NEW: The End of the Line: the centrepiece of Saudi Arabia’s Neom gigaproject - a 500m tall, 170km long wall-like building intended ultimately to house 9 million people - can’t get out of the ground, say more than 20 former Neom architects, engineers and senior executives. ig.ft.com/saudi-neom-l...

CNN's Clarissa Ward tracked down and confronted a top advisor to former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, who held American journalist Austin Tice after his capture in 2012. "Of course, Austin is dead. Austin is dead," he said in a video captured on hidden cameras. www.cnn.com/2025/10/28/politi...

10 years ago tonight

at what point do they let the runner-up teams start playing

Newsom, Harris both considering runs for president in 2028

Some news: Today is my first day at the Wall Street Journal! I'll be reporting from L.A., tracking big California stories and digging into the nexus between politics and tech. Really excited to get started. For coffees, tips, ideas, gossip, etc., I'm at [email protected].

An artillery shell fired during 250th anniversary celebration of the Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton on Saturday detonated prematurely over Interstate 5, damaging a California Highway Patrol vehicle on JD Vance's security detail www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/u...

I’m honestly very surprised that their most popular recipe of all time is BEEF STEW. I would read 5,000 words on this phenomenon.

Some personal news, as they say: This is my last day at the @latimes.com. Thank you, thank you to everyone who has shared their time, expertise and stories over the last 13 years, and to my kind and brilliant colleagues. Grateful doesn't even begin to cover it.

As I was saying…

Protester found not guilty of assault against federal officer at L.A. immigration protest despite top Border Patrol official's testimony. Latest w/ @brittnymejia.bsky.social www.latimes.com/california/s...

California's incarcerated firefighters, who make about $30 per day, could get a big raise

"The U.S. agricultural workforce fell by 155,000 — about 7 percent — between March and July, according to an analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data. That tracks with Pew Research Center data that shows total immigrant labor fell by 750,000 from January through July."

California legislative leaders have introduced a last-minute deal aimed at increasing oil production in Kern County’s oil fields while further restricting offshore drilling. @laurajnelson.bsky.social @grace2e.bsky.social www.latimes.com/california/s...

Shortly after Trump accused Sen. Schiff (@schiff.senate.gov) of mortgage fraud, Schiff's attorney wrote to DOJ that there was “no factual basis” for the claims — but “ample basis” for an investigation of Bill Pulte's work digging into Trump’s political opponents. www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

“In the more than four decades since I started at the L.A. Times, we’ve never had a reporter cover water with the depth and persistence of Ian James.” @raineytime.bsky.social has a Q&A with my friend and colleague @ianjames.bsky.social, a true legend: www.latimes.com/california/n...

Just a PSA for anyone who likes fancy coffee table books or wants to get a jump on their holiday shopping: Taschen's ruinously great annual sale is this weekend: www.taschen.com/en/books/sale/

So hard to choose a favorite from this wonderful @NewYorker feature of New Yorkers in their living rooms, but it might be this shot of Colson Whitehead on a couch that is at least 12 feet long (but could actually be much longer!). www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

A federal judge this morning ruled in a blistering opinion that Trump’s deployment of military troops to Los Angeles was illegal www.latimes.com/california/s...

California’s lightning-fast push for partisan redistricting reflects Trump’s new America (w/ David G. Savage, @melodygutierrez.bsky.social @laurajnelson.bsky.social): www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Happy tomato season to all who celebrate 🍅

I have used my free will on my first Saturday in Sacramento to try a Korean corn dog that is half mozzarella stick and also coated in hot Cheeto dust

NEW: Ratcheting up the pressure in the national fight over control of Congress, the California Legislature has approved a Nov. 4 special election in which voters will decide whether to redraw the state’s electoral lines to help Democrats. www.latimes.com/california/s...

Erik Menendez goes before the California Parole Board today. I’m in Sacramento to cover the hearing and will bring you updates as soon as it’s over. But what does the parole board consider? Who testifies? You can read our preview below: www.latimes.com/california/s...

