California Gov. Jerry Brown continues to face harsh criticism over his nomination of 38-year-old Leondra Kruger to serve on the California Supreme Court. Kruger has compiled an impressive legal career in a short time, including work at the U.S. Supreme
The European Union has removed Hamas from its list of terror groups after a court ruled that the correct paperwork had not been filed. According to a decision Wednesday, the Palestinian group, which has murdered hundreds of Israelis and Palestinians in
Comedian Bill Maher’s winter commencement address to the University of California at Berkeley this Saturday gained national attention after students asked the administration to rescind his invitation due to his strident recent criticisms of the Islamic faith. However, for all
Former Vice President Dick Cheney has defended the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and its enhanced interrogation program–what critics (and even some supporters) have called “torture.” Cheney’s defense–that what the terrorists did was worse–was a non sequitur, albeit expressing what the majority of Americans feel.
California Gov. Jerry Brown, not known for his reticence on many issues, has declined to say much about the ongoing protests against the non-indictments of police officers in several high-profile cases in which police have shot unarmed black suspects. In
Local media have been fairly diligent in recording the violence that has accompanied protests over the non-indictment of police in the deaths of unarmed black suspects. However, national media have tended to focus on the overall message of the protests,
Oprah Winfrey defended Sony chair Amy Pascal on Monday after Pascal’s racist comments about President Barack Obama were leaked to the media. “There are things that you say in your private conversations with your friends and with your colleagues that
If the irrational fear of Muslims–“Islamophobia”–is a significant problem in the wake of widespread Islamist terror attacks against non-Muslims, the evidence is somewhat lacking. As a potential terror attack and hostage crisis unfolded in Sydney, Australia, the number one trending
The emerging consensus among pundits is that the odd progressive-conservative alliance that led opposition to the $1.1 trillion “cromnibus” spending bill is a sign that the “establishment” wings of both parties will soon find common cause against their respective ideological
A law professor at the University of California Los Angeles has been forced to apologize for, and withdraw, an exam question that asked constitutional law students to draft a memo outlining the arguments for prosecuting Michael Brown’s stepfather for incitement after
I had planned to write this column about my experiences this week covering the protests in Berkeley. How a mob of self-styled radicals hijacked the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. to incite violence against police. How people claiming to
As the Washington, D.C. media focused on the fiscal maneuverings of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), whose opposition to the omnibus spending bill was thought to set up a 2016 presidential run, some are touting Gov. Jerry Brown as the real
After a fourth consecutive night of protests–this time marred by destruction of city property, including a speed limit sign–organizers in Berkeley were enthusiastic. The crowds remain large; the media remain interested; and the Berkeley City Council has been forced to
As Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and fellow Democrats trumpet the release Tuesday of the Senate Intelligence Committee report on the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)’s interrogation techniques, the senior California Senator is being called to account for her own encouragement of
Officials say that they believe Monday morning’s massive fire in downtown Los Angeles was set on purpose. The blaze, which engulfed an unfinished apartment building, and burned so hot that it melted nearby highway signs, will be investigated as soon
For the third straight evening, demonstrators took to the streets of Berkeley, California to protest the shooting by police of unarmed black suspects Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO and Eric Garner in Staten Island, NY. And for the first time
BERKELEY, California — Organizers of a demonstration against police killings told a crowd of hundreds before their march Monday evening that they should feel free to use violence if they so chose. The leaders of a group called “By Any
BERKELEY, California — Shops in downtown Berkeley boarded up windows and at least one posted an armed guard at the entrance, as the quintessential university town dug in for another night of protests and clashes. For the past several nights,
#BlackLivesMatter
Last month, President Barack Obama announced that the U.S. had reached an historic deal with China on climate change, according to which the U.S. would decrease carbon emissions more rapidly and China would stop growing its emissions 15 years from
In its last significant act, the Democrat leadership of the U.S. Senate plans to release a long-delayed report of the Intelligence Committee detailing the techniques used by the government to interrogate terror detainees in the years following the 9/11 attacks.
Members of Israel’s secular elite–including renowned authors and former diplomats–have signed a letter that encourages European parliaments to recognize a Palestinian state. The letter, which was reportedly sent to the Belgian parliament on Sunday, comes after deadly Palestinian terror attacks,
The implosion of The New Republic, pending its move to New York and re-establishment as a “digital media” company, has consumed much of the political commentariat in recent days. The change is deeply mourned by former editors and writers for
Last week on the Daily Show, host Jon Stewart claimed, incorrectly, that the San Bernadino County police department had shot and killed a black suspect out of racial animus. In response, District Attorney Michael Ramos posted a video on YouTube
Once upon a time, the civil rights movement was deeply concerned about the rights of criminal defendants. Not anymore. Today, those who say they care most about civil rights are calling for grand jury reforms that would make it easier
This week’s statewide rains have made little impact in relieving California’s extreme drought. In fact, according to a new scientific study, this drought is the worst that California has experienced in 1200 years. Researchers studying tree rings concluded that “the
Social media lit up Wednesday evening with complaints about former Hootie & the Blowfish lead singer Darius Rucker performing “White Christmas” at the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at New York City’s Rockefeller Square. Some activists had threatened to attack
Let us stipulate that the death of 43-year-old Eric Garner was horrific and never should never have happened. Given the shocking video evidence of a confrontation with New York City police in which officer Daniel Pantaleo is seen grabbing Garner from
A local district attorney has taken Comedy Central host Jon Stewart to task for his comments in the wake of the Ferguson controversy, in which Stewart implied that police killed black suspects out of racial motives. San Bernadino County D.A.
Several small demonstrations broke out Wednesday evening in San Francisco and Oakland after a grand jury in New York City decided not to indict a police officer in the death of Eric Garner during an arrest last summer. Hundreds gathered
SANTA MONICA, California — The Santa Monica City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to consider requiring warning labels on all gas pumps to advise motorists of the risks of climate change. Council member Kevin McKeown proposed to “direct staff to explore
