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.

A close up slightly low angle view of Governor Gavin Newsom, a man with light skin tone, wearing a dark blue checkered suit and unbuttoned white shirt, looking out of frame.

Newsom’s populist act: Oppose state billionaire tax, embrace federal one

Gov. Gavin Newsom opposes the California wealth tax measure and supports one nationally. But there’s another tax-the-rich measure on the state ballot.

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

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

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

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The Supreme Court lets California use its new, Democratic-friendly congressional map

The Supreme Court has cleared the way for California to use its new congressional map for this year's midterm election.
Will calls to 'abolish ICE' sway voters in 2026? The strategy has Democrats split

The Trump administration's immigration efforts have led some Democrats to call for abolishing ICE. Others won't go as far, wary of appearing out of step with voters.

Listen 3:28
Anaheim's city manager resigns amid renewed scrutiny into special interests

Jim Vanderpool has come under fire recently for his close ties to resort interests.
Trial starts over whether Huntington Beach undermines the power of Latino voters

Huntington Beach is one of a handful of cities that has chosen to fight in court against efforts to force it to adopt geographic districts for city council elections.

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A major census test faces cutbacks — with postal workers tapped to help count

The Trump administration has shrunk the number of locations for this year's field test of the 2030 census.
Newsom blasts Trump's immigration crackdown; touts California’s drug enforcement efforts

In San Diego, Gov. Gavin Newsom highlighted California’s drug enforcement efforts, while criticizing President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdowns.
LA Mayor outlines the city’s road to hosting the World Cup, Olympics in annual State of the City

Her speech also focused on fire recovery, immigration raids, affordable housing and homelessness
LA businesses are closing to protest ICE — even though it’s a financial hit

It’s not easy to lose a day of revenue, but these businesses are joining L.A.’s “ICE Out” day of action on Friday.
DOJ releases tranche of Epstein files, says it has met its legal obligations

The Department of Justice on Friday released more than 3 million pages, more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images in its files tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Feds arrest Don Lemon in LA and 3 others over Minnesota church protest

Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy awards, his attorney, Abbe Lowell, said in a statement.

Listen 3:52
California state employees alarmed by demand to prove their citizenship or work eligibility

Thousands of health department employees were told they must use the E-Verify system to keep funding. They are pushing back.
Huntington Beach's controversial voter ID law is illegal

That means the beach city's bid to require voters to show ID when casting ballots cannot be implemented.

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Civics & Democracy