Kevin Rector

Bonta says millions spent, but billions saved, in California's legal war with Trump California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta said Monday that his office has spent more than $5 million fighting the Trump administration in court over the last six months, but saved the state nearly $170 billion.

Bonta says millions spent, but billions saved, in California’s legal war with Trump:

www.latimes.com/california/s...

'No obvious frontrunner.' Why Harris' exit has scrambled the race for California governor With Kamala Harris out of the California governor's race, other candidates are jockeying to be seen as the new front runner. Some analysts said that's "ludicrous," and that no one stands out yet.

It’s gonna be a crazy mashup for governor as candidates jostle for dollars to fill the void of Kamala Harris declining to jump into the race.

Via @kevrector.bsky.social @laurajnelson.bsky.social & Seema Mehta

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

California, other states sue Trump over order threatening gender-affirming care providers California and other liberal-led states sued the Trump administration Friday over efforts to end gender-affirming care nationwide.

Breaking: California, other states sue Trump over order threatening gender-affirming care providers:

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Harris tells Colbert, in first interview out of office, that the U.S. system is 'broken' Former Vice President Kamala Harris told Stephen Colbert on "The Late Show" Thursday that she decided not to run for California governor because she believes the American system is "broken."

Harris tells Colbert, in first interview out of office, that the U.S. system is ‘broken’:

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Run for president? Start a podcast? Tackle AI? Kamala Harris' options are wide open At 60, Kamala Harris has a lot of opportunities ahead of her. Which will she pursue?

Run for president? Start a podcast? Tackle AI? Kamala Harris’ options are wide open (w/ @sherlyholmes.bsky.social):

www.latimes.com/california/s...

Breaking:

California's top prosecutor floats pathway to boost Democrats in Congress California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta said Tuesday that he believes he has found a sound legal strategy to ask voters to tear up congressional boundaries created by the state’s independent redistricting com...

California’s top prosecutor floats pathway to boost Democrats in Congress

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

California, other states sue Trump administration over bill defunding Planned Parenthood California and other liberal-led states sued the Trump administration Tuesday over a measure aimed at defunding Planned Parenthood clinics nationwide.

California, other states sue Trump administration over bill defunding Planned Parenthood:

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

California, other states sue over USDA demand for SNAP recipients' data In announcing the states’ lawsuit, California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta said the 'unprecedented' demand 'violates all kinds of state and federal privacy laws' and 'further breaks the trust between the fede...

California, other states sue over USDA demand for SNAP recipients’ data

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Essayli upended U.S. attorney's office by pushing Trump agenda. Will he stay on top? Despite strong backing from top Trump officials, interim U.S. Atty. Bill Essayli's path to permanent appointment is unclear, as his critics ramp up their opposition.

Essayli upended U.S. attorney’s office by pushing Trump agenda. Will he stay on top? (w/ @brittnymejia.bsky.social @jqwritesstuff.bsky.social):

www.latimes.com/california/s...

The Trump Administration has used odd legal moves to keep its desired U.S. attorneys in place without following normal confirmation processes in N.Y. and N.J. Is L.A. next? We take a long look at @USAttyEssayli time in office so far.

Essayli upended U.S. attorney's office by pushing Trump agenda. Will he stay on top? Despite strong backing from top Trump officials, interim U.S. Atty. Bill Essayli's path to permanent appointment is unclear, as his critics ramp up their opposition.

Essayli upended U.S. attorney’s office by pushing Trump agenda. Will he stay on top? (w/ @brittnymejia.bsky.social @jqwritesstuff.bsky.social):

www.latimes.com/california/s...

Thank you to all the queer people - experts, advocates, trans folks & especially trans and nonbinary kids and their families - who have made our coverage possible by sharing their stories, and to @latimes.com leaders for fully backing us along the way.

It means the world.

10/10 🧵

Our Queerest Century: A series on LGBTQ+ people’s inerasable contributions With queer lives under threat, Our Queerest Century highlights the contributions of LGBTQ+ people since the 1924 founding of the nation's first gay rights organization.

.@nlgjaofficial.bsky.social's recognition confirms something my fellow project lead, the incomparable Maria La Ganga, & I discussed as OQC came together: @latimes.com and its talented queer/allied staff are uniquely positioned in this moment to tell queer stories.

9/

latimes.com/ourqueerestcentury

And, while not part of the OQC project, @bokchoy-baobei.bsky.social also won - for Excellence in Transgender Coverage - for their great (and fun!) @latimes.com piece on T-boy wrestling.

8/

www.latimes.com/lifestyle/st...

Our Queerest Century: A series on LGBTQ+ people’s inerasable contributions With queer lives under threat, Our Queerest Century highlights the contributions of LGBTQ+ people since the 1924 founding of the nation's first gay rights organization.

Led by the amazing Patrick Hruby - along w/ @mkmetivier.bsky.social Ross May, Allison Hong, @jimcooke.bsky.social and Taylor Le - the project was visually stunning, full of artwork from queer illustrators. The team won for Excellence in Packaging, Print or Online.

7/

latimes.com/ourqueerestcentury

America is again stuck in darkness. Queer people of color have always known the way out People who exist at the nexus of multiple movements for liberation are the ones who drive us forward, treating the struggle for equality with urgency.

