
After a fourth consecutive night of protests–this time marred by destruction of city property, including a speed limit sign–organizers in Berkeley were enthusiastic. The crowds remain large; the media remain interested; and the Berkeley City Council has been forced to
by Joel B. Pollak10 Dec 2014, 5:36 AM PST0

As Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and fellow Democrats trumpet the release Tuesday of the Senate Intelligence Committee report on the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)’s interrogation techniques, the senior California Senator is being called to account for her own encouragement of
by Joel B. Pollak9 Dec 2014, 10:38 AM PST0

Officials say that they believe Monday morning’s massive fire in downtown Los Angeles was set on purpose. The blaze, which engulfed an unfinished apartment building, and burned so hot that it melted nearby highway signs, will be investigated as soon
by Joel B. Pollak8 Dec 2014, 9:54 PM PST0

For the third straight evening, demonstrators took to the streets of Berkeley, California to protest the shooting by police of unarmed black suspects Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO and Eric Garner in Staten Island, NY. And for the first time
by Joel B. Pollak8 Dec 2014, 9:22 PM PST0

BERKELEY, California — Organizers of a demonstration against police killings told a crowd of hundreds before their march Monday evening that they should feel free to use violence if they so chose. The leaders of a group called “By Any
by Joel B. Pollak8 Dec 2014, 6:14 PM PST0

BERKELEY, California — Shops in downtown Berkeley boarded up windows and at least one posted an armed guard at the entrance, as the quintessential university town dug in for another night of protests and clashes. For the past several nights,
by Joel B. Pollak8 Dec 2014, 5:58 PM PST0

by Joel B. Pollak8 Dec 2014, 4:38 PM PST0

by Joel B. Pollak8 Dec 2014, 2:23 PM PST0

by Joel B. Pollak8 Dec 2014, 1:15 PM PST0

Last month, President Barack Obama announced that the U.S. had reached an historic deal with China on climate change, according to which the U.S. would decrease carbon emissions more rapidly and China would stop growing its emissions 15 years from
by Joel B. Pollak8 Dec 2014, 7:40 AM PST0

In its last significant act, the Democrat leadership of the U.S. Senate plans to release a long-delayed report of the Intelligence Committee detailing the techniques used by the government to interrogate terror detainees in the years following the 9/11 attacks.
by Joel B. Pollak8 Dec 2014, 7:34 AM PST0

by Joel B. Pollak7 Dec 2014, 9:26 PM PST0

by Joel B. Pollak7 Dec 2014, 6:12 PM PST0

Members of Israel’s secular elite–including renowned authors and former diplomats–have signed a letter that encourages European parliaments to recognize a Palestinian state. The letter, which was reportedly sent to the Belgian parliament on Sunday, comes after deadly Palestinian terror attacks,
by Joel B. Pollak7 Dec 2014, 7:51 AM PST0

The implosion of The New Republic, pending its move to New York and re-establishment as a “digital media” company, has consumed much of the political commentariat in recent days. The change is deeply mourned by former editors and writers for
by Joel B. Pollak7 Dec 2014, 6:55 AM PST0

by Joel B. Pollak7 Dec 2014, 5:40 AM PST0

by Joel B. Pollak6 Dec 2014, 9:45 PM PST0

Last week on the Daily Show, host Jon Stewart claimed, incorrectly, that the San Bernadino County police department had shot and killed a black suspect out of racial animus. In response, District Attorney Michael Ramos posted a video on YouTube
by Joel B. Pollak6 Dec 2014, 5:33 PM PST0

Once upon a time, the civil rights movement was deeply concerned about the rights of criminal defendants. Not anymore. Today, those who say they care most about civil rights are calling for grand jury reforms that would make it easier
by Joel B. Pollak5 Dec 2014, 6:55 AM PST0

This week’s statewide rains have made little impact in relieving California’s extreme drought. In fact, according to a new scientific study, this drought is the worst that California has experienced in 1200 years. Researchers studying tree rings concluded that “the
by Joel B. Pollak5 Dec 2014, 6:19 AM PST0

Let us stipulate that the death of 43-year-old Eric Garner was horrific and never should never have happened. Given the shocking video evidence of a confrontation with New York City police in which officer Daniel Pantaleo is seen grabbing Garner from
by Joel B. Pollak4 Dec 2014, 6:55 AM PST0

Social media lit up Wednesday evening with complaints about former Hootie & the Blowfish lead singer Darius Rucker performing “White Christmas” at the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at New York City’s Rockefeller Square. Some activists had threatened to attack
by Joel B. Pollak4 Dec 2014, 6:55 AM PST0

A local district attorney has taken Comedy Central host Jon Stewart to task for his comments in the wake of the Ferguson controversy, in which Stewart implied that police killed black suspects out of racial motives. San Bernadino County D.A.
by Joel B. Pollak4 Dec 2014, 6:07 AM PST0

Several small demonstrations broke out Wednesday evening in San Francisco and Oakland after a grand jury in New York City decided not to indict a police officer in the death of Eric Garner during an arrest last summer. Hundreds gathered
by Joel B. Pollak3 Dec 2014, 11:34 PM PST0

SANTA MONICA, California — The Santa Monica City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to consider requiring warning labels on all gas pumps to advise motorists of the risks of climate change. Council member Kevin McKeown proposed to “direct staff to explore
by Joel B. Pollak3 Dec 2014, 10:40 AM PST0