Paul Thornton
@paulthornton.bsky.social
Co-founder, Golden State, California's home for fearless, informed, nonprofit opinion journalism. Ex-L.A. Times. I like trails and horror films.
https://golden-state.org
@goldenstateorg.bsky.social
https://golden-state.org
@goldenstateorg.bsky.social
Reposted by Paul Thornton
You can donate to support the site to here. And yes, you should if you can. givebutter.com/NY2Duo
Support Golden State
Fearless. Informed. Californian.
givebutter.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:14 PM
You can donate to support the site to here. And yes, you should if you can. givebutter.com/NY2Duo
Reposted by Paul Thornton
A new California news site founded by former longterm LA Times journalists launched today. Read it and subscribe to the daily newsletter to help ensure the survival of honest, unbiased and insightful local and regional journalism. www.golden-state.org
Golden State
Fearless, informed, independent opinion journalism from California.
www.golden-state.org
November 12, 2025 at 8:14 PM
A new California news site founded by former longterm LA Times journalists launched today. Read it and subscribe to the daily newsletter to help ensure the survival of honest, unbiased and insightful local and regional journalism. www.golden-state.org
Reposted by Paul Thornton
A little bit more about @goldenstateorg.bsky.social
November 12, 2025 at 5:47 PM
A little bit more about @goldenstateorg.bsky.social
Me too! Mariel is the bravest opinion journalist in CA; I am lucky to work with her on this.
For those wondering what I spent my post-LA Times year doing, the answer is this 👇
Please check it out!
Please check it out!
California deserves journalism rooted in truth — not big money influence.
Former L.A. Times editors @marielgarza.bsky.social & @paulthornton.bsky.social launch Golden State — an independent home for fact-based news, analysis & commentary. Read more @ golden-state.org
#MediaIntegrity
Former L.A. Times editors @marielgarza.bsky.social & @paulthornton.bsky.social launch Golden State — an independent home for fact-based news, analysis & commentary. Read more @ golden-state.org
#MediaIntegrity
November 12, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Me too! Mariel is the bravest opinion journalist in CA; I am lucky to work with her on this.
So, the cat's -- er, the bear's -- out of the bag. Golden State, which I cofounded with @marielgarza.bsky.social, is live. Please share, donate, spread the word. We're nonprofit, so we depend on community support.
www.golden-state.org
www.golden-state.org
Golden State
Fearless, informed, independent opinion journalism from California.
www.golden-state.org
November 12, 2025 at 3:16 PM
So, the cat's -- er, the bear's -- out of the bag. Golden State, which I cofounded with @marielgarza.bsky.social, is live. Please share, donate, spread the word. We're nonprofit, so we depend on community support.
www.golden-state.org
www.golden-state.org
Just unbelievably sad.
Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia and his wife Kayla announced that their newborn daughter, Sterling Sol, died on October 26th.
Please continue to keep this family in your thoughts. 💔
Please continue to keep this family in your thoughts. 💔
November 8, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Just unbelievably sad.
Reposted by Paul Thornton
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.
He supported L.A. Mayor Karen Bass. Now he wants her job
Austin Beutner, a former L.A. Unified superintendent, says City Hall has come up woefully short on wildfires, homelessness, housing and affordability.
goldenstatereport.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:02 PM
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 -- former LA schools, deputy mayor and LAT publisher -- now wants to be mayor. He sat down with @marielgarza.bsky.social and @goldenstatereport.bsky.social to talk fire response, Donald Trump, immigration raids and what he sees as a failure in leadership at City Hall.
He supported L.A. Mayor Karen Bass. Now he wants her job
Austin Beutner, a former L.A. Unified superintendent, says City Hall has come up woefully short on wildfires, homelessness, housing and affordability.
goldenstatereport.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Austin Beutner -- former LA schools, deputy mayor and LAT publisher -- now wants to be mayor. He sat down with @marielgarza.bsky.social and @goldenstatereport.bsky.social to talk fire response, Donald Trump, immigration raids and what he sees as a failure in leadership at City Hall.
This is a great piece by @marielgarza.bsky.social for @goldenstatereport.bsky.social -- a peak into what might have been the most jubilant election night watch party, hosted by L.A.'s democratic socialist City Council members. Interesting comments by @nithyaraman.bsky.social and Eunisses Hernandez.
November 5, 2025 at 6:14 PM
This is a great piece by @marielgarza.bsky.social for @goldenstatereport.bsky.social -- a peak into what might have been the most jubilant election night watch party, hosted by L.A.'s democratic socialist City Council members. Interesting comments by @nithyaraman.bsky.social and Eunisses Hernandez.