My colleague @erika-d-smith.bsky.social wrote a powerful (and personal) essay delving into the history, wisdom and profound contributions of queer people of color. Her essay won for Excellence in QPOC Coverage.

6/

www.latimes.com/california/s...

We must remember the heroes of the AIDS epidemic, not just the trauma Our columnist honors the heroes of the AIDS epidemic and the role their legacy has played in his own life.

My colleague @lzgranderson.bsky.social showed amazing courage and vulnerability in one of the most powerful pieces I've ever read about honoring the heroes of the AIDS epidemic. His essay won for Excellence in HIV/AIDS Coverage.

5/

www.latimes.com/california/s...

Our Queerest Century: A series on LGBTQ+ people’s inerasable contributions With queer lives under threat, Our Queerest Century highlights the contributions of LGBTQ+ people since the 1924 founding of the nation's first gay rights organization.

We conducted a national poll, our news coverage of which - w/
@haileybranson.bsky.social, Matt Hamilton & @jaweedkaleem.bsky.social - won the @nlgjaofficial.bsky.social Excellence in Newswriting Award.

4/

latimes.com/ourqueerestcentury

Our Queerest Century: A series on LGBTQ+ people’s inerasable contributions With queer lives under threat, Our Queerest Century highlights the contributions of LGBTQ+ people since the 1924 founding of the nation's first gay rights organization.

"Our Queerest Century" arose from a real and terrifying question of our time: What would it mean if LGBTQ+ folks are erased?

The answer is we would lose an astonishing amount, as we set out in detailed reporting, personal essays, stunning art & more.

3/

latimes.com/ourqueerestcentury

I'm especially grateful for @nlgjaofficial.bsky.social's work and recognition given the moment politically, when covering LGBTQ+ issues is so important.

Congratulations to all the winners, who are doing absolutely critical journalism under intense pressure.

2/

www.nlgja.org/blog/2025/07...

L.A. Times Receives Multiple Honors in NLGJA Excellence in Journalism Awards Contest Among the awards, Times staff writer Kevin Rector was named Journalist of the Year

WOW! I'm so deeply honored to be named @nlgjaofficial.bsky.social "Journalist of the Year" and so incredibly PROUD of my @latimes.com colleagues for winning 5 more awards (‼️) for their coverage of LGBTQ+ issues in 2024, incl in our "Our Queerest Century" project.

🧵

www.latimes.com/about/pressr...

End of transgender care at Children's Hospital L.A. signals nationwide shift under Trump Under federal pressure, Children’s Hospital L.A. ended care for transgender patients, despite state legislation designed to guarantee care for trans youths.

End of transgender care at Children's Hospital L.A. signals nationwide shift under Trump

California sues Trump for blocking undocumented immigrants from 'public benefit' programs The Trump administration barred undocumented immigrants from Head Start and other federal benefit programs — a move California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta called 'cruel.'

California sues Trump for blocking undocumented immigrants from ‘public benefit’ programs

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

After six months under Trump, California and L.A. are battlegrounds. Who benefits? The Trump administration has repeatedly centered its policy battles in California, including on immigration and transgender rights, gun permitting rules, environmental regulations and agricultural pol...

The legal antagonism has cut in the opposite direction, as well, with California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta’s office having sued the Trump administration more than 30 times in the last six months over a range of issues.

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

After six months under Trump, California and L.A. are battlegrounds. Who benefits? The Trump administration has repeatedly centered its policy battles in California, including on immigration and transgender rights, gun permitting rules, environmental regulations and agricultural pol...

The antagonism is not entirely surprising, having been a feature of Trump’s first term and his recent campaign. And yet, the breadth and pace of the attacks, aided by Congress and the Supreme Court, have stunned many — pleasing some, infuriating others.

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

After six months under Trump, California and L.A. are battlegrounds. Who benefits? The Trump administration has repeatedly centered its policy battles in California, including on immigration and transgender rights, gun permitting rules, environmental regulations and agricultural pol...

Six months into Trump’s second term, his predilection for picking on California has never been on fuller display, turning the state broadly and Los Angeles specifically into key battlegrounds for his right-wing agenda.

My @latimes.com look at the stunning stretch: www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

We have been in touch with Andry Hernández Romero’s legal team and are grateful he is alive and are engaged with both the State Department and his team.

Rep. Garcia of Long Beach asks RFK Jr. to explain targeting of HIV/AIDS funding for cuts In a letter, the Long Beach Democrat asked Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to produce documents around cuts to HIV/AIDS funding under the Trump administration.

It's the latest attempt by Dems, health experts & LGBTQ+ orgs to challenge what they see as an inexplicable yet coordinated effort by the Trump admin to dismantle initiatives aimed at controlling & ending one of the most devastating epidemics in history.

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Justice Department requests lists of all noncitizen inmates being held in California jails The U.S. Justice Department asked California counties to provide lists of all non-U.S. citizen inmates in their jails, ratcheting up the Trump administration's challenge to sanctuary policies.

Justice Department requests lists of all noncitizen inmates being held in California jails (w/ Connor Sheets):

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...