Elon Musk’s stubborn spin on Grok’s sexualized images controversy Musk attempts to recast AI tool’s misuse. Plus, tech billionaires plot against a proposed California tax on their fortunes The Guardian - US · Jan 14
California’s Highway 1 reopens after years-long closure due to landslides Scenic coastal throughfare from Los Angeles to San Francisco had been cut in tourism-reliant Big Sur area The Guardian - US · Jan 14
Peter Thiel makes his biggest donation in years to help defeat California’s billionaire wealth tax Peter Thiel and Gavin Newsom are united in opposition to the billionaire tax. Fortune · Jan 14
California's wealth tax doesn't fix the real problem: Cash-poor billionaires who borrow money, tax-free, to live on Billionaires live under "buy, borrow, die," and California's wealth tax wouldn't touch that. An estimated $1 trillion of wealth has already fled. Fortune · Jan 14
Court rejects challenge to California’s new congressional map A panel of three federal judges in California declined to halt the state’s new congressional map Wednesday. Roll Call · Jan 14
‘Sickening and greedy’: California millionaire slams Larry Page and Sergey Brin for cutting ties with the state to avoid wealth tax As billionaires flee the state to avoid the proposed wealth tax, other high earners support the one-time tax. Fortune · Jan 14
'You Voted For This': 'Stupid' Gavin Newsom Taunts MAGA Voters With Choking Meme California Governor Gavin Newsom has drawn backlash after mocking MAGA supporters with a meme criticising Donald Trump's reported move to weaken air pollution rules. International Business Times UK · Jan 14
Elon Musk's Tesla Agrees to Mediation in US Workplace Racism Case Tesla has agreed to mediation with the EEOC over claims of widespread racism at its California factory. International Business Times · Jan 14
Man Sues Ex-Wife After Their Son Is Killed in Road Rage Shooting, Claims Her Middle-Finger Gesture Was Trigger A father sues his ex-wife after their six-year-old son is killed in a California road rage shooting, claiming her gesture helped trigger the attack. International Business Times UK · Jan 14
How to watch Super Bowl 2026 — stream *FREE* online from anywhere Here’s how you can watch the Super Bowl 2026 in Santa Clara, California from anywhere in the world, and potentially for FREE. Tom’s Guide · Jan 14
What Are the Steps for International Drivers? California sees over 40 million tourists every year. Add thousands of new immigrants to that number inkl · Jan 14
Anti-ICE protester says he was blinded by projectile fired by federal agent The protest outside the federal immigration building in the city of Santa Ana was held in response to the death of Renee Good The Independent UK · Jan 14
Wildlife crews stop actively searching for young wolves after livestock attacks Wildlife crews have stopped actively searching for two juvenile gray wolves in Northern California's Sierra Valley The Independent UK · Jan 14
California Billionaires Are Leaving the State in Response to Proposed Wealth Tax The wealth tax would discourage investment and likely lower tax revenue for California. Reason · Jan 13
The Independent UK · Jan 13 Louisiana seeks California doctor’s extradition, testing the limits of shield laws Louisiana is pushing to extradite a California doctor accused of mailing abortion pills, challenging laws that protect telehealth providers shipping these pills nationwide
The Guardian - US · Jan 13 Louisiana officials seek to extradite abortion provider from California Louisiana law enforcement officials allege California doctor mailed abortion pills to a woman in the southern state
The Guardian - US · Jan 13 Gavin Newsom comes out swinging against California billionaire tax Ballot initiative, opposed by the ultra-wealthy, would levy one-time 5% tax on individuals worth more than $1bn
Roll Call · Jan 13 Trump defiant on economy in Michigan remarks amid growing voter angst President Trump used a visit to Michigan to declare that an "economic boon" was underway as voter concerns about high prices grow.
LiveScience · Jan 13 Parkfield, San Andreas, and the quest for a 'crystal ball' for predicting earthquakes before they happen A small town in California was hit by earthquakes once every 22 years for over a century, setting the stage for a major seismic experiment in the 1980s and 90s. But the quake ended up being 11 years late. In this excerpt from "When Worlds Quake," geophysicist Hrvoje Tkalčić looks…
The Guardian - US · Jan 13 California county accused of profiling Asian Americans agrees to police reforms Agreement in Siskiyou county comes after lawsuit from Hmong residents alleging harassment by law enforcement
International Business Times UK · Jan 13 Did Gavin Newsom Cheat on His Wife? Inside His 2005 Affair With Former Aide Ruby Rippey Gibney Gavin Newsom's 2005 affair with aide Ruby Rippey Gibney resurfaces amid social media row. Inside the scandal that exposed gaps in the governor's personal accountability.
GOBankingRates · Jan 13 20 Best California Cities To Retire Without a Car Californians hoping to enjoy their retirement without a strain on their wallets should consider going carless during their golden years.
The Guardian - US · Jan 13 The trans youth athletes in the US fighting for their rights: ‘Playing is an act of resistance’ As the US supreme court weighs bans on trans athletes, five students speak about the joy of sports and toll of exclusion
Euronews · Jan 13 Former sailor sentenced to 16 years for selling information about US Navy ships to China Jinchao Wei, an engineer on the USS Essex, was one of two California-based sailors charged in August 2023 with providing sensitive military information to Beijing.
Fortune · Jan 13 As billionaires debate California's wealth tax, a tech investor suggests other ways to raise revenue that target a huge loophole the rich exploit "But the truth is a lot of ultra wealthy people borrow money against their assets and live off of that borrowed money."