Newsletter: Today: The ‘Red Line’ in the Trump-Mueller Saga

Another twist in the Russia investigation.

TOP STORIES

The ‘Red Line’ in the Trump-Mueller Saga

President Trump’s lawyer said the White House has shown “unprecedented” cooperation with special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation into Russian election interference. Several hours later, the New York Times reported Trump ordered the firing of Mueller in June, but he backed off after White House lawyer Don McGahn threatened to resign. The response from Democrats was swift: Sen. Mark Warner, vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said that if the report is true, Trump has crossed a “red line.”

‘Amnesty Don’? The Right and the Left Push Back

Many of Trump’s most ardent supporters aren’t happy about his latest immigration plan — and neither are many of the “Dreamers.” The proposal would give a pathway to citizenship for 1.8 million young immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally as children, far more than the 700,000 protected under DACA. That led some in Trumpland to suggest it was time to burn those MAGA hats. At the same time, the plan includes $25 billion for border security and a reduction of legal immigration by 50%. That prompted the American Civil Liberties Union to call the proposal hateful and xenophobic.

More Politics

-- Trump met separately with the leaders of Britain and Israel, and their public appearances confirmed that the closer of the two is Israel.

-- At a debate, the candidates who hope to be California’s next governor clashed about immigration, healthcare and how they made their fortunes.

Gov. Brown’s Swan Song: Verse 1

Speaking of the governor, Jerry Brown has delivered more State of the State speeches than any other in California. For his 16th and final address, he began: “Simply put, California is prospering.” But he also spent time defending several projects whose fate will be decided by his successor. Among those programs: high-speed rail, and plans for tunnels to carry water underneath and around the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Read Brown’s full speech here.

L.A.’s Mass Transit Keeps Losing Mass

L.A. County officials have tried lots of things to get people out of their cars and into public transportation. For the most part, it isn’t working. The number of trips taken last year on the county’s bus and rail network dropped to the lowest level in more than a decade. The experts give a number of reasons. Of course, the bottom line might just be that it’s easier to take a car, even if traffic is getting worse.

The Grammys Take a Long, Strange Trip to Relevance

The year was 1959, and rock ’n’ roll was king. The winners at the very first Grammy Awards? Henry Mancini, Perry Como and the guy who sang “Volare.” Since then,it’s mostly been the same tune: a batch of awards that don’t exactly reflect the cutting edge of music. (And, as a USC study found out, 90.7% of the nominees between 2013 and 2018 were male.) But this Sunday’s ceremony promises to be different, at least when it comes to reflecting more current trends, especially hip-hop. Get yourself up to speed with the full list of nominees.

FLASHBACK FRIDAY

Southern California hasn’t had much rain this year, but the storm we did get had deadly consequences for those in Montecito. On this date in 1969, L.A. and surroundings were in the midst of a series of storms that created historic flooding and led to the deaths of more than 80 people.

MUST-WATCH VIDEO

-- Filmmakers at the Sundance Film Festival share their thoughts on the future of women in film, the culture and storytelling.

-- A new space race is afoot. Leading the pack is the Falcon Heavy, the most powerful rocket yet from SpaceX.

CALIFORNIA

-- Officials say two attorneys who previously represented former rap mogul Marion “Suge” Knight during his murder case have been arrested on charges accusing them of acting as “accessories after the fact.”

-- More than 200 people of Cambodian and Vietnamese descent were detained this fall by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and advocates for them say they can no longer stay silent.

-- Columnist Robin Abcarian looks at the upcoming recall election for the judge who gave a light sexual assault sentence to former Stanford swimmer Brock Turner and concludes it’s about time.

-- USC students are protesting sudden changes made by the administration to the Norman Topping Student Aid Fund, which until recently was administered largely by fellow students.

YOUR WEEKEND

-- In the mood for dim sum? Restaurant critic Jonathan Gold checks out a new place in Rosemead.

-- Quick, grab a slice of cherry pie at the “Twin Peaks” Roadhouse. The pop-up bar will vanish after Sunday.

-- “Lover for a Day” and other movie picks for your viewing pleasure.

HOLLYWOOD AND THE ARTS

-- Harvey Weinstein’s former personal assistant sued him and his former company, alleging “endless offensive, degrading, and sexually harassing” acts. He has through his attorneys categorically denied committing any crimes.

-- Meanwhile, Def Jam founder Russell Simmons is accused in a federal lawsuit of raping a woman in 2016 at his Hollywood Hills home, which he denies.

-- From “Leave No Trace” to “RBG,” Times critics discuss their favorites of the Sundance Film Festival.

-- Young rappers are keeping it real about doing battle with depression, drug addiction and suicide. Quite a contrast from hip-hop’s usual bravado.

NATION-WORLD

-- A fire swept through a hospital in southeastern South Korea, killing more than 30 people and injuring dozens.

-- U.S. Border Patrol in Arizona this month arrested one of the many volunteers who provide food, water and other supplies aimed at helping migrants survive in the desert. Was it retaliation?

-- At a Las Vegas gun show held less than three miles from the site of October’s mass shooting, the events of last year are an unavoidable topic.

-- The worst kind of film buzz? In India, the release of a Bollywood movie led to street mobs, death threats and effigy burnings.

-- A fossil found in an Israeli cave may change the story of human migration out of Africa.

BUSINESS

-- A former fund manager is suing the large Los Angeles asset management firm TCW for $30 million, saying she was fired after lodging a sexual harassment complaint.

-- The dollar: Up or down? In Davos, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says, “a weaker dollar is good for trade.” Trump says, “Ultimately I want to see a strong dollar.” It’s now at a three-year low.

SPORTS

-- USC has fired associate head coach Tony Bland in the aftermath of his arrest last fall in the college basketball bribery and corruption probe, his attorney told The Times.

-- Another NFL myth to bust: Can bulletin-board material and chips on shoulders really affect the outcome of a game?

OPINION

-- The mass shooting in Kentucky wasn’t front-page news. What a sad commentary on our country.

-- A Yale Law School professor explains why the federal charges against the man acquitted in Kate Steinle’s death are not double jeopardy.

WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING

-- The Red Cross forced out an executive for sexual harassment, then gave him positive references for a job at Save the Children. (ProPublica)

-- The White House wanted to borrow a Van Gogh from the Guggenheim Museum. Instead, it was offered a golden toilet. (Washington Post)

-- What’s up with Reese Witherspoon’s “three legs” and Oprah’s “three hands” in the Vanity Fair photos? (USA Today)

ONLY IN CALIFORNIA

Warren Miller was born in L.A., grew up in Hollywood and went to USC. But his calling was elsewhere. So in 1946, he and his friend Ward Baker went to Sun Valley and stayed for three ski seasons. With investments of $100 each from four friends, Miller made his first ski film at Lake Tahoe’s Squaw Valley — and started a tradition that would last for decades. “I always had more ambition than cash, but no matter what happened I kept grindin’ the pictures out,” said Miller, who died this week at age 93 as a true king of the mountain.

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