Mike Levin

April 15, 2025 By Shane O'Brien Council Member Julie Won and State Sen. Mike Gianaris joined Transportation Alternatives Saturday for a "people's ribbon-cutting" at the Queensboro Bridge to demand that Mayor Eric Adams opens the now-completed Pedestrian Path across the bridge. Gianaris, Won and Transportation Alternatives representatives raised concerns Saturday that pedestrians and cyclists are... Read More

Ocean City’s pickleball community successfully lobbied to reduce a fee hike planned for this year. Some on City Council want a closer look.

Democrats are bashing President Trump for sharing market advice with his Truth Social followers Wednesday hours before announcing a 90-day pause on most of his sweeping tariffs, elevating calls for a ban on congressional stock trading.Why it matters: The badly bruised market soared on Wednesday following Trump's freeze on the historic levies — leaving some critics questioning who benefitted from the market mayhem."BE COOL! Everything is going to work out well," Trump posted on Truth Social Wednesday morning.The minutes later he posted a separate message: "THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!!"Then, early Wednesday afternoon, Trump abruptly announced the decision to suspend all but 10% baseline tariffs while hiking China levies to 125%.Driving the news: That timeline turned some Democratic heads."These constant gyrations in policy provide dangerous opportunities for insider trading," Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) wrote on social media. On Thursday he shared a letter he co-authored with Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) to inquire who knew about the U-turn ahead of time. "An insider trading scandal is brewing," Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) chimed in. "Trump's 9:30am tweet makes it clear he was eager for his people to make money off the private info only he knew."Rep. Mike Levin (D-Calif.) questioned in a video, "How is this not market manipulation?"What they're saying: "It is the responsibility of the President of the United States to reassure the markets and Americans about their economic security in the face of nonstop media fearmongering," White House spokesperson Kush Desai told Axios. "Democrats railed against China's cheating for decades, and now they're playing partisan games instead of celebrating President Trump's decisive action yesterday to finally corner China," the statement said. A Securities and Exchange Commission spokesperson declined to comment to Axios. By the numbers: The Dow soared nearly 8% Wednesday, the S&P 500 index ballooned by more than 9% and Nasdaq closed up 12%, Axios' Nathan Bomey reported. In a since-scrutinized video of the president introducing Charles Schwab in the Oval Office Wednesday afternoon, Trump joked that Schwab, "made two-and-a-half billion today."Data: Financial Modeling Prep; Chart: Axios VisualsZoom out: Some progressive Dems used the trade flip-flop as an opportunity to urge for a long-floated ban on members of Congress trading stock."Members of Congress should never be allowed to trade stocks. Period," Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) wrote on Bluesky.Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) re-upped his call for House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to bring legislation banning congressional stock trading to the floor, adding, "enough is enough!"Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) echoed that sentiment, writing, "Any member of Congress who purchased stocks in the last 48 hours should probably disclose that now." She added she'd been "hearing some interesting chatter on the floor" and predicted "we're about to learn a few things" with the financial disclosure deadline looming on May 15.Context: The STOCK Act, passed in 2012, requires members of Congress to file financial disclosures of their stock trades within 30 days and established new penalties for insider trading, according to the Campaign Legal Center.But lawmakers are not banned from investing in companies, even ones that their work may intersect with. A 2022 New York Times analysis of members' transactions between 2019 and 2021 found that at least 97 lawmakers bought or sold stock, bonds or other assets related to their work or reported similar transactions by their spouse or child.Yes, but: Trump's news came as a shock to many Republicans on the Hill, Axios' Andrew Solender reported.Mixed messaging from the White House — and a lack of advanced notice before Trump backed down — left GOP allies recovering from tariff whiplash alongside rest of the country and griping that loyalists were not looped in on the plans.The other side: U.S. trade representative Jamieson Greer, who was testifying on Capitol Hill as Trump's announcement hit, said during questioning from Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) that Trump's tariff pause isn't "market manipulation."Horsford replied, "Then what is it? Because it sure is not a strategy."Greer answered, "We're trying to reset the global trading system."Go deeper: Inside the Oval: 3 reasons Trump buckled on tariffs

Elmhurst voters chose a mix of familiar and new people to fill contested seats on both the City Council and the Elmhurst District 205 Board

Michigan Rep. John James, pictured here at a news conference outside the Capitol in May 2024, is running for governor.

