Headlines From The Times - Burning Teslas, AI Tacos & Water from the Sea

Teslas are being torched and defaced across the country, as Elon Musk becomes a political flashpoint. Plus, California tests a wild new way to turn ocean water into drinking water—no massive plants or toxic brine required. Also, AI is about to take your drive-thru order, thanks to a new Yum Brands–Nvidia deal. And Wall Street breaks its losing streak with tech stocks bouncing back... kind of

Headlines From The Times - Introducing, Boiling Point: Climate Change Is No Joke. Or Is It?

Introducing a new podcast from LA Times Studios and award-winning L.A. Times columnist Sammy Roth, Boiling Point, where Sammy breaks down the many complexities of today's climate challenges and solutions with top experts in the field. In this episode comedian Esteban Gast talks with Sammy about using humor to alleviate climate anxiety, while making clean energy and other environmental solutions more interesting — and even fun. From punchlines to policy, they explore laughter as a powerful tool for change.

Headlines From The Times - JFK Files Declassified, UC Hiring Freeze & Tesla’s Taxi Test

The Trump administration just released 80,000 pages of JFK assassination files, but no major revelations have been found—yet. Meanwhile, the University of California freezes hiring to protect research funding as Trump threatens education cuts. Hollywood secures record-breaking tax credits to keep productions in the state, and Tesla gets approval for a taxi permit—but only for its employees.

Headlines From The Times - Diplomatic Fallout, Medi-Cal’s Billions, and Soaring Credit Card Debt

The U.S. orders South Africa’s ambassador to leave, escalating tensions between the two countries. California’s Medi-Cal program faces a $6.2 billion shortfall, putting healthcare funding in the spotlight. SoCal cities top the nation in credit card debt, while Dodgers fans finally get a streaming-only option—but it’s not cheap.

Headlines From The Times - Budget Battles, Banned Corn, and Big Tech Troubles

California’s $9.5 billion healthcare program for undocumented immigrants is $3 billion over budget, forcing lawmakers to consider tough cuts. Mexico just banned genetically modified corn, pushing back against U.S. agribusiness. Tech stocks are tumbling—what’s behind the sell-off? And the Olympics are staying put! NBC secures broadcast rights through 2036 in a massive $3 billion deal.