Martha Ross
@marthajross.bsky.social
Features writer at the Mercury News, East Bay Times and Bay Area News Group, covering culture, celebrities, lifestyle and more.
I didn't coin the term 'Mar-a-Lago face restructuring,' a writer for New York magazine did. It's a whole aesthetic, I guess, among ladies in certain Palm Beach circles. But apparently it didn't work for Don Jr. anymore. www.mercurynews.com/2025/03/31/d...
How Trump Jr. stepped up from Kimberly Guilfoyle’s ‘Mar-a-Lago face’
A new report details Trump Jr.’s personal challenges, as well as the reasons that Guilfoyle couldn’t fit, long-term, into his possible future as his father’s political successor.
www.mercurynews.com
March 31, 2025 at 10:45 PM
I didn't coin the term 'Mar-a-Lago face restructuring,' a writer for New York magazine did. It's a whole aesthetic, I guess, among ladies in certain Palm Beach circles. But apparently it didn't work for Don Jr. anymore. www.mercurynews.com/2025/03/31/d...
Reposted by Martha Ross
With Republican congressmembers not holding town hall meetings in their districts, some Democrats are seizing the opportunity to talk to voters in these red and purple districts.
www.mercurynews.com/2025/03/30/t...
www.mercurynews.com/2025/03/30/t...
Bay Area Democrats turn to town hall meetings — even in GOP territory — to connect to voters
Democratic voters are packing town halls in their own districts as their representatives target red districts where the GOP has stop holding town halls.
www.mercurynews.com
March 31, 2025 at 10:07 PM
With Republican congressmembers not holding town hall meetings in their districts, some Democrats are seizing the opportunity to talk to voters in these red and purple districts.
www.mercurynews.com/2025/03/30/t...
www.mercurynews.com/2025/03/30/t...
Is Katy Perry a #complicitcelebrity? Yes, she campaigned for Kamala Harris, but she seems OK with Bezos and Sanchez's embrace of Trump. Remember when Bezos plunged the Washington Post into chaos by suddenly withdrawing the paper's endorsement of Harris?
March 31, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Is Katy Perry a #complicitcelebrity? Yes, she campaigned for Kamala Harris, but she seems OK with Bezos and Sanchez's embrace of Trump. Remember when Bezos plunged the Washington Post into chaos by suddenly withdrawing the paper's endorsement of Harris?
Joining the list of supposedly beloved celebrities who are surprisingly but notably complicit in Trump’s actions as president, via some of his new rich and powerful friends. It’s Gayle King and here’s why:
www.mercurynews.com/2025/03/28/c...
www.mercurynews.com/2025/03/28/c...
Gayle King, CBS slammed for her ride on ‘oligarch’ Jeff Bezos’s rocket
King’s journalistic ethics are under fire over her participation in a ‘PR stunt’ on behalf of Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, in the wake of his ‘gutting’ of the Washington …
www.mercurynews.com
March 29, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Joining the list of supposedly beloved celebrities who are surprisingly but notably complicit in Trump’s actions as president, via some of his new rich and powerful friends. It’s Gayle King and here’s why:
www.mercurynews.com/2025/03/28/c...
www.mercurynews.com/2025/03/28/c...
It’s time to list celebrities who are variously complicit in Trump's actions as president and the list would go beyond the usual suspects (his Hollywood ambassadors Stallone, Gibson and Voight). A good place to start is Jeff Bezos and his fiancee Lauren Sanchez. www.mercurynews.com/2025/03/24/w...
Which stars will want to be seen at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s wedding?
After Bezos and Sanchez put on a show of welcoming Trump’s leadership at his inauguration, will such famous liberal friends as Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Eva Longoria and Katy Perry ha…
www.mercurynews.com
March 29, 2025 at 2:35 PM
It’s time to list celebrities who are variously complicit in Trump's actions as president and the list would go beyond the usual suspects (his Hollywood ambassadors Stallone, Gibson and Voight). A good place to start is Jeff Bezos and his fiancee Lauren Sanchez. www.mercurynews.com/2025/03/24/w...
For some reason, Elizabeth Holmes is seeking good PR by justifying her decision to have 2 kids, even with the likelihood that they'd be separated from her for the 1st 10 years of their lives. Could she seeking a Trump pardon like Sam Bankman-Fried?
www.mercurynews.com/2025/02/13/e...
www.mercurynews.com/2025/02/13/e...
Elizabeth Holmes defends having two babies before trial, prison: ‘It wasn’t planned’
In a new interview, the Theranos fraudster said she pumped breast milk for her infant daughter as she was driven to her federal prison in Texas to surrender for her 11-year sentence.
www.mercurynews.com
February 14, 2025 at 8:15 PM
For some reason, Elizabeth Holmes is seeking good PR by justifying her decision to have 2 kids, even with the likelihood that they'd be separated from her for the 1st 10 years of their lives. Could she seeking a Trump pardon like Sam Bankman-Fried?
www.mercurynews.com/2025/02/13/e...
www.mercurynews.com/2025/02/13/e...
