Former reality star Spencer Pratt, who is running for mayor of Los Angeles against incumbent Karen Bass, is taking a stand for animals that are allegedly being tortured by homeless people in the community.
The mayoral hopeful has been posting about animals being abused on Skid Row and beyond for weeks, sharing graphic videos of dogs overdosing on fentanyl and one presented with his eyes sewn shut.
“As Mayor, I will stand up a dedicated LAPD task force, Tactical PAWS: Policing Animal Welfare &amp; Safety. We will end the horrific atrocities that Karen Basura (his nickname for Bass) and [coucilwoman] Nithya Raman have allowed on our streets. ZERO tolerance for animal abusers,” he wrote in a post on April 20.
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As Mayor, I will stand up a dedicated LAPD task force, Tactical PAWS: Policing Animal Welfare &amp; Safety. We will end the horrific atrocities that Karen Basura and Nithya Raman have allowed on our streets. ZERO tolerance for animal abusers! <a href="https://t.co/QyUPKpdLEB">https://t.co/QyUPKpdLEB</a> <a href="https://t.co/XDnpJk4aba">pic.twitter.com/XDnpJk4aba</a>
— Spencer Pratt (@spencerpratt) <a href="https://twitter.com/spencerpratt/status/2046277962664996895?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2026</a></blockquote>
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“This is uncaring Karen’s legacy,” he said of Bass in response to a video of a dog with drugs in its system receiving medical care. “Unbelievable levels of evil from the druggies that are left to massacre these poor animals. This ends when I’m mayor.”
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This is uncaring Karen’s legacy. Unbelievable levels of evil from the druggies that are left to massacre these poor animals. This ends when I’m mayor. <a href="https://t.co/jJ64X0sQ5R">https://t.co/jJ64X0sQ5R</a>
— Spencer Pratt (@spencerpratt) <a href="https://twitter.com/spencerpratt/status/2047197321079980376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2026</a></blockquote>
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In another video <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXhkUNNAdT9/">shared</a> to Instagram on Friday, he accused Bass and Raman of “facilitating the torture, mutilation, abuse, and murder of thousands of dogs by crazy drug addicts who breed them for money, set them on fire, [and] conduct Nazi-like experiments.”
Pratt says the dogs become drug testers and are frequently overdosing.
The former star of “The Hills” said that Raman allegedly “walked out” of a recent city council meeting after an animal rescue worker begged for help with the problem.
Pratt also said a rally was happening at The Barkery in Encino on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. to raise awareness and “save our pets from the zombies.”
The reality alum announced that he is running for mayor of Los Angeles on the one-year anniversary of the Palisades Fire, which is the event that he says radicalized him to make a change in his community. The Republican and former star of “The Hills” has been critical of local Democrats for their actions before and after the fires. Pratt and his wife, Heidi Montag, and his parents all lost their homes.
“The system in Los Angeles isn’t struggling; it’s fundamentally broken. It is a machine designed to protect the people at the top and the friends they exchange favors with while the rest of us drown in toxic smoke and ash,” Pratt said in part while announcing his campaign.
Pratt is a first-time candidate facing more than a dozen other contenders in the nonpartisan mayoral primary in June, including current Los Angeles Democratic Mayor Bass, who is seeking re-election. Pratt’s campaign website describes him as “Karen Bass’ worst nightmare.”

Spencer Pratt

Reality Star Rips Dem Karen Bass For Allowing Homeless To ‘Conduct Nazi-Like Experiments’ On Dogs

