David Lauter writes the Saturday Los Angeles Times Politics newsletter from Washington, D.C. He began writing news in Washington in 1981 and has covered Congress, the Supreme Court, the White House under Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and six U.S. presidential campaigns. He served as Washington bureau chief from 2011-20. Lauter lived in Los Angeles from 1995 to 2011, where he was The Times’ deputy Foreign editor, deputy Metro editor and then assistant managing editor responsible for California coverage.
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Trump’s election was just the latest surprise in U.S. politics. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that there will be more.
President-elect Donald Trump opened his transition back to the White House this week with a flurry of personnel announcements that sent forceful messages to major constituent groups, potential political rivals and the country at large.
With a Republican-controlled Senate, possibly the House as well, and a 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court, he now has the opportunity to shift public policy significantly to the right.
In the final days of the excruciatingly tight 2024 presidential race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, much is still in flux. Here’s what to watch for.
Kamala Harris’ politics of joy takes a backseat to warnings about Trump. She’s betting that can sway the last available voters, including ‘soft Republicans.’
Stop overanalyzing the 2024 polls!
Campaigns now turn on a small set of national issues – this year primarily the cost of living, abortion and the border.
Vice President Kamala Harris is hoping to reassure moderate voters that as president, she wouldn’t lurch radically to the left.
Harris has gained significant ground since becoming the Democratic candidate this summer. But she hasn’t closed the sale.
A shift of 2 or 3 points in the Democrat’s direction once all the latest polling is accounted for would be a significant gain.