Update: The Trump administration has released an outline of options for dealing with the Colorado River’s deepening water shortages, and they could dramatically cut the amount of water available for Southern California. www.latimes.com/environment/... @latimes.com

A ‘narco-terrorism’ kingpin? Experts doubt it There’s little evidence of Trump’s claim the deposed Maduro caused hundreds of thousands of deaths Kevin Rector www.latimes.com/world-nation...

Was it a spectacular drug bust? A big, beautiful business opportunity? Both? Whatever you call Trump’s stunning military intervention in Venezuela over the weekend, one company with deep California ties stands to benefit: Chevron. Jack Dolan www.latimes.com/california/s...

After Maduro, a common refrain: The oil is ours Some express relief over their leader’s ouster, but there’s an overriding resolve that their country’s natural riches are not for outsiders Mery Mogollón and Patrick J. McDonnell www.latimes.com/world-nation...

The field may lack razzle and dazzle but not competent candidates. Voters are looking for someone to make their lives better, not serve as entertainment. By @markzbarabak.bsky.social www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

NEW: The rap on the candidates for California governor is they're a collective bore. But that says more about those spitballing about the race than the candidates running.

Voters want someone who'll get stuff done, not bread and circuses. www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Billionaire tax proposal sparks soul-searching for Californians “California politics forces together some of the richest areas of America with some of the poorest, often separated by just a freeway,” Seema Mehta and Caroline Petrow-Cohen www.latimes.com/business/sto...

Three years ago, I wrote about a failed case where the L.A. D.A.'s office brought charges largely on the word of 2020 election deniers. Now, the prosecutor behind the case is one of the top voting rights lawyers for the Trump administration. My latest: www.latimes.com/california/s...

Immigration raids linked to significant California job losses, analysis finds Suhauna Hussain www.latimes.com/california/s...

NEW: Democrats said they would autopsy the 2024 campaign while skipping past Biden and Harris, which is like trying to solve a murder without regard to weapon or motive. Still, they should release their findings. Chairman Ken Martin said they would. www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

NEW: Democrats said they would autopsy the 2024 campaign while skipping past Biden and Harris, which is like trying to solve a murder without regard to weapon or motive. Still, they should release their findings. Chairman Ken Martin said they would. www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

A tale of two Ralphs — Lauren and the supermarket — shows the reality of a K-shaped economy The wealthy browse on Rodeo Drive while struggling consumers hunt for bargains at the grocer, revealing the stark wealth divide this holiday season. Caroline Petrow-Cohen www.latimes.com/business/sto...

NEW: Is there a dumpster somewhere to torch and bury this year of bedlam? Fellow columnist @anitachabria.bsky.social and I renew our annual tradition, looking back on the year 2025 and speculating on what the New Year may bring. It only hurts when we laugh. www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

A return to a past Sierra wildfire to see the future of a recent one

NEW: Is there a dumpster somewhere to torch and bury this year of bedlam? Fellow columnist @anitachabria.bsky.social and I renew our annual tradition, looking back on the year 2025 and speculating on what the New Year may bring. It only hurts when we laugh. www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Commentary: America tried something new in 2025. It's not going well

NEW: She went to jail for Trump's Big Lie. Now he’s trying to get her sprung.  Trump meaningless “pardon” of Tina Adams will keep her behind bars, where she belongs to keep others from boarding that crazy train.  From Denver, with a nod to Dr Seuss  www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Barabak: She went to jail for Trump's Big Lie. He's trying to get her sprung

LAFD report on Palisades fire was watered down, records show Deletions and revisions in the drafts amounted to an effort to downplay the failures of city and fire department leadership. Alene Tchekmedyian and Paul Pringle scoop www.latimes.com/california/s...

NEW: She went to jail for Trump's Big Lie. Now he’s trying to get her sprung.  Trump meaningless “pardon” of Tina Adams will keep her behind bars, where she belongs to keep others from boarding that crazy train.  From Denver, with a nod to Dr Seuss  www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Trump’s reckless pardons aren’t just an abuse of power. They make a mockery of the justice system and the people his unworthies screwed over Ana Ceballos talks to some of those victims www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Legend is a word that tends to be overused, but it certainly applies to Lou Cannon. Here’s a piece I did when he “retired” at age 88, which really meant devoting more time to his autobiography. RIP www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

In a divided America, Rob Reiner was a tenacious liberal who connected with conservatives

“The thing about Brentwood is that in some ways it’s still a small town. There’s obviously a lot of celebrities that live here, but they’re all neighbors.” Brentwood is mourning the Reiners, but also having O.J. Simpson flashbacks Salvador Hernandez www.latimes.com/california/s...

