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Paul Kiernan

@pkwsj.bsky.social

3.4K followers 693 following 801 posts

Writing about the California economy for The Wall Street Journal. Currently based in Los Angeles. Previously CDMX, São Paulo, Rio, and DC. Tips to paul.kiernan@wsj.com or Signal/WhatsApp +1-202-808-4258 www.wsj.com/news/author/paul-kiernan

Posts Replies Media

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 22h

What am I supposed to do with this?

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

“He likes to ride his bike in L.A. and he doesn’t want to die.” www.latimes.com/california/s...

The biggest donor in L.A. mayor's race runs a hedge fund — and wants more bike lanes

Hedge fund manager Aaron Sosnick gave a combined $4 million to two independent expenditure committees backing Nithya Raman's mayoral campaign.

Reposted by Paul Kiernan

Boston Herald @bostonherald.com · 23/09/2026

The “Looksmaxxing” influencer Braden Peters, known by his online persona Clavicular, faces charges for allegedly raping a 17-year-old after inviting her to stream with him from his family’s Cape Cod home.

bostonherald.com

Influencer ‘Clavicular’ charged in alleged Cape Cod rape of teen

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

The tech entrepreneurs also intend for their new school to fill a gap they see in traditional colleges: the development of personal skills. www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...

Exclusive | The Tech Elite Is Funding an Alternative to College

The venture-capital firm is spending $35 million to back the two-year academy, with other Bay Area tech giants on board.

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Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

According to Factiva, this is only the second time in history the word "Poopies" has appeared in the Wall Street Journal. www.wsj.com/us-news/the-...

The California Surf Spot With Epic Waves—and Rusty Metal Spikes

At the Wedge, wiping out is a time-honored tradition. Now, surfers are dodging pipes and pilings for the best waves they’ve ever seen.

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Polymarket’s compliance team was floored by CEO Shayne Coplan’s response to their discovery of rampant fraud on the platform in February: Just keep growing and pay a fine if regulators ever find out. www.wsj.com/business/pol...

Polymarket’s Rush to Grow Left a Door Wide Open For Fraudsters

CEO Shayne Coplan brushed off concerns about a scheme involving stolen debit cards. Now the prediction market is bolstering its executive ranks as it eyes an IPO.

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Oh jeez, my AI model went rogue and hacked into another company, that’s too bad.

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Worth a read: this 2016 profile of Sam Altman. www.newyorker.com/magazine/201...

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

“We have not seen the results you would expect for billions of dollars being spent," LA County district attorney Nathan Hochman said. laist.com/news/housing...

$1 million in homeless funds for a nightclub? New LA fraud cases allege bribery and theft

Federal and local prosecutors unveil new cases and a guilty plea, while asking: Who was actually watching LAHSA's books?

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Some of the exiles arrested in recent months had been welcomed by the U.S. government under a deal negotiated by the State Department. As part of the 2023 agreement, Nicaragua freed 222 political prisoners and the U.S. flew them to Washington on a charter plane. www.latimes.com/world-nation...

He exposed Nicaragua’s dictatorship. Now, the U.S. wants to deport him there

Journalists, human rights advocates and dissidents who were persecuted in Nicaragua and sought safety in the U.S. are increasingly being targeted for deportation.

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Important questions: Did Warsh and Trump talk Wednesday morning? Last week? How long did Trump know about the hike? Did Warsh tell other members of the Fed that he had consulted with Trump? Would he consult with Trump’s successor like this? What if it’s a Democrat? www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

The Trillion-Dollar Question: Did Warsh Really Seek Trump’s Blessing to Hike Rates?

Plus, the Fed raises interest rates for the first time in three years, and Erika Kirk takes steps toward filing a lawsuit over her husband’s fatal shooting.

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Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

California's proposed billionaire tax is up 6 percentage points in a new #PPIC poll, with 52% support. But Prop. 41, which would nullify it, is +7pp, and Prop. 42, which would likely ban all state wealth taxes forever, is +11pp. The latter two are funded by billionaires. www.ppic.org/publication/...

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government

Key findings of the PPIC Statewide Survey include: Democrat Xavier Becerra maintains a wide lead over Republican Steve Hilton in the governor’s race. Likely voters are somewhat divided on a billionair...

