Headlines From The Times

Right now, Americans are paying on average $4 per gallon at the pump, and in California, where the average price of regular gas is $6 per gallon, rideshare drivers with companies, like Uber and Lyft, say it's becoming more and more difficult to make a living. LA Times Studios caught up with Sergio Avedian, a rideshare driver who's notched over 10,000 trips and is a senior contributor at "The Rideshare Guy" blog, and Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics for more on what’s happening. Read more at https://LATimes.com. 

 

Congressman Eric Swalwell suspended his campaign following reports that he sexually assaulted a former staffer; allegations also came out that he sent multiple women explicit photos and text messages. The congressman, who up until this weekend led the polls in a crowded field of Democratic candidates, now faces a criminal investigation and pressure from some members of Congress to resign, as a bipartisan effort to expel him from the House is quickly gaining steam. Meanwhile, Hungarians are celebrating Péter Magyar's win as the next president of their country, replacing far-right authoritarian Viktor Orbán in a massive moment that will affect the course of politics for Europe and the rest of the world. Read more at https://LATimes.com.

Anthropic is now briefing the government and starting an effort called Project Glasswing, giving 50 tech organizations like Microsoft and Nvidia access to their new platform Mythos Preview in an attempt to strengthen digital defenses. Meanwhile, an exclusive Wall Street Journal report reveals the U.S. Justice Department's investigation into whether the NFL is engaging in anticompetitive tactics that harm consumers. And, for nearly a decade, Californians watched as their neighbors left the state in record numbers, but research from the California Policy Lab shows the biggest driver is simple: affordability. Read more at https://LATimes.com.

The United States and Iran came to a ceasefire deal on Tuesday night, expected to last two weeks, but Iran is already saying Israel is violating it by continuing attacks on Lebanon. The ceasefire came just a day after President Trump warned he would destroy a "whole civilization" unless Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, nearly 400,000 Los Angeles students could be out of class next week, as three major unions representing teachers, school staff, and administrators threaten a historic strike on April 14th, with the district now considering emergency "hubs" for families with no other childcare options. In business, the AI boom has propelled San Francisco's median home price to a record $2.15 million as high-earning tech workers flood a market with historically low inventory, and California’s data center expansion is facing significant local opposition, causing developers to scrap or delay multi-billion dollar projects, and even shift to other states like Texas. Read more at https://LATimes.com.

President Trump said the Iran war is “nearing completion” while warning the U.S. will strike Iran extremely hard over the coming weeks. Oil prices jumped as traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained shut down, with global benchmarks climbing above $100 a barrel. In California, a fight over AI infrastructure is growing, with a proposed $40 million data center in Monterey Park facing backlash over cost, noise, and pollution. Meanwhile, Governor Gavin Newsom is drawing criticism for a more aggressive social media strategy that pokes fun at conservatives. In business, the eco-friendly footwear company Allbirds has agreed to sell its assets to American Exchange Group for a fraction of its previous $4 billion valuation, and Trader Joe’s continues its steady growth with new locations in Paso Robles and Anaheim Hills. Read more at https://LATimes.com.