Sara Libby
@saralibby.bsky.social
Politics editor @sfchronicle, runner, USC Trojan, taco enthusiast
Scoop: Investigators may have broken state laws under the direction of top Homeland Security leaders by posing as voters as part of an expansive effort to find noncitizens on the nation’s voter rolls, according to a federal whistle-blower’s account released on Monday.
Bombshell internal reports show the union leader behind the billionaire tax bullied and intimidated fellow union leaders who spoke out against the tax: www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
Union boss behind billionaire tax bullied, tried to ‘extort’ staffers over the measure, reports find
The investigation underscores the degree to which the measure fractured California’s most powerful labor union and its network of influential leaders.
sfchronicle.com
Thank you so much to @oregonian.com and writer Janet Eastman for this article about my book and Tuesday's reading at Powell's Books! www.oregonlive.com/books/2026/0...
The Portland building where a famous rock song was recorded — and 99 other places worth exploring
Brian Libby's "In Search of Portland" weaves architecture, cultural history and personal memoir into a single walking tour of the city.
oregonlive.com
Whether Immigration and Customs Enforcement can continue construction on a controversial planned detention center outside of Gilroy could come down to one messy detail: toilets.
Controversial ICE detention center near Gilroy may hinge on one issue: Toilets
Whether Immigration and Customs Enforcement can continue construction on a controversial planned detention center outside of Gilroy could come down to one messy detail: toilets.
bit.ly
"But how *exactly* will AI commit mass murder?" is a thing I wondered aloud this morning. Now I know! www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
How could AI ‘kill all humans’ or ‘cause human extinction’? Here’s what experts say
An AI researcher’s viral online warning that AI could kill off humanity this decade prompted widespread panic of a tech-led apocalypse. Here’s what that apocalypse might look like.
sfchronicle.com
👀Gavin Newsom says he plans to weigh in with an endorsement in the race to replace Nancy Pelosi. www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
Gavin Newsom says he plans to endorse in S.F. House race to replace Nancy Pelosi
Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to endorse in the San Francisco congressional race to replace Nancy Pelosi, and that he would likely do so as part of a batch of endorsements in California races.
sfchronicle.com
some important journalism here from the Chronicle, investigating the de facto prison CBP has created inside SFO: www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
Under Trump, SFO is now a de facto immigration detention center
More than two dozen immigrants have been held at San Francisco’s airport this year for longer than three days, in violation of Customs and Border Protection’s guidelines.
sfchronicle.com
Incredible reporting: People are being held at SFO for a week or longer, with no access to attorneys, a bed or medical care. Some were driven in from other airports more than 100 miles away. Many are legal permanent residents. www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
Under Trump, SFO is now a de facto immigration detention center
More than two dozen immigrants have been held at San Francisco’s airport this year for longer than three days, in violation of Customs and Border Protection’s guidelines.
sfchronicle.com
Wild to see @apnews.com pick up something you wrote
Ex-Deputy Convicted of Assaulting Women Now Chaplain for Christian Cop Group
For nearly a decade, the case of San Diego Sheriff’s Deputy Ricky Fischer’s sexual predation rocked San Diego County.
apnews.com
Jakob McWhinney@jakobmcwhinney.bsky.social · 3w agoEx-Deputy Ricky Fischer’s litany of sexual assaults rocked San Diego County. When all was said and done, nearly two dozen women accused him of assault, leading taxpayers to pay out nearly $10 million in civil settlements. Now out of prison, he has a new gig — chaplain for cops in crisis.
A 76-year-old green card holder with stage 4 cancer was arrested at his citizenship application interview and has been held by ICE for two months. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
Look, this is not revelatory, but as an intern at People, I got sent to the 9-to-5 DVD release with a list of admittedly dumb Qs (what's your summer beach read???) Jane Fonda sneered at me. Just palpable contempt. Dolly took me seriously and was just so, so kind.
A handful of women Democrats in S.F. are doing the unthinkable: Pushing back against Nancy Pelosi. www.sfchronicle.com/politics/joe...
‘Rooted in pettiness’: Democratic women push back against Pelosi, rally to Wiener’s defense
Several powerful female political leaders in San Francisco are pushing back against Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi for her letter ripping House candidate Scott Wiener.
sfchronicle.com
The former acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of California was found dead inside the office last night. timesofsandiego.com/politics/202...
Former acting U.S. attorney for Southern District found dead inside federal building
Andrew Haden, former acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District, was found dead.
timesofsandiego.com
California groups try a new way to get Gavin Newsom’s attention: Target him in swing states www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
California groups have a new way to get Newsom’s attention: Bash him in swing states
The groups going out of state to influence the governor represent various political factions Newsom will court if he runs for president.
sfchronicle.com
BREAKING: The powerful California Labor Federation just voted to endorse the billionaire tax. It comes on the heels of the state Democratic Party endorsement this weekend. www.sfchronicle.com/politics/joe...