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

The crypto industry had spent millions of dollars lobbying for this bill, which would have taken most crypto trading away from securities regulators. Crypto doesn’t want to be a security because being a security requires a lot of legally-binding disclosures. www.barrons.com/articles/cry...

Clarity Act Collapses as Crypto Industry Fails to Win Lawmaker Support

A procedural motion to advance the Clarity Act failed on Tuesday.

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

“If you want to write about the prices, make sure you include the word ‘temporary’ because this is a temporary disruption,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told reporters at the G20 this week. www.wsj.com/business/ene...

Oil Executives Say the Great Fuel Crisis Is Here

Trump officials say the oil-market disruption is temporary, but Chevron’s Mike Wirth and others warn global supplies are running low, with no respite in sight.

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

The Supreme Court blocked the Trump administration from imposing new requirements for mail ballots, averting what officials warned would have been a crisis in the midterm elections www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

Supreme Court Blocks Trump’s New Mail Ballot Requirements for Midterms

The decision avoids a potentially chaotic scramble to implement new rules ahead of the November vote.

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Since the colleagues who were aware of the program weren’t permitted to discuss it with other employees or supervisors, Rush appeared to have been able to move more than 300 two-pound gold bars to his home before anyone noticed. www.wsj.com/politics/nat...

CIA Official Accused of Stealing $40 Million in Gold Bars Strikes Tentative Plea Deal

Federal prosecutors and lawyers for David Rush say the deal would avoid a trial involving highly sensitive classified information.

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Socialism is, at its core, about state control of the economy. There are elements of that in the platforms of Sanders and Mamdani…Yet it is identity and other noneconomic issues that most divide the far left from the center left, Greg Ip writes. www.wsj.com/politics/pop...

Populist Republicans and Democratic Socialists Are Starting to Merge

Call it the “Horseshoe party.” The extremes in both parties are starting to sound alike in their disdain for capitalism and centrism.

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy, reported earning more than $100 million from the entity that owns his stake in World Liberty Financial, according to a new financial disclosure www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

Steve Witkoff Earned More Than $100 Million From Entity Tied to Trump Crypto

The Trump envoy’s income surged in 2025, lifted by gains from World Liberty Financial.

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Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

The tax code creates broad protections for taxpayers’ information. The government had long encouraged people who are in the U.S. illegally to file returns and comply with tax law, assuring them that they wouldn’t share information with immigration authorities. www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

IRS’s Data Sharing With ICE Violated Law, Appeals Court Rules

The court left in place a lower-court ruling that has blocked further data sharing.

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

The number of homeless students in LA County jumped from 47,689 in the 2022-23 academic year to 61,249 in 2023-24. Schools are forced to adapt by providing not just food and counseling, but toiletries and even laundry equipment. www.latimes.com/california/s...

How an L.A. charter school has all but eliminated chronic absenteeism among homeless students

Scholarship Prep South Bay in Wilmington has worked to eliminate chronic absenteeism among homeless students through wrap-around care, trauma-informed support and family trust.

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Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Maybe DC could help Maryland collect unpaid tolls, and Maryland could help DC collect unpaid tickets?

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Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

In California, elected officials are allowed to fundraise for non-governmental entities. This leads to weird situations like companies that are subject to potential enforcement actions being "encouraged" to donate to politically connected nonprofits. lamaterial.com/p/la-karen-b...

How L.A. Politicians Deliver Millions to Pet Causes

The little-known fundraising tool that lets elected officials like Mayor Karen Bass solicit donations from corporations, unions and wealthy backers.

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Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Justin Szlasa was “trying to implement basic systems of data and financial management that a billion-dollar agency desperately needed.” When asked why she recommended removing Szlasa, Mayor Karen Bass’ appointee Stephanie Graves said it was her “prerogative” and did not explain her reasoning.

He uncovered wasteful LA homelessness spending. He was just demoted, without explanation

Asked why Justin Szlasa was removed from the post, the LAHSA Commission head says only that it is her 'prerogative' to change committee assignments.

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Yikes www.nytimes.com/2026/09/03/t...

Why the Hugging Face Hack Should Make You Worry More About A.I.

The attack by an aggressive “collective” of OpenAI agents shows the danger of artificial intelligence systems that organize themselves.

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

SEC moves to rescind its “pay-to-play” rule, which is exactly what it sounds like. The rule (for now) prohibits fund managers from “donating” to politicians who could turn and award them taxpayer dollars. www.sec.gov/newsroom/pre...

