Managing partner @fpg. Hosted Tesla Daily from 2017-2024.
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Articles by Rob Maurer
Two Cheers for the Declaration of Independence
It is high time that we explicitly admit that our revolution was a mistake, and refrain from supporting efforts to secede from other countries, too. The Declaration of Independence was an important milestone in our national development, and its 250th anniversary is an appropriate time to evaluate its strengths and weaknesses as a body of doctrine.
The Myth of the “Feral” Cat
Many outdoor cats labeled “feral” are traumatized domesticated animals living without safety, care, or protection. A trauma-informed approach could improve the lives of millions of homeless cats and reshape animal welfare policy. Cats living outdoors are often labeled as “feral” and are seen as wild, untamable, and independent. But in reality, they are domesticated beings stripped of home, safety, and human care.
Malcolm X Felt White People Should Be More Like Abolitionist John Brown
After all, a white man acting in the interests of the enslaved to overthrow the plantation police state was the greatest fear for white supremacist Southerners. At a time when white supremacy poses an existential threat to society, we need the spirit of Malcolm X, and we need more white co-conspirators like John Brown.
Too Late to Worry, AI Government Already Here
As governments become more impersonal and machine-driven, adapting to that may require seeing automation as something the public can use to protect itself. In April, the General Services Administration announced plans to automate 1 million work hours annually after cutting nearly 40 percent of its staff since October 2024, with similar reductions being seen across the government workforce.
Time's Up?
The Roman Empire collapsed at about 250 years, and we have about 50 days to go until July 4. A recent book analyzed past and current democracies, and determined that most of them have a 250 year shelf life. America reaches 250 years on July 4, 2026. Donald Trump is showing signs of frontal lobe dementia, and as a result his brain is shrinking and he has manic episodes where he poses as Jesus, and considers himself King of the World.
Build a New Ballroom When There’s a Big Beautiful One Nearby?
Donald Trump just loves to spend taxpayer dollars on his vanity projects. Congress has already allocated $40 million for his National Garden of American Heroes, but lawmakers will likely have to cough up more to cover additional plans for reflecting pools, dining facilities and an amphitheater. Then there’s Trump’s makeover of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
Healthcare Access: What's Really at Risk Behind California's Tax Fight
Just as California’s billionaires would prefer, the public conversation around a proposed one-time tax on a fraction of their immense wealth has become centered on a single threat: They’ll leave and take their money with them if the tax passes. It’s a wild notion unsupported by history, but you can expect to hear more about it all the way to the Nov. 3 general election.
California's Latino Snapback Is Real
The GOP Slippage Is Real, but Democratic Consolidation Is Not California's Latino Snapback Is Real—And It's Reshaping the Governor's Race. The data is in: Latino voters who swung right in 2024 are swinging back—hard. And as California's June 2, 2026 primary approaches, that correction is landing right in the governor's race.
The Man Who Would Rule the World
The remarkable degree to which Trump regards himself as the savior of the world suggests a more personal lust for supreme power. Although Donald Trump has never been modest about his abilities or reluctant to exercise personal power, during his second term in office he has shown clear signs of megalomania. One sign, of course, is his blatant demand for the territory of other nations.
Don't Vote Your Fear
In 2024, I ran for Vice President of the United States with Dr. Cornel West. I had often said that I would never (ever, ever…not never!) run for office. But this was Dr. West…the smartest and one of the most visionary people on the planet, whose brilliance is only outdone by his kindness and humility. We were an unapologetically all-Black ticket, steeped in movement, staunchly anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist, pro-Black, and pro-working class.
SCOTUS War on Voting Rights Act Sends America Backwards
It took 60 years for Black Americans to get representation in Congress proportionate to their numbers. Now we’re likely to backslide. The United States took a decisive step toward democracy with the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. At the time, Black political representation was not just limited — it was nearly nonexistent. African Americans made up more than 10 percent of the population but held less than 2 percent of seats in Congress and none in the Senate.
