Political Reporter-CBS Los Angeles, Cal/NYU journo alum... I'm a tortured Cal fan... Instagram & TikTok tjwait... tips [email protected] (he/him)
Los Angeles, CA
Joined March 2009
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Tom (T.J.) Wait retweeted
Carter appears poised to deny an emergency motion that would immediately block California officials from counting about 20,000 ballots from voters whose citizenship the administration questions. He seems to want more time to consider.
Tom (T.J.) Wait retweeted
A @CBSLosAngeles voter forum was held in Inglewood tonight and it’s been a long day but I had to show up to see @chels_hylton moderating alongside @jeffnguyen and @CBSLATom
They did a phenomenal job
Head to cbsla.com or @CBSLosAngeles YouTube page
Tom (T.J.) Wait retweeted
Today, Russia expressed its thanks for the lifting of sanctions on diesel exports by dropping five glide bombs on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia. As of now, sadly, twelve people have been confirmed killed, including three children. My condolences to all their families and loved ones. Another fourteen people have been injured, and two of them are in critical condition – the doctors are fighting to save their lives. The status of twelve more people who may have been there is still being verified. All emergency services are at the scene, and search-and-rescue operations are underway. Overnight, thirteen of our regions came under attack. Residential buildings, infrastructure, and railway facilities have been damaged.
Last night confirmed once again that in Russia, they take any easing of pressure to mean they can keep fighting, to mean they can keep dropping bombs on cities. Different signals are needed. Russia must understand that it needs to stop the war, and for that to happen, Russia must feel its losses. Right now, it is our long-range capabilities that are ensuring this. And we will respond to Russian strikes. I thank everyone who is helping.
Tom (T.J.) Wait retweeted
AI transparency shouldn’t depend on a lawsuit.
I spoke with CBS LA’s Tom Wait about independent AI oversight, human alignment, and understanding what data models are trained on.
@CBSLATom @CBSLosAngeles
#AISafety #AIGovernance
Tom (T.J.) Wait retweeted
"We are fighting for survival."
Matt Bell, 52, has been farming for more than half his life in central North Carolina.
He grows soybeans, corn and wheat and raises beef cattle on more than 1,000 acres. But Bell, who voted for President Trump, says soaring prices for fuel, fertilizer and equipment are hurting his farm and leading some of his fellow farmers to consider calling it quits once this growing season ends.
"I do not want any Americans to feel sorry for the American farmer," Bell said. "I want the Americans to be mad that we have been put in this situation."
Tom (T.J.) Wait retweeted
If Kamala Harris runs for President, Gavin Newsom says he won't.
He told Jake Tapper this during an interview that airs Tuesday.
"I know her base of supporters, I know her friends... that is pure crossover. I wouldn't do that."
cnn.com/2026/09/14/politics/…
Tom (T.J.) Wait retweeted
60 Investigates: Brokers are offering felons a path to Trump pardons, but it comes at a steep price with no guarantees. cbsn.ws/4A8uRzP
Tom (T.J.) Wait retweeted
“I kept saying, ‘This feels illegal.’”
60 Minutes asked Ammon Covino, a felon whose pardon request was denied in July, to approach brokers as if he were reapplying for a presidential pardon and let our hidden cameras follow him. Covino says the brokers responded immediately.
What they do is not illegal, but it is new. cbsn.ws/4isBars
Tom (T.J.) Wait retweeted
Remember: the DOJ issued a felony indictment for this.
The contractor that renovated the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has told the Trump administration that errors in its own work and flaws in the repair plan, not vandalism, caused the pool’s new blue liner to peel and break loose, documents show. nyti.ms/4xSMsu7
Tom (T.J.) Wait retweeted
A federal judge on Friday extended her block on the U.S. Postal Service's new requirements for mail voting, as states prepare to begin sending mail ballots to voters for the November midterm elections.
U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued a preliminary injunction barring the agency from enforcing the rules, which were finalized and published late last month, during the midterms.
In her 49-page decision, the judge said the Postal Service's new rules are likely unconstitutional and said states' difficulties with implementing the regulations so close to the November elections "nearly guarantee[s] significant disenfranchisement for eligible voters."
