Julia Wick | (TNS) Los Angeles Times As California politicos look ahead to 2025, the biggest question looming is whether Vice President Kamala Harris — a native daughter, battered just weeks ago by presidential election defeat — will enter the 2026 California governor’s race. Related Articles National Politics | Trump taps immigration hard-liner Kari Lake as head of Voice of America National Politics | Trump invites China’s Xi to his inauguration even as he threatens massive tariffs on Beijing National Politics | Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump National Politics | What Americans think about Hegseth, Gabbard and key Trump Cabinet picks AP-NORC poll National Politics | Trump is named Time’s Person of the Year and rings the New York Stock Exchange’s opening bell Harris has yet to give any public indication on her thoughts and those close to her suggest the governorship is not immediately top of mind. But if Harris does ultimately run — and that’s a massive if — her entrée would seismically reshape the already crowded race for California’s highest office. Recent polling suggests Harris would have a major advantage, with 46% of likely voters saying they were somewhat or very likely to support her for governor in 2026, according to a UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies survey co-sponsored by The Times. “If Vice President Harris were to choose to run, I am certain that that would have a near field-clearing effect on the Democratic side,” Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, said during a recent UC Irvine panel interview . Porter, a high-profile Democrat who has been eyeing the wide-open governor’s race, has yet to say whether she plans to run. Porter’s point was broadly echoed in conversations with nearly a dozen California political operatives and strategists, several of whom requested anonymity to speak candidly. Most speculated that a Harris entry would cause some other candidates in the race to scatter, creating further upheaval in down-ballot races as a roster of ambitious politicians scramble for other opportunities. “In politics, you always let the big dogs eat first,” quipped Democratic political consultant Peter Ragone. The current gubernatorial field is a who’s who of California politicians, but lacks a clear favorite or star with widespread name recognition. The vast majority of California’s 22 million voters have yet to pay attention to the race and have little familiarity with the candidates. The list of Democratic candidates includes Los Angeles’ first Latino mayor in more than a century ( Antonio Villaraigosa ); the first female and first out LGBTQ leader of the state Senate ( Toni Atkins ); the sitting lieutenant governor and first woman to hold that post ( Eleni Kounalakis ); the state superintendent of public instruction ( Tony Thurmond ) and the former state controller ( Betty Yee ). Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is serving his second term as California governor, meaning he is ineligible to run again. Several other Democrats, including Porter, outgoing Health and Human Services Director Xavier Becerra and state Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta have also publicly toyed with the idea of a run. They could be less likely to enter the fray should Harris decide to run. What the billionaire mall mogul Rick Caruso — who has also been exploring a run — would choose to do is an open question, as Caruso might contrast himself with Harris as a more centrist candidate. The real estate developer was a registered Republican until November 2019. It’s unlikely that Harris will proffer a public decision in the immediate term, leaving plenty of time for political insiders to game out hypotheticals in the weeks and months to come. Harris’ office did not respond to a request for comment. “I think every candidate for governor is trying to get some kind of intel,” Mike Trujillo, a Los Angeles-based Democratic political consultant and former Villaraigosa staffer, said of a potential Harris run. Trujillo speculated that Harris’ current state was probably similar to Hillary Clinton’s hiking sojourns in the Chappaqua woods after losing to Donald Trump in 2016, or Al Gore growing a beard in the bruising aftermath of his 2000 defeat. “The first thing she’s probably thinking about is, ‘Well, can I run again for president in four years?’ Not, ‘Do I run for governor in two years?’” said one political operative who’s worked with Harris in the past. Harris maintains a home in Brentwood and previously served as California’s senator and attorney general. A successful run for governor in 2026 would almost certainly impede a grab for the presidency in 2028. (Though if history is any guide, an unsuccessful run for California governor does not definitively preclude a bid for the Oval Office: Two years after losing the White House to John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon lost the 1962 contest for governor to Pat Brown . The Yorba Linda native became the nation’s 37th president in 1969.) As the chief executive of a state that doubles as the world’s fifth-largest economy, Harris would have more power to steer policy and make changes as a California governor than she did as vice president, where her job required deference to President Biden. But leading a state, even the nation’s most populous, could feel like small potatoes after being a heartbeat (and a few dozen electoral votes) from the presidency. The protracted slog to November 2026 would also be a stark contrast to her ill-fated 107-day sprint toward the White House, particularly for a candidate whose 2020 presidential primary campaign was dogged by allegations of infighting and mismanagement. “I don’t think Kamala Harris has a deep psychological need to be governor of California, or to be in elective office in order to feel like she can contribute to society,” said the operative who’s worked with Harris in the past. “I think some of these people do, but she’s somebody who has enough prominence that she could do a lot of big, wonderful things without having to worry about balancing California’s budget or negotiating with Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel,” the Encino Democrat who chairs the Assembly’s budget committee. Technically, Harris has until March 2026 to decide whether she enters a race. But political strategists who spoke to The Times theorized that she probably would make a move by late spring, if she chooses to do so. “People will be