Bill to limit prison off-ramp for California's mentally ill advancing - Los Angeles Times ^35.4%

Los Angeles Times - By James Queally - 6/18/2026, 10:00 AM

Appeal to Emotion 29.3% - Anecdotal 25.9% - Availability Heuristic 18.4%

A bill to tighten California's rules on mental health diversion — a process that allows certain criminal defendants to avoid prison for arrests linked to mental illness — is now on the verge of being signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Assembly Bill 46, authored by Stephanie Nguyen (D-Elk Grove), gives judges much wider discretion to... more

L.A. city attorney likely to be first incumbent ousted in primary in nearly 100 years ^41.2%

Los Angeles Times - By Sonja Sharp, James Queally - 6/5/2026, 10:00 AM

Negativity Bias 24.7% - Appeal to Emotion 21.7% - Hasty Generalization 20.8%

The last time Angelenos sacked an incumbent city attorney in the primaries, almost 30% of them were unemployed. That was May 2, 1933, the nadir of the Great Depression, when sprawling encampments blanketed downtown, King Kong ruled movie theaters and violent crime reached a fever pitch not seen again for almost half a century. Incumbent... more

Cole Allen's journey from young athlete and Caltech grad to accused gunman in D.C. attack ^42.4%

Los Angeles Times - By Connor Sheets, Paige St. John, Alene Tchekmedyian, Ruben Vives, James Queally - 5/3/2026, 10:00 AM

Negativity Bias 19.6% - Halo Effect 11.5% - Unattributed Quote 9.2%

Before authorities charged him with attempting to assassinate President Trump and top administration officials in a brazen attack at the Washington Hilton, Cole Tomas Allen lived what those who knew him described as a quiet, simple existence. He worked as a tutor and enjoyed video games, manga and riding his blue scooter. Acquaintances... more

He was willing to testify against the cartel — but ICE got to him first ^46.4%

Los Angeles Times - By James Queally - 4/5/2026, 10:00 AM

Appeal to Emotion 16% - Appeal to Authority 14.5% - Negativity Bias 11.6%

Javier Hernandez agreed to testify against two men arrested alongside him when DEA agents seized nearly 22 pounds of meth in 2015. Hernandez says he received graphic death threats against his family members but was still willing to cooperate with authorities. Six months before he could take the stand, he was detained by ICE and deported.... more

The loophole that keeps a Trump loyalist serving as L.A.’s top federal prosecutor ^48.4%

Los Angeles Times - By James Queally, Brittny Mejia, Kevin Rector - 4/4/2026, 10:00 AM

Negativity Bias 35% - Biased Writer Voice 22.9% - Anecdotal 22.6%

Across the country, President Trump has installed handpicked loyalists as top federal prosecutors. Several have been pushed out after legal battles because they lack Senate confirmation to serve as U.S. attorneys. But in Los Angeles, Bill Essayli wields the power of a top prosecutor under a lesser title: “first assistant.” Essayli... more

Trump’s DOJ hires voting rights lawyer behind L.A. case cited by conspiracy theorists ^79.1%

Los Angeles Times - By James Queally - 1/3/2026, 11:00 AM

Eric Neff’s tenure at the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office ended after he was placed on administrative leave in 2022 over accusations of misconduct in the prosecution of the CEO of Konnech, a software company that election conspiracy theorists said was in the thrall of the Chinese government. Now, three years later, Neff is... more