Animals

California

Drugs

Elections

Homeless

Karen Bass

Los Angeles

Mayor

Politics

A California winery co-owned by Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s (D-MN) husband Tim Mynett has shut down following inquiries into Omar’s finances.
The closing of the Santa Rosa winery, <a href="https://freebeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/B4563-5607.pdf">effective April 4</a>, follows intense scrutiny of Congresswoman Omar’s financial reporting by members of the House and President Donald Trump.
Congressman James Comer (R-KY), chair of the House Oversight Committee, <a href="https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Letter-to-Timothy-Mynett-.pdf">sent a letter</a> to Mynett in early February after a review of Omar’s recent financial disclosure paperwork revealed a red flag.
Omar’s initial 2024 financial disclosure placed her joint asset value between $6 million and $30 million, a <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/ilhan-omar-husband-winery-terminated-after-financial-records-requested-11869744">significant leap</a> from her 2023 form.
“Financial disclosure forms, filed by your wife Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, show eStCru LLC and Rose Lake Capital LLC, which you hold ownership stakes in, went from being worth as much as $51,000 in 2023 to as much as $30 million in 2024,” the letter stated.
Comer noted that there was concern that because the companies associated with the winery don’t disclose their investors, the increase in disclosed worth might be linked to individuals attempting to “gain influence” with Congresswoman Omar.
Additionally, Comer wrote: “Media reports further suggest that you may have raised money from investors using misleading information, meaning some of those funds may have been obtained improperly.”
President Trump even commented, sending out a Truth Social post in late January <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-flags-ilhan-omars-finances-as-report-reveals-prior-doj-scrutiny">announcing</a> that the Department of Justice would be looking into Omar’s finances, though no investigation has been publicly announced by the DOJ.
Omar revised her disclosure forms in March, claiming that her joint assets with Mynett stood at under $100,000, and that she held at least $15,000 in student loan debt. A spokesperson for Omar blamed accounting errors for the discrepancy.
This financial scrutiny comes at the same time as Omar is being questioned about her potential relationship with individuals involved in the Feeding Our Future scandal, “a $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally-funded child nutrition program,” according to the <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/federal-jury-finds-feeding-our-future-mastermind-and-co-defendant-guilty-250-million">Justice Department</a>.
Minnesota lawmakers have asked that Omar turn over any documents and communications between herself and the owners of the restaurant at the heart of the scandal. They have given her a May 5 deadline.
The congresswoman didn’t appear at a recent hearing before the state oversight committee, according to Republican state Rep. and committee chair <a href="https://www.newsnationnow.com/politics/minnesota-records-ilhan-omar-skips-fraud-hearing/">Kristin Robbins</a>.
“The fact that she ghosted us — she would not even respond to multiple inquiries to a state legislature where she used to serve. I think it shows disdain for Minnesota taxpayers that she’s unwilling to even answer these questions,” said Robbins.

Ilhan Omar

Ilhan Omar Comes Under Financial Scrutiny — Now Husband’s Winery Suddenly Goes Dark

Congress

Fraud

Three smuggling boats packed with illegal immigrants, including some with criminal histories, attempted to reach California&#8217;s coast this month before being intercepted by federal authorities, The Daily Wire has learned.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) arrested 60 people, some of whom had rap sheets that included DUI, felony hit-and-run, making false police reports, drug possession, active warrants for resisting arrest, trespassing, burglary, possession of burglary tools, receiving stolen property, drug trafficking, aggravated assault with a weapon, and domestic violence, AMO told The Daily Wire.
&#8220;These interdictions show the great lengths dangerous criminals will go to avoid apprehension, including taking to the open ocean in unsafe, overcrowded vessels,&#8221; Air and Marine Operations Southwest Region Executive Director Hunter Robinson said.
&#8220;Their desperation puts lives at risk. Our crews are dedicated to stopping these dangerous individuals far from shore to keep our communities safe,&#8221; he said.
On April 17, agents intercepted a 24-foot vessel on April 17 near San Clemente Island, apprehending 13 illegal migrants, including seven men, five women, and one juvenile girl. The group was transported to Ballast Point Naval Base in San Diego for processing.
The next day, agents located another vessel and intercepted the boat near San Nicolas Island. In total, federal agents apprehended 29 Mexican nationals. The Coast Guard brought the illegal immigrants to Newport Harbor, where they handed them over to Border Patrol.
On April 21, the Coast Guard, along with a CBP AMO aircrew, stopped a 25-foot cuddy cabin boat filled with 18 Mexican illegal migrants. Authorities spotted the boat the day before off the coast of Ensenada, Mexico.
The group was handed off to Border Patrol.
Since President Donald Trump sealed off the U.S.-Mexico border, smugglers have grown desperate to find new ways to keep their profits. Human smuggling by cartels became more lucrative than drug trafficking under the Biden administration.
One way smugglers are trying to hold on to their cash cow is by taking to the waterways.
Coast Guard Capt. Jason Hagen, who is the Southwest District chief of enforcement, told <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/how-cartels-are-forced-to-shift-tactics-after-trump-crushed-their-human-smuggling-empire">The Daily Wire</a> in November that authorities were seeing an increase in smuggling interdictions.
“As you lock down the land border, the cartels will need to make their money, so they push to the maritime, to the water side. And, unfortunately, there is no border wall in the ocean; we’re challenged with the tyranny of distance,” Hagen said at the time.

