Mark Paul
@markpaul.bsky.social
Mark Paul is the co-author, with Joe Mathews, of California Crackup: How Reform Broke the Golden State and How We Can Fix It. He was formerly deputy treasurer of the state of California and deputy editorial page editor and columnist at the Sacramento Bee.
Reposted by Mark Paul
This literally could be a Goebbels speech.
Stephen Miller, who wants the U.S. to steal Greenland and shake down Latin America, says: ”We live in a world … that is governed by force, that is governed by power. These are the iron laws of the world since the beginning of time.”
That‘s a criminal pretending that a civilized world is impossible.
That‘s a criminal pretending that a civilized world is impossible.
January 6, 2026 at 5:06 AM
This literally could be a Goebbels speech.
Reposted by Mark Paul
I wrote section 230 to protect user speech, not a company's own speech. I've long said AI chatbot outputs are not protected by 230 and that it is not a close call. Given that the Trump administration is going to the mat to protect pedophiles, states should step in to hold Musk and X accountable.
I am not a Section 230 expert but being that Twitter is creating and publishing these photos I wonder if they actually have any civil legal protection? @kenwhite.bsky.social ? @akivamcohen.bsky.social ?
What X is allowing Grok to do is unlawful or regulatory-illegal in multiple jurisdictions, creates clear DSA violations, and continues despite regulator scrutiny. The images do not need to be pornographic, non-consensual sexualised or intimate depictions are enough.
January 5, 2026 at 11:10 PM
I wrote section 230 to protect user speech, not a company's own speech. I've long said AI chatbot outputs are not protected by 230 and that it is not a close call. Given that the Trump administration is going to the mat to protect pedophiles, states should step in to hold Musk and X accountable.
Reposted by Mark Paul
In a study following 23 million people age 18-59 (pretty young) for 4 years…despite the fact that the ones who got the COVID vaccine were overall older and sicker at baseline, they not only had 74% lower risk of dying from COVID than the unvaccinated but 25% lower risk of dying from any other cause!
January 4, 2026 at 8:59 PM
In a study following 23 million people age 18-59 (pretty young) for 4 years…despite the fact that the ones who got the COVID vaccine were overall older and sicker at baseline, they not only had 74% lower risk of dying from COVID than the unvaccinated but 25% lower risk of dying from any other cause!
Reposted by Mark Paul
Nixon insisted the bombing of Cambodia was just targeting Viet Cong outposts there and not meant to undermine its government, but the bombings destabilized the Lon Nol government and paved the way for the Khmer Rouge’s killing fields and the massacre of more than a million people.
NBC's sources said that "the potential mission in Mexico is not designed to undermine the Mexican government." But that's what it will do if the US is doing CIA drone strikes on Mexican soil over the objections of the president.
January 4, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Nixon insisted the bombing of Cambodia was just targeting Viet Cong outposts there and not meant to undermine its government, but the bombings destabilized the Lon Nol government and paved the way for the Khmer Rouge’s killing fields and the massacre of more than a million people.
Reposted by Mark Paul
The thread as a shareable webpage: https://skywriter.blue/pages/did:plc:b5gusl5qm3rk5ghzue2lagey/post/3mbkjz7zn7s2p.
Page by Ben Raderstorf | @raders.bsky.social - skywriter.blue
16 hours in, my guess this was all intended basically as a coup to put VP Delcy Rodriguez in power (likely without her knowledge but 🤷).
At least for democracy & human rights, that might be even worse than the "opening shots in a war" scenario.
All speculation, but let me explain:...
skywriter.blue
January 4, 2026 at 1:50 AM
The thread as a shareable webpage: https://skywriter.blue/pages/did:plc:b5gusl5qm3rk5ghzue2lagey/post/3mbkjz7zn7s2p.
In what way does this make America more safe? Was Maduro forcing Americans to put white powder up their noses? Does anyone think that this will make any difference in drug use in the United States?
Trump is “making the safety of America our highest priority,” says a top state Republican congressman
California Democrats outraged, GOP supportive of Trump strike in Venezuela
Trump is “making the safety of America our highest priority,” says a top state Republican congressman
bit.ly
January 4, 2026 at 1:51 AM
In what way does this make America more safe? Was Maduro forcing Americans to put white powder up their noses? Does anyone think that this will make any difference in drug use in the United States?
Imagine if 40 innocent people were to be killed in the arrest of each person involved in supplying cocaine, a drug that has been illegally used by more than 40 million Americans in their lifetimes.
At least 40 people were killed in the U.S. attack on Venezuela early Saturday, including military personnel and civilians, according to a senior Venezuelan official.
