| This is a press release dated September 3, 2026 Earlier this week, Attorney General Aaron Ford went on Pod Save America and spoke with Tommy Vietor about how as Governor he will fight for the entirety of the Nevada family, crack down on data centers, keep pushing Big Tech companies to enact protections that keep children safe online, and end the cost-of-living crisis created by Joe Lombardo and Donald Trump. Ford also responded to Lombardo saying he can’t control affordability, blaming high unemployment on Nevadans being lazy, invoking his name to try and dodge a traffic ticket, gushing that he’s “wholeheartedly in support of data centers,” and saying Nevadans need to “feel a little pain” over Trump’s tariffs. Ford highlighted how despite Lombardo spending $37 million derived from his big money and data center donors, Ford and Lombardo are statistically tied in the race for Nevada Governor. As we head towards November, the Nevada Governor’s race will be one of the most hotly contested and closest midterm races in America, serving as a referendum on Trump’s cost-raising agenda. WATCH HERE: Attorney Aaron Ford on Pod Save America HIGHLIGHTS: On Lombardo claiming he can’t control affordability and saying anyone who says they can is full of BS: What I think is BS is that he vetoed a bill that would have put $1,000 back in parents’ pockets per child, per year – when he vetoed a bill for guaranteed school lunch for our children. What’s BS is when he vetoed a bill that would have limited the amount you could pay for prescription drugs, putting money back in people’s pockets. You see, these are the types of things that he could have done that we could be experiencing relief from right now. This affordability crisis wouldn’t be as dire right now if he had aligned himself with the people of the state, as opposed to the corporations that are bankrolling his campaign.I was talking to a young lady in Minden, Nevada. And she was telling me she was grocery shopping and she had a basket full of groceries, went over to the pharmacy to pick up her prescription, looked at the price and prescription, and left her groceries in the aisle because she couldn’t afford both. You see, that bill [Lombardo] vetoed – that would have limited prescription drug costs – could have helped her. On Lombardo collaborating with ICE and how he will stand up to Trump’s rogue agency: Our governor has committed the human resource of our National Guard members to help ICE do their job. And what I have heard, and what I have said, is that people want our state resources – whether they are human, financial, or otherwise – to be spent on state stuff, period. They want us spending our money and our time and our resources on education, on mental health issues, on infrastructure, on things that are helping Nevadans and not doing the job of someone else. When I’m governor, we’re going to spend our state resources on state stuff, not doing someone else’s job. On suing Big Tech companies including Meta to win first-of-their-kind online child safety protections: Now we’re going to get opportunities for children to have better mental health outcomes, parents to have more control. [Children] won’t be able to get notifications during school hours anymore. They’re going to limit their ability to be on these apps from midnight to six. They got rid of the filters that were causing so many self-image issues. And so parents have a lot more control. We get to protect our children and I’m very proud of that.[In response to Tommy mentioning Congress’s gridlock on this issue] I’m not one to sit back and wait for somebody else to do something. If I have to protect my family – and I consider the state of Nevada my family – then I’m going to do it. I’m not waiting for others. On cracking down on data centers and ending Joe Lombardo’s gravy train: And what I have found, having spoken to Nevadans across two statewide tours in the last ten months or so, is that it doesn’t matter who I’m talking to – Democrats, Republicans or Independents – everybody has a problem with these data centers coming in, taking up our energy, driving up our energy prices and draining our water. And they want us to do something. I am going to halt every single future abatement on data centers until we can actually go back and do something that this current governor has not done – audit the compliance with the terms and agreements in the first place.I’ve said they’re not going to be able to raise consumer rates by one penny. They’re going to have to use clean energy, their own clean energy to power their facilities and build out the grid to accommodate that. And not only that, listen to local input before things are done. If a local community doesn’t want these data centers, it shouldn’t be forced on them. And it seems to me that we currently have a governor who doesn’t really care about local input – in fact has described this data center issue as a gold rush for Nevada. And what I noticed, Tommy, is the only gold rushing right now is from the big data center folks to his pockets.Lombardo aligned himself with Trump in advocating for data centers, saying that he’s wholeheartedly in support of them. See, I’m wholeheartedly in support