Mike Bonin
@mikebonin.bsky.social
Living my best life as a teacher, writer, mentor, consultant, and troublemaking progressive activist. Dad, husband, hiker, 🏳️🌈, DC Comics nerd. Host of What's Next Los Angeles podcast, co-host of LA Podcast. Former member of the LA City Council.
Reposted by Mike Bonin
Need a summary of last week's election results and why they matter to you, an LA voter, in 49 minutes or less? Join me, @mikebonin.bsky.social and @rachelreyes.bsky.social for this week's episode of LA Podcast. @laforward.bsky.social
Listen here: www.thinkforward.la/50-ways-to-l...
Listen here: www.thinkforward.la/50-ways-to-l...
November 10, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Need a summary of last week's election results and why they matter to you, an LA voter, in 49 minutes or less? Join me, @mikebonin.bsky.social and @rachelreyes.bsky.social for this week's episode of LA Podcast. @laforward.bsky.social
Listen here: www.thinkforward.la/50-ways-to-l...
Listen here: www.thinkforward.la/50-ways-to-l...
Zohran Mamdani won't become mayor of New York City until January 1 -- but Trump and FOX etc will almost immediately start claiming he has already turned the city into a shit hole.
November 5, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Zohran Mamdani won't become mayor of New York City until January 1 -- but Trump and FOX etc will almost immediately start claiming he has already turned the city into a shit hole.
“Hear me, President Trump:
To get to any of us, you will have
to get through all of us.”
To get to any of us, you will have
to get through all of us.”
November 5, 2025 at 3:28 PM
“Hear me, President Trump:
To get to any of us, you will have
to get through all of us.”
To get to any of us, you will have
to get through all of us.”
Reposted by Mike Bonin
Three reform DAs won re-election tonight, two of them running uncontested. All in major population centers.
Krasner
Bragg
Gonzalez
This is get one-billionth the coverage of the Boudin recall, bc it doesn't fit the entrenched Tough on Crime Narrative, but it's still noteworthy.
Krasner
Bragg
Gonzalez
This is get one-billionth the coverage of the Boudin recall, bc it doesn't fit the entrenched Tough on Crime Narrative, but it's still noteworthy.
November 5, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Three reform DAs won re-election tonight, two of them running uncontested. All in major population centers.
Krasner
Bragg
Gonzalez
This is get one-billionth the coverage of the Boudin recall, bc it doesn't fit the entrenched Tough on Crime Narrative, but it's still noteworthy.
Krasner
Bragg
Gonzalez
This is get one-billionth the coverage of the Boudin recall, bc it doesn't fit the entrenched Tough on Crime Narrative, but it's still noteworthy.
Reposted by Mike Bonin
Zohran Mamdani Wins, Brings Fight to Trump
Zohran Mamdani Wins, Brings Fight to Trump: ‘Turn the Volume Up’
‘To get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us,’ Mamdani told Trump, declaring victory in the New York City mayoral race amid a blue wave.
zeteo.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:15 AM
Zohran Mamdani Wins, Brings Fight to Trump
Reposted by Mike Bonin
Mamdani: So hear me, President Trump, when I say this: to get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us.
November 5, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Mamdani: So hear me, President Trump, when I say this: to get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us.
Reposted by Mike Bonin
@mikebonin.bsky.social on LA Pod: “There’s … such a power to the old idea that it’s all about making life easier for the single passenger automobile, that absent constant absolute vigilant pressure for something different, the system will find ways to go the old way.” www.thinkforward.la/la-podcast/
LA Podcast
LA Podcast is a news podcast for people who live in Los Angeles. We’re excited to announce that LA Podcast is now part of the LA Forward family of organizations! Expect to hear new episodes more frequ...
www.thinkforward.la
November 4, 2025 at 5:22 AM
@mikebonin.bsky.social on LA Pod: “There’s … such a power to the old idea that it’s all about making life easier for the single passenger automobile, that absent constant absolute vigilant pressure for something different, the system will find ways to go the old way.” www.thinkforward.la/la-podcast/
Zohran Mamdani had more than 100,000 people volunteer on his campaign. His agenda of big ideas resonated with voters, in NYC and around the country. Will the Democratic Party finally listen? Or will it continue to try to smash anyone who can effectively counter Trump and grow a progressive movement?
