Newsletter: Today: ‘A Moment of Reckoning,’ a Moment in History. Reflections on a Glass Ceiling.
I’m Davan Maharaj, editor-in-chief of the Los Angeles Times. Here are some story lines I don’t want you to miss today.
TOP STORIES
‘A Moment of Reckoning,’ a Moment in History
“A moment of reckoning,” met with optimism and hope. To close out the Democratic convention and accept her historic nomination, Hillary Clinton painted a picture of a nation at a crossroads that would find a way to work together to solve its many problems. In response to Donald Trump’s speech last week, she offered: “Americans don’t say, ‘I alone can fix it.’ We say, ‘We’ll fix it together.’ ” The Trump campaign said it was “delivered from a fantasy universe.” Read Clinton’s complete speech, see the annotations from Times journalists and mark it up with your own comments.
A Question of Trust
Do you trust Hillary Clinton? Much of this week’s convention — and Clinton’s speech last night — was aimed at convincing the many people who don’t trust or like her that they can. As Cathleen Decker writes, answering that question will go a long way toward deciding the outcome of the November election. With an unhappy electorate, nothing is for certain.
Reflections on a Glass Ceiling
A baby boomer theatrical producer and director in Phoenix. A 40-year-old farmer and single mother in the Central Valley. A retired teacher in Leimert Park. A student at UC Berkeley. All these women hold differing views of Clinton, some positive, some negative and some ambivalent. But they all agree that her nomination represents a watershed moment in American history, win or lose.
More Politics
— Even after a convention that critics panned, Trump got a big bounce. Will Clinton gain in the polls now too?
— Roe vs. Wade will be overturned if Trump wins, Mike Pence says.
— The father of a Muslim soldier killed in Iraq says to Trump: “You have sacrificed nothing.”
— Get the latest news, reactions and more.
The Villager Who Came Back From the Dead
In late 2009, Ma Jixiang went for a walk and didn’t return. Three years later, when Chinese police found a car crash fatality matching his description, Ma’s family identified the body and a DNA test seemed to confirm it. But late last year, the real Ma came home. Where was he? The 58-year-old man isn’t saying. The suspicion is he was abducted and sold to an illegal brick factory that preys on the mentally disabled. And he’s not alone.
A Sprinter With a Dashing Name
English Gardner’s parents wanted to give her a name that would stand out. Mission accomplished. Her performance in the 100-meter dash at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials was just as memorable, and now she’s headed to Rio. Along with the good, there have been bad times too.
CALIFORNIA
— Envelopes stuffed with cash: South El Monte’s mayor admits to taking bribes from a city contractor.
— A supervisor at Central Juvenile Hall choked a youth aggressively enough to prompt another worker to call the police, according to an official.
— Runyon Canyon Park will reopen next week after a four-month closure.
— Steve Lopez visits a stretch of beach that billionaire Vinod Khosla says belongs to him.
NATION-WORLD
— North Korea says the U.S. has crossed a “red line,” putting relations on a war footing.
— Concerned over killers seeking “glory,” French news outlets will stop publishing photos of terrorists.
— How Angela Merkel’s call for calm in Germany echoes the U.S. presidential campaign.
— Hold that blueberry pie; the Oregon state fair is now judging the best marijuana.
— Deep space travel might blow your mind, but it could be bad for your heart.
HOLLYWOOD AND THE ARTS
— Moview review: With “Jason Bourne,” Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass perfect their amnesiac spy cocktail.
— The controversial comic “Batman: The Killing Joke,” in which the Joker paralyzes Batgirl, is being resurrected as an animated movie. But why?
— Satirist Paul Krassner remembers his friend, the groundbreaking (and sometimes lawbreaking) comic Lenny Bruce, 50 years after his death.
— “The Blair Witch Project” broke ground by making noise on the Internet. The sequel is doing so by hiding from it.
— “Sesame Street” says goodbye to Bob, Luis and Gordon as cast members are let go.
— Drag goes big (think Broadway) at the Ace Hotel in downtown L.A.
BUSINESS
— In a boost for Uber and others, China is legalizing ride-hailing services.
— Herbalife’s deals with LA Galaxy and Olympic athletes are key for its push overseas, where FTC rules don’t apply.
— David Lazarus: Phone companies could stop robocalls. They’re just not doing much about it.
SPORTS
— Bill Plaschke: Let the Olympic Games go on, but they should do so without the entire Russian team.
— After Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, who is the next face of boxing?
OPINION
— The crux of the Clinton campaign: Would you rather be ruled by Trump?
— The tragedy of South Sudan, only five years after its birth.
— Are we raising a generation of nature-phobic kids?
WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING
— Bill O’Reilly said the slaves who built the White House were well-fed, but Abigail Adams’ account tells of a harsher reality. (The Atlantic)
— First person: What happens when you discover your dad is a YouTube star? (New York Times)
— President Obama sets the record straight on whether he eats exactly seven almonds every night. (Today)
ONLY IN L.A.
The weather outside is frightfully hot, but inside some places in L.A. the noodles are delightfully cold. Times restaurant critic Jonathan Gold is sharing some of his favorite cold noodle dishes around town, including one in Koreatown that’s chilly enough to give you an ice cream headache.
Please send comments and ideas to Davan Maharaj.
