Inland Empire Progressive

Photo by Lea Kobal on Unsplash Something ugly is happening in our district: we are becoming a two-tier economy. The top earners are roaring ahead with inflated asset values, low mortgages rates, and strong returns on investments — while the bottom is sliding into stagflation! Make no mistake, the conservative economic policies supported by Representative Jay Obernolte and his MAGA republican allies failing the district.  The data paint a stark picture: Wage growth for the bottom third of earners is doing almost nothing, only 0.9% in August 2025. That’s the smallest gain since 2016. The top third saw 3.6% growth in the same period. That’s a huge divergence, and it’s only getting worse.  Spending patterns mirror this gap. The higher earners are spending more; the lower earners are cutting back, squeezed by higher housing costs, inflation, limited wage growth, and tougher job prospects.  These trends aren’t just statistics. They translate into households that can’t make end...

With the recent release of portions of Jeffrey Epstein’s “birthday book” the public deserves a full accounting of what the FBI is hiding and why over terabytes of documents, videos, and recording remain withheld by Jay Obernolte and the Trump administration. Jay Obernolte's reluctance to sign the Discharge Petition by Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna is a lesson in cowardice. The release of these files is about justice for the victims, the rule of law, and restoring trust in institutions that are meant to protect the vulnerable. However, Rep. Jay Obernolte continues to side with the pedophiles by protecting the powerful. According to the discharge petition direct the Department of Justice to publicly disclose all records pertaining to the investigation of Jeffery Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.  This would include unclassified records referring or relating to Epstein's detention and death; flight logs of aircraft owned or used by  Epstein ,  individuals named in conn...

  I was listening to a Health Advocacy groups webinar and one of the staff said in Washington there is a lot of anti-California sentiment from the Congressional Republicans and the President. This made sense to me because every time I hear Jay Obernolte talk about California and the laws he passes concerning it why does he have glee in his voice. He was a proud sponsor of  HR 89  to block California's emission standards.  He was a proud co-sponsor of  HR 88  to block California's efforts to combat climate change. I thought conservatives were all for state's rights, but I guess that only applies when Republicans are in charge.  In 2026, we have to send a message to the California Republican delegation that either you stand with California, or you stand with President Trump. Defend California and its laws and institutions are find yourself on the outside looking in. 

President Trump has thrown the gauntlet down by scheming with Texas Republicans to pursue mid-decade redistricting.  California has understood the assignment and know that these times are not the time for strongly worded letters but for action. Modern Republicans only understand one thing and that is power. California Democrats are flexing that power to protect the Republic. Now, California Republicans are crying about it. From the piece in  Politico  about California Redistricting efforts:  “It’s a guillotine,” said Dale Quasny, a party delegate and real-estate broker from suburban Los Angeles County. “We won’t be able to pick up the pieces and move forward. I mean, we were making a little headway, but this would be a catastrophe.” Obedient Obernolte has kept his head down, so our district will pick up more territory in Riverside County and we won't be hit too hard with more conservatives entering our district. This means Dems from CA23 have to hustle harder to lear...