LA Times columnist, covering politics from out West. Cat on a tin roof. Dogs in a pile. California uber alles. https://www.latimes.com/people/mark-z-barabakhttps://bsky.app/profile/markzbarabak.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/markzbarabak.bsky.social/post/3mv3pflsy4k22NEW: California’s recall system is a mess. Voters can do something about it Proposition 5 on the November ballot would prevent a governor's replacement from taking office by winning just marginal support. It's the first step toward a badly needed overhaul. https://www.latimes.com/politics/newsletter/2026-09-09/california-recall-election-reform-proposition-509 Sep 2026 14:05 +0000at://did:plc:px2uzohystadighrubcpbjed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv3pflsy4k22https://bsky.app/profile/markzbarabak.bsky.social/post/3mv4hs3jzss2eNewsom’s defamation case against Fox News scheduled for trial in 2028 The case centers on Fox hosts accusing Newsom of lying about a 2025 phone call with Trump amid immigration raids and protests in downtown LA @nicolenixon.bsky.social https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-09-09/newsoms-defamation-case-against-fox-news-scheduled-for-trial-in-202809 Sep 2026 21:21 +0000at://did:plc:px2uzohystadighrubcpbjed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv4hs3jzss2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/markzbarabak.bsky.social/post/3mv3pflsy4k22NEW: California’s recall system is a mess. Voters can do something about it Proposition 5 on the November ballot would prevent a governor's replacement from taking office by winning just marginal support. It's the first step toward a badly needed overhaul. https://www.latimes.com/politics/newsletter/2026-09-09/california-recall-election-reform-proposition-509 Sep 2026 14:05 +0000at://did:plc:px2uzohystadighrubcpbjed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv3pflsy4k22https://bsky.app/profile/markzbarabak.bsky.social/post/3muzgr74gd22yPolluters fight ($$$$) California anti-pollution law @susrust https://www.latimes.com/environment/newsletter/2026-09-03/ca-plastic-law-industry-assault08 Sep 2026 16:25 +0000at://did:plc:px2uzohystadighrubcpbjed/app.bsky.feed.post/3muzgr74gd22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/markzbarabak.bsky.social/post/3muzdnhcztk2sBecerra once pushed for the death penalty, but says he would extend a moratorium if elected governor Nicole Nixon https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-09-08/becerra-death-penalty-moratorium-governor08 Sep 2026 15:29 +0000at://did:plc:px2uzohystadighrubcpbjed/app.bsky.feed.post/3muzdnhcztk2shttps://bsky.app/profile/markzbarabak.bsky.social/post/3muuba6dirc2vNEW: Integrity on the ballot as election deniers target secretary of state races in key states. Trump's attempts to undermine democracy has elevated the importance of election oversight. Beware MAGA henchmen on the ballot in Arizona, Nevada and Wisconsin https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2026-09-06/midterm-election-secretary-of-state-voting-integrity-trump-big-lie06 Sep 2026 15:03 +0000at://did:plc:px2uzohystadighrubcpbjed/app.bsky.feed.post/3muuba6dirc2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/markzbarabak.bsky.social/post/3muwqwguqd22d“This is a generational annihilation of our theater missile defense capability. There’s no way you can look at this and not see it’s a setback.” U.S. is running low on advanced defensive missiles — and it could take years to recover Doyle McManus https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2026-09-06/us-running-low-on-advanced-defensive-missiles07 Sep 2026 14:49 +0000at://did:plc:px2uzohystadighrubcpbjed/app.bsky.feed.post/3muwqwguqd22dhttps://bsky.app/profile/markzbarabak.bsky.social/post/3muuba6dirc2vNEW: Integrity on the ballot as election deniers target secretary of state races in key states. Trump's attempts to undermine democracy has elevated the importance of election oversight. Beware MAGA henchmen on the ballot in Arizona, Nevada and Wisconsin https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2026-09-06/midterm-election-secretary-of-state-voting-integrity-trump-big-lie06 Sep 2026 15:03 +0000at://did:plc:px2uzohystadighrubcpbjed/app.bsky.feed.post/3muuba6dirc2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/markzbarabak.bsky.social/post/3muu54i7cb22tVoter backlash to data centers hits California and midterms It’s a bipartisan flash point driven by fears of rising costs and environmental risks Justine McDaniel in Hanford https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2026-09-06/backlash-over-data-centers-hits-california-midterms06 Sep 2026 13:49 +0000at://did:plc:px2uzohystadighrubcpbjed/app.bsky.feed.post/3muu54i7cb22thttps://bsky.app/profile/markzbarabak.bsky.social/post/3mup6nvr4qs2v Trump is moving to strip California’s emissions authority, end tax credits and erase electric vehicle sales mandates. Yet