Midterms 2026
The Elon Musk Funder Trying to Sway the Race for LA’s Top Lawyer
The leading candidate for LA city attorney has the backing of the local DSA and vows to regulate Big Tech. Tech investors are spending millions against her.
Jonah Valdez
Jonah Valdez is a reporter for The Intercept covering politics, U.S. foreign policy, Israel and Palestine, human rights issues, and protest movements for social justice.
He previously was a staff writer with the Los Angeles Times where he joined the paper as an inaugural member of the L.A. Times Fellowship. For the Times, Valdez covered stories about environmental justice, gentrification, transportation, labor, pop culture, and the Hollywood industry. Valdez got his start covering local news for the Southern California News Group. His work can also be found in The Guardian, Voice of San Diego, and the San Diego-Union Tribune. He was raised in San Diego and now resides in Los Angeles, where he also writes poetry and is working on his first collection.
He previously was a staff writer with the Los Angeles Times where he joined the paper as an inaugural member of the L.A. Times Fellowship. For the Times, Valdez covered stories about environmental justice, gentrification, transportation, labor, pop culture, and the Hollywood industry. Valdez got his start covering local news for the Southern California News Group. His work can also be found in The Guardian, Voice of San Diego, and the San Diego-Union Tribune. He was raised in San Diego and now resides in Los Angeles, where he also writes poetry and is working on his first collection.
Contacts:
- jonah.valdez@theintercept.com
- @jonahmv.05 on Signal
- @jonahmv on X
Posts:
Midterms 2026
Mike Rogers Spent $100K on Private Jets and Luxury Travel Last Quarter
The Republican running for Senate in Michigan is directing campaign funds toward chartered flights, a Miami car service, and BMW repairs.
Israel’s War on Gaza
Pink Supported Macklemore’s Firing. Now Activists Want UNICEF to Cut Ties With Her.
Activists with Swifties Against Genocide want to impose a cost on trampling pro-Palestine voices.
Israel’s War on Gaza
Robert Kraft Claims His Donations Help Palestinians. Turns Out He’s Funding Friends of the IDF.
An analysis of tax forms by The Intercept show Kraft’s charity and LLC have donated to Friends of the IDF and AIPAC’s super PAC.
Israel’s War on Gaza
“Board of Peace” Billionaire Backs AIPAC Fund Targeting Pro-Palestine Candidates
Marc Rowan, a Trump appointee overseeing Gaza’s redevelopment, has given $1.5 million to AIPAC’s super PAC this cycle.
Chilling Dissent
“They Want People Scared”: Former Palestine Action Member Blasts Trump’s Terror Sanctions
Anti-genocide organizers say the “terrorism” label is intended to crush direct action against Israeli weapons shipments.
Chilling Dissent
Cornell to Pro-Palestine Students Targeted by ICE: Come Back to the U.S. or Lose Funding
Momodou Taal and Amandla Thomas-Johnson were finishing their graduate degrees abroad because of targeting by the Trump administration. Cornell is ordering them back to campus.
Midterms 2026
Abdul El-Sayed Beats the Democratic Establishment and AIPAC in Michigan
Abdul El-Sayed narrowly defeated Rep. Haley Stevens — despite a record-setting $60 million in outside spending in her favor.
Midterms 2026
Abdul El-Sayed Faces Islamophobic Attacks From GOP and Democratic Establishment
AIPAC has spent nearly $30 million against the Michigan Democratic Senate candidate, fueling ads that paint him as a terrorist sympathizer.
Midterms 2026
Nancy Pelosi’s Pick for Her SF House Seat Takes Anti-AIPAC Pledge
House candidate Connie Chan is backed by Pelosi, Adam Schiff, and now TrackAIPAC, signaling the growing influence of a politics skeptical of Israel.