California Democrat Rep. Jim Costa faced a probe over allegations that he made inappropriate advances toward interns, according to a new report. 
A former House Democrat staffer filed a complaint in 2023 accusing Costa of making unwanted advances toward her in February 2020 when she interned for a different lawmaker, NOTUS <a href="https://www.notus.org/congress/jim-costa-allegations-ethics-committee-investigation">reported</a> Monday. The complaint was later dismissed by the House Ethics Committee and the Office of Congressional Conduct after they found they did not have sufficient evidence to proceed. 
The revelation comes amid a flurry of sexual misconduct claims involving members of Congress. Former Reps. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) and Eric Swalwell (D-CA) resigned last month over claims of sexual misconduct. Costa has denied any suggestion of wrongdoing, pointing to the conclusions of ethics investigators.
One incident involving Costa allegedly took place during an event at the California State Society when the woman was 22, and he was 67. The woman told the Office of Congressional Conduct that Costa approached her outside the event as she got ready to leave and tried to get her to stay before he asked her to dance with him.
“First, he greeted me, and then said, are you here alone? I said, yes. I said, I’m waiting for my bag. I’m going home. He said, oh no, why would you go home? It’s such a nice night. Don’t you want to dance? I was like, I’ve already danced. He’s like, well, I didn’t dance with you,” she told investigators. 
The woman then said he asked her if she “knew how to shimmy.” She said she did, and they danced while she waited to leave. 
“Every time I leaned back, it seemed like he got farther forward. So I was grateful that I could do a back bend. It was a very uncomfortable situation,” she said. 
“That’s a scary situation. Especially when you’re an intern and you don’t know what relationships that you could mess up,” she added. “Yeah, I guess he started the conversation. I was gracious and responded. And then he immediately asked me to shimmy. I don’t know about you, but it’s a very sexual and awkward dance move.”
The woman later claimed that Costa gave her his personal cell phone number and told her he could help with her career or grab dinner sometime. During a later encounter, the woman said that he asked if she was dating and later ghosted her after she proposed they meet for coffee instead of dinner. 
The woman told NOTUS she only filed the complaint when she felt like her career had enough “cachet” to survive any fallout. She also recounted another incident where he allegedly danced closely with another young intern at a California State Society event. The woman said she and another person broke up the dancing. 
Costa’s office pointed NOTUS to the dismissal of the allegations by ethics investigators. 
“Rep. Costa fully cooperated with a review conducted by [OCC] and the House Committee on Ethics several years ago. The OCC recommended dismissal, and the Ethics Committee unanimously voted to dismiss the matter,” his office said. “The actions of the OCC and the Ethics Committee speak for themselves.”
Four decades ago, Costa issued an apology after he was cited for soliciting a prostitute while traveling in a state-leased vehicle with a prostitute, the Los Angeles Times <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-09-05-mn-13503-story.html">reported</a>.

