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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

"See if there isn't something you can learn from it. Now, in some cases there just isn't, but in many cases there is."

Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Gov. Davis: "Part of it is just—I learned this from Jerry Brown—instead of just saying, 'What a nasty story that was,'see if there isn't some wisdom there. See if there isn't something instructive in it.

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

"Things could always have been better, but I'm sure I'm partially to blame for that. So I certainly don't think I got a bad deal. I certainly don't think I was treated unfairly."

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Gov. Davis: "I think the press over time treated me fairly. Obviously, they were critical on many occasions, but in part that's their role. I don't have any complaints. ...

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

And this from Gov. Davis: "There's a guy who's an editor at the Chronicle. His last name is Diaz." Interviewer: "John Diaz." Davis: "John Diaz, yes. I like him. He's very fair-minded."

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

More from Gov. Davis: "Then we have Dan Walters. He's on the other side of the equation, but he's a pretty good journalist. He obviously has a point of view. He's a columnist, and he's generally on the other side of whatever argument I'm on or Jerry's on. He's made a living off of Jerry, literally."

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

I realize this odd but I am spending the day reading Gray Davis's oral history, produced by Bancroft Library. All kinds of interesting detail. This on the great George Skelton: "I always liked George Skelton. He's still around. He's kind of an old curmudgeon, but he's got a heart of gold." Yep.

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 2222 to provide money to help journalism. That’s great and much appreciated. Some of those journalists will write critical pieces about Newsom’s policies. That’s how journalism works. Much as he gets annoyed by some coverage, he understands that. I wish all pols did.

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Reposted by Dan Morain

Capitol Weekly @capitolweekly.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Listeners to a discussion focused on Behavioral Health moderated by @danmorain.bsky.social last week might have missed the big news if they weren’t dialed into one important and complex facet of CA's mental illness crisis... danmorain.substack.com/p/settlement...

danmorain.substack.com

Settlement helps people with mental illness, to a point

Judge ends an 11-year-old lawsuit focused people deemed incompetent to state trial

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

There are many infuriating aspects to Tom Philp’s powerful column. Assemblywoman Mia Bonta and her committee gutted important legislation is one. Another is that Chatham Asset Management gutted the Bee’s opinion staff. Who will write such pieces next yesr? www.sacbee.com/opinion/arti...

sacbee.com

Liberal Democrats gutted California’s CARE court, so homeless addicts just say ‘no’ | Opinion

A Sacramento father petitioned CARE court seeking treatment for his homeless daughter. She refused to cooperate, and a weak law is on her side.

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I was at the Sacramento Bee eight years ending in 2018. I wasn’t there during its heyday. But it was a damned good paper. Here’s an ode to it, as the hedge fund Chatham Asset Managment dismantles what remains. danmorain.substack.com/p/what-chath...

danmorain.substack.com

What Chatham Asset Management discarded

Photos on the walls of The Sacramento Bee’s editorial boardroom told a tale

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

I didn’t always agree with the Bee’s opinion journalists’ takes but that’s not the point. Their opinion pieces and endorsements were informed, reported and honest, and they were a vital part of the civic discourse. The layoffs will weaken democracy in Sacramento and California.

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Stephen Cloobeck initially toyed with running for governor as a Democrat, then backed Democrat Eric Swalwell before he flamed out. On Labor Day, Sept. 7, Cloobeck donated the maximum, $39,200 to Republican Steve Hilton for governor, a California Secretary of State campaign finance report shows.

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Well, Thomas Guides are the best.

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Having downloaded Mapquest, I like it more than the other two. It’s very easy to use.

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Mostly, “Nerd Reich” makes me wonder why the main characters, who have been blessed with so much, are so afraid of the rest of us.

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Their obsession with death is strange, and not. In ancient times, wealthy Egyptians built pyramids. Altman imagines his brain will be uploaded to the cloud. When they die, they will leave with what we plebeians have—nothing.

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Weirdly, they aspire to build new cities and countries where they believe they can assert yet more control. Thiel’s anti-Christ thing seems like a bizarre example of projection.

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

I just finished “Nerd Reich.” Helluva story on many levels. It’s scary and infuriating. Gil Duran, @gilduran.com, writes clearly and gets to the point. Thiel, Musk and the rest of them have fled California where they made their riches and live wherever they want, Argentina, Texas, New Zealand.

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

I wonder what Congressman Tom McClintock says about this deal. It’s in his district. Trump Administration Looks to Give a Swath of Yosemite to a Developer www.nytimes.com/2026/08/28/u...

nytimes.com

Trump Administration Looks to Give a Swath of Yosemite Park to Developer

The proposed land swap would allow easy access to the crown jewel of the national park system. Democrats and former Park Service officials are incensed.

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

In California, the death penalty is not a front-burner issue. There hasn't been an execution in 20 years and probably won't be another one. But Gov. Gavin Newsom could have a final word on capital punishment in his final days in office: danmorain.substack.com/p/gov-newsom...

danmorain.substack.com

Gov. Newsom’s life-or-death decision

Governor could grant clemency in 565 death penalty cases. Or not

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

And always listen to your rabbi.

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

A conservative Illinois billionaire has throw down $10.5 million to require Californians to prove they’re eligable to vote. Of course, he did. substack.com/@danielmorai...

substack.com

California's Voter ID initiative goes national

Illinois billionaire Richard Uihlein's $6.5 million donation boosts Carl DeMaio's Prop. 39

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

I remember when the California Republican Party all but printed money. Not so much these days: open.substack.com/pub/danmorai...

open.substack.com

California's GOP falls onto even harder times

Once upon a time, the California Republican Party all but printed money

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Tom Philp of the SacBee writes about Carlos Reales Dominguez, the former UC Davis student who stabbed to death two people in Davis in 2023, and his medical marijuana card, which he obtained "thanks to the most dubious of authorizations from a doctor" www.sacbee.com/opinion/arti...

sacbee.com

California should rethink teen access to cannabis after Davis stabbings | Opinion

Carlos Dominguez started legally using cannabis at age 19. Four years later and with schizophrenia, he went on a stabbing spree in Davis.

