Grant Marek
@grantmarek.bsky.social
San Francisco journalist. @sfgate.com editor-in-chief | Also: Daily Cal Board Member | Always: Cal Golden Bear | Signal: grantmarek.83
Pinned
Grant Marek
@grantmarek.bsky.social
· Jun 25
How SFGATE is making local news pay and filling California's news gaps
SFGATE has the largest audience of any purely local news site in the US.
pressgazette.co.uk
Oh, hey, @pressgazette.co.uk in the UK wrote about what we're doing @sfgate.com.
"Rather than trying to cover the entire state from San Francisco, SFGATE has placed reporters and editors directly in the places it’s writing about. Half the newsroom is remote."
pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/r...
"Rather than trying to cover the entire state from San Francisco, SFGATE has placed reporters and editors directly in the places it’s writing about. Half the newsroom is remote."
pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/r...
“People here are not very ‘Bang Bang Niner Gang.’”
@sfgate.com explores the quiet Bay Area suburb where the 49ers' owner, president and head coach all reside: www.sfgate.com/travel/artic...
@sfgate.com explores the quiet Bay Area suburb where the 49ers' owner, president and head coach all reside: www.sfgate.com/travel/artic...
Why so many San Francisco 49ers executives live in this quiet Bay Area suburb
The 49ers coach and owner live there, but a local claims, "It's not a Niners town."
www.sfgate.com
January 9, 2026 at 12:08 AM
“People here are not very ‘Bang Bang Niner Gang.’”
@sfgate.com explores the quiet Bay Area suburb where the 49ers' owner, president and head coach all reside: www.sfgate.com/travel/artic...
@sfgate.com explores the quiet Bay Area suburb where the 49ers' owner, president and head coach all reside: www.sfgate.com/travel/artic...
A month after a @thelatinochild.bsky.social investigation for @sfgate.com into Calif.'s worst college football team — scandal-ridden Lincoln University — wherein the head coach threatened him at the end of an interview, Lincoln has suspended its football program: www.sfgate.com/collegesport...
Bay Area college suspends football program after SFGATE investigation
There will be no Oaklanders football next season.
www.sfgate.com
January 8, 2026 at 12:18 AM
A month after a @thelatinochild.bsky.social investigation for @sfgate.com into Calif.'s worst college football team — scandal-ridden Lincoln University — wherein the head coach threatened him at the end of an interview, Lincoln has suspended its football program: www.sfgate.com/collegesport...
Reposted by Grant Marek
Here's our story on Lincoln suspending its 2026-27 season, and Desmond Gumbs stepping down as head coach (but remaining as the school's athletic director), in the wake of our investigation into the program. www.sfgate.com/collegesport...
January 7, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Here's our story on Lincoln suspending its 2026-27 season, and Desmond Gumbs stepping down as head coach (but remaining as the school's athletic director), in the wake of our investigation into the program. www.sfgate.com/collegesport...
This is the story of the only grocery store in a Calif. town full of billionaires, where you’ll find delicious charcuterie from Golden Gate Meat Co. and also hear rumors of the Rolling Stones playing a birthday show in the Getty family’s backyard.
For @sfgate.com:
www.sfgate.com/food/article...
For @sfgate.com:
www.sfgate.com/food/article...
The richest people in America shop at this 137-year-old Calif. grocery store
Everyone in Woodside shops at the same grocery store — even the billionaires.
www.sfgate.com
January 6, 2026 at 4:41 PM
This is the story of the only grocery store in a Calif. town full of billionaires, where you’ll find delicious charcuterie from Golden Gate Meat Co. and also hear rumors of the Rolling Stones playing a birthday show in the Getty family’s backyard.
For @sfgate.com:
www.sfgate.com/food/article...
For @sfgate.com:
www.sfgate.com/food/article...
Reposted by Grant Marek
“ChatGPT started coaching Sam on how to take drugs, recover from them and plan further binges. It gave him specific doses of illegal substances, and in one chat, it wrote, ‘Hell yes—let’s go full trippy mode’”
www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
A Calif. teen trusted ChatGPT for drug advice. He died from an overdose.
"Who on earth gives that advice?"
www.sfgate.com
January 5, 2026 at 6:28 PM
“ChatGPT started coaching Sam on how to take drugs, recover from them and plan further binges. It gave him specific doses of illegal substances, and in one chat, it wrote, ‘Hell yes—let’s go full trippy mode’”
www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
Reposted by Grant Marek
Tell your kids to stop talking to machines.
I’m serious.
I’m serious.
