The Buzz 11.05.26

FREE SPEECH

A federal judge dismissed President Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and owner Rupert Murdoch on Oct. 31, saying Trump was “grasping at straws” and attempting to “manufacture” malice in the newspaper’s reporting about his relationship with the late sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein. In 2025, the Journal published an article describing a letter with sexually suggestive content to Epstein that bore Trump’s name. Trump denied writing the letter and called the story “false.” His lawsuit accused the paper of knowingly publishing “false, defamatory and disparaging statements.” In his ruling, Judge Darrin Gayles threw out the case “with prejudice,” meaning it cannot be refiled again. “The amended complaint falls short of pleading actual malice,” Gayles wrote. “Indeed, the allegations regarding malice are conclusory, vague, sometimes inconsistent with the article, and often irrelevant to whether defendants knew or should have known that the statements in the article were purportedly false.” Trump could appeal the ruling.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“We’re on track to have the highest number of humpback whales entangled in a single year ever.” - Geoff Shester of Oceana, on the delay of Dungeness crab fisheries until at least Jan. 1 (see story, montereycountynow.com/news)

GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK

GOOD:

Rancho Cielo will receive a $200,000 AHEAD Program grant from Wescom Financial in conjunction with the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco. The organization will fund an 18-month transportation program for students. It includes a state-licensed driver’s education program, subsidized public transit passes, Lyft/Uber passes and part-time drivers for Rancho Cielo. “Transportation is one of the biggest barriers to success for our students,” said Susie Brusa, Rancho Cielo’s interim CEO. AHEAD grants focus on supporting small businesses, economic development and job creation. “By directly investing in the growth and development of this generation, we’re also contributing to the immediate and long-term economic success of local businesses and the well-being of the community as a whole,” said Ashley White, chief marketing officer at Wescom Financial.

GREAT:

The wait is over for fans of Alvarado Street Brewery: The brewpub announced that its new taproom in Castroville opens Saturday, Nov. 7. Alvarado Street has dubbed the combination of bar and brewery as The Plant. The BrauKon brewhouse system is circular, allowing the team to go from milling grain to brewing to kegs and cans in almost one motion, with dramatically increased capacity. The production facility has been in operation since August. “We’ve brewed more this week than a typical month,” Alvarado Street owner J.C. Hill said on Oct. 22. The bar features 18 taps plus a sharp pour system that is distinct from the traditional draft tap, capturing the effervescence and aromas of a beer under a creamy foam cap. Outside there is a beer garden served by food trucks. Guests can also take home canned beer. Doors open on Nov. 7 from 1-9pm.