Remember the $125M pot of cash California and Google agreed to send to UC Berkeley for funding cash-strapped local newsrooms? Berkeley says they can't take it, I report this morning for @politico.com, meaning the money has nowhere to go — for now. www.politico.com/news/2025/01...

Justice Samuel Alito spoke with Donald Trump shortly before Trump’s lawyers asked the Supreme Court to delay his hush-money sentencing.

Some personal news: It's my first week as the Sacramento Tech Reporter for @politico.com, where I'll be covering the intersection of California state politics and tech policy. Send tips, story ideas and coffee invites my way at [email protected], and please add me to your press lists!

For young Americans, a written signature doesn’t mean much anymore — except when voting by mail, when a signature is critical to determining whether a ballot is counted.

Hundreds attended a Tuesday evening candlelit vigil near the Capitol to support those affected by Madison's Abundant Life Christian School shooting. @liamberan.bsky.social reports: isthmus.com/news/news/i-...

L.A. Times opinion staffers notify the executive editor that Soon-Shiong has banned criticism of Donald Trump unless its "presented side-by-side with another opinion piece representing the 'opposing view,’" via @oliverdarcy.bsky.social www.status.news/p/patrick-so...

NEW: California's Trump resistance finally has a price tag. Gavin Newsom wants state lawmakers to approve up to $25 million for anticipated legal battles against the incoming Trump administration. Read more in today's California Playbook: www.politico.com/newsletters/...

UCLA enrolled record numbers of new Black and Latino students for fall 2024, bucking trend of diversity declines at other elite colleges. www.latimes.com/california/s...

Susanne Rust and Melissa Gomez spent time in California’s dairy country. Not a whole lot of PPE going on. 436 infected CA herds so far and 28 CA dairy workers. www.latimes.com/environment/...

I always spend time looking back at prior sessions of the #CALeg and trying to figure out what makes the incoming legislature unique. I always appreciate it when someone actually calls to ask what I've found. www.politico.com/newsletters/...

UW spox in WPR story: “The UW track and field teams will have an alternate location for indoor training until the new facility is completed." UW Athletics spox in our story: "We're weighing a number of options around the area, and that's where it stands at the moment." isthmus.com/news/news/ou...

Gov. Tony Evers has arrived on Bluesky:

“Enjoy the basement!” Fun story by @andreacastillo.bsky.social peeking behind the curtain of how new members of Congress get up and running — starting with the lottery drawing for good office space. www.latimes.com/politics/sto...

Interesting column by Gustavo Arellano on the young Orange County activists who formed a super PAC to turn out Latino voters in #CA45. Right now, Democrat Derek Tran--pushing to unseat Rep. Michelle Steel--has one of the narrowest margins of victory in the country: www.latimes.com/california/s...

[email protected] reports finding #H5N1 #birdflu virus in raw milk. The producer, Raw Farm LLC of Fresno County, has agreed to recall a batch of a whole milk product called "cream top." Milk from infected cows contains staggering levels of virus. www.statnews.com/2024/04/29/b...

My Sacramento mind can't handle this anymore

There's a nonzero chance that Rodgers' next gig could be with HHS

President-elect Donald Trump plans to fire the entire team that worked with special counsel Jack Smith to pursue two federal prosecutions against the former president, including career attorneys typically protected from political retribution, according to two individuals close to Trump’s transition.

NEW: Over the last four years, Pam Bondi has said virtually nothing about Jan. 6 or the defendants who stormed the Capitol — a stark contrast with Matt Gaetz. It’s leading to some uncertainty among those counting on DOJ to change course and drop cases. www.politico.com/news/2024/11...

California has a chance to join a global step forward in AI safety research and testing as Trump and Republicans look to roll back guardrails for the technology. Read more in today's @politico.com California Playbook: www.politico.com/newsletters/...

Takeaways: What to know about 5 things we need you know about what to know | recap

California has a notoriously slow ballot counting process — one that Kim Alexander describes as “a pig in the python.” calmatters.org/politics/ele... 📝 @bystellayu.bsky.social

Trump taps former Wisconsin congressman and reality TV star Sean Duffy for Transportation Secretary (via @politico) www.politico.com/news/2024/11...

Today in California Playbook: Golden State lawmakers are gearing up for another push to regulate the tech industry, and some see President-elect Donald Trump’s reelection as a possible political opening. www.politico.com/newsletters/...

Here in Wisconsin, a new study from UW-Madison has found the state's agricultural industry lost 1/5th of its workforce between 2017 and 2022. The governor's office is attempting to put a rosey spin on it by touting the 10% growth in revenue.

My latest (from yesterday) for CalMatters: How much did Google spend to lobby on California bills, including one that might have put them on the hook for 10s of millions a year for journalism? Nearly $11 million dollars just between July & Sept. calmatters.org/politics/cap...

Trump taps Brendan Carr to chair the FCC, likely putting net neutrality, Section 230 protections and digital discrimination rules in the commission's crosshairs. From John Hendel via @politico.com: www.politico.com/news/2024/11...

Hello, Blukesky -- I'll be posting here just like I do on the other app, so follow me for: - California politics news - Tech & broadband news - All things Wisconsin politics (I can't help myself) - Packers fandom propaganda ... and more