Tag Archives: Los Angeles

Tense Standoff Erupts During ICE Raids in Downtown Los Angeles

June 7, 2025 Tarun

Tense standoffs erupted between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and protesters in Downtown Los Angeles on Friday, as people attempted to thwart illegal immigration sweeps.

Viral video showed ICE agents escorting handcuffed people into vans as protesters shouted them down, with one individual throwing eggs at the moving vehicles. In one video, a man could be heard yelling in Spanish to warn the people nearby about the impending raids. Per the Los Angeles Times:

Another raid occurred at a business in the Garment District, with agents in riot gear detaining workers at a clothing store as dozens of people began to gather outside. As workers were hauled off in cuffs, throngs of people yelled at the agents and held up cellphones to record them, according to videos of the showdown. One person threw eggs at one of the vehicles as agents pushed members of the public back, the videos showed.

In the street, immigrant-rights advocates stood on a bed of a truck, using megaphones to speak to the workers inside the store, reminding them of their constitutional rights and instructing them not to sign anything or say anything to federal agents. They also told the agents that lawyers wanted access to the workers, and sometimes called out specific names.

Officials from the Service Employees International Union said in a statement that its California president, David Huerta, was detained and injured during a downtown raid “while exercising his First Amendment right to observe and document law enforcement activity.” The union said he was receiving medical care while in custody and called for his immediate release.

In one particularly harrowing scene, a protester backpedaled in front of a van as it attempted to slowly move forward with people swarmed around the outside. When the man fell back, the van high-tailed it from the area:

Yasmeen Pitts O’Keefe, a spokesperson for Homeland Security Investigations, a branch of ICE, said federal agents were executing warrants of people being harbored in the United States illegally. Los Angeles officials, including Mayor Karen Bass (D), denounced the operation.

“These actions are escalating: agents arrive without warning and leave quickly, aware that our communities mobilize fast,” Los Angeles Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez said in a statement. “I urge Angelenos to stay alert.”

Mayor Karen Bass said the raid sow “terror in our communities and disrupt basic principles of safety in our city… We will not stand for this.”

Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said in a written statement his department had no hand in the operation.

“I’m aware that these actions cause anxiety for many Angelenos, so I want to make it clear: the LAPD is not involved in civil immigration enforcement,” he said. “While the [department] will continue to have a visible presence in all our communities to ensure public safety, we will not assist or participate in any sort of mass deportations nor will the LAPD try to determine an individual’s immigration status.”

“I want everyone, including our immigrant community, to feel safe calling the police in their time of need and know that the LAPD will be there for you without regard to one’s immigration status,” he added.

***UPDATE 9:10 p.m. Pacific***

LAPD in Riot Gear have finally arrived and are assisting DHS agents who were trapped inside a federal Govt. parking structure. Order to disperse has been given.

Paul Roland Bois directed the award-winning Christian tech thriller, EXEMPLUM, which has a 100% Rotten Tomatoes critic rating and can be viewed for FREE on YouTube, Tubi, or Fawesome TV. “Better than Killers of the Flower Moon,” wrote Mark Judge. “You haven’t seen a story like this before,” wrote Christian Toto. A high-quality, ad-free rental can also be streamed on Google Play, Vimeo on Demand, or YouTube Movies. Follow him on X @prolandfilms or Instagram @prolandfilms.

Popular baby products company Munchkin hard-hit by tariff hike on steel, aluminum

June 5, 2025 Tarun

Los Angeles — At the Los Angeles headquarters of Munchkin, one of the most innovative baby brands in the country, the White House’s steel and aluminum tariffs are impacting several of the company’s products.

“No one thinks about a baby spoon as a steel product,” Steven Dunn, Munchkin’s CEO and founder, told CBS News.

President Trump last week announced that tariffs on steel and aluminum would double from 25% to 50%, a move that took effect Wednesday.

“Tariffs should be strategic, Dunn said. “We need a tariff policy that doesn’t have the unintended consequences of putting 80% tariffs on a metal spoon.”

Dunn said making their popular soft bite baby spoon will cost 80% more because of the 50% steel tariffs, plus the existing 30% tariffs on Chinese imports.

“It’s a tariff on parents, and it’s a tariff on small and medium businesses throughout the entire country,” Dunn said, adding that tariffs affect almost all of the 500-plus products that Munchkin sells, the vast majority of which are made in China.

He said his profits have already taken a hit, and it’s not just consumers feeling the impact. After the tariffs were announced, he laid off workers for the first time in 35 years.

Munchkin said tariffs are also impacting popular products such as strollers and thermometers. Some products are being discontinued.

“It just will become unaffordable if we pass on the cost of the tariffs, it will make it too expensive,” Dunn said. “We don’t believe consumers will pay for it.”

Munchkin says manufacturing its products in the U.S. isn’t feasible.

“There isn’t the manufacturing base, the tooling equipment, the automation,” Munchkin said.

The White House’s shifting tariffs have created uncertainty for Munchkin.

Says Dunn: “It’s like being blindfolded, throwing darts at a rotating target.”

