Paul Thornton
@paulthornton.bsky.social
Co-founder, Golden State, California's home for fearless, informed, nonprofit opinion journalism. Ex-L.A. Times. I like trails and horror films.
https://golden-state.org
@goldenstateorg.bsky.social
https://golden-state.org
@goldenstateorg.bsky.social
Left: the billboard on York/Figueroa in Highland Park at 11:37 a.m. today. No, it doesn’t say “PUCK ICE.”
Right: the same billboard at 3:54 p.m. today.
I bet the DIYers drew more any eyeballs than any paying advertiser ever.
Right: the same billboard at 3:54 p.m. today.
I bet the DIYers drew more any eyeballs than any paying advertiser ever.
January 22, 2026 at 12:23 AM
Left: the billboard on York/Figueroa in Highland Park at 11:37 a.m. today. No, it doesn’t say “PUCK ICE.”
Right: the same billboard at 3:54 p.m. today.
I bet the DIYers drew more any eyeballs than any paying advertiser ever.
Right: the same billboard at 3:54 p.m. today.
I bet the DIYers drew more any eyeballs than any paying advertiser ever.
Another edition of “I’m old enough to remember when…”
- ICE apologists would say “if you don’t like what agents did to you, you can always sue.”
- ICE apologists would say “if you don’t like what agents did to you, you can always sue.”
pepper spraying someone in the face from inches away while they are already restrained on the ground should get you fired and land you in jail, no exceptions
An observer arrested in Suth Minneapolis. Photo by Richard Tsong-Taatarii/The Minnesota Star Tribune
January 21, 2026 at 10:24 PM
Another edition of “I’m old enough to remember when…”
- ICE apologists would say “if you don’t like what agents did to you, you can always sue.”
- ICE apologists would say “if you don’t like what agents did to you, you can always sue.”
Dear world (esp my family in Norway):
"We" are not unravelling. A mad king is trying to make us do so.
"We" are not unravelling. A mad king is trying to make us do so.
January 18, 2026 at 9:22 PM
Dear world (esp my family in Norway):
"We" are not unravelling. A mad king is trying to make us do so.
"We" are not unravelling. A mad king is trying to make us do so.
“But the 90s and 00s” is officially a dead argument for not hating Dodger fans.
(And I’m a Dodger fan — welcome home Kyle Tucker.)
(And I’m a Dodger fan — welcome home Kyle Tucker.)
January 16, 2026 at 3:55 AM
“But the 90s and 00s” is officially a dead argument for not hating Dodger fans.
(And I’m a Dodger fan — welcome home Kyle Tucker.)
(And I’m a Dodger fan — welcome home Kyle Tucker.)
Reposting on the off chance that someone listens and turns into a cheerful warrior.
Save the country, we’re gonna lay that devil down….
My national anthem lately.
My national anthem lately.
Save the country (with lyrics) - Laura Nyro
YouTube video by ionlift
m.youtube.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:04 AM
Reposting on the off chance that someone listens and turns into a cheerful warrior.
Reposted by Paul Thornton
Much respect to Jim Rainey at the LA Times who wrote about the local news renaissance in L.A. and plugged @goldenstateorg.bsky.social, LAreported.org, LAmaterial.com and other news outlets that will likely compete with the LAT for attention and readership.
www.latimes.com/california/n...
www.latimes.com/california/n...
L.A. journalism features a new year of many startups
Your morning catch up: L.A. journalism has several news players, California recycling problem and more big stories.
www.latimes.com
January 14, 2026 at 8:04 PM
Much respect to Jim Rainey at the LA Times who wrote about the local news renaissance in L.A. and plugged @goldenstateorg.bsky.social, LAreported.org, LAmaterial.com and other news outlets that will likely compete with the LAT for attention and readership.
www.latimes.com/california/n...
www.latimes.com/california/n...
Reposted by Paul Thornton
Crime is down. Police shootings are up. Way up.
xtown.la/2026/01/14/m...
xtown.la/2026/01/14/m...
Murders and robberies tumble in Los Angeles, while police shootings spike
In 2025, many major crime categories fell to pre-COVID levels…
xtown.la
January 15, 2026 at 12:16 AM
Crime is down. Police shootings are up. Way up.
xtown.la/2026/01/14/m...
xtown.la/2026/01/14/m...
I was able to register after waiting from 7:55 to 9. I picked Norway as my team, because why not.
Apparently the looping is a feature not a bug 🫠
January 15, 2026 at 1:12 AM
I was able to register after waiting from 7:55 to 9. I picked Norway as my team, because why not.
I wonder what “agreement” or deal there is to make. There’s no real dispute — just a bully nation that wants to blow up NATO because its leader is crazy. Denmark and Greenland should concede nothing.
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...
