In February, Chelsea Goss, a polarizing anti-Trump influencer, showed up at the San Diego headquarters of far-right network One America News Network.
As she filmed herself, she castigated the network for hiring onetime-Congressmember Matt Gaetz. A congressional investigation found “substantial evidence” Gaetz had paid a minor for sex.
It was the second time she’d showed up to the network’s headquarters and in response, OANN President Charles Herring has petitioned a court for a permanent restraining order with some unique elements: specifically that Goss not be allowed to post about any employees of OANN and delete the posts she’d already made.
Goss and her lawyers have now slapped back with an ANTI-SLAPP case arguing that Herring’s petition represents an attempt to curtail the social media star’s freedom of speech.
“One America News Network tried to use their endless deep pockets to silence a person like me,” Goss said. “That’s what this case is really about, that a large corporation is trying to make me stay silent about the fact that they hired a pedophile because it makes them look bad. Well, it does make you look bad. You hired a pedophile.”
Republican Supe Wants to Make Secret Meetings Public
Two-person committees of San Diego County supervisors have been meeting behind closed doors for months to hash out potential tactics to respond to expected federal cuts and the Tijuana sewage crisis, among other topics.
Tensions over the secret nature of these meetings increased last year as one of the committees sought consultants to help pave the way for potential tax hikes.
Tomorrow, Supervisor Joel Anderson will ask his board colleagues to back his proposal to move those secret subcommittees out into the open.
You might be wondering: How are secret meetings allowed? Our Lisa Halverstadt had some questions, too.
The county said the committees’ advisory nature means they aren’t subject to the state’s open meetings law. But an attorney with the First Amendment Coalition argued the focuses of those subcommittees suggest they should comply with the Brown Act.
San Diego Water Kings
On tap in this week’s Politics Report: San Diego is officially in the water selling business. Officials reached a deal to sell water to Riverside County and it’s sort of a big deal.
The District 2 San Diego City Council race is one we will be watching closely. Our Politics Report writers attended a forum and came away with some interesting findings about the candidates and the case they will make to voters.
Also: The La Jollans who want to separate from the city of San Diego have a new ally.
Read the Politics Report here. Note: The Politics Report is available to Voice of San Diego members only.
Soapy Joe’s Abandons Plan to Expand to Barrio Logan
On Friday, a Caltrans spokesperson confirmed that a car wash company had ditched its plan to purchase a property the city incorrectly zoned for commercial use.
Last week our city hall reporter, Mariana Martínez Barba, revealed that San Diego city planners mistakenly left Chicano Park and another property in Barrio Logan zoned for commercial use despite a community plan that designated those sites as parks.
One community member told Martínez Barba they found out about the zoning errors when they heard Soapy Joe’s, the car wash company, purchased it. The City Council rushed to correct the errors last week, and now the deal is off.
The Boston Avenue site does have a new owner though. Caltrans handed over the property to the city of San Diego, which plans to move forward with plans to break ground on a park in 2029.
Sacramento Report: The Push to Rename Cesar Chavez Day
Lawmakers said they will fast-track legislation to rename Cesar Chavez Day following the sexual abuse allegations against the labor activist. Our Nadia Lathan reports that the legislature will work with local governments and school districts to help adopt the change.
City leaders across the state, including San Diego, are pledging to change street, park, and library names but the process will likely be slow – and costly.
Read the Sacramento Report Here.
VOSD Podcast: The Hardest Conversations for SDPD Chief
It has been nearly two years since Scott Wahl became San Diego top cop.
Our hosts Scott Lewis and Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña sat down with Wahl to discuss what the department’s role when it comes to federal immigration enforcement. They also talked about surveillance technology and the changes he’s implemented to reduce overtime.
Celebrate Women’s History Month
Join us this Thursday, March 26, for our annual Women Leading the Conversation. Mix, mingle and hear from a powerful lineup of women who are Building the Finest City. Get your tickets now before we sell out at vosd.org/wltc2026.
In Other News
- Cup of Chisme: Read our editor’s guide to Voice of San Diego stories you don’t want to miss. Also, a special dispatch from reporter Lisa Halverstadt. Get the chisme here.
- A federal judge declined a request by county attorneys to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the mother of 29-year-old Abdul Kamara, who died hours after being put in a restraint device. (Union-Tribune)
- Gas is getting more expensive. San Diegans already pay some of the highest gas prices in the nation, and costs have continued to climb since the conflict in the Middle East began. (KPBS)
- The county’s plan to open a tiny home shelter in Lemon Grove advanced Friday after a state commission approved the sale of Caltrans property to the county. (Union-Tribune)
- Spring breakers busted! As crowds begin to fill San Diego’s beaches police are increasing patrols and handing out tickets to enforce alcohol and safety laws. (Fox 5 San Diego)
- More beach news: Del Mar’s ordinance banning “hazardous holes” goes into effect this week. City officials are banning holes deeper than two feet citing tripping hazards. (KPBS)
The Morning Report was written by Jakob McWhinney, Lisa Halverstadt, Mariana Martínez Barba and Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña. It was edited by Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña.