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Michael Wilner
Journalist Spotlight

Michael Wilner

@mawilner14.1K followers

Washington bureau chief for the Los Angeles Times

Front-Page Stories13Last 30 Days
Lead Stories6Last 30 Days
Papers Covered1Last 30 Days
Last Front PageMAY 31, 2026Latest appearance

Featured Story

Featured Lead Story

Xi warns Trump against threat to bilateral ties

Chinese leader says support for Taiwan could set off conflict between superpowers.

View Front PageLos Angeles Times • MAY 15, 2026

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Los Angeles Times front page

Trump’s polling sinks to a new low

GOP strategists fear the perilous milestone suggests his long-solid base is finally waning.

With:Ana Ceballos
LA
Los Angeles Times•MAY 31, 2026
Analyzes recent polling data indicating a decline in support for the former president among his core base.
Los Angeles Times front page

Doubt shadows peace process with Iran

Trump is signaling optimism, but the deal would require major U.S. concessions.

LA
Los Angeles Times•MAY 30, 2026
Examines the geopolitical and domestic political obstacles to a potential ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran.
Los Angeles Times front page

Shaky U.S.-Iran talks risk collapse

Strikes by Pentagon and Israeli attacks in Lebanon undermine hopes for end to war.

With:Nabih Bulos
LA
Los Angeles Times•MAY 27, 2026
Reports on the fragile state of diplomatic negotiations following military strikes in Lebanon and Yemen.
Los Angeles Times front page

At China summit, did Xi outplay Trump?

The administration argues trip was a success, but there were no major deals.

LA
Los Angeles Times•MAY 17, 2026
Questions the administration's narrative of diplomatic success by emphasizing the lack of concrete agreements.
Los Angeles Times front page

Trump’s tonal shift yields few results in China

Still, both sides hail appearance of a U.S. reset with President Xi as a breakthrough.

LA
Los Angeles Times•MAY 16, 2026
Focuses on the lack of concrete diplomatic or economic achievements despite changes in diplomatic rhetoric during a state visit.
Los Angeles Times front page

Xi warns Trump against threat to bilateral ties

Chinese leader says support for Taiwan could set off conflict between superpowers.

LA
Los Angeles Times•MAY 15, 2026•Lead Story
The paper focuses on the origin and transmission context of a viral outbreak, presenting it as a public health issue linked to global travel rather than an immediate local crisis.
Los Angeles Times front page

Trump hails ties with China on eve of state visit

President is expected to seek Xi Jinping's cooperation on trade and critical minerals.

With:Kevin Rector
LA
Los Angeles Times•MAY 13, 2026
Los Angeles Times front page

Beijing is taking note of U.S. stumbles in Iran war

Conflict offers China a chance to flex on world stage

LA
Los Angeles Times•MAY 12, 2026•Lead Story
The paper examines a Middle Eastern conflict through the lens of great power competition, framing American operational difficulties primarily as a geopolitical opportunity for China. The coverage is analytical rather than alarmist, focusing on shifting diplomatic leverage.
Los Angeles Times front page

Fears of an AI leap may revive U.S.-China talks

Trump administration, once eager to rule over tech, is weighing a what-if scenario.

LA
Los Angeles Times•MAY 11, 2026•Lead Story
The paper frames the story around a geopolitical recalibration driven by technological anxiety, highlighting a potential pragmatic shift in the US administration's diplomatic approach towards China.
Los Angeles Times front page

Taiwan fears a Trump ad-lib in Beijing

Taipei worries even a small word change by the president could imperil the status quo.

LA
Los Angeles Times•MAY 10, 2026•Lead Story
The paper focuses on the cascading local economic impacts of recent strikes and industry shifts, framing the story around the vulnerability of ancillary businesses that support major film productions.
Los Angeles Times front page

U.S. shifts from offense to hope of an Iran deal

Rubio says Operation Epic Fury ‘is over,’ a step toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

With:Ana Ceballos,Nabih Bulos
LA
Los Angeles Times•MAY 6, 2026•Lead Story
Presents a de-escalation in military posture as a strategic pivot toward diplomatic resolution and economic normalization in a key shipping lane.
Los Angeles Times front page

Attacks in gulf renew fears of long war

Iran strikes UAE and Oman, undermining confidence in strength of ceasefire with U.S.

With:Nabih Bulos
LA
Los Angeles Times•MAY 5, 2026
Los Angeles Times front page

Iran’s defiance limits Trump’s options for an offramp in war

Administration faces legal and diplomatic pressure. Support lags for unpopular conflict.