Why Does California Need An Insurance Commissioner
Jane Kim discusses the role of Insurance Commissioner. As climate disasters destabilize California’s insurance market, candidate Jane Kim argues that the state must treat insurance not merely as a private industry As Californians face soaring insurance premiums, canceled homeowner policies, wildfire losses, and increasing economic instability tied to climate change, the race for California Insurance Commissioner has become one of the most consequential contests on the 2026 ballot.
Military Families Short-Changed as Pentagon Splurges on War
On April 21, nearly two months into the Iran war, the Pentagon unveiled a $1.5 trillion budget request that promised to bolster services for members of the military and their families. The proposed budget for the fiscal year that begins in September includes $90 million in additional funding specifically for the design of military child development centers and barracks, as well as pay increases ranging from 5% to 7% for service members.
Fueling My Revolutionary Optimism
As a Palestinian born in the 21st century, I am the generational product of Nakba survivors and the trauma that came with it. As distant as it may seem, I am only two generations removed from the 1948 Catastrophe of Palestine, where over 750,000 Palestinians were displaced from their land, and thousands were massacred.
Two Truths in One Land: Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger on Seeing the Other
A Conversation About Blindness, Identity, and the Possibility of Human Transformation I met Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger a little over a week ago during a presentation about the work of Roots/Shorashim/Judur, the Israeli-Palestinian organization he helped found to foster dialogue, nonviolence, and transformation between Israelis and Palestinians. What struck me immediately was not just the substance of his presentation, but his storytelling.
Butter, Not Guns
Guns or butter. Butter or guns. Can we have both? If not, which should come first? Consider it one of those chicken-and-egg conundrums of modern society. “Guns” is the stand-in for a well-funded military and “butter” for all the human goods, comforts, and needs of a society. Economists, politicians, and generals have long considered the balance of guns and butter. Wage too many wars, produce too many arms, and there won’t be enough money to keep a nation decently fed and comfortable.
Our Long War on Cuba
In recent weeks and months, Washington has intensified its long-running campaign of collective punishment against the Cuban people. Escalating sanctions have further tightened the noose of a punitive U.S. blockade that has strangled the island for more than half a century.
When To Call a DWI Lawyer: Timing That Changes Everything
Right after an arrest, most people are focused on the obvious things. Getting out of jail. Talking to family. Getting back to work. Trying to calm down. A lot of people wait too long to call a lawyer after a DWI arrest. That usually happens because they think they should wait and see what the charge looks like, or because they assume there is nothing a lawyer can really do at this stage. Some people are just overwhelmed and do not know where to start. That is common.
How a Criminal Defense Attorney Handles Complex Legal Cases
Criminal cases that go into litigation need more than just confidence in court. They need investigative skills, effective motions, witness evaluation, negotiations, and trial advocacy. In Orange County, complicated criminal cases and those concerning DUI tend to progress rather swiftly because there is emphasis placed upon early evidence and police procedure. This means that local Orange County courts expect a specific timeline and precise testing techniques, among other things.
4Rabet Review in India – Sports Betting, Casino Games and Mobile Experience
Read this 4Rabet review for Indian users. Explore sports betting, casino games, bonuses, app features, payment methods, and the overall mobile betting experience on 4Rabet. The Indian betting market changes constantly. New apps appear almost every month promising bigger bonuses, faster withdrawals, and “the best odds.” After a while, many platforms start feeling identical. That’s probably why 4Rabet continues getting attention even after several years online.
The Dodgers Are Redefining What It Means to Be a Sports Franchise
Modern sports franchises often talk about impact, but the Dodgers have built it into their operating model. The Los Angeles Dodgers have long been associated with winning baseball, but their identity now extends far beyond the field. In a city as diverse as Los Angeles, the team has become a civic institution, serving as a cultural symbol, economic force, and community partner. Modern sports franchises often talk about impact, but the Dodgers have built it into their operating model.
