House Democrats gain in California, but key races undecided

Democratic congressional candidate Mike Levin, left, waves on stage alongside his wife Chrissy, right, as he speaks to supporters Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018, in Del Mar, Calif. Levin faces Republican candidate Diane Harkey in the race for California's 49th congressional district.

Marijuana policies at play on Election Day, even in Republican strongholds

The Long Beach Green Room sells various marijuana products to recreational users and medical patients on Friday, August 31, 2018. Marijuana will once again be a hot topic on Election Day, with the future of local, state and federal cannabis policies in the hands of voters Nov. 6. But this time, voters in states that typically lean Republican will be the ones weighing legalization measures at the ballot box.

Few Democrats campaigning on Russia investigation

This summer, with the midterm elections only months away, Democratic pollster Celinda Lake worried that her party was failing to capitalize politically on the investigation of Russian interference in the last presidential election. So she pitched liberal groups on a series of online surveys and focus groups.

A look at competitive House races in California

California is a state where President Donald Trump is unpopular and Democrats hold a 3.7-million voter registration edge. That combination could help propel Democrats to victory in battleground congressional districts and give the party control of the U.S. House.

House committee to release Russia probe transcripts Source: AP

The House intelligence committee voted Friday to release transcripts of more than 50 interviews it conducted as part of its now-closed investigation into Russian election interference during the 2016 presidential campaign. Among those to be released are interviews with President Donald Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, his longtime spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, and his former bodyguard Keith Schiller.

Obama Campaigns for California Dems, Including Bi Woman Katie Hill

Barack Obama came to Southern California Saturday to campaign for Democratic congressional candidates, including Katie Hill, the bisexual woman challenging homophobic incumbent Steve Knight, and Harley Rouda, a former Republican taking on another deeply anti-LGBTQ incumbent, Dana Rohrabacher. Obama spoke at a rally in Anaheim, in the traditionally conservative stronghold of Orange County.

Barack Obama in campaign-mode for Democratic congressional candidates in California

ANAHEIM, Calif.>> Barack Obama is jumping back into campaign-mode with a visit to a once-solid Republican stronghold in California, promoting Democratic congressional candidates and reminding voters of the stakes in the November elections. Former President Barack Obama talks with Caffe Paradiso owner Young Jeon during a surprise campaign stop with Illinois Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker and his running mate, state Rep. Juliana Stratton, after speaking on the University of Illinois campus in Urbana, Ill.

Republican congressman is still touting fake pro-Israel award from Sacha Baron Cohen

As part of his effort to trick conservative activists and lawmakers into embarrassing themselves on his Showtime series Who is America? , Sacha Baron Cohen presented a fake pro-Israel award to an array of political figures called "70 at 70." On behalf of a non-existent Israeli outlet called "Yerushalayim Television," Cohen's team told its unsuspecting victims they were being honored for their "significant contributions to the State of Israel." But weeks after the rouse was revealed, it appears that Rep. Scott Perry still doesn't realize he was duped.

Tech firms should be made liable for ‘fake news’ on sites:…

GOP Rep. Issa: 'Nobody's Going to be Surprised' If Trump Lied About Russia Meeting - Rep. Darrell Issa appeared on Fox News for an interview with Neil Cavuto Saturday, and trashed former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen as a "turncoat," before downplaying the potential that President Donald Trump lied GOP lawmaker: 'Nobody's going to be surprised' if Trump approved Russia meeting - on Saturday downplayed renewed scrutiny over whether President Trump - knew in advance about his son's meeting with a Russian lawyer offering dirt on Hillary Clinton Giuliani: Cohen and Trump's legal teams have severed ties - Rudy Giuliani signaled on Saturday that President Donald Trump and his legal team are severing ties to Michael Cohen, the president's longtime former personal attorney.

