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Posts by Lester Black

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Calif. couple refused medical help hours before they died at seaside mansion The couple died at a beachside mansion hours after a party.

Calif. couple refused medical help hours before they died at seaside mansion www.sfgate.com/centralcoast...

6 days ago 0 0 0 0
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After Cease-Fire, Iranians Are Left to Pick Up the Pieces Hours after a tenuous pause to a nearly six-week war, Iranians expressed relief and trepidation about the future. Some fear the government will crack down on its domestic critics.

Bleak accounting of what we've done to middle class Iranian people.

After Cease-Fire, Iranians Are Left to Pick Up the Pieces www.nytimes.com/2026/04/08/w...

1 week ago 0 0 0 0

🚨 BIG NEWS 🚨

@sfgate.com, the West Coast's largest news site, is looking for a new tech reporter.

🧵 below on what we're looking for, or if you want a shortcut, here's the job listing: sfgate.com/careers

4 weeks ago 45 48 2 3
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National parks employees say SFGATE has been blacklisted National Park Service communicators no longer respond to SFGATE media requests.

Thanks to the relentless public service journalism from @ashleyharrell.bsky.social's team, the NPS has now blacklisted the entire SFGATE staff. Interior Department insiders say the ban is unprecedented.

www.sfgate.com/national-par...

1 month ago 8 6 0 0

Does he have to dress like a chef all the time everywhere he goes, like the Mandalorian of gastronomy

1 month ago 1217 135 63 6
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Hunting for the world's most mythical cannabis: Big Sur Holy Weed Big Sur could become the cannabis world's Champagne.

An incredible deep dive into a mythic cannabis strain, that also sums up almost every complicated aspect of the cannabis industry, via @leddder.bsky.social www.sfgate.com/cannabis/art...

2 months ago 5 1 0 0
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Trump advisor’s remark becomes a viral problem for the Super Bowl Rumors are swirling around what ICE might do at this year's Super Bowl.

Many news outlets have used a single podcast remark as an indicator ICE agents would be “throughout Levi’s” and have a “major, visible” presence, but SFGATE reached out to 6 law enforcement agencies who haven't heard anything to that effect.

via @leddder.bsky.social
www.sfgate.com/bayarea/arti...

2 months ago 3 5 0 0
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No one will confirm viral podcast quote about ICE at Super Bowl Rumors are swirling around what ICE might do at this year's Super Bowl.

This is a great example of what happens when the government willfully feeds into dangerous speculation, and journalists do shoddy work.

No one will confirm viral podcast quote about ICE at Super Bowl www.sfgate.com/bayarea/arti...

2 months ago 0 0 0 0
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MAGA activist in Shasta County arrested after discovery of bunker The California Highway Patrol called the weapons a threat to public safety.

A Shasta County man who had reportedly been active in local right-wing politics was arrested last week with a bunker and large cache of illegal weapons, according to authorities.

via @leddder.bsky.social
www.sfgate.com/politics/art...

2 months ago 12 6 0 0
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No one knows who's behind Sacramento billboard message to 80-year-old Democrat "I do believe that hyper-longevity in office is a concern in this election cycle."

I think the lack of an exclamation point is a clue...

No one knows who's behind Sacramento Valley billboard message to 80-year-old Democrat www.sfgate.com/politics/art...

2 months ago 1 0 0 0
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Newsom barred from public address in Switzerland by the Trump administration Newsom's office shared texts with the press showing how it played out in real time.

Newsom barred from public address in Switzerland by the Trump administration

International scoop from @asos.bsky.social
www.sfgate.com/politics/art...

2 months ago 2 0 0 0
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OpenAI is flying high. But a huge new legal threat is coming. Legal experts say AI chatbots are bringing a new legal risk for tech companies.

For decades, America's tech companies have deployed products with little regard to how they harm their users. That could end with ChatGPT.

OpenAI is facing a multi-billion dollar legal risk that no one is talking about.

A new one w/ @stephco.bsky.social:

www.sfgate.com/tech/article...

3 months ago 4 2 0 1

Here's our story on Lincoln suspending its 2026-27 season, and Desmond Gumbs stepping down as head coach (but remaining as the school's athletic director), in the wake of our investigation into the program. www.sfgate.com/collegesport...

3 months ago 10 4 0 0
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A Calif. teen trusted ChatGPT for drug advice. He died from an overdose. "Who on earth gives that advice?"