Untitled design – 2026-04-24T135558.710

EXCLUSIVE: Feds Intercept Smuggling Boats Full Of Illegal Immigrants With Rap Sheets

Cartels

Immigration

Smuggling

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

San Francisco drastically reduced issues they were having on public transit by making it almost impossible to enter without paying, according to a <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/04/fare-gate-society-bart/686868/">report</a> from The Atlantic.
The outlet noted that last August, BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) installed six-foot-tall saloon-style doors made of plexiglass with metal frames that were much harder to get through compared to regular turnstiles that could easily be jumped. This change is expected to increase revenue by $10 million per year as riders are forced to actually pay to ride. 
But beyond generating more income, it’s also led to a decrease in issues that used to plague the subway. Overall crime on BART plunged 41% in 2025 compared to the previous year, with violent crime down 31% and property crime down 43%.
“Safety is about more than enforcement. It’s about presence, partnership, and creating an environment where all riders feel comfortable using BART,” said BART Police Chief Kevin Franklin of the massive change. 
“BART PD is committed to deterring criminal activity, responding quickly when help is needed, and ensuring riders feel safe throughout their journeys. These numbers demonstrate the impact of officers who are engaged and focused on building trust with the communities BART serves.”
BART PD also doubled the number of officers in the system and made sure that they were frequently riding the trains. 
This wasn’t the first time BART tried to curtail fare jumpers, but it was a different world in 2019 when they introduced “inverted guillotine” gates, which at the time were <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20260222141612mp_/https://www.kqed.org/arts/13861966/barts-fare-evasion-crackdown-exposes-the-deadly-elegance-of-hostile-design" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dubbed</a> “anti-poor, anti-homeless, and ableist” by activists.
There was also a push against &#8220;fare checks&#8221; — essentially people dispatched to verify tickets — which were dubbed ineffective by critics, said to &#8220;disproportionately affect people of color and the homeless,&#8221; and found to recover only &#8220;minimal revenue.&#8221;
These new jump-proof gates make fare checks unnecessary, and complaints of racist enforcement policies are a non-issue since those people haven’t gained access in the first place. 
“We had pressure on us that interaction between police and the public, because of fare evasion, could lead to racial profiling,” BART communications officer Alicia Trost told The Atlantic. “Once the fare gates were in place, we’re limiting those interactions. It’s not discretionary; there’s less enforcement.”
These efforts stand in sharp contrast to efforts being made by New York’s new Muslim socialist mayor, Zohran Mamdani, whose stated goal is to make city buses <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/its-only-been-a-month-and-zohran-mamdani-is-already-a-disaster">free for everyone</a>.

BART entry

One Hardline Change And Crime Starts Falling Almost Overnight

Crime

San Francisco

Subway

Billionaire and California Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer just won the endorsement of Our Revolution, a political action group backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), which routinely voices opposition to the existence of billionaires.
The group addressed the irony of the endorsement head on, acknowledging Steyer’s billionaire status in a press release, adding that ”it matters what he is doing with that power: pushing for taxes on the wealthy, expanding universal programs, and dismantling corporate influence in our politics.”
“Tom Steyer understands that California’s affordability crisis is not inevitable — it’s the result of a political system shaped by concentrated wealth and corporate power at the expense of working people,” Our Revolution Executive Director Joseph Geevarghese said in a statement.
“At a moment when too many defend the status quo, Tom has taken a different path — challenging the very system that benefits people like him,” he added. An X post from the organization pointed out that this is the first time they have endorsed a billionaire for public office.
Steyer said that he’s “honored” to get the endorsement and said that “as Governor, [he’ll] work tirelessly to realize our shared vision of a California that works for working people.”
The group’s <a href="https://ourrevolution.com/about-us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a> openly touts efforts to “Defund Oligarchy” and its goal to “eliminate in the influence of corporations, billionaires and consultants in our political process.”
Steyer, a climate activist who built his wealth from creating the hedge fund Farallon Capital, has a net worth of $2.4 billion, according to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/thomas-steyer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Forbes</a>. He has spent tens of millions dominating the airwaves in the Golden State, and he took similar actions when he unsuccessfully sought the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.
However, the endorsement comes as some data indicated he is the top polling Democrat in the upcoming top-two primary race on June 2, according to <a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/governor/general/2026/california/open_primary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RealClearPolling</a>.
Eric Swalwell (D-CA) dropped out of the governor’s race and resigned from Congress after several sexual misconduct allegations, which shook up the contest since he had previously been considered the Democrats’ best shot.
The field of Democrats still remains wide open, however, with Steyer up going up against former Rep. Katie Porter, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, among others.
Former California State Controller Betty Yee dropped out of the race on Monday, as she was polling poorly. Gov. Gavin Newsom has yet to endorse a successor.
Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco are still having a strong showing in polling data, however, indicating the slight possibility of a Republican lockout in the primary. The top two candidates in California&#8217;s &#8220;jungle primary,&#8221; regardless of party, will advance to the general election in November.

New York Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani Holds Election Rally With Bernie Sanders And Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Bernie Sanders-Backed Group Hates Billionaires. They Just Endorsed One In Messy Governor’s Race.