November 5, 2025 at 4:46 AM
Zohran Mamdani had more than 100,000 people volunteer on his campaign. His agenda of big ideas resonated with voters, in NYC and around the country. Will the Democratic Party finally listen? Or will it continue to try to smash anyone who can effectively counter Trump and grow a progressive movement?
Andrew Cuomo concedes the NYC mayoral race to Zohran Mamdani in a characteristically bitter, divisive and vitriolic speech that shows why voters rejected him and are turning against the empty, establishment status quo that he stands for.
November 5, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Andrew Cuomo concedes the NYC mayoral race to Zohran Mamdani in a characteristically bitter, divisive and vitriolic speech that shows why voters rejected him and are turning against the empty, establishment status quo that he stands for.
On What's Next, Los Angeles, we present a one-on-one interview with LA Mayor Karen Bass. We discussed her style of leadership, progressive politics, a new challenger in the mayor's race, housing policy, homelessness, the upcoming Olympics and more.
whatsnextlosangeles.buzzsprout.com
whatsnextlosangeles.buzzsprout.com
October 22, 2025 at 4:04 PM
On What's Next, Los Angeles, we present a one-on-one interview with LA Mayor Karen Bass. We discussed her style of leadership, progressive politics, a new challenger in the mayor's race, housing policy, homelessness, the upcoming Olympics and more.
whatsnextlosangeles.buzzsprout.com
whatsnextlosangeles.buzzsprout.com
Reposted by Mike Bonin
Mayor Karen Bass is asking LA's city council to pass an ordinance that would exempt Pacific Palisades transactions from ULA, the city's transfer tax.
Of note: "The letter follows a meeting with Rick Caruso, founder of Steadfast LA, who proposed ideas to help address this issue"
Of note: "The letter follows a meeting with Rick Caruso, founder of Steadfast LA, who proposed ideas to help address this issue"
October 9, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Mayor Karen Bass is asking LA's city council to pass an ordinance that would exempt Pacific Palisades transactions from ULA, the city's transfer tax.
Of note: "The letter follows a meeting with Rick Caruso, founder of Steadfast LA, who proposed ideas to help address this issue"
Of note: "The letter follows a meeting with Rick Caruso, founder of Steadfast LA, who proposed ideas to help address this issue"
Moving LA’s elections from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years was a game-changer, giving city elections an electorate that was much more representative of the city.
Local candidates who have run in odd-year elections say it’s challenging for them to campaign on policies that favor communities that are less likely to vote in odd-year races, such as housing policies that’d help renters.
To Boost Turnout, Ballot Measure Proposes Moving New York City Elections to Even Years
When cities hold their local elections on off years, they tend to see terrible turnout. Many are rescheduling their contests when many more people go to the polls. Will New York be next?
boltsmag.org
September 21, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Moving LA’s elections from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years was a game-changer, giving city elections an electorate that was much more representative of the city.
Arguing against a financial plan to modernize the LA Convention Center, Katy Yaroslavsky delivered one of the most cogent, powerful, intelligent and persuasive speeches I’ve ever heard in Council chambers. It was a tour de force.
(A short while later, the council voted 11-2 to approve the plan.)
(A short while later, the council voted 11-2 to approve the plan.)
I had a whole story ready to publish about this convention center vote, but Yaroslavsky's speech — one of the most powerful I’ve ever seen on the council floor — said it better than I ever could. It's a must-read, and I also included a link to the video
"This expansion is unrealistic, unaffordable, and fiscally irresponsible"
Katy Yaroslavsky's words are about the city's convention center — but they are really about the city
www.torched.la
September 20, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Arguing against a financial plan to modernize the LA Convention Center, Katy Yaroslavsky delivered one of the most cogent, powerful, intelligent and persuasive speeches I’ve ever heard in Council chambers. It was a tour de force.