of Nevadans – and that’s why I’m being responsive to what I’ve heard across every demographic, that we need to address these. Trump is wrong for ignoring the will of the people, Lombardo is wrong for doing the same, and I’m going to be a governor who listens. On the impact of Trump’s Canadian tariffs in Nevada: The fact of the matter is, we are living in the Lombardo-Trump economy. Joe Lombardo has advocated for [Trump’s] tariffs, essentially saying that we need to feel a little pain from them. And I say we don’t need to feel pain. We need some leadership.We do rely upon tourism. Canadian, Mexican, Chinese, those tourists have stopped coming, right. And at the end of the day, it has negatively impacted businesses and employment all across our state, you know, so I sued over those tariffs.Our governor said that my lawsuit was unfortunate. All my lawsuits against the Trump administration – the ones that I keep winning by upwards of 85 to 90%, by the way – he calls unfortunate. Again, it’s because he’s kowtow, kissed up and capitulated to Donald Trump. Lying Lombardo is what they call him. On how his background enables him to relate to Nevadans struggling with costs: I think about this from a personal perspective, though, Tommy – I grew up eating stale candy bars for dinner. You know, my daddy used to work at a grocery store, and he found some stale candy bars at the dumpster behind the grocery store where he worked. Safeway was throwing these candies away because they were stale and they couldn’t sell them. But the Fords gotta eat – so my dad brought home these stale candy bars. And I keep a candy bar from that era on my desk, at home, on my nightstand, on my desk at work as a visual reminder every single day of what struggle looks like.I can empathize with people who are saying that they’re having a tough time surviving, let alone trying to thrive right now. I went from eating stale candy bars, Tommy, to becoming a single dad when I was in college, living on Section 8 housing, living on food stamps. They called it SNAP now – they got a fancy card. I had the fake money you had to tear out the little book. I was on food stamps. I was on Medicaid. That’s what kept my son and me healthy. And so I have a very real understanding of what poverty and struggle looks like. And that’s why I fight every single day to ensure that everyone has the ability to to survive in our state. On fighting to regulate online prediction markets like Kalshi and protect Nevada’s industries: Donald Trump Jr. doesn’t scare me. No one scares me when it comes to protecting Nevadans, which is the reason why I have actually led the fight against these prediction markets.I know personally of young boys who are under the age of 21, who have engaged in gambling and sports betting using these apps – and they have spent up their college loans, you understand. They are some of the victims that we’re trying to protect. On Lombardo using his name to get out of a traffic ticket: People can watch this for themselves, right – they can make their own judgment. And I think most folks I speak to – 99.9% of folks – recognize that Joe Lombardo dropped his name in order to try to avoid a consequence, right? Lombardo intimidated [the cop], of course, and utilized his name to do that. And look, that’s what we saw on camera. Imagine how this man acts when no one’s actually being able to gauge how he’s interacting with other folks, right?We can’t trust him. He already thinks that he’s above everybody, as you can tell by the way he interacts with [the cop]. We also know how he feels about Nevadans, generally speaking. We’ve had one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation under his entire three year, eight month tenure – we’ve had the highest or one of the highest unemployment rates his entire tenure. It’s higher now than when he took office. But he has a theory for that. He says it’s because people are lazy and they don’t want to work. And they’d rather depend upon the government instead of taking a job that’s available to them. That’s what he says. That’s how he thinks about the people who he supposedly represents.And so him abusing his authority is yet another example of him just thinking he’s better, different, set apart, and not representing the working class members of our state, instead aligning himself with his billionaire friends. On how he’s winning this race despite Lombardo’s billionaire donors: Look, this race was always going to be about the money versus the many.Rich people [are] dropping in [for Lombardo]. You know, people who own data centers, right? People who donated Flock cameras. These are people who are supporting him as he unfurls $17 million of negative ads against me – which, by the way, haven’t really moved the needle. We are in a tie ballgame right now. We’re going to win because we have the many on our side. |
| ### https://www.fordfornevada.com/news/watch-ford-goes-on-pod-save-america-to-talk-about-how-hell-fight-for-nevadans?source=918024c8-3201-4d86-b306-046db145c4a3 |
Author: Elaine Hurd
Simple Explanation on Economy
Chuck Todd posted a podcast video this morning that goes through the basics of the economy and the negative impact of Trump’s policies.
