"A man who is high on oratory but lacking in the fundamental decency of honoring one’s word" That's in a 2016 email from Harry Reid's ex-chief-of-staff to the senator about President Obama before a list of 16 (!) grievances had about Obama. jonralston.substack.com/p/after-leav...

Good morning from The #WeMatter State. On this day in 2014, @wapo ran this headline: "Harry Reid is the most endangered Democrat in the Senate." His #s were terrible, Brian Sandoval might run, etc. Ah, what might have been. Days 'til my Reid bio: 62 Days 'til '26 election: 350

Now it can be told: Three Dem elected officials - Sen. Jacky Rosen, AG Aaron Ford and Rep. Ro Khanna -- all committed to and then backed out of IndyFest, our annual ideas conference. They did it for the same reason: The Culinary Union. Here's the story: thenevadaindependent.com/article/why-...

Film tax bill is on the verge of passing -- Hollywood East here we come? So what could hold up the stuffed special session? There's only one place to find out all the details: The Nevada Independent. Follow Tabitha Mueller, Eric Neugeboren, Bella Aldrete. thenevadaindependent.com/article/neva...

Good morning from The #WeMatter State. On this day in 1863, Orion Clemens (Sam's bro) bought Carson City property. His house would be nicknamed "The Governor's Mansion" because as territory secretary he was often acting gov. Days 'til my Reid bio: 63 Days 'til '26 election: 351

In wake of the recently concluded shutdown fight, and some Democrats calling for Schumer's head and others believing it could set up the party for next year, I wondered: What would Harry Reid have done? jonralston.substack.com/p/what-would...

Hey, all: At The Nevada Independent, we are in the middle of our end-of-the-year fundraising drive. We are in good shape, but nonprofit journalism is not easy. If you believe in what we do and can spare $5-$10-$25 a month, please donate: nevadaindependent.fundjournalism.org?campaignid=7...

10/20 from the WH: "Gas Prices Hit Four-Year Low Under President Trump" Today from @reviewjournal.com: "Las Vegas Valley gas prices spike, surpassing $4 per gallon mark." www.reviewjournal.com/business/ene...

Good morning from The #WeMatter State. On this day in 1971, the first installment of Hunter S Thompson’s "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" was published in Rolling Stone. A second part followed, then the book came in 1972. Days 'til my Reid bio: 69 Days 'til '26 election: 357

"...'harvesting' or killing of coyotes for prizes could soon be officially recognized and regulated by NV officials...welcomed by some hunters, (but) conservationists...fear will validate a practice they say should be banned." via Amy Alonzo thenevadaindependent.com/article/neva...

"The union’s backing of a Republican in a major race is indicative of its more maverick tendencies — it also endorsed former Vice President Kamala Harris for president in 2024 and Sen. Bernie Sanders ahead of the state’s 2020 Dem presidential primary." thenevadaindependent.com/article/majo...

Good morning from The #WeMatter State. On this day in 1983, Geoff Ralston gave me the greatest gift I will ever get: A kidney. 42 years! I can't tell you how lucky I feel. Allow me to share the story: rgj.com/story/news/p... Days 'til my Reid bio: 70 Days 'til '26 election: 358

Trump pardons folks who tried to help him steal the 2020 election, including Nevadans already under indictment on state charges.

In the wake of Nancy Pelosi's retirement announcement, I reflected a bit on my two very different interviews of her and even more so, her relationship with Harry Reid, which is detailed in an upcoming book you may have heard about. My latest: jonralston.substack.com/p/the-reid-p...

Good morning from The #WeMatter State. On this day in 1932, President Hoover, sitting in a lounge car in Elko, spoke to the nation by radio. It would be his last campaign speech. The next day, he lost to FDR in a landslide. Days 'til my Reid bio: 73 Days 'til '26 election: 361

When Sen. Bob Menendez was about to be indicted in 2015, Reid's staff scrambled to protect him from political damage: "He's in cycle now. He needs to look out for himself." More internal office emails from my Reid bio research. Don't forget to preorder! jonralston.substack.com/p/when-menen...