Trump Administration Live Updates: Denmark Has ‘Fundamental’ Differences With U.S. Over Greenland, Diplomat Says
www.nytimes.com
January 14, 2026 at 10:49 PM
I wonder what “agreement” or deal there is to make. There’s no real dispute — just a bully nation that wants to blow up NATO because its leader is crazy. Denmark and Greenland should concede nothing.
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...
Remember that San Diego sheriff's deputy said to have OD'd after merely touching fentanyl for a few moments?
Jonathan Ross' supposed internal bleeding kinda feels like that.
Jonathan Ross' supposed internal bleeding kinda feels like that.
ICE agent involved in shooting of Renee Good suffered internal bleeding, officials say
abcnews.go.com
January 14, 2026 at 6:46 PM
Remember that San Diego sheriff's deputy said to have OD'd after merely touching fentanyl for a few moments?
Jonathan Ross' supposed internal bleeding kinda feels like that.
Jonathan Ross' supposed internal bleeding kinda feels like that.
Reposted by Paul Thornton
Smart analysis in the Golden State Report, @goldenstateorg.bsky.social, showing why Trump’s demand to drill offshore from California’s coast won’t happen. open.substack.com/pub/goldenst... An aside: Assemblyman Pete Wilson drove the drilling ban in 1969. Ronald Reagan was governor.
No, Trump won’t be able to drill off California’s coast
The administration wants new drilling off the 1,100-mile coastline. Fat chance: This is probably illegal and faces overwhelming backlash.
open.substack.com
January 13, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Smart analysis in the Golden State Report, @goldenstateorg.bsky.social, showing why Trump’s demand to drill offshore from California’s coast won’t happen. open.substack.com/pub/goldenst... An aside: Assemblyman Pete Wilson drove the drilling ban in 1969. Ronald Reagan was governor.
I'm old enough to remember the warnings of a uniquely American tilt into authoritarianism: It would be subtle and insidious, with daily life feeling normal as institutions folded.
Nope. There are actual brown-shirted thugs beating people up on the streets. We're on the Nazi path.
Nope. There are actual brown-shirted thugs beating people up on the streets. We're on the Nazi path.
January 14, 2026 at 12:22 AM
I'm old enough to remember the warnings of a uniquely American tilt into authoritarianism: It would be subtle and insidious, with daily life feeling normal as institutions folded.
Nope. There are actual brown-shirted thugs beating people up on the streets. We're on the Nazi path.
Nope. There are actual brown-shirted thugs beating people up on the streets. We're on the Nazi path.
I'm a fan of the LA Pod, so I almost asked my colleague Mariel for her autograph after she spent an hour talking to @awalkerinla.bsky.social and @mikebonin.bsky.social
Our founder Mariel Garza joined Alissa Walker and Mike Bonin for the latest LA Podcast episode to talk fire failures and the New York Post coming to Los Angeles. Give it a listen!
(And thanks to @awalkerinla.bsky.social and @mikebonin.bsky.social.)
(And thanks to @awalkerinla.bsky.social and @mikebonin.bsky.social.)
A Whole Post of Problems
Podcast Episode · LA Podcast · 01/12/2026 · 57m
podcasts.apple.com
January 13, 2026 at 11:08 PM
I'm a fan of the LA Pod, so I almost asked my colleague Mariel for her autograph after she spent an hour talking to @awalkerinla.bsky.social and @mikebonin.bsky.social
Reposted by Paul Thornton
good to know.
www.golden-state.org/no-trump-won...
www.golden-state.org/no-trump-won...
No, Trump won't be able to drill off California's coast
The administration wants new drilling off the 1,100-mile coastline. Fat chance: This is probably illegal and faces overwhelming backlash.
www.golden-state.org
January 13, 2026 at 10:43 PM
good to know.
www.golden-state.org/no-trump-won...
www.golden-state.org/no-trump-won...
Notwithstanding the belligerent stupidity of taking over Greenland, the Danish realm has something like 60,000 residents. If statehood really is on the table, DC and Puerto Rico would like a word.
Congressman Fine Introduces Greenland Annexation and Statehood Act to Strengthen U.S. National Security and Put Our Adversaries on Notice
Today, Congressman Fine (FL-06) introduced the Greenland Annexation and Statehood Act, landmark legislation focused on securing America’s strategic national security interests in the Arctic and counte...
fine.house.gov
January 13, 2026 at 12:22 AM
Notwithstanding the belligerent stupidity of taking over Greenland, the Danish realm has something like 60,000 residents. If statehood really is on the table, DC and Puerto Rico would like a word.
The owner of my former employer of 20 years is leading a biotech alliance with Saudi Arabia, which butchered a journalist in 2018.
Everything Patrick Soon-Shiong said praising journalism after buying the LAT was a lie. I believed that when he made his opinion staff eat shit; this just confirms it.