US-NEWS-CALIFCONGRESS-CAMPAIGN-FUNDRAISING-FR

Another Democrat Caught Up In Scandal — This Time With Interns

California

Congress

Ethics

Sex Scandal

A new campaign video from former Democratic Rep. Katie Porter jokes about her record of profanely berating staff members, with the California gubernatorial hopeful saying it made her more relatable to the public.
Porter said she referenced the moment in her campaign video because it showed Californians that she was someone who took “responsibility” for her former actions and could laugh at herself. Last year, a <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/08/katie-porter-tears-into-staffer-new-video-00598942">video resurfaced</a> showing Porter in 2021 yelling at a staff member to “get out of my f***ing shot” when making a video message for the Biden administration. 
Porter’s new ad, which features her support for abolishing ICE and calls to “Dump Trump,” concludes with her asking supporters lined up behind her to “please get out of my shot.” 
“I think it&#8217;s important to show Californians who I really am. I&#8217;m someone who&#8217;s not like most politicians,” Porter said in an interview with Nexstar Media Group. “I push a shopping cart, fill a minivan. You see that in the ad, but you&#8217;ll also see somebody who&#8217;s taken responsibility again and again in this race, and is also able to laugh at herself and show that she&#8217;s grown. And I think that is a mark of leadership, and I want to show people that.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨NEW: Democratic candidate for CA governor Katie Porter releasing a new campaign ad referencing the viral video of her yelling at a staffer.
Here’s part of our exclusive conversation about why she decided to do this ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/Ito7sLd7Cv">pic.twitter.com/Ito7sLd7Cv</a>
— Nikki Laurenzo (@NikkiLaurenzo) <a href="https://twitter.com/NikkiLaurenzo/status/2051446509963731042?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Porter added that she thought referencing the vulgar moment showed humor and was a good way to “laugh at yourself” and acknowledged that the staff video was not her “best moment.” 
“Most politicians, let&#8217;s face it, they don&#8217;t push a shopping cart. They also can&#8217;t laugh at themselves,” she said. “The real Katie Porter is the one who has been on the campaign trail for the last year, who has made apologies, and has shown that she can do better.” 
Porter also claimed she performed well during a tough interview with CBS reporter Julie Watts, even though she <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/california-dem-flips-walks-out-on-reporter-for-asking-basic-questions">faced criticism</a> for complaining about the number of follow-up questions she was asked. 
California&#8217;s governor’s race features a crowded Democrat field that has led some to be concerned they could be locked out of the general election because of the state’s jungle primary system.
Recent <a href="https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/nation/california/2026/05/04/steve-hilton-and-xavier-becerra-tied-in-california-governor-race-poll/89933256007/">polling shows</a> former Fox News host Steve Hilton and former President Joe Biden’s Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra leading with 18%. In third place is Republican Sheriff Chad Bianco with 14%. Next, is billionaire Tom Steyer with 12%, and Porter comes in fifth with 8%. 
President Donald Trump has endorsed Hilton, which some strategists have said jeopardizes the chance of a Democratic lockout.

US-POLITICS-VOTE-CALIFORNIA-GOVERNOR-DEBATE

Democrat Spins Her Profane Rant Against Staffer Into Campaign Ad

Democrats

Katie Porter

The suspect accused of starting one of the largest wildfires in Los Angeles history, fixated on Luigi Mangione weeks before starting the blaze out of resentment for the rich, according to federal prosecutors. 
Federal prosecutors said in a trial memorandum that 30-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht demonstrated an obsession with Mangione in the days before he started the Lachman and Palisades Fires on January 1, 2025. Mangione has developed a cult following among the Left after he was arrested for gunning down Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare.
“On January 24, 2025, when investigators asked defendant why someone might commit arson in the Pacific Palisades, he responded that it would be out of resentment of the rich enjoying their money as ‘we’re basically being enslaved by them’ and compared such an act of ‘desperation’ to the murder for which Mangione was charged,” the memo said. 
The memo added that Uber passengers who rode with Rinderknecht on December 31 and January 1 recounted him being “angry, intense, driving erratically, and ranting about being ‘pissed off at the world’ and Luigi Mangione, capitalism, and vigilantism.”
Prosecutors described Rinderknecht becoming “fixated” on Mangione in the weeks leading up to the fires, saying his internet search history revealed queries like “free Luigi Mangione,” “lets take down all the billionaires,” and “reddit lets kill all the billionaires.”
Rinderknecht has been charged with destroying property by fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, and setting timber afire. Facing over forty years in prison, he has pleaded not guilty. 
&#8220;Millings of people in this country are fascinated with Luigi Mangione. To suggest that is a connection to the crime of ours is ridiculousarson is ridiculous [SIC],&#8221; Steve Haney, Rinderknecht&#8217;s lawyer, told The Daily Wire. &#8220;These are the depths that the government are going to in the absence of any evidence of my client committed a crime.&#8221;
The memo said that Rinderknecht had an obsession with fire and had previously burned a Bible. 
“A few months before the fire, defendant asked ChatGPT — an AI system that he used as a confidant and diary — to generate and then modify images of a ‘burning forest’ next to ‘a bunch of people running away,’” prosecutors said. “Defendant also confided to ChatGPT that he had burned a bible and that it felt ‘liberating.’ Later, after he knew he was under investigation for the fire, defendant threatened to burn down his sister’s house.”
Mangione is currently facing charges related to the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024. While a judge dismissed federal murder charges against Mangione, he still faces second-degree New York murder charges. In the wake of Mangione’s arrest, leftist activists have called for his release, claiming he was targeting an exploitative corporation.

