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 child holding a folder looks towards the camera as they stand in the distance next to two adults.

California courts will begin tracking ICE arrests at their facilities

The rule being considered comes as immigration arrests rise at state courts, discouraging victims, witnesses and others from showing up, according to lawyers and advocates.

California election officials face false choice: Count votes quickly or count them right

A group of people with multiple USPS boxes filled with ballots inspect and pull from those boxes. They sit in a warehouse.

Billionaire blitz: Steyer’s $132M campaign dwarfs rivals in California governor race

Tom Steyer, a man with light skin tone, gray hair, wearing a dark blue suit, speaks into a handheld microphone as something in the foreground partially covers the frame on the right side.

Rivals target Steyer, Becerra in debate as California governor race tightens

Six people stand behind podiums in a tv studio with lights beaming on them and the background.

Senate votes to kickstart partisan funding process for ICE. Here's how that works

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Judge largely blocks Trump's executive orders ending federal support for DEI programs

A U.S. district judge granted a preliminary injunction blocking the administration from terminating or changing federal contracts they consider equity-related.
How immigrants are preparing for run-ins with ICE

Legal centers across the country are preparing immigrants without legal status for various scenarios as the Trump administration ramps up enforcement operations.

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IRS cuts more than 6,000 jobs in the middle of tax season

The layoffs at the Internal Revenue Service come as part of the Trump administration's downsizing of the overall federal workforce.

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Altadena dog-walking group reconnects as emotional support crew after Eaton Fire

About 50 people gathered Tuesday at La Cañada Presbyterian Church for the second meeting of what they call ‘The Order of the Phoenix.’
National Science Foundation fires roughly 10% of its workforce

NSF fired 168 employees, leaving the agency less equipped to fund a wide range of scientific research.
In potential showdown, aid groups demand court find USAID, State officials in contempt

Aid groups are urging a federal judge to find Trump administration officials in contempt to force them to reopen funding to global programs. USAID says it has a legal right to cancel aid contracts.
This is how Huntington Beach is using its library to spell 'MAGA'

A controversial plaque will be placed at the city’s Central Library. Look closely and you will see it spells out "M-A-G-A."
FDA staff handling drug safety for pets and livestock lost jobs in Trump firings

The fired staffers were tasked with making sure medications given to animals work well and are safe.
Politicians rise or fall on disaster response. The LA fires are Gavin Newsom’s big test

Gov. Gavin Newsom's unwavering focus on the Los Angeles fires suggests a politician aware of how the response could define his legacy.
Is Trump preparing to cancel America's ride back to the moon?

President Trump launched the Artemis program to return U.S. astronauts to the moon for the first time since Apollo. Now the plan could be a casualty of the cost-cutting drive overseen by Elon Musk.
¿Le preocupa la presencia de agentes de ICE en su comunidad? Los defensores recomiendan: 'Conozca sus derechos'

Los inmigrantes indocumentados y las familias de estatus mixto están tomando medidas para hacerse valer y prepararse ante situaciones adversas.
Funding for small businesses — a big source of jobs — at risk under Trump

Trump’s funding freeze, anti-DEI push and more could jeopardize small business job creation.

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Civics & Democracy