$The Benefits of Integrating Coinremitter into Your Business Checkout
Most users want to make the payment and complete the purchase after reaching the checkout. Adding crypto payments to your checkout used to feel like an "extra" feature. Something nice to have, but not urgent. That's changed in 2026. Nowadays, customers don't just ask if you accept crypto payments. They expect it in many cases. Especially if your business serves international users, offers digital products, or provides online services. But here's where it gets tricky.
How to See All Enemies in a Valorant Match?
Valorant officially launched in 2020 and quickly established itself as one of the leading titles in the tactical FPS genre. Developed by Riot Games, the game was designed to combine precise gunplay with unique agent abilities, creating a hybrid experience that rewards both mechanical skill and strategic thinking. One of the key reasons behind its rapid growth is its accessibility. Valorant is completely free-to-play, allowing anyone to jump in without an upfront cost.
Clideo: A Complete Online Platform for Easy Video Editing and Media Management
With just a few clicks, users can edit videos, compress files, add subtitles, convert formats, and much more — all without downloading any software. In the modern digital era, video content has become one of the most powerful forms of communication. From social media platforms to business marketing, videos are everywhere.
Georgia Activists Use People Power to Take on Corporate Landlords
A coalition of tenants, housing groups, and civic leaders from across Georgia have started a new advocacy campaign called “End the Corporate Takeover.” It’s another effort by advocates and renters in the United States to unify and use people power to stand up to uber-wealthy corporate landlords – together, tens of millions of tenants and activists can put extreme pressure on politicians to pass strong renter protections.
Feds Fail Deaf Ukrainian Asylum Seeker
When attorney Nadia Galash arrived with her deaf Ukrainian client at the Los Angeles asylum office for their second scheduled interview, Galash hoped that this time they would finally be able to move forward. The woman needed a chain of interpreters — someone who could shift between Russian Sign Language and American Sign Language and a second person who could go between American Sign Language and spoken English.
Waterboarding for Dollars in Cuba
What the United States is doing to Cubans is equivalent to waterboarding them into submission, and all CBS could seem to talk about is Castro. The CBS Sunday Morning program, “Next: Cuba?” which aired on April 26th, presented a discussion of the recent intensification of sanctions on and threats against Cuba. I am disappointed that this program, and several other shorter recent segments on CBS News, did not cover some essential points that must be stated about what is happening in Cuba now.
Media Watch: Easter Hordes “Seize,” Western Colonialists “Acquire”
First up is a story in the New York Times headed “The U.S. Army’s Big Experiment in the Arctic Cold” describing breathlessly how soldiers from the warm South climes of Florida, Texas and Georgia are training in simulated Arctic conditions for what the paper describes as making the Arctic a now explicit theater of war.
Should Billionaires Even Exist?
Over the weekend, South African mining and logistics magnate Solly “MySol” Soka Madibela unveiled a Rolls-Royce Cullinan in a hangar full of cameras. The car, a custom Cullinan reportedly worth more than R30 million (about 2 million USD), was built to his specifications by Rolls-Royce’s bespoke program and presented as a birthday present to himself. Online, the reactions split along a familiar fault line.
Unearned Income and America's Downfall
Channeling here my inner Jeremiah, I will not lament America's downfall if we fail to "mend our ways and our doings,” which I very much doubt we will do at this point. Like Jeremiah, I want to wag my finger at particular ways and doings that will surely take us down. And please indulge me if I blend Marx's labor theory of value and the teachings of Jesus and even a bit of Thorstein Veblen. That is how I roll; I can do no other.
AI, Tribalism, and the Coming Crisis of Human Worth
As artificial intelligence reshapes labor, millions may be pushed outside the traditional economy—forcing America to confront its deepest instincts about work, value, survival, and who deserves dignity. Scarcity and the threat of starvation shaped our species for tens of thousands of years. That pressure is not just historical, it is biological. It is embedded in our nervous system. We are predisposed to scan for imbalance, to notice who contributes and who does not.
