Newsletter: Today: From Burgers and Bikinis to Labor Secretary. John Glenn Had the Right Stuff.

I’m Davan Maharaj, editor-in-chief of the Los Angeles Times. Here are some story lines I don’t want you to miss today, including our weekend recommendations and weekly look back into the archives.

TOP STORIES

From Burgers and Bikinis to Labor Secretary

Andrew Puzder turned around the fortunes of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s with his legal acumen and the help of some ads featuring scantily clad women. Now he’s President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Labor Department. Over the years, Puzder has spoken a lot about the minimum wage and business regulations, including with our very own Michael Hiltzik. “There’s no way in the world that scooping ice cream is worth $15 an hour,” Puzder told him. Here’s more from that interview and Hiltzik’s take on it.

More Politics

-- Did Al Gore get played? Engaging with Trump brings risk for the left.

-- He’s not fired: Trump will remain executive producer on “The Celebrity Apprentice.”

The Elusive American Dream

Speaking of getting by on minimum wage … new university research shows that since the 1940s, children are less and less likely to earn more than their parents when they grow up. And the findings suggest that income stagnation isn’t just for the poor: Upper middle-class Americans saw their chances of earning more than their parents drop the most of any group born from 1940 to 1980. So what’s the culprit? Read on.

He Had the Right Stuff

Courage. Confidence. Ambition. John Glenn displayed those qualities when he became the first American to orbit Earth and help put the U.S. back in the space race. He served as a senator for two-and-a-half decades. And, while still in the Senate, he became the oldest man to go into space. Take a look back at someone who never stopped flying.

Enforcing the Code in Oakland

As questions continue about why Oakland building inspectors hadn’t been inside the warehouse that caught fire and killed 36 people, the city’s mayor said there would be no “witch hunts” against employees or agencies. In the fire’s aftermath, records show building code inspectors this week descended on five other warehouses suspected of housing people illegally.

This Bluesman Is Disarming the KKK, One Robe at a Time

Daryl Davis plays the piano and has performed with Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis, but he has a side project that’s brought him even bigger notice: Davis, a black man, travels the country talking with members of the KKK. “I appeal to people’s common sense,” he says. “I don’t seek to convert them but if they spend time with me, they can’t hate me.” And he has a collection of more than two dozen Klan robes from those who have disavowed white supremacy.

The Pentagon’s Clawbacks: Mostly Retracted

The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have approved a $619-billion defense authorization bill that includes relief for thousands of California National Guard soldiers who received enlistment bonuses or other financial incentives in error. Now, it awaits President Obama’s signature. Here’s how it will help the soldiers, many of whom served in combat and some of whom were badly injured.

FLASHBACK FRIDAY

“Glenn Goes!” screamed the headline of an extra edition of the Los Angeles Times on Feb. 20, 1962. The next day, The Times devoted at least 14 pages of the paper to the historic flight, including two pages of photographs. And SoCal even got a shout-out from above: “the nation’s first orbiting weatherman noted a storm off the Southern California coast.” Here are photos from Glenn’s career.

CALIFORNIA

-- California’s votes have finally been counted, and Hillary Clinton beat Trump here by more than 4.2 million votes.

-- Authorities say the FBI has launched an investigation involving allegations that Compton’s deputy treasurer stole money from the city.

-- A former L.A. County sheriff’s deputy convicted of obstruction of justice and conspiracy took the witness stand in the case against his former top boss: retired Sheriff Lee Baca.

-- Northern California emerged unscathed after a magnitude 6.5 earthquake hit about 100 miles off the coast of Eureka.

YOUR WEEKEND

-- Here are some healthful eating tips to avoid those holiday pounds.

-- Ready to redecorate? Pantone has declared Greenery to be the color of 2017.

-- Fourteen great coffee-table books to give as gifts to your favorite design enthusiast.

-- The Vegas holiday shopping guide. Really, who doesn’t need a 24-karat gold foosball table for $397,000?

-- Tales from the dating world: Can you find your true love on a dating app? This guy did, and he’s marrying her Sunday.

-- Tell us about your unique holiday traditions and we may include them in a story.

HOLLYWOOD AND THE ARTS

-- Movie review: “La La Land,” with Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, breathes new life into the movie musical.

-- How vocalist Rufus Wainwright and choreographer Benjamin Millepied came to collaborate on L.A. Dance Project’s program this weekend.

-- Greg Lake, who helped pioneer progressive rock as a founding member of King Crimson, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer, has died at age 69.

-- What color is the ottoman Dick Van Dyke trips over in the opening credits of “The Dick Van Dyke Show”?

NATION-WORLD

-- South Korea’s national legislature has voted to impeach President Park Geun-hye.

-- In New York, attacks on women with headscarves raise alarms.

-- Italy says thousands of Nigerian women who arrive as migrants are forced to work as prostitutes.

-- Junaid Jamshed was the voice of a generation in Pakistan. Then the pop singer found God.

-- Uh oh: Life expectancy for Americans was shorter last year than it was the year before.

BUSINESS

-- L.A. prosecutors are accusing four big retailers of tricking shoppers.

-- David Lazarus: Canada mandates à la carte TV channels, but the cost is high.

SPORTS

-- The road to the Kentucky Derby is a long one, and Mastery is taking an important step at Los Alamitos.

-- Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson loves Monopoly and has a tattoo to prove it.

OPINION

-- The story behind Trump’s tweet attack on Chuck Jones of the United Steelworkers.

-- Rabbi David Wolpe on sharing biblical stories and 100 years of life lessons with Kirk Douglas.

-- A former CIA officer and a Democrat explains what Obama still doesn’t get about terrorism.

WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING

-- A photo essay graphically illustrates President Rodrigo Duterte’s violent anti-drug campaign in the Philippines. (New York Times)

-- Google’s dreamers try to adjust to an internal push for greater financial discipline. (Bloomberg)

-- First person: inside Oakland’s art warehouse scene. (KQED)

-- More and more Chinese men are marrying women in Uganda, but not always for love. (Quartz)

ONLY IN CALIFORNIA

Some airports like LAX have therapy dogs to relieve the stress of air travel. San Francisco International Airport now apparently has the nation’s first therapy pig. LiLou is a small breed called a Juliana and, as a member of the airport’s Wag Brigade, walks around with painted red toenails and a tutu — and plays a toy piano.

Please send comments and ideas to Davan Maharaj.

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