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Kevin Rector
@kevrector.bsky.social
1.9K followers 110 following 230 posts
State and national politics reporter @latimes.com.
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kevrector.bsky.social
Judge blocks Trump administration move to cut $600 million in HIV funding from states

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
Judge blocks Trump administration move to cut $600 million in HIV funding from states
A federal judge granted California and other states a temporary restraining order halting the administration's health funding cuts for 14 days while the litigation continues.
www.latimes.com
February 13, 2026 at 1:46 AM
kevrector.bsky.social
California, other states sue over Trump administration’s latest cuts to HIV programs (w/ Gavin J. Quinton): www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
California, other states sue over Trump administration's latest cuts to HIV programs
California and three other states sued the Trump administration Wednesday over its plans to slash $600 million from programs designed to prevent and track the spread of HIV, including in the LGBTQ+ co...
www.latimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 2:44 AM
kevrector.bsky.social
Federal judge strikes down California mask ban on immigration agents, but it may be revived

www.latimes.com/california/s...
Federal judge strikes down California mask ban on immigration agents, but it may be revived
A federal judge on Monday struck down a new California ban on federal officers wearing masks, but an effort already is underway to revive the statute.
www.latimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 1:34 AM
kevrector.bsky.social
Schiff endorses Swalwell for California governor
www.latimes.com/california/s...
Schiff endorses Swalwell for California governor
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) has endorsed Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) for California governor.
www.latimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:21 PM
kevrector.bsky.social
ICYMI over the weekend:
kevrector.bsky.social Kevin Rector @kevrector.bsky.social · 6d
Across California, local elections administrators are running table-top exercises to prepare for once unthinkable threats — not from local rabble-rousers, remote cyberattackers or foreign adversaries, but their own federal government.

In today's @latimes.com:

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
Trump, California and the multi-front war over the next election
Local elections administrators across California say they have been preparing for once unthinkable threats to the midterms, from their own federal government.
www.latimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:29 PM
kevrector.bsky.social
Across California, local elections administrators are running table-top exercises to prepare for once unthinkable threats — not from local rabble-rousers, remote cyberattackers or foreign adversaries, but their own federal government.

In today's @latimes.com:

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
Trump, California and the multi-front war over the next election
Local elections administrators across California say they have been preparing for once unthinkable threats to the midterms, from their own federal government.
www.latimes.com
February 8, 2026 at 5:26 PM
kevrector.bsky.social
Trump, California and the multi-front war over the next election (w/ @haileybranson.bsky.social & Ana Ceballos):

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
Trump, California and the multi-front war over the next election
Local elections administrators across California say they have been preparing for once unthinkable threats to the midterms, from their own federal government.
www.latimes.com
February 8, 2026 at 2:56 PM
kevrector.bsky.social
California leaders decry Trump call to ‘nationalize’ election, say they’re ready to resist

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
California leaders decry Trump call to 'nationalize' election, say they're ready to resist
California officials say they are ready to resist should the federal government attempt to assert control over the state’s voting system, as President Trump has suggested it should.
www.latimes.com
February 4, 2026 at 8:36 PM
Reposted by Kevin Rector
wsj.com
An Abu Dhabi royal backed a secret $500 million investment in Trump’s crypto company. Months later, U.A.E. won access to tightly guarded American AI chips.
‘Spy Sheikh’ Bought Secret Stake in Trump Company
$500 million investment for 49% of World Liberty came months before U.A.E. won access to tightly guarded American AI chips.
on.wsj.com
February 1, 2026 at 4:40 AM
Reposted by Kevin Rector
jqwritesstuff.bsky.social
Trump officials have repeatedly released inaccurate information when trying to justify ICE shootings. Is it creating a credibility crisis for federal law enforcement in court?

My latest w/ @brittnymejia.bsky.social

www.latimes.com/california/s...
Trump officials have tried to justify ICE shootings. Is it backfiring in court?
The Department of Justice has lost five cases in Los Angeles against defendants accused of assaulting immigration agents, leading former government officials to warn that the Trump administration face...
www.latimes.com
January 31, 2026 at 5:00 PM
kevrector.bsky.social
New message from top Democrats: The U.S. Justice Department can’t be trusted:

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
New message from top Democrats: The U.S. Justice Department can't be trusted
Leading Democrats' remarks that the U.S. Department of Justice cannot be trusted hold stunning implications for American democracy, and followed a week of equally stunning actions by the department.
www.latimes.com
January 31, 2026 at 2:16 PM
kevrector.bsky.social
California Democrats help lead counter-offensive against Trump immigration crackdown:

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
California Democrats help lead counter-offensive against Trump immigration crackdown
Democrats seized on a growing sense, shared by some Republicans, that the campaign has gotten so out of hand that the political winds have shifted heavily in their favor.
www.latimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 1:15 AM
kevrector.bsky.social
San José Mayor Matt Mahan, a Newsom critic and political moderate, enters race for California governor:

www.latimes.com/california/s...
San José Mayor Matt Mahan, a Newsom critic and political moderate, enters race for California governor
San José Mayor Matt Mahan of announced he is running for California governor, joining an already crowded field.
www.latimes.com
January 29, 2026 at 3:22 PM
kevrector.bsky.social
Immigration agents, leaders defy best practices honed by U.S. police for half a century

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
Immigration agents, leaders defy best practices honed by U.S. police for half a century
Police leaders, civil rights advocates and other experts say the actions of immigration officials and agents run counter to law enforcement's best practices.
www.latimes.com
January 28, 2026 at 2:48 PM
kevrector.bsky.social
Is California’s proposed billionaire tax smart policy? History holds lessons

www.latimes.com/california/s...
Is California's proposed billionaire tax smart policy? History holds lessons
Critics of California's proposed billionaire tax say similar measures in Europe failed. Backers of the measure say they took lessons from those failures in drafting the California proposal.
www.latimes.com
January 26, 2026 at 2:34 PM
kevrector.bsky.social
Justice Department drops demand for records naming transgender kids treated at Children’s Hospital L.A.

www.latimes.com/california/s...
Justice Department drops demand for records naming transgender kids treated at Children's Hospital L.A.
The U.S. Department of Justice has agreed to stop seeking medical records that personally identify young patients who received gender-affirming care from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, according to ...
www.latimes.com
January 23, 2026 at 11:43 PM
kevrector.bsky.social
ICYMI:

Trump’s first-year actions sparked a fiery legal war, and stunning rebukes from judges:

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
Trump's first-year actions sparked a fiery legal war, and stunning rebukes from judges
The Trump administration in its first year has claimed sweeping executive power and tested U.S. laws. Federal judges warn that American jurisprudence and democracy are under threat.
www.latimes.com
January 20, 2026 at 7:27 PM
kevrector.bsky.social
Deploying immigration forces, troops
Threatening to take Greenland
Demolishing East Wing
Deposing Maduro
Pardoning Jan. 6ers
Berating Zelensky
Investigating opponents
Instigating tariffs
Bombing Iran
Waffling on Epstein
Targeting birthright citizenship
www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
11 stunning moves by Trump in his first year back in office
In the last year, President Trump has taken unprecedented actions, some in line with his campaign promises and others in direct conflict with them.
www.latimes.com
January 20, 2026 at 6:19 PM
kevrector.bsky.social
11 stunning moves by Trump in his first year back in office

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
11 stunning moves by Trump in his first year back in office
In the last year, President Trump has taken unprecedented actions, some in line with his campaign promises and others in direct conflict with them.
www.latimes.com
January 20, 2026 at 2:11 PM
kevrector.bsky.social
Judge dismisses DOJ lawsuit demanding California voter rolls, calling it a threat to democracy

www.latimes.com/california/s...
Judge dismisses DOJ lawsuit demanding California voter rolls, calling it a threat to democracy
A federal judge dismissed the U.S. Justice Department's lawsuit demanding California's voter rolls, calling the request 'unprecedented and illegal.'
www.latimes.com
January 16, 2026 at 3:45 AM
kevrector.bsky.social
Filmmaker who helped crack gay porn actor’s gruesome Hollywood killing wins @sxsw.com premiere:

latimes.com/california/s...
Filmmaker who helped crack gay porn actor's gruesome Hollywood killing wins SXSW premiere
A Los Angeles filmmaker who helped crack a gay porn actor's gruesome Hollywood cold case murder has since made a film about it, which has been selected to premiere at SXSW in March.
latimes.com
January 14, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Reposted by Kevin Rector
latimes.com
California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta opts against running for governor. Again
California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta opts against running for governor. Again
California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta announced he will not be running for governor. Bonta last year said he decided not to run for the post, then reconsidered it after former Vice President Kamala Harris and Sen. Alex Padilla announced they were not running.
www.latimes.com
January 12, 2026 at 5:56 AM
Reposted by Kevin Rector
latimes.com
Trump's first-year actions sparked a fiery legal war, and stunning rebukes from judges
Trump's first-year actions sparked a fiery legal war, and stunning rebukes from judges
The Trump administration in its first year has claimed sweeping executive power and tested U.S. laws. Federal judges warn that American jurisprudence and democracy are under threat.
www.latimes.com
January 11, 2026 at 1:45 PM
kevrector.bsky.social
Trump’s first-year actions sparked a fiery legal war, and stunning rebukes from judges

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
Trump's first-year actions sparked a fiery legal war, and stunning rebukes from judges
The Trump administration in its first year has claimed sweeping executive power and tested U.S. laws. Federal judges warn that American jurisprudence and democracy are under threat.
www.latimes.com
January 11, 2026 at 3:16 PM
kevrector.bsky.social
Trump casts Maduro as ‘narco-terrorist’ driving American deaths. Experts have questions

www.latimes.com/world-nation...
Trump casts Maduro as 'narco-terrorist' driving American deaths. Experts have questions
Experts on the international and U.S. drug trade questioned President Trump's claim that ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is responsible for hundreds of thousands of U.S. deaths.
www.latimes.com
January 9, 2026 at 3:02 PM