Politics & Government | Civic life and citizen issues in Southern California.

Well-funded Democrats target 4 GOP seats in OC

Four Orange County congressional seats are central to Democrats' effort to retake the U.S. House of Representatives. Each Republican faces several well-funded challengers. Mary Plummer and Sandra Oshiro
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Recent Politics coverage

LA's Kurdish Community Condemns Trump's Syria Troop Withdrawal

Aaron Schrank |

The Turkish military is preparing to invade Northern Syria, following President Trump’s announcement he would pull U.S. troops from the region. Critics say the policy change would mean the U.S. abandoning Kurdish allies who have been leading the fight against ISIS.

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Voters Test Drive New Balloting System At Mock Elections

Libby Denkmann |

Officials unveiled new ballot-marking machines that will be installed at vote centers throughout the county starting with the March 2020 primary election.

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State Extends Deadline To Apply To Join Redistricting Panel

Josie Huang |

In recent months, the state has been accepting applications from regular Californians to join a commission that redraws voting maps. But the applicant pool has been disproportionately white and male.

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Redistricting Panel Draws Disproportionately Male, White Applicant Pool

Josie Huang |

In California, the important task of redrawing Congressional districts every 10 years is done by a panel of regular citizens.

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READ: Robert Mueller's Opening Statement Before Congressional Hearings

Brandon Carter | NPR |

The former special counsel is set to testify before two House committees. Read his full opening statement.

Special Coverage: Mueller Testifies Before House Committees

NPR |

Listen live to former special counsel Robert Mueller testify before the House Judiciary and Intelligence Committees.

Justice Ginsburg: 'I Am Very Much Alive'

Nina Totenberg | NPR |

The Supreme Court justice sat down for an interview with NPR's Nina Totenberg and said that despite battling cancer for a third time earlier this year, she's not going anywhere any time soon.

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More Politics

Amid Furor Over Racist Tweets, White House Announces Immigration Bill

Tamara Keith and Franco Ordoñez | NPR |

The White House has been quietly working to draft a bill that aims to unite Republicans on the issue. It doesn't deal with the millions currently in the country.

North Carolina Gerrymandering Trial Could Serve As Blueprint For Other States

Jeff Tiberii | NPR |

The case has the potential to significantly alter how political maps are established in North Carolina while serving as a blueprint for legal challenges in other states.

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Congresswomen Denounce Trump Tweets Telling Them To 'Go Back' To Their Home Countries

Bobby Allyn | NPR |

Four freshman lawmakers, all minorities, targeted in a series of tweets by the president on Sunday denounced his remarks as racist and responsible for "stoking white nationalism."

Court Hears Trump's Appeal To Block House Subpoena, Shield Finances

Ryan Lucas | NPR |

A federal three-judge panel is weighing arguments for and against ordering the president's accountants to release information to a Democratic congressional committee.

Trump's 'Acting' Cabinet Grows With Acosta Departure

Arnie Seipel | NPR |

The Labor Department will be led by the third current acting cabinet secretary when Alex Acosta steps down on July 19. About a dozen major agencies are without permanent, Senate-confirmed leadership.

Progressive Activists Gather, Hoping To Seize Their Moment In 2020 Campaign

Asma Khalid | NPR |

Thousands of activists at the Netroots Nation political convention in Philadelphia are feeling emboldened because their ideas — and favored candidates — are shaping the Democratic primary race.

As Investigations Ramp Up, Trump Has Expanded White House Counsel's Office

Sean McMinn and Tamara Keith | NPR |

For the first time, President Trump is spending more on staff than Barack Obama did during his final year as president.

California First State To Offer Health Benefits To Adult Undocumented Immigrants

Bobby Allyn | NPR |

Expanding health benefits to more undocumented immigrants was praised by state Democrats, but some Republicans worried about California becoming a "magnet" for migrants in search of coverage.

Confession Exemption Bill Is Pulled After Outcry

Aaron Schrank |

Catholics said a bill that would have required priests to report child sex abuse revealed in the confessional booth violates sacred church canon.

Audio