While the episode focuses on the beef industry, Todd further explains new data which shows how corporations are financially benefitting while workers are being left behind. Historically so.
The anger over economic inequality is growing and Todd says that the affordability problem is going to get worse.
This is worth 20 minutes of your time. Let Chuck Todd explain it all to you.
LIVE: Now, Hearing in Las Vegas
The Oversight Dems are holding a Congressional Field Hearing on affordability in Las Vegas.
Jim Acosta is broadcasting it LIVE right now. Here is the link:
Aaron Ford Announces Plan To Pause Tax Breaks For Data Centers
This is a press release dated August 19, 2026
Ford’s agenda stands in contrast to Joe Lombardo’s negligence around data centers, which he says he is “wholeheartedly in support of”
Today, Attorney General Aaron Ford announced that as Governor, he will stop tax abatements for data centers until they prove in an audit conducted by Ford’s GOED that they are making good on their commitments to Nevada. The plan is part of Ford’s newly-released data center accountability agenda, which centers around stopping data centers from raising Nevadans’ electricity bills and other utility costs and protecting Nevadans and our resources.
“When I’m Governor, Joe Lombardo’s gravy train for data centers is coming to an end. I’m going to implement some of the strictest rules in America: data centers will need to bring their own water or coolant, pay for their own electricity so ratepayers’ bills don’t go up, and actually deliver the sustainable high-paying jobs and tax revenue they’ve promised.” said Attorney General Aaron Ford. “Joe Lombardo says he’s ‘wholeheartedly in support of data centers.’ I, on the other hand, will be a Governor who is wholeheartedly supportive of Nevadans – and that means making data centers pay up.”
Joe Lombardo has been the #1 cheerleader in Nevada for data centers instead of looking out for Nevadans’ interest. Under Lombardo, over 70 data centers have come into Nevada, with little to no actual proof they’ve delivered on creating tax revenue, sustainable jobs, or economic investment. Lombardo has given data centers $200 million in Nevadans’ tax dollars while failing to verify any benefits to Nevadans. Not only that – Lombardo has taken close to $2 million dollars in campaign contributions from the data center companies seeking to send Nevadans’ costs soaring. Despite the outrage Nevadans have voiced over the data center buildout, Lombardo holds up the current status quo as a “model”.
“Data centers should be giving us good union jobs that hire Nevadans, but we need standards and oversight to make that happen,” said Jacob Haas, Business Manager at IBEW Local 401. “Attorney General Ford has always been a partner to working people, and we know that he’s the leader who will ensure that data centers pay their fair share while building up our economy.”
Attorney General Ford is launching his data center agenda after having completed his second statewide tour of Nevada, where he engaged with communities in every corner of the state about their fears around data centers and what they need from their next Governor. In communities including Reno, Mesquite, Elko, Boulder City, Douglas, Carson City and Pahrump, Nevadans shared their concerns about data centers raising their electricity bills, draining their energy and fresh water supply, and failing to create the good jobs that were promised. Ford’s data center agenda, which is built around the concerns he heard about from Nevadans, also stipulates that he will make the data center companies bring their own water, pay for their own electricity, create sustainable, high-road jobs, hire local, and work with unions and communities to ensure that working people are in the driver’s seat, not getting left behind.
