As the world takes in the scope of the @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social victory in New York, Blueprint’s Jon Regardie looks at the roots of that campaign in LA politics. Great piece.

Are you a Deadhead in Southern California? Or someone interested in counterculture? Or California history and politics? If so, please join me and legendary professor Varun Soni for what promises to be a fun and engaging evening.

My latest for CalMatters, a reflection on the ways we interact with homelessness.

My latest for @calmatters.org, on Senator Alex Padilla, President Donald Trump and the politics of redistricting.

So thankful to my friend @rabcarian.bsky.social and to Writers Bloc for a lively and heartwarming conversation last night about @jerrygarcia.com, the @grateful-dead.bsky.social and American counterculture, all of which feels very timely and important. Thank you!

Flattered and delighted to wake up to this lovely piece in Essential California by my old friend and colleague, the great Jim Rainey.

Delighted to join @thebrianlehrershow.bsky.social for this fun conversation about Jerry Garcia, the Dead and the counterculture. Thank you for having me!

One great thing about writing a book is the conversations it creates. I was thrilled to have one of those with Scott Shafer about @jerrygarcia.com

The book is in the world! Delighted to kick it off with the great Amrit Singh and his dedicated colleagues at Spectrum News. More coming!

How happy does this make me? I’m in San Francisco, celebrating the dedication of “Jerry Garcia Street” with the magnificent Trixie Garcia. Bliss.

Wrapped the audio version of “Here Beside the Rising Tide,” my @jerrygarcia.com counterculture book this morning. Thanks to Tim Miller and York Recording in LA for pulling it off! Book and audio will be released Aug. 5.

My latest for @calmatters, on the political theater unfolding in Los Angeles.

First reviews of my forthcoming book are in and exciting. So grateful for the chance to put this book out in the world and to @publisherswkly.bsky.social for taking note of it. Thank you!

My latest for @calmatters.org on the destructive impact of ICE raids in Los Angeles.

My thoughts on the unrest in Los Angeles — and Trump’s role in provoking it. Thanks to @politico.com

Trump makes life difficult for cities, and he’s doing extra damage to Los Angeles. My latest for @calmatters.org calmatters.org/commentary/2...

What a dick.

Article 1, Sec. 9, Clause 8 of the Constitution: “No Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present …from any King, Prince, or foreign State.” How does a $400 million plane from Qatar not violate that?

How long until Trump blames this on Biden?

My latest for CalMatters, on hard work of reviving LA’s MacArthur Park: calmatters.org/commentary/2...

This is what happens when the brain of a racist melts down: x.com/atrupar/stat...

Imagine that at the outset of WWII, Japan had seized California, Oregon and Washington, and a third power then proposed settling the conflict by having the US cede that territory to Japan to avoid further hostilities. Would we have welcomed that?

This was not a model editorial, but it is certainly the right conclusion for the jury to reach since there is zero evidence of malice.

The art of “surrender diplomacy.”

This explains the idiocy of Trump’s tariff policy better than anything else I’ve seen.

This should be a simple matter for the Court — and a stern rebuke to Trump’s outlandish and ahistorical legal theory. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/17/u...

My latest for CalMatters: calmatters.org/commentary/2...

Well, well, well: www.nytimes.com/2025/04/14/u...

Shockingly, it turns out that Elon Musk and DOGE are lying.

Note to Mr. Crowd Size…

Happy to be started on Bluesky. Here’s a recent piece, first in a series, that i wrote for CalMatters on LA’s MacArthur Park: calmatters.org/commentary/2...