Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Kevin Rector

Los Angeles Times

@latimes.com

Hard lives in California's fields: 'The American dream eats us alive'

Immigrant farmworkers toil, season after season, in jobs that most Americans wouldn't endure for a week. It's a rough life that takes a heavy toll.

www.latimes.com

November 30, 2025 at 12:15 PM

Reposted by Kevin Rector

James Queally

@jqwritesstuff.bsky.social

The White House says attacks on ICE are up 1000%

Court records in cities where federal law enforcement has been busiest tell a more complex story -- there are few serious injuries, and many allegations don't hold up in court.

Latest w/ @brittnymejia.bsky.social

www.latimes.com/california/s...

Attacks on ICE up 1,000%? Trump administration claim not backed up by court records

The Trump administration has cited a more than 1,000% increase in assaults on immigration agents to justify aggressive tactics. But court records reviewed by The Times show the majority of the alleged...

www.latimes.com

December 1, 2025 at 3:55 PM

Kevin Rector

@kevrector.bsky.social

Under California law, children as young as 12 can labor up to 40 hrs a week in agriculture when school's out.

Interviews with dozens of young workers revealed horrible conditions, miniscule pay and little oversight.

Tremendous work by @lajourno.bsky.social & team:

www.latimes.com/california/s...

California's child farmworkers: Exhausted, underpaid and toiling in toxic fields

State officials are failing to protect the health and safety of thousands of young field laborers, an investigation has found.

www.latimes.com

November 20, 2025 at 5:30 PM

Kevin Rector

@kevrector.bsky.social

California rejoins fight over Nazi-looted painting held by Spanish museum

www.latimes.com/california/s...

California rejoins fight over Nazi-looted painting held by Spanish museum

A Spanish museum is challenging California's new law designed to help a family seeking to reclaim a famous painting taken during World War II, leading Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta's office to intervene.

www.latimes.com

November 17, 2025 at 11:02 PM

Kevin Rector

@kevrector.bsky.social

A bombshell federal fraud case exploded inside Gov. Newsom’s powerful political orbit (w/ Sonja Sharp @melodygutierrez.bsky.social @jessicagarrison.bsky.social):

www.latimes.com/california/s...

A bombshell federal fraud case exploded inside Gov. Newsom's powerful political orbit

Several California political insiders were targeted in a probe by federal law enforcement, with Gov. Gavin Newsom's former chief of staff's attorney saying she was asked to wear a wire.

www.latimes.com

November 13, 2025 at 9:40 PM

Reposted by Kevin Rector

Los Angeles Times

@latimes.com

Supreme Court dismisses long-shot challenge to right to marry for same-sex couples

LGBTQ+ advocates feared the conservative court might retreat from its 2015 decision upholding right to same-sex marriage

www.latimes.com

November 10, 2025 at 4:26 PM

Reposted by Kevin Rector

Mark Z. Barabak

@markzbarabak.bsky.social

NEW: Nancy Pelosi prided herself on dispassion, detachment and cold-eyed calculation.

She knew how to count votes and read a political situation better than just about anyone.

She knew it was time.

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Commentary: Nancy Pelosi prided herself on cold calculation. She knew it was time

In her history-making career, the former House Speaker showed her capacity to read the political situation. She leaves at the right time, securing a profound legacy.

www.latimes.com

November 6, 2025 at 7:04 PM

Kevin Rector

@kevrector.bsky.social

I talked to @scottwiener.bsky.social, who is running for
@pelosi.house.gov's seat, about her not seeking reelection.

He praised her as an icon who has long delivered for San Francisco, and recalled what her early AIDS advocacy meant to him as a gay teen in the 80s.

latimes.com/politics/sto...

November 6, 2025 at 5:26 PM

Kevin Rector

@kevrector.bsky.social

BREAKING: Nancy Pelosi, the trailblazing San Francisco Democrat who leveraged decades of power in the U.S. House to become one of the most influential political leaders of her generation, will not run for reelection in 2026, she said Thursday.

STORY: www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, trailblazing Democratic leader from San Francisco, won't seek reelection

Rep. Nancy Pelosi leveraged decades of power in the U.S. House to become one of the most influential political leaders of her generation. She won't seek reelection in 2026.

www.latimes.com

November 6, 2025 at 2:03 PM

Kevin Rector

@kevrector.bsky.social

Democrats' wins hardly reflected a unified party - Mamdani challenges the party establishment as much as he does Trump - but gave many on the left optimism that Trump & MAGA aren’t unstoppable and that their ability to resist isn’t just alive & well but gaining speed

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Democratic wins nationwide, a major rebuke of Trump, offer the left hope for 2026

The cascade of Democratic victories Tuesday evoked a political hope that many on the political left hadn't felt in a while: a sense of optimism that Trump and his MAGA movement aren't unstoppable.

www.latimes.com

November 5, 2025 at 5:21 PM

Kevin Rector

@kevrector.bsky.social

Democratic wins nationwide, a major rebuke of Trump, offer left hope for 2026 (w/ @summerrlin.bsky.social):

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Democratic wins nationwide, a major rebuke of Trump, offer left hope for 2026

The cascade of Democratic victories Tuesday evoked a political hope that many on the political left hadn't felt in a while: a sense of optimism that Trump and his MAGA movement aren't unstoppable.