In concert with President Donald Trump, Fox News is amplifying right-wing attacks against Chief Judge James Boasberg, who issued an order halting Trump’s mass deportations.The Trump administration has claimed that the immigrants deported to El Salvador are dangerous gang members, but Boasberg issued a temporary retraining order—effectively pausing the deportations—that the administration has disregarded.On Tuesday, Fox News reporter Haley Chi-Sing cast suspicion on Boasberg, particularly regarding his appointment to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court by Chief Justice John Roberts."The Chief Justice handpicked DC Obama Judge Jeb Boasberg to serve on the FISA court. The DC federal judges are in a cozy little club, and they protect their own," said Mike Davis, president of the Article III Project, a right-wing legal group.Fox News, which is owned by Australian-born billionaire Rupert Murdoch, also attacked Boasberg on air. In a Sunday episode of Mark Levin’s “Life, Liberty & Levin,” the judge was mocked as “the most powerful man in America.”Cartoon by Clay BennettFox’s attacks echo Trump, who in a Sunday social media post characterized Boasberg as part of a group of “radical left judges” obstructing his agenda.In recent weeks, judges have reported an increase in death threats and other forms of harassment as Trump has led a crusade against them. But aside from the danger of Trump and his media allies attacking judges, the characterization of Boasberg simply does not pass the smell test.He was first elevated to the federal judiciary by Republican President George W. Bush in 2002. And while Boasberg has received bipartisan support, including from Democrats like President Barack Obama, that didn’t stop him from ordering the release of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s emails in 2016.The attacks against Boasberg do show that the right is of one mind on these issues, despite occasional intra-family disputes. Trump has argued that he must have unchecked deportation power to protect the country from violent criminals, but evidence has already emerged showing that people unaffiliated with gangs are being swept up in his purges and sent to El Salvador.What Trump doesn’t want is judicial oversight of his actions—which is the literal constitutional role of the federal court system. And Fox News proves that he has plenty of support behind his unlawful actions.Campaign Action

Veterans worry about what cuts will mean for their benefits. Some already have their answer.

(INSIDE CALIFORNIA POLITICS) -- In late January and early February, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers opened two Tulare County dams following an executive order from President Trump aimed at getting water to Southern California to fight the Los Angeles area wildfires. Now, a February 3 government memo, first made public last week by the [...]

San Diego City Councilwoman Marni von Wilpert Monday announced her campaign for the California State Senate in District 40, currently represented by Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones, a Republican from Santee.

Lockdown orders across the country varied in their severity, reasoning and ensuing protests, from "No beer without food" orders in the Northeast and sandy skate parks in the west.

Lawmakers push the Department of Homeland Security to drop Chile from the visa waiver program, warning that gangs are exploiting it for organized burglaries in U.S. communities and businesses.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer finds himself sharply at odds with many members of his caucus, fellow Democrats in the House and liberal activists.

In the flurry of Trump's executive orders covering immigration raids, federal firings, funding freezes and tariff negotiations, the dismissing of 17 inspector generals has gotten little notice, but according to San Diego Congressman Mike Levin, this is a bigger issue than most understand.

MassHealth receives $1.4 million from a $47 million settlement with QOL Medical over alleged kickback schemes involving enzyme replacement medicine, Sucraid.

Many social media users noticed the gesture looked like a Nazi salute. Musk fanned the flames of suspicion by not explicitly denying those claims in a dozen posts since.

President Biden's White House placed support of the transgender community and their policies at the forefront of his administration, a review of the last four years show.