MixCollage-04-May-2026-09-14-AM-5387

Major Arson Suspect Obsessed Over Luigi Mangione And Wanted To Kill The Rich, Prosecutors Say

Fire

Los Angeles

Luigi Mangione

Embattled Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass accused her reelection opponent, Spencer Pratt, of &#8220;exploiting the grief&#8221; of the LA wildfire victims. 
In an interview with left-wing podcast host Katie Phang, Bass criticized Pratt&#8217;s outspoken advocacy, claiming that he was capitalizing on the tragedy even though he was among those who lost a home in the Palisades wildfire. 
&#8220;Well, honestly, before this, I had never heard of Spencer Pratt. But the thing I am concerned about is that I feel like he’s exploiting the grief of people in the Palisades. And I think that’s reprehensible,&#8221; Bass said. &#8220;I think he&#8217;s about his own celebrity; he&#8217;s famous now again.&#8221;
&#8220;I think he could benefit by a basic civics course, because I don&#8217;t think he understands the basics of how any government works,&#8221; she added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
LA Mayor Karen Bass:
Well, honestly, before this, I had never heard of Spencer Pratt. But the thing I am concerned about is that I feel like he’s exploiting the grief of people in the Palisades. And I think that’s reprehensible. <a href="https://t.co/PGbn9UKmkZ">pic.twitter.com/PGbn9UKmkZ</a>
— Acyn (@Acyn) <a href="https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/2050440571588944222?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2026</a></blockquote>
The attacks come after Pratt, a former reality TV star, posted a<a href="https://x.com/spencerpratt/status/2049497051793412557?s=20"> viral advertisement</a> blasting Bass and other city leaders.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/reality-star-rips-karen-bass-in-fiery-campaign-video">In the campaign video</a>, Pratt films himself outside the mansions belonging to Bass and City Council member Nithya Raman. The scene then cuts to a homeless encampment as Pratt narrates, “They don’t have to live in the mess they created. Where you live,” he says.
&#8220;This is where I live,” Pratt adds while posing outside a trailer at the site of his burned-down home.
“They let my home burn down. I know what the consequences of failed leadership are. That’s why I’m running for mayor. For my sons, and the rest of us Angelenos that want to stop these corrupt politicians from destroying our city. We are gonna get the golden age of Los Angeles back,” he concludes.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
They not like us <a href="https://t.co/78hducHDUE">pic.twitter.com/78hducHDUE</a>
— Spencer Pratt (@spencerpratt) <a href="https://twitter.com/spencerpratt/status/2049497051793412557?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2026</a></blockquote>
In January 2025, wind-whipped flames tore through homes and devastated entire neighborhoods in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades, an upscale community near the Los Angeles County coastline. Firefighters and emergency crews worked for weeks to fully contain the fires, which burned 50,000 acres and destroyed nearly 16,000 homes.
The fires, among the deadliest in California&#8217;s history, directly resulted in at least 31 deaths, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. A more in-depth analysis by the<a href="https://www.bu.edu/sph/news/articles/2025/death-count-for-2025-la-county-wildfires-likely-hundreds-higher-than-official-records-show/#:~:text=An%20estimated%20440%20deaths%20are,excess%20mortality%20during%20that%20period."> Boston University School of Public Health</a>, however, estimated that the fires were responsible for 409 excess deaths.
&#8220;The additional 409 deaths that were excluded from official death records likely resulted from partially attributable factors such as lung or heart conditions due to increased exposure to air pollution from smoke and burning objects, as well as indirect factors such as disruptions in other critical healthcare or mental health emergencies,&#8221; the researchers said.
Mayor Bass, who was representing the Biden Administration in Africa as Los Angeles communities were reduced to rubble, came under scorching criticism for her handling of the fires.
Returning from her overseas trip, Bass was caught flat-footed and literally speechless at Los Angeles International Airport.
&#8220;Do you owe citizens an apology for being absent while their homes were burning, and do you regret cutting the fire department budget by millions of dollars, Madam Mayor?&#8221;<a href="https://x.com/SkyNews/status/1877115173443400065?s=20"> Sky News reporter David Blevins asked Bass at the airport</a>.
&#8220;Have you absolutely nothing to say to the citizens today?&#8221; he added.
Pratt is a first-time candidate facing more than a dozen other contenders in the nonpartisan mayoral primary in June, including Bass, who is seeking re-election. <a href="blank">Prediction market</a>s currently favor leftist Nithya Raman.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
&#8216;Do you owe citizens an apology for being absent whilst their homes were burning? Do you regret cutting the fire department&#8217;s budget? 
<a href="https://twitter.com/skydavidblevins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@skydavidblevins</a> questions the mayor of LA, Karen Bass, as she faces backlash regarding the California wildfires.<a href="https://t.co/Nkz8onjC7V">https://t.co/Nkz8onjC7V</a> <a href="https://t.co/WwRwp6Imqz">pic.twitter.com/WwRwp6Imqz</a>
— Sky News (@SkyNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1877115173443400065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2025</a></blockquote>

