Newsletter: Today: A Justice’s Nightmare. Why Taylor, Not Kendrick?

I’m Davan Maharaj, editor of the Los Angeles Times. Here are some story lines I don’t want you to miss today.

TOP STORIES

A Chief Justice’s Worst Nightmare

The Supreme Court has long cultivated an image of being a cut above the expressly political branches of the federal government. “We don’t work as Democrats or Republicans,” Chief Justice John G. Roberts said earlier this month. But with some recent history and Antonin Scalia’s replacement turning into an all-out partisan war, it’s easy to see the public’s perception of the court changing.

Why Taylor and Not Kendrick?

Taylor Swift won album of the year at the Grammy Awards, but Kendrick Lamar stole the show — with a politically charged performance that included images of a jail cell, handcuffs and a riot. And that was before he got a shoutout on Twitter from the White House and finished music’s biggest night with five awards. The watercooler talk will be: Why Taylor and not Kendrick for the big award? Follow the conversation right here.

More About the Grammys

-- Here’s how it unfolded over three and a half hours.

-- Photos: Best and worst of the red carpet and show highlights.

-- Yes, Jimmy Carter won a Grammy: Your complete list of winners and nominees.

The Brothers Bush

Can George W. Bush fix it? No. 43 is back in the political game, stumping for his brother Jeb in South Carolina — the state where he turned around his own presidential campaign in 2000. It’s just the latest sign of a shift in Jeb Bush’s strategy, which previously distanced him from his familial ties to the White House. As W said, “I’ve been misunderestimated most of my life.”

Turning Trains Into Water

Here is the recipe for a new California ballot initiative: Take one part public concern over the drought, add the agriculture industry, and mix with a high-speed rail project that is behind schedule and over budget. The result is a measure that would reallocate billions from the bullet train to water projects, and it’s collecting signatures now. Here’s how it could play out.

The Priest Wore a Bulletproof Vest

One priest in Mexico wears a bulletproof vest during Mass. Another travels with three bodyguards. Since 1992, 35 priests in the country have been murdered. And among the faithful, a widespread perception persists that some Catholic Church leaders have given in to drug traffickers. Read on to see how Pope Francis is calling on the clergy to act courageously against an “insidious threat.”

CALIFORNIA

-- The November ballot is shaping up to be costly; by some estimates, up to half a billion dollars will be spent on campaigning.

-- How one trauma doctor — a first responder in the San Bernardino attack — is trying to help save lives.

-- Can this mall project revitalize the Crenshaw corridor?

-- We’ll get a little cooling off, but expect the summer-like sizzle to continue.

NATION-WORLD

-- Nearly 50 civilians were killed in missile attacks on medical facilities and schools in Syria.

-- Analysis: A GOP brawl in South Carolina may have repercussions in the general election.

-- Families reunite at the U.S.-Mexico border fence: “We touch hands, but it is like being in jail.”

-- With emotions high, a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic reopens after a gunman’s attack.

-- Scientists say thirsty continents are slowing down an expected rise in sea level, but it won’t last forever.

HOLLYWOOD AND THE ARTS

-- TV review: A new documentary on PBS looks at the Black Panthers.

-- Did Shakespeare have a secret son? The author of a new biography makes that claim.

-- Steven Stucky, a Pulitzer winner for music and longtime composer for the L.A. Phil, has died at 66.

-- Kanye West asks Mark Zuckerberg for $1 billion as an investment in “Kanye West ideas.”

BUSINESS

-- The Dodgers team up with entertainment executive Tim Leiweke to bring concerts to Dodger Stadium.

-- The “sad, tortured” fight between Sumner Redstone and his feisty daughter, and what it could mean for CBS and Viacom.

-- Donations are up for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

SPORTS

-- The Rams are getting down to the business of the NFL off-season.

-- Golfer James Hahn returns to Riviera, the scene of his greatest PGA Tour triumph last year.

WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING

-- Hundreds of letters and photos tell of Pope John Paul II’s close friendship with a married woman. (BBC)

-- The New Yorker examines how TMZ and Harvey Levin work.

-- A behind-the-scenes video look at the development of the Hyperloop. (The Atlantic)

-- Skater Dorothy Hamill writes a “letter to my younger self.” (The Players’ Tribune)

ONLY IN L.A.

JFK on the beach. FDR at the Hollywood Bowl. Obama making the Anteater sign at UC Irvine. This is what happens when the president of the United States comes to SoCal. In honor of yesterday’s holiday (you did get a day off, right?), we put together some photos of visits by POTUS through the years. Come on, we know you want to see George Bush rocking a sombrero at the Farmers Market.

Please send comments and ideas to Davan Maharaj.