Author | Lightnews

He supported L.A. Mayor Karen Bass. Now he wants her job

Reposted by Mariel Garza

Mark Hamill @markhamillofficial.bsky.social · 1d

Gutted by the Dems caving after the blue-wave wins of last week? Sick & tired of us snatching defeat from the jaws of victory? I hear you! Might I suggest you calm yourself, relax, take a deep, cleansing breath... then see if this photo of 2 pandas cuddling is of any help.

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Reposted by Mariel Garza

Golden State @goldenstateorg.bsky.social · 4d

We're podcasting! Check out co-founder @marielgarza.bsky.social's chat with L.A. mayoral candidate Austin Beutner. They talk wildfires, housing, affordability, the Olympics and, yes, Donald Trump.

Austin Beutner, a former L.A. Unified superintendent, says City Hall has come up woefully short on wildfires, homelessness, housing and affordability.

He supported L.A. Mayor Karen Bass. Now he wants her job

Mariel Garza @marielgarza.bsky.social · 4d

And so another election cycle begins. Check out this interview I did with Austin Beutner, the former L.A. Unified superintendent who is challenging Mayor Karen Bass. open.substack.com/pub/goldenst...

Austin Beutner, a former L.A. Unified superintendent, says City Hall has come up woefully short on wildfires, homelessness, housing and affordability.

Mariel Garza @marielgarza.bsky.social · 6d

The tiny Golden State Report staff stayed up late and got up early to produce this EXTRA SPECIAL ELECTION BONUS EDITION.

Gustavo Arellano: OC federal election monitors are… | KCRW

Reposted by Mariel Garza

Col. Gustavo Arellano @gustavoarellano.bsky.social · 7d

MY LATEST @kcrw.com ORANGE COUNTY LINE: OC federal election monitors are not new. Share, porfas!

The Trump Administration's plans for monitors during the Nov. 4th special election reflect a long history of questioning election integrity in Orange County.

www.kcrw.com

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Mariel Garza @marielgarza.bsky.social · 7d

After decades of reporting on healthcare, Julie Marquis has some deeply informed thoughts about our ridiculously complicated and punitive system. And she's a great writer. Check it out on @goldenstatereport.bsky.social. No paywall open.substack.com/pub/goldenst...

Insane by design? I'm a veteran healthcare reporter, and I can tell you the American system is nuts

As a journalist and parent, I've had a front-row seat to the “complexification” of American healthcare, which demoralizes and depletes users. We have to fix it - or at least not make it worse.

Can Los Angeles elect its own Zohran Mamdani?

Mariel Garza @marielgarza.bsky.social · 8d

Can Los Angeles elect its own Zohran Mamdani? Short answer: Maybe, but probably not in 2026 substack.com/@msmarielgar...

Mamdani’s Democratic primary win electrified LA’s progressive movement, which had already made significant gains in the previous three election cycles.

substack.com

What do the Dodgers owe Latino fans?

Mariel Garza @marielgarza.bsky.social · 11d

Mariel Garza @marielgarza.bsky.social · 18d

A timely piece by L.A. writer Patricia Escárcega in today's @goldenstatereport.bsky.social

When the team was silent on immigration raids and reparations for ousted Chavez Ravine residents, it spoke volumes to its homegrown fan base. Time to speak up.

First the feds came for L.A. Now San Francisco. Here's what to expect

Mariel Garza @marielgarza.bsky.social · 19d

What to expect when you are expecting the arrival of 100 federal troops.
goldenstatereport.substack.com/p/first-the-...

We in Los Angeles saw the effects of Trump's constant lying and terrorizing of immigrant communities. Now the feds are arriving in the Bay Area.

Exclusive: Major federal immigration operation headed to San Francisco Bay Area

Mariel Garza @marielgarza.bsky.social · 20d

Hmm, the president seems focused on punishing California of late. I wonder what's that about. Is there an election coming up or something?

St. John Barned-Smith @stjbs.bsky.social · 20d

BREAKING: Major federal immigration operation headed to San Francisco Bay Area www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...

More than 100 federal agents, including some from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to Alameda base.

www.sfchronicle.com

Reposted by Mariel Garza

Patt Morrison @pattmlatimes.bsky.social · 20d

Lying is simply his default software. "It won't interfere with the current building. It'll be near it but not touching it," Trump said.
nytimes.com/live/2025/10...