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

In Kansas, Melinda Henneberger derails the ballot fight for the independence of the state supreme court. Vote is next week. open.substack.com/pub/kansasci...

open.substack.com

Current and "retired" KCK archbishops have different messages on Kansas Amendment 5

But only one of them is in your mailbox.

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

In other news, four dozen elephant seals slept on the beach south of Cambria, California.

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Question: Will he go to a state hospital or be deported? He arrived here at age 5 from El Salvador. And became a standout student at Castlemont High School in Oakland. Tragic story on many levels

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Former UC Davis student Carlos Reales Dominguez found guilty of invol manslaughter in stabbing deaths of a UC Davis honors student Karim Abou Najm and “Compassion Guy,” Davis Breaux and wounding a homeless woman. Originally faced 1st degree murder. He has schizophrenia and was a heavy weed smoker.

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Question: Will he go to a state hospital or be deported? He arrived here at age 5 from El Salvador.Tragic story on many many levels.

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Alex Padilla had a personal story to tell when we met 20 years ago. I recall it as he attacks Trump’s bogus claims of voter fraud. An essay: danmorain.substack.com/p/alex-padil...

danmorain.substack.com

Sen. Alex Padilla and our most fundamental right

Padilla had a personal story to tell when we met 20 years ago

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

@capitolweekly.bsky.social-Open California published another in its series of oral histories, this one with a pioneer in the mental health care field, Areta Crowell. Check it out on my Substack, or go to the source: danmorain.substack.com/p/a-pioneer-.... capitolweekly.net/oral-histori...

danmorain.substack.com

A pioneer details California's mental health care system origin story--and its flaws

Areta Crowell and Open California's oral history series

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Reading this headline, “U.S. and Iran Edge Toward War Again,” I’m having a hard time understanding the definition of “war.” Maybe this is the editor in me, but if one country drops bombs and another shoots missiles, isn’t that a war?

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

I'm so sorry to read of the passing of George Cotliar. His name probably is not well known today. But he was one huge reason why the Los Angeles Times became great in the 1980s and '90s. Truly, a towering figure: www.latimes.com/entertainmen...

latimes.com

George J. Cotliar, managing editor of the Los Angeles Times for 19 years, dies at 94

George J. Cotliar, who served as managing editor of the Los Angeles Times for 19 years, died Monday at his home in Newport Beach. He was 94 years old.

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Amy Wallace, ghost writer of the must-read "Nobody's Girl," writes about another important book, "Careless People," and how Facebook's effort to silence its author--Sarah Wynn-Williams--is backfiring spectacularly. www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...

latimes.com

Contributor: Facebook's effort to silence a critic is backfiring spectacularly

Recent tactics of the social media site's parent company, Meta, made at least 8 million people curious to read the very book that the company is trying to suppress.

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Now, the effort turns to support AB 2222 which would provide tax credits for hiring journalists. Assembly members Ward and Wicks are carrying the bill. www.rebuildlocalnews.org/solutions/mo...

rebuildlocalnews.org

Model Laws - Rebuild Local News

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

California’s $351 billion budget includes $25 million to help fund journalism projects including reporting fellowships. It’s budget dust but a start. Thanks to legislators, Gov Newsom—and former Sen. Steve Glazer @senatorglazer.bsky.social Steve Glazer who led effort to support it.

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

I’m probably not going to have a beer in a bar where customers are packing, or watch a or watch a movie in a theater. I wonder if Alito would. Supreme Court Overturns Hawaii Gun Law www.nytimes.com/2026/06/25/u...

nytimes.com

Supreme Court Overturns Hawaii Gun Law

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Mariel Garza asks: Is Los Angeles trying to bait election deniers? Noncitizen voting is bad idea. Council expansion is a great one. Guess which the City Council decided to put on the November ballot? open.substack.com/pub/goldenst...

open.substack.com

Is Los Angeles trying to bait election deniers?

Noncitizen voting is bad idea. Council expansion is a great one. Guess which the City Council decided to put on the November ballot?

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

A reminder: In June 1983, President Reagan hosted the Special Olympics on the South Lawn. Then, the big controversy was that the Beach Boys performed. His interior secretary had banned the band from July 4 festivities because the Boys attracted an unsavory element. www.youtube.com/watch?v=whmn...

youtube.com

President Reagan’s Remarks during the Ceremony for the Special Olympics on June 12, 1983

YouTube video by Reagan Library

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

California’s next governor will need to decide whether to extend or rescind Gov. Gavin Newsom’s moratorium on executions. The LAT’s Phil Willon asked Xavier Becerra and Antonio Villaraigosa what they would do. Their answers start at Minute 32: www.c-span.org/program/camp...

c-span.org

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

I’m in good company. When George Skelton struggles, it’s clearly a tough call. George’s column: My pick for California governor is ... I’m still working on it: www.latimes.com/california/n...

latimes.com

Column: My pick for California governor is ... I'm still working on it

Like millions of Californians, I haven’t voted yet in the primary election.

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Dan Morain @danmorain.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

I’ve turned off SF Giants notifications. Too predictable and painful. I’ve been watching since 1962. McCovey’s liner still hurts. There have been great teams, and not great teams but at least they were fun to watch. This may be the most unwatchable team I’ve seen.

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