Karen Bass

Karen Bass Accuses Spencer Pratt Of ‘Exploiting Grief’ Of Palisades Fire Victims. He Is One.

Palisades Fire

Disneyland is cracking down on certain behaviors causing disruption in their theme park, which has some visitors crying foul.
The biggest rule update causing an uproar is a cell phone policy nicknamed &#8220;Stow it, Don’t Show it&#8221; that would require guests to fully put away their phones when going on certain rides, including Mickey &amp; Minnie’s Runaway Railroad and the Incredicoaster, as <a href="https://insidethemagic.net/2026/04/disneyland-bans-stanley-cups-and-phones-on-certain-rides-to-protect-guests-from-themselves-rl1/">reported</a> by the Disney-focused site Inside the Magic.
Another item guests won’t be able to bring on the ride is heavy insulated tumblers. This rule is popularly known as “the Stanley ban,” referencing the popular brand-name cup. It was implemented as a reaction to an increase in “unplanned downtimes” for rides last year, per <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/travel/disneyland-cracks-down-guests-sweeping-new-restrictions-sparking-backlash">Fox News</a>, which was all due to security incidents related to guest behavior.
It all comes down to common sense. Phones and metal cups can become projectiles during high rates of speed on these and other rides, which poses a potential safety threat to riders. Cast members have been instructed to conduct visual checks and refuse to dispatch the ride if phones or cups are visible, the outlet noted.
There will also reportedly be cast members searching bags before guests get in line for the rides, specifically looking for oversized cups.
Natalie Katzka, director of attractions engineering services at Disneyland, spoke at a briefing on the updates. &#8220;Handheld filming is no longer permitted on these high-motion rides. … Phones must be fully secured in a bag or pocket before boarding,&#8221; Katzka confirmed.
Disneyland will reportedly be providing cubbies and storage lockers for phones and other loose items.
Beyond just posing a risk of flying through the air and hitting someone, Inside the Magic noted, phones and big cups could cause other problems. A dropped phone could trigger an “E-stop,” or emergency safety stop of the ride, while liquid from a spilled cup could mess with magnetic and electrical components of the ride and cause delays. These disruptions have larger repercussions across the park as staff would have to spend time addressing these issues and wait times for other park visitors would increase.
While the changes make logical sense, some Reddit commenters are mad about the cell phone policy in particular because the app is required for ride access and payment throughout the park. 
&#8220;Their entire ecosystem … requires you to use your phone for everything. This is laughable,&#8221; one Reddit user wrote.
&#8220;Disney makes everything as app-based as possible … then complains about people being glued to their phones,” another commenter agreed.

