Mark Alfred

Mark is a Washington, D.C-based reporter and fellow with the Allbritton Journalism Institute and its nonprofit publication NOTUS. He reports on national policies and politics impacting Silicon Valley as part of a partnership with San José Spotlight.

Mark was born and raised in San Diego. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he majored in political science and minored in labor studies.

As the university news editor of the Daily Nexus student newspaper, he covered local unionization efforts, student housing shortages and campus leadership — reporting that was awarded Best News Series statewide by the California College Media Association in 2023 and 2024. Mark also has been a contributing writer for Noozhawk and an intern at the Pacific Coast Business Times and The Daily Beast.

‘It’s a stupid idea’: California lawmakers say about reopening Alcatraz

California lawmakers reacted to President Donald Trump’s suggestion that he would reopen Alcatraz with laughter, mockery and, for Democrats, indignation. “I won’t suggest who should go there first,” Rep. Sam Liccardo said. Trump posted on Sunday evening that he was ordering the refurbishment of Alcatraz, the island prison-turned historic landmark and tourist site off of...