"ChatGPT started coaching Sam on how to take drugs, recover from them and plan further binges. It gave him specific doses of illegal substances ... Then, last May, tragedy struck."
Incredible piece of journalism from @leddder.bsky.social and @stephco.bsky.social:
www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
Incredible piece of journalism from @leddder.bsky.social and @stephco.bsky.social:
www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
A Calif. teen trusted ChatGPT for drug advice. He died from an overdose.
"Who on earth gives that advice?"
www.sfgate.com
January 5, 2026 at 5:53 PM
Tell your kids to stop talking to machines.
I’m serious.
I’m serious.
Reposted by Grant Marek
A Calif. teen trusted ChatGPT for drug advice. He died from an overdose. www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
A Calif. teen trusted ChatGPT for drug advice. He died from an overdose.
"Who on earth gives that advice?"
www.sfgate.com
January 5, 2026 at 4:19 PM
A Calif. teen trusted ChatGPT for drug advice. He died from an overdose. www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
"ChatGPT started coaching Sam on how to take drugs, recover from them and plan further binges. It gave him specific doses of illegal substances ... Then, last May, tragedy struck."
Incredible piece of journalism from @leddder.bsky.social and @stephco.bsky.social:
www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
Incredible piece of journalism from @leddder.bsky.social and @stephco.bsky.social:
www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
A Calif. teen trusted ChatGPT for drug advice. He died from an overdose.
"Who on earth gives that advice?"
www.sfgate.com
January 5, 2026 at 4:04 PM
"ChatGPT started coaching Sam on how to take drugs, recover from them and plan further binges. It gave him specific doses of illegal substances ... Then, last May, tragedy struck."
Incredible piece of journalism from @leddder.bsky.social and @stephco.bsky.social:
www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
Incredible piece of journalism from @leddder.bsky.social and @stephco.bsky.social:
www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
SF Fairmont employee placed 911 call in death of Tommy Lee Jones' daughter.
via @madilynnemedina.bsky.social
www.sfgate.com/bayarea/arti...
via @madilynnemedina.bsky.social
www.sfgate.com/bayarea/arti...
SF Fairmont employee placed 911 call in death of Tommy Lee Jones' daughter
Victoria Jones was found dead at the hotel early Thursday morning.
www.sfgate.com
January 2, 2026 at 10:32 PM
SF Fairmont employee placed 911 call in death of Tommy Lee Jones' daughter.
via @madilynnemedina.bsky.social
www.sfgate.com/bayarea/arti...
via @madilynnemedina.bsky.social
www.sfgate.com/bayarea/arti...
👀
As the college football transfer portal opens today, Stanford still doesn't have any assistant coaches, and a spokesperson told @sfgate.com no hiring announcements are coming today.
Story on the Cardinal: www.sfgate.com/collegesport...
Story on the Cardinal: www.sfgate.com/collegesport...
Questions mount surrounding Stanford's new football coaching staff
It's been five weeks since the Cardinal hired their new head coach.
www.sfgate.com
January 2, 2026 at 10:26 PM
👀
Reposted by Grant Marek
You know who that provider should be? The organization that pretty much developed large scale streaming from scratch, and whose technology is so reliable it's used (i think even owned, now?) by Disney?
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL!
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL!
Manfred recently said he wants to sell broadcast rights for nearly all 2,430 non-national games to a single TV provider. It was an eyebrow-raising comment, and undoubtedly caught the attention of Giants ownership.
via @alexsimonsports.bsky.social
www.sfgate.com/giants/artic...
via @alexsimonsports.bsky.social
www.sfgate.com/giants/artic...
MLB's bold plan could alter SF Giants' TV broadcasts significantly
Big changes to how you watch the SF Giants could come very soon.
www.sfgate.com
January 2, 2026 at 4:54 PM
You know who that provider should be? The organization that pretty much developed large scale streaming from scratch, and whose technology is so reliable it's used (i think even owned, now?) by Disney?
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL!
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL!
Manfred recently said he wants to sell broadcast rights for nearly all 2,430 non-national games to a single TV provider. It was an eyebrow-raising comment, and undoubtedly caught the attention of Giants ownership.
via @alexsimonsports.bsky.social
www.sfgate.com/giants/artic...
via @alexsimonsports.bsky.social
www.sfgate.com/giants/artic...