SEC Proposes Rescission of Political Contribution Rule for Investment Advisers

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

No one told Moreno, who originally came to the United States on a temporarily protected basis, where he was going until five hours into the flight.

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

There are no federal regulations requiring disclosure of payments for political support on social media. Creators say some campaigns have even asked them to actively conceal the fact that they’re being compensated. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/29/u...

Influencers Have a Lot to Say About Politics. Many Are Quietly Paid for It.

Their videos have proliferated on social media, but the payments are frequently hidden from viewers.

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Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

California lawmakers debate tax credits for local news organizations based on the number of journalists they employ. Would be paid for by eliminating a corporate deduction for executive salaries of over $1 million annually. www.latimes.com/california/s...

California's new attempt to help struggling newsrooms faces key test

The bill will require approval from two-thirds of the Legislature in the coming days in order to make it to Gov. Newsom's desk.

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

The Trump administration has been looking to cede a roughly quarter-mile strip of land inside Yosemite NP to a company controlled by Kingsbarn Realty Capital. The developer wants to build a road that would give it exceptionally rare private access to the national park. www.notus.org/agencies/tru...

Trump’s Quietly Working to Give Part of Yosemite to a Private Developer

The National Park Service is under pressure to make an unprecedented deal that cedes a quarter-mile strip of the park.

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

US corporate profits have hit a record high while workers’ slice of the economic pie has sunk to historic lows. giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

giftarticle.ft.com

US corporate profits surge to record as worker payouts wilt

Pre-tax earnings hit highest level since after the second world war as employee remuneration slides

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

"I only said to President Biden, 'I've come to question the polling that you have and how your campaign is being conducted,'" Nancy Pelosi says at Politico event in Sacramento. "I never told anybody not to run."

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

A hypochondriac wildlife smuggler is going to see this sign at LAX and have a debilitating panic attack about the macaw in his wheelie bag.

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

At one point, Trump told donors he wouldn’t have lunch for less than $5 million, according to audio from a fundraiser reviewed by the Journal. Several CEOs and board members said they believe there is a link between their contributions and their access to the president. www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

Exclusive | ‘The Boss Wants This Money’: Inside Trump’s Unprecedented Fundraising Operation

Meredith O’Rourke, nicknamed ‘princess of darkness,’ carries out the president’s desire to wring hundreds of millions from companies for his projects.

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Los Angeles has only existed as a major metropolis for ~100 years. None of the infrastructure is truly ancient…it’s neglected. www.latimes.com/california/s...

Sunset Strip flooded by ruptured 110-year-old water line, another blow to L.A.'s ancient infrastructure

A water main broke in West Hollywood, flooding a neighborhood off Sunset Boulevard and Holloway Drive.

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

President Trump personally intervened to have U.S. striker Folarin Balogun reinstated for the team’s round-of-16 game against Belgium following his red card in the previous round. www.wsj.com/sports/socce...

FIFA Sparks World Cup Furor After Trump Intervenes Over U.S. Striker’s Red Card

President Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino, urging him to review Folarin Balogun’s suspension for the U.S. team’s round-of-16 match against Belgium.

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Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Capital Account: The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence finds the U.S. among the richest economies in the world. Americans owe much of that to the democracy the founders built, Greg Ip writes. www.wsj.com/economy/amer...

The Founders Are Why America Is Rich. That Legacy Is at Risk.

Checks, balances and trust in personal agency made the U.S. a haven for entrepreneurs and wealth creation.

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Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

The ruling allows donors to circumvent a tenet of campaign-finance law: caps on direct cash donations to a candidate. Now, donors can give to a political party knowing that the party will use that money on a candidate’s behalf, with the candidate’s guidance. www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...

Supreme Court Strikes Down Key Limit on Campaign Spending by Political Parties

At issue was how much money the parties can spend in coordination with candidates for public office.

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

California billionaire tax is headed to the ballot in November. www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

California’s Billionaire Tax Kicks Off a Democratic Civil War

The divisive proposal heads to the ballot after attempts to reach a compromise deal failed.

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

The company instructed creators not to disclose they are paid, according to creators who have worked with the company. They said the pay often added up to $2,000 to $3,000 a month. www.wsj.com/business/med...