Seriously, if Julie Marquis -- healthcare journalist and Pulitzer winner -- has a devil of time with insurance, billing, claim denials, the dreaded "explanation of benefits" and all the other features of American healthcare, then the rest of us are truly screwed. From @goldenstatereport.bsky.social
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.
goldenstatereport.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Seriously, if Julie Marquis -- healthcare journalist and Pulitzer winner -- has a devil of time with insurance, billing, claim denials, the dreaded "explanation of benefits" and all the other features of American healthcare, then the rest of us are truly screwed. From @goldenstatereport.bsky.social
A good time to read this piece by @holynopales.bsky.social in @goldenstatereport.bsky.social -- "What do the Dodgers owe Latino fans?"
One answer: not another White House visit.
One answer: not another White House visit.
November 4, 2025 at 12:03 AM
A good time to read this piece by @holynopales.bsky.social in @goldenstatereport.bsky.social -- "What do the Dodgers owe Latino fans?"
One answer: not another White House visit.
One answer: not another White House visit.
Reposted by Paul Thornton
Can Los Angeles elect its own Zohran Mamdani? Short answer: Maybe, but probably not in 2026 substack.com/@msmarielgar...
Can Los Angeles elect its own Zohran Mamdani?
Mamdani’s Democratic primary win electrified LA’s progressive movement, which had already made significant gains in the previous three election cycles.
substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Can Los Angeles elect its own Zohran Mamdani? Short answer: Maybe, but probably not in 2026 substack.com/@msmarielgar...
Occupied LA is a jubilant place now. Go Dodgers. We needed this.
November 2, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Occupied LA is a jubilant place now. Go Dodgers. We needed this.
Reposted by Paul Thornton
L.A.'s $2.6 billion convention center upgrade might not just be another Olympics white elephant, by @jonregardie.bsky.social for @goldenstatereport.bsky.social
goldenstatereport.substack.com/p/las-26-bil...
goldenstatereport.substack.com/p/las-26-bil...
October 31, 2025 at 4:11 PM
L.A.'s $2.6 billion convention center upgrade might not just be another Olympics white elephant, by @jonregardie.bsky.social for @goldenstatereport.bsky.social
goldenstatereport.substack.com/p/las-26-bil...
goldenstatereport.substack.com/p/las-26-bil...
The popups will be the death of me.
October 30, 2025 at 1:27 AM
The popups will be the death of me.
My heart swells seeing the flags of the US, Canada, California and Los Angeles on the field at Dodger Stadium.
October 29, 2025 at 11:57 PM
My heart swells seeing the flags of the US, Canada, California and Los Angeles on the field at Dodger Stadium.
Honestly I need a healthier relationship with baseball.
October 29, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Honestly I need a healthier relationship with baseball.
On repeat.
Good god does Blake Treinen have naked pictures of Dave Roberts or something?
October 29, 2025 at 2:24 AM
On repeat.
The ideologically reinvented Washington Post editorial board has California derangement syndrome. From me:
Does the WaPo have California derangement syndrome?
The Washington Post editorial board's recent punditry on California veers into lazy cheap shots.
goldenstatereport.substack.com
October 28, 2025 at 4:54 PM
The ideologically reinvented Washington Post editorial board has California derangement syndrome. From me:
Dumb as hell but it's my mood now
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Iry...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Iry...
Yo Dodger Blue
YouTube video by Harry Nilsson - Topic
www.youtube.com
October 28, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Dumb as hell but it's my mood now
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Iry...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Iry...
In the 15th inning: OMG someone end this game already.
Now: I’M SO GLAD I NEVER LOOKED AWAY
Now: I’M SO GLAD I NEVER LOOKED AWAY
October 28, 2025 at 6:54 AM
In the 15th inning: OMG someone end this game already.
Now: I’M SO GLAD I NEVER LOOKED AWAY
Now: I’M SO GLAD I NEVER LOOKED AWAY
The next Ohtani rule needs to be not intentionally walking him after 15 innings.
October 28, 2025 at 5:58 AM
The next Ohtani rule needs to be not intentionally walking him after 15 innings.
Honestly the WS Dodgers this year kind of remind me of the WS Yankees last year.
October 28, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Honestly the WS Dodgers this year kind of remind me of the WS Yankees last year.
Reposted by Paul Thornton
A timely piece by L.A. writer Patricia Escárcega in today's @goldenstatereport.bsky.social
What do the Dodgers owe Latino fans?
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.
goldenstatereport.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:34 PM
A timely piece by L.A. writer Patricia Escárcega in today's @goldenstatereport.bsky.social
Ditto to this. Read Sammy Roth (though it's not as if he needs my help!).
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.
open.substack.com
October 23, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Ditto to this. Read Sammy Roth (though it's not as if he needs my help!).