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The Koch brothers are the perennial capitalist power-donor bogeymen of the right, feared and maligned by Democrats as much as George Soros is hated by Republicans as the same kind of bogeyman of the left. However, as with many controversial matters, the Kochs aren't exactly what the partisan narrative portrays. For instance, the Koch brothers and many of the publications they funded throughout the Bush years were staunchly anti-war, and they may even be more anti-war than the Center for America

San Diego, CA.- The quality of the product sold at cannabis shops is obviously critical for success. So anytime there are questions about potency and product value, important questions need to be asked. A recent Associated Press report stated nearly 20 percent of cannabis products in California failed tests for potency and purity since the state started requiring the checks on July 1. The testing has been especially tough on cannabis-infused cookies, candies and tinctures: Since the study, abo

San Diego, CA.- San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer has endorsed Republican John Cox of Rancho Santa Fe for governor. A statement from Faulconer read, "We need to reform Sacramento so it’s working for us again. Millions of forgotten Californians face unaffordable housing, struggling schools and the worst poverty rate in the country. It’s time for new ideas to turn Sacramento around, and John Cox is the best choice for the job. He will never stop fighting for our communities."John Cox has campaigned

A central element of this remarkable year in election reform has been the pivot of the anti-gerrymandering fight from the courts to the ballot boxes. As has been widely reported, five states vote this year on state constitutional amendments to block partisan gerrymandering and fundamentally change how redistricting is done, far more than in any other year. Ohio approved its amendment in May with 75% support; four others -- Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, and Utah -- will vote in November. Nearly

San Diego, CA.- IVN San Diego has obtained a letter dated September 26, 2016, from the CA Attorney General's office to John Ainsworth, the then acting Executive Director of the California Coastal Commission, discussing the legal representation the Attorney General's office provided for 5 coastal commissioners accused of violating open-government laws. The letter, signed by Supervising Deputy Attorney General Jamee Patterson for then Attorney General Kamala Harris, brings up some questions now t

Political reformers across America are paying close attention to key elections on November 6. But their focus is not on candidates or political parties. It’s about how Americans vote on ballot measures to unrig the system. Here are some highlights: Voters Not Politicians (Michigan) In Michigan, an anti-gerrymandering measure is on the ballot after Voters Not Politicians gathered more than 425,000 petition signatures with only volunteers within just 110 days. The measure creates an independen

The 2018 midterm elections are about to heat up. Much of the focus is on which of the two major parties will have control of Congress after November 6 -- are we looking at a blue wave or a red wave? What gets less attention are the third party and independent candidates who are trying to break through the two-party duopoly and offer voters an alternative. Candidates like Gary Johnson, who arguably stands the best chance of being the first member of the Libertarian Party to be elected to the upp

San Diego, CA.- A new poll shows dramatic moves in the Governor and Senate races in California. The early polls showed Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom and Senator Dianne Feinstein with comfortable leads in their respective races. Those leads are now all but gone. According to the national polling firm, Probolsky Research, California's two biggest statewide races are tightening. The leads for front-runners Gavin Newsom and Dianne Feinstein are now single digits. Newsom now leads Republican business

In the lead up to the 2018 midterms, female candidates running as independents and third parties are shockingly under-represented by organizations who endorse and track women – even those groups who claim to be nonpartisan. One example is The Center for American Women and Politics that was established in July 1971 at Rutgers University’s Eagleton Institute of Politics. For decades, CAWP has claimed to be “a nonpartisan voice that is central to creating awareness and understanding of women’s pol

As conflagrations continue to ravage our state, and after much debate in the capital, now is the final chance for lawmakers in Sacramento to approve Senate Bill 901 (SB 901) -- a package of much-needed wildfire prevention and financing reforms. The bill is compromise legislation which includes some important safeguards for California’s ratepayers and our business community. Last year’s wildfires devastated our state. I strongly support reforms that ensure victims are made whole and our utilitie