In writing this, I tried to find out if RFK Jr's socialite daughters Kick and Kyra Kennedy actually do anything to make a living, beyond vaguely doing acting, or modeling, or being 'philanthropists.' Now they have a new party scene: Trump's MAGA Washington DC:
www.mercurynews.com/2025/02/14/c...
www.mercurynews.com/2025/02/14/c...
Cheryl Hines, Kick and Kyra Kennedy celebrate RFK Jr’s confirmation, ‘a Trump victory ‘
RFK Jr’s TV actor wife and socialite daughters proudly celebrated the controversial anti-vaccine campaigner’s confirmation to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
www.mercurynews.com
February 14, 2025 at 8:07 PM
In writing this, I tried to find out if RFK Jr's socialite daughters Kick and Kyra Kennedy actually do anything to make a living, beyond vaguely doing acting, or modeling, or being 'philanthropists.' Now they have a new party scene: Trump's MAGA Washington DC:
www.mercurynews.com/2025/02/14/c...
www.mercurynews.com/2025/02/14/c...
Ayesha Curry reps didn't respond to questions before publication &didn't respond to other news outlets. Beyond a curated statement, Sweet July didn't want to answer questions about whether the store closed for reasons other than 'lawless Oakland' trope. www.mercurynews.com/2025/02/05/a...
Ayesha Curry accused of blaming Oakland for her store’s closing
Some are questioning whether crime was really the problem with the business.
www.mercurynews.com
February 6, 2025 at 5:47 AM
Ayesha Curry reps didn't respond to questions before publication &didn't respond to other news outlets. Beyond a curated statement, Sweet July didn't want to answer questions about whether the store closed for reasons other than 'lawless Oakland' trope. www.mercurynews.com/2025/02/05/a...
All the best and the brightest, right? It's hard to be online sometimes and reading this stuff: www.mercurynews.com/2025/02/05/s...
Silicon Valley’s brilliant young techies help Musk, Trump penetrate government, drawing Democrats’ fury
Bay Area members of Congress blasted incursions by Elon Musk’s team into government’s sensitive data and systems.
www.mercurynews.com
February 5, 2025 at 11:09 PM
All the best and the brightest, right? It's hard to be online sometimes and reading this stuff: www.mercurynews.com/2025/02/05/s...
Some people here may adore Meghan Markle, but this video wasn't necessary and isn't the first time she's been accused of using someone else's tragedy for self-promotion. She's got a Netflix show coming and a troubled public image. This probably won't help: www.mercurynews.com/2025/02/05/m...
Meghan Markle’s PR fail? Boasts about getting a Billie Eilish T-shirt for teen fire victim
In an Instagram video, shot selfie style, Meghan appeared to be seeking positive PR by explaining how she came to the assistance of a young L.A. fire victim.
www.mercurynews.com
February 5, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Some people here may adore Meghan Markle, but this video wasn't necessary and isn't the first time she's been accused of using someone else's tragedy for self-promotion. She's got a Netflix show coming and a troubled public image. This probably won't help: www.mercurynews.com/2025/02/05/m...
Crime was way down in Oakland in 2024, including in the neighborhood where Curry's store was located. Some locals wonder if her store wasn't working for other reasons and are irked she's blaming the city. www.mercurynews.com/2025/02/05/a...
Ayesha Curry accused of denigrating Oakland by closing store over ‘safety’ concerns
Some are questioning whether crime was really the problem with the business.
www.mercurynews.com
February 5, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Crime was way down in Oakland in 2024, including in the neighborhood where Curry's store was located. Some locals wonder if her store wasn't working for other reasons and are irked she's blaming the city. www.mercurynews.com/2025/02/05/a...
Even before this controversy, people had astute things to say about the film's stereotyping of transgender people or Mexican culture. To me, Saldana should have been nominated as lead actress not supporting. As Saldana also has said this situation is just 'sad'
www.mercurynews.com/2025/02/03/k...
www.mercurynews.com/2025/02/03/k...
Karla Sofía Gascón’s bigoted tweets may doom Zoe Saldaña’s Oscar chances
Many Oscars voters will ‘have a hard time’ voting for ‘Emilia Pérez’ in any category, including for Saldana as best supporting actress, given that the actor playing Emilia P…
www.mercurynews.com
February 3, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Even before this controversy, people had astute things to say about the film's stereotyping of transgender people or Mexican culture. To me, Saldana should have been nominated as lead actress not supporting. As Saldana also has said this situation is just 'sad'
www.mercurynews.com/2025/02/03/k...
www.mercurynews.com/2025/02/03/k...