(A short while later, the council voted 11-2 to approve the plan.)
(A short while later, the council voted 11-2 to approve the plan.)
Here’s how the LA congressional reps voted on the resolution honoring Charlie Kirk:
No -Gomez, Kamlager-Dove, Waters
Present- Friedman, Sherman,
Sanchez, Brownley, Whitesides, Rivas, ,Cisneros
Not Voting-Barragan, Garcia, Torres
Yes -Lieu, Chu, Takano
Source: clerk.house.gov/Votes/202528...
No -Gomez, Kamlager-Dove, Waters
Present- Friedman, Sherman,
Sanchez, Brownley, Whitesides, Rivas, ,Cisneros
Not Voting-Barragan, Garcia, Torres
Yes -Lieu, Chu, Takano
Source: clerk.house.gov/Votes/202528...
Roll Call 282 Roll Call 282, Bill Number: H. Res. 719, 119th Congress, 1st Session
VOTE QUESTION: On Agreeing to the Resolution, DESCRIPTION: Honoring the life and legacy of Charles “Charlie” James Kirk, VOTE TYPE: Yea-And-Nay, STATUS: Passed
clerk.house.gov
September 20, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Here’s how the LA congressional reps voted on the resolution honoring Charlie Kirk:
No -Gomez, Kamlager-Dove, Waters
Present- Friedman, Sherman,
Sanchez, Brownley, Whitesides, Rivas, ,Cisneros
Not Voting-Barragan, Garcia, Torres
Yes -Lieu, Chu, Takano
Source: clerk.house.gov/Votes/202528...
No -Gomez, Kamlager-Dove, Waters
Present- Friedman, Sherman,
Sanchez, Brownley, Whitesides, Rivas, ,Cisneros
Not Voting-Barragan, Garcia, Torres
Yes -Lieu, Chu, Takano
Source: clerk.house.gov/Votes/202528...
Antifa isn’t a group. It’s an umbrella term - like MAGA. By declaring Antifa a “terrorist organization” they’re creating a legal framework to charge organizers, protesters, elected officials, commentators and anyone they want with domestic terrorism.
This is how freedom dies and fascism thrives.
This is how freedom dies and fascism thrives.
September 19, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Antifa isn’t a group. It’s an umbrella term - like MAGA. By declaring Antifa a “terrorist organization” they’re creating a legal framework to charge organizers, protesters, elected officials, commentators and anyone they want with domestic terrorism.
This is how freedom dies and fascism thrives.
This is how freedom dies and fascism thrives.
Reposted by Mike Bonin
My mom called me last night about the Kimmel firing, saying "This is how Hitler got started!" I quickly responded, "By firing the late night tv hosts?"
Turns out, mom was right.
Turns out, mom was right.
September 18, 2025 at 8:27 PM
My mom called me last night about the Kimmel firing, saying "This is how Hitler got started!" I quickly responded, "By firing the late night tv hosts?"
Turns out, mom was right.
Turns out, mom was right.
Reposted by Mike Bonin
Chris Christie observed recently that Trump has torn down the traditional barrier between the president’s personal ambitions and the DOJ's power to investigate & prosecute criminal wrongdoing.
As if to prove Christie’s point, Trump publicly threatened to prosecute Christie just a few hours later.
As if to prove Christie’s point, Trump publicly threatened to prosecute Christie just a few hours later.
The Supreme Court greenlit Trump’s political prosecutions—even the ones that are illegal
Thanks, John Roberts.
www.motherjones.com
September 19, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Chris Christie observed recently that Trump has torn down the traditional barrier between the president’s personal ambitions and the DOJ's power to investigate & prosecute criminal wrongdoing.