Powerful California Labor Fed endorses billionaire tax, deepening Democrats’ split
A proposed one-time tax on California’s billionaires got a huge boost Tuesday when the California Labor Federation, which represents 2.3 million union members, endorsed the measure.
sfchronicle.com
🚨BREAKING: A federal court dismissed the DOJ's lawsuit seeking access to Colorado's unredacted voter registration list. The department is 0-20 in its sweeping legal hunt to acquire private voter data from states.
I need an eight-part Netflix drama on this IMMEDIATELY. Also, obviously, read @mgafni.bsky.social's incredible investigation. www.sfchronicle.com/projects/202...
This is far less surprising than the fact that Angelenos elected a DA who was guaranteed to react this way. bsky.app/profile/lati...
Los Angeles Times@latimes.com · 2mo agoLAPD officer who recorded colleagues' racist comments to be charged with felony eavesdropping
Hannah Wiley will serve as our Washington, D.C. correspondent; Abigail Vân Neely will cover breaking news and public safety; and Sarah Brager will report on breaking news and climate stories.
Reporters Hannah Wiley, Abigail Vân Neely and Sarah Brager to join S.F. Chronicle newsroom
Hannah Wiley will serve as our Washington, D.C. correspondent; Abigail Vân Neely will cover breaking news and public safety; and Sarah Brager will report on breaking news and climate stories.
bit.ly
New from OSU Press in September is "In Search of Portland: Exploring a Transforming City" by Brian Libby (@brianlibby.bsky.social). Order today. Publication date: September 15, 2026. beav.es/YJJ #PortlandOregon #PortlandArchitecture #PortlandHistory #PortlandWalkingTours #ReadLocal
The Trump administration pulled thousands of immigrants' commercial drivers licenses over safety concerns, and is now proposing scaling back testing for veterans to obtain commercial drivers licenses. bsky.app/profile/atru...
Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 2mo agoWhat could possibly go wrong?
At least 11 Bay Area residents have been detained flying to or from SFO in the last two weeks. www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
At least 11 Bay Area residents have been detained in ICE airport crackdown
Bay Area politicians, attorneys and activists are warning immigrants with unresolved immigration issues to avoid traveling through airports.
sfchronicle.com
Pelosi is a YES on the Massie amendment cutting US aid to Israel: “The American people are rightly demanding an end to a perpetual cycle of war, and the Netanyahu gov’t cannot maintain its current course. Therefore, while this amendment is ill-conceived, I vote yes for the message that it sends.”
NEW: California continues to resist restrictions on solitary confinement. Prison officials had implemented some minor reforms in 2023, as a sort of compromise when Newsom vetoed a bill meant to ban the more torturous aspects of solitary confinement. But they're now dialing even those back.
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back for Solitary Reforms in California - Bolts
California officials dial back the minor reforms they've made to isolation in prison, four years after Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed legislation to rein in solitary confinement.
boltsmag.org
👀The California DMV now says it suspects widespread cheating on thousands of exams, and has referred cases to local DAs for potential prosecution. It announced last week that 11K drivers must retake the test. www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
California DMV says cheating concerns prompted decision to force 11,000 drivers to retake tests
A spokesperson for the California DMV said the agency has referred several cases to local district attorneys for potential prosecution.
sfchronicle.com
Tragic news: Kelly Davis, a wonderful journalist who published a lot of important reporting on San Diego and on the horrid jail conditions there, has passed away. I was really lucky to briefly be Kelly's colleague at @theappeal.org many years ago, and to work with her on a story at @boltsmag.org.
Kelly Davis, intrepid reporter who exposed death and despair in San Diego County jails and gave voice to the downtrodden, dies at 53
The 2023 San Diego journalist of the year beat cancer for more than a decade before being diagnosed with a new tumor earlier this year; she leaves a lasting legacy in her adopted hometown.
sandiegouniontribune.com
"Davis almost singlehandedly forced the perennially high mortality rate in Sheriff's Office jails onto the front burner of the public agenda" www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/07/01/k...
Kelly Davis, intrepid reporter who exposed death and despair in San Diego County jails and gave voice to the downtrodden, dies at 53
The 2023 San Diego journalist of the year beat cancer for more than a decade before being diagnosed with a new tumor earlier this year; she leaves a lasting legacy in her adopted hometown.
sandiegouniontribune.com
"Did I mention that in addition to being just a computer, she’s also kind of a bitch?" www.nytimes.com/2026/05/31/m...
I Profile Celebrities for a Living. Nothing Prepared Me for Tilly Norwood.
nytimes.com
Gavin Newsom’s bid to help Democrats take control of the House faced its first major test this month in the state’s primary elections. With all of the races called, it’s clear: The maps are working as Democrats intended, @akoseff.bsky.social and I report www.sfchronicle.com/politics/art...
Is California on track to flip five House seats for Democrats? What the primary results show
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s bid to help Democrats take control of the House faced its first major test this month in the state’s primary elections. Here’s a look at how those races are shaping up.
sfchronicle.com
"Confidently wrong" is the best description of 99.99999% of the California election discourse for the past eight days. bsky.app/profile/alex...
Alex Kirshner@alexkirshner.com · 3mo agoI want to explain the confluence of factors that lead to people being so confidently wrong about what's happening in LA. Even people who live here