Valerie Richardson

Alicia Garza, BLM co-founder, awarded endowed chair at University of Hawaii

Black Lives Matter leader Alicia Garza, an increasingly influential social-justice advocate described by another co-founder as a "trained Marxist," has been selected for an endowed chair at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

September 17, 2020

Los Angeles County Rosh Hashanah coronavirus crackdown spurs backlash

After months of feuding with evangelical Christians over indoor worship services, Los Angeles County has now run afoul of observant Jews seeking to celebrate Rosh Hashanah with friends and extended family.

September 16, 2020

Joe Biden can’t count on Catholic vote as traditionalists swing to Donald Trump

Catholic voters have an opportunity in November to help elect only the second Catholic president in U.S. history in former Vice President Joseph R. Biden, but already the more devout followers are lining up behind President Trump.

September 16, 2020

Pro-China advocacy group funds project headed by Black Lives Matter’s Garza

The Black Futures Lab, a progressive initiative launched by a Black Lives Matter co-founder, lists as its financial sponsor the pro-China Chinese Progressive Association, raising questions about the extent of China's support for the increasingly powerful protest movement.

September 16, 2020

Facebook blasted for pulling ad saying Biden-backed transgender bill would ‘destroy girls’ sports’

A conservative political action committee on Wednesday blasted Facebook for removing an ad criticizing Democrats, including former Vice President Joseph R. Biden, for supporting legislation requiring schools to allow biologically male transgender athletes to compete against girls.

September 16, 2020

Jacob Gardner, White bar owner, indicted in Omaha protests shooting of James Scurlock, Black man

An Omaha grand jury indicted Tuesday a White bar owner on manslaughter and other charges in the shooting death of a Black man during a struggle amid rioting sparked by the death of George Floyd.

September 15, 2020

Kamala Harris refers to ‘Harris administration together with Joe Biden’

Sen. Kamala Harris, California Democrat, has another way of describing a Biden administration if the Democratic ticket prevails in November: "a Harris administration together with Joe Biden."

September 15, 2020

Netflix ‘Cuties’ film ‘child porn’ uproar ensnares Obamas

The growing uproar over "Cuties" threatens to engulf the Obamas as they come under pressure to use their influence at Netflix to pull the provocative French film accused of glorifying the sexualization of girls.

September 14, 2020

‘Settle for Biden’ campaign slogan catches on as Democrats seek votes of apathetic leftists

As campaign slogans go, "Settle for Biden" isn't exactly "Hope and Change," but supporters of Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden are pushing the less-than-inspiring hashtag to get unenthusiastic progressive voters to the polls.

September 14, 2020

Los Angeles deputies ambush, shooting sparks manhunt, outrage

A massive manhunt was underway Sunday for the gunman who ambushed two Los Angeles sheriff's deputies, shooting them at point-blank range as they sat in their patrol car in the wake of anti-police protests.

September 13, 2020

Ted Cruz turns down Supreme Court job offer from Trump

Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Republican, said Sunday he was honored to be included on President Trump's shortlist of potential Supreme Court nominees, but that serving as a justice is "not the desire of my heart."

September 13, 2020

Scott Gottlieb says Trump failed by health officials with faulty information

Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said Sunday that "the White House leadership was failed by health officials" early on in the novel coronavirus crisis by U.S. health officials who may have given President Trump a too-optimistic diagnosis.

September 13, 2020

Peter Strzok still believes Trump ‘compromised by the Russians’

The special counsel's investigation found no collusion between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia, but former FBI agent Peter Strzok said he still believes President Trump is "compromised by the Russians."

September 13, 2020

Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles mayor, blames climate change for fires, rejects overgrown forests charge

President Trump issued a major disaster declaration last month for the California wildfires, but Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Sunday said that if he really wanted to help, he would acknowledge climate change and embrace the Paris climate accord.

September 13, 2020

Los Angeles deputies shot; protesters block hospital, shout ‘We hope they die’

Protesters blocked the entrance to the hospital where two Los Angeles sheriff's deputies were in critical condition after being shot Saturday in an ambush, shouting, "We hope they die," according to the department.

September 13, 2020

Biden says he’s in better shape than Trump: ‘Just look at us’

Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden sought Sunday to dispel concerns about his age and health, insisting that he was in better shape than President Trump, his 2020 presidential opponent.

September 13, 2020

ActBlue donations: Half from unemployed givers, analysis finds

Nearly half of 2019 donations to ActBlue, the Democratic Party's biggest fundraising platform, were made by people who listed themselves as unemployed, raising red flags about whether the online processor is being used for foreign or otherwise illegal contributions.

September 13, 2020

Detroit Police Chief James Craig rejects protesters’ calls to resign: ‘I’m staying’

Left-wing protesters want Detroit Police Chief James Craig to join the ranks of law-enforcement leaders leaving the job in droves, but the no-nonsense chief says he's not going anywhere.

September 12, 2020

NFL ratings plunge amid Black Lives Matter messaging, competition from NBA, NHL

Initial ratings for the first game of the NFL 2020 regular season plunged amid the league's social-justice push and greater competition from other professional sports.

September 11, 2020

Grace Community Church ordered to stop holding indoor worship by Los Angeles judge

Los Angeles County won a preliminary injunction Thursday to stop Grace Community Church from holding indoor services, setting up a Sunday showdown at the evangelical megachurch.

September 10, 2020