Jesse
@jessemerle.bsky.social
Lawyer in social enterprise and impact investing:
-Director @ Lookout PBC (2024 Pulitzer Winner).
-Counsel @ Kiva Capital.
-Lecturer @ Berkeley Law.
Married to a Dirty Immigration Lawyer.
-Director @ Lookout PBC (2024 Pulitzer Winner).
-Counsel @ Kiva Capital.
-Lecturer @ Berkeley Law.
Married to a Dirty Immigration Lawyer.
We are one of the “bright spots” the report highlights👇
While it is true that we need creative funding solutions for journalism (don’t get me started on the sad priorities of the donor class), we also need sound, sustainable business models that work in the modern world.
Support local journalism!
While it is true that we need creative funding solutions for journalism (don’t get me started on the sad priorities of the donor class), we also need sound, sustainable business models that work in the modern world.
Support local journalism!
October 22, 2025 at 4:00 PM
We are one of the “bright spots” the report highlights👇
While it is true that we need creative funding solutions for journalism (don’t get me started on the sad priorities of the donor class), we also need sound, sustainable business models that work in the modern world.
Support local journalism!
While it is true that we need creative funding solutions for journalism (don’t get me started on the sad priorities of the donor class), we also need sound, sustainable business models that work in the modern world.
Support local journalism!
September 23, 2025 at 12:49 PM
I’ll raise, with a sunrise over the Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan
August 18, 2025 at 4:29 PM
I’ll raise, with a sunrise over the Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan
Well, I’m excited to read this new book “The Women Are Not Fine” by my wife’s coolest cousin who lives in Budapest @hopereese.com :)
July 10, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Well, I’m excited to read this new book “The Women Are Not Fine” by my wife’s coolest cousin who lives in Budapest @hopereese.com :)
This structure chart from late 2023 outlines the basic state of their entity relationships. I don’t think too much material has changed since then. It’s the slide I use for my law school lectures. As you can see it’s an ugly mess, far from the relatively simple spinout model PRX used.
June 27, 2025 at 6:13 AM
This structure chart from late 2023 outlines the basic state of their entity relationships. I don’t think too much material has changed since then. It’s the slide I use for my law school lectures. As you can see it’s an ugly mess, far from the relatively simple spinout model PRX used.
This would be the typical process for creating a commercial spinout from a c3. This is what we did to spin out This American Life from WGBH or RadioPublic from PRX (just to name two in the journalism space). Here’s is an org chart for the latter. Relatively simple.
June 27, 2025 at 6:13 AM
This would be the typical process for creating a commercial spinout from a c3. This is what we did to spin out This American Life from WGBH or RadioPublic from PRX (just to name two in the journalism space). Here’s is an org chart for the latter. Relatively simple.
Here’s her full explanation below. In my mind I hear her answering her own question with “Counterpoint: Yes, we do know.” We ALL know. And it’s why Dems replaced their own nominee weeks before the election.
So this was pushed on her right? But even if so, I’ve got better ways to spend my mornings.
So this was pushed on her right? But even if so, I’ve got better ways to spend my mornings.
June 6, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Here’s her full explanation below. In my mind I hear her answering her own question with “Counterpoint: Yes, we do know.” We ALL know. And it’s why Dems replaced their own nominee weeks before the election.
So this was pushed on her right? But even if so, I’ve got better ways to spend my mornings.
So this was pushed on her right? But even if so, I’ve got better ways to spend my mornings.
I only get to visit nyc maybe once a year. Two days ago I saw your post above, and yesterday I ran across StreetLab IRL. Fun scene. Stopped and had a great chat with very cool person who was running it (holding the clipboard).
June 4, 2025 at 10:16 PM
I only get to visit nyc maybe once a year. Two days ago I saw your post above, and yesterday I ran across StreetLab IRL. Fun scene. Stopped and had a great chat with very cool person who was running it (holding the clipboard).
Am I doing it right (preparing for an NYU Law panel discussing the nuances of Public Benefit Corporations while wearing the Bluesky PBC “Mundus Sine Caesaribus” shirt)?
June 3, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Am I doing it right (preparing for an NYU Law panel discussing the nuances of Public Benefit Corporations while wearing the Bluesky PBC “Mundus Sine Caesaribus” shirt)?
If I have to hear one more *legal specialist* talk about OpenAI’s “conversion” I might explode. OpenAI is NOT converting.
Here’s what they say to the CA AG: “it is just not true that the Nonprofit is contemplating a “conversion” to a for-profit entity”
True! But of course, it never could convert.
Here’s what they say to the CA AG: “it is just not true that the Nonprofit is contemplating a “conversion” to a for-profit entity”
True! But of course, it never could convert.
June 2, 2025 at 4:39 AM
If I have to hear one more *legal specialist* talk about OpenAI’s “conversion” I might explode. OpenAI is NOT converting.
Here’s what they say to the CA AG: “it is just not true that the Nonprofit is contemplating a “conversion” to a for-profit entity”
True! But of course, it never could convert.
Here’s what they say to the CA AG: “it is just not true that the Nonprofit is contemplating a “conversion” to a for-profit entity”
True! But of course, it never could convert.
Surprised they didn’t add my house tbh
May 30, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Surprised they didn’t add my house tbh
Next week at NYU Law, I’ll be hosting a panel doing a deep dive on Public Benefit Corporations—the good, the bad, the unknown… Anyone going to be around?
Details and registration here: whova.com/web/C80RRNT4...
Details and registration here: whova.com/web/C80RRNT4...
May 30, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Next week at NYU Law, I’ll be hosting a panel doing a deep dive on Public Benefit Corporations—the good, the bad, the unknown… Anyone going to be around?