The statewide certification votes Tuesday in Nevada and New Mexico follow a vote Monday to certify the results in Arizona.

A president’s Cabinet offers Americans their best view into how an incoming chief executive will govern. In more normal times, presidents used their appointment power to balance competing policy interests, mollify restive members of their own party, and even extend an olive branch to the opposition.That is not the case with the Trump administration. Triumphant at the polls and overstuffed with ego by the partisan right-wing media that gives form to his reality, Trump’s recent slate of nominees are nothing short of a sledgehammer to the federal government. They’re also a sinister loyalty test designed to preemptively root out any remaining Republican dissenters.

Democrat George Whitesides holds a 2,114-vote lead over Rep. Mike Garcia in the 27th Congressional District race, according to figures released by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.

There are 23 races in the U.S. House of Representatives that still being counted; 10 of which are in California.

Republicans won control of the White House and the Senate. Now all eyes are turning to the House, Democrats' last line of defense to stop President-elect Donald Trump and his agenda.

With votes still being counted, here's a look at the key races that remain uncalled by the NBC News Decision Desk (read more on how those races are called on NBCNews.com).

U.S. Rep. Jim Banks soared to victory Tuesday to become Indiana’s newest U.S. Senator after running a quiet campaign fueled by a multimillion-dollar war chest and an endorsement from former President Donald Trump.

WASHINGTON — Time did not bring clarity to the fight to control Congress. After nearly two years since the midterm elections and only days left before Nov. 5, it’s still not clear whether Republicans or Democrats will have a House...

The Texas Senate race has shifted away from GOP Sen. Ted Cruz, seen here at the Republican National Convention, and is now rated Tilt Republican by Inside Elections.

Representatives are elected to two-year terms without term limits, so they're on your ballot a lot. Here's a look the candidates in Los Angeles and Orange counties.

Democrats have the voter registration edge in the district, but nonpartisan election forecasters recently said it's gotten more competitive.

Rep. Matt Gaetz calls for DHS to release unredacted documents linking VP Harris to the "border czar" title, alleging White House interference.

In my role as one of Mrs. Trump’s advisers in the White House, I witnessed many of the moments that have since been drastically recast in books, tweets and interviews by ex-staffers.

The DNC said the money is earmarked for additional staff to target key House races, including several in Southern California.

One election analyst recently changed its rating of California's 45th congressional race to be less favorable for Republicans.

Some Democrats are pushing bills that could put their colleagues on the hot seat in an election year.

Wednesday’s theme, “A Fight for Our Freedoms,” will feature a speech from one of the sparringest members of the Democratic Party: former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

With self-deprecating jokes and some jabs at GOP opponents, Walz promoted Harris and the Democratic ticket in Orange County.

Local Democratic lawmakers say Walz, a Midwestern governor, is smart, reliable and "the perfect complement to the Harris ticket."

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) on Monday announced a slate of 26 Republican candidates as part of its “Young Gun” program, which highlights non-incumbent candidates and challengers in competitive districts. The initial list of 2024 candidates includes 24 Republicans who are either challenging incumbent Democrats or seeking a seat that a Democrat is vacating, [...]

Dave Min and Derek Tran outraised Scott Baugh and Rep. Michelle Steel, respectively, in latest fundraising quarter.

A number of Democratic lawmakers, governors and past leaders were quick to rally behind Vice President Harris as she pursues the Democratic Party's presidential nomination following President Biden's withdrawal from the race. Shortly after dropping out of the presidential race, Biden endorsed Harris as his successor, stating it is "time to come together and beat" [...]

"I remain a Biden fan and will always support you," one House Democrat said.

A total of 37 Democrats in Congress have called on Biden to drop out following a rocky debate performance and two gaffe-filled public appearances.

A total of 36 Democrats in Congress have called on Biden to drop out following a rocky debate performance and two gaffe-filled public appearances.