Dan Morain
@danmorain
My book about the mental health care system coming in March ‘27. Author of "Kamala's Way, An American Life." Ex-Sac Bee editorial page editor, ex-LAT reporter, ex-CalMatters.org, current grandpa, dog walker.
In other news, four dozen elephant seals slept on the beach south of Cambria, California.
It’s fitting that at the California State Senate’s memorial for John Burton, Sen. Tony Strickland, among the most conservative members, speaks from the heart about his friend, Burton.
Lots of anti-ICE signs at No Kings rally in Woodland, California. Thing about police agencies is they need public support to carry out their jobs.
Nick Gerda of LAIST wins journalist of the year from Sac Press Club for his great stories about OC Supe Do. He shouts out to the great editor Megan Garvey.
LATimes’ Melody Gutierrez wins for impact journalism award from Sac Press Club for her great puppy mill stories and the failure of state regulators. Such great stories.
The fabulous Rob Gauthier won Sac Press Club awards for both feature and spot news awards. Such an amazing pro. H/t @latimes.com
The amazing Paige St John won a Sac Press Club award for her incredible story(ies) about weed. H/t @latimes.com Times
So glad Melody Gutierrez won Sac Press Club award for her great enterprise reporting. H/t @latimes.com
Insurance Commish Ricardo Lara says Consumer Watchdog collects “millions illions of dollars in fees” and Californians get no coverage for it. Says “I might end up being most unelectable person in California” but he intends to fix the system. At insurance conference by @capitolweekly.bsky.social
Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara calls out Consumer Watchdog and insurance lobby: “System rewards gridlock.” @capitolweekly.bsky.social conference on insurance.
Uber ride in a Luxgen, Taiwan’s EV. Sweet. Wish it could be sold in the US.
Trump released assassination files on a day I read the Boston Globe’s President Kennedy memorial issue dated Dec. 8, 1963. See the crowd size from Nov. 7, 1960. The last line is from a speech JFK was to deliver in Dallas: “America’s leadership must be guided by the lights of learning and reason.”
The Sacramento Press Club’s 2025 scholarship recipients are an inspirational group of college journalism students who aspire to tell honest stories. I look forward to their adventures. H/t @sacpressclub.bsky.social @loganchrisp.bsky.social
Ann Telnaes: “For the first time, my editor prevented me from doing that critical job. So I have decided to leave the Post.” substackcdn.com/image/fetch/...
Ken Khachigian talks about his memoir “Behind closed doors” with California State Librarian Greg Lucas. Ken, aide to Nixon and Reagan, is worth hearing, no matter your politics. He’s the guy who came up with the phrase in 1980, Are you better off today than you were four years ago. Reprised in 2024.
View from Berryessa Brewing, Winters, Calif. Why would anyone live here?