Newsletter: Today: Trump’s Directives, an El Niño Hangover and Oscar Nominations
I’m Davan Maharaj, editor-in-chief of the Los Angeles Times. Here are some story lines I don’t want you to miss today.
TOP STORIES
In Week One, the Chief Executive Uses His Pen
Donald Trump has set out to remake U.S. trade and tax policy through directives and pronouncements that include withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership proposal and cutting corporate taxes and regulations. Put on the back burner: his pledge to end protections for nearly 750,000 immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children. And there was much more in a flurry of activity — before Trump went back to claiming millions of “illegals” voted against him.
More Politics
-- An election curiosity: One little chunk of Hollywood best known for the Church of Scientology’s “Big Blue” complex went red, voting for the Republican billionaire instead of Hillary Clinton.
-- A lawsuit accuses Trump of violating the Constitution with foreign payments to his businesses.
-- To head the FCC, Trump has selected Ajit Pai, who wants to take a “weed whacker” to net neutrality.
California Gets an El Niño Hangover
After years of drought, Los Angeles is experiencing its wettest winter in years, with 14.33 inches of rain since October — more than 200% of average. Where did it all come from? Maybe a bit of an El Niño hangover and the Ridiculously Resilient Ridge. Whatever you want to call it, it’s been a perfect storm of conditions that unfortunately still has not lifted Southern California out of the drought.
Niklas Hofverberg and his daughter Bianca watch the sun set as storm clouds dissipate in Venice on Monday.
Oscar Nominations: Hollywood’s Biggest Morning
Hollywood’s eyes will be focused on one thing this morning: the Oscar nominations, scheduled to start at precisely 5:18 a.m. Pacific time. Times awards columnist Glenn Whipp is predicting a potentially record-tying haul for the musical “La La Land.” The film was a gamble for Santa Monica studio Lionsgate, but it’s already paid off handsomely at the box office. As for a repeat of the #OscarsSoWhite controversy? It seems unlikely. Get our complete coverage here.
Aetna’s Tit-for-Tat on Obamacare
A federal judge has sided with the Justice Department and blocked the proposed $34-billion merger of health insurers Aetna and Humana. As columnist Michael Hiltzik writes, there’s a big story within that story: The judge said that Aetna misled the public about its reasons for pulling out of Obamacare in nearly a dozen states. Instead of dropping out solely because of a business decision, the judge said, Aetna was trying to use it as leverage in its legal defense.
The Top of the Class Feels a Middle-Class Squeeze
Middle-class families with college-age kids are facing a squeeze in California: the prospect of a tuition increase at UC and Cal State schools, along with Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposal to phase out the state’s only scholarship program for middle-class students. For one student with a 4.66 GPA, that might mean attending community college to save on tuition.
CALIFORNIA
-- What caused the deadly Ghost Ship fire? Officials aren’t saying, but attorneys have an unexpected theory.
-- Another big payout: Los Angeles will pay $5.2 million to end a legal battle with a man whose murder conviction was tossed out.
-- Homeless people are facing a crackdown on living in cars in L.A.
-- Xavier Becerra will be sworn in as California’s attorney general today.
HOLLYWOOD AND THE ARTS
-- Katie Rich, the “Saturday Night Live” writer who mocked Barron Trump on Twitter, has been suspended.
-- Two documentaries at the Sundance Film Festival examine California’s fraught relationship with water.
-- Kristen Stewart has directed a short film about her past breakups (and maybe Robert Pattinson). In this video shot at The Times’ Sundance studio, she explains her approach.
-- For host Bryant Gumbel, HBO’s “Real Sports” is still a serious game of investigative pieces and in-depth profiles.
-- Mark Baumer, an award-winning poet who was walking barefoot across the country to raise awareness about climate change, was struck and killed by a car in Florida.
CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD
He was a not-ready-for-prime-time player who became a movie star — and then met a tragic end. John Belushi was born on this date in 1949. Here’s a look back.
NATION-WORLD
-- The Deep South is digging out after devastating storms left at least 20 dead.
-- The new government of Gambia says that dictator Yahya Jammeh’s final act after 22 years in power was to embezzle millions of dollars.
-- The key to success in the latest Syrian peace talks could be low expectations.
-- Britain’s Supreme Court ruled the government must get parliamentary approval prior to moving forward with Brexit.
-- Psychologists ask: What makes some smart people so skeptical of science?
BUSINESS
-- Banc of California is under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and its chief executive and chairman has resigned.
-- A federal judge says he is inclined to fine Pacific Gas & Electric Co. the maximum $3 million as part of its sentence in a criminal case stemming from a deadly natural gas explosion.
SPORTS
-- Tiger Woods is ready for the next chapter as his latest comeback unfolds starting this week.
-- Coach Luke Walton plans no change in direction after a “special” Los Angeles Lakers loss.
OPINION
-- What Trump means when he says, “America first.”
-- When L.A. takes to the streets, as it did during the women’s march, it defines itself as a city.
WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING
-- The pay-what-you-can restaurant concept puts a new twist on charity. (Washington Post)
-- White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer has a history of confronting … Dippin’ Dots. (NPR)
-- Exploring Titan, one of Saturn’s many moons, which has some similarities to Earth. (National Geographic)
ONLY IN CALIFORNIA
The SS Palo Alto was supposed to be a tanker in World War I, but the war to end all wars stopped before the ship could be completed — so it was refitted with a ballroom that would see the likes of Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey perform. For decades after that, the “Cement Ship” has sat off the town of Aptos and been battered by Monterey Bay’s waves. This week’s storm snapped off the Palo Alto’s stern, shown in this mesmerizing video. As Dorsey might say, there’s no use in getting sentimental over it.
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