Civil Rights and Social Justice

Crowds have gathered for the second day in a row at LAX to protest President Donald Trump's immigration and travel ban on seven predominantly Muslim countries.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, CA Congressman Ted Lieu and Congresswoman Maxine Watersand, and actress Ellen Page are reportedly part of a group of hundreds who have descended on the airport to decry the detention of travelers from counties on the list, which includes Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lybia, Sudan, Somalia and Yemen.

"The Muslim ban is simply based on bigotry," said Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., Sunday in response to President Donald Trump's refugee travel ban.

Lieu went on to tell reporters outside of Los Angeles International Airport at an afternoon press conference:

"Our president and campaign made statements that were bigoted. He has now taken actions based on bigotry, which leads me to conclude that the American president is a bigot. I'm not proud to say that, but is it important for people to call it what it is, and then do protests."

After James Mattis was sworn in as his Secretary of Defense, President Donald Trump signed an "extreme vetting" executive order that, in his words, would "keep radical Islamic terrorists out."

Below is text of the order that Trump signed:

Here is the "extreme vetting" executive order President Trump signed

In our politically toxic capital, there's a bipartisan effort underway to better protect motorists in a world increasingly aware that automobiles are vulnerable to cyberattacks. Two members of the U.S. House of Representatives introduced legislation Wednesday called the Security and Privacy in Your Car Study Act of 2017, or the SPY Act. It would direct federal regulators to conduct a study that would determine the best cyber standards and defenses for motor vehicles.

Rep. Ted Lieu is now placing an asterisk next to President Trump's name in news releases.

It's the Torrance Democrat's way of drawing attention to his concerns about the new administration, he said.

"Sometimes the best way to respond to crazy is with satire," Lieu said. "Never before have I had this feeling where our leader is potentially unhinged and has a problem with the truth, and that is highly disturbing for the leader of the free world. So I've decided I'm just going to point that out as much as I can."

What began as a high-minded discussion about how to position the Democratic Party against President Donald Trump appears to be nearing its conclusion. The bulk of the party has settled on a scorched-earth, not-now-not-ever model of opposition.

In legislative proposals, campaign promises, donor pitches and even in some Senate hearings, Democrats have opted for a hard-line, give-no-quarter posture, a reflection of a seething party base that will have it no other way.

If you're looking for a ray of sunshine in the alternative fact-riddled hellscape that is our life now (we're looking at you, EPA social media ban,

A bipartisan bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on Wednesday with a major focus on automotive cybersecurity. The Security and Privacy in Your Car Study Act of 2017 (SPY Car Study Act, for short) is co-sponsored by Reps. Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Joe Lieu (D-CA).