RalstonReports

Harry Reid's never-aired interview with Mike Wallace "Nevada, Las Vegas is not clean."

Did you know Harry Reid was once interviewed by Mike Wallace for "60 Minutes" about organized crime in Las Vegas?

"Nevada, Las Vegas is not clean," Wallace declared.

The interview never aired, but I have the full transcript. And now you do, too:

jonralston.substack.com/p/harry-reid...

Nevada rejects Trump admin childhood vaccine rollbacks, maintains existing regulations - The Nevada Independent The state board of health voted unanimously not to adopt weakened federal vaccine recommendations and ‘follow the science.’

NEWS: "Nevada rejects Trump admin childhood vaccine rollbacks, maintains existing regulations."

NV's health board tells RFK Jr. and Co. to stuff it, that they are going to follow science.

How radical!

via @tabithamueller.bsky.social

thenevadaindependent.com/article/neva...

The Writer's Block An independent bookstore in downtown Las Vegas, offering free creative-writing classes to grades K–12.

Hey, all, if you are in Vegas tonight, join me and the great Beverly Rogers for a discussion of my new Harry Reid bio. I'll sign your book, too!

Details below:

www.thewritersblock.org

Who’s running? Nevada 2026 candidate filing period opens - The Nevada Independent The candidate filing period opened Monday and ends March 13.

Tark won't join Star Wars bar race for CD2 open seat, Mini Racker reports:

"Douglas County Commissioner Danny Tarkanian officially filed to run for attorney general on Thursday...'I have no interest in running in CD2...'"

Filing ends next week.

thenevadaindependent.com/article/whos...

Nice praise from a longtime Reid staffer for my bio of the former senator!

There are 2.1M million active NV voters, and GOP leads Ds by...1,300 (.06%).

Major parties each at 28% of the electorate, well behind nonpartisans at 38%.

In Feb., NPs up by 12,500, while Repubs fell by 1,144 and Dems up by 172.

There's something happening here...

Via SOS:

Good morning from The #WeMatter State.

On this day in 1971, the US consul in Tel Aviv served a subpoena to Meyer Lansky for tax evasion charges related to the Flamingo in Vegas. He was deported in 1972, but that was the life he had chosen.

Primary: 97 days
General: 244 days

Will Nevada have a Mamdani? Insurgent challengers hope for better chances in 2026 - The Nevada Independent Democratic experts and insiders say Nevada voters are often skeptical of primary challengers. But anti-establishment candidates say this is their year to win.

"Skeptics point to Nevada’s well-oiled Democratic Party machine, which shook off its own progressive takeover in 2023, as the bulwark that has kept primary challenges to a minimum..."

Great stuff, via Kate Reynolds.

thenevadaindependent.com/article/will...

Good morning from The #WeMatter State.

On this day in 1861, President Buchanan created the Nevada Territory, which was carved out of the western portion of Utah Territory. Lincoln became president two days later, would make NV a state in 1864.

Primary: 99 days
General: 246 days

OPINION: We must hold the line against Trump’s false election fraud claims - The Nevada Independent OPINION: We must hold the line against Trump’s false election fraud claims. Read more at The Nevada Independent.

“This is not partisan; it is patriotism, a word that has been shorn of all meaning by those cloaking themselves in the flag to undermine democracy. After following this mendacity cycle after cycle, the endgame is no mystery.”

My column:

thenevadaindependent.com/article/opin...

Nevada lawmakers say candidates can use campaign donations to buy guns  - The Nevada Independent They also approved new rules explaining when non-postmarked mail ballots can be counted, and whether databases can be used to challenge another voter's eligibility.

...'personal security' expenses can cover the purchases of guns and any related ammunition, training, accessories or permitting fees (and) cover costs of home security systems, efforts to remove personal information online and staff for personal security."

thenevadaindependent.com/article/neva...

A college student came to Vegas for vacation. Instead, he was deported.  - The Nevada Independent Gabriel Espinoza, a 22-year-old community college student from California, was deported after a trip to Las Vegas with friends. His deportation comes as local employers have expressed concerns that Pr...

"His case highlights how the police partnerships with ICE can result in the deportations of people w/no criminal histories and (who have) deep roots in the United States. Espinoza speaks fluent English and has not set foot in Mexico since he was a toddler."

thenevadaindependent.com/article/a-co...

Nevada officials want to keep childhood vaccine rules intact after feds relax them - The Nevada Independent Several health agencies have asked a state board to formally reject the Trump administration’s guidance, which made more shots optional for schoolchildren.

"After the Trump administration loosened vaccine recommendations for children, top health officials across Nevada are urging the state to reject the recent changes and keep more rigorous requirements."

Exclusive via Tabitha Mueller and Rocío Hernández.

thenevadaindependent.com/article/neva...

Hope to see you at next week's book signing in Vegas. It's a week from tomorrow at 7 PM. Details:

thewritersblock.org/events/49634

My old pal Amy Ayoub will be there! She liked the book:

Good morning from The #WeMatter State.

On this day in 1895, the Legislature banned the sale of alcohol in the Nevada State Capitol. The Assembly Committee on Public Morals had recommended approval before ti passed both houses.

Candidate filing: 5 days
Primary: 104
General: 251

Nevada DMV admits to talking with ICE on encrypted app, walking back court argument - The Nevada Independent The Nevada DMV communicated with ICE over Signal for its work on a federal task force that it says does not relate to immigration enforcement.