Disneyland

Disney Just Banned Two Items You’d Never Leave Home Without

cell phones

Disney

rules

A Southern California city is suing Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta over the state’s sanctuary policies, arguing they are putting public safety at risk and tying the hands of local police.
Officials in El Cajon say those policies had real-world consequences when federal authorities warned the city that 52 children may have been victims of sex trafficking by illegal immigrants — but the state blocked local officials from acting on that information.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in San Diego County, seeks to overturn Senate Bill 54, a 2017 law that limits cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration agencies like ICE.
Mayor Bill Wells, a Republican backed by the America First Policy Institute, argues the law forces police into an impossible position — choosing between following state rules or enforcing federal law.
“Our officers are put in a situation every day where they’re breaking either federal law or state law,” Wells told The Daily Wire. “SB 54 is in direct conflict with federal law.”
Wells said the restrictions go even further, preventing officers from coordinating with federal agents or even asking basic questions about immigration status in many cases.
The clash came into sharp focus earlier this year. In February 2025, federal immigration authorities alerted El Cajon officials that dozens of unaccompanied children in the area could be victims of sex trafficking.
A city council member sought permission from the state Attorney General’s office to use that information to conduct welfare checks on the children.
The answer was no.
“Pursuing wellness checks of unaccompanied children alongside or based on information provided by federal immigration authorities may implicate conduct prohibited by SB 54,” Special Assistant Attorney General Jackie Gonzalez wrote in a letter obtained by The Daily Wire, adding that county social services — not local police working with federal agents — should handle such cases.
Wells blasted the response as a “moral failure.”
“I think it’s really important to understand how far this ideology goes,” he said. “They are so wedded to this anti-ICE ideology that when the question is, can we save children who are being sex trafficked, the answer is no. That’s shocking.”
Wells also tied the broader impact of illegal immigration policies to rising crime and drug-related deaths in his city of roughly 100,000 people.
“California used to be the greatest state in the nation,” he said. “Now it’s declined on so many fronts, and a lot of that comes from this idea that the state doesn’t care about enforcing the law.”
SB 54 bars state and local law enforcement agencies from using resources to assist in federal immigration enforcement, including sharing certain information with federal authorities.
The law has already survived a major legal challenge. During President Donald Trump’s first term, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld SB 54, ruling that the federal government cannot force states to participate in immigration enforcement.
“We have no doubt that SB 54 makes the jobs of federal immigration authorities more difficult,” the court wrote, but added that California has the right to decline cooperation.
The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to take up the case, calling SB 54 the “centerpiece” of California’s immigration policy, but the justices declined to hear it.
Wells argues his lawsuit is different and could ultimately give individual cities more authority to decide how much they cooperate with federal agencies.
“I don’t know a law enforcement officer anywhere in California who wouldn’t want more tools to get bad guys off the street,” he said.
State officials have already signaled they will fight the lawsuit.
“El Cajon should prepare for another loss,” Bonta said in a statement. “There have been endless attempts to mislead the public about SB 54, but the truth is that anyone who commits a crime can be held accountable under California law.”
Wells fired back, accusing the attorney general of ignoring the real-world consequences of the policy.
“It’s so obviously clear he’s making things up,” Wells said. “I really lost respect for his ability to be [an] honest actor in this.&#8221;
Wells said the stakes go beyond a single lawsuit.
At its core, he argued, the case is about whether local communities can work with federal authorities to stop crime — or whether state policies will continue to stand in the way.