They say most residents nearby won't be "affected," referring to skin, nose or throat irritation. Let's hope that stays the case.
Flames shoot into the air from an explosion reported at the Martinez Refinery in Martinez, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. #martinez #martinezrefineryfire #breaking #bayarea #refineryfire
February 1, 2025 at 11:44 PM
They say most residents nearby won't be "affected," referring to skin, nose or throat irritation. Let's hope that stays the case.
Reposted by Martha Ross
Flames shoot into the air from an explosion reported at the Martinez Refinery in Martinez, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. #martinez #martinezrefineryfire #breaking #bayarea #refineryfire
February 1, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Flames shoot into the air from an explosion reported at the Martinez Refinery in Martinez, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. #martinez #martinezrefineryfire #breaking #bayarea #refineryfire
As another journalist said, "This is how news becomes propaganda. It’s begun. Pay attention."
twitter.com/halbritz/sta...
twitter.com/halbritz/sta...
Haley Britzky on X: "The Pentagon has informed its resident press corps that NBC, NYT, NPR, and Politico will “rotate out of the building” to give space to New York Post, Breitbart, OANN, and HuffPost. NBC, who has an entire booth w/ cameras etc. https://t.co/OC4H3xyGdj" / X
The Pentagon has informed its resident press corps that NBC, NYT, NPR, and Politico will “rotate out of the building” to give space to New York Post, Breitbart, OANN, and HuffPost. NBC, who has an entire booth w/ cameras etc. https://t.co/OC4H3xyGdj
twitter.com
February 1, 2025 at 11:34 PM
As another journalist said, "This is how news becomes propaganda. It’s begun. Pay attention."
twitter.com/halbritz/sta...
twitter.com/halbritz/sta...
For some reason, a sad tale from Hollywood history that I reported on popped up in my feed. Perhaps because it reveals the dangers of stigma, or because it feels like we're going back to the worst aspects of the 80s, with the return of a celebrity president.
www.mercurynews.com/2018/12/13/r...
www.mercurynews.com/2018/12/13/r...
Rock Hudson’s final months revealed: Struggling to share AIDS diagnosis with lovers, the world
A new biography reveals Rock Hudson’s fear and shame before he died as he struggled with how to tell ex-lovers and the world he had AIDS.
www.mercurynews.com
February 1, 2025 at 11:29 PM
For some reason, a sad tale from Hollywood history that I reported on popped up in my feed. Perhaps because it reveals the dangers of stigma, or because it feels like we're going back to the worst aspects of the 80s, with the return of a celebrity president.
www.mercurynews.com/2018/12/13/r...
www.mercurynews.com/2018/12/13/r...
Remember when Barbara Fried, SBF's mom, wanted to be a major power player in Silicon Valley Democratic fundraising -- in order to support a movement to oppose Trump? Well, she's apparently forgotten all about that.
www.mercurynews.com/2025/01/31/s...
www.mercurynews.com/2025/01/31/s...
Sam Bankman-Fried’s parents appealing to Trump to pardon their beloved son: report
The mother of Sam Bankman-Fried has apparently had a major change of heart about Trump after once leading a top Silicon Valley fundraising network for anti-Trump Democrats.
www.mercurynews.com
January 31, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Remember when Barbara Fried, SBF's mom, wanted to be a major power player in Silicon Valley Democratic fundraising -- in order to support a movement to oppose Trump? Well, she's apparently forgotten all about that.
www.mercurynews.com/2025/01/31/s...
www.mercurynews.com/2025/01/31/s...
The rain is here in the Bay Area, and it's so very nice.
Sierra Nevada snowpack declines after very dry January — but promising storms are arriving to replenish it
Sierra Nevada snowpack declines after very dry January — but promising storms are arriving to replenish it
First snow in nearly a month, 4 to 5 feet, will boost lagging snow numbers and help California’s water supply
www.mercurynews.com
January 31, 2025 at 11:25 PM
The rain is here in the Bay Area, and it's so very nice.
Reposted by Martha Ross
Sierra Nevada snowpack declines after very dry January — but promising storms are arriving to replenish it
Sierra Nevada snowpack declines after very dry January — but promising storms are arriving to replenish it
First snow in nearly a month, 4 to 5 feet, will boost lagging snow numbers and help California’s water supply
www.mercurynews.com
January 31, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Sierra Nevada snowpack declines after very dry January — but promising storms are arriving to replenish it
The ever agitated Megyn Kelly seems to forget that 'Little House on the Prairie' always was pretty 'woke,' as star Melissa Gilbert politely pointed out.
www.mercurynews.com/2025/01/31/l...
www.mercurynews.com/2025/01/31/l...