MLB's bold plan could alter SF Giants' TV broadcasts significantly
Big changes to how you watch the SF Giants could come very soon.
www.sfgate.com
January 2, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Manfred recently said he wants to sell broadcast rights for nearly all 2,430 non-national games to a single TV provider. It was an eyebrow-raising comment, and undoubtedly caught the attention of Giants ownership.
via @alexsimonsports.bsky.social
www.sfgate.com/giants/artic...
via @alexsimonsports.bsky.social
www.sfgate.com/giants/artic...
unfortunately there are now fewer than 5hrs left for dads to say “see you next year”
January 1, 2026 at 3:04 AM
unfortunately there are now fewer than 5hrs left for dads to say “see you next year”
Reposted by Grant Marek
It’s the “season of love and giving”…but this year, doesn’t it seem more like a “season of fear and taking”? Like many of you, I’ve been saddened by the human impact of draconian government budget cuts and how angry many housed Americans are at unhoused Americans.
🧵 1 of 9
🧵 1 of 9
December 21, 2025 at 2:51 AM
It’s the “season of love and giving”…but this year, doesn’t it seem more like a “season of fear and taking”? Like many of you, I’ve been saddened by the human impact of draconian government budget cuts and how angry many housed Americans are at unhoused Americans.
🧵 1 of 9
🧵 1 of 9
Reposted by Grant Marek
My last piece of the year. This Christmas, please don't be an asshole. www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/a...
Doormat Mom is the worst parent on the whole internet
SFGATE columnist Drew Magary weighs in on the online airing of family grievance.
www.sfgate.com
December 18, 2025 at 11:15 PM
My last piece of the year. This Christmas, please don't be an asshole. www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/a...
Utah Sen. Mike Lee has proposed changes to the Senate appropriations bill that could open the door for the sale of national parks, according to national park advocacy groups.
via @thatsmohrlikeit.bsky.social
www.sfgate.com/national-par...
via @thatsmohrlikeit.bsky.social
www.sfgate.com/national-par...
'Nobody wants this': Senator axes language protecting national parks
A Utah Senator cut an amendment protecting parks in the appropriations bill.
www.sfgate.com
December 18, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Utah Sen. Mike Lee has proposed changes to the Senate appropriations bill that could open the door for the sale of national parks, according to national park advocacy groups.
via @thatsmohrlikeit.bsky.social
www.sfgate.com/national-par...
via @thatsmohrlikeit.bsky.social
www.sfgate.com/national-par...
The tax change has prompted a wave of get-it-while-you-can demand for residential solar in California, but with the quick-turn deadline and various bottlenecks, installers are often having to turn potential customers away.
via @stephco.bsky.social
www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
via @stephco.bsky.social
www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
Blitz is on in California to install solar before Trump-imposed deadline
Customers who don't install by Dec. 31 will miss thousands in tax credits.
www.sfgate.com
December 18, 2025 at 4:43 PM
The tax change has prompted a wave of get-it-while-you-can demand for residential solar in California, but with the quick-turn deadline and various bottlenecks, installers are often having to turn potential customers away.
via @stephco.bsky.social
www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
via @stephco.bsky.social
www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
Reposted by Grant Marek
Interested in outlaw country, weed brownies, feuding with billionaires, the early NBA, playing Gin Rummy on a weekday afternoon, and what it feels like to die?
I went to Maui to profile Don Nelson for The Believer!
@thebeliever.net
www.thebeliever.net/island-time/
I went to Maui to profile Don Nelson for The Believer!
@thebeliever.net
www.thebeliever.net/island-time/
Island Time - Believer Magazine
I call Don Nelson from my rental car, which I’ve parked by some food trucks near the Kahului Airport. It rings through, which means I’m welcomed to the island by a sardonic voicemail: “Hey, you’ve rea...
www.thebeliever.net
December 18, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Interested in outlaw country, weed brownies, feuding with billionaires, the early NBA, playing Gin Rummy on a weekday afternoon, and what it feels like to die?
I went to Maui to profile Don Nelson for The Believer!
@thebeliever.net
www.thebeliever.net/island-time/
I went to Maui to profile Don Nelson for The Believer!
@thebeliever.net
www.thebeliever.net/island-time/
Reposted by Grant Marek
It's a risky time to come forward, so I especially appreciate the folks who spoke with me for this story. Some of the policies in here are happening across the NPS, but Yose is feeling the pinch especially hard due to upcoming changes in how their hourly rates are calculated.
The Trump admin keeps squeezing Yosemite's overworked rangers
Trump administration policies are upending Yosemite employees' careers and wages.
www.sfgate.com
December 17, 2025 at 6:46 PM
It's a risky time to come forward, so I especially appreciate the folks who spoke with me for this story. Some of the policies in here are happening across the NPS, but Yose is feeling the pinch especially hard due to upcoming changes in how their hourly rates are calculated.