Trump Administration Live Updates: White House Changes Course and Will Demolish Entire East Wing

nytimes.com

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Mariel Garza @marielgarza.bsky.social · 20d

So excited to see my talented former colleague @sammyroth.bsky.social set free to write important, impactful climate pieces without the constraints of corporate journalism. Please subscribe to his newsletter. open.substack.com/pub/climatec...

Why I'm writing about climate and culture

I never expected to leave the Los Angeles Times and start a Substack. Then a story about Disneyland caught me by surprise.

Pardoned Capitol rioter charged with threatening to kill Hakeem Jeffries at NYC event this week

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Mariel Garza @marielgarza.bsky.social · 21d

True

Mehdi Hasan @mehdirhasan.bsky.social · 21d

This is the asymmetry in our politics and media. If this was the other way around, Biden had pardoned someone then charged with trying to kill Trump, it would be the biggest story in America and every Republican commentator, congressman, news outlet, would be screaming about it in unison.

A pardoned Capitol rioter was arrested last weekend for allegedly threatening to kill the top House Democrat.

www.cbsnews.com

What the heck was the Marine Corps thinking?

Reposted by Mariel Garza

Paul Thornton @paulthornton.bsky.social · 21d

Follow @goldenstatereport.bsky.social for more from @marielgarza.bsky.social, me and others.

Golden State @goldenstateorg.bsky.social · 21d

What the heck was the Marine Corps thinking?
It said shooting shells over Interstate 5 as part of a celebration was no big deal. Then, oops, one exploded over what was thankfully an empty freeway.
goldenstatereport.substack.com/p/what-the-h...

It said shooting shells over Interstate 5 as part of a celebration was no big deal. Then, oops, one exploded over what was thankfully an empty freeway.

What the heck was the Marine Corps thinking?

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Reposted by Mariel Garza

Golden State @goldenstateorg.bsky.social · 21d

What the heck was the Marine Corps thinking?
It said shooting shells over Interstate 5 as part of a celebration was no big deal. Then, oops, one exploded over what was thankfully an empty freeway.
goldenstatereport.substack.com/p/what-the-h...

It said shooting shells over Interstate 5 as part of a celebration was no big deal. Then, oops, one exploded over what was thankfully an empty freeway.

What the heck was the Marine Corps thinking?

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Mariel Garza @marielgarza.bsky.social · 21d

What the heck was the Marine Corps thinking? It said shooting shells over Interstate 5 as part of a celebration was no big deal. Then, oops, one exploded over what was thankfully an empty freeway.
open.substack.com/pub/goldenst...

It said shooting shells over Interstate 5 as part of a celebration was no big deal. Then, oops, one exploded over what was thankfully an empty freeway.

SchoolHouse Rock - No More Kings

Mariel Garza @marielgarza.bsky.social · 24d

It’s a good day to replay this classic from my my childhood youtu.be/WvOZs3g3qIo?...

YouTube video by tennesseejed93

youtu.be

Of course Proposition 50 is a power grab

Mariel Garza @marielgarza.bsky.social · 25d

So I'm doing a little thing on Substack (for now) with a former L.A. Times colleague. Here's the latest.
open.substack.com/pub/goldenst...

No one’s hiding it. Getting voters to approve a new congressional map is a ploy to deny Republicans control of the House and check Trump.

Inside billionaire Peter Thiel’s private lectures: Warnings of ‘the Antichrist’ and U.S. destruction

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Mariel Garza @marielgarza.bsky.social · Oct 10

This is the kind of incoherent ranting you'd expect from someone who is experiencing a drug-induced break from reality. But because this dude has a bazillion dollars it's legitimized in lectures, news stories.

www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...

In leaked recordings of private lectures by tech billionaire Peter Thiel he argued that “the Antichrist” is likely to take the form of a critic of technology.

www.washingtonpost.com

California secession? It's already happening

Reposted by Mariel Garza

Paul Thornton @paulthornton.bsky.social · Oct 10

I've been working on a new journalism project; details TK. In the meantime, I've been beta-testing content with my partner on this, Mariel Garza, for a small Substack audience. Our first video interview is up; it's on CA secession, and it's with Joe Mathews.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL1s...

YouTube video by Golden State Report

www.youtube.com