LA
Los Angeles Times•MAY 2, 2026•Lead Story
The paper frames the situation objectively as a structural and geopolitical constraint on the US administration, focusing on diplomatic pressure and public opinion rather than dramatic military developments.
Los Angeles Times front page

Torrance man charged with trying to kill Trump

Suspect planned to shoot through gala, officials say

With:Kevin Rector
LA
Los Angeles Times•APR 28, 2026•Lead Story
The paper leads with the formal charging of the suspect, foregrounding his local origin to anchor a major national security event in a regional context. A secondary piece specifically explores the local environment where the firearms were purchased.
Los Angeles Times front page

Rethinking safety in time of tumult

Incident prompts concerns whether event policies fit the modern era

With:Justine Mcdaniel
LA
Los Angeles Times•APR 27, 2026
Examines the broader policy implications of the shooting for high-profile event security.
Los Angeles Times front page

Vance’s role in Iran talks holds political risks

Vice president faces a diplomatic minefield, trying to get a deal that Tehran accepts.

LA
Los Angeles Times•APR 23, 2026•Lead Story
The paper presents the educational policy shift factually, grounding the school board's decision in a broader context of parental pressure and expert concerns regarding childhood development.
Los Angeles Times front page

Emerging deal would provide Iran with major concessions

U.S. claims strait is open for good. Tehran says it may shut it again, impose tolls.

LA
Los Angeles Times•APR 18, 2026
Los Angeles Times front page

Trump weighs talks with Iran amid troop surge

U.S. will have 60,000 deployed in the region, with ceasefire expiring next week.

LA
Los Angeles Times•APR 16, 2026•Lead Story
Frames the dispute as a matter of municipal accountability and local economic benefit rather than a dramatic crisis. The focus remains on pragmatic financial stakes for the city.
Los Angeles Times front page

Fears of a deeper rot in Congress

Sordid culture is open secret, and young female aides are reportedly warned about some lawmakers

With:Ana Ceballos,Justine Mcdaniel
LA
Los Angeles Times•APR 15, 2026
Broadens a specific political scandal into a systemic examination of workplace culture and safeguards for female aides on Capitol Hill.
Los Angeles Times front page

Escalation could pull China straight into gulf conflict

LA
Los Angeles Times•APR 13, 2026
Analyses the secondary geopolitical risks of the US blockade, specifically concerning Chinese oil reliance.
Los Angeles Times front page

U.S.-Iran talks are uncertain as strikes continue

Vance will travel to Pakistan. Israel willing to meet with Lebanon but won't halt attacks.

With:Nabih Bulos,Justine Mcdaniel
LA
Los Angeles Times•APR 10, 2026•Lead Story
The paper focuses on the unprecedented coordination between different labour groups, framing the impending strike as a severe logistical threat to the school district rather than focusing primarily on the specific contract demands.
Los Angeles Times front page

Iranian hackers target key U.S. infrastructure

Intelligence agencies warn companies of escalating campaigns, presumed retaliation for Trump’s threats

LA
Los Angeles Times•APR 8, 2026
Highlights ongoing cyber threats as an asymmetric response to geopolitical tensions, even amid a formal military truce.
Los Angeles Times front page

Trump holds fast to Iran deadline, intensifies threat

The president claims talks are underway. Critics say bombing plans are illegal.

With:Ana Ceballos,Nabih Bulos,Gavin J. Quinton
LA
Los Angeles Times•APR 7, 2026•Lead Story
The paper frames the situation as a high-stakes diplomatic standoff, balancing the administration's claims of ongoing negotiations with critical assessments of the legality of its military threats.
Los Angeles Times front page

Daring rescue and a profane Trump threat

He says ‘we’re blowing up the whole country’ if strait stays shut. U.S. airman is hurt but safe.

With:Nabih Bulos
LA
Los Angeles Times•APR 6, 2026
Los Angeles Times front page

Army chief’s firing at time of war adds to Pentagon turmoil

LA
Los Angeles Times•APR 5, 2026
Los Angeles Times front page

Pilots rescued after two U.S. warplanes go down in Iran

One is hit by enemy fire after Hegseth said air defense systems had been obliterated.

With:Nabih Bulos,Gavin J. Quinton
LA
Los Angeles Times•APR 4, 2026•Lead Story
The paper focuses on the successful recovery of the downed pilots while explicitly contrasting the successful enemy strike with recent assurances from the Defense Secretary regarding disabled Iranian air defenses.

About this page

Paperboy tracks bylines on the front pages of major US and UK broadsheets. This page shows every front-page story attributed to Michael Wilner in our archive, based on bylines extracted from front-page images by AI. It covers only front-page stories — not the full output of this journalist. Data begins April 2026.