It’s messy, it’s dramatic, and it’s painfully public.
Nevada may be cooling down for the winter, but Carson City is burning. The special session is in full swing, and what’s happening is part political theater, part scandal — a drama that seems to unfold by the hour.
Governor Lombardo called lawmakers back under the guise of “unfinished business,” but the real story is AB5, a massive Hollywood giveaway, tangled with a crime bill and enough behind-the-scenes maneuvering to make a Las Vegas poker table blush. NO ONE WANTS IT.
Crime Bills and Film Tax Credits
On paper, Lombardo’s crime bill increases penalties for DUIs and certain offenses, and resurrects the Resort Corridor Court near the Strip. But all eyes are on AB5, the bill offering up to $120 million per year in transferable film tax credits for 15 years. Studios can sell these credits for cash — leaving taxpayers at risk if the incentives fail.
And the drama? It’s off the charts. Republican lawmakers are being more dramatic and childish than ever, with new stories coming out hour by hour about threats, bribes, and intense political maneuvering.
Behind the Curtain: Pressure, Accusations, and “BS”
Social media has become the live feed of Carson City chaos.
- Sam Right (@whatsrightsam) called out conflicts of interest:
“Hearing that Sen Melanie Scheibel’s husband and Sen Nicole Cannizzaro’s husband have ties to the Film Tax lobbyists. Let’s call them and let them know what we think of that. Please be respectful.”
- Victor Joecks (@VictorJoecks) reported high-pressure tactics:
“New pressure tactic: Hearing that some opponents of Hollywood handouts are being threatened with having to stay in Carson City through Thanksgiving.”
“Hearing through the grapevine that a Democrat Senator was offered $6 million for the charity of his/her choice in exchange for supporting Hollywood handouts. Offer refused.”
- Another allegation:
“@JosephMLombardo offered Sen. Ellison around $2 million for the Elko airport if he supported Hollywood handouts.”
But our sources say someone on the inside called this “BS” — the accusation against Ellison is being disputed by people close to the action. Even so, the rumor mill alone has added combustible fuel to an already volatile session.
Republicans Raising the Drama
If the accusations and bribery whispers weren’t enough, the Republican caucus seems to have taken the stage as the most dramatic and childish players in Carson City. Every hour brings a new story of tantrums, threats, or posturing — with lawmakers reportedly trapped in the building or threatened with extended stays over holidays to force votes.
The Remote Voting Fiasco
The legislative circus has more layers: repeated sources are blaming Danielle Gallant for a misstep in remote voting that allowed AB5 to pass. Lawmakers were on vacation, some remote, and somehow, through procedural errors, the bill moved forward despite opposition.
Our insiders are pointing fingers at Gallant for the procedural misstep. The optics are terrible: a Hollywood handout passes while lawmakers dodge their duties, vacationing or squabbling behind the scenes.
The Stakes and the Spectacle
This isn’t policy — it’s political theater. The massive tax credits, the bribe allegations, the threats, the vacationing lawmakers, the remote voting fiasco — it’s all happening in real time, hour by hour, with sources confirming rumors.
It’s messy, it’s dramatic, and it’s painfully public. Nevada has front-row seats to a spectacle that reveals how governing can devolve into theater, with the stakes being taxpayer money and public trust.
