Headlines From The Times

Anthropic is now briefing the government and starting an effort called Project Glasswing, giving 50 tech organizations like Microsoft and Nvidia access to their new platform Mythos Preview in an attempt to strengthen digital defenses. Meanwhile, an exclusive Wall Street Journal report reveals the U.S. Justice Department's investigation into whether the NFL is engaging in anticompetitive tactics that harm consumers. And, for nearly a decade, Californians watched as their neighbors left the state in record numbers, but research from the California Policy Lab shows the biggest driver is simple: affordability. Read more at https://LATimes.com.

The United States and Iran came to a ceasefire deal on Tuesday night, expected to last two weeks, but Iran is already saying Israel is violating it by continuing attacks on Lebanon. The ceasefire came just a day after President Trump warned he would destroy a "whole civilization" unless Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, nearly 400,000 Los Angeles students could be out of class next week, as three major unions representing teachers, school staff, and administrators threaten a historic strike on April 14th, with the district now considering emergency "hubs" for families with no other childcare options. In business, the AI boom has propelled San Francisco's median home price to a record $2.15 million as high-earning tech workers flood a market with historically low inventory, and California’s data center expansion is facing significant local opposition, causing developers to scrap or delay multi-billion dollar projects, and even shift to other states like Texas. Read more at https://LATimes.com.

President Trump said the Iran war is “nearing completion” while warning the U.S. will strike Iran extremely hard over the coming weeks. Oil prices jumped as traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained shut down, with global benchmarks climbing above $100 a barrel. In California, a fight over AI infrastructure is growing, with a proposed $40 million data center in Monterey Park facing backlash over cost, noise, and pollution. Meanwhile, Governor Gavin Newsom is drawing criticism for a more aggressive social media strategy that pokes fun at conservatives. In business, the eco-friendly footwear company Allbirds has agreed to sell its assets to American Exchange Group for a fraction of its previous $4 billion valuation, and Trader Joe’s continues its steady growth with new locations in Paso Robles and Anaheim Hills. Read more at https://LATimes.com.

On the first day of his second term in office, President Trump signed an executive order arguing that babies born in the United States to parents who are either undocumented immigrants or temporary foreign visitors are not citizens, going against U.S. policy that dates back more than 150 years based on a longstanding interpretation of the 14th Amendment. On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court took up that question again, and in a historic move, Trump attended the oral arguments in person, something no sitting president has ever done before. We should see a decision on this in late June or early July. Meanwhile, for the first time in more than 50 years, humans are headed for the moon. On Wednesday evening, NASA's Artemis II is launching four astronauts on a lunar fly-around. Already, the mission is making history, the crew includes the first woman, the first person of color, and the first non-American to set off for the moon, with liftoff scheduled from Cape Canaveral, Florida. In business, organizers of the Barbie Dream Fest in Florida are issuing full refunds after attendees reported the high-priced immersive event failed to meet expectations, and Apple is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Read more at https://LATimes.com.

The United States and Israel's war on Iran is going on a month now, with Iran reportedly dismissing President Trump's ceasefire plan and offering a proposal of their own. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is ordering 2,000 soldiers from the Army's 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East. In total, an estimated 50,000 U.S. troops are stationed throughout the region in what the Pentagon is calling "Operation Epic Fury." And lawmakers are facing intense pressure to fund the Department of Homeland Security as travel chaos spreads across the country, with the Senate appearing to be closing in on a deal that would fund parts of DHS like TSA, but not ICE, which has been at the core of the dispute. Now, airlines are turning up the heat on lawmakers. Delta Airlines announced Wednesday that it will suspend special accommodations for members of Congress, including airport escorts and priority travel support. In business, Amazon-backed Zoox is quadrupling its autonomous vehicle service area in San Francisco and preparing for launches in Austin and Miami, and plus-size fashion retailer Torrid is shuttering a significant portion of its physical locations as it shifts focus toward digital sales. Read more at https://LATimes.com.