Here's a link to the story, which, again, is very well done: www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
and a shoutout the reporters, Lester Black @leddder.bsky.social and Stephen Council @stephco.bsky.social

3 months ago 6 2 0 0

hello 2026

3 months ago 2 0 0 0
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A Calif. teen trusted ChatGPT for drug advice. He died from an overdose. "Who on earth gives that advice?"

“ChatGPT started coaching Sam on how to take drugs, recover from them and plan further binges. It gave him specific doses of illegal substances, and in one chat, it wrote, ‘Hell yes—let’s go full trippy mode’”
www.sfgate.com/tech/article...

3 months ago 1767 702 52 323
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A Calif. teen trusted ChatGPT for drug advice. He died from an overdose. "Who on earth gives that advice?"

"ChatGPT started coaching Sam on how to take drugs, recover from them and plan further binges. It gave him specific doses of illegal substances ... Then, last May, tragedy struck."

Incredible piece of journalism from @leddder.bsky.social and @stephco.bsky.social:
www.sfgate.com/tech/article...

3 months ago 15 9 3 3
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A Calif. teen trusted ChatGPT for drug advice. He died from an overdose. "Who on earth gives that advice?"

A Calif. teen trusted ChatGPT for drug advice. He died from an overdose. www.sfgate.com/tech/article...

3 months ago 10 6 1 1
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some would say DCC is bad at *the most important part* of its job.

4 months ago 1 0 0 0
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Marc Benioff joins wild hallucinogenic mushroom livestream The billionaire ended the holiday weekend cheering on a friend taking mushrooms.

Public billionaire insanity intensifies:

“Come watch me trip balls.”

Marc Benioff and Naval Ravikant join Network State Cult member Bryan Johnson's livestreamed mega mushroom trip.

www.sfgate.com/tech/article...

4 months ago 80 31 11 5
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Marc Benioff joins wild hallucinogenic mushroom livestream The billionaire ended the holiday weekend cheering on a friend taking mushrooms.

Introducing the FDA's new drug approval process...

Marc Benioff joins wild hallucinogenic mushroom livestream www.sfgate.com/tech/article...

4 months ago 2 0 0 0
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Dying Shopping Malls Are the Roman Ruins of Our Civilization

Almost like Modest Mouse wrote an entire album about this 30 years ago.

Dying Shopping Malls Are the Roman Ruins of Our Civilization www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/m...

5 months ago 2 0 0 0

why would cannabis plants on fire be more dangerous than a poinsettia on fire?

5 months ago 0 0 0 0
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It was once California's top pot-producing county. Now it's a bust. “Cannabis has bottomed out and it’s not what people thought it would be."

"We are barely floating by on a week to week basis."

via @leddder.bsky.social
sfgate.com/cannabis/article/monterey-county-california-cannabis-decline-21141231.php?mrfhud=true

5 months ago 4 5 1 0
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'This bear roared': Newsom celebrates Prop. 50 while scorching Trump Newsom spent nearly his entire Tuesday night victory speech attacking the president.

After Prop. 50 victory, Newsom vows Dems can ‘de facto end’ Trump presidency

www.sfgate.com/politics/art...

5 months ago 12 2 0 0
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Over a million Californians are facing ‘catastrophic’ health care cost increases One couple is seeing costs go from $4,200 this year to $26,652 next year.

The Republican healthcare plan decimates the finances of these middle class people.

Over a million Californians are facing ‘catastrophic’ health care cost increases www.sfgate.com/politics/art...

5 months ago 4 0 0 0
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'Terrifying': Federal immigration agents found patrolling LA in horror masks "They're terrorizing our communities."

This isn't surprising, but that doesn't mean it's not worth documenting fully. The terror is the point.

'Terrifying': Federal immigration agents found patrolling LA in horror masks www.sfgate.com/la/article/l...

5 months ago 2 0 0 0
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'You can stop donating now': Newsom doesn't want any more of your money "I never thought I'd ever say that."

The highly unusual donation ask is what makes this news, but the governor signing off with “Mad respect to all of you” is what makes it fascinating.

'You can stop donating now': Newsom doesn't want any more of your money www.sfgate.com/politics/art...

5 months ago 2 0 0 0

big claim comparing yourself to the honorable Iroh!

5 months ago 1 0 1 0
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Bay Area tech giants helping fund Trump's $300M ballroom “So the People’s House is basically being sold to the highest bidder."

The tech giants are all-in on the oligarchy.

Bay Area tech giants helping fund Trump's $300M ballroom www.sfgate.com/politics/art...

5 months ago 0 0 0 0