Civics & Democracy

LAist’s coverage of civic life and citizen issues in Southern California. We cover elections, examine who gets listened to and why, and provide a guide for anyone who wants to more fully participate in civic life.

Signage stands in a driveway that reads "CoreCivic" as a large white bus drives away on a highway in the background.

Trump’s new immigration strategy revealed in purchase of 2 ICE detention centers in California

The Trump administration is trying to lock down immigration detention capacity in California despite opposition from the state's Democratic leaders.

A year of ICE raids in LA County has cost Latino businesses millions in revenue — and so much more

A person on an electric scooter drives past a boarded up white and green building that still has markings indicating that it was once a car wash. Palm trees and a cloudy sky are in the background of a residential area.

Inglewood is redrawing the city map for the first time in nearly 40 years

Cars drive along a four lane surface street, past a Popeye's restaurant and Ralph's market.

Trump imposes 50% tariffs on Canadian goods

Gavin Newsom’s return-to-office rules are stricter than many states, including Texas

A large neoclassical style building with a black dome and columned pediment at dawn.

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$3.7M has been recovered from the Andrew Do taxpayer corruption scheme. What will happen to it?

The money’s recovery stems from an LAist investigation into millions of unaccounted-for public dollars.
GOP Rep. Darrell Issa to retire rather than run in redrawn San Diego district

The 12-term congressman said Friday he will not seek reelection in his new district, which was redrawn after Prop. 50 to favor Democrats.
LA commission recommends expanding City Council power over LAPD

Under the proposal, the City Council would be able to set police policy under certain circumstances.
Lopsided fundraising in Long Beach mayor’s race: No challengers report bringing in any cash

Incumbent Mayor Rex Richardson, meanwhile, has raised more than $336,000.
California’s next insurance commissioner will have ‘brutal’ balancing act

Ricardo Lara’s successor will have a full plate. Insurance premiums are rising; fire survivors are struggling; the FAIR Plan is still growing.
California, 23 other states sue Trump over new tariffs

The states argue that President Donald Trump is incorrectly using a never-before-invoked law to put these tariffs in place.
Trump fires Kristi Noem as DHS chief, names Sen. Markwayne Mullin to replace her

President Trump has fired his homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, and said Markwayne Mullin, a senator from Oklahoma, would replace her.

Listen 4:15
Why violence during immigration stops hasn't shaken an LA man's resolve to protect his neighbors

Victor Correa had been watching videos of immigration raids on social media for months, with a combined sense of fury and heartbreak.

Listen 0:44
An OC Vietnam War memorial caught up in a taxpayer fraud scandal is now being trashed

The memorial came to symbolize the corruption that forced a sitting Orange County supervisor from office — and sent him to prison for five years.
Democratic candidates for California governor defy pressure to end campaigns

Mounting pressure from party leaders to drop out before a key deadline this week.
An Orange County city wanted to help families struggling amid ICE raids. Then, it got messy

Costa Mesa allocated money last year to provide relief to families caught up in Trump's mass deportation campaign. Some are upset about how the money was spent.

Listen 0:45
Senators pressed Kristi Noem on the DHS shutdown and shootings. Here are key moments

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem testified amid a pause in funding to her agency and increased bipartisan scrutiny of her leadership.

Listen 3:50

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Civics & Democracy