Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Snoop Dogg Has Officially Become California's Moral Compass
(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
()
Thanks to a favor from Arnold Schwarzenegger, the son of notoriously corrupt former California state Assembly Fabian Nuñez was released from prison Sunday after serving only six years on a manslaughter sentence, and an unlikely advocate for justice has emerged: Snoop Dogg.In a series of Instagram videos shared yesterday with his 9.7 million followers, Snoop Dogg condemned Schwarzenegger's decision, denounced the state of American politics ("Man, you motherf***ers really got the game f***ed up.") and demanded to know why Schwarzenegger would commute a friend's sentence while refusing to stay the execution of former gang leader turned peace activist Stanley "Tookie" Williams ("How the f*** you gonna let this n***** out of jail but you gonna kill Tookie Williams? You are one motherf***ng racist piece of s***"). Snoop Dogg also repeatedly called Schwarzenegger "a punky dogg-head b*tch."
Longtime Schwarzenegger ally Fabian Nuñez's son Esteban Nuñez entered prison in June 2010 to serve a 16-year sentence for the stabbing death of college student Luis Santos. On his last day in office, then-governer Schwarzenegger drastically reduced the younger Nuñez's sentenceamidst public outrage, more than halving it to a mere seven years. The Santos family filed suit to overturn Schwarzenegger's commutation but were rebuffed by a Sacramento judge, who characterized Schwarzenegger's decision as "repugnant," but unfortunately still legally within his executive powers as governor. Schwarzenegger told Newsweek in 2011 that although his office erred in not notifying the victim's parents, he still felt "good" about the decision. "I mean, of course you help a friend," he said.
Schwarzenegger's misguided Newsweek interview, and more specifically that "friend" comment, brought anger over Nuñez's commutation to something of a boiling point in 2011, deepening what the L.A. Times called "widespread outrage over the commutation," which was "reflected in editorials and denunciations by Republicans and Democrats alike."
Support for LAist comes from
Despite being profanity-laden, nothing Snoop Dogg said appears to have been technically incorrect. One could even argue that he's done the state a great service: angry editorials from politicos can certainly help shape the political narrative around a miscarriage of justice, but nothing brings headlines like a Snoop video.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs. -
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
Best of LAist