California’s EV adoption keeps climbing. The state now has more public chargers than gas pumps Hayley Smith https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2026-09-04/why-trumps-rollbacks-havent-stopped-californias-electric-vehicle-transition04 Sep 2026 14:33 +0000at://did:plc:px2uzohystadighrubcpbjed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mup6nvr4qs2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/markzbarabak.bsky.social/post/3munom67pec2sConvicted Trump Media-linked fraudster funded pro-Trump film in hopes of pardon, lawsuit says Ben Wieder https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2026-09-03/trump-media-linked-fraudster-funded-pro-trump-film-in-hopes-of-pardon-suit-says04 Sep 2026 00:13 +0000at://did:plc:px2uzohystadighrubcpbjed/app.bsky.feed.post/3munom67pec2shttps://bsky.app/profile/markzbarabak.bsky.social/post/3mummnau44s2rNEW: Texas is red, California blue — but for how much longer? A closely fought Senate race and competitive contest for governor have raised Democratic hopes, again. A Texas win would scramble the presidential map in 2028 and beyond. https://www.latimes.com/politics/newsletter/2026-09-03/midterm-election-california-texas-governor-senate-races03 Sep 2026 14:05 +0000at://did:plc:px2uzohystadighrubcpbjed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mummnau44s2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/markzbarabak.bsky.social/post/3mummnau44s2rNEW: Texas is red, California blue — but for how much longer? A closely fought Senate race and competitive contest for governor have raised Democratic hopes, again. A Texas win would scramble the presidential map in 2028 and beyond. https://www.latimes.com/politics/newsletter/2026-09-03/midterm-election-california-texas-governor-senate-races03 Sep 2026 14:05 +0000at://did:plc:px2uzohystadighrubcpbjed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mummnau44s2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/markzbarabak.bsky.social/post/3mukjqijqfc2lA push to pump brakes on Big Tech California lawmakers advance flurry of bills aimed at social media, AI and data centers. Queenie Wong, Dakota Smith https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2026-08-31/reigning-in-big-tech-how-california-lawmakers-plan-to-regulate-ai-social-media02 Sep 2026 18:08 +0000at://did:plc:px2uzohystadighrubcpbjed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mukjqijqfc2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/markzbarabak.bsky.social/post/3muco6c2oys2bNEW: Don’t look now, but suddenly the U.S. Senate is in play The four-seat gain Democrats need to win control once seemed all but out of reach. Odds are looking up, though the party still faces a tough path, with toss-up races in a half dozen (mostly red) states. https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2026-08-30/midterm-election-senate-control-alaska-iowa-maine-michigan-ohio-texas30 Aug 2026 15:06 +0000at://did:plc:px2uzohystadighrubcpbjed/app.bsky.feed.post/3muco6c2oys2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/markzbarabak.bsky.social/post/3mucranfrss2n“You’d like to see the governor stand tall rather than come off like Trump’s caddy, kicking sand in the face of those who’ve taken up stewardship of the coast.” Gavin Newsom backs off shameful gambit and it’s a victory for California Steve LopeZ https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-08-29/gov-newsom-backs-off-from-shameful-gambit-its-victory-for-california-coast30 Aug 2026 16:01 +0000at://did:plc:px2uzohystadighrubcpbjed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mucranfrss2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/markzbarabak.bsky.social/post/3muco6c2oys2bNEW: Don’t look now, but suddenly the U.S. Senate is in play The four-seat gain Democrats need to win control once seemed all but out of reach. Odds are looking up, though the party still faces a tough path, with toss-up races in a half dozen (mostly red) states. https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2026-08-30/midterm-election-senate-control-alaska-iowa-maine-michigan-ohio-texas30 Aug 2026 15:06 +0000at://did:plc:px2uzohystadighrubcpbjed/app.bsky.feed.post/3muco6c2oys2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/markzbarabak.bsky.social/post/3muclsh3ids2wHarp and her brother were home-schooled in San Diego by their mother, who used educational materials written from a biblical worldview. [contains quote post or other embedded content]30 Aug 2026 14:24 +0000at://did:plc:px2uzohystadighrubcpbjed/app.bsky.feed.post/3muclsh3ids2whttps://bsky.app/profile/markzbarabak.bsky.social/post/3mucl2x3x5c2oThe legislation would have shifted more of the cost of utility-sparked wildfires to property insurers, which could have sharply raised premiums across the state. [contains quote post or other embedded content]30 Aug 2026 14:11 +0000at://did:plc:px2uzohystadighrubcpbjed/app.bsky.feed.post/3mucl2x3x5c2o