“I support Attorney General Ford’s plan to pause tax abatements for data centers and to create statewide bans on evaporative cooling,” said Washoe County Commissioner Alexis Hill. “Gov. Lombardo is handing over our state’s precious water and energy resources to his biggest donors. Nevadans must come together to vote for Ford and other Democrats who will guarantee transparency and center local community needs.”
WATCH: Ford Launches First TV Ad of Cycle Focused on Lombardo-Trump Cost-of-Living Crisis
This is a press release issued July 28, 2026
As costs hit record highs in Nevada, Attorney General Ford’s campaign released its first TV ad of the 2026 cycle, “Enough,” focused on the cost of living crisis created by Joe Lombardo and Donald Trump. The ad touts Ford’s relentless focus on lowering costs and creating opportunity for hardworking Nevadans, as well as his record of taking on big drug companies and putting criminals behind bars.
Under the Lombardo-Trump economy, groceries, gas, and housing costs have all risen for working families, while the same billionaires who are jacking up Nevadans’ prices are bankrolling Lombardo’s campaign and get richer as a reward. In contrast, Ford will lower costs on day one – proposing policies to make things cost less and create good-paying jobs. Ford’s agenda will lower housing costs, make health care affordable, deliver clean, affordable energy, and more.
The ad will air on broadcast in the Reno market starting today and Las Vegas starting next week.
Transcript:
GENERAL FORD: Before I sued big utility and drug companies to lower costs.
FORD: Before I locked up violent criminals to protect Nevadans.
FORD: I taught middle school math.
FORD: So I know the Lombardo-Trump economy doesn’t add up.
FORD: We’re the 4th most expensive state for homeowners.
FORD: Some of the highest unemployment in the nation.
FORD: And nearly last in education.
FORD: I’m Aaron Ford and I say enough.
FORD: You deserve a fighter who’ll lower costs, raise wages, create opportunity.
FORD: As Governor, I’ll move Nevada Forward.
###
Cortez Masto Secures Commitment from Trump Administration to Support Her Legislation to Boost Tourism Between United States, Mexico, and Canada
This is a press release issued on July 22, 2026
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) questioned U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer at a Senate Finance Committee hearing about how the Trump Administration’s policies are harming travel and tourism across the country. She also secured a commitment from him to support her bipartisan USMCA Travel and Tourism Resiliency Act to establish a Travel and Tourism Trade Working Group as part of the Joint Review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
“Last year, for the first time in decades, the U.S. experienced a trade deficit in our largest service export, and that is tourism. After running a trade surplus in travel in 2024, we actually experienced a $14 billion trade deficit in 2025….We have seen that across the country,” began Senator Cortez Masto. Ambassador Greer responded with a promise to work with Cortez Masto on tourism promotion.
Cortez Masto then asked: “Senator Moran and I have introduced legislation to create a travel and tourism working group in the USMCA. Would you commit to support that?”
Ambassador Greer responded: “I will, yes. 100%. Yes.”
The Senator also pressed Ambassador Greer to ensure that the findings of the Administration’s Section 232 investigation into imports of aircraft and aircraft parts, which is chilling investment and threatening jobs, are made public. She concluded by pushing for more transparency around the Administration’s policies surrounding the export and import of critical minerals.
Senator Cortez Masto is a fierce advocate for Nevada’s travel and tourism economy. She has repeatedly raised concerns about the Trump Administration’s policies that are driving down tourism and demanded that the administration deliver a plan to reverse the harm they’ve caused. She has also supported legislation to reverse funding cuts to the effective Brand USA travel promotion public-private partnership program. Ahead of the July 2026 review of the USMCA, the Senator urged Trade Representative Greer to strengthen the trade agreement while encouraging collaboration on travel and tourism – a commitment she secured today. She recently held a press conference with Las Vegas business owners reliant on the travel industry who have been harmed by the Trump Administration’s detrimental policies.
###
Interview: Pete Buttigieg
I am posting comprehensive interviews with leaders of our party. These are in no particular order, but are posted as they become available. It is important that we familiarize ourselves with those who are likely to run for president in 2028.
