U.S. Politics

Why Are Women Practically Nonexistent on L.A. City Council?

Of 15 City Council seats, the Valley's may soon have the sole female

Felipe Fuentes Los Angeles Council District 7 Frontrunner Secretly Switched Vote 138 Times

Now there's one more reason why former California Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes is known as the "Worst Legislator in California." More than any other lawmaker from the San Fernando Valley, Fuentes secretly switched his vote 138 times, according to an Associated Press report. Incredibly, Fuentes is con ... More >>

California Voter Guide for Nov. 6, 2012, Los Angeles Weekly

Confused about the measures and races on Tuesday's ballot? This California Voter Guide for November 6, 2012 contains a summary of all state measures and several key races. It does not take a position but does touch on controversies, polls and analysis. Proposition 30: Jerry Brown's Tax Hike Governo ... More >>

Molly Munger's Prop. 38 Is Spoiling Jerry Brown's Prop. 30. She's Not Sorry.

Her husband Steve English and the Advancement Project fuel her toughness

10 Stupidest California Bills That Legislators Are Trying to Slam Through at Final Hour

The last possible moment for California's bumbling state senators and assemblymen to nudge their pet bills onto Governor Jerry Brown's desk is this Friday, August 31 at midnight. Needless to say, the state Capitol is in a state of fluttering papers/utter mayhem right now. It's hard enough to know ... More >>

Sandow Birk's Monument to the Constitution Includes Security Cameras

By Alexis Coe In 2007, Los Angeles-based artist Sandow Birk was a research fellow at the Smithsonian Institution. He was afforded a small studio within the Archives of American Art, but Birk spent much of the eight weeks outside of the world's largest museum, engrossed in all that Washington, D.C. ... More >>

Kevin Bleyer

The Daily Show Writer Kevin Bleyer Rewrote the Constitution

A new, improved Constitution? The Daily Show writer Kevin Bleyer took on the task with his new book Me the People: One Man's Selfless Quest to Rewrite the Constitution of the United States of America. He talks with Lawrence O'Donnell at a Writers Bloc event this Friday. Here's our interview with Bl ... More >>

Assembly District 50 Results: Richard Bloom To Face Betsy Butler in November, Upsets Torie Osborn

In the hotly contested race for California Assembly District 50, Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom ran strong in a close, four-way battle that included Democratic Assemblywoman Betsy Butler, Democratic candidate Torie Osborn, and gay Republican Brad Torgan. At 2:58 a.m., with 100 percent of the tota ... More >>

Gay Republican Fred Karger Wants Your Vote, Calls Mitt Romney 'Mechanical'

Gay Republican Fred Karger, who's based in Southern California, has been stirring things up on the campaign trail this year, seeking the Republican nomination for president. The uber-underdog Karger is not going to get it -- candidate Mitt Romney will get the nod. But he's still on the ballot for Ca ... More >>

Proposition 29 Cigarette Tax

Why it may fail in liberal California

Governor Jerry Brown Can't Seem to Get the Hang of the 'Brown Act'

Without the pressure of another campaign in his future (or at least we hope not), Jerry Brown was looking like a real hero in his first few months as governor. It was the Schwarzenegger cleanse -- economy-class flights on Southwest, sensible cuts to the state S.W.A.G. budget. But in the year-and-a- ... More >>

Buscaino vs. Furutani

L.A. City Council race is about preserving lifer politicians

$100 Billion Bullet Train

Democrats fray as cost skyrockets, feds bail, and Amtrak starts to look good

Governor Brown Lifts Ban on Infused Alcohol

Caroline on CrackMartini made with Earl Grey-infused gin​ Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 32 into law yesterday, granting California bartenders the right to infuse spirits and wine products with foods, herbs, and spices, and to serve the infusions to customers in-house. The State Assembly deliv ... More >>

Marijuana Dispensaries Can be Snuffed Out by Cities Like L.A. Under New California Law

​Updated at the bottom with L.A. City Attorney Carmen Trutanich's pleased reaction. First posted at 8:01 a.m. The city of L.A. has had a hard time regulating pot shops which, some have said, outnumber Starbucks in this fair town. The City Council passed a slate of rules that basically outlaw ... More >>

Venetian Casino in Las Vegas Sues Tea Party Group for Skipping Out on $600K Bill

​Fiscal responsibility. It is the mantra of the Tea Party. One of its "core values." So it is of particular interest that the Venetian Casino Resort in Las Vegas has just sued a Tea Party group for allegedly ducking out on a more than $600,000 tab.