more annoyed if she drops in in June,” a Democratic strategist involved with one of the gubernatorial campaigns said. Sending a clear signal by February would be more “courteous,” the strategist continued, explaining that such a move would give candidates more time to potentially enter other races. Kounalakis is a longtime friend and ally of Harris’ , and the vice president also has long-term relationships with some of the other candidates and potential candidates. California has eight statewide elected offices and campaign finance laws allow candidates to fundraise interchangeably for them, meaning money already raised for a candidate’s gubernatorial campaign could easily be redirected should they decide to run for, say, lieutenant governor instead. There are already a number of candidates running for lieutenant governor, including former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, former state Sen. Steven Bradford and former state Treasurer Fiona Ma. But that office probably would see even more interest should Harris enter the gubernatorial race. It’s a largely ceremonial position, but one that has served as a launching pad for the governorship. Still, even if Harris does enter the race, Republican political strategist Mike Murphy threw cold water on the idea that she would have an automatic glide path to the governor’s office. “It’s like Hollywood. Nobody knows anything. She’s famous enough to look credible in early polling. That’s all we know for sure,” Murphy said. “Does that predict the future? No. Are there a lot of downsides (to a potential Harris candidacy)? Totally, yes.” ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.After a successful 10th presale stage sellout Rexas Finance is getting attention from investors wanting to participate in Stage 11. Currently priced at $0.175, this Dogecoin and XRP rival is projected to explode, potentially turning a $1,000 investment into $1 Million by 2026. The RWA altcoin has raised over $33.4 million, with Stage 11 of the presale progressing. At $0.175, the token price marks a nearly 6x increase from its initial presale price of $0.03. While Dogecoin (DOGE) remains strong for its community appeal and Ripple (XRP) stands out in cross-border payments, Rexas Finance offers a fresh opportunity with its innovative real-world asset tokenization platform. Dogecoin Bullish Momentum Over the past week, DOGE has experienced a good upward trend, rising by 15.6%. This recent momentum highlights Dogecoin's strong potential, presenting an appealing opportunity for investment. 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Read more here.Will Kamala Harris run for California governor in 2026? The question is already swirlingEmployers should prepare for sickest month of the year, says HR software firm Employers should be clear about sick day policies and encourage flu vaccinations, says BrightHR Adam Campbell Dec 12, 2024 12:04 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message For 2023-24, a Statistics Canada survey revealed only 42 per cent of respondents received a flu vaccination, one per cent less than last year Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash Listen to this article 00:02:44 Employers should have clear sick-day policies and encourage vaccinations to prevent impacts to productivity and bottom lines, according to human resources software company BrightHR. The company, which monitors more than 7,000 companies and 65,000 employees in Canada, revealed in a Nov. 22 release that 34 per cent of all sickness absences from the flu or colds typically occur between November and January. December is the third “sickest” month of the year, followed by November in second and January in first. Industries heavily reliant on temporary contractors or shift work could be impacted the most by absences this year, BrightHR chief international growth and marketing officer Thea Watson told BIV . She said sectors like education, retail and hospitality could be left with fewer people to do their jobs, which can increase burnout for other employees. For flu-related absences, November and December 2023 tied in second place with the most sick days – each at 131 per cent above last year’s monthly average, according to data from BrightHR. A spokeswoman for BrightHR did not provide BIV with this year's data by publication time. However, Watson says employers can take action and minimize impacts. “One of the first things they [companies] can do is ensure that they're communicating their policies,” she said. This includes being clear about sick days and remote work policies. Flu absences have continued to become more frequent across the country, said Watson, adding this has significant effects on worker productivity and business costs. “It takes anywhere from two to five minutes to process any sick leave,” she said. “You could be spending thousands [of dollars] on just processing sick leave ... depending on your business size.” BrightHR CEO Alan Price said in the release encouraging employers to stay home if they’re feeling unwell could prevent losing other workers to sickness. However, encouragement should also be given for flu vaccinations. Flu vaccinations for adults 18 and older have slightly decreased over the past year, from 43 per cent in 2022-23 to 42 per cent in 2023-24, according to Statistics Canada’s vaccination coverage survey . Among respondents, the most common reason for not getting the flu shot was thinking the vaccine was not needed (31 per cent), with 15 per cent stating they encountered difficulties scheduling an appointment. [email protected] See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Economy, Law & Politics S&P/TSX composite down nearly 250 points, U.S. stock markets also fall Dec 12, 2024 1:46 PM Vancouver Island First Nation whose ex-chief met Capt. Cook files claim against B.C. Dec 12, 2024 12:26 PM Border officials, RCMP to testify on impact of Trump's plans for border security Dec 12, 2024 9:21 AM
Trump says he can’t guarantee tariffs won’t raise prices and won’t rule out revenge prosecutions
The hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO’s elusive killer yields new evidence, but few answersSYRIA BEIRUT — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated Saturday with news that they had reached the gates of the capital and that government forces had abandoned the central city of Homs. The government denied rumors that President Bashar Assad had fl ed the country. The loss of Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Assad. It stands at an important intersection between Damascus and Syria's coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader's base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. The pro-government Sham FM reported that government forces took positions outside Syria's third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of diff erent security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. The capture of Homs is a major victory for insurgents, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama, as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said Homs falling into rebel hands would be a game-changer. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by the monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. For the first time in the country's long-running civil war, the government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. The rapid rebel gains, coupled with the lack of support from Assad's erstwhile allies, posed the most serious threat to his rule since the start of the war. The U.N.'s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an "orderly political transition." Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels "sorry for the Syrian people." In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. "The situation is very strange. We are not used to that," the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. "People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not." It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Syria's state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia is busy with its war in Ukraine. Lebanon's Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a U.N. resolution, adopted in 2015 and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pedersen, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. In a statement issued late Saturday, the participants affirmed their support for a political solution to the Syrian crisis "that would lead to the end of military activity and protect civilians." They also agreed on the importance of strengthening international efforts to increase aid to the Syrian people. Abdurrahman said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the "final stage" of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a "salvation government" to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group's image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria's largest, and the central city of Hama, the country's fourth largest city. Opposition activists said Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
President-elect Donald Trump said he wants Kari Lake, a fierce ally who has denied the results of the 2020 US presidential election, to lead Voice of America - a federally funded global news outlet. Donald Trump made the announcement on Wednesday night, writing on his social media platform Truth Social that Lake would be appointed by and work closely with the next head of the US Agency for Global Media, which oversees all non-military, US international broadcasting. He said he would announce a pick for the head "soon". Lake left her long-time post as a news anchor in 2021 for failed Republican bids for an Arizona seat in the US Senate and to serve as the state's governor. She became a vocal critic of the media in her brief political career and has referred to journalists as "monsters". Trump said Lake would "ensure that the American values of Freedom and Liberty are broadcast around the World FAIRLY and ACCURATELY". In response on X, Lake wrote she was "honoured" by Trump's selection. "Under my leadership, the VOA will excel in its mission: chronicling America's achievements worldwide. Thank you for putting your trust in me," she wrote. The VOA is an organisation with a nearly $267.5m (£211m) budget and more than 2,000 employees, according to the New York Times. Founded in 1942, the organisation's congressional charter protects the editorial independence and integrity of its programming. VOA broadcasts in nearly 50 languages and reaches more than 326 million people weekly, "providing comprehensive coverage of the news and telling audiences the truth", according to its website. During Trump's first administration, he was a staunch VOA critic, saying in 2020 that the "things they say are disgusting toward our country". That year, Trump appointed Michael Pack to run the agency that oversees VOA - the US Agency for Global Media - which ran into a series of legal troubles. Pack was accused of turning VOA into a pro-Trump propaganda machine and a federal judge ruled that Pack had violated journalists' First Amendment rights. When Biden took office in 2021, he moved quickly to remove a number of senior officials aligned with Trump from VOA. Lake worked at a local Fox News affiliate in Phoenix for 22 years before ending her career in 2021 to run for Arizona governor on the Republican ticket. On the campaign trail, she caught Trump's attention while vigorously denying his 2020 election loss and repeating his claims of fraud. Lake also denied the results of her own gubernatorial race, filing several failed lawsuits seeking to overturn her loss, and making election fraud claims that resulted in her being sued for defamation. Her combative political style paved the way for an even bigger election loss in 2024 during her Senate bid. Lake also made controversial remarks about the media, including the suggestion: "Let's defund the press". She told a gaggle of camera operators and reporters in 2022 that, if elected, "I'm going to be your worst fricking nightmare". Her appointment to lead VOA would be "significant", George Washington University political science professor Quardricos Driskell said, and to some a cause for "alarm". "The alarm here is when you have a person who is making threatening comments towards this idea of a free press," he said, referring to Lake's past "fake news" remarks. The current VOA director is Michael Abramowitz, a former Washington Post White House correspondent and member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Trump also announced a spate of other appointments on Wednesday night, including Florida personal injury attorney Dan Newlin to be US ambassador to Colombia and physician and Republican donor Peter Lamelas to be US ambassador to Argentina.Israeli airstrikes hit a Yemen airport as a jet with hundreds onboard was landing, UN official says
Sanctions are destroying the global market, says CEO of Russia's RosneftNone