California reporter for the Los Angeles Times. Rural Oklahoman. Mildly amusing.

Los Angeles, CA
My latest for @latimes is about the 1936 Bum Blockade. The LAPD sent officers to California border counties to keep poor Americans — including Dust Bowl refugees — from crossing state lines. latimes.com/california/story…
4
6
9
2,574
Rural California community college students want bachelor’s degrees but have few options, report says. "The problem boils down to geography." They are located in areas where there are no publicuniversities within at least 25 miles of a community college. latimes.com/california/story…
140
Hailey Branson-Potts retweeted
In this era of artificial intelligence, it is becoming urgent to distinguish human art from what machines produce. There is an ontological difference, even before an aesthetic one, between art and what a machine can generate through statistical calculation based on millions of images created by others. Algorithms lack the spark of humanity. For this reason, the Church wishes to renew an alliance with artists and cultural institutions to safeguard our humanity.
4,768
80,274
460,011
25,522,684
Hailey Branson-Potts retweeted
Neiman Marcus closed its downtown Dallas flagship yesterday. The store played a notable role in the history of desegregation in Dallas during the 1960s. Previously, Black shoppers across the US could enter department stores, but they weren't allowed to try on clothes before purchasing without adhering to certain conditions. For instance, they had to try on clothes over their clothes, put on protective covers when trying on hats, or weren't allowed to make returns once they purchased clothes and brought them home. These policies stemmed from the racist fear that white customers would refuse merchandise previously worn by Black shoppers. The downtown Neiman Marcus flagship was one of the first major Dallas businesses that broke with these practices. In 1961, the company desegregated its Zodiac Room, a swanky restaurant frequented by Dallas elites. Neiman Marcus later welcomed Black shoppers without restrictions. These victories were achieved through the efforts of Civil Rights activists, along with support from Neiman Marcus president Stanley Marcus, who was an early advocate for desegregation in Dallas. The Neiman Marcus store manager purportedly warned Marcus that he would ruin his business — and indeed, some shoppers closed their accounts — but he stuck with his decision. At the time of the flagship's closure, the Main Street store had been open for 112 years.
215
2,792
18,290
525,981
Hailey Branson-Potts retweeted
First night in Sacramento (Jan 2019) ➡️ last morning in San Francisco (Sept 2026) Proudly born and raised in Illinois, but I really grew up in California 🌁 It’s bittersweet to leave this paradise behind, but an honor to continue telling Golden State stories in DC. Onward!
12
7
269
13,322
Hailey Branson-Potts retweeted
Global model ensembles are in strong agreement that a prolonged &anomalous nearly West-wide autumn heatwave will develop this week & persist for 10+ days. While some daytime records may be set, this event will be more notable for its persistence & breadth. [Thread]
38
143
989
83,614
Gubernatorial debate @latimes alert in the Year of our Lord 2026: “@GustavoArellano: ‘Is this the first mention of ‘bitch ass’ during a California gubernatorial debate?’”
1
4
10
1,703
Hailey Branson-Potts retweeted
Kudos to The Oklahoman’s @alexiaaston for the only coverage of this visit by Mullin to his brother’s chamber of commerce meeting, where he made disparaging statements about migrants and got into a shouting match over whether ICE conduct is biblical
“A person who identified herself as a member of Mullin's staff approached a photographer during the event and said he was not allowed to publish anything from it, including the fact that Mullin attended.” oklahoman.com/story/news/pol… #transparency
3
97
211
14,322
Battle over beach driving in California: GOP gubernatorial candidate @SteveHiltonx called coastal commissioners “idiots” and "joyless bureaucrats" for long efforts to end off-roading at Oceano Dunes and pledged to create Office of Fun & Freedom if elected latimes.com/california/story…
1
1
285
Hailey Branson-Potts retweeted
“A person who identified herself as a member of Mullin's staff approached a photographer during the event and said he was not allowed to publish anything from it, including the fact that Mullin attended.” oklahoman.com/story/news/pol… #transparency
4
81
177
20,572
Hailey Branson-Potts retweeted
BREAKING: A new penguin species has been identified for the first time in over 100 years! 🐧 Genetic research revealed that gentoo penguins are actually 4 distinct species, including a newly described species found on the remote Kerguelen Islands. bit.ly/4ACbG1h
252
7,537
48,639
9,409,768
New by me @latimes: An eroding California beach and the fight over driving on the sand. The Coastal Commission says driving threatens a rare bird and trying to nix the activity. Residents call it overregulation and a lack of understanding of rural places latimes.com/california/story…
1
157
Hailey Branson-Potts retweeted
A great mystery of the mid-21st century. The wealthiest people in the world keep driving up the value of beachfront property that will be the first to be washed away. Billionaire bunker in Miami has severe flood and high storm wind risk. @partlowj on the crumbling edge of California in Malibu. theatlantic.com/science/2026…
11
37
8,575
Several prominent LGBTQ+ nightclubs in California saw their Facebook and Instagram pages mysteriously suspended in recent months, leaving the independent venues unable to reach fans. Attendance plunged. AI-driven search engines falsely listed one as closed latimes.com/entertainment-ar…
1
1
2
349
Hailey Branson-Potts retweeted
Remember kids, if you won't pay for fantastically written viral articles on little covered slices of American life, there soon won't be any reporters to bring you more fantastically written viral articles on little covered slices of American life. Also, subs are just $1 today.
Per a note to Boston Globe staff today, the lesbian bar story generated 1,000 subscriptions to the paper yesterday. The Globe’s managing editor said it was “by far our best performing story of the year,” and appears to be “on pace to shatter all sorts of Globe records.”
4
126
940
69,299