federal student loan debts, ending affirmative action in higher education and issuing a major decision that impacts gay rights. The decisions over the past week cap off a term that began in October in which the justices also considered big issues involving voting rights and religion. The court will next meet in the fall to resume hearing cases. Here are a number of things to know about the Supreme Court’s most recent term: THERE

The Supreme Court just issued its biggest rulings of the year. Here's what you need to know.
Political

How the Supreme Court student loan decision affects you

The Supreme Court has ruled the Biden administration overstepped its authority in trying to cancel or reduce student loan debt, effectively killing the $400 billion plan, which would have canceled up to $20,000 in federal student loans for 43 million people. Of those, 20 million would have had their remaining student debt erased completely. The court’s decision means, barring an act of Congress, those Americans are on the hook for payments starting in October. Still, borrowers who are worried about their budgets do have options. For instance, the government has other loan forgiveness programs that are

How the Supreme Court student loan decision affects you
Political

Gubernatorial nominee's plans to attend rally spark Republican infighting in Kentucky

Republican infighting has erupted in Kentucky over gubernatorial nominee Daniel Cameron’s plans to attend a rally sponsored by an ex-rival who is now looking to challenge an incumbent GOP congressman next year. That congressman, Thomas Massie, bluntly said Friday it would be a mistake for Cameron to attend the September rally to be hosted by Eric Deters in northern Kentucky — a GOP-leaning region where Democrat Andy Beshear made crucial inroads four years ago in winning the governorship. Cameron, the state’s Republican attorney general, is trying to unseat Beshear in one of the nation’s most closely

Gubernatorial nominee's plans to attend rally spark Republican infighting in Kentucky
Political

Cambodia PM Hun Sen will shut down opposition on election day – even if he can no longer threaten voters on Facebook

Cambodian PM Hun Sen takes a selfie — but where will he post it now? Rang Xhhin Sothy/AFP via Getty Images Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen will no longer be able to use his Facebook page to air threats of violence against opposition supporters – but that doesn’t mean he can’t still suppress their vote as the country prepares for a general election. On June 30, 2023, the Facebook page of Hun Sen – who has ruled the country as leader of the Cambodian People’s Party for almost four decades – appeared to have been deleted. It wasn’t immediately clear

Cambodia PM Hun Sen will shut down opposition on election day – even if he can no longer threaten voters on Facebook
Political

DC promises a 'very, very robust' police presence to maintain public safety over July 4 holiday

With a flood of visitors and tourists expected, officials in the nation’s capital are mobilizing additional police officers and dozens of teams of civilian peacekeepers in an attempt to keep rising violent crime rates from marring the holiday weekend. “The safety of our residents and visitors is MPD’s number one priority,” said Ashan Benedict, interim police chief for the Metropolitan Police Department. “Unsafe and illegal behaviors will not be tolerated in the District of Columbia.” Benedict said the MPD will be deploying a “very, very robust” contingent of officers but didn’t mention specific numbers. “We’ll have a

DC promises a 'very, very robust' police presence to maintain public safety over July 4 holiday
Political

Jill Biden hosts military chefs crowned 'Chopped' champs for guest stint in White House Navy Mess

An Air Force chef and a Marine Corps chef, both crowned “Chopped” champions during Jill Biden ‘s appearance on a military-themed episode of the Food Network show, spent Friday whipping up lemon-herb scallops and osso buco in the White House Navy Mess. Air Force chef Opal Poullard, 37, and Marine Corps chef Dustin Lewis, 34, accepted the mission from the first lady, who made a surprise appearance in a May episode of “Chopped,” as part of her White House initiative to support active-duty and retired service members, their families and caregivers. A panel of judges ruled that

Jill Biden hosts military chefs crowned 'Chopped' champs for guest stint in White House Navy Mess

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