If you missed the interview with Governor Gavin Newsome, you can access it HERE.
If you missed the interview with Governor J.B. Pritzker, you can access it HERE.
If you missed the interview with Governor Josh Shapiro, you can access it HERE.
Here is a long interview that Pete Buttigieg did with Tim Miller of The Bulwark that was published yesterday.
Cortez Masto, Rosen Announce Nearly $30 Million for Airports Across Nevada
This is a press release dated July 9, 2026.
Please note Mesquite Airport is included in this funding.
Las Vegas, Nev. – Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) announced a $29,974,140 investment into Nevada’s airports from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), ensuring that these twelve airports will continue to serve communities throughout the Silver State. This funding will be used for pavement and utility upgrades, runway and taxiway modernizations, improvements to weather observation systems, and hangar updates.
“Nevada’s airports are the gateway to our state – for visitors, for emergency services, and for Nevadans traveling throughout the Silver State and across America,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “It’s critical that all the airports across Nevada continue to have world-class facilities and infrastructure. Nevada’s Congressional delegation will never stop fighting to deliver for our state’s aviation infrastructure.”
“Nevada’s airports see millions of travelers every year, domestic and international, who come to our state and contribute to Nevada’s economy,” said Senator Rosen. “This funding will help keep the infrastructure of our airports up to date, allowing them to keep up with Nevada’s demands as a top travel destination. I’ll continue supporting our state’s tourism and travel economy at the federal level.”
The Senators helped secure the following grants for twelve airports across the state:
- $13,695,039 for Reno-Tahoe International Airport to reconstruct the existing airport terminal, including upgrades to pavement and utilities that have reached the end of their useful lives.
- $5,094,412 for Reno-Stead Airport to reconstruct 24,800 square yards of the existing main apron pavement that has reached the end of its useful life. An airport apron is the area of an airport in which aircraft are parked, unloaded or loaded, refueled, boarded, or maintained.
- $3,564,630 for Harry Reid International Airport to rehabilitate pavement across its airport apron and plan for future improvements.
- $2,947,000 for Austin Airport to realign, rehabilitate, and reconstruct the airport’s taxiways, modernizing the airport and bringing them up to modern standards. The airport will also acquire and install a new automated weather observing system to gather more accurate local weather information.
- $1,667,000 for Tonopah Airport to reconstruct 21,000 square yards of the existing aircraft apron pavement that has reached the end of its useful life.
- $1,092,652 for Fallon Municipal Airport to construct a new 300-foot taxi-lane to provide airfield access to the site of future airport hangars, as well as update existing taxiways.
- $769,028 for Mesquite Airport to reconstruct 25,000 square yards of the existing aircraft apron pavement that has reached the end of its useful life. The airport will also reconstruct a gravel road used by airport vehicles, FAA vehicles, and ground service equipment.
- $387,448 for Silver Springs Airport to acquire and install a new automated weather observing system to gather more accurate local weather information.
- $282,000 for Minden-Tahoe Airport to rehabilitate taxi-lanes that have reached the end of their useful lives.
- $187,500 for Carson City Airport to reconstruct the pavement on airport taxiways to extend their useful lives.
- $160,901 for Lincoln County Airport to construct a new 1,500 square foot building to house snow removal equipment.
- $126,530 for Wells Municipal Airport Harriet Field to construct a new 200-foot taxi-lane to provide airfield access to the site of future airport hangars.
Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen have consistently fought to ensure Nevada’s transportation infrastructure has the funding it needs through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, FAA reauthorizations legislation, and annual budget bills. The Senators recently secured $33,746,000 from the FAA for airports throughout Nevada, including $20 million for the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. These investments help support the Silver State’s vital manufacturing and hospitality sectors while ensuring that Nevadans have the safe and efficient transportation network they require.
###
Cortez Masto Secures Over $6 Million in Funding for Affordable Housing in Nevada
This is a press release issued on July 7, 2026
Note: A housing project in Mesquite is included in this funding.