California Citizens Redistricting Map Shakeup: Why Disgusted Voters Took Control of Senate, Assembly and Congressional Electoral Borders

While the U.S mourned 9-11 the California State Legislature went behind closed doors to rig their elections.​By Hillel Aron and Jill Stewart Here's why California citizens today produced new, non-sleazy, non-trickster-y redistricting maps that starkly rejigger how communities are represented ... More >>

Governor Jerry Brown Failing to Sell Tax Hikes: 62% of California Voters Want a Say, But Under Half Want to Say 'Yes'

He'd have been a shoddy salesman.​Governor Jerry Brown may have appeased the California Teachers Association, one of his most generous campaign backers, for now: In his revised May 17 budget proposal, he shields K-12 schools and community colleges from the big, stern cuts that will be necessar ... More >>

Worst Legislator in California, Part II

Charles Calderon lets special interest groups ghostwrite his laws

DREAM Act Approved by California State Assembly: If Bill Can Make It Through Senate, Governor Jerry Brown Has Promised to Pass It

​At long last, a small victory for the softest of the pro-immigration bills. The California State Assembly approved the DREAM Act today by a landslide 46-25 vote -- legislation that would allow illegal immigrants who have, against all odds, earned their way into state universities, a chance to ... More >>

Jerry Brown's 2011 Budget Fix Falters as Voters Abandon His Tax Hike; Arnold Schwarzenegger Had it Easier

Governor Jerry Brown needs some Arnold applause​Jerry Brown's budget is in trouble with legislators, a new poll shows voters turning sour on it, and he may have to delay placing it on the ballot until November -- essentially allowing the California government to continue overspending by millio ... More >>

Back Story: How Jeremy Bernard Became the White House's First Openly Gay Social Secretary

Ted SoquiJeremy Bernard, left, with former partner Rufus Gifford in 2008​On February 1, 2007, political fund raiser Jeremy Bernard wasn't thinking about making history. It was his first day on the job for U.S. Senator Barack Obama's presidential campaign, and Bernard and his then-partner, R ... More >>

Jerry Brown Takes 7,500 Cars Away from State Government Pencil-Pushers as "Not Essential"

By Jill Stewart Jerry Brown insisted on using a cheap Plymouth as a young California governor.​You gotta love California Governor Jerry Brown's war on the fat that rose like yeast bread under Arnold Schwarzenegger and Gray Davis. Brown's taking away 7,500 free cars that government workers nev ... More >>

Gov.-Elect Jerry Brown Brings Gloomy Budget Forecast To UCLA

​Gov.-Elect Jerry Brown brought his traveling budget seminar to UCLA today, sharing the stark realities that await him when he takes office on Jan. 3.Brown seems to have done some thinking about how to start to solve this, but not as much as you'd like. His eyes started to glaze over a bit while C ... More >>

Fantasy Voter Fraud

Retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was dissed by Russell Pearce over Prop 200's dismissal

California Voters Support Big Government Spending -- Just Not When They Have To Pay For It

Rock & Roll LibraryWho could say no to a children's hospital?​Californians want to have their cake, eat it too, but sure as hell not pay for it after the 2010 state election, a new USC poll shows. "Twenty-million-dollar deficit BAD, health care and education GOOD!," said three of every four v ... More >>

The Weirdest Lottery of All

14 people will win the chance to un-gerrymander California

The Worst Legislator in California

San Fernando Valley Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes takes Sacramento bill-peddling to a new low

If Kamala Harris Keeps Lead ...

Victory could put her reforms at odds with new governor

California Election Results: Statewide Democrats Fend Off Republican Wave, Barack Obama Should Study Golden State for 2012

Colin Young-WolffPresident Barack Obama at USC​On a night when the Republican party took over the House of Representatives and made things tight in the U.S. Senate, Democratic President Barack Obama should study what California Democrats did right in their statewide races, fending off possibl ... More >>

Jeff Gorell Wins* California State Assembly District 37 In Election 2010, Beating His Manly Chest To The Tune Of Opponent Ferial Masry's Bitter Tears

​We're calling it: Jeff Gorell (R) of Ventura is your next representative for California State Assembly District 37. He beat opponent Ferial Masry (D) by a landslide. *OK, so we fibbed in the headline. The final results aren't in and the polls haven't closed. But thanks to sleazy incumbent f ... More >>