www.latimes.com

November 5, 2025 at 4:49 PM

Kevin Rector

@kevrector.bsky.social

Voters were deciding several high-stakes elections on Tuesday, including for NYC mayor, congressional maps in California and governor in New Jersey and Virginia, where shifting electorates could show the direction of U.S. political winds (w/ @summerrlin.bsky.social):

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Trump pushes hard against Mamdani as New Yorkers select a mayor

Voters were casting ballots in high-stakes elections Tuesday, including for mayor of New York and new congressional maps in California.

www.latimes.com

November 4, 2025 at 6:51 PM

Kevin Rector

@kevrector.bsky.social

Judges order USDA to restart SNAP funding, but hungry families won’t get immediate relief:

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Judges order USDA to restart SNAP funding, but hungry families won't get immediate relief

Two federal judges told the U.S. Department of Agriculture it must begin using contingency funds to provide food assistance, but gave the agency until Monday to decide exactly how to do so.

www.latimes.com

October 31, 2025 at 7:17 PM

Kevin Rector

@kevrector.bsky.social

News Analysis: Prop. 50 is just one part of a historically uncertain moment for American democracy

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

News Analysis: Prop. 50 is just one part of a historically uncertain moment for American democracy

Amid a swirl of high-stakes political standoffs from Sacramento to Washington, the future of U.S. politics and democracy has felt wildly uncertain of late.

www.latimes.com

October 31, 2025 at 1:39 PM

Reposted by Kevin Rector

Los Angeles Times

@latimes.com

Voters in poll side with Newsom, Democrats on Prop. 50 — a potential blow to Trump and GOP

About 60% of likely voters in California support Proposition 50, Democrats' redistricting proposal that would change the state's congressional districts.

www.latimes.com

October 30, 2025 at 2:32 PM

Kevin Rector

@kevrector.bsky.social

NEW: ‘I’m terrified’: Hunger looms as millions prepare to lose food aid amid shutdown

California and other states are suing to free funds as local officials, advocates brace for deluge of need

(w/ @jennyagold.bsky.social Ana Ceballos @rebeccaplevin.bsky.social):

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

'I'm terrified': Hunger looms as millions prepare to lose food aid amid shutdown

Federal and state officials warn that November SNAP funds will not be issued without a resolution to the ongoing federal shutdown and there is no sign of a breakthrough in Congress.

www.latimes.com

October 28, 2025 at 4:44 PM

Reposted by Kevin Rector

Los Angeles Times

@latimes.com

Federal healthcare cuts will cause millions of Californians to lose coverage, state officials say

Top California health officials warn that federal cuts will be a devastating blow to public health, even as the state seeks to mitigate the damage.

www.latimes.com

October 28, 2025 at 11:45 AM

Reposted by Kevin Rector

Los Angeles Times

@latimes.com

Newsom, Harris both considering runs for president in 2028

Gov. Gavin Newsom says he’s considering a run for president in 2028 — a day after former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris made the same pronouncement.

www.latimes.com

October 26, 2025 at 6:40 PM

Kevin Rector

@kevrector.bsky.social

Federal immigration enforcement surge is now paused in East Bay too, Oakland mayor says

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Federal immigration enforcement surge is now paused in East Bay too, Oakland mayor says

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee said Friday that a planned increase in federal immigration enforcement was on pause throughout the Bay Area, not just in San Francisco.

www.latimes.com

October 24, 2025 at 9:21 PM

Kevin Rector

@kevrector.bsky.social

Justice Department says it will monitor California poll sites amid Prop 50 voting (w/ @missdakotasmith.bsky.social):

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Justice Department says it will monitor California poll sites amid Prop 50 voting

The U.S. Justice Department said it was asked to monitor polling sites in California in November by state GOP officials.

www.latimes.com

October 24, 2025 at 4:36 PM

Kevin Rector

@kevrector.bsky.social

“We know that they’re baiting Oakland, and that’s why San Francisco, all of a sudden, is off the table," said Alameda County's DA.

“We know that their expectation is that Oakland is going to do something to cause them to make us the example.”

www.latimes.com/california/s...

Trump calls off San Francisco 'surge,' but East Bay braces for action as protests erupt

President Trump called off a planned "surge" of federal forces to San Francisco, but officials in the East Bay said they were still gearing up for major immigration enforcement operations in their cit...

www.latimes.com

October 23, 2025 at 10:36 PM

Kevin Rector

@kevrector.bsky.social

Trump calls off San Francisco ‘surge,’ but East Bay braces for action as protests erupt (w/ @jessicagarrison.bsky.social):

www.latimes.com/california/s...

Trump calls off San Francisco 'surge,' but East Bay braces for action as protests erupt

President Trump called off a planned "surge" of federal forces to San Francisco, but officials in the East Bay said they were still gearing up for major immigration enforcement operations in their cit...

www.latimes.com

October 23, 2025 at 9:43 PM

Kevin Rector

@kevrector.bsky.social

In recent years, a long-simmering reckoning over generational power has exploded into the political forefront as members of the Democratic Party’s old guard have increasingly been accused of holding on too long, and to their party’s detriment.

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...