I made my first appearance on the @wsj.com's podcast, The Journal, to talk about the proposed billionaire tax that is roiling California. Thanks to the team for having me! www.wsj.com/podcasts/the...

I went to the pro-billionaire march in San Francisco yesterday and wrote about it: www.wsj.com/lifestyle/bi...

Disclosures today show that Google co-founder Sergey Brin made a $20-million political contribution, one of his largest and most public donations ever. Details on the new effort that he and other wealthy founders/execs are funding, called Building a Better California: www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

A proposed billionaire tax has some of the richest Californians eyeing the exits. First, they’ll have to contend with the state's dogged tax collectors. Had fun with this @wsj.com story: www.wsj.com/lifestyle/ca...

If you've ever walked into a hotel room and realized with horror that the bathroom was behind a barn door, or even a curtain, this story is for you: www.wsj.com/lifestyle/tr...

Rob Bonta passes on run for California governor

This video is short and effective at showing what happened.

The woman shot and killed by ICE in Minneapolis today, Renee Nicole Good, was the mother of a 6-year-old boy. His father died in 2023. “There’s nobody else in his life,” his grandfather said. “I’ll drive. I’ll fly. To come and get my grandchild.” www.startribune.com/she-was-an-a...

How does Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang feel about California’s proposed billionaire tax? “We chose to live in Silicon Valley, and whatever taxes I guess they would like to apply, so be it. I’m perfectly fine with it.” www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

“Newsom, who is 58, has a memoir coming out next month. This is a traditional rite of passage for people running for president, which he is, even though we are supposed to pretend that he hasn’t decided yet.” www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

In the final hours of 2025, some high-profile tech investors criticized a proposed tax on the ultrawealthy in California, while some big-name billionaires took steps to create distance between themselves and the Golden State -- more from me and @benglickman.bsky.social: www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...

You: Wow, look at how badly Andrew Tate lost this fight Me, also a normal person: Is that the guy from Too Hot To Handle?

“I’ve waited 30 years,” said a woman who filed a complaint to the FBI about Jeffrey Epstein's interest in “child pornography” in 1996, about a decade before investigators began scrutinizing him. “I can’t believe it. They can’t call me a liar anymore.” www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/u...

A tough one to report and write, but hopefully conveys with sensitivity the difficulty the Reiners faced as a family: www.wsj.com/us-news/rob-...

Yellow-Red-Blue, by Wassily Kandinsky, 1925 (detail, rotated), 📸 by @riogiancarlo.bsky.social

Well this is pretty wild [🎁]

Billionaires Amass War Chests to Fight AI Regulation * Goal is influence ahead of 2026 midterm elections * More than 1,000 AI-related bills were introduced by state lawmakers in 2025 * Leading the Future super PAC has $100 million+ www.wsj.com/tech/ai/tech... by @laurajnelson.bsky.social

So thankful for all the dear friends who’ve welcomed me at their Thanksgiving tables over the years and shared their family traditions. Today my aggressively Midwestern green bean casserole (yes, with potato chips) shared a table with Persian beets and saffron rice. America!

Elliott Erwitt, 1988

“When you are dying, at least in my limited experience, you start remembering everything.” Tatiana Schlossberg, the daughter of Caroline Kennedy, writes about receiving a terminal diagnosis. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/4SkkDI

California is home to more billionaires than any other state. Voters may have a chance next year to hit them with a 5% wealth tax. My story with @laurajnelson.bsky.social: www.wsj.com/business/cal...

NEW: The End of the Line: the centrepiece of Saudi Arabia’s Neom gigaproject - a 500m tall, 170km long wall-like building intended ultimately to house 9 million people - can’t get out of the ground, say more than 20 former Neom architects, engineers and senior executives. ig.ft.com/saudi-neom-l...

CNN's Clarissa Ward tracked down and confronted a top advisor to former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, who held American journalist Austin Tice after his capture in 2012. "Of course, Austin is dead. Austin is dead," he said in a video captured on hidden cameras. www.cnn.com/2025/10/28/politi...