Barbara Boxer vs. Carly Fiorina Election Results: California U.S. Senate Race Side-Steps Anti-Incumbent Anger, Exit Polling Predicts Democrat Boxer Wins

U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer​Update, 10:13 p.m.: The New York Times is projecting that the Democratic Party will retain control of the U.S. Senate, but lose the House of Representatives. Update, 11:37 p.m.: Republican Carly Fiorina refuses to concede during a speech, saying, "This is going to ... More >>

Cameron Smyth Wins* California State Assembly District 38 In Election 2010, His Triumphant Warcry Shattering The Very Soul Of Opponent Diana Shaw

​We're calling it: Cameron Smith (R) of Santa Clarita is your next representative for California State Assembly District 38. He beat opponent Diana Shaw (D) by a landslide. *OK, so we fibbed in the headline. The final results aren't in and the polls haven't closed. But thanks to sleazy incum ... More >>

Jerry Brown Meg Whitman Election Results: Whitman Concedes

Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman​Meg Whitman just gave a concession speech over in Universal City. Her supporters booed in dismay when she said she had called "Governor-Elect Brown" to wish him well."Tonight has not worked out quite as we hoped," Whitman said. "It looks like the results are in and it i ... More >>

Grinding Justice

Operation Streamline Costs Millions, Tramples the Constitution, Treats Migrants Like Cattle, and Doesn't Work

Carly Fiorina Vs. Barbara Boxer

Running as a flat-out conservative, is Carly crazy, or crazy like a fox?

Where's Gavin Newsom? Democratic Heavyweight Willie Brown Questions San Francisco Mayor's Low-Profile Run for Lieutenant Governor

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom​San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is taking heat for running a low-profile campaign for California lieutenant governor, with former San Francisco Mayor and Democratic party insider Willie Brown questioning Newsom's tactics. "It's nice to see San Francisco Mayo ... More >>

Attorney General Candidate Steve Cooley Would 'Defend' Proposition 8

L.A. County District Attorney Steve Cooley​Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley, who's the Republican candidate for California Attorney General, would defend Proposition 8 in court if given the opportunity, says his campaign spokesman Kevin Spillane. "The role of the attorney g ... More >>

Pot Advocates Have High Hopes For Jerry Brown In Gubernatorial Race: Meg Whitman Harshes Their Mellow

​Medical marijuana advocates who want to end the practice of eliminating job candidates and firing employees who use pot with a doctor's okay have high hopes that gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown will get elected and sign a law that stops the practices. In 2008 the legislature passed a bil ... More >>

Proposition 8: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jerry Brown Oppose Stay on Gay Marriage

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger​California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown have filed briefs today that oppose a stay on U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker's decision to overturn Proposition 8, the 2008 ballot measure that took away the existing ... More >>

Dr. Keith Richman near death: respected San Fernando Valley Jewish Republican formed rare bipartisan effort to force reform in Sacramento

Los Angeles Daily NewsKeith Richman ​ UPDATED: Keith Richman died Friday night at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, according to an extensive obituary by Kevin Modesti in the Los Angeles Daily News. This post is updated throughout. Dr. Keith Richman, a fascinating mix of Jewish doctor, Repub ... More >>

Meg Whitman's Uphill Battle

She's fashionable as an outsider, but that guarantees nothing against Jerry Brown

Is Cooley Too Moderate to Win?

In the fight for attorney general, opposing prison for sock stealers is a liability

Republicans Go Bondage Clubbing In L.A. On Party Dime

RNC chairman Michael Steele.​The Republican National Committee came under fire Monday after reports revealed that it spent nearly $2,000 for entertainment at sexually charged West Hollywood club Voyeur, not to mention chairman Michael Steele's $9,099 spent at the Beverly Hills Hotel and anothe ... More >>

Obama Buddy Is Union Buster

Tyler Perry is on the outs with everyone — except Oprah and Barack

The (Yes, It's Arrived) Latino Factor: Latinos Choose Hillary...

... bum out Obama, and give a little nod to McCain

Circular Firing Squad

While Arnold grabs the center and gets props, California’s GOP bosses rush right

The Termlimitnator

Arnold renders the Republicans obsolete

Harman's Two-Front War

The veteran L.A. Democrat is under fire from her colleagues and her constituents