California Governor Newsom Announces Lawsuit Challenging Trump Tariff Authority

EXCLUSIVE: Democrat Law Blocking Police From Saving Trafficked Kids Is Getting Called Out

Immigration

Lawsuit

A four-word caption and a short video were all it took for LA-based mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt to go viral, again.
&#8220;They not like us.&#8221;
The former reality star has been fundraising like mad in hopes of unseating incumbent Democrat Karen Bass, and with mega exposure like this, some of his supporters are saying he just might do it.
In the campaign video, the villain from the MTV reality show “The Hills” films himself outside mansions belonging to Bass and Councilmember Nithya Raman. The scene then cuts to a homeless encampment as Pratt narrates, “They don’t have to live in the mess they created. Where YOU live,” he says.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
They not like us <a href="https://t.co/78hducHDUE">pic.twitter.com/78hducHDUE</a>
— Spencer Pratt (@spencerpratt) <a href="https://twitter.com/spencerpratt/status/2049497051793412557?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“This is where I live,” Pratt adds while posing outside a trailer. The mayoral hopeful is openly furious over the city&#8217;s handling of the Palisades fire and the aftermath — and blames poor leadership for the conditions that led to the fire happening in the first place.
Pratt and his wife lost their home in the fire.
“They let my home burn down. I know what the consequences of failed leadership are. That’s why I’m running for mayor. For my sons, and the rest of us Angelenos that want to stop these corrupt politicians from destroying our city. We are gonna get the golden age of Los Angeles back,” he concludes.
The former reality star is getting a whole lot of support from a variety of places. According to <a href="https://www.foxla.com/news/lakers-jeanie-buss-la-mayoral-race-spencer-pratt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FOX 11</a>, Jeanie Buss — the controlling owner and governor of the Los Angeles Lakers — donated $1,800 to Pratt&#8217;s campaign, the maximum amount permitted by law.
X users are loving his new ad, which has 8.1 million views as of Thursday morning.
“One of the greatest political ads I&#8217;ve seen in a very long time,” one popular reply <a href="https://x.com/mattvanswol/status/2049523647874826629">said</a>. “Down to earth. Clear willingness to work hard. Dichotomy between ‘them’ and ‘us’ is amazing&#8230; those who POSTURE, vs those who have to live with the consequences of their posturing. 10/10 no notes.”
Last week, Pratt made <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/reality-star-rips-dem-karen-bass-for-allowing-homeless-to-conduct-nazi-like-experiments-on-dogs">headlines</a> after he ripped Bass for allowing animal abuse committed by the homeless to continue. If elected, he committed to putting an end to the practice. “Unbelievable levels of evil from the druggies that are left to massacre these poor animals. This ends when I’m mayor,” he promised.
Pratt is a first-time candidate facing more than a dozen other contenders in the nonpartisan mayoral primary in June, including Bass, who is seeking re-election. Pratt’s campaign website describes him as “Karen Bass’ worst nightmare.”

