RalstonReports

Nevada lawmakers say candidates can use campaign donations to buy guns  - The Nevada Independent They also approved new rules explaining when non-postmarked mail ballots can be counted, and whether databases can be used to challenge another voter's eligibility.

...'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...

A college student came to Vegas for vacation. Instead, he was deported.  - The Nevada Independent Gabriel Espinoza, a 22-year-old community college student from California, was deported after a trip to Las Vegas with friends. His deportation comes as local employers have expressed concerns that Pr...

"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...

Nevada officials want to keep childhood vaccine rules intact after feds relax them - The Nevada Independent Several health agencies have asked a state board to formally reject the Trump administration’s guidance, which made more shots optional for schoolchildren.

"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

Nevada DMV admits to talking with ICE on encrypted app, walking back court argument - The Nevada Independent The Nevada DMV communicated with ICE over Signal for its work on a federal task force that it says does not relate to immigration enforcement.

“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 Journalist Jon Ralston's new book, The Game Changer: How Harry Reid Remade the Rules and Showed Democrats How to Fight, is a must-read.

"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...

U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear Las Vegas Sun appeal, upholding RJ victory in JOA dispute Las Vegas Sun loses JOA appeal

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...

Jon Ralston’s Harry Reid Biography and SCUA Partnership Explore Jon Ralston’s new Harry Reid biography and learn how SCUA’s archives supported his research, highlighting Nevada leadership and historical impact.

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...

The Game Changer How did the son of a laundress for local brothels end up one of America’s most powerful politicians and the Senate’s most bare-knuckled Democrat? P...

Good morning from The #WeMatter State.

On this day in 2010, President Obama held a town hall in Henderson to boost Sen. Harry Reid's bid for a 5th term. It was a race few thought he could win. He won:

simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ga...

Candidate filing: 11 days
Primary: 110
General: 257

Nevada moves to block prediction market Kalshi after 9th Circuit ruling clears way - The Nevada Independent Control board lawyers say the company’s sports contracts are unlicensed wagering, which harms the public and poses an existential threat to the gaming industry.

"Control board lawyers say the company’s sports contracts are unlicensed wagering, which harms the public and poses an existential threat to the gaming industry."

via
@howardstutz.thenvindy.com

thenevadaindependent.com/article/neva...

Last chance to get tix to my sitdown tomorrow in Reno with Nevada's senior senator., @SenCortezMasto. Demand has been so high that we had to move it into a larger room. You can still sponsor, too!

Get tix here: one.bidpal.net/indytalksren...

Good morning from The #WeMatter State.

On this day in 1865, the 1st speech ever given on the floor by a Nevada senator occurred. James Nye, a Dem turned Republican, talked at length about the decline of the Democratic Party.

Candidate filing: 13 days
Primary: 112
General: 259

The Game Changer How did the son of a laundress for local brothels end up one of America’s most powerful politicians and the Senate’s most bare-knuckled Democrat? P...

Good morning from The #WeMatter State.

On this day in 1987, the LA Times revealed Sen. Harry Reid put on old clothes and a baseball cap and mingled w/homeless folks in Vegas and Reno. Not in the book:

simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ga...

GOP primary to replace Amodei hinges on Trump favorite Sam Brown - The Nevada Independent If the former Senate nominee doesn’t enter the race, as many as a dozen candidates are waiting in the wings — and a few will run even if he does.

"The president’s pick, according to multiple GOP strategists who spoke to The Nevada Independent on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing affairs, is 2024 GOP Senate nominee Sam Brown..."

CD2 update via Mini Racker.

thenevadaindependent.com/article/gop-...

9th Circuit weighs legality of Sigal Chattah’s appointment as Nevada acting US attorney - The Nevada Independent The appeals court’s ruling could establish precedent for the legality of Justice Department appointments and whether prosecutions under her tenure can be thrown out.

"No matter the ruling, it appears Chattah’s time as NV's top federal prosecutor is reaching its end. The Trump administration announced Wednesday it nominated Las Vegas attorney George Kelesis as NV's U.S. attorney."

