Headlines From The Times

CNN, MS NOW and Politico are suing the Trump administration after their reporters were denied entry to the White House and stripped of their press credentials.

The news organizations say the credentials were pulled without “notice or process,” while President Trump says he's blocking them over reporting he calls "fake news." The case has been assigned to the same federal judge who sided with CNN in 2018 when one of its journalists was blocked from covering the White House, and a hearing is set for Wednesday. Meanwhile, the White House press pool, which includes CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, suspended its shared coverage of the president on Monday in solidarity.

And, California’s High-Speed Rail Authority approved more than half a million dollars in wasteful and unexplained travel spending that included first-class and premium flights, international travel and rideshare trips to an escape room, a night club and a cigar lounge in Washington, D.C., according to a new report.

The authority spent more than $2 million in travel costs for four consulting firms from June 2024 to April 2026, according to the report released this week by the agency’s inspector general. In addition, the authority failed to comply with state law requiring it to consider the business need for travel before approving it, the report said.

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House of Troy is a new podcast from LA Times Studios tracing the rise and fall of USC football, from coach Pete Carroll’s back-to-back national titles in the 2000s, to the Reggie Bush scandal, to the series of missteps that followed. It’ll feature exclusive interviews with coaches, players, and USC officials who saw it all up close — and shine new light on how a college football dynasty came undone.

The Federal Communications Commission approved Paramount’s request to allow foreign investors to take a substantial stake in the $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Three Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi plan to invest a combined $24 billion. Collectively, the funds would hold 38.5% of the combined company’s equity, while the Ellison family and RedBird Capital would retain 100% of the voting shares.

The FCC approval comes despite concerns raised by Democratic lawmakers and FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez about potential foreign influence over major U.S. media properties including CBS and CNN. The deal still faces an antitrust lawsuit brought by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and 11 other Democratic attorneys general. A federal antitrust trial is currently scheduled for March 2, 2027, if the case is not resolved through settlement talks.

Meanwhile, a federal investigation into Gavin Newsom’s travel expenses is expanding, and the California governor is pushing back. Investigators have issued subpoenas for records from a nonprofit that has helped pay for Newsom’s official travel through private donations to places including China, Mexico, the Vatican, and the 2020 Super Bowl. Newsom says the investigation is politically motivated, calling it “Trump retribution,” and is accusing the administration of weaponizing the Justice Department.

And, both of LA’s football teams are hoping to bounce back after disappointing Week 1 losses. Two important matchups are ahead: The Chargers face the Raiders after a 26-14 loss to the Cardinals, while the Rams are back in the US for Monday Night Football against the Giants following their 27-7 loss to the 49ers in Australia.

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For the first time since 1995, three American men — Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, and Alex Michelsen — have reached the US Open quarterfinals. It feels like a milestone moment for American tennis. Now they're chasing history: no American man has won on home soil since Andy Roddick in 2003. On the women's side, Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro, and 2023 champion Coco Gauff make up the most US women's quarterfinalists since 2017.

Meanwhile, the Rams and 49ers are set to make history in the NFL's first-ever regular-season game in Australia. The matchup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground features a Super Bowl-style atmosphere, Sean McVay's unique travel strategy, the Rams' "guinea pig" travel experiment, and the possibility of Aaron Donald making his return after coming out of retirement. Here's everything you need to know before kickoff.

And, fast-food workers in Los Angeles could soon have more control over when and how they work. The City Council is weighing a proposal that would require restaurants to give workers more notice regarding scheduling, and would also give workers paid training on labor rights. Supporters say this could make a huge difference for workers to plan for child care, medical appointments, and other responsibilities. But the restaurant industry says it could raise costs for businesses.

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A new one-dollar coin featuring President Trump's portrait is making headlines after the U.S. Mint put sleeves up for sale this week to celebrate the country's 250th birthday. The "heads" side shows Trump's portrait with "liberty" above it and the years 1776–2026, while the reverse features the Seal of the United States. Federal law generally bans living presidents from appearing on U.S. currency, but there's an exception for certain commemorative coins with Treasury Secretary approval. It's also not completely unprecedented: Calvin Coolidge appeared on a $1 coin 100 years ago while still in office.

Meanwhile, California’s rules allowing transgender athletes to compete in school sports will remain in place after a federal judge tossed a Trump administration lawsuit. The Justice Department argued that allowing trans girls to compete on girls teams would be a violation of Title IX, but Judge Cynthia Valenzuela ruled that Title IX does not clearly require California to impose a ban. The Justice Department says it’s considering an appeal.

And, K-Pop supergroup BTS took over SOFI Stadium this week, kicking off 4 sold-out shows on its world tour. This is the first LA show since the members completed their mandatory military service in South Korea.

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