Reposted by Grant Marek
As the nation turns to the best college football programs in the country this weekend, we turn our attention to one of the worst: Lincoln University, a downtown Oakland school whose head coach, and athletic director, threatened me at the end of our interview. www.sfgate.com/collegesport...
For Calif.'s worst college football team, a 0-287 slump is the tip of a scandal
Are the Oaks an aspiring folktale or an ill-fated fantasy?
www.sfgate.com
December 17, 2025 at 5:27 PM
As the nation turns to the best college football programs in the country this weekend, we turn our attention to one of the worst: Lincoln University, a downtown Oakland school whose head coach, and athletic director, threatened me at the end of our interview. www.sfgate.com/collegesport...
Reposted by Grant Marek
Lincoln's coach described our 2024 investigation as a "non-story" filled with "a whole bunch of lies." You can read it here: www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
December 17, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Lincoln's coach described our 2024 investigation as a "non-story" filled with "a whole bunch of lies." You can read it here: www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
Reposted by Grant Marek
Article about Lincoln (CA), an infamous program that simply should not be playing college football under any circumstances, nor be enabled by the desire to buy into a farce about an underdog story.
As the nation turns to the best college football programs in the country this weekend, we turn our attention to one of the worst: Lincoln University, a downtown Oakland school whose head coach, and athletic director, threatened me at the end of our interview. www.sfgate.com/collegesport...
For Calif.'s worst college football team, a 0-287 slump is the tip of a scandal
Are the Oaks an aspiring folktale or an ill-fated fantasy?
www.sfgate.com
December 17, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Article about Lincoln (CA), an infamous program that simply should not be playing college football under any circumstances, nor be enabled by the desire to buy into a farce about an underdog story.
"He first said that writing this story 'would not be good for you or your paper,' and then added, 'you don’t want to make an enemy out of me.'"
Wild, wild story from @thelatinochild.bsky.social on California's worst college football team:
www.sfgate.com/collegesport...
Wild, wild story from @thelatinochild.bsky.social on California's worst college football team:
www.sfgate.com/collegesport...
For Calif.'s worst college football team, a 0-287 slump is the tip of a scandal
Are the Oaks an aspiring folktale or an ill-fated fantasy?
www.sfgate.com
December 17, 2025 at 6:58 PM
"He first said that writing this story 'would not be good for you or your paper,' and then added, 'you don’t want to make an enemy out of me.'"
Wild, wild story from @thelatinochild.bsky.social on California's worst college football team:
www.sfgate.com/collegesport...
Wild, wild story from @thelatinochild.bsky.social on California's worst college football team:
www.sfgate.com/collegesport...
Oh hey.
@sfgate.com won its first two Society of Professional Journalists awards ever this year, which is great, but what's better is our Senior Photo Editor Charles Russo sitting down to talk about the story behind one of the winners: our photo spread from the A's final game in Oakland.
@sfgate.com won its first two Society of Professional Journalists awards ever this year, which is great, but what's better is our Senior Photo Editor Charles Russo sitting down to talk about the story behind one of the winners: our photo spread from the A's final game in Oakland.
December 16, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Oh hey.
@sfgate.com won its first two Society of Professional Journalists awards ever this year, which is great, but what's better is our Senior Photo Editor Charles Russo sitting down to talk about the story behind one of the winners: our photo spread from the A's final game in Oakland.
@sfgate.com won its first two Society of Professional Journalists awards ever this year, which is great, but what's better is our Senior Photo Editor Charles Russo sitting down to talk about the story behind one of the winners: our photo spread from the A's final game in Oakland.
This @niemanlab.org prediction essay from @carlazambelli.bsky.social is maybe the best crystallization of the trap corporate newsrooms are falling into right now that I've read.
Absolute must read for anyone in media:
www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/shor...
Absolute must read for anyone in media:
www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/shor...
Short-form video drives reach. That’s exactly the problem.
"Can we balance public good with our bottom line? Or are we consigning ourselves to adopting the playbook written by companies optimizing for advertising revenue and user addiction?"
www.niemanlab.org
December 16, 2025 at 5:17 PM
This @niemanlab.org prediction essay from @carlazambelli.bsky.social is maybe the best crystallization of the trap corporate newsrooms are falling into right now that I've read.
Absolute must read for anyone in media:
www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/shor...
Absolute must read for anyone in media:
www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/shor...