Eric Neugeboren went to Ninth Circuit.

thenevadaindependent.com/article/9th-...

Tesla pays Nevada $200K in fines for operating battery recycling equipment without permit - The Nevada Independent Tesla will pay Nevada $200,000 for operating battery recycling equipment at its Northern Nevada Tesla Gigafactory without a permit, according to a settlement signed by the company and the Nevada Divis...

Public records requests pay off -- and this one revealed a payment from Tesla for operating battery recycling equipment at its Northern Nevada Tesla Gigafactory without a permit. A big fine, although maybe not for Elon: $200K.

Great work via Amy Alonzo.

thenevadaindependent.com/article/tesl...

Sex workers at Pahrump brothel are unionizing, alleging unfair contracts and conditions - The Nevada Independent In the last week, the brothel has fired three workers who challenged a new contract that they say is unfair. Lawyers have filed an injunction with the federal labor board.

A union in a brothel?

What a story by Kate Reynolds!

thenevadaindependent.com/article/sex-...

Nevada unveils new statewide data classification policy months after cyberattack - The Nevada Independent The policy marks the first time the state will have clear-cut categories for the sensitivity of data. Officials said this will allow agencies to go beyond simply denoting something as “sensitive” or “...

"Officials said the policy was in the works long before the cyberattack shut down state systems in late August, but the policy reflects NV's efforts to set uniform IT policies across agencies."

via Eric Neugeboren

thenevadaindependent.com/article/neva...

Thank you!

The Game Changer: How Harry Reid Remade the Rules and Showed Democrats How to Fight The Game Changer: How Harry Reid Remade the Rules and Showed Democrats How to Fight [Ralston, Jon] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Game Changer: How Harry Reid Remade the Rules and Showed Democrats How to Fight

Good morning from The #WeMatter State.

On this day in 1981, the Harry Reid-led Gaming Commission granted Frank Sinatra a 6-month gaming license. It was controversial. Why?

Read all about it here:

amazon.com/Game-Changer...

Candidate filing: 19 days
Primary: 118
General: 265

Jon Ralston talks new book on life and legacy of Harry Reid "The Game Changer: How Harry Reid Remade the Rules and Showed Democrats How to Fight" is available for purchase now.

It was fun early this AM to chat with Kim Wagner about my new Harry Reid book, appearing on the same local NBC affiliate that Reid got me fired from!

news3lv.com/news/local/j...

Hope to see you all in Vegas next month for a book-signing at Writers Block.

Pro-Lombardo PAC launches major ad campaign against top Democratic contender Aaron Ford - The Nevada Independent The seven-figure spending underscores Republicans’ belief that Ford’s time spent out of state is a vulnerability.

The subject of this first ad is no surprise: The PAC has been issuing news releases and social media broadsides for months about the AG's travel. It's a tailor-made issue for the gov's campaign and an obvious vulnerability for the AG.

thenevadaindependent.com/article/pro-...

Good morning from The #WeMatter State.

On this day in 1897, the Legislature implemented a poll tax for all adult voters under the age of 60. It required proof of payment in order to register and was not repealed for 70 years.

Candidate filing: 21 days
Primary: 120
General: 267

Review | Harry Reid practiced politics as a bare-knuckle sport In “Game Changer,” Jon Ralston examines the life and career of the former Senate majority leader.

Today might be the last @washingtonpost.com BookWorld, who knows. But it's a banger. Among the treats: Reviews of books about Bad Bunny, Bob Dylan, and @ralstonreports.bsky.social's biography of Harry Reid. www.washingtonpost.com/books/2026/0...

Lombardo’s 2025 campaign fundraising heavily reliant on donors using loophole to give more - The Nevada Independent About $1.9 million of Lombardo’s fundraising total came from donors who easily and legally skirted contribution limits by sending donations through different names. This made up about 44 percent of hi...

Only 3 certainties:

Death, taxes and big donors circumventing campaign limits by using various entities to bundle money.

Great rundown, with charts, by @eric_neugeboren.

Oh one more certainty: It's good to be the governor.

thenevadaindependent.com/article/lomb...