Venezuelan Official Says at Least 40 People Were Killed in U.S. Attack
The official said the dead included civilians and military personnel. At least one of the civilians was killed in a U.S. airstrike outside of Caracas, according to her family.
nyti.ms
January 4, 2026 at 1:39 AM
Imagine if 40 innocent people were to be killed in the arrest of each person involved in supplying cocaine, a drug that has been illegally used by more than 40 million Americans in their lifetimes.
Kansas has a choice to make. Who will pay to build a new stadium for the Kansas City Chiefs?
The Hunt family, owners of the team, who have a combined net worth $6.4 billion?
Or the people of Kansas, at the present value cost of $1,400 apiece, as the state's leaders now propose?
The Hunt family, owners of the team, who have a combined net worth $6.4 billion?
Or the people of Kansas, at the present value cost of $1,400 apiece, as the state's leaders now propose?
Chiefs stadium subsidy hits $4.1B, could siphon off taxes from 293-square-mile swath of Kansas
It's been a whirlwind couple of days since Monday's announcement that the state of Kansas was offering Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt billions of dollars in cash and tax breaks to move across the...
www.fieldofschemes.com
December 24, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Kansas has a choice to make. Who will pay to build a new stadium for the Kansas City Chiefs?
The Hunt family, owners of the team, who have a combined net worth $6.4 billion?
Or the people of Kansas, at the present value cost of $1,400 apiece, as the state's leaders now propose?
The Hunt family, owners of the team, who have a combined net worth $6.4 billion?
Or the people of Kansas, at the present value cost of $1,400 apiece, as the state's leaders now propose?
An important and well-researched piece on how the wealthy use lawyers and the courts to strangle housing construction and green energy progress. open.substack.com/pub/data4dem...
How Regulation by Litigation Strangled American Abundance
Environmentalists aren't blocking housing. Wealthy homeowners are.
open.substack.com
December 20, 2025 at 11:42 PM
An important and well-researched piece on how the wealthy use lawyers and the courts to strangle housing construction and green energy progress. open.substack.com/pub/data4dem...
Reposted by Mark Paul
Trump on Americans' healthcare costs going up by 200-300%: "Don't make it sound so bad"
Q: At the end of this year, those extended Obamacare subsidies expire. What's your message to those 24m Americans who will see their premiums go up?
TRUMP: Don't make it sound so bad. Obviously you're a sycophant for Democrats. You're obviously a provider of bad news for Republicans.
TRUMP: Don't make it sound so bad. Obviously you're a sycophant for Democrats. You're obviously a provider of bad news for Republicans.
December 12, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Trump on Americans' healthcare costs going up by 200-300%: "Don't make it sound so bad"
Reposted by Mark Paul
Reposted by Mark Paul
these people basically just take luxury government jets and go to fancy events like make a wish kids while their minions flashbang your elderly neighbors
November 23, 2025 at 4:26 AM
these people basically just take luxury government jets and go to fancy events like make a wish kids while their minions flashbang your elderly neighbors
Reposted by Mark Paul
I’ve been in a room with Putin. He calls Ukrainians “Russians with accents.” His real fear isn’t NATO expansion, it’s democracy expansion. It shatters his entire argument for dictatorship at home. Because if Ukrainians embrace freedom, Russians may demand the same.
November 21, 2025 at 7:26 PM
I’ve been in a room with Putin. He calls Ukrainians “Russians with accents.” His real fear isn’t NATO expansion, it’s democracy expansion. It shatters his entire argument for dictatorship at home. Because if Ukrainians embrace freedom, Russians may demand the same.
Reposted by Mark Paul
The 1 million people that died could not be reached for comment.
Trump: "We got hit with covid, remember. And we did a great job with covid."
November 19, 2025 at 5:32 PM
The 1 million people that died could not be reached for comment.
Reposted by Mark Paul
“Trump’s chaotic policymaking means many now see China as a stabilising presence.” economist.com/china/2025/1...
China’s growing global fan club
Our new poll shows global opinion is swinging its way
economist.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:39 PM
“Trump’s chaotic policymaking means many now see China as a stabilising presence.” economist.com/china/2025/1...
Reposted by Mark Paul
I just watched the whole video, and not a single reporter stood up for her. Everyone just pivoted to asking questions on other topics.
This is shameful.
This is shameful.
When asked if there was anything "incriminating" in Epstein's emails, Trump pointed a finger in a female reporter's face and snapped. 'Quiet. Quiet, Piggy.'
people.com/donald-trump...
people.com/donald-trump...
