In a commentary in The Hill, UCLA’s Efrén Pérez, a professor of political science and psychology, and director of the UCLA Race, Ethnicity, Politics and Society Lab, writes: “Our evidence shows that the path to a revitalized Democratic coalition runs through solidarity between all people of color. It also clearly indicates that Latinos are predisposed to be reliable Democrats and active allies in collective struggles against a still racially unequal society.” Read more about UCLA in today’s New York Times, Axios and other outlets.  

More highlights from UCLA in the News: Feb. 17, 2026

With latest rollback, the U.S. essentially has no clean-car rules | New York Times

“Globally, the push is in exactly the opposite direction, in the direction of electrifying vehicles,” said Ann Carlson, a professor at UCLA School of Law who served under President [Biden] as acting administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Transportation Department agency that sets fuel efficiency standards. But now, “they’re saying no standards whatsoever,” she said. (Carlson was also featured by France 24.)

AI is advancing too quickly for research to keep up | Axios

This is why peer-review studies are needed, argues Julia Powles, a UCLA law professor and executive director of the UCLA Institute for Technology, Law & Policy. “The only checks on AI system development are internal to the firms themselves,” she tells Axios. “This has made the industry paradigmatically reckless.”

Bass helped Raman win. Now Raman wants to unseat her | Los Angeles Times

[UCLA’s] Zev Yaroslavsky, a former county supervisor and City Council member, does not believe that Raman’s recent history with Bass — endorsing her and later running against her — will be an issue for the electorate. In LA political circles, however, it will be viewed as a transgression, at least in the short term, he said. “As a politician, you don’t have much currency. What you have is your word,” he said.

Voter trust in U.S. elections drops amid Trump critiques | Los Angeles Times

“Now is the time to buckle down and figure out how to fortify our protections for fair elections, and not to give into the chaos and believe it’s somehow overwhelming,” said Rick Hasen, an election law expert and director of the Safeguarding Democracy Project at UCLA Law. (Hasen was also featured by NBC News and by ABC News Daily Australia.)