Emails show California agency’s cozy ties to gas tax backers

As the political battle to overturn California's gas tax increase intensified, the state transportation agency coordinated frequently with the public affairs firm working to block the repeal on behalf of unions, construction companies and local government groups, emails obtained by The Associated Press show. The California State Transportation Agency and Sacramento-based Bicker, Castillo & Fairbanks organized news conferences and other efforts to promote legislation to raise the tax to fund road and bridge repairs, which passed the Legislature in April 2017.

Kavanaugh dispute still white-hot as California to start voting

As the partisan brawl continues to rage over Brett Kavanaugh 's Supreme Court appointment, Californians begin voting this week and continue right on through Nov. 6. Granted, the bulk of absentee and early voting probably will happen in two or three weeks, but, at the very least, voters are starting to focus more on the election. How the raw battle over Kavanaugh's confirmation and accusations that he engaged in sexual assault and misconduct will affect the eventual outcome is uncertain.

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.

Meet Young Kim, an Asian American immigrant woman running for Congress under Trump’s Republican Party

Former California Assemblywoman Young Kim, who's running for the 39th Congressional District, meets with supporters at her new campaign office in Rowland Heights. Former California Assemblywoman Young Kim, who's running for the 39th Congressional District, meets with supporters at her new campaign office in Rowland Heights.

D.C. Briefs

Committee Democrats have been clamoring for the release of the Russia investigation documents for months, but it was only in recent weeks that Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., also began to opine that the transcripts should be made public - adding that it should be done before the midterm elections. That has not resolved political tensions, however, as Republicans and Democrats on the already fractured committee argued over why the panel had omitted five interview transcripts from the release.

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.

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.

Immigrant girl hides in auto shop after escaping attendants from…

Still Standing, Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump Step Back in the Spotlight - They have waited out, and in some cases ground down, their critics, and are ready to make a more visible push for their priorities. - WASHINGTON - They disappointed climate change activists who thought Our socialist president - For three months in 1917, Leon Trotsky lived in the Bronx, just south of the congressional district where Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recently defeated a 10-term incumbent in a Democratic primary.

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.

Hearing on Russia probe devolves into shouting match

An embattled FBI agent whose anti-Trump text messages exposed the Justice Department to claims of institutional bias vigorously defended himself at an extraordinary congressional hearing that devolved into shouting matches, finger-pointing and veiled references to personal transgressions. Peter Strzok on Thursday testified publicly for the first time since being removed from special counsel Robert Mueller's team following the discovery of texts last year that were traded with an FBI lawyer in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election.

5 takeaways from FBI agent’s explosive congressional hearing

In an explosive, hourslong congressional hearing Thursday, FBI agent Peter Strzok was defiant as Republicans unleashed blistering attacks, saying his anti-Trump sentiment - captured in personal text messages - is evidence of bias at the Justice Department. Democrats threw their support behind Strzok with gusto.

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.

Democrats hope California races will propel House takeover

Democratic hopes to retake control of the House will rise or fall in California, where the party is pursuing a string of Republican-held seats in Tuesday's primary election. Democrats need to gain 23 districts nationally to take the gavel in the House, and a key part of that strategy is expanding their 39-14 advantage in the home state of Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi .

Primaries in 8 States on Tuesday: 6 Things to Keep in Mind

Eight states are casting midterm primary ballots on Tuesday, with outcomes that could help determine control of the U.S. House and Senate and decide several governor's races. Here are six things to keep in mind as primaries are being held in Alabama, California, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota: 1. California is a jungle: There are no party primaries in California, with voters instead choosing among all candidates on one ballot, with the top two vote-getters advancing to November regardless of party.