Spencer Pratt

Reality Star Rips Karen Bass In Fiery Campaign Video

Mayor

Politics

The top Democrats running for California governor said they would not suspend the 61.2-cent gas tax, despite the Golden State consistently having one of the highest gas price averages in the nation.
Billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer, former Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA), and former Biden-era Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra each oppose scrapping the tax, they explained during a CBS California debate on Tuesday night. The average price of gas in California is $5.98 a gallon as of Wednesday, according to <a href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AAA</a>.
Becerra said he’s “not in favor of cutting the gas tax” and cited infrastructure funding concerns. Just days prior, the Democrat blamed Trump for the pain at the pump, even though the Biden administration also faced sharp criticism for expensive gas prices.
“Let’s make sure Donald Trump is not starting reckless wars to keep the prices of gasoline down. By up to $2 a gallon, we could reduce the price if that war in Iraq that Donald Trump started would go away,” Becerra said during the Nexstar Media Group debate last week, mistakenly referring to Operation Epic Fury in Iran as a conflict in Iraq.
During a lightning round question-and-answer session during the CBS debate, Porter simply said “no” to a suspension, and Steyer said he “wants a windfall profits tax on the oil companies.&#8221; Steyer did not follow the CBS moderator&#8217;s directions by answering either &#8220;yes or no,&#8221; but confirmed shortly after his &#8220;windfall&#8221; pitch that he is against a suspension of the tax.
Steyer echoed his stance during a Nexstar Media Group debate last week, and he also blamed the president.
“Let me say that the reason gasoline is so expensive that our president, Donald Trump, has started an insane war in Iran and driven up the cost of gasoline for everyone in California,” the Democrat said during the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKIUJua6iCI" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nexstar debate</a>. “That has put $70 billion into the pockets of the oil companies who actually put him in the presidency.”
Both Republicans in the race, former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, said they were in favor of suspending the tax.
Two non-leading Democrats also said they would give Californians some relief at the gas pump. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, a Newsom critic and Democrat, said he would “suspend then reform the gas tax,” and he called it “the most regressive tax in California.”
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, a Democrat struggling in the polls, said he is a “yes” on suspending the tax.
The Golden State’s June 2 primary blew wide open earlier this month with the exit of Democratic frontrunner Eric Swalwell, who dropped out of the race and resigned from Congress after multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. Newsom has yet to endorse a candidate, whereas Hilton was endorsed by President Donald Trump.
A recent Emerson College <a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/governor/general/2026/california/open_primary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">poll</a> showed Hilton in first place, with Bianco and Steyer tied for the second-place spot, which still leaves a narrow possibility of a Republican lockout in the contest.

Xavier Becerra

Top Democrats Could Instantly Lower Gas Prices. They Refuse To Do It.

Gavin Newsom

Tom Steyer

A doctor asked the Supreme Court to intervene in her battle against woke California medical education requirements she says stifle her free speech.
Dr. Azadeh Khatibi and the medical watchdog organization Do No Harm filed a <a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/1032366223/Khatibi-Pet-for-Cert-1?_gl=1*158e1y2*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTg1NjQ4MTE0NS4xNzc3Mzg2MDE2*_ga_Z4ZC50DED6*czE3NzczODYwMTUkbzEkZzEkdDE3NzczODYwMTckajU4JGwwJGgw*_ga_8KZ8BV0P5W*czE3NzczODYwMTUkbzEkZzEkdDE3NzczODYwMTckajU4JGwwJGgw">petition</a> on Tuesday asking the Supreme Court to take up a case challenging continuing medical education requirements that mandate instructors teach doctors about “implicit bias,” which is the claim that a person can unconsciously discriminate against another. Khatibi argues that the requirements, which were signed into law by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, force medical professionals to push politically charged ideas.
“By mandating ideologically charged racial theories be taught in continuing medical education courses, California infringes on physicians’ free speech rights,” Do No Harm Chair Stanley Goldfarb told The Daily Wire. “We are asking the Supreme Court to intervene to protect these critical rights in the field of medicine. Doctors do not need lawmakers telling them what to think when providing medical advice to patients.”
The petition filed Tuesday wants the court to address the question of whether a state can “compel private professionals to convey a contested ideological message as a condition of teaching courses required for a professional license.” Khatibi and Do No Harm are both represented by the Pacific Legal Foundation.
The requirements being challenged say that those giving continuing medical education must give examples of “how implicit bias affects perceptions and treatment decisions of physicians and surgeons, leading to disparities in health outcomes,” or suggest strategies to address how “unintended biases in decision-making may contribute to health care disparities by shaping behavior and producing differences in medical treatment.”
Previous attempts to challenge the requirement at the federal district and appeals court levels have been unsuccessful. Those courts have said the requirements are part of the state’s prerogative to regulate medical practice.
The petition filed with the Supreme Court argues that the implicit bias mandate exceeds the state’s regulatory power.
“That sweeping ruling erases the constitutional boundary between government and private speech, threatens the speech rights of countless professionals, and directly conflicts with this Court’s precedents limiting the government speech doctrine and protecting against compelled speech,” the petition said.
Goldfarb said that there is no evidence of implicit bias in health care and that doctors should be trained to address each patient’s unique needs rather than focusing on race.
“There is no evidence so-called systemic implicit bias exists in health care, and propagating such debunked pseudoscience only deepens suspicion between patients and providers,” he said. “We urge the Court to take up our case and resolve California’s overreach once and for all.”