Good morning from The #WeMatter State. On this day in 1863, constitutional convention delegates chose "Nevada" as the name of the territory. Washoe, Humboldt and Esmeralda had been mulled. Less than a year later: statehood! Days 'til my Reid bio: 74 Days 'til '26 election: 362

"Report: Nevada didn’t pay ransom in statewide cyberattack, spent $1.5M on response" A deep dive into a state report on a cyberattack that shut down some systems and accessed more than 26,000 files and a password vault server. via @eric_neugeboren. thenevadaindependent.com/article/repo...

ICYMI, my Substack on how Harry Reid's staff (and Jim Messina?) reacted to his Romney tax attack, how his staff scrambled to answer ties between his Clean Energy Summit and legislative action and how he tried to broker a union deal. Preorder the book! jonralston.substack.com/p/the-romney...

Good morning from The #WeMatter State. On this day in 1958, lobbied by male dealers, the Vegas City Council banned casinos from hiring female dealers. The ban lasted until 1970! Reno was different, recruited female dealers. Days 'til my Reid bio: 75 Days 'til '26 election: 363

Team Reid was gleeful when he made those charges about Romney's taxes. The team also circled the wagons when @lachlan was working on a clean energy/donor payback story. And they once wanted Reid to broker a union deal. More inside tidbits teasing my bio. jonralston.substack.com/p/the-romney...

Good morning from The #WeMatter State. On this day in 1986, a day after President Reagan's last stop in his last campaign, Harry Reid defeated Jim Santini to launch his Senate career. It was the 1st major campaign I covered. Days 'til my Reid bio: 76 Days 'til '26 election: 364

Good morning from The #WeMatter State. On this day in 1998, Sen. Harry Reid beat Rep. John Ensign by 401 votes. After a recount, it was 428 votes. Revelations about that campaign are in a new book! www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ga... Days 'til my Reid bio: 77 Days 'til '26 election: 365

Good morning from The #WeMatter State. On this day in 1864, Abraham Lincoln signed Presidential Proclamation 119, and NV became the 36th state. The state Constitution had been sent by telegram. Happy Nevada Day, everyone! Days 'til my Reid bio: 80 Days 'til '26 election: 368

ICYMI: Harry Reid had fundraisers at Trump's NYC pad back in the day, but never thought Trump could be nominated in '16. He also once was friendly with Karl Rove and jokingly said he should run for NV gov. (I think he was joking!) Preorder the book! jonralston.substack.com/p/reid-on-tr...

First review of my Reid bio! www.publishersweekly.com/9781982194413

Reid on Trump: He was "very good to Democrats" when he first got to the Senate; in 2016: "I thought he had no chance to win" and later: He will be "the downfall of The Republican Party." And some notes to Rove, too! More on Substack on my Reid bio. jonralston.substack.com/p/reid-on-tr...

Strip visitor volume fell for the 9th straight month...declining 8.8 percent with just under 3.1 million visitors in Sept. Through 9 months, Vegas visitation is down 8 percent from 2024, which includes double-digit declines in June,July. Everything is fine. thenevadaindependent.com/article/vega...

Good morning from The #WeMatter State. On this day in 1914, Gov. Tasker Oddie proclaimed a holiday to commemorate NV becoming a state 50 years earlier. In 1935, the Legislature made it a recurring holiday. 4-day week, all! Days 'til my Reid bio: 84 Days 'til '26 election: 372

Some rare good news for state education metrics, although still a long way to go in Nevada as policy to hold back some kids in third grade looms. Great data-driven journalism by @eric_neugeboren. thenevadaindependent.com/article/neva...

Lindsey Graham: "He went to the dark side." Ted Cruz: "I don’t know a single Democrat or Republican who likes him." Kamala Harris: "She is someone who presents well, speaks well, looks good...she’ll become president someday." Harry Reid, unplugged. jonralston.substack.com/p/reids-view...

"The White House is in disarray -- they do not know what they want." Part of a convo between Harry Reid and his COS, David Krone, during a 2013 shutdown. In 2015, Krone emailed a colleague about keeping Chuck Schumer "in line" after Reid's eye injury. jonralston.substack.com/p/in-remembr...