Bernie Sanders

Democrats

Eric Swalwell

Tom Steyer

California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom sent a fundraising email shortly after former Rep. Eric Swalwell&#8217;s (D-CA) resignation amid sexual misconduct allegations, including rape accusations, using the vacancy to urge donors to help Democrats quickly reclaim the seat.
&#8220;With a very slim Republican majority in Congress, I was not going to give Mike Johnson even a single extra day before filling this seat,” Newsom wrote in the email, which was sent by his Campaign for Democracy PAC, according to <a href="https://x.com/jamesd0wns/status/2044510404596924828?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Journal</a>.
Swalwell stepped down Tuesday as multiple investigations were launched into the allegations. He is now under investigation by the Justice Department, the Manhattan District Attorney, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff&#8217;s Department. No charges have been filed against the Democrat, but the disturbing claims led to his resignation from Congress and exit from the California governor&#8217;s race.
At a Tuesday press conference, model Lonna Drewes accused Swalwell of raping her during an alleged 2018 encounter.
“He raped me, and he choked me. And while he was choking me, I lost consciousness,” Drewes said. “And I thought I died. I did not consent to any sexual activity.”
At least one other woman has claimed that Swalwell raped her. Others alleged that the Democrat sent them inappropriate messages over Snapchat, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/10/us/eric-swalwell-sexual-misconduct-allegations-invs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNN</a> reported.
Despite the nature of the allegations, Newsom&#8217;s email did not address them directly, instead focusing on the political stakes of the vacancy and the narrow Republican majority in the House.
The message concluded with a fundraising appeal from Newsom&#8217;s political action committee, asking recipients to donate $35.
Newsom has said the special election, scheduled for August 18, is the earliest date allowed under state law.
Republicans criticized the move, arguing Newsom has not shown the same urgency in similar situations.
Besides rape accusations, others alleged that the Democrat sent them inappropriate messages over Snapchat, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/10/us/eric-swalwell-sexual-misconduct-allegations-invs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNN</a> reported.
The timing has drawn criticism from Republicans, who argue Newsom has not applied the same urgency in similar situations.
The Daily Wire previously reported that Newsom scheduled a special election for the late to fill the late Rep. Doug LaMalfa&#8217;s (R-CA) right-leaning seat months after his death earlier this year. In another case, the seat of former Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) remained vacant for nearly a year following his 2020 resignation. can Hunter (R-CA) was left vacant for nearly a year following his resignation in 2020.
“It’s another example of how Gavin Newsom, he doesn’t care about stripping people of their voice and their representation as long as it politically benefits him,” state Assemblyman Carl DeMaio (R-CA) told <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/newsom-accused-of-running-the-clock-differently-depending-on-who-it-helps?author=Cameron+Arcand&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Newsom+Accused+Of+Running+The+Clock+Differently+Depending+On+Who+It+Helps" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a>.
Republicans currently hold a narrow 218-213 majority in the House, raising the stakes for quickly filling vacant seats.
The Daily Wire reached out to the Newsom’s PAC and office for comment.

