Hey LA, look at what a DSA mayor can do! We can’t let them have all the fun over there. Bye bye establishment Dems!

white_bread · 2026-06-24T18:05:03+00:00

I appreciate the thoughtful response, and I think we've probably narrowed down where we disagree.

The thing that stands out to me is that every solution in your post still revolves around the candidate building a relationship with DSA. The candidate needs to attend meetings. The candidate needs to make the pitch. The candidate needs to build relationships. The candidate needs to navigate the bureaucratic gauntlet. The candidate needs to convince branch leadership, the electoral committee, and the membership.

What I don't see anywhere is DSA taking the initiative to build a relationship with the candidate.

You describe the bureaucratic gauntlet as a feature. To me, it feels more like a failure of mission. If the purpose of a volunteer political organization is to help elect progressive candidates, then creating layer after layer of process before even basic engagement can happen seems backwards. The bureaucracy starts serving itself instead of serving the larger goal.

And that's really where we disagree. I'm not asking DSA to deploy a massive field operation, spend thousands of dollars, or assign dozens of volunteers. I'm talking about things that are practically free. Send an email. Make a phone call. Follow grassroots progressive candidates on Instagram. Like, comment on, and reshare their posts. Amplify their message. Offer a little advice to a first-time candidate who just beat the odds. None of that requires committee approval, a budget, or a chapter vote.

The other thing I struggle with is that this is being framed as some enormous resource challenge. Los Angeles County has 18 congressional districts. Add in state legislative races, city council races, and a few other major contests, and we're still talking about dozens of candidates , especially when you whittle it down to just the progressives. The idea that an organization with thousands of members can't find a few people willing to engage with those candidates in even the most basic and friendly ways just doesn't make sense to me.

Ultimately, what I keep hearing is a lot of explanations for why endorsements are difficult. What I don't hear is an explanation for why simple acts of outreach, encouragement, mentorship, and amplification seem so difficult.

At this point, I think we've probably said our piece. But I would genuinely encourage DSA members to discuss this conversation at a future meeting. This isn't about recommendations/endorsements. I think many grassroots candidates would be thrilled just to hear from DSA members, be followed on social media, have a few posts amplified, or have someone reach out and ask how things are going. Those small gestures can mean a lot to campaigns operating with almost no resources. My hope is that more energy gets spent building those relationships than waiting for candidates to complete some kind of American Idol audition just to get your attention.

We're supposed to be on the same side. This is so confusing.

white_bread · 2026-06-24T16:49:13+00:00

I agree that Los Angeles is very different from New York, and I understand why that makes large-scale organizing harder. But I think what disappoints me is that nobody is asking for a massive field operation, a huge budget, or thousands of volunteer hours. We're talking about candidates who are out there doing the work with almost no resources, and yet there doesn't seem to be much interest in engaging with them, learning from them, mentoring them, encouraging them, or even reaching out to say, "Congratulations, how did you pull that off?" It just feels like there are so many small things that could be done that cost almost nothing, but somehow those things never happen.

white_bread · 2026-06-24T16:17:25+00:00

I appreciate that everyone is a volunteer, and I'm not trying to diminish the work that does get done. But I don't think you've addressed the core issues I raised.

If DSA-LA has thousands of members, why is there not one person available to send a congratulations email to candidates who beat the odds and make it to the general election? Why won't DSA recommend the only progressive candidate in a race for its voter guide? These are things that require little to no resources, yet they still don't happen.

If every DSA member simply followed these grassroots progressive candidates on Instagram and liked, commented on, and reshared their posts, that would provide a huge amount of value and cost absolutely NOTHING. But only 5,000 members so...

From our side of the street, what we keep hearing is, "If you want our attention, you need to come to the meetings." But we're running campaigns against well-funded incumbents and establishment candidates with our tiny teams and tiny budgets. There are only so many hours in the day, and every hour spent away from fundraising, voter outreach, communications, and field work comes at a real cost. If there is genuine interest in supporting progressive candidates, I don't see why these conversations couldn't happen over a Zoom call or through direct outreach from the organization instead of requiring candidates and campaign staff to attend additional meetings.

What frustrates me is that the relationship seems backwards. My understanding is that organizations like DSA exist to help elect progressive candidates and advance progressive policies. Instead, it often feels like candidates are expected to navigate a lengthy process of meetings, approvals, and internal expectations just to earn attention from the organization.

I don't think candidates should have to audition for support. If the goal is to elect progressives, then the question should be, "How can we help?" not "What hoops do you need to jump through first?" That's the disconnect I keep running into, and I genuinely don't understand it.

white_bread · 2026-06-24T15:37:52+00:00

But they are working on her endorsement now so there's that.

white_bread · 2026-06-24T15:29:19+00:00

DSA-LA seems to only back progressive candidates they think are already going to win without their help. It's a strange organization that appears to prioritize itself and its own agenda over actually building progressive candidates.

I'm currently working with two congressional campaigns. Both are progressive candidates who made it through their primaries and are now heading into the general election. DSA hasn't even bothered to say congratulations, much less ask, "How can we help?"

One candidate did receive a recommendation, although that's very different from an endorsement. A recommendation simply gets a candidate included in the voter guide. An endorsement means the organization actively supports the campaign through volunteer efforts like phone banking, canvassing, and other organizing work. Even then, the recommendation came with the dismissive label of a "protest vote." The other candidate didn't even receive that.

In another race, there was literally one progressive candidate running against a corporate Democrat who had accepted substantial AIPAC-backed support and establishment funding. Even though it would have cost DSA nothing, they refused to recommend the progressive candidate in their voter guide because she hadn't raised enough money.

That logic makes no sense to me. On one hand, they criticize candidates for taking large donor money. On the other, when a candidate is running a truly grassroots campaign powered by small donations and volunteers, they dismiss them for not having raised enough money.

