Markwayne Mullin was sworn in Tuesday as DHS secretary, taking the reins of a department that's faced growing scrutiny over its immigration enforcement and mass deportation operations. The Oklahoma senator and former MMA fighter is an ally of President Trump and has long supported his predecessor, Kristi Noem. Meanwhile, a University of Southern California professor created a methodology that determined which candidates from the California gubernatorial race should be invited to a debate. That debate was supposed to happen on Tuesday night, but USC canceled it with less than 24 hours notice after they received backlash for not including any candidates of color. In business, discount retailers like Ross are seeing record growth in California as consumers pivot away from traditional department stores, and developers of the massive One Beverly Hills luxury complex have secured $4.3 billion in financing to complete the 17.5-acre project.
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Transcript
This is an L.A. Times Studio's podcast.
My goal in six months is that we're not in the
lead story every single day. My goal is for people to
understand we're out there, we're protecting them, and we're working with them.
You, sir, you called Alex Prety, quote, a deranged individual that came into
cause max damage. Could we expect those kinds of quick responses if you are
confirmed as secretary? Would you be basically what you did? You responded as
secretary Nome, are we going to just expect that same behavior all over again?
No, Senator. Those words probably should have been retracted. I shouldn't have said that
in the secretary I wouldn't. The investigation is ongoing, and there is, like I said,
there are sometimes going to make mistakes and I own it. That one I went out there too fast.
I was responding immediately without the facts. That's my fault that won't happen as secretary.
Moles and department stores are continuing to close down, but discount chains are growing fast.
Caroline Petro Cohen reports retailers like Ross, Nordstrom, Rack, and five below are growing
because economic anxiety is pushing shoppers to look for deals. Nationwide, Ross opened 90 storefronts
last year and plans to open 110 new ones by the end of the year. The company reported record sales
of $22.8 billion in 2025, up 8% from the year before. Discount retailers have been around for
decades, but experts say a mix of factors are now driving faster growth. After the 2010 recession,
momentum really took off and the stigma around bargain shopping has continued to fade.
Off-price retailers also attract shoppers because they provide customers with the chance to browse
discounted merchandise from struggling department stores. In other business news, a giant luxury
development in Beverly Hills just got a major financial boost. Roger Vincent reports the developers
of the sprawling one Beverly Hills have secured $4.3 billion to complete the project,
which is already under construction and set to open in 2028. The complex will include the
tallest buildings in Beverly Hills, along with an Amon luxury hotel, fewer than 200 condos,
and as many as 45 stores and restaurants. The 17.5 acre site will also feature 8.5 acres of
botanical gardens and will connect one Beverly Hills with a refurbished Beverly Hilton and
Waldorf Astoria. Developers say strong condos sales and partnerships with upscale brands
helped attract the funding from Lenders JP Morgan Chase and Vichy Properties Incorporated.
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