62. Munich Security Conference

Following Rape Accusations Against Swalwell, Newsom Fundraises Off His Ouster

2026 election

Gavin Newsom

Mike Johnson

Eric Swalwell has ended his campaign for California governor and resigned from Congress, saying he wants to spend more time with his family, a drunken staffer, and the woman he has imprisoned in the oubliette in his basement. Swalwell made his decision after several women accused him of doing what everyone knew he was doing but no one said he was doing until it turned out his crappy gubernatorial campaign might get a Republican elected in California.
Swalwell said the charges that he pestered, assaulted and even raped women were as untrue as the charges Swalwell himself leveled against Brett Kavanaugh, if you didn’t count all the women Swalwell pestered, assaulted and raped. In a statement Swalwell issued while simultaneously attempting to keep a straight face, the former congressman said: “I want to declare categorically that I never had non-consensual sex with a Chinese spy and when I did have sex with a Chinese spy, I not only had her consent but the consent of the entire Chinese Communist Party. Even then, I never once shared with her any of the classified information I was privy to on the House Intelligence Committee, except a few times when I might have shouted out the occasional tidbit in the throes of ecstasy, which could have happened to anyone because the Chinese teach their spies to do some amazing, amazing stuff in the sack. As for the other women I forced myself on, those assaults were totally consensual. And sure, some of those babes might have been drunk at the time, but it’s not my fault if they can’t hold their roofies.”
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ep-1275-dumb-dumber-and-progressive?contentProgram=The%20Andrew%20Klavan%20Show&amp;contentType=ShowEpisode&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;location=Home%20Tab&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Home%20Featured%20Carousel"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-974735 aligncenter" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now-1024x171.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="171" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now-1024x171.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now-300x50.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now-768x128.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now-1536x256.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now.jpg 1800w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a>
Swalwell is also accused of sending women pictures of his penis in the belief that somewhere in our infinite multiverse with its numberless versions of reality, there exists an alternate timeline which includes a woman who wants to see a picture of Eric Swalwell’s penis, a belief that turned out to be entirely untrue.
Swalwell’s fellow Democrats said they were absolutely shocked to find out he had been doing what they knew he’d been doing, and said they would have spoken out earlier had they known what they obviously knew. Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, for instance, said, “If I had for one moment suspected what I was absolutely sure of, I would never have allowed Swalwell to remain on the Intelligence Committee while he was clearly banging a Chinese spy.” Pelosi then vanished, as her entire body was subsumed by the bottomless moral emptiness within her, but Democrats said they nonetheless hoped to convince her to run for re-election.
Other leftist hacks were also stunned to learn what they already knew. For instance, the New York Times, a former newspaper, ran an editorial that said, “It is long past time that we as a society learned to believe all women who were too drunk to remember what actually happened, and then went for years pretending it hadn’t happened, and then said it happened but were too drunk to remember what it was. Swalwell is a married man, and this paper feels it is wrong to commit adultery when your crappy gubernatorial campaign might get a Republican elected. Otherwise, of course, we recommend adultery as a fun way to freshen up your marriage, until not only your family but hopefully the American family as an institution falls to pieces, leading to the collapse of liberty, which would allow wise elites like ourselves to impose a socialist paradise or at least kill anyone who says it’s not a paradise, which amounts to the same thing.”
Feminists also attacked Swalwell. Stanford Professor of Advanced Hostility Susan Shrike, author of the bestselling feminist tract “I Almost Hate You More Than Myself,” spoke to reporters in an ear-splitting skirl of inhuman sound, saying, “The worst aspect of Swalwell’s behavior is that he makes it seem as if feminists should not have supported a sexual revolution that denied the procreative purpose of sex and its accompanying moral restrictions. That would mean feminists were wrong about everything, and we feminists don’t believe that because we’re wrong about everything. And while we’re on the subject of Eric Swalwell, where’s that picture of his penis he promised me?”
* * *
This excerpt is taken from the opening satirical monologue of “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-andrew-klavan-show" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Andrew Klavan Show</a>.”
Andrew Klavan is the host of “The Andrew Klavan Show” at The Daily Wire. Klavan is the bestselling author of numerous books, including the Cameron Winter Mystery series. The fifth installment, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/After-That-Cameron-Winter-Mysteries/dp/1613166869/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3EGZUC370LG46&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Y_NI0mDOKeowShheDQTVx5NH-fAeimJoCD56_T0Acpl8C0mup7uJf-nGGSRLEItaaekoDnvS2vWLMa4Zd2UBXQ8Y-g-P502jOWz-Y8IX3ZQsdlO7WMLrg1xIhNoKmjCorSWUR4C2l_RbiZ7apJ1MfPzGOrrEf7AdAXX6xwnJRVP_XqUfWuMuVthTWscaU3P4vgmS86-96n-721enHfX12CFQWTajqFbVnrsDkexfUf4.6_gTH6h1Bb9Pn375QdF_VAVZSayDvjQBBKGXE-MTiFo&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=klavan&amp;qid=1754049918&amp;sprefix=%2Caps%2C80&amp;sr=8-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">After That, The Dark,</a> is NOW AVAILABLE. Follow him on X: <a href="https://x.com/andrewklavan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@andrewklavan</a>.

