California Politics

• Feds face skeptical judge in lawsuit to overturn California's ban on masked ICE agents - Department of Justice lawyers argued at a hearing in Los Angeles on Wednesday that the state's first-of-its-kind ban on police face coverings could unleash chaos across the country if allowed to take effect.
• California, L.A. brace for Trump's new threats to cut funds over immigration stance - President Trump repeated threats to strip federal funding over sanctuary city immigration policies, effective Feb. 1.
• Lawsuits against ICE agents would be allowed under proposed California law - A bill by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) would make it easier for people to sue federal immigration officers in state court over constitutional violations.
• California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta opts against running for governor. Again - California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta announced he will not be running for governor. Bonta last year said he decided not to run for the post, then reconsidered it after former Vice President Kamala Harris and Sen. Alex Padilla announced they wer
• Thousands gather statewide in anti-ICE protests, including hundreds in Huntington Beach - Anti-ICE protests in some 60 cities of California were largely peaceful statewide, although marked by moments of tension, anger and sporadic vandalism.
• Rep. Julia Brownley announces she will not seek reelection - Rep. Julia Brownley of Westlake Village announced Thursday she would not seek another term in Congress.
• Trump claims crime is rampant in California. Newsom counters with stats showing historic lows - Killings in Los Angeles plummeted in 2025, mirroring trends statewide. Gov. Gavin Newsom touted the latest numbers in his speech Thursday, pushing back against President Trump's insistence that crime in the state is out of control.
• Commentary: America tried something new in 2025. It's not going well - Glow up or grow up? Times columnists Anita Chabria and Mark Z. Barabak look back and assess whether 2025 was good for America or an unmitigated disaster.
• Ronald Reagan biographer, legendary California journalist Lou Cannon dies - Lou Cannon, a journalist known for his coverage of Ronald Reagan's political career, the Rodney King riots and other major news events died at 92.
• Trump administration, Congress move to cut off transgender care for children - U.S. officials are proposing new restrictions that would effective ban gender-affirming care for minors.