Details and registration here: whova.com/web/C80RRNT4...
Details and registration here: whova.com/web/C80RRNT4...
The King Of Philanthropy:
May 30, 2025 at 4:39 PM
The King Of Philanthropy:
Lest anyone thinks I’m not cool enough for Silicon Valley, here’s a photo I took last night while hanging out with Joe Craven and The Friskies at @kalwradio.bsky.social.
I’m withit. I’m hip.
I’m withit. I’m hip.
May 30, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Lest anyone thinks I’m not cool enough for Silicon Valley, here’s a photo I took last night while hanging out with Joe Craven and The Friskies at @kalwradio.bsky.social.
I’m withit. I’m hip.
I’m withit. I’m hip.
Heres a picture of the badass SF “dirty immigration lawyers”
May 28, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Heres a picture of the badass SF “dirty immigration lawyers”
Judge Murphy calls it “clever compliance” in his opinion from yesterday:
May 27, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Judge Murphy calls it “clever compliance” in his opinion from yesterday:
The more I think about this, the more I think it is problematic:
“The Nonprofit transferred certain assets to the Capped-Profit Enterprise in 2019, but did so in exchange for [equity] representing fair market value of the assets, based on an independent valuation solicited by the Nonprofit Board.”
“The Nonprofit transferred certain assets to the Capped-Profit Enterprise in 2019, but did so in exchange for [equity] representing fair market value of the assets, based on an independent valuation solicited by the Nonprofit Board.”
May 20, 2025 at 1:37 PM
The more I think about this, the more I think it is problematic:
“The Nonprofit transferred certain assets to the Capped-Profit Enterprise in 2019, but did so in exchange for [equity] representing fair market value of the assets, based on an independent valuation solicited by the Nonprofit Board.”
“The Nonprofit transferred certain assets to the Capped-Profit Enterprise in 2019, but did so in exchange for [equity] representing fair market value of the assets, based on an independent valuation solicited by the Nonprofit Board.”
Great write up here 👇. I would add a couple points :)
I think these two comments from their legal counsel (Jenner / Wachtel) are the most important.
There’s a lot of legal handwaving in here. Crucially, not a lot of details about the 2019 transfer of IP.
1/6
I think these two comments from their legal counsel (Jenner / Wachtel) are the most important.
There’s a lot of legal handwaving in here. Crucially, not a lot of details about the 2019 transfer of IP.
1/6
![OpenAl's "charitable assets" consist principally of its equity interests in the Capped -Profit Enterprise. Petitioners do not (and could not) contend that those interests have been diverted to private or non-charitable purposes. And, because those assets, and the predecessor assets that the Nonprofit conveyed to the Capped-Profit Enterprise in 2019 for fair value, have never been "diverted," there has been no
"fail[ure] to protect nonprofit assets for a charitable purpose."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2xu3hrldwa65acdfoupjcg4w/bafkreiatgsm3n2jy5jbwzzafhruze7qoud2zjgiwhivqtxyda635dotgva@jpeg)
May 19, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Great write up here 👇. I would add a couple points :)
I think these two comments from their legal counsel (Jenner / Wachtel) are the most important.
There’s a lot of legal handwaving in here. Crucially, not a lot of details about the 2019 transfer of IP.
1/6
I think these two comments from their legal counsel (Jenner / Wachtel) are the most important.
There’s a lot of legal handwaving in here. Crucially, not a lot of details about the 2019 transfer of IP.
1/6
I mean come on!
Cc @lawfaremedia.org @annabower.bsky.social
[Alt text: pictures of posts using copying Anna Bower]
Cc @lawfaremedia.org @annabower.bsky.social
[Alt text: pictures of posts using copying Anna Bower]
May 17, 2025 at 2:10 PM
I mean come on!
Cc @lawfaremedia.org @annabower.bsky.social
[Alt text: pictures of posts using copying Anna Bower]
Cc @lawfaremedia.org @annabower.bsky.social
[Alt text: pictures of posts using copying Anna Bower]
Haha wow! A friend, former colleague, and former partner at K&E just posted this on LinkedIn:
April 24, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Haha wow! A friend, former colleague, and former partner at K&E just posted this on LinkedIn:
👀
“the entire premise of Alito’s dissent is that the Court intervened “hastily and prematurely.” But to get there, Alito had to misstate (if not misrepresent) what the government had told Chief Judge Boasberg, and then discount the ACLU’s credible allegations, as backed up by numerous media reports”
“the entire premise of Alito’s dissent is that the Court intervened “hastily and prematurely.” But to get there, Alito had to misstate (if not misrepresent) what the government had told Chief Judge Boasberg, and then discount the ACLU’s credible allegations, as backed up by numerous media reports”
April 21, 2025 at 2:12 PM
👀
“the entire premise of Alito’s dissent is that the Court intervened “hastily and prematurely.” But to get there, Alito had to misstate (if not misrepresent) what the government had told Chief Judge Boasberg, and then discount the ACLU’s credible allegations, as backed up by numerous media reports”
“the entire premise of Alito’s dissent is that the Court intervened “hastily and prematurely.” But to get there, Alito had to misstate (if not misrepresent) what the government had told Chief Judge Boasberg, and then discount the ACLU’s credible allegations, as backed up by numerous media reports”
Good sign. Statement in full:
April 9, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Good sign. Statement in full:
Union for UC law lecturers (UC-AFT) sent this email to members re a new subpoena in EEOC’s sham investigation of antisemitism at UC schools 👇
April 2, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Union for UC law lecturers (UC-AFT) sent this email to members re a new subpoena in EEOC’s sham investigation of antisemitism at UC schools 👇