Tom (T.J.) Wait retweeted
President Trump's investment accounts made 3,642 transactions between Jan. 6 and March 30, a pace of about 63 per trading day, according to a financial disclosure form filed in May,.
The president traded between $212 million and $695 million in stocks and other securities over the first three months of the year — an unprecedented sum for a sitting president – and the sheer volume of the trades, and the timing of certain transactions, has prompted accusations of insider trading and conflicts of interest from Democrats and ethics experts.
CBS News extracted and analyzed the data to compile an interactive dashboard below, that is available in the linked article. @jolingkent
Tom (T.J.) Wait retweeted
OK, one last one...
If you're on this SKID ROW VOTING train... and believe this conspiracy, here are the numbers
LA Mission on Skid Row: 42 registered voters
Turnout: 6 voted
So, if the @nithyavraman campaign was turning out homeless on skid row, they really sucked at it.
On this theme... if you think that some unnatural surge of voters in LA is a sign of fraud, then you have to balance that with the fact that turnout in LA City wasn't actually dissimilar from the county as a whole, or cities outside of LA within LA County.
In City of LA, only 2.7% of voters were first-time voters, that was 2% in LA County outside of LA, and they didn't have a big marquee race like LA Mayor.
First ever Primary voters was high - 23.7%, but that's super-close to the 21.5% for areas outside of LA City.
First time Gov Primary voters was higher - 34%, but that's within one point of the 33% for LA County areas outside of LA City.
Tom (T.J.) Wait retweeted
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Steve Hilton advances to the general election for governor in California. #APRaceCall at 7:43 p.m. EDT. apnews.com/projects/election…
Tom (T.J.) Wait retweeted
This #LAMayor implosion of @spencerpratt’s numbers is incredible. But, it’s also what my gut was on election night.
And, like @rpyers I bring receipts…. From the very moment first results came in with @Elex_Michaelson on @CNNTheStoryIs
Tom (T.J.) Wait retweeted
The California governor’s race remains too close to call, with Tom Steyer making slight progress from third place in the latest batch of primary election results: cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/…
Tom (T.J.) Wait retweeted
With Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass advancing to the November election, her opponents, Councilmember Nithya Raman and political newcomer Spencer Pratt, are still vying for a final spot: cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/…
Tom (T.J.) Wait retweeted
How does signature verification work in L.A. County?
First, ballots are quickly scanned by a computer that matches the signature with signatures that are on file.
If the computer recognizes a signature, then the ballot moves on to be counted.
If it doesn’t, the ballot is then closely scrutinized by a human being who determines if it matches.
If they determine it doesn’t, that voter is contacted by the county and has 10 days to show up and “cure” their ballot.
If they don’t, the ballot isn’t counted.
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Tom (T.J.) Wait retweeted
Many voters choose to return their Vote by Mail ballot on Election Day. Those ballots are valid and deserve the same level of care, security, and verification as every other ballot cast in the election.
Taking the time for work ensures every eligible vote is counted accurately.
Tom (T.J.) Wait retweeted
This poll is already in the TWINS model. Yes, a little whiplash after months of fears of a Dem lockout, to now see two Dems on top and possible Rep lockout.
Most extreme take, using @BerkeleyIGS and @EmersonPolling gives only 7.6% chance of DvD runoff.
toptwoca.com
NEW: CALIFORNIA POLL with @CaliforniaICP
2026 Gubernatorial Primary
Xavier Becerra (D) 28%
Tom Steyer (D) 22%
Steve Hilton (R) 21%
Chad Bianco (R) 12%
Katie Porter (D) 5%
Matt Mahan (D) 5%
Antonio Villaraigosa (D) 2%
5% undecided
emersoncollegepolling.com/ca…
Tom (T.J.) Wait retweeted
🚨🚨FINAL POLL CALIFORNIA
Xavier Becerra pushes higher 28%
Steyer 22%
Hilton 21%
Porter and Mahan tied at 5%
NEW: CALIFORNIA POLL with @CaliforniaICP
2026 Gubernatorial Primary
Xavier Becerra (D) 28%
Tom Steyer (D) 22%
Steve Hilton (R) 21%
Chad Bianco (R) 12%
Katie Porter (D) 5%
Matt Mahan (D) 5%
Antonio Villaraigosa (D) 2%
5% undecided
emersoncollegepolling.com/ca…