Mikhail Zinshteyn
@mzinshteyn.bsky.social
18K followers 360 following 460 posts
Reporter covering California higher education and state-federal issues for @Calmatters.org. Other interests include nationalism, politics, economy, film, fiction and Jewishness. Soviet-born baby refugee; Pell grant recipient. L.A. resident.
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mzinshteyn.bsky.social
So glad PACER caps the price per document at $3, otherwise this $15 charge would be $232.8. (It’s 10 cents a page for the first 30 pages.)

Side note: When you pay for journalism, you not only pay for a reporter's time to learn about complicated things, but you also support costs like these.
Reposted by Mikhail Zinshteyn
jameeljaffer.bsky.social
It's a pretty big deal that the NYC Bar Association--one of the most prominent and respected bar associations in the country--is accusing the President of ordering the "unlawful summary execution," i.e. murder--of civilians in violation of US and international law. www.nycbar.org/press-releas...
Reposted by Mikhail Zinshteyn
robertmackey.bsky.social
The Oregon Republican Party tried to help Donald Trump make the case for military intervention in Portland with an image of a fiery protest — but since Portland is calm, they had to fabricate one by merging old photos of police in Ecuador and protesters in Brazil www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Republicans post fake image of Oregon protest – using photos of South America
A federal judge had blocked Trump’s request to deploy California national guard to Portland
www.theguardian.com
mzinshteyn.bsky.social
Council on American-Islamic Relations calls on Johns Hopkins University to lift suspension of Jewish student who took part in pro-Palestine protest. CAIR writes that the student is being accused of antisemitism.

www.cair.com/press_releas...
CAIR Calls on Johns Hopkins U. to Lift Suspension of Jewish Student Over Alleged Participation in Peaceful Campus Protest
www.cair.com
mzinshteyn.bsky.social
Thanks for posting and sharing.
mzinshteyn.bsky.social
The student financial aid agency in California is stressing that FAFSA is still taking applications and essential workers are supporting applicants even during the government shutdown.

The state agency saw applications for state aid flow in at 12.03am Oct. 1, moments after the applocation opened.
mzinshteyn.bsky.social
BREAKING: Hours after California filed suit against the Trump administration Sunday seeking to prevent the president from sending 300 California National guard troops to Portland, Ore., a federal judge granted a temporary restraining order blocking federalized deployment from any state to Oregon.
Trump deploys 300 California Guard troops to Portland; Newsom vows lawsuit
Gov. Gavin Newsom is vowing to sue after he says Trump sent 300 California Guard troops to Portland to quell protests
calmatters.org
mzinshteyn.bsky.social
A reader questions the raison d'être of my newsroom, CalMatters.

"Sir,
CAL don't matter no more.
Quit taking your state so seriously. Your state is full of lunatics"
mzinshteyn.bsky.social
Sunday reporting is hard because sources are, reasonably, weekending. But if you've happen to seen my emails or texts today, please consider replying!
mzinshteyn.bsky.social
Trump again makes election denialism claim:

"The story of the US Navy is a tale of loyalty, sacrifice and commitment stretching back 250 years. So we're celebrating 250 I almost thought I wouldn't get to do that, because I was president in 2016 and then they rigged the election on me."
mzinshteyn.bsky.social
TRUMP says Dept of Defense is an old woke term:

"We won World War One. We won World War Two. We won everything in between. We won everything before. And all of a sudden they decide to change the name. They went woke. Then to, you know, woke is a long term word."
mzinshteyn.bsky.social
TRUMP says Dept of Defense is an old woke term:

"We won World War One. We won World War Two. We won everything in between. We won everything before. And all of a sudden they decide to change the name. They went woke. Then to, you know, woke is a long term word."
mzinshteyn.bsky.social
NEW: In response to a federal court order that blocked his attempt to federalize the Oregon National Guard, President Trump is deploying 300 California National Guard personnel into Oregon. Ca Gov. Gavin Newsom said he'll sue in a press release.
mzinshteyn.bsky.social
Baruch ata adonai eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kiddishanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner shel yom ha-kippurim.

Baruch ata adonai eloheinu melech ha-olam shehechiyanu v’kiyimanu v’higiyanu la-zman ha-zeh.

Have an easy fast to all who celebrate.
mzinshteyn.bsky.social
Addressing "the troops could be useful or beneficial, but to call 800-plus generals and senior enlisted advisers from around the world into this room just before a government shutdown? It’s not just bad optics or strategy,” Shah said. “A bad cold could have threatened our entire chain of command.”
Veterans react to Hegseth’s ‘insulting’ address to generals and admirals
Defense secretary’s speech touching on physical fitness and doctrine of lethality was seen as ‘egotistical’ and ‘dangerous’
www.theguardian.com
mzinshteyn.bsky.social
Would this be gross income or AGI?
Reposted by Mikhail Zinshteyn
dangaristo.bsky.social
NSF has a new banner. (Per contingency plan, 75% of staff are furloughed and most agency activities will stop.)
Due to a lapse in appropriations, NSF is closed. NSF will continue to accept proposals in accordance with published guidelines. Please continue to watch this site for changes to NSF's operating status, reopening guidance for employees, and if necessary, general instructions for recipients.
mzinshteyn.bsky.social
"But the opinion on Tuesday left no doubt that Judge Young came away from the trial convinced of the core point made by the academic associations: that the Trump administration had successfully turned an obscure element of immigration law into a cudgel to intimidate opposing voices."
Judge Rules Trump Unlawfully Targeted Noncitizens Over Pro-Palestinian Speech
www.nytimes.com
mzinshteyn.bsky.social
I only remember the trailer to this film and that's because it was included in the Windows 95 CD, along with Weezer's Buddy Holly video and Edie Brickell's Good Times.
mzinshteyn.bsky.social
2/2 A basic search query I've been using is "site:AGENCYWEBSITENAME "Shutdown" OR "lapse in appropriations"

I found the 2024 Dept of Ed plan this way: www.ed.gov/sites/ed/fil... (FWI, it calls for 90% staff furloughs in week 1.)

But that's under the Biden admin -- is there a Trump 2.0 plan?
www.ed.gov
mzinshteyn.bsky.social
Who wants to crowd-source?

The issue: The OMB isn't posting shutdown plans of agencies. It instead has a terse note that shutdown plans are on agency websites.

The task: Actually finding discretionary agencies' shutdown plans.

The struggle: They're not easily found.

1/2
Agency Contingency Plans
In accordance with  Circular A-11, agency contingency plans for a lapse in appropriations are hosted solely on each agency’s website.
www.whitehouse.gov
mzinshteyn.bsky.social
Dear news outlets: Link to the actual things you're writing about. A lawsuit? Link to it. A previous court ruling? Link to it. A bill? Yup, link.

So often we instead get a link to that outlet's past coverage, only to learn the original story also didn't link to the source.

This is bad. Stop it.
mzinshteyn.bsky.social
Will read! Also: Kind note that your bio here says you're still at LAT.