Giuliani says experts think ‘someone messed’ with Cohen tape

GOP Rep. Issa: 'Nobody's Going to be Surprised' If Trump Lied About Russia Meeting - Rep. Darrell Issa appeared on Fox News for an interview with Neil Cavuto Saturday, and trashed former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen as a "turncoat," before downplaying the potential that President Donald Trump lied GOP lawmaker: 'Nobody's going to be surprised' if Trump approved Russia meeting - on Saturday downplayed renewed scrutiny over whether President Trump - knew in advance about his son's meeting with a Russian lawyer offering dirt on Hillary Clinton Giuliani says experts think 'someone messed' with Cohen tape - Rudy Giuliani explains that they need to hear the raw version of the Trump, Cohen tape that's been released.

Rep. John Lewis hospitalized after falling ill on plane

GOP Rep. Issa: 'Nobody's Going to be Surprised' If Trump Lied About Russia Meeting - Rep. Darrell Issa appeared on Fox News for an interview with Neil Cavuto Saturday, and trashed former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen as a "turncoat," before downplaying the potential that President Donald Trump lied GOP lawmaker: 'Nobody's going to be surprised' if Trump approved Russia meeting - on Saturday downplayed renewed scrutiny over whether President Trump - knew in advance about his son's meeting with a Russian lawyer offering dirt on Hillary Clinton Giuliani: Cohen and Trump's legal teams have severed ties - Rudy Giuliani signaled on Saturday that President Donald Trump and his legal team are severing ties to Michael Cohen, the president's longtime former personal attorney.

Pressure to oppose new offshore oil drilling grows on GOP Congress members in Southern California

Oil rigs off the coast of Huntington Beach, which offer a home for marine life below the surface, are seen during a new eco-tour put on by IEX Helicopters out of John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, on Thursday, June 28, 2018. The Heli-Marine Expedition takes tours above Southern California coastline to search for dolphins, whales and other sea creatures.

Butina hobnobbed with Washington elites at Rockefeller heir’s…

A scion of the Rockefeller clan, George D. O'Neill Jr., was one of the U.S. conservatives who allegedly helped Russia's Maria Butina efforts to build a secret line of communication back to the Kremlin, judging by details in recent U.S. filings. O'Neill, a 68-year-old sculptor and a rainmaker for conservatives since Pat Buchanan's 1992 presidential run, hosted a private dinner in Washington for a delegation of Russian dignitaries in town for a National Prayer Breakfast in early February 2017, he has said publicly and to Bloomberg last year.

Trump Tanks His Own Putin Walk-Back During One of the ‘Worst…

Senator Calls For Hearing With U.S. Interpreter In Trump-Putin Meeting - Congress needs to know what Trump "promised Putin on our behalf," says Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. - WASHINGTON Nobody knows what President Donald Trump told Russian President Vladimir Putin in their private In his prepared remarks, Trump removed a line about bringing election hackers to justice - In preparation for a public statement meant to mitigate the damage from Monday's news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Trump brought four pages of handwritten notes to a meeting with congressional leaders.

Most California Republicans avoid criticizing Trump after summit with Putin

JULY 16: U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands during a joint press conference after their summit on July 16, 2018 in Helsinki, Finland. The two leaders met one-on-one and discussed a range of issues including the 2016 U.S Election collusion.

Comedian Sacha Baron Cohen pranks politicians

Sacha Baron Cohen has been punking people for the last 20 years in various guises, which at first blush made his Showtime series, "Who is America?," sound like just more of the same. But the provocateur has reeled in some big fish -- who have dutifully denounced him -- as marks, adding sizzle to what otherwise amounts to serving old wine in a new bottle.

Despite whiners, top two again works as planned

It happens every two years during the spring primary election season: One major party or the other feels wronged by the top-two primary system Californians adopted in 2010 and whines for months about its plight. In 2016, the griping came from Republicans whose vote splintered in the primary run for the U.S. Senate and left the eventual November runoff field to two Democrats, Kamala Harris winning the seat previously held by three-termer Barbara Boxer.