FBI Director Kash Patel Testifies In Hearings On Capitol Hill

Democrats Shocked Over Swalwell ‘Surprise Party’ They RSVP’d To Years Ago

Democrats Shocked Over Swalwell 'Surprise Party' They RSVP’d To Years Ago

Andrew Klavan

Humor

MeToo

Satire

Sexual Harassment

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) is facing scrutiny after new federal filings revealed his own political operation spent more than $1.5 million purchasing copies of his memoir, accounting for the majority of its total sales.
According to disclosures released Wednesday, Newsom’s PAC, the Campaign for Democracy, paid $1,561,875 to a book distributor to buy and distribute roughly 67,000 copies of his book, “Young Man in a Hurry: A Memoir of Discovery.” Those copies were then offered to donors in exchange for contributions of any amount.
The strategy proved effective in driving engagement. Tens of thousands of supporters responded to the pitch, with the PAC ultimately distributing books that made up roughly two-thirds of the memoir’s total print sales, which stand at just over 97,000 copies.
The arrangement raises questions about how Newsom’s book achieved its early commercial success. His team had previously touted strong sales and highlighted the memoir’s appearance on best-seller lists, including USA Today and New York Times <a href="http://lists.in/">lists</a>. In a March press release, the Newsom team <a href="https://x.com/briantylercohen/status/2029377086197252130">wrote</a>, “With more than 91,000 copies sold through organic, in-person and online, non-bulk purchases in the United States, the memoir surged on bestseller lists within hours of its release and has drawn readers from across the country eager to learn more about Newsom’s upbringing, early career, and the experiences that shaped his approach to leadership.”
Newsom’s office defended the approach, arguing the effort was both financially and politically effective. “We were thrilled with the response,” spokesman Nathan Click <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/16/us/politics/newsom-book-donors.html">told</a> The New York Times, adding that the PAC ultimately raised more money through the promotion than it spent on purchasing the books. “Our goal was to deepen the relationship between him and the millions of folks who have already expressed support.” Newsom does not receive royalties from books sold through the PAC.
The fundraising push began shortly after Newsom-backed Proposition 50, a redistricting measure designed to give Democrats an advantage in congressional maps, was approved by California voters. In emails to supporters, Newsom framed the book offer as part of a broader effort to replenish political resources for future electoral fights.
“We just spent a bunch of money on passing Prop 50,” he wrote at the time, “so now I need to refill the coffers … for the fights ahead.”
While it is not uncommon for political committees to use books as fundraising incentives, the scale of Newsom’s operation stands out. Comparable efforts have typically involved far smaller expenditures, including purchases tied to books by former Vice President Kamala Harris, whose affiliated PAC spent under $100,000 on similar promotions for her memoir earlier this year.
By contrast, Newsom’s seven-figure outlay represents the largest single expense for his PAC in the first quarter of 2026.
The arrangement blurs the line between political fundraising and self-promotion, effectively allowing a campaign apparatus to manufacture demand for a candidate’s personal publication. Supporters, however, contend the tactic is a “novel” extension of campaign outreach — using a candidate’s writing to engage voters while building a donor base.
The episode underscores how political campaigns are increasingly blending media, messaging, and fundraising into a single ecosystem, where books serve not just as policy platforms or autobiographical accounts, but as tools for mobilization and revenue generation.
For Newsom, the result is a memoir that reached best-seller status with significant backing from his own political network, raising questions about how success in the publishing world can or should be measured when politics and promotion are so closely intertwined.

California Governor Gavin Newsom Continues Book Tour In San Francisco

Did Gavin Newsom Pen A Best Seller? Not Really.

Books

Clinton Adams, a prominent social media influencer and hip-hop artist known to his hundreds of thousands of followers as “Clintnlord,” has been <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/04/17/us-news/sick-influencer-learns-fate-after-raping-women-in-fire-damaged-palisades-mansion-he-pretended-to-own/">sentenced</a> to eight years in state prison. The sentencing follows a harrowing series of events in which Adams lured women to a smoke-damaged, evacuated mansion in Pacific Palisades and sexually assaulted them.
Adams, 32, pleaded no contest to the charges after a legal saga that began with his arrest in late 2025. The Northridge resident, who boasted over 400,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok, leveraged his digital persona and a $5.3 million Mediterranean-style villa to deceive his victims. While Adams claimed to own the luxury four-bedroom residence, the ocean-view property had actually been abandoned by its rightful owners due to smoke damage from the devastating January 2025 wildfires.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Sick influencer learns fate after raping women in fire-damaged Palisades mansion he pretended to own <a href="https://t.co/Hv9fLCoO4W">https://t.co/Hv9fLCoO4W</a> <a href="https://t.co/K9HyvhP10e">pic.twitter.com/K9HyvhP10e</a>
&mdash; New York Post (@nypost) <a href="https://twitter.com/nypost/status/2045123186996453589?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
After Adams&#8217; arrest, District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman <a href="https://lacounty.gov/2025/12/09/influencer-facing-felony-rape-charges-in-sexual-assault-of-two-women-additional-victims-sought/#:~:text=His%20preliminary%20hearing%20setting%20is,to%20life%20in%20state%20prison.">stated</a>, “These allegations describe predatory attacks carried out in an area still affected by the aftermath of the January wildfires. Taking advantage of a historic disaster and causing severe harm to two women is despicable.&#8221;
Court records and graphic testimony paint a predatory picture of Adams’ actions during the summer of 2025. In one instance occurring in June, a victim testified that after a night of partying, Adams pinned her down in a room at the mansion. Despite her repeated pleas for him to stop, Adams allegedly placed a hand on her neck to prevent her from screaming before raping her. The victim eventually escaped the home barefoot and sought treatment at UCLA Medical Center.
A second assault allegedly took place in August 2025. A woman testified that Adams approached her on a Santa Monica street, claiming to be in the fashion industry. He invited her to the Palisades property under the guise of watching movies, only to violently assault her in a bedroom.
Adams was originally charged with three felony counts of forcible rape and one count of assault with intent to commit rape. Although he initially pleaded not guilty and faced a potential sentence of 90 years to life, the no-contest plea resulted in the eight-year term.

