Esteban had never heard of the prison gang Los Paisas until he was held at the Adelanto immigrant detention center in California. As soon as he passed through the bars of his housing unit, other detainees made it clear he had to choose: join them or join another group made up of Russians, Indians, Chinese, and Armenians. He understood that doing neither would leave him defenseless, so he accepted. There was no initiation ritual and he was not asked to swear allegiance. The rules were simple: protect your own from violent people, settle internal disputes, and keep a measure of order in a place where authority often seemed insufficient. Over the months, deportations and transfers took away people he knew. They were replaced by newcomers, some of whom did not understand the dynamics of detention. He had to teach them. Before he knew it, Esteban was among the most long-standing members and, without seeking the role, he became one of the leaders of the gang.
© LUCY NICHOLSON (REUTERS)
Critics say president using well-worn playbook – with loyalists in key positions ready to amplify his message
Donald Trump is “inventing fraud” in California’s primary elections, and likely to ramp up unfounded allegations when more races go against him, pro-democracy experts have warned.
While the US president has used this playbook for years – from his loss at the Emmys as a reality TV star to his defeat in the 2020 presidential election – election integrity campaigners fear this time could be different.
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© Photograph: Samuel Corum/Getty Images
© Photograph: Samuel Corum/Getty Images
© Photograph: Samuel Corum/Getty Images
Denim giant claims trademarked design has been copied by S-Double, which was founded in 2008 by Shawn Stussy and is owned by the Melbourne-based clothing company
Global jeans giant Levi’s has launched legal action against Australian clothing company Globe and one of its brands for sewing tags on to pockets – which it says is “blatant copying” of its trademark design.
The US denim giant made the same claim 15 years ago against the same brand, S-Double, founded by Shawn Stussy and owned by Melbourne-headquartered Globe.
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© Photograph: Sean Gallup/Getty Images
© Photograph: Sean Gallup/Getty Images
© Photograph: Sean Gallup/Getty Images
© Loren Elliott for The New York Times
Progressive challenger to face incumbent mayor in November as former reality star Pratt trails behind
Nithya Raman, a progressive Los Angeles city council member, has advanced to the November runoff for LA mayor, edging out former reality TV villain Spencer Pratt for the chance to face incumbent mayor Karen Bass.
Pratt, who decided to run for mayor after his Pacific Palisades home burned down in the 2025 wildfires, held a lead over Raman for days. But as ballot processing from last week’s election continued, the city councillor pulled ahead.
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© Composite: Getty Images for Highland Fleets, AP
© Composite: Getty Images for Highland Fleets, AP
© Composite: Getty Images for Highland Fleets, AP
© Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times
Raman shook up LA mayoral race by entering hours before the deadline – now she faces her one-time political ally
On election night, Nithya Raman seemed as if she was prepared to lose the second spot in the Los Angeles mayoral race to the reality TV star Spencer Pratt, whose viral campaign appeared on track to upend the contest.
“Many thousands of votes will be counted in the days ahead, and we may not get an answer we like. But regardless of what happens next, nobody can take away what all of us have built together,” Raman, a progressive Democrat who sits on the LA city council, told her supporters.
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© Photograph: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
© Photograph: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
© Photograph: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
© The New York Times
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