Journalist Jo Ling Kent joined CBS News in July 2023 as the senior business and technology correspondent for CBS News. Kent has more than 15 years of experience covering the intersection of technology and business in the U.S., as well as the emergence of China as a global economic power.

Where to Sip Natural Wine in Los Angeles

June 1, 2025 Tarun

Over the last decade, the natural wine movement has gained major traction as consumers continue to shift toward a more organic way of living, eating and drinking. To put it simply, natural wine is basically untouched, fermented grape juice, and it is known for having a funkier profile with yeasty notes on both the nose and palate. In addition to being made with little-to-no additives or pesticides, natural wines also have a lower alcohol volume and fewer sulfites, and since it is virtually unregulated, trust in the winemaker is essential. Though traditionalists tend to prefer conventional wines, natural wines are vibrant, unique and less likely to leave you with an unforgiving hangover.

In Los Angeles, several bars and restaurants have embraced the shift toward low-intervention vino by working with organic purveyors from all across California, Italy, France and beyond. In addition to actual natural wine bars like Good Clean Fun and El Prado, restaurants such as Coucou, Crudo e Nudo and Dudley Market have also curated their wine offerings to showcase the beauty and diversity of naturally-produced varietals. Whether you’re looking to pair fresh seafood with a bottle of biodynamic rosé or want to enjoy a tangy orange inside Echo Park’s coolest Euro-esque watering hole, we’ve got you covered on where to sip natural wine in Los Angeles.

The Best Rooftop Bars in L.A. for Cocktails With a View

May 26, 2025 Tarun

What better way to celebrate the first signs of summer than with craft cocktails overlooking the city? While New York City is known for its rooftop bar scene, Los Angeles still gives the Big Apple a run for its money. From Downtown L.A. to Beverly Hills, sky-high bars can be found throughout many of the city’s best neighborhoods. Places like Spire 73, Florentín and Broken Shaker give guests a premium view of L.A.’s iconic skyline, while Desert 5 Spot and E.P. & L.P. offer upbeat party vibes all week long.

Halo in Long Beach is one of the city’s newest rooftop bars, and though it’s certainly a trek from the heart of Los Angeles, it’s worth the drive. Other recently opened spots like Poza prove that elevated imbibing is still on the rise, and with summer weather right around the corner, rooftop season is just getting started. Whether you’re seeking a romantic date spot in DTLA or a cozy cocktail lounge in Culver City, these are the best rooftop bars in Los Angeles.

Gavin Newsom: Cash-Strapped California Will Not Bail Out Los Angeles

May 18, 2025 Tarun

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has refused to bail out Los Angeles, which is facing a $1 billion deficit, in his latest budget proposal, as the state itself faces a massive $12 billion deficit.

The Los Angeles Times reports:

Deeper in the budget proposal, no salvation was found for L.A. And at a news conference Wednesday, Newsom said flatly that he did not plan to provide cash to help dig the city out of its budget hole. The city is facing a $1-billion shortfall due to inflated personnel costs, higher than ever liability lawsuit payouts and below-expected revenues.

“The state’s not in a position to write a check,” Newsom said. “When you’re requesting things that have nothing to do with disaster recovery, that’s a nonstarter … I don’t need to highlight examples of requests from the city and county that were not related to disaster recovery and this state is not in a position, never have been, even in other times, to address those requests, particularly at this time.”

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass has made a public display of her visits to Sacramento, the state capital, to lobby for additional funding — apparently, to no avail. Funding cuts to the fire department have been widely cited as one reason, among many, that the Palisades Fire earlier this year was so devastating. (Los Angeles currently spends more on homeless services than it does on firefighting — though homeless people start many fires.)

San Francisco, where Newsom began his political career as mayor, is also facing a $1 billion deficit. All three entities — the two most prominent cities, and the state itself — received massive cash infusions under President Joe Biden, but slipped into deficit before he left office.

Newsom has blamed President Donald Trump for his state’s budget crisis, though last year’s deficit was initially even higher than the current one.

Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News and the host of Breitbart News Sunday on Sirius XM Patriot on Sunday evenings from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET (4 p.m. to 7 p.m. PT). He is the author of Trump 2.0: The Most Dramatic ‘First 100 Days’ in Presidential History, available for Amazon Kindle. He is also the author of The Trumpian Virtues: The Lessons and Legacy of Donald Trump’s Presidency, now available on Audible. He is a winner of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.

Where to Find the Best Negronis in L.A.

May 16, 2025 Tarun

The Negroni is a classic Italian cocktail known for its vibrant, spirit-forward nature. This timeless tipple was reportedly created in 1919 at Florence’s Caffè Casoni, and is typically served as an apéritif before a comforting Italian meal. Though the traditional recipe for a classic Negroni calls for only three ingredients (equal parts gin, sweet vermouth and Campari, garnished with an orange slice or orange peel), several Los Angeles bars and restaurants have put their own spin on the Negroni. Mezcal, in particular, is a popular substitute for gin, while the Negroni Sbagliato, which had its viral moment thanks to House of the Dragon star Emma D’Arcy, boasts a bubbly Prosecco profile.