‘Little House on the Prairie’ star slams Megyn Kelly for rant about show’s ‘woke’ reboot
‘Little House’ star Melissa Gilbert has pointed out to an agitated Kelly all the ways that the original show already was pretty ‘woke’ in how it tackled racism, addiction, a…
www.mercurynews.com
January 31, 2025 at 11:24 PM
The ever agitated Megyn Kelly seems to forget that 'Little House on the Prairie' always was pretty 'woke,' as star Melissa Gilbert politely pointed out.
www.mercurynews.com/2025/01/31/l...
www.mercurynews.com/2025/01/31/l...
Interesting piece on the latest Emilia Perez controversy.
"Gascón, a Spanish performer who transitioned in her middle career, may be transgender, but that’s no guarantee she can’t be Islamophobic, racist, or any of the other negative impressions given by her statements."
"Gascón, a Spanish performer who transitioned in her middle career, may be transgender, but that’s no guarantee she can’t be Islamophobic, racist, or any of the other negative impressions given by her statements."
amazingly, a key theme of EMILIA PEREZ the movie — that people from marginalized groups can be as monstrous as anyone else bc identity is not inherently redeeming — is also a cautionary tale for EMILIA PEREZ the awards campaign variety.com/2025/film/ne...
‘Emilia Pérez’ Star Karla Sofía Gascón Under Fire Over Tweets About Muslims, George Floyd, Oscars Diversity
'Emilia Perez' star Karla Sofia Gascon is under fire due to resurfaced tweets she posted about Muslims, George Floyd, Oscars diversity and more.
variety.com
January 31, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Interesting piece on the latest Emilia Perez controversy.
"Gascón, a Spanish performer who transitioned in her middle career, may be transgender, but that’s no guarantee she can’t be Islamophobic, racist, or any of the other negative impressions given by her statements."
"Gascón, a Spanish performer who transitioned in her middle career, may be transgender, but that’s no guarantee she can’t be Islamophobic, racist, or any of the other negative impressions given by her statements."
Reposted by Martha Ross
If you are a federal worker being offered a buyout, I would advise against taking it.
Of course, this is a personal decision for everyone and it’s your choice.
But these offers are a rush job. The legality is questionable and this admin does not keep to its word.
They aren’t firing for a reason.
Of course, this is a personal decision for everyone and it’s your choice.
But these offers are a rush job. The legality is questionable and this admin does not keep to its word.
They aren’t firing for a reason.
January 30, 2025 at 6:02 PM
If you are a federal worker being offered a buyout, I would advise against taking it.
Of course, this is a personal decision for everyone and it’s your choice.
But these offers are a rush job. The legality is questionable and this admin does not keep to its word.
They aren’t firing for a reason.
Of course, this is a personal decision for everyone and it’s your choice.
But these offers are a rush job. The legality is questionable and this admin does not keep to its word.
They aren’t firing for a reason.
It's heartening to see local government officials standing up to policies they view as harmful to the communities they serve, as well as unconstitutional.
Santa Clara County joins California in suing Trump over birthright citizenship order
Santa Clara County joins California in suing Trump over birthright citizenship order
The lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in San Jose on Thursday, comes days after a federal judge in Seattle issued a 14-day temporary restraining order to prevent Trump’s executive ord…
www.mercurynews.com
January 31, 2025 at 4:15 AM
It's heartening to see local government officials standing up to policies they view as harmful to the communities they serve, as well as unconstitutional.
Reposted by Martha Ross
Santa Clara County joins California in suing Trump over birthright citizenship order
Santa Clara County joins California in suing Trump over birthright citizenship order
The lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in San Jose on Thursday, comes days after a federal judge in Seattle issued a 14-day temporary restraining order to prevent Trump’s executive ord…
www.mercurynews.com
January 30, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Santa Clara County joins California in suing Trump over birthright citizenship order
Harry and Meghan ... OK, they're 2 of my favorite wayward celebrities. They continue to struggle. Is it because haters are just being mean? Or is it because they're essentially 'f------ grifters?' Or are they victims? Of really bad timing, if nothing else? www.mercurynews.com/2025/01/30/j...
John Mulaney dunked on Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at star-studded Netflix event
The comedian poked fun at Meghan and Harry’s Netflix track record, shortly after the duchess announced she was delaying the release of her lifestyle show in the wake of the Los Angeles wildfi…
www.mercurynews.com
January 31, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Harry and Meghan ... OK, they're 2 of my favorite wayward celebrities. They continue to struggle. Is it because haters are just being mean? Or is it because they're essentially 'f------ grifters?' Or are they victims? Of really bad timing, if nothing else? www.mercurynews.com/2025/01/30/j...