Donald Trump Snaps at Female Reporter Who Asks About Epstein Files: 'Quiet Piggy'
Donald Trump Says 'Quiet Piggy' to Female Reporter Asking About Epstein Files
people.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:11 AM
I just watched the whole video, and not a single reporter stood up for her. Everyone just pivoted to asking questions on other topics.
This is shameful.
This is shameful.
Reposted by Mark Paul
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
November 16, 2025 at 11:43 PM
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Reposted by Mark Paul
Published yesterday: The Trump Organization requested a record 184 foreign workers this year.
me, for @forbes.com
me, for @forbes.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Published yesterday: The Trump Organization requested a record 184 foreign workers this year.
me, for @forbes.com
me, for @forbes.com
Immigrants built those houses, dude.
JD Vance: "A lot of young people are saying housing is way too expensive. Why is that? Because we flooded the country with 30 million illegal immigrants who were taking houses that ought by right go to American citizens."
November 14, 2025 at 4:32 AM
Immigrants built those houses, dude.
Reposted by Mark Paul
BREAKING: At Pope Leo XIV’s urging, U.S. Catholic bishops just delivered the strongest rebuke of a sitting president in Church history — condemning Trump-Vance raids as “inhumane” and “dehumanizing” in a 216–5 vote.
NEW: At Pope Leo’s Urging, Bishops Issue Historic Rebuke of Trump’s Raids
Nearly all U.S. Catholic bishops united in Baltimore to denounce the Trump administration’s “inhumane” deportation campaign — a near-unanimous, unprecedented moral stand against a sitting president.
www.thelettersfromleo.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:21 AM
BREAKING: At Pope Leo XIV’s urging, U.S. Catholic bishops just delivered the strongest rebuke of a sitting president in Church history — condemning Trump-Vance raids as “inhumane” and “dehumanizing” in a 216–5 vote.
Reposted by Mark Paul
Imagine trying to convince someone a decade ago that this sentence would be a 100% literally accurate description of the American political situation.
The attorney general and the FBI director, a manosphere podcaster bro, pulled into the situation room a member of Congress best known for getting kicked out of a Beetlejuice musical for drunkenly giving her date a handy, in order to pressure her about the president's child sex trafficking scandal.
November 13, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Imagine trying to convince someone a decade ago that this sentence would be a 100% literally accurate description of the American political situation.
Reposted by Mark Paul
Who did it better @nydailynews.com or @nytimes.com ?
NYT editors are entrusted by their readers to prioritize what’s important.
Their editorial decisions such as layout of the #FrontPage contribute to public memory.
Democracywashing the multifaceted coup attempt and subversion of 2020 election👇
NYT editors are entrusted by their readers to prioritize what’s important.
Their editorial decisions such as layout of the #FrontPage contribute to public memory.
Democracywashing the multifaceted coup attempt and subversion of 2020 election👇
November 11, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Who did it better @nydailynews.com or @nytimes.com ?
NYT editors are entrusted by their readers to prioritize what’s important.
Their editorial decisions such as layout of the #FrontPage contribute to public memory.
Democracywashing the multifaceted coup attempt and subversion of 2020 election👇
NYT editors are entrusted by their readers to prioritize what’s important.
Their editorial decisions such as layout of the #FrontPage contribute to public memory.
Democracywashing the multifaceted coup attempt and subversion of 2020 election👇
Reposted by Mark Paul
Bari already earning that payday, and needless to say not by doing good journalism
I see that CBS chose not to air this part. It probably explains much of what they did decide to air.
November 3, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Bari already earning that payday, and needless to say not by doing good journalism
Reposted by Mark Paul
If both you and your partner make $95,000/year or more, you are in the top 10% of earners.
A really underappreciated issue in American politics is that there are many rich people who do not wish to acknowledge that they are, in fact, rich.
A really underappreciated issue in American politics is that there are many rich people who do not wish to acknowledge that they are, in fact, rich.
November 2, 2025 at 7:13 PM
If both you and your partner make $95,000/year or more, you are in the top 10% of earners.
A really underappreciated issue in American politics is that there are many rich people who do not wish to acknowledge that they are, in fact, rich.
A really underappreciated issue in American politics is that there are many rich people who do not wish to acknowledge that they are, in fact, rich.
Reposted by Mark Paul
“We’ve never seen anything like this in our 51-year history,” the leader of one food bank said of the surge in demand.
SNAP freeze, grocery prices have Sacramento-area food banks busy to start November
“We’ve never seen anything like this in our 51-year history,” the leader of one food bank said of the surge in demand.
bit.ly
November 1, 2025 at 9:50 PM
“We’ve never seen anything like this in our 51-year history,” the leader of one food bank said of the surge in demand.