Affordability is no "con job" when it comes to California's rental market. But when the option is freezing in Fargo, you hold on, writes Jane Ganahl in @goldenstateorg.bsky.social www.golden-state.org/retire-to-ar...

Says a man born into great wealth, and who appointed the richest cabinet in U.S. history (per Forbes). I bet none of them cringed when they saw their 2026 health care premium notifications.

An entire room full of powerful old white people smiling and laughing as the president dehumanizes black immigrants and the first black president. Just fucking pathetic.

California shut down its last coal plant last week and nobody even noticed, it made so little little difference. Meanwhile solar is up 17% and gas is down 17% from 2024. I have a few highlights... www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/ding-dong-...

For a book no one seems to like, it sure is getting a lot of attention.

Cover Reveal! “The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy" arrives on August 4, 2026. How extremist tech billionaires are dismantling democracy to crown themselves as kings—and what we can do about it. Please pre-order! ➡️ www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ne...

Can’t say I agree about not improving LAX — it’s a mess. But the author has a good point about air travel, and I enjoy fact-based arguments that challenge my assumptions. If that's your jam too, consider sending some of your #GivingTuesday dollars our way this year at givebutter.com/NY2Duo

My latest missive from California in @globeopinion.bsky.social

NEW: California is having its most wide-open governor’s race in decades. Why’s that? Billionaire Tom Steyer and Rep Eric Swalwell are the latest -- and maybe not the last -- candidates to jump into the contest. Like nature, political ambition abhors a vacuum. www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Jesus Christ

Mexican entrepreneurship knows no limits… Behold the ICE officer piñata 🪅

This is super depressing for us old-school journalists. But it also has the uncomfortable ring of truth.

I have some thoughts about the N.Y. Post's expansion in California. open.substack.com/pub/goldenst...

Does Texas' new districts getting thrown out mean Prop. 50 -- sold as a tit-for-tat response to Texas -- is moot? Nope, because there is no actual triggering language in the CA law that voters passed on Nov. 4, writes @paulthornton.bsky.social

A former Palantir exec just published an extortion letter in the Washington Post: Democrats must fund tech oligarchs, abandon antitrust, and create 15 deregulated corporate zones—or “lose.” When I challenged her, she blocked me. Tech’s moral rot, exposed: www.thenerdreich.com/silicon-vall...

Huang could complicate Bass’ reelection bid, luring away left-of-center voters at a time when the mayor faces criticism over the Palisades fire, the budget and several other issues. The larger the pool of candidates, the more work Bass will have to do to avoid an expensive runoff campaign.

The writer says Nuzzi worked on the book while in a "self-imposed exile in Los Angeles." C'mon! This isn't some rural outpost -- L.A. is celebrity central and the hub of the freaking entertainment universe! People come here to be seen, not to hide. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/s...

A good read by @nataliekorach.bsky.social and @status.news. Murdoch's move into Los Angeles, in the works for months, was a big motivator for us to launch @goldenstateorg.bsky.social. Competition is healthy, but it shouldn't only be billionaire-backed media telling the California story.

Remember all that fanfare about California banning ultra-processed food from school lunches? Well, hurry up and wait. It will take about a decade for it to be fully implemented -- plenty of time for it to get watered down. www.golden-state.org/healthier-sc...

Hooray, ultra-processed foods will be off the menu in CA schools -- in 10 years, that is. Journalist Minerva Canto says that's too long and points to districts that have done it on their own in two years. www.golden-state.org/healthier-sc...

Marc Sandalow in the Golden State Report open.substack.com/pub/goldenst... h/t @marielgarza.bsky.social

Paul and I started Golden State as a labor of love. But our savings accounts are getting light, and we need to be able to pay ourselves and the excellent writers working with us. I hope you can help me raise money for Golden State via @givebutter givebutter.com/NY2Duo

A little bit more about @goldenstateorg.bsky.social

For those wondering what I spent my post-LA Times year doing, the answer is this 👇 Please check it out!

Pelosi’s out. Goodbye to 'San Francisco Democrats' dominance as power shifts south open.substack.com/pub/goldenst...

Gutted by the Dems caving after the blue-wave wins of last week? Sick & tired of us snatching defeat from the jaws of victory? I hear you! Might I suggest you calm yourself, relax, take a deep, cleansing breath... then see if this photo of 2 pandas cuddling is of any help.

We're podcasting! Check out co-founder @marielgarza.bsky.social's chat with L.A. mayoral candidate Austin Beutner. They talk wildfires, housing, affordability, the Olympics and, yes, Donald Trump.

And so another election cycle begins. Check out this interview I did with Austin Beutner, the former L.A. Unified superintendent who is challenging Mayor Karen Bass. open.substack.com/pub/goldenst...

The tiny Golden State Report staff stayed up late and got up early to produce this EXTRA SPECIAL ELECTION BONUS EDITION.

MY LATEST @kcrw.com ORANGE COUNTY LINE: OC federal election monitors are not new. Share, porfas!

After decades of reporting on healthcare, Julie Marquis has some deeply informed thoughts about our ridiculously complicated and punitive system. And she's a great writer. Check it out on @goldenstatereport.bsky.social. No paywall open.substack.com/pub/goldenst...

Can Los Angeles elect its own Zohran Mamdani? Short answer: Maybe, but probably not in 2026 substack.com/@msmarielgar...

A timely piece by L.A. writer Patricia Escárcega in today's @goldenstatereport.bsky.social

What to expect when you are expecting the arrival of 100 federal troops. goldenstatereport.substack.com/p/first-the-...

Hmm, the president seems focused on punishing California of late. I wonder what's that about. Is there an election coming up or something?

Lying is simply his default software. "It won't interfere with the current building. It'll be near it but not touching it," Trump said. nytimes.com/live/2025/10...

So excited to see my talented former colleague @sammyroth.bsky.social set free to write important, impactful climate pieces without the constraints of corporate journalism. Please subscribe to his newsletter. open.substack.com/pub/climatec...

True

Follow @goldenstatereport.bsky.social for more from @marielgarza.bsky.social, me and others.

What the heck was the Marine Corps thinking? It said shooting shells over Interstate 5 as part of a celebration was no big deal. Then, oops, one exploded over what was thankfully an empty freeway. goldenstatereport.substack.com/p/what-the-h...

What the heck was the Marine Corps thinking? It said shooting shells over Interstate 5 as part of a celebration was no big deal. Then, oops, one exploded over what was thankfully an empty freeway. open.substack.com/pub/goldenst...

It’s a good day to replay this classic from my my childhood youtu.be/WvOZs3g3qIo?...

So I'm doing a little thing on Substack (for now) with a former L.A. Times colleague. Here's the latest. open.substack.com/pub/goldenst...

This is the kind of incoherent ranting you'd expect from someone who is experiencing a drug-induced break from reality. But because this dude has a bazillion dollars it's legitimized in lectures, news stories. www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...

I've been working on a new journalism project; details TK. In the meantime, I've been beta-testing content with my partner on this, Mariel Garza, for a small Substack audience. Our first video interview is up; it's on CA secession, and it's with Joe Mathews. www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL1s...

For the record, I do not give a you-know-what about @katieporteroc.bsky.social snapping at a reporter or a staffer. Are you freaking kidding me? Have you checked out the state of our democracy lately? I haven't picked a side in the gov's race, but give me a freaking break on this meaningless crap.

Can we please get our $20 billion back?

And, of course, it would have to be a "Florida Man." @craigtimes.bsky.social www.latimes.com/california/s...