Fears of an AI Breakthrough Force the U.S. and China to Talk
The Trump administration is reviving talks with China to create an emergency communication channel on artificial intelligence after Anthropic unveiled its powerful Mythos model, which officials deem a potential cyber‑weapon. Earlier high‑level AI talks in 2021 faltered, but the two nations did agree in 2022 to keep AI out of nuclear command and control. The United States now leads the AI funding race, with firms valued around $800 billion versus roughly $20 billion for Chinese counterparts, while their strategic approaches diverge sharply. Experts warn that without coordinated governance, the AI arms race could destabilize finance, cyber security, and military domains.
Trump Administration Supports L.A. Wildfire Victims Suing State Farm
The U.S. Justice Department filed a brief backing 60 Los Angeles wildfire victims who sued State Farm and other insurers for allegedly colluding to push policyholders onto California’s costly FAIR Plan. The brief attacks the insurers’ defense that they are...
An AI Bubble? Not so, Says This Leading Money Manager
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink told the Milken Institute conference that fears of an AI bubble are misplaced, emphasizing a trillion‑dollar investment need for chips, energy and data‑center hardware. With $14 trillion under management, BlackRock is deepening stakes in hyperscalers such as...
'The Devil Wears Prada 2' Steps Out to $77 Million at the Box Office
The Devil Wears Prada 2 opened with a $77 million domestic debut, bringing its worldwide total to $233.6 million—about 72 % of the original’s earnings. Women comprised 71 % of the opening‑week audience, underscoring their box‑office clout. The sequel, made on a $100 million budget, earned a 77 %...
Your Guide to the California Insurance Commissioner's Race: Who Will Replace Ricardo Lara?
The California insurance commissioner race, triggered by the devastating January 2025 wildfires that razed over 16,000 homes, centers almost entirely on home‑insurance reform. Seven Democrats and several Republicans are vying for the post, each offering distinct solutions—from Ben Allen’s low‑interest loan...
Foreign Investment in California Rose Last Year Despite Trade Disruption
Foreign investment in California rose 4% last year, reaching 19,717 foreign‑owned enterprises and supporting 847,245 jobs, according to the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. The growth was driven primarily by tech sectors such as AI, aerospace, defense and life...
While California's Tourism Rallied, L.A. Faced Its Worst Year Since the Pandemic
Los Angeles saw its first tourism contraction since the pandemic, with direct travel spending slipping 0.1 % in 2025 after a decade of near‑3 % annual growth. International air arrivals dropped over 30 % between August and November 2025, and visitor air spending fell...
Hiltzik: A Judge Labels RFK Jr.'s Attack on Transgender Care 'Unlawful' And an Act of 'Cruelty'
Federal Judge Mustafa T. Kasubhai in Oregon struck down Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s December 18 declaration that threatened to cut Medicaid and Medicare funding for hospitals offering gender‑affirming care to minors. The decision, part of a lawsuit filed by 19...
Apple's Next Era: After Tim Cook's Dream Run, New CEO Has to Help the Company Catch Up
Apple will hand the CEO reins to hardware chief John Ternus on Sept. 1, 2026, ending Tim Cook’s 15‑year tenure. Under Cook, Apple’s market value surged from about $350 billion to $4 trillion and revenue topped $416 billion in 2025, supported by 2.5 billion active...
Controversial Hotel and Housing Complex Approved in West Hollywood
West Hollywood’s City Council approved the Bond Hotel & Residences, a mixed‑use development at 7811 Santa Monica Boulevard that will house a 45‑room hotel and a four‑story apartment building with 126 units, including 20 affordable units. The vote came after...
Netflix Plans to Buy Historic Radford Studio Center
Netflix is in advanced talks to acquire the historic Radford Studio Center in Studio City for a price between $330 million and $400 million. The deal comes after the lot’s former operator, Hackman Capital Partners, defaulted on a $1.1 billion mortgage, prompting Goldman...
