HeyJaredMichael Smolens
STORY ANGLES - Focus on Political and Social Implications: Stories often explore the broader moral, legal, and political consequences of government actions, particularly immigration and economic policies.
- Indexed articles, last 90 days
- 18
- Latest publication
- Sep 27, 2026
- Outlet visibility, for San Diego Union-Tribune
- Top 100K sites
- Earliest in this view
- Jul 5, 2026
Latest articles
Michael Smolens: Democrats want to party like it’s 2018 (opens the original)
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Two years ago, improved Republican results in San Diego and elsewhere were widely noted. In California, Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris significantly underperformed compared with her predecessor Joe Biden in 2020, even though she won the state while losing the 2024 national election to Donald Trump. This might not qualify as the bright side for Democrats, but as Republicans held their slim majority in the House of Representatives, Democrats flipped three California GOP seats. The 2
Michael Smolens: One congressional candidate leans local, the other national (opens the original)
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Many themes are emerging in the pivotal congressional race between Jim Desmond and Marni von Wilpert. But there’s one overarching dynamic for now. Desmond — a San Diego County supervisor — and the Republican political structure behind him are intensely focused on localizing his campaign. Von Wilpert — a San Diego City Council member — and the Democratic apparatus supporting her are hammering home national issues, specifically as they pertain to President Donald Trump and several of his unpopular
Michael Smolens: Midway redevelopment moves forward on its long, bumpy road (opens the original)
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The effort to redevelop the Midway District has taken a unique path. Over the past several years, two proposals have involved two ballot measures lifting a height limit, two court rulings overturning those votes, two developers, two mayors, and now two bills approved by the Legislature to boost the current project. Those are some wild deuces. Despite the ups and downs, the current massive housing-commercial-entertainment-arena proposal known as Midway Rising is moving forward. How this ends is f
Michael Smolens: ‘Slow-moving avalanche’ of cuts in food, healthcare programs (opens the original)
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Reductions in federal food and healthcare programs are being felt in waves as cuts and new requirements continue to kick in. On Tuesday, people participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will have to start complying with new work requirements that are expected to reduce the number of recipients. The requirements took effect on June 1, but they had to be met within three months. It will be a rolling reduction, however. Work requirement evaluations will be completed at t
Michael Smolens: Taxpayer association tries to get its mojo back on endorsements (opens the original)
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Two years ago, the San Diego County Taxpayers Association endorsed just over half the local school bond measures on the November ballot. This year, the group is backing all but one. These are different times for the SDCTA on several levels. For one thing, there’s the number of bond proposals. In 2024, there were 22, with the association backing 12. This year, nine are heading to the ballot, eight with SDCTA’s endorsement. The association says it maintains a consistent, rigorous assessment of pro
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For San Diego Union-Tribune, the outlet · Measured Aug 1, 2026
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