PhotosHigh-stakes steakhouseOn October 14 of last year — fewer than three weeks after Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom signed California Senate Bill 359 on September 28, allowing the state’s casino owning Native American tribes to sue …
February 12, 2025
Matt Potter has been a staff writer and editor at the San Diego Reader since 1989. He reports on politics and local institutions such as the Union-Tribune, UCSD, SDSU, and the City and County of San Diego.
He is the author of the weekly Under the Radar column.
Besides breaking the Cheetahs corruption story a year before the FBI raided the offices of the San Diego city council, he has written extensively on governance, medical ethics, and human experimentation issues at the University of California San Diego.
Some notable Potter stories:
June 1, 1989:The Egg Women (Mayor O'Connor, Joan Kroc, Helen Copley, and the Faberge eggs)
April, 25, 1991 Mayor Moves to Create Death Valley-like Wasteland in Point Loma (O'Connor house landscaping)
June 20, 1991: A Son by Any Other Name (Helen Copley's adoption of son David revealed)
Aug. 8, 1996: Welcome, GOP Delegates to San Diego, City of Shame
May 22, 1997: La Jolla Gentlemen and the Party Boy (secrets of Andrew Cunanan, gay serial killer)
Oct. 25, 2001: Did Bin Laden's Brother Lead a Secret Life in San Diego?
Nov. 29, 2001: Did Casey Gwinn Try to Get Don Bauder Fired? (City Attorney vs. tough reporter)
July 31, 2003: Fun with Ralph (Inzunza's eating companions at Dobson's)
Articles by Matt Potter
Newsom greases skids for Indian casinos
The other side of the San Diego-Reagan airport story
Gate crashersWhen San Diego airport officials announced a new non-stop flight to Washington D.C.’s Reagan National Airport last month, the San Diego Union-Tribune greeted the news with a puffy write-up. “The new, highly coveted nonstop …
February 5, 2025
Bleak future for rhino sperm at SD Zoo
Rhino-cideThe San Diego Zoo made headlines last spring with news that its so-called frozen zoo might be used to clone members of a critically endangered rhinoceros species. “In 2018, the last male northern white rhino …
January 29, 2025
Newsom’s $100 million San Diego insulin give-away stalls
Newsom’s insulin failA drive by California Gov. Gavin Newsom to make low-cost insulin by spending $100 million in state funds has stalled, dashing the hopes of the well-heeled San Diego charity behind the project, which …
January 22, 2025
Scott Peters has next mayor race sewn up – or not
Scott and Todd’s showWith Democrat Todd Gloria safely ensconced in his second (and last) term as mayor of San Diego, speculation is already turning to who will come after his term ends four years hence. …
January 15, 2025
GOP’s Brian Jones backs legal magic mushrooms
State of the shroomsWhether or not San Diego County will get a legalized magic mushroom program through state legislation is still hanging fire, according to a December 27 dispatch from CalMatters. The proposal, submitted last year …
January 8, 2025
Chula Vista’s John McCann makes moves toward Nora Vargas seat
Trashy behestsAs Chula Vista’s Republican mayor John McCann explores a run for the county supervisor’s seat being vacated by Democrat Nora Vargas, eyes are turning to his longstanding tactic of using cash behests from corporations …
January 1, 2025
Trump disses digital catapults
Biden drones onThe recent rash of mysterious UFO sitings over New Jersey and elsewhere have some eyes turning to a La Jolla-based Poway drone maker with friendly ties to Joe Biden and a chilly relationship …
December 25, 2024
Houston ex-mayor donates to Toni Atkins governor fund
Sermons subpoenaedA controversial ex-mayor of Houston, Texas looking for higher office has ponied up $5000 for the 2026 gubernatorial campaign of termed-out state Senate Democrat Toni Atkins. Annise Parker, current President & CEO of the …
December 18, 2024