The wildfires revealed the limitations of California’s water systems. When L.A.’s overtaxed systems lost pressure, fire hydrants ran dry. A year later, residents and experts are weighing solutions that would make more water available for firefighting. www.latimes.com/environment/...

When love can’t cure addiction Nick Reiner’s drug use and mental illness may look familiar to many families. Corinne Purtill www.latimes.com/science/stor...

NEW: We've had presidents who've lied about their vices, led the country into an unpopular war and overstayed their sell-buy date But none who's so clearly acted as president for their side only -- a mentality evident in Trump's cruel reaction to Rob Reiner's death www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Barabak: In disparaging Reiner, Trump shows the shriveled heart of an us-versus-them presidency

NEW: We've had presidents who've lied about their vices, led the country into an unpopular war and overstayed their sell-buy date But none who's so clearly acted as president for their side only -- a mentality evident in Trump's cruel reaction to Rob Reiner's death www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

NEW: White House Or Bust? Me and Garry South, a former campaign advisor to Gavin Newsom, discuss -- and disagree on -- his presidential prospects. www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Barabak: Is Newsom blazing a path to the White House? Running a fool's errand? Let's discuss

Will Democrats bet on California? As Harris, Newsom step up, age-old perils and promises of the state are at forefront. Seema Mehta, Dakota Smith www.latimes.com/california/s...

NEW: White House Or Bust? Me and Garry South, a former campaign advisor to Gavin Newsom, discuss -- and disagree on -- his presidential prospects. www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

The federal government provides water to some large agricultural districts at little or no charge. In a new study, researchers argue the government should end this “free or nearly free water.” www.latimes.com/environment/...

NEW: 9 ex-DOJ lawyers who resigned from antisemitism investigations into UCLA and other UC campuses say they were pressured to find UC guilty of violations in a rushed and politically motivated process. One called it a "fraudulent and sham investigation." www.latimes.com/california/s...

Homeland Security says it doesn’t detain citizens. These brave Californians -- prove it has @anitachabria.bsky.social www.latimes.com/california/s...

NEW: The U.S. Senate is a mess. Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley wants to fix it, from the inside. He's on a one-man crusade to reform the filibuster by forcing lawmakers to actually do more than lift a pinkie to stop things in their tracks. He's onto something there. www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

California wildlife officials now allow mountain lions to be killed when they eat endangered bighorn sheep, a practice that was halted nearly a decade ago. How we got here is complex, involving angry hunters and another beloved species: deer. I get into all of it in my latest: bit.ly/4s9bFOv

Big Brother is watching 👀 Justice Department leadership has directed the FBI to “compile a list of groups or entities engaged in acts that may constitute domestic terrorism” by the start of next year Ana Ceballos and Michael Wilner www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

California’s county fairs celebrate community, agriculture — and in many places, chaos. A Times investigation found theft, bribery, bid-rigging, mismanagement and crumbling fairgrounds at nearly a third of the state’s fairs. www.latimes.com/california/s...

NEW: The U.S. Senate is a mess. Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley wants to fix it, from the inside. He's on a one-man crusade to reform the filibuster by forcing lawmakers to actually do more than lift a pinkie to stop things in their tracks. He's onto something there. www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

A new report shows California’s controversial Zone Zero requirements helped save homes in the Palisades and Eaton fires — but some experts warned the insurance-backed investigation doesn’t tell the full story: www.latimes.com/environment/...

Affordability is a hoax? An offer to Trump from an 81-year-old military veteran : ‘Travel with me’ Steve Lopez www.latimes.com/california/s...

ICE has detained Afghan immigrants, including those with pending legal applications, sparking fear across immigrant communities. https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2025-12-08/after-national-guard-shooting-administration-cracks-down-on-legal-immigration?utm_medium=social&utm_source=bluesky_

NEW: I wrote a profile of Kamala Harris at a pivot point. She wants to be heard but it is not clear what she wants to say. • Her 2028 thoughts • Her texts with Gavin • The $$ in her new PAC • The calls she's been making (Zohran etc) Lots more 🎁 —> www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/u...

The Supreme Court’s conservatives sound ready to overrule Congress and give Trump more power to fire officials at independent agencies and commissions. It would be a historic shift away from bipartisan experts and toward more partisanship David G Savage www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

NEW: Elizabeth Holmes stole hundreds of millions in a phony medical device scheme. Now, without remorse, she's angling for a Trump pardon. She seems like a perfect candidate. After all, he's turned self-dealing and victimization into an art form. www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Barabak: She's a liar, swindler and cheat. So why wouldn't Trump pardon her?