Wildfires tear through Los Angeles

Hip-Hop Influencer Who Committed Heinous Crimes In Abandoned Palisades Mansion Learns Fate

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A newly introduced California bill meant to &#8220;protect&#8221; immigration support services is instead raising concerns that it could hinder independent journalism. In an era of citizen-driven accountability and viral exposés, some worry the measure could shield companies accused of fraud from public scrutiny.
Nicknamed by critics as the “Stop Nick Shirley Act,” Assembly <a href="https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB2624/id/3371241">Bill</a> 2624, introduced by Democratic Assemblywoman Mia Bonta, the wife of California Attorney General Rob Bonta, would establish a confidentiality program for immigration service providers who face &#8220;threats of violence or harassment from the public.&#8221; 
The bill would also &#8220;prohibit a person from posting on the internet or social media &#8230; the personal information or image of a designated immigration support services provider, employee, volunteer, or patient, or other individuals residing at the same home address.&#8221; Violations could result in fines up to $10,000 or up to one year in jail.
Critics, including Republican Assembly member Carl DeMaio, believe the bill could be leveraged to block investigative reporting and “silence citizen journalists exposing fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars.&#8221;
&#8220;Instead of fixing the fraud problems being uncovered, Sacramento politicians are trying to shut down the people exposing them,&#8221; DeMaio <a href="https://ad75.asmrc.org/2026/04/13/ca-democrats-advance-stop-nick-shirley-act-to-criminalize-investigative-journalism/">said</a>.
&#8220;AB 2624 would allow activists and taxpayer-funded organizations to demand the removal of video evidence — even if it captures misconduct in plain view — and threatens journalists with massive financial penalties,&#8221; he added. &#8220;That’s not about public safety — it’s about protecting powerful interests.&#8221;
Nick Shirley, an independent journalist known for viral videos exposing alleged Somali daycare fraud in Minnesota, recently continued his work in <a href="https://x.com/nickshirleyy/status/2033708929398845886">California</a>, igniting an online <a href="https://x.com/nickshirleyy/status/2042411675307971061">feud</a> with Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom.
In response to the bill, Shirley <a href="https://x.com/nickshirleyy/status/2043756610955423782">posted</a> to X, &#8220;Under AB 2624, government-funded entities like the Somali “Learing” Daycare centers would be protected from being exposed if they operated inside California.&#8221;
&#8220;The enemy truly is within. When our politicians would rather protect fraudsters and illegal migrants, it’s time for us to stand up or face mass oppression from the traitors who &#8216;rule&#8217; over us,&#8221; he added.
Bonta, however, rejected claims that the bill targets journalism. In a recent <a href="https://x.com/AsmMiaBonta/status/2044229820968796573">video</a>, she said, “People who work to help immigrant communities should not have to fear being doxxed for doing so.”
She said the bill is designed to shield workers from having their personal information publicly exposed and to provide legal tools to prevent and respond to targeted harassment.
“If MAGA can’t tell the difference between journalism and doxxing, that’s on them, because on my bill, there are no provisions related to journalism or fraud. This bill does not infringe on the First Amendment,” she said.