Governor Gavin Newsom in Hayward, California

Government Forcing Ideology Into Medicine Vs. Doctors’ Right To Think And Speak Freely

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Former Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) sparked backlash with a profanity-laced campaign-fundraising email sent just over 24 hours after a third assassination attempt was made on President Donald Trump.
The email in question was sent on Monday night — less than two days after would-be assassin Cole Tomas Allen charged a Secret Service security checkpoint and opened fire at the Washington Hilton, where thousands were gathered for the annual White House Correspondents&#8217; Dinner.
The email’s subject line was simply “F*** Trump,” and it encouraged people to read the Democrat’s speech from the California Democratic Party’s convention and “then make a donation to Katie’s campaign for governor.” At the bottom of the email, it asked specifically for $5 to help Porter achieve her gubernatorial aspirations.
“Say it with me. Ready, 1 … 2 … 3 … F*** Trump,” the email stated, referring back to her remarks.
“Yeah, that’s right, F*** Trump. Together, we’re going to kick Trump’s ass in November and stop him in his tracks,” Porter added.
“I’ll stand up to Trump and his cronies again and again, just as I did in Congress — with or without my whiteboard. But this election for Governor is about far more than defeating Trump,” her speech continued.
The California Democrat made no posts to Facebook or X condemning the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night, even as information came out indicating that the alleged shooter was intentionally trying to target the president and other administration officials.
The Daily Wire obtained and reviewed the email that came from LeftNet, which describes itself as “an online political network fighting for progressive causes and candidates focused on social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.”
Conservative writer <a href="https://x.com/bethanyshondark/status/2048902821244731404?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bethany Mandel</a> called out the email on X, writing in a now-viral post to “imagine Barack Obama surviving three assassination attempts and 18 hours later, a Republican sent a fundraising email like this.”
“It takes a lot to shock me. But this truly is shocking,” Kari Lake, who helps lead the United States Agency for Global Media, wrote in response.
“The Democrat party is unhinged,” Texas state Rep. Daniel Alders wrote.
Porter is in a hotly competitive race to be Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D-CA) successor, with her position recently bolstered as former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/eric-swalwell-suspends-campaign-amid-sexual-assault-allegations">exited the race</a> due to sexual misconduct allegations.
Many polls for the top-two June 2 primary show Republican Steve Hilton leading, with billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer as the highest polling Democrat. However, Porter is not far behind in the packed field, according to <a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/governor/general/2026/california/open_primary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RealClearPolling</a>.
Porter’s campaign has faced multiple controversies, including an explosive interview with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR4SRUWANjI&amp;t=822s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CBS News California</a> that led to questions about her temperament to serve as governor. In addition, <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/08/katie-porter-tears-into-staffer-new-video-00598942" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Politico</a> reported that she was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-episode-drops-in-katie-porter-drama-staffer-takes-verbal-abuse-for-being-in-my-shot">caught on video</a> in 2021 telling one of her staffers to “Get out of my f***ing shot!”

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READ IT: Dem’s Profanity-Laced Fundraising E-mail Sent After Assassin Targeted Trump

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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.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
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.”

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

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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

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