As if to prove Christie’s point, Trump publicly threatened to prosecute Christie just a few hours later.
As if to prove Christie’s point, Trump publicly threatened to prosecute Christie just a few hours later.
We are not starting our slide into authoritarianism. We are already there.
What comes next is the nightmare — the immense cruelty and harm they create with the power that our once coequal branches of government, our legacy media, and our elite institutions have so feebly surrendered to them.
What comes next is the nightmare — the immense cruelty and harm they create with the power that our once coequal branches of government, our legacy media, and our elite institutions have so feebly surrendered to them.
September 18, 2025 at 3:44 AM
We are not starting our slide into authoritarianism. We are already there.
What comes next is the nightmare — the immense cruelty and harm they create with the power that our once coequal branches of government, our legacy media, and our elite institutions have so feebly surrendered to them.
What comes next is the nightmare — the immense cruelty and harm they create with the power that our once coequal branches of government, our legacy media, and our elite institutions have so feebly surrendered to them.
This is nothing short a shredding of the U.S. Constitution and an endorsement of racial profiling.
Essentially, armed, masked agents of the government can stop and detain anyone who is brown-skinned, or a Spanish speaker, or a low wage worker.
And this is just the beginning.
Essentially, armed, masked agents of the government can stop and detain anyone who is brown-skinned, or a Spanish speaker, or a low wage worker.
And this is just the beginning.
BREAKING: The Supreme Court — over the objection of Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson — allows the Trump administration’s racial profiling of people working certain types of jobs in its immigration raids during litigation.
![SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
-
No. 25A169
-
KRISTI NOEM, SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, ET AL. U. PEDRO
VASQUEZ PERDOMO, ET AL.
ON APPLICATION FOR STAY
[September 8, 2025]
The application for stay presented to JUSTICE KAGAN and by her referred to the Court is granted. The July 11, 2025 order entered by the United States District Court for the Central District of California, case No. 2:25-cv-5605, is stayed pending the disposition of the appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and disposition of a petition for a writ of certiorari, if such a writ is timely sought. Should certiorari be denied, this stay shall terminate automatically. In the event certiorari is granted, the stay shall terminate upon the sending down of the judgment of this Court.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:36eqtmzysqf7wsslczw4uxcd/bafkreibxmw7us44keftyrwzd2w3ycrn2gd5pb24kqw3syazwrqjmkq2mym@jpeg)
September 8, 2025 at 7:13 PM
This is nothing short a shredding of the U.S. Constitution and an endorsement of racial profiling.
Essentially, armed, masked agents of the government can stop and detain anyone who is brown-skinned, or a Spanish speaker, or a low wage worker.
And this is just the beginning.
Essentially, armed, masked agents of the government can stop and detain anyone who is brown-skinned, or a Spanish speaker, or a low wage worker.
And this is just the beginning.
Reposted by Mike Bonin
The hotel and airline bankrolled challenge to the Olympic wage *did not qualify* for the ballot according to the LA County Registrar.
This means the city’s Olympic wage ordinance , $25/hour beginning this year and $30/hour by 2028, goes into effect for tourism workers immediately
This means the city’s Olympic wage ordinance , $25/hour beginning this year and $30/hour by 2028, goes into effect for tourism workers immediately
September 8, 2025 at 6:28 PM
The hotel and airline bankrolled challenge to the Olympic wage *did not qualify* for the ballot according to the LA County Registrar.
This means the city’s Olympic wage ordinance , $25/hour beginning this year and $30/hour by 2028, goes into effect for tourism workers immediately
This means the city’s Olympic wage ordinance , $25/hour beginning this year and $30/hour by 2028, goes into effect for tourism workers immediately
How did LA go from being a notorious anti-worker city to a stronghold of labor power?
