This is an L.A. Times Studios podcast.

Hi, I'm Angelica Coronado at L.A. Times Studios.

Here are some of today's headlines from the Los Angeles Times.

California is bracing for a dangerous fire season. And experts say federal cuts couldn't have come at a worse time.

Haley Smith reports that hot, dry conditions have set the stage for above normal wildfire activity this summer.

But large cuts at FEMA, NOAA, and the U.S. Forest Service could hinder the state's ability to respond.

Thousands of federal staffers have been laid off, and critical budgets have been slashed.

Experts warn that the loss of key forecasters and fire personnel could create dangerous gaps during peak fire months.

Cal Fire is ramping up staff and using AI to detect fires quicker,

but officials say they still depend on federal teams and data. California may be facing its

most dangerous fire test yet, with fewer federal resources to back it up. The Supreme Court has

ruled that states could ban puberty blockers and hormone treatments for transgender minors.

David Savage and Kevin Rector report the 6-3 decision upholds laws in Tennessee and other Republican-led states that restrict access to gender-affirming care for underage patients.

The majority opinion states that regulating medical treatments

falls within a state's rights, not federally. Justice Sonia Sotomayor says the decision

abandons transgender children and their families to political whims. While gender-affirming

care remains legal in states like California, advocates for transgender health rights warn the ruling could fuel

new state-level bans and jeopardize access through federal programs. It's a landmark moment

in an escalating battle over trans rights, health care access, and state power. Immigration raids

across L.A. have detained hundreds of undocumented workers, but not their employers who hire them.

Caroline Petro Cohen reports ICE agents targeted workers at car washes, factories, and construction sites,

leaving business owners largely untouched.

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