California tightens leash on puppy sales with new laws signed by Newsom

Thank you @governor.ca.gov for being such a consistent and stalwart animal welfare champion! Big ups to the authors, to @sdhumane.bsky.social @aspca.org and to @melodygutierrez.bsky.social and team at @latimes.com! Sunlight is the best disinfectant and investigative journalism matters. 🐕🐶🐈🐈‍⬛😻

Summary of a segment: Ezra Klein: What does the line mean to you? Coates: Well if someone refuses my humanity that’s a line. Ezra: What do you do if most of America is beyond that line? Coates: Welcome to Black America Lmfao

BREAKING: Immergut has *granted* Oregon and California's motion to block the new call-up of Guard troops to Portland. She says this effort to bring CA and TX troops to Oregon is in "direct contravention" of her oroginal order.

“The question since January has been whether or not the movement that took power would be able to consolidate authoritarian rule. If leading voices on the center and center-left are wavering, giving themselves permission to move the line instead of holding it, it’s a disaster.”

Thank you @gavinnewsom.bsky.social for 👍🏽 #sb427 by Senator Blakespear to extend the Habitat Conservation Fund! Critical $ to ⬆️ biodiversity, protect 🐻🦫🐟🦌, build crossings, and promote resilience. 👏🏽👏🏽 @nationalwildlife.bsky.social @audubon.org @pcleague.bsky.social @canaturalresources.bsky.social

Yes, this is my LLM of choice.

This article is helpful: “Figure out today what your core values are and don’t trade them away. Coates’s ‘all humanity is equal and is worthy of that’ is not a bad place to start.”

Reading this is like taking a deep breath and letting it out and letting your shoulders drop, finding a center. Finding our core values right now is essential.

Truly one of the best pieces I have read in a long time. And actually helpful, practical advice: “Figure out today what your core values are and don’t trade them away.”

Tagging @calnonprofits.bsky.social!

Trump is pronouncing "acetaminophen" the right way. by Ezra Klein

AI is cooked

I never thought I’d ever have to consider defending Tylenol. What’s next? Apples? Shoelaces? Toothpaste?

The real existential threat isn't AI — it's billionaires. My latest, for @theatlantic.com: www.theatlantic.com/books/archiv...

Happy September 21, to all who celebrate! youtu.be/Gs069dndIYk?...

“Abundance without equity risks becoming another cycle in which today’s reforms harden into tomorrow’s injustices.” open.substack.com/pub/ebonymar...

🦦 Be aware. PSA: A sea otter shell-ebration is sweeping social media next week! Text📲OTTERMEDIA to 54159 to opt into Aquarium texts and stay hip to the coolest sea otter content all week long.

This piece is a fabulous read - telling the incredibly inspiring story of the effort to bring back beavers in California! Thank you @mongabay.com! @wadecrowfoot.bsky.social @canaturalresources.bsky.social @katelundquist.bsky.social

Going on years now of putting this song directly into my veins: Leslie Odom and Sara Bareilles, Seriously. youtu.be/hI8TCA3fJcs

I just canceled our Hulu/Disney+ account. #GotJimmysBack #1stAmendment

They are literally canceling culture

Ezra Klein, watch this.

"Healthy debate" = when I criticize you "Cancel culture" = when you criticize me

Lawmakers and environmental advocates have been calling for ‘clean-up’ to the legislation since before it passed.

@asmdamonconnolly.bsky.social & #CALeg colleagues introduce SB 131 clean-up: “The Assembly is also announcing a working group that will lead and take action on this issue to ensure cleanup legislation is…passed next year.” a12.asmdc.org/press-releas...

Never ever ever say out loud “I think I’m done” before the #caleg adjourns. #IYKYK

Jesus, @politico, enough with granting anonymity to people who are just sniping and snarking. Anonymous punditry by lobbyists is not news, it’s gossip with an agenda. From Ethics & Journalism’s Best Practices:

If you would like to honor John Burton, please consider donating to JBAY - John's organization to help foster youth. He cared deeply about the work to be done - and I know will be smiling to know his work continues. You can donate here: jbay.org

The world is drowning in plastic. Experts say we need to stop making so much. But the plastics industry is peddling a "solution" that works like magic. Don't be fooled. (Published June 2024) By @lisalsong.bsky.social

California lawmakers pass bill that will bar some popular puppy sellers

Just waiting on concurrence votes now… three-bill #caleg package to shut down the #puppymill pipeline on track to go to @governor.ca.gov! @senatorumberg.bsky.social @asmstevebennett.bsky.social @asmmarcberman.bsky.social @sdhumane.bsky.social @aspca.org @melodygutierrez.bsky.social @latimes.com

So long to a great man. www.latimes.com/california/s...

John Burton was a lion, but I loved that I got to experience him as more of a pussycat. He is forever the hero who stopped the sale of foie gras in California, and who consistently reminded anyone trying to re-legalize it that they’d have to reckon with him. It was important to him. RIP, John. 🦆❤️

“Prices may rise at first, but well-designed laws that encourage companies to choose more environmentally friendly packaging should lower costs overall by helping them avoid fees for unsustainable practices.” @gavinnewsom.bsky.social @calrecycle.bsky.social #sb54

In Opinion | “Rewriting laws to reflect the full cost of our throwaway culture could incentivize companies that poured millions of dollars into these products to invest in building a less destructive system,” Saabira Chaudhuri writes.

🦫🫡

“Puppy mills are a breeding ground for cruelty — where dogs are kept in cramped, filthy conditions with little to no veterinary care.”

California has the chance and the responsibility to stop brokers from shipping cruelly bred puppies into our community, straining shelters and deceiving well-intended families. Read more at: www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-e...

The #caleg legislature can and should send a package of bills to @governor.ca.gov to crack down on the puppy mill pipeline into California. #AB506, #AB519 & #SB312 @aspca.org @sdhumane.bsky.social Hat tip to @melodygutierrez.bsky.social and @latimes.com for their groundbreaking reporting.

Hi authors! Please remember to file a claim!

Aw that’s nice, surely everyone will be completely normal about this

Newsletter: My 16,000 word opus - How To Argue With An AI Booster, a comprehensive guide to arguing with AI boosters, addressing both their bad faith debate style and their specific (and flimsy) arguments as to why generative AI is the future. www.wheresyoured.at/how-to-argue...

After spending the summer reading several books re AI & getting generally more informed, hats off to @citymystic.bsky.social for putting my stray thoughts cogently. I will not believe spectral evidence, nor yield my critical thinking skills to robots and tech bros. open.substack.com/pub/houseofm...

Highlight of the last week? Seeing @friedman.house.gov in Sacramento.

Grateful to have the support of @agrobbonta.oag.ca.gov for the #caleg effort to shut down the #puppymillpipeline! Bills by @asmmarcberman.bsky.social @asmstevebennett.bsky.social @senatorumberg.bsky.social w/help from @sdhumane.bsky.social and @aspca.org are nearing the finish line.

Zero percent shocked.

This is CNN, a channel I really enjoy when I'm in the US. I wonder if American journalists are aware of how completely insane they look to the rest of the world. How utterly detached their narrative is from everyone else's. edition.cnn.com/2025/08/19/p...