Benjamin Radford—esteemed writer and research fellow in skeptical inquiry—also has a degree in psychology. Below, he analyzes mental shortcuts that, we think, might explain why SJ Council voted “yes” on unpopular Prop 5: tribalism, the representativeness fallacy, and more. An Opp Now exclusive.

You can’t make this up: on 2.25, a planned debate between a Berkeley prof and Harvard’s president—in a class called “Democracy and Disagreement,” no less—was derailed by jeering protestors. In response, First Amendment expert Daniel Ortner calls for a thorough independent investigation of Stanford admin. From Substack.

Fans of microunits (as small as 140 sq ft apartments) claim that housing affordability could be substantially improved if cities let smaller units be built. LA's Central City Association examines the barriers and the advantages.

Prop 5 lost handily statewide and countywide, but the tax-happy SJ Council continues to lobby (unanimous vote on 1.14) to make it easier to raise taxes. Local business groups, including Silicon Valley Business Alliance, Santa Clara County Realtors Ass'n, and Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility, among others, voiced their displeasure in an email to Mayor Mahan and Councilmembers, below.

We'll always remember where we finished reading The Crying of Lot 49, or where we first started The Hobbit. In this weekend's exclusive, Opp Now readers—all submissions anonymized, below—share their favorite places in SJ to enjoy a good book. (City staff and pols, take note!)

They say daylight is the greatest disinfectant. Tax expert Jon Coupal suggests that DOGE's tallying of the economic illiteracy of CA's High-Speed Rail boondoggle will sunset the misbegotten project.

Brendan McCord—past research affiliate with Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI, and successful tech CEO—discusses economist Hayek's idea that the marketplace elegantly assembles human knowledge to make more efficient, developed, and truthful civilizations. From the University of Austin.

21st century academics have flattened the discipline of literature to a "mere political vehicle" for ideology, says Liza Libes in Pens and Poison blog. And this narrow-minded view of text as "battleground for social justice"—but not art—is robbing today's students of universal lessons, complexities, and beauty.

In this Opp Now exclusive on the recent Los Angeles wildfires, political analyst Denise P. Kalm argues that we need solid answers—and major changes—on California's fire management practices to avert future disasters.

The City of San Jose's feedback system has been long criticized as limited, unproductive, and performative. But our friend to the north, Santa Rosa, used an in-depth online survey and series of meetings last year for input on homelessness/affordable housing. The city explains, here, how they're applying residents' feedback to Santa Rosa's communication and strategic plan.

At the peak of SF's hotel shelter program, more than 400 homeless people lived in the eight-story Hotel Whitcomb. Sources said the period was marked by chaos, rampage, overdoses, and property destruction. The SF Standard reports.