The Ballot Box and the End Zone: Why Black Labor Should Not Fund White Power
When people talk about Black athletes withholding their labor, they are not talking about symbolism. They are talking about pulling the plug on the turntable while the party is still poppin’. No political representation, no athletic participation.
Marissa Roy, A Progressive Response to Trump-Era Fear and Federal Overreach
As Los Angeles confronts immigration raids, civil-rights battles, housing insecurity, and rising distrust in local leadership, we need the largest public interest law firm in the country. That is Marissa Roy’s goal. For Angelenos, the June 2 primary election coincides with the one-year anniversary of the federal invasion of the city.
Concentrated Power Cuts Both Ways: A Response to Sharon Kyle on Tom Steyer and Democracy
This article was contributed by a guest author who is also a dear friend of the LA Progressive. She offered commentary on the article written by Sharon Kyle located here. Ι want to begin from a place of genuine respect for Sharon Kyle and LA Progressive, whose work I value even as I strongly disagree with this endorsement. I also deeply agree with the concern about billionaire power in politics. I do not want a democracy where wealth itself becomes treated as a qualification for leadership.
Tom Steyer v Butch Ware and the Fruit of the Poisonous Tree
How California’s gubernatorial race exposes a political system that rewards wealth extraction, privatized power, and purchased visibility while marginalizing candidates rooted in public contribution and democratic accountability. There is a legal doctrine in American constitutional law, rooted in Fourth Amendment criminal procedure, known as the “fruit of the poisonous tree.” The principle is straightforward: when the source is corrupted, the outcomes flowing from that source are also corrupted.
Left Must Defeat Fascism Once Again
The world is at a precipice, facing existential threats while fascism is on the rise. Yet we lack the proper governance structures to address global challenges, and it also seems that it falls upon the left to defeat fascism once again. So argues political scientist/political economist, author and journalist C. J. Polychroniou in the interview that follows with the French-Greek journalist Alexandra Boutri. Alexandra Boutri: We live in a time of great uncertainty and profound disillusionment.
From Ahura Mazda to Hormuz: What American Power Fails to See
To speak of the Strait of Hormuz today is already to enter a language of reduction. In policy briefings and military analyses, it appears as a “chokepoint,” a narrow passage through which flows a measurable percentage of the world’s oil, a site of leverage, vulnerability, and control. The term is efficient in the way bureaucratic language often is. It turns water into a function and geography into an instrument. But Hormuz did not begin as a strategic term.
U.S.-China Tech Race Drives U.S. Militarization and Undermines Scientific Progress
Last week, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth urged Congress to pass a 2027 Pentagon budget of 1.5 trillion dollars. He justified the increase by saying we need a modernized, high-tech military to counter China. U.S. lawmakers have been using China as a military budget increaser and ultimate policy-generator for years. Competition with Beijing is invoked to justify military expansion, new regional alliances, AI weapons development, semiconductor restrictions, and rising nuclear expenditures.
Electric Cars Big Winners From Current Iran Attacks
After British troops had beaten German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel’s tank forces at the Second Battle of El Alamein in Egypt on November 4, 1942, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill declared, “This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is perhaps the end of the beginning.” The same might now be said about humanity’s struggle to defeat the dire threat of global climate change caused by our never-ending burning of fossil fuels.
Home Design Meets Exterior Design AI-Green Styles The Home's New Face
By using exterior design AI in the course of home project development, homeowners can envisage what they'll finally get, saving both heartache and additional expense. The face of home design is changing before our eyes. Fast-forward home design meets exterior design AI, enabling homeowners to visualize the outside of their home instantly.