Places like Capri Club in Eagle Rock serve a few different renditions of the Negroni, including a frozen version. Though a standard gin Negroni is the most popular, mezcal Negronis are a close second. Renowned DTLA bar Death and Co. and Koreatown’s The Normandie Club both use rum in theirs, proving that the Negroni is just as versatile as it is classic. Whether you want to get a balanced buzz at one of West Hollywood’s hottest new Italian eateries or sip on a rooftop in Beverly Hills, we’ve got you covered on where to get the best Negronis in Los Angeles.

Judge Reduces Menendez Brothers’ Sentence: Eligible for Parole

May 14, 2025 Tarun

A Los Angeles judge has reduced the sentences of Erik and Lyle Menendez, making them eligible for parole after 35 years in prison for the murder of their parents.

In the true crime case that gripped America in the 1990s, the Menendez Brothers were convicted of first-degree murder after they brutally shot and killed their father, José, and their mother, Kitty, a former beauty queen. In the first prosecution, the brothers walked due to two hung juries and a mistrial after the defense successfully argued they killed their parents in a panic after confronting their father about years of sexual abuse. Two years later, when prosecuted a second time, the sexual abuse failed to sway the jury, and the brothers were convicted.

In 2023, the Menendez Brothers’ claims of sexual abuse gained some credibility when Roy Rosselló, a former member of the boy band Menudo, alleged that José Menendez repeatedly sexually abused him as a teenager. As the New York Times reported at the time:

Roy Rosselló, a former member of Menudo, the boy band of the 1980s that became a global sensation, is coming forward with an allegation that he was sexually assaulted as a teenager by Jose Menendez.

The assertion was aired on Tuesday in a segment on the “Today” show that outlined some of the findings of a three-part docuseries scheduled to air on Peacock, the streaming service from NBCUniversal, beginning on May 2. The series, “Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed,” based on reporting by the journalists Robert Rand and Nery Ynclan, is largely focused on Mr. Rosselló. He describes an encounter with Mr. Menendez but also recounts separate incidents of sexual abuse that he says were inflicted on him by one of Menudo’s former managers when he sang as part of the group.

In the docuseries, Rosselló described being drugged and raped by José Menendez when visiting his New Jersey home at the age of 14.

“I know what he did to me in his house,” Rosselló says of Menendez in the documentary.

In another clip, Rosselló points at a photo of José Menendez and says, “That’s the man here that raped me. That’s the pedophile.”

“It’s time for the world to know the truth,” he also said.

José Menendez had signed the group Menudo, sometimes referred to as the most “Iconic Latino Pop Music Band,” when he served as an executive of RCA Records. Rosselló and other members of the band said they were verbally, emotionally, and sexually abused in the four-part HBO Max docuseries Menudo: Forever Young.

Since the explosive allegations were made public, the Menendez Brothers sought to have the charges reduced to manslaughter. While Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic did not reduce the charges, he reduced the brothers’ sentences from life without parole to 50 years to life. Per the Associated Press (AP), the brothers would be “eligible for parole under California’s youthful offender law because they committed the crime under the age of 26.”

A state parole board will now decide if the brothers will walk free.

In a livestream video before the hearing, Lyle Menendez said he makes “no excuses” for the murder of his parents.

“I killed my mom and dad. I make no excuses and also no justification,” Lyle said. “The impact of my violent actions on my family … is unfathomable.”

Erik apologized to his family. “You did not deserve what I did to you, but you inspire me to do better,” he said.

The judge said he extensively pondered over whether or not to reduce the sentences and ultimately gave them “a lot of credit for changing their lives.” He was also “especially moved by a letter that was submitted by a prison official who wrote in support of the resentencing, something he had never done for any incarcerated person in 25 years,” per the AP.

“I’m not saying they should be released, it’s not for me to decide,” the judge said. “I do believe they’ve done enough in the past 35 years, that they should get that chance.”

During the famous trial, the Menendez defense could not produce one witness to testify that the boys had been sexually abused or that their father had sexually abused others, which largely swayed the jury into ultimately convicting them of murder. The defense had tried to bring the charges down to manslaughter, claiming that the brothers killed their parents in a panic after confronting them about the sexual abuse. Prosecutors argued that the brothers killed their parents to access their $14 million estate. Regardless of the motives, the murders were undeniably gruesome, with José Menendez being shot five times, including once in the back of the head.

Paul Roland Bois directed the award-winning Christian tech thriller, EXEMPLUM, which has a 100% Rotten Tomatoes critic rating and can be viewed for FREE on YouTube, Tubi, or Fawesome TV. “Better than Killers of the Flower Moon,” wrote Mark Judge. “You haven’t seen a story like this before,” wrote Christian Toto. A high-quality, ad-free rental can also be streamed on Google Play, Vimeo on Demand, or YouTube Movies. Follow him on X @prolandfilms or Instagram @prolandfilms.

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