Everything Patrick Soon-Shiong said praising journalism after buying the LAT was a lie. I believed that when he made his opinion staff eat shit; this just confirms it.
Pat Soon-Shiong: Will Be an Exciting JPM Week - OncoDaily
Pat Soon-Shiong: Will Be an Exciting JPM Week / cancer, OncoDaily, Oncology, Pat Soon-Shiong
oncodaily.com
January 12, 2026 at 3:41 AM
The owner of my former employer of 20 years is leading a biotech alliance with Saudi Arabia, which butchered a journalist in 2018.
Everything Patrick Soon-Shiong said praising journalism after buying the LAT was a lie. I believed that when he made his opinion staff eat shit; this just confirms it.
Everything Patrick Soon-Shiong said praising journalism after buying the LAT was a lie. I believed that when he made his opinion staff eat shit; this just confirms it.
So the playoffs in the NFC are NFC West vs. Chicago.
January 12, 2026 at 12:45 AM
So the playoffs in the NFC are NFC West vs. Chicago.
What was she thinking?
I’ve heard that from ICE apologists. I don’t know what Renee Good was thinking. But I do know what the ICE agent who killed her was.
“Fuckin bitch.”
I’ve heard that from ICE apologists. I don’t know what Renee Good was thinking. But I do know what the ICE agent who killed her was.
“Fuckin bitch.”
January 11, 2026 at 8:24 PM
What was she thinking?
I’ve heard that from ICE apologists. I don’t know what Renee Good was thinking. But I do know what the ICE agent who killed her was.
“Fuckin bitch.”
I’ve heard that from ICE apologists. I don’t know what Renee Good was thinking. But I do know what the ICE agent who killed her was.
“Fuckin bitch.”
Save the country, we’re gonna lay that devil down….
My national anthem lately.
My national anthem lately.
Save the country (with lyrics) - Laura Nyro
YouTube video by ionlift
m.youtube.com
January 11, 2026 at 5:59 AM
Save the country, we’re gonna lay that devil down….
My national anthem lately.
My national anthem lately.
Reposted by Paul Thornton
Paul Thornton of The Golden State Report writes about the deep anger among survivors one year after the Altadena fire. open.substack.com/pub/goldenst...
H/t @paulthornton.bsky.social @goldenstateorg.bsky.social
H/t @paulthornton.bsky.social @goldenstateorg.bsky.social
A year later, L.A. fire survivors are hopping mad and still want answers
If you thought the one-year anniversary of the Altadena and Pacific Palisades fires was going to be all about unity and hope, you haven't been paying close attention.
open.substack.com
January 9, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Paul Thornton of The Golden State Report writes about the deep anger among survivors one year after the Altadena fire. open.substack.com/pub/goldenst...
H/t @paulthornton.bsky.social @goldenstateorg.bsky.social
H/t @paulthornton.bsky.social @goldenstateorg.bsky.social
They will kill you, then make up a reason why you deserved it.
January 8, 2026 at 11:38 PM
They will kill you, then make up a reason why you deserved it.
"Law enforcement has only a split second to react to threats" THAT AREN'T EFFING REAL is a great argument for taking away their guns.
These @iampoliticsgirl.bsky.social faces are all of us
January 8, 2026 at 5:33 PM
"Law enforcement has only a split second to react to threats" THAT AREN'T EFFING REAL is a great argument for taking away their guns.
My edit of this piece: "We took a chance, moved to L.A., but sadly it's not working out."
Fires, ICE Raids, Hollywood Job Apocalypse: Why All My Friends Are Leaving L.A.
From the fires to the ICE raids to the contraction of Hollywood, it was a rough 2025.
www.vulture.com
January 8, 2026 at 5:18 PM
My edit of this piece: "We took a chance, moved to L.A., but sadly it's not working out."
This headline is shockingly crass.
If I ever got control of the @washingtonpost.com, my first act would be to have the Opinions editor walked out immediately by security before he committed any more boneheaded takes like this. Deserve to die? Not sure if casual cruelty or rank stupidity is playing a bigger role rank.
January 8, 2026 at 4:21 AM
This headline is shockingly crass.
I've actually been hit by a slow-moving car -- as in, it was coming toward me head on and didn't stop until I was on the ground. I was fine. Rattled, cut up and angry, but OK. My dog was too.
This is ... not anything like that.
This is ... not anything like that.
Here's the moment slowed down.
Watch the men in front of the car.
Watch the men in front of the car.
January 7, 2026 at 11:08 PM
I've actually been hit by a slow-moving car -- as in, it was coming toward me head on and didn't stop until I was on the ground. I was fine. Rattled, cut up and angry, but OK. My dog was too.
This is ... not anything like that.
This is ... not anything like that.