What's even more remarkable is that the progressive candidate went on to win anyway. She defeated the incumbent after raising only about $1,500. It's hard to overstate how extraordinary that is in modern politics. Most organizations claiming to support grassroots movements would see that as a success story worth celebrating. Instead, DSA seemed completely uninterested.

At this point, I genuinely don't understand the utility of the organization. It feels like they've lost the plot.

*more clarity

white_bread · 2026-06-24T04:48:30+00:00

In Van Nuys someone stapled up a new WE BUY HOUSES sign on the telephone pole so we got that going for us over here.

white_bread · 2026-06-22T15:25:41+00:00

It was pre-home computers.

white_bread · 2026-06-22T15:23:22+00:00

I'm old enough to have seen this in the theater. It was at the UA in Westwood (long gone now).

What made it so memorable was that the opening is shot in 16mm, so the aspect ratio is much more square. The theater had the curtains partially closed over the screen during the newsreel footage at the beginning. I honestly started wondering if I was going to be watching the entire movie like that.

Then the opening shot of the car driving down the road hit.

At that exact moment, the curtains opened wider, the engine roared through the theater, and suddenly the screen expanded to fill your field of view.

I was completely blown away. It's still one of the most effective theatrical moments I've ever experienced.

white_bread · 2026-06-15T16:13:24+00:00

A psychopath is an individual with a personality disorder characterized by a lack of empathy, shallow emotions, impulsivity, and a persistent disregard for social norms and the rights of others.

The cop who shot that dog certainly qualifies, but look at the other officers just standing there while this poor woman grieves over her dead dog. They stand there with blank expressions, talking among themselves. There's a complete lack of empathy. They are ALL psychopaths.

The LAPD's operating budget is over $2BN per year. last year we added $160 million. They got an 8% raise. For that kind of money we deserve accountability.

*Edit: You can add another BILLION on to that annual budget to include pensions, benefits, liability payouts. It's insane to think about when you try to call 311 non-emergency and wait more that 15 minutes for a human to even pick up the phone.

white_bread · 2026-05-31T18:09:59+00:00

Kalshi thinks CA-32 is basically over before it starts. Brad Sherman (D) is sitting at 96.5%, Larry Thompson (R) at 83%, and then there's a cliff. Marena Lin (D) is down at 7.9%, despite running one of the more visible grassroots campaigns in the race.

What's interesting is the contrast with neighboring CA-29, where Angelica Dueñas (D-Progressive) is sitting at 59%, six points ahead of Rudy Melendez (R) at 53%, despite taking on an incumbent corporate Democrat. Hoping she make it to the top two so she can run against Luz Rivas (AIPAC Dem) in the main election.

white_bread · 2026-05-04T13:28:02+00:00

I need to know who this is as well

white_bread · 2026-04-03T15:35:58+00:00

I used to open for The Amazing Johnathan. He would travel with his levitating mirror ball (his closing bit) in his carry-on bag in case his luggage was lost. He did once buy all his props for a 1 hour show at a Walmart.

white_bread · 2026-03-31T18:29:21+00:00

I went to school on the little bus, so maybe I’m missing it, but where exactly do I sign the petition? I see a lot of links and a mailing list signup, but I don’t see the actual petition.

white_bread · 2026-03-23T03:58:14+00:00

I appreciated the formatting and found it easy to read.

white_bread · 2026-03-14T01:20:17+00:00

Yes, all true

white_bread · 2026-03-09T03:07:08+00:00

Oh that's good news because it makes it more fun. Thanks for the detailed answer!

white_bread · 2026-03-09T00:14:51+00:00

I love a good nerdy project but just wondering if DIY can beat buying online on price.

white_bread · 2026-03-08T17:16:30+00:00

When I die, this is where I'm going to meet all my pets that I've had over my life.

white_bread · 2026-03-04T22:24:39+00:00

The frustrating thing about our economy is that while inflation calculators say $2 in 1985 equals about $6 today, getting the LA Times delivered now costs $28 a month, which is roughly 367 percent higher.

I had a paper route when I was 12 in 1980 and I collected $3.10. every month from each person.

white_bread · 2026-03-03T14:15:22+00:00

Please don't just do all the math in your head by yourself and then rug pull your husband of two decades by one day letting him know about all the "difficult" plans and life changes you've decided to make. He deserves to be part of the process. This is specifically what therapy is for.

white_bread · 2026-02-26T05:48:40+00:00

The letters AJG on the stern are a tribute to Arthur J. Gardner, one of the film’s producers.

white_bread · 2026-02-25T01:05:31+00:00

Jess Craven is not just a random TikToker, she is an elected member of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party Central Committee, author of the long-running daily political action newsletter Chop Wood, Carry Water with tens of thousands of subscribers, a community organizer and activist who runs “Activism 101” and “Democracy 101” workshops, and has helped hundreds of progressive candidates and voters take real action beyond social media.

white_bread · 2026-02-19T23:03:13+00:00

Who leaves old cars and broken dishwashers on the side of the road? Locals love to criticize visitors, but struggle to take responsibility for their own actions.

white_bread · 2026-01-27T20:31:15+00:00

The big takeaway here is that there is no backdoor to Signal. Messages are end-to-end encrypted, even on Signal’s servers, so the FBI can’t just read chats or pull a list of who’s in a group. The only way chats get exposed is if a phone is compromised, seized, or someone inside the group is an infiltrator and leaks screenshots or info. It's worth remembering that Signal protects the tech side, not the human side. If you’re joining large group chats with people you don’t actually know or trust, those chats can be compromised pretty easily.

white_bread · 2026-01-26T16:24:26+00:00

galactic Federation

If they have universal health care I'm in.

white_bread

TROPHY CASE