Good morning from The #WeMatter State.
On this day in 1916, the USS Nevada was commissioned and called the greatest battleship ever made. At Pearl Harbor, it was the only ship able to move, but was struck. 60 people were killed, 106 injured.
Primary: 90 days
General: 237 days
The Reynolds School of Journalism has completed an impressive, data-rich study of the NV news desert, which shows why the state is ranked 50th in local journalists per capita. You can download it:
www.unr.edu/journalism/o...
University of Nevada, Reno has been a great partner and pipeline for us.
Good morning from The #WeMatter State.
On this day in 1867, Gov. Blasdel vetoed a bill to legalize gambling. Lawmakers would override Blasdel's veto of a similar bill in 1869. Gaming was banned in 1909 before it was legalized for good in 1931.
Primary: 91 days
General: 238 days
"The senator wrote in a Friday letter to the president...that the facility’s transition from a Critical Access Hospital to a Rural Emergency Hospital on May 1 is happening because of Medicaid cuts made through Trump’s signature law..."
Via Mini Racker
thenevadaindependent.com/article/cort...
I recently chatted with Ira Sternberg about my new Harry Reid bio on his podcast:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cug...
And you should buy the book!
www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ga...
Good morning from The #WeMatter State.
On this day in 2005, a statue of trailblazing Nevada Paiute Sarah Winnemucca was dedicated in Statuary Hall in Washington. Rep. Jim Gibbons, Sens. John Ensign and Harry Reid and Gov. Kenny Guinn attended.
Primary: 92 days
General: 239 days
In a wide-ranging interview, Gov. Lombardo said he opposed fed interference in elections, said vaccines "are more of a personal choice," essentially said a trans athlete ballot ? is a response to polling and said Trump tariffs have had "a definite benefit."
thenevadaindependent.com/article/indy...
"Nevada’s rates of maternal mortality and preterm birth, meaning birth before 37 weeks, are on the rise, at the same time that rates of postpartum checkups and breastfeeding are declining."
Eye-opening stuff via @katecreynolds.
thenevadaindependent.com/article/they...
Did you know Harry Reid was once interviewed by Mike Wallace for "60 Minutes" about organized crime in Las Vegas?
"Nevada, Las Vegas is not clean," Wallace declared.
The interview never aired, but I have the full transcript. And now you do, too:
jonralston.substack.com/p/harry-reid...
NEWS: "Nevada rejects Trump admin childhood vaccine rollbacks, maintains existing regulations."
NV's health board tells RFK Jr. and Co. to stuff it, that they are going to follow science.
How radical!
via @tabithamueller.bsky.social
thenevadaindependent.com/article/neva...
Hey, all, if you are in Vegas tonight, join me and the great Beverly Rogers for a discussion of my new Harry Reid bio. I'll sign your book, too!
Details below:
www.thewritersblock.org
Tark won't join Star Wars bar race for CD2 open seat, Mini Racker reports:
"Douglas County Commissioner Danny Tarkanian officially filed to run for attorney general on Thursday...'I have no interest in running in CD2...'"
Filing ends next week.
thenevadaindependent.com/article/whos...
Nice praise from a longtime Reid staffer for my bio of the former senator!
There are 2.1M million active NV voters, and GOP leads Ds by...1,300 (.06%).
Major parties each at 28% of the electorate, well behind nonpartisans at 38%.
In Feb., NPs up by 12,500, while Repubs fell by 1,144 and Dems up by 172.
There's something happening here...
Via SOS:
Good morning from The #WeMatter State.
On this day in 1971, the US consul in Tel Aviv served a subpoena to Meyer Lansky for tax evasion charges related to the Flamingo in Vegas. He was deported in 1972, but that was the life he had chosen.
Primary: 97 days
General: 244 days
"Skeptics point to Nevada’s well-oiled Democratic Party machine, which shook off its own progressive takeover in 2023, as the bulwark that has kept primary challenges to a minimum..."
Great stuff, via Kate Reynolds.
thenevadaindependent.com/article/will...
Good morning from The #WeMatter State.
On this day in 1861, President Buchanan created the Nevada Territory, which was carved out of the western portion of Utah Territory. Lincoln became president two days later, would make NV a state in 1864.
Primary: 99 days
General: 246 days
“This is not partisan; it is patriotism, a word that has been shorn of all meaning by those cloaking themselves in the flag to undermine democracy. After following this mendacity cycle after cycle, the endgame is no mystery.”
My column:
thenevadaindependent.com/article/opin...
...'personal security' expenses can cover the purchases of guns and any related ammunition, training, accessories or permitting fees (and) cover costs of home security systems, efforts to remove personal information online and staff for personal security."
thenevadaindependent.com/article/neva...
"His case highlights how the police partnerships with ICE can result in the deportations of people w/no criminal histories and (who have) deep roots in the United States. Espinoza speaks fluent English and has not set foot in Mexico since he was a toddler."
thenevadaindependent.com/article/a-co...
"After the Trump administration loosened vaccine recommendations for children, top health officials across Nevada are urging the state to reject the recent changes and keep more rigorous requirements."
Exclusive via Tabitha Mueller and Rocío Hernández.
thenevadaindependent.com/article/neva...
Hope to see you at next week's book signing in Vegas. It's a week from tomorrow at 7 PM. Details:
thewritersblock.org/events/49634
My old pal Amy Ayoub will be there! She liked the book:
Good morning from The #WeMatter State.
On this day in 1895, the Legislature banned the sale of alcohol in the Nevada State Capitol. The Assembly Committee on Public Morals had recommended approval before ti passed both houses.
Candidate filing: 5 days
Primary: 104
General: 251
“To say that ‘we’re communicating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement about something unrelated to immigration or customs enforcement’ seems to be beyond a stretch. There needs to be some level of accountability here.”
Great story via Eric Neugeboren.
thenevadaindependent.com/article/neva...
"Ralston delivers gold with his Reid biography"
Glowing review of my book from the Washington Examiner's @ZitoSalena, a bestselling author who knows a lot about politics:
www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/colu...
The @reviewjournal crows about a Supreme Court snub of @LasVegasSun in long-running battle between the two newspapers, perhaps heralding a Sunset:
www.reviewjournal.com/business/u-s...
But the Sun says it's not quite dead yet:
lasvegassun.com/news/2026/fe...
“What’s happening here is on a very large scale — they’re putting out surveillance technology — and there’s no public disclosure.”
Great detective work by Oona Milliken and Bella Aldrete on a Metro police program with very little transparency.
Good morning from The #WeMatter State.
On this day in 1864, the territorial legislature passed a law to “prevent disloyal persons from voting.” Just imagine if such a law existed in today's climate? It's not that hard.
Candidate filing: 10 days
Primary: 109
General: 256
Some more documents unearthed from the treasure trove that is the Harry Reid archive -- a mailer from 1982, a political memo from 2001 and a 2015 email from his chief of staff calling The White House "freaking morons."
jonralston.substack.com/p/a-treasure...
The Reid archive at @unevadareno was invaluable in my research for his bio, a treasure trove of 1,000 boxes and -- wait for it -- 12 million digital files. The staff were incredibly helpful as I researched Reid's life. making the book so much richer.
www.unr.edu/nevada-today...