They Looked Like They Were Getting Rich on Polymarket—but None of It Was Real

The prediction market has flooded social media with deceptive videos by paid creators. ‘Is this just free money?’

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

World Cup fans dropped six figures to watch the first U.S. match from suites at L.A.’s SoFi Stadium. FIFA advertised high-end food and beverage service. But the workers who deliver that service voted to authorize a strike. BYOB? www.wsj.com/sports/socce...

L.A. Stadium Workers Vote to Strike Days Before the World Cup

The union said concessions workers could walk off the job any time, leaving hungry fans to fend for themselves.

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Both Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom’s PACs reported buying and distributing books to supporters—Newsom’s spending $1.6 million the week his book went on sale. Harris’s PAC spent $97,000 buying her books during the month Newsom’s memoir launched. www.wsj.com/politics/ele...

‘Like Two Cats Circling’: Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom Weigh a 2028 Showdown

They claim to be friends, but many expect a gloves-off brawl should the two California Democrats decide to run for president.

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Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

University of California professors are begging schools to reinstate the SAT www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...

University of California Professors Are Begging Schools to Reinstate the SAT

An open letter cites “severe preparation deficits” among incoming students.

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

“The biggest challenge is, How do you make sure the wealth lasts for 100, 200 years and that your heirs live a happy, purposeful life and are using the wealth in a productive way?” www.wsj.com/lifestyle/ca...

The Exclusive Retreat Where Wealthy Kids Learn How Not to Blow an Inheritance

Inside a three-day gathering where a group of heirs collectively worth $7 billion learn the secrets to staying rich.

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Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

You can be a red-blooded capitalist and still worry about the political stability of an economy in which ever more output flows toward shareholders instead of employees, Greg Ip writes. www.wsj.com/finance/stoc...

The Record Divide Between Corporate Profits and Worker Pay

Labor’s share of economic output just hit an all-time low, while the profit share neared a record. It helps explain why consumers feel so glum.

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

“We don’t know exactly what has been happening, but most charities that were helping us have been closing,” said Jean Muhindo, who lives in a Congolese refugee camp with his family after fleeing Islamic State violence in his hometown earlier this year. www.wsj.com/world/africa...

Doctors, Hospitals Struggle to Keep Up With Ebola’s Spread

The fast-spreading virus is overwhelming creaking hospitals and clinics in Democratic Republic of Congo, dimming hopes for quick containment of what is already the third-largest outbreak of the killer...

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Autism-therapy clinics are enticing to health care investors: Demand is high and payment rates far exceed labor costs. Medicaid often pays about $70 per hour for therapy largely provided by workers with high school diplomas who earn around $20. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/23/h...

Short Naps, Long Hours: How Autism Clinics Squeeze Medicaid Dollars Out of Preschoolers

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

The funds moving through Binance to Iran-linked groups largely corresponded to payments from Chinese buyers of Iranian oil, part of a sanctions-busting trade that is controlled by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and is a significant revenue source for the regime. www.wsj.com/world/middle...

Iran Moved Billions Through Binance to Fund Regime—Continuing Into This Month

The crypto transactions took place despite repeated red flags. Binance says it has “zero-tolerance for illicit activity.”

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Gonna offer a middle-ground take here. If you meet someone IRL and like them, go to dinner for the first date. But if you meet online, do a low-stakes coffee, drink, or walk in the park…just make the plan ASAP. You don’t get to know someone by texting for days and days. www.wsj.com/lifestyle/re...

As a Millennial, I Loathed First-Date Dinners. Gen Z Changed My Mind.

I’ve always recoiled at having dinner on a first date. Now, I’ve noticed younger people challenging the dating norms millennials like me had grown to accept.

Reposted by Paul Kiernan

David Wessel @davidmwessel.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

LA tried to tax mansions, but unintended consequence: It discouraged construction of apartments. Smart @wsj.com piece by @pkwsj.bsky.social www.wsj.com/economy/hous...

Los Angeles Tried to Tax Mansions. Apartment Construction Tanked.

Developers say the levy is making L.A.’s housing shortage worse. The city is considering changes.

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

“If you spend lots of time socialising with your peers in the real world, your standards [for a potential partner] are anchored in the real world. If you spend your time on Instagram, your standards are anchored to an artificial sense of what is normal.” www.ft.com/content/fba3...

Why birth rates are falling everywhere all at once

Homes and phones are part of the reason for the demographic shift changing our world