“To say that ‘we’re communicating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement about something unrelated to immigration or customs enforcement’ seems to be beyond a stretch. There needs to be some level of accountability here.”

Great story via Eric Neugeboren.

thenevadaindependent.com/article/neva...

Ralston delivers gold with his Reid biography Journalist Jon Ralston's new book, The Game Changer: How Harry Reid Remade the Rules and Showed Democrats How to Fight, is a must-read.

"Ralston delivers gold with his Reid biography"

Glowing review of my book from the Washington Examiner's @ZitoSalena, a bestselling author who knows a lot about politics:

www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/colu...

U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear Las Vegas Sun appeal, upholding RJ victory in JOA dispute Las Vegas Sun loses JOA appeal

The @reviewjournal crows about a Supreme Court snub of @LasVegasSun in long-running battle between the two newspapers, perhaps heralding a Sunset:

www.reviewjournal.com/business/u-s...

But the Sun says it's not quite dead yet:

lasvegassun.com/news/2026/fe...

“What’s happening here is on a very large scale — they’re putting out surveillance technology — and there’s no public disclosure.”

Great detective work by Oona Milliken and Bella Aldrete on a Metro police program with very little transparency.

Good morning from The #WeMatter State.

On this day in 1864, the territorial legislature passed a law to “prevent disloyal persons from voting.” Just imagine if such a law existed in today's climate? It's not that hard.

Candidate filing: 10 days
Primary: 109
General: 256

Some more documents unearthed from the treasure trove that is the Harry Reid archive -- a mailer from 1982, a political memo from 2001 and a 2015 email from his chief of staff calling The White House "freaking morons."

jonralston.substack.com/p/a-treasure...

Jon Ralston’s Harry Reid Biography and SCUA Partnership Explore Jon Ralston’s new Harry Reid biography and learn how SCUA’s archives supported his research, highlighting Nevada leadership and historical impact.

The Reid archive at @unevadareno was invaluable in my research for his bio, a treasure trove of 1,000 boxes and -- wait for it -- 12 million digital files. The staff were incredibly helpful as I researched Reid's life. making the book so much richer.

www.unr.edu/nevada-today...

The Game Changer How did the son of a laundress for local brothels end up one of America’s most powerful politicians and the Senate’s most bare-knuckled Democrat? P...

Good morning from The #WeMatter State.

On this day in 2010, President Obama held a town hall in Henderson to boost Sen. Harry Reid's bid for a 5th term. It was a race few thought he could win. He won:

simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ga...

Candidate filing: 11 days
Primary: 110
General: 257

Nevada moves to block prediction market Kalshi after 9th Circuit ruling clears way - The Nevada Independent Control board lawyers say the company’s sports contracts are unlicensed wagering, which harms the public and poses an existential threat to the gaming industry.

"Control board lawyers say the company’s sports contracts are unlicensed wagering, which harms the public and poses an existential threat to the gaming industry."

via
@howardstutz.thenvindy.com

thenevadaindependent.com/article/neva...

Last chance to get tix to my sitdown tomorrow in Reno with Nevada's senior senator., @SenCortezMasto. Demand has been so high that we had to move it into a larger room. You can still sponsor, too!

Get tix here: one.bidpal.net/indytalksren...

Good morning from The #WeMatter State.

On this day in 1865, the 1st speech ever given on the floor by a Nevada senator occurred. James Nye, a Dem turned Republican, talked at length about the decline of the Democratic Party.

Candidate filing: 13 days
Primary: 112
General: 259

The Game Changer How did the son of a laundress for local brothels end up one of America’s most powerful politicians and the Senate’s most bare-knuckled Democrat? P...

Good morning from The #WeMatter State.

On this day in 1987, the LA Times revealed Sen. Harry Reid put on old clothes and a baseball cap and mingled w/homeless folks in Vegas and Reno. Not in the book:

simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ga...

GOP primary to replace Amodei hinges on Trump favorite Sam Brown - The Nevada Independent If the former Senate nominee doesn’t enter the race, as many as a dozen candidates are waiting in the wings — and a few will run even if he does.

"The president’s pick, according to multiple GOP strategists who spoke to The Nevada Independent on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing affairs, is 2024 GOP Senate nominee Sam Brown..."

CD2 update via Mini Racker.

thenevadaindependent.com/article/gop-...

9th Circuit weighs legality of Sigal Chattah’s appointment as Nevada acting US attorney - The Nevada Independent The appeals court’s ruling could establish precedent for the legality of Justice Department appointments and whether prosecutions under her tenure can be thrown out.

"No matter the ruling, it appears Chattah’s time as NV's top federal prosecutor is reaching its end. The Trump administration announced Wednesday it nominated Las Vegas attorney George Kelesis as NV's U.S. attorney."

Eric Neugeboren went to Ninth Circuit.

thenevadaindependent.com/article/9th-...

Tesla pays Nevada $200K in fines for operating battery recycling equipment without permit - The Nevada Independent Tesla will pay Nevada $200,000 for operating battery recycling equipment at its Northern Nevada Tesla Gigafactory without a permit, according to a settlement signed by the company and the Nevada Divis...

Public records requests pay off -- and this one revealed a payment from Tesla for operating battery recycling equipment at its Northern Nevada Tesla Gigafactory without a permit. A big fine, although maybe not for Elon: $200K.

Great work via Amy Alonzo.

thenevadaindependent.com/article/tesl...