Good morning from The #WeMatter State. On this day in 2008, GOP VP nominee Sarah Palin was in NV, asserting Sen. Barack Obama's response to Putin's invasion of Georgia was weak, predicting Putin would soon invade..Ukraine. Days 'til my Reid bio: 90 Days 'til '26 election: 378

Good morning from The #WeMatter State. On this day in 2008, Bill Clinton was in Elko! Yes, Elko, stumping for Barack Obama. Later, in Reno, introed by Harry Reid, he did a rally. Obama would win NV, breaking long GOP streak. Days 'til my Reid bio: 91 Days 'til '26 election: 379

"This Las Vegas Republican had high hopes for Trump. But a ‘Trump slump’ made life worse." The estimable Mark Z. Barabak talks to a Vegas food server who voted twice for Trump, but now is disillusioned, hit by higher prices in the Trump economy. www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Good morning from The #WeMatter State. On this day in 1992, Phillies slugger Bryce Harper was born in Vegas. He once told a reporter, "That's a clown question, bro." Big fan, Harry Reid, later used the line. HOF stats? Days 'til my Reid bio: 95 Days 'til '26 election: 383

"...the letter outlines fears about a poor return on investment with film tax credits and called the proposal “'fiscally irresponsible and politically indefensible.'” via @tabitha_mueller thenevadaindependent.com/article/stat...

Good morning from The #WeMatter State. On this day in 1993, the $375M Luxor, shaped like a pyramid, opened on the Strip. Five years later, on the same date, the $1.6B Bellagio, a new standard for Strip opulence, opened. Days 'til my Reid bio: 96 Days 'til '26 election: 384

On the 15th anniversary of the infamous Harry Reid-Sharron Angle U.S. Senate debate, another tease about my Reid bio with a story of that day and the aftermath. Also, an incredible letter from a publisher to a lobbyist after a story all but libeled him. jonralston.substack.com/p/a-debate-a...

Good morning from The #WeMatter State. On this day in 2010, Harry Reid, Sharron Angle debated on PBS. My column hed on Reid losing was changed by Sun boss/Reid crony Brian Greenspun but url remains! lasvegassun.com/news/2010/oc... Days 'til my Reid bio: 97 Days 'til '26 election: 385

"The (agreement), finalized in June after Las Vegas landed on a federal list of 'sanctuary' jurisdictions that has since been taken offline, allows Metro officers to hold undocumented people in custody for an additional two days so ICE can pick them up..." thenevadaindependent.com/article/aclu...

"Through their online presence, prediction markets — which are regulated federally by a commodity-focused regulatory panel — reach into all 50 states, including those that do not offer legal sports betting, such as California and Texas." thenevadaindependent.com/article/pred...

Good morning from The #WeMatter State. On this day in 2008, Frank Rosenthal, the mob associate portrayed by Robert DeNiro in "Casino," died. Film is worth your time, but this is the best Lefty clip: facebook.com/watch/?v=550... Days 'til my Reid bio: 98 Days 'til 2026 election: 386

"It’s the latest development in the long struggle between the short-term rental industry and the state’s powerful casino resort industry — with the county caught in the middle and accused by short-term rental owners of siding with the Strip." thenevadaindependent.com/article/neva...

“It's done only for the sake of preventing any chance that we do end up on the radar for the Trump administration. All it's doing is adding a little bit more bureaucratic tape...UNLV is trying to appease and do it the best that it can." via Isabella Aldrete thenevadaindependent.com/article/unlv...

The Senate passed a defense authorization bill this week that would help veterans who served at the Nevada Test and Training Range more easily access health benefits. via Mini Racker thenevadaindependent.com/article/sena...

100 days! www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ga...

So Musk's company that is building tunnels underneath Las Vegas has been cited hundreds of times by state regulators. The cease-and-desist letter in this story by @AnjeanetteDamon and @OyVegas that we were happy to co-publish is stunning. thenevadaindependent.com/article/elon...

"..Rosen (D-NV) said during a press call..that only Cortez Masto could explain her votes. Rosen has voted against the GOP’s resolutions, she said, because 'I believe that fighting for people's health care is one of the most important things I can do.'” thenevadaindependent.com/article/neva...

My latest tease for my Harry Reid bio: Talking points on the nuclear option in 2005, a lot different from 2013, prepping for his first big interview as Dem leader and...Norman Lear (!) on Reid. Pre-order the book already! jonralston.substack.com/p/reids-firs...