10 years ago tonight

at what point do they let the runner-up teams start playing

Newsom, Harris both considering runs for president in 2028

Some news: Today is my first day at the Wall Street Journal! I'll be reporting from L.A., tracking big California stories and digging into the nexus between politics and tech. Really excited to get started. For coffees, tips, ideas, gossip, etc., I'm at [email protected].

An artillery shell fired during 250th anniversary celebration of the Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton on Saturday detonated prematurely over Interstate 5, damaging a California Highway Patrol vehicle on JD Vance's security detail www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/u...

I’m honestly very surprised that their most popular recipe of all time is BEEF STEW. I would read 5,000 words on this phenomenon.

Some personal news, as they say: This is my last day at the @latimes.com. Thank you, thank you to everyone who has shared their time, expertise and stories over the last 13 years, and to my kind and brilliant colleagues. Grateful doesn't even begin to cover it.

As I was saying…

Protester found not guilty of assault against federal officer at L.A. immigration protest despite top Border Patrol official's testimony. Latest w/ @brittnymejia.bsky.social www.latimes.com/california/s...

California's incarcerated firefighters, who make about $30 per day, could get a big raise

"The U.S. agricultural workforce fell by 155,000 — about 7 percent — between March and July, according to an analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data. That tracks with Pew Research Center data that shows total immigrant labor fell by 750,000 from January through July."

California legislative leaders have introduced a last-minute deal aimed at increasing oil production in Kern County’s oil fields while further restricting offshore drilling. @laurajnelson.bsky.social @grace2e.bsky.social www.latimes.com/california/s...

Shortly after Trump accused Sen. Schiff (@schiff.senate.gov) of mortgage fraud, Schiff's attorney wrote to DOJ that there was “no factual basis” for the claims — but “ample basis” for an investigation of Bill Pulte's work digging into Trump’s political opponents. www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

“In the more than four decades since I started at the L.A. Times, we’ve never had a reporter cover water with the depth and persistence of Ian James.” @raineytime.bsky.social has a Q&A with my friend and colleague @ianjames.bsky.social, a true legend: www.latimes.com/california/n...

Just a PSA for anyone who likes fancy coffee table books or wants to get a jump on their holiday shopping: Taschen's ruinously great annual sale is this weekend: www.taschen.com/en/books/sale/

So hard to choose a favorite from this wonderful @NewYorker feature of New Yorkers in their living rooms, but it might be this shot of Colson Whitehead on a couch that is at least 12 feet long (but could actually be much longer!). www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

A federal judge this morning ruled in a blistering opinion that Trump’s deployment of military troops to Los Angeles was illegal www.latimes.com/california/s...

California’s lightning-fast push for partisan redistricting reflects Trump’s new America (w/ David G. Savage, @melodygutierrez.bsky.social @laurajnelson.bsky.social): www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Happy tomato season to all who celebrate 🍅

I have used my free will on my first Saturday in Sacramento to try a Korean corn dog that is half mozzarella stick and also coated in hot Cheeto dust

NEW: Ratcheting up the pressure in the national fight over control of Congress, the California Legislature has approved a Nov. 4 special election in which voters will decide whether to redraw the state’s electoral lines to help Democrats. www.latimes.com/california/s...

Erik Menendez goes before the California Parole Board today. I’m in Sacramento to cover the hearing and will bring you updates as soon as it’s over. But what does the parole board consider? Who testifies? You can read our preview below: www.latimes.com/california/s...

NEWS: How Democrats plan to reshape California's congressional delegation and thwart Trump. My redistricting story with Seema Mehta -- plus an interactive map of California's proposed House districts, which would need to be approved by voters. www.latimes.com/california/s...

my mentions have started getting really weird

NEW: Sources tell me the D.A.'s office convened a grand jury in Curren Price corruption trial and tried to force his wife, who is at center of conflict allegations, to testify. Records show they even considered charging her as a co-defendant. My latest: www.latimes.com/california/s...

I guess this is as good a time as any to mention that I'll be in Sacramento for the next month, covering the redistricting sprint and the end of the legislative session. Send me your tips and restaurant recs! [email protected]