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) applauded news that that the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) of San Francisco has awarded $6.2 million in funding to help build affordable housing units throughout Nevada. Senator Cortez Masto has consistently encouraged the FHLBank of San Francisco to invest in housing for Nevadans, and she is proud to have secured these Affordable Housing Program Nevada Targeted Fund grants to create or preserve 218 housing units across six projects.
“Every family in Nevada deserves to have a safe, affordable place to call home. This critical funding gets us one step closer to achieving that goal,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I look forward continuing to work with Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco to invest in communities throughout the Silver State.”
“We are proud to support projects that strengthen communities and increase access to stable, affordable housing throughout Nevada,” said Tom Dapice, community investment officer at FHLBank San Francisco. “Through our collaboration with Senator Cortez Masto, our member financial institutions, and affordable housing developers across the state, these grants will help create and preserve affordable homes for Nevada families, seniors, and other residents who need them most.”
Recently, the FHLBank of San Francisco has been making historic investments in affordable housing throughout Nevada. This year, the FHLBank invested 20 percent of its income in affordable housing and other voluntary programs, double the required 10 percent. In addition to these six grants, the FHLBank also invested $27 million in Nevada Housing Division bonds so far this year. It has also provided Nevadans more than five million dollars in grants for downpayment assistance and Tribal investments. Senator Cortez Masto will continue to collaborate with her partners at the FHLBank and its members and stakeholders to increase the supply of homes available to working Nevadans.
More detailed information about the projects receiving the FHLBank funding can be found here and here.
For years, Senator Cortez Masto has encouraged the nation’s 11 FHLBanks use their resources to invest in housing and community development. Following her push, banks, credit unions, state housing finance agencies, community development financial institutions (CDFIs), and other similar organizations have sought more opportunities to benefit from this government-sponsored enterprise. Thanks to Cortez Masto’s efforts, the FHLBanks have invested more than 90 million dollars in affordable housing in Nevada. Cortez Masto has also introduced legislation to enable CDFIs and credit unions to finance more community development investments.
###
Heather Explains It All To You
Opinion
I have often advised others that if you have time to listen to one podcast, it should be historian Heather Cox Richardson.
Yesterday, she pointed out a pet peeve of hers, which is a pet peeve of mine. It is the way in which we define, re-define, amplify, identify, criticize and otherwise inaccurately use words such as communist, socialist, progressive, democratic socialist, liberal, fascism and the like. She zeroed in on the mis-use of these terms.
Policies promoted by self identified democratic socialists are those which were enacted by our presidents since World War II, including Republican presidents. They are called The New Deal and The Great Society, which the radical right has been effective in destroying since the presidency of Ronald Reagan.
President Joe Biden passed more progressive legislation than any president since Lyndon Johnson, which was passed in Congress by leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer.
Yet, the American people rejected that progress, which breaks all of our hearts.
Democrats who worked to pass health care legislation, for example, include Ted Kennedy (who worked with Richard Nixon) Bill and Hillary Clinton, and of course, Barack Obama who did get the Affordable Care Act passed (with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid), but lost 60 seats in Congress over the backlash. And yet passing health care legislation is called “socialist” and the so-called “left” side of the Democratic Party claim to be the ones “for the people” on this and other issues, and those who don’t call themselves “socialist” are not.
This is not socialism — which is what Heather Cox Richardson will explain to you.
I refuse to fall into the trap of being labeled anything — and have often said to others, I’m fine with leftist, progressive New Deal, Great Society policies — quit attacking me or labeling me as something I am not, just because I won’t identify with a “label” such as “socialist.”
The media is creating a false narrative that the Democrats on the left and in the center are at war with each other. We cannot fall into the trap of that narrative because it isn’t true.
We all want to improve the lives of the American people through our government and we are opposed to the radical right oligarchy authoritarian policies of this regime.
Do not let them divide and conquer us. Listen to Heather Cox Richardson. She will explain it all to you.