Amazon Pressured Levi's, Other Retailers to Hike Prices, California A.G. Says
California Attorney General Rob Bonta alleges Amazon pressured Levi Strauss and other vendors to force competitors like Walmart to raise prices on items such as Levi’s Easy Khaki Classic pants. The filing outlines three schemes: using vendors as intermediaries to...
Hiltzik: Trump Wants You to Invest Your 401(k) in Crypto and Private Equity. Should You Bite?
President Trump, backed by Labor Secretary Lori Chavez‑DeRemer, is pushing a rule that would give employers a safe‑harbor to add crypto and private‑equity funds to 401(k) menus. The proposal frames the change as a cure for "regulatory overreach" and a...
Meta, Oracle and Qualcomm Share Details on Layoffs Across California
Meta Platforms, Oracle and Qualcomm disclosed mass layoffs affecting hundreds of California employees as they accelerate artificial‑intelligence initiatives and tighten costs. Oracle eliminated more than 700 roles across Santa Monica, Redwood City, Pleasanton and Santa Clara, while Meta cut roughly...
Hiltzik: Exploring the Moon While Cutting NASA? Why Trump's 2027 Budget Misfires
The Trump administration’s 2027‑28 budget proposal earmarks $1.5 trillion for defense—a 42% increase and the highest level in U.S. history—while slashing non‑defense spending by $73 billion. NASA’s overall budget would be cut by $5.6 billion (23%) and its science division by $34 billion (47%),...
Mattel Goes Through Another Round of Layoffs
Mattel announced a second wave of layoffs this year, cutting 65 employees at its El Segundo headquarters, adding to 120 jobs eliminated a year earlier and 89 in January. The reductions are part of a broader restructuring toward a brand‑centric operating...
If SoCal Hotels, Stadiums Host ICE Agents, Employees Can Miss Work, Union Says as World Cup Nears
Unite Here Local 11 has warned Southern California hotels and stadiums that hosting ICE agents ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup creates unsafe conditions for hospitality workers. The union cites recent violent incidents, including the Minneapolis killings and an...
SoCal's Defense Startups Secure Vital Funding Boost
Congress passed the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act, restoring SBIR and STTR funding for defense startups and extending the programs through 2031. The legislation ends a months‑long funding impasse that left the SBA's $4 billion seed pool exhausted, unlocking...
Edison Executive Pay Soars Despite Devastating Eaton Fire
Edison International increased top‑executive compensation in 2025 despite the company’s role in the deadly Eaton wildfire. CEO Pedro Pizarro’s total pay rose 20% to $16.6 million and President Steven Powell’s jumped 65% to $6.5 million, even though cash bonuses were trimmed. The...
Ross Opens New Stores in Southern California
Ross Stores Inc. opened two new discount locations in Southern California—a second Ross Dress for Less in Alhambra and a dd’s Discounts in North Hollywood. The openings kick off the retailer’s 2026 rollout plan to add roughly 85 Ross stores and...
Hiltzik: U.S Stocks Rose in 2025, but Thanks to Trump, Foreign Stocks Did Much Better
U.S. equities posted a solid 17.9% gain in 2025, but the MSCI World ex‑USA index surged over 32%, outpacing the S&P 500 by nearly double. The United States slipped to 21st place among 23 developed markets, while Austria and Spain...
County Prosecutors Probing Whether Edison Should Be Criminally Charged for Eaton Fire
Los Angeles County prosecutors are examining whether Southern California Edison (SCE) bears criminal responsibility for the Eaton wildfire that killed 19 people and razed much of Altadena. Edison’s CEO cited a century‑old, idle transmission line that may have re‑energized and...
How Chipotle Lost Its Sizzle
Chipotle Mexican Grill reported its worst year on record, with same‑store sales slipping 2% in 2025 after a 7.4% gain the prior year. Net income held steady at $1.5 billion, while the stock fell 37% over the past twelve months. The...