Activists Demonstrate Against ICE In New York City

California Bill Could Criminalize Fraud Reporting, Republicans Warn

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing pushback for the timing of the special election to replace former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) in the Bay Area congressional district.
The special runoff election is set for August 18, but the primary will occur on June 16 in the deep blue district where Swalwell won his last election by nearly 36 percent — approximately two months after the congressman&#8217;s resignation.
Compare that to the timeline to replace Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), who passed away in early January: a special election primary won&#8217;t take place until June 2 before a potential runoff on August 4 in the deeply Republican district. In either primary race, a candidate needs over 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff.
Additionally, in January 2020, following the resignation of Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), Gov. Newsom faced scrutiny over the decision not to have a special election at all, which left the seat vacant for almost an entire year.
“Ask Greg Abbott about the 18th congressional district in Texas,” Brandon Richards, deputy director for Rapid Response for Newsom’s office, told The Daily Wire when asked about the unusual timing. In Texas’ 18th Congressional District, Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) faced criticism from Democrats over the seat being left open for over a year.
“It&#8217;s another example of how Gavin Newsom, he doesn&#8217;t care about stripping people of their voice and their representation as long as it politically benefits him,” State Assemblyman Carl DeMaio (R-CA) said. DeMaio was a vocal critic of the decision to keep Hunter’s seat vacant, according to <a href="https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2020/01/08/duncan-hunter-seat-will-remain-vacant-as-newsom-forgoes-special-election-1247432" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Politico</a>.
“If it’s a Republican seat, [Newsom] won&#8217;t call the special election at all, or he&#8217;ll try to delay it for as long as possible, as he did with LaMalfa. And if it&#8217;s a Democrat seat, ‘Oh, my goodness,’ he&#8217;s gonna basically stretch and tear every single logistical hurdle, in order to get the seat filled,” the lawmaker added.
Republicans currently hold an extremely narrow 218-213 majority in the House of Representatives, as mid-decade redistricting will drastically change the maps in California, Texas, and other states until after the 2030 census data is evaluated.
California added five Democrat-leaning seats for the November election with the passage of Prop. 50, while Texas added five Republican-leaning seats. Other states have taken similar measures, including Virginia, which will vote on April 21 on whether to create a 10-1 Democrat-leaning map.
Swalwell resigned on Tuesday following multiple allegations of sexual assault and harassment. He also opted to suspend his campaign to become California’s next governor — though many surveys showed that he was the highest polling Democrat in the crowded top-two primary — but he lost nearly all of his endorsements when the allegations became public.
“I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make,” he said in a statement as an expulsion vote loomed over him.
“Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong. But it’s also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties,” Swalwell wrote. “Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress. I will work with my staff in the coming days to ensure they are able, in my absence, to serve the needs of the good people of the 14th congressional district.”

Newsom Accused Of Running The Clock Differently Depending On Who It Helps

Republicans

Fresh polling shows two Republican candidates leading the race to replace California Gov. Gavin Newsom, days after Democrats pushed former congressman Eric Swalwell to drop out.
Among 1,000 likely California primary voters, Republican Steve Hilton leads with 17%, with Republican Chad Bianco and Democrat Tom Steyer closely behind, 14.4% and 14.1%, respectively,<a href="https://emersoncollegepolling.com/california-2026-poll-april/"> according to a new Emerson College Polling/Inside California Politics survey</a>. Democrat Xavier Becerra follows at 10.4%, Democrat Katie Porter at 10.3%, and Democrat Matt Mahan at 5.4%.
Former State Controller Betty Yee, State Schools Supt. Tony Thurmond, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa each registered 3% support or less. Almost one in four voters remains undecided.
In other words, it&#8217;s a wide-open race.
“In the first Emerson poll since Eric Swalwell’s departure from the race for Governor, Democrats now split their vote between Tom Steyer (20%), Xavier Becerra (19%), and Katie Porter (15%), with Becerra gaining 15 points among Democrats without Swalwell on the ballot,” Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said.
Despite President Trump&#8217;s endorsement, California Republicans remain split, with 48% supporting Hilton and 40% Bianco. More than 40% ranked the economy as the most important issue facing California.
The economic anxiety comes as residents of Los Angeles County — the most populous county in the United States — report a record low quality of life, according to an<a href="https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/los-angeles-county-residents-quality-of-life-satisfaction-all-time-low-year-11"> annual UCLA survey</a> published Wednesday.
Frustration with rising prices has left independents up for grabs: 16% support Steyer, 15% support Hilton, 14% back Bianco, and 10% favor Porter, according to the survey.
It’s the first high-quality poll of the crowded field since Swalwell suspended his campaign and resigned from Congress following a wave of sexual assault allegations.
A 5th woman on Tuesday accused Swalwell of sexual assault, alleging the disgraced lawmaker drugged her drink and raped her in Southern California.
“He raped me, and he choked me. And while he was choking me, I lost consciousness,” model Lonna Drewes said at a Beverly Hills press conference. “And I thought I died. I did not consent to any sexual activity.”
Both the Manhattan and Los Angeles district attorneys’ offices have launched investigations into Swalwell. 
Swalwell’s attorney, Sara Azari, said the former congressman “categorically and unequivocally denies” all allegations of sexual misconduct.
“These accusations are false, fabricated, and deeply offensive – a calculated and transparent political hit job designed to destroy the reputation of a man who has spent twenty years in public service,”<a href="https://x.com/azarilaw/status/2044144837113344170?s=20"> Azaria said in a statement</a>.
Swalwell&#8217;s name will still appear on the June 2 primary ballot. Under California’s “jungle primary” system, the top two vote-getters advance to the general election in November regardless of party.

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Even After Shivving Swalwell, Democrats Aren’t Home Free In California Governor’s Race

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