When Local Growth Hits a Storage Wall: Practical Lessons for Residents and Communities
It usually starts quietly. A nonprofit clears space for a donor drive, a contractor loses track of seasonal equipment, or a family helping an older parent finds there is nowhere safe to put furniture, papers, and keepsakes that cannot stay in the living room forever. By the time anyone notices, clutter is affecting work, home routines, and everyday decisions. That pressure also shows up in local politics and civic life.
How AgentZap’s AI Virtual Receptionist Works as a 24/7 Answering Service for Businesses
Learn how AgentZap’s AI virtual receptionist works as a 24/7 answering service to handle calls, capture leads, and reduce missed opportunities for businesses. Today’s customers expect instant responses, whether they are booking a service, asking a question, or making a purchase decision. Even a small delay or a missed call can lead to frustration and lost opportunities.
Best Places to Get Authentic Instagram Growth (Fast)
When you sit down to go searching, you’ll find plenty of sketchy growth tools that promise way too much and deliver way too little. Like many other apps, Instagram is no longer pushing people’s content to fame the same way that it used to. Many creators continue to post consistently and mess around with captions while they chase the famous trends. But still, their Instagram growth doesn’t really seem to show.
Why Most Creators Fail to Monetize Their YouTube Views Effectively
Failing to understand YouTube's operating algorithm is one common mistake that multiple creators make on their way to a successful career on the platform. The majority of the creators on YouTube do not translate their views into significant revenue. They become victims of typical myths and misconceptions regarding the process of monetization, they believe that popularity is equal to profit and that success can be achieved overnight.
Top 6 Sites to Buy TikTok Views (Instant Results)
Here are the platforms that aim to deliver fast visibility while keeping your growth steady and safe. You live in a world where digital fame happens overnight. On TikTok a simple tap on the screen can lead to a million views. But to get that starter pack people often buy TikTok views. It gives users a required boost and lets their content reach a wider audience. In 2026, it means finding the right service that not only sells views but also provides quality and commitment.
Why AI Editing Tools Are Leveling the Playing Field for Small Creators
Learning to use AI to make editing and production more convenient, one can use these technologies to promote their creative game. The world of digital content changes quickly. In this landscape smaller and newer creators can be easily overshadowed by more established platforms and creators. The advent of AI editing programs is changing this dynamic since editing and production processes are now easier and faster.
How Hamilton Became a Hub for Vape Enthusiasts in Ontario
What happened in Hamilton shows how a city can support specialized retail when community, location, and business quality come together. Hamilton has changed a lot over the years. Once known mostly for steel, hard work, and industry, the city has also grown into a place with many small businesses, niche stores, and strong local communities. One of the more visible changes has been the rise of vape-related retail and interest across the city. Hamilton has always had a strong local business spirit.
The Most Misunderstood Shark: How Sand Tigers Defy Fear and Threats
Fifteen miles off the coast of Cape Lookout, North Carolina, I descended through blue-green water along the anchor line that connected our dive boat to a shipwreck resting ninety feet below. This wasn’t just any wreck. It was one of my favorite dive sites in the world: the Caribsea, a cargo freighter torpedoed by a German U-boat in March 1942 during World War II’s Battle of the Atlantic. What was once a wartime casualty now lives a second life as an artificial reef.
Mother’s Day 2026: Reclaiming Motherhood as a Call for Peace, Justice, and Collective Care
Motherhood in the United States is celebrated symbolically, yet far too many mothers remain neglected politically, economically, and socially. As the sun sets on Mother’s Day 2016, flowers begin to fade and the warm embraces and heartfelt messages of gratitude are gently folded into a mother’s memory. Across the United States, millions of mothers are honored with affectionate words and expressions of appreciation.
Is Trump’s Iran Fiasco America’s Suez Crisis?
The crisis with Iran is at least as catastrophic for US imperialism as the Suez Crisis was for the British Empire. Empires rise and fall. They do not last forever. Imperial declines follow a gradual shifting of the economic tides, but are also punctuated and defined by critical tipping points.
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