With the one-time 5% wealth tax on billionaires  coming to a vote in California this November, it’s  worth examining why such an idea was proposed in  the first place, why the ultra-rich are against it, and why many believe it’s morally necessary.

The University of California at Berkeley has long been known as a campus where many students are focused solely on their studies and not any nonacademic extracurricular activities, including romance. 

On Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, students gathered outside Sproul Hall at the University of California Berkeley to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti on Jan. 24. During the rally, organizers encouraged their community to attend a larger protest in San Francisco’s Dolores Park on Friday, Jan. 30.

Former Cal running back and NFL veteran Patrick Laird reflects on Berkeley’s culture of resilience, education, and opportunity — and why its ethos still shapes who he is today.

BERKELEY Calif. — Traveling from France to the United States was a risk that Alex Masmej, founder of the Breakout App, was willing to take. At 22, Masmej began betting on himself — a mindset that later shaped Breakout, a cryptocurrency-based platform designed to fund people with initiative and entrepreneurial flair.

OAKLAND, Calif — Seated in judgement alongside four other attendees, I decided the fate of freestyle rappers, poets, and comedians in a clash of creative arts in the heart of Oakland — a cultural and artistic hub for the weird to express themselves.

BERKELEY, Calif — At around 9 p.m., a comic finished his set, stepped away from the stage set against a mismatched combination of furniture, and walked straight to the pool tables.