NEWS: How Democrats plan to reshape California's congressional delegation and thwart Trump. My redistricting story with Seema Mehta -- plus an interactive map of California's proposed House districts, which would need to be approved by voters. www.latimes.com/california/s...

my mentions have started getting really weird

NEW: Sources tell me the D.A.'s office convened a grand jury in Curren Price corruption trial and tried to force his wife, who is at center of conflict allegations, to testify. Records show they even considered charging her as a co-defendant. My latest: www.latimes.com/california/s...

I guess this is as good a time as any to mention that I'll be in Sacramento for the next month, covering the redistricting sprint and the end of the legislative session. Send me your tips and restaurant recs! [email protected]

"We need to disabuse ourselves of the way things have been done," Gov. Gavin Newsom said, in announcing the redistricting campaign. "It’s not good enough to just hold hands, have a candlelight vigil and talk about the way the world should be." www.latimes.com/california/s...

I was so nice to a parking enforcement officer yesterday that he actually undid my parking ticket. I think I have finally ascended to final boss level in Los Angeles at the start of my 18th year here.

In Los Angeles, it's the summer of the burn-it-down ballot measure, with labor leaders and business groups waging a high-stakes battle over tourism wages, CEO pay, city tax cuts and other issues. w/ @suhauna.bsky.social www.latimes.com/california/s...

Wow, I think this is a first for me -- two above-the-fold bylines on the front page of today's @latimes.com.

Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis is out of the California governor’s race and will instead run for state treasurer: www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Clearly I’ve been too busy with news this week, because the what now

Thank you, @salhernandez.bsky.social, for giving me something else to worry about: some of California's wild pigs now have “neon blue, blueberry blue” tissue. www.latimes.com/california/s...

Early discussions among California politicians and strategists suggest that redrawn Congressional lines could shore up vulnerable incumbent Democrats while forcing five or six of the state’s nine Republican members into tougher reelection fights. More in our story: www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

It’s gonna be a crazy mashup for governor as candidates jostle for dollars to fill the void of Kamala Harris declining to jump into the race. Via @kevrector.bsky.social @laurajnelson.bsky.social & Seema Mehta www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Kamala Harris not running for governor of California. "At the end of the day she just didn’t feel called," said political consultant Sean Clegg, who has worked on Harris' campaigns since 2008. From @laurajnelson.bsky.social & @sherlyholmes.bsky.social & Seema Mehta www.latimes.com/california/s...

Just in: After months of speculation about her political future, former vice president Kamala Harris says she is not running for governor of California in 2026. www.latimes.com/california/s...

I cannot overemphasize how rare it is for both a) a grand jury to return no true bill and b) a reporter to get around grand jury secrecy rules to confirm it

Some *phenomenal* data journalism by Rebecca Ellis here:

Texas state legislators and Gov. Gavin Newsom (@governor.ca.gov) met in Sacramento on Friday to discuss a national political fight over electoral maps that could alter the outcome of the 2026 midterm elections: www.latimes.com/california/s...

'Hell on earth.' A Venezuelan deportee describes abuse in El Salvador prison

Kaiser Permanente is ending gender-affirming surgeries for youth

Confirming what we already knew: Zero fire trucks ever visited my block. www.latimes.com/california/s...

Bakersfield having a tough go of it here

BREAKING: California A.G. Rob Bonta will move to take control of scandal-plagued L.A. County juvenile halls www.latimes.com/california/s...

Total nightmare fuel about the decaying media landscape on public policy. Reality show stars with 2m followers using AI to spread misinformation; anonymous but verified X accounts called HustleBitch with 124k followers spreading conspiracies; fact-based media failing www.latimes.com/homeless-hou...

Will she or won't she? The California governor's race waits on Kamala Harris. My latest with Seema Mehta: www.latimes.com/politics/sto...