Listen to this re-air of my interview with Kent Wong of UCLA Labor Ctr on What’s Next, Los Angeles. Brought to you in partnership with @laforward.bsky.social . whatsnextlosangeles.buzzsprout.com
Listen to this re-air of my interview with Kent Wong of UCLA Labor Ctr on What’s Next, Los Angeles. Brought to you in partnership with @laforward.bsky.social . whatsnextlosangeles.buzzsprout.com
September 1, 2025 at 5:30 PM
How did LA go from being a notorious anti-worker city to a stronghold of labor power?
Listen to this re-air of my interview with Kent Wong of UCLA Labor Ctr on What’s Next, Los Angeles. Brought to you in partnership with @laforward.bsky.social . whatsnextlosangeles.buzzsprout.com
Listen to this re-air of my interview with Kent Wong of UCLA Labor Ctr on What’s Next, Los Angeles. Brought to you in partnership with @laforward.bsky.social . whatsnextlosangeles.buzzsprout.com
Wallis Annenberg was a titan. But the obituaries failed to mention that she was a lesbian. It was a noteworthy example of queer erasure.
I talk with her former partner, journalist @karenocamb.bsky.social on What's Next, Los Angeles -- wherever you get your podcasts.
@laforward.bsky.social
I talk with her former partner, journalist @karenocamb.bsky.social on What's Next, Los Angeles -- wherever you get your podcasts.
@laforward.bsky.social
August 6, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Wallis Annenberg was a titan. But the obituaries failed to mention that she was a lesbian. It was a noteworthy example of queer erasure.
I talk with her former partner, journalist @karenocamb.bsky.social on What's Next, Los Angeles -- wherever you get your podcasts.
@laforward.bsky.social
I talk with her former partner, journalist @karenocamb.bsky.social on What's Next, Los Angeles -- wherever you get your podcasts.
@laforward.bsky.social
Is there really anybody in LA who seriously thinks this will end well? I can't imagine what benefits LA could receive that would justify what is coming.
Trump names himself chair of L.A. Olympics task force, sees role for military during Games
Trump names himself chair of L.A. Olympics task force, sees role for military during Games
Trump’s news conference may prompt questions about whether a president with a penchant for showmanship might assume an unusually active role in planning the Olympics.
www.latimes.com
August 6, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Is there really anybody in LA who seriously thinks this will end well? I can't imagine what benefits LA could receive that would justify what is coming.
INFRASTRUCTURE WEAK: On this week's LA Podcast, Alissa, Mike, and Godfrey discuss the next era for LA’s homeless services, a terrifying Trump executive order, LA Charter reform and the CA governor's race.
Listen at thinkforward.la, on Apple Podcasts, via Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Listen at thinkforward.la, on Apple Podcasts, via Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
August 6, 2025 at 4:38 PM
INFRASTRUCTURE WEAK: On this week's LA Podcast, Alissa, Mike, and Godfrey discuss the next era for LA’s homeless services, a terrifying Trump executive order, LA Charter reform and the CA governor's race.
Listen at thinkforward.la, on Apple Podcasts, via Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Listen at thinkforward.la, on Apple Podcasts, via Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
If homicides were on the rise, there undoubtedly would be a flood of stories linking that to the reduced size of the LAPD.
But when crime is down, no outlet will use the headline “LAPD Shrinks, Crime Plummets.”
www.latimes.com/california/s...
But when crime is down, no outlet will use the headline “LAPD Shrinks, Crime Plummets.”
www.latimes.com/california/s...
L.A. on pace to see lowest homicide total in nearly 60 years as killings plummet
Experts say the city and other parts of the country may be in the midst of the sharpest decline in killings in history — one that can’t be attributed to any single factor.
www.latimes.com
July 9, 2025 at 8:00 PM
If homicides were on the rise, there undoubtedly would be a flood of stories linking that to the reduced size of the LAPD.
But when crime is down, no outlet will use the headline “LAPD Shrinks, Crime Plummets.”
www.latimes.com/california/s...
But when crime is down, no outlet will use the headline “LAPD Shrinks, Crime Plummets.”
www.latimes.com/california/s...