My phone vibrated — an email from the L. Ron Hubbard Life Exhibition. Can you come at 2 p.m.? It was 1:45 — I broke into a jog. Earlier, I’d passed the building along the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I recognized the gold bust in the lobby as the famous author — cast with a smile as if expecting an audience. A wide smile. He seemed too happy. I’d booked a private museum tour of the notorious “religion” known as Scientology, widely regarded as a cult.
Huffing, I made it back with seconds to spare. The doors were still locked. 
“One second!” A muffled voice called from within. A wavy-haired brunette rushed around a counter and unlocked the door. 
“Can I help you?” She asked with a German accent. 
“Hi, I’m here for the tour!” I said. 
“Fantastic! Our two o’clock. I’m Elsa,” she said, eyes unblinking as she let me in. 
Behind her was a bookshop where every shelf was devoted to the same author, Hubbard, except for a stack of annual anthologies. The <a href="https://writersofthefuture.com/">Writers of the Future</a> winners. Each year, thousands submitted shorts and competed for a cash prize along with a coveted spot in print. Judges for the contest included Orson Scott Card and, while living, Frank Herbert. 
“It’s a great opportunity for new writers!” Elsa said, “Last year’s winners are meeting here this week! They do a workshop with the judges!” 
“So… Orson Scott Card is in the building?” I asked, and Elsa shrugged with a telling smile. “Is he a member?” 
“Oh no, but we work with all talents regardless of status. And that’s a good introduction to the tour! Scientology, despite misconception, is not theological. It’s an applied study of the sciences!”
I held back asking about Xenu (by their cosmology, Space Satan), as the bulk of the museum was hidden behind a wall and Hubbard’s golden bust. Many YouTubers and journalists have attempted interviews, short-lived for their inability to hold back probing questions like, “Why is Earth a galactic gulag?” or, “What happened to Shelly Miscavige?” Instead, my approach would be to experience the tour as the church intended. I had full faith in my discernment, and some faith I would not be abducted.
Elsa swiped an ID card, and a set of large double doors opened. Behind them, the maze-like interior opened inward. Framed photos of a young Boy Scout surrounded a built-in projector screen. Elsa gestured to a theater seat, and I sat. 
“We always start the tour with our introductory presentation,” Elsa said, then pulled a switch that dimmed the lights. The projector turned on, and a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dziK04-9qqQ">video</a> played along with inspirational music. Rolling text appeared over a gold background: &#8220;As any understanding of a religion includes an understanding of its founder, we present a brief chronology of Scientology founder Ron Hubbard.&#8221;
It went on to explain that the intent was also to dispel common misconceptions and ended with: &#8220;For here was a man who forever maintained that to know life one must live life…&#8221;
Cornfields and maps shifted in sepia. A narrator explained Hubbard was born in 1911 in Nebraska. At 12, he entered the Boy Scouts and was chosen to meet then-president Calvin Coolidge. A year later, he became “the youngest Eagle Scout in history.”At 16, Hubbard went overseas, traveling to “a land steeped in mystery,” or Asia. He also saw “wonders beyond any known scientific explanation.” I  held a laugh as these were not detailed and the narrator just moved on. 
Hubbard allegedly returned to the United States, enrolling in George Washington University, where he studied nuclear physics. Then came WWII. Hubbard was recommended, not drafted, to become a lieutenant in the Navy. He would command two vessels, succeed in battle, and suffer combat wounds. At the VA hospital in Oak Knoll, California, Hubbard cured himself. A few years later, he solidified his techniques and drafted the precursor to Scientology: the 1950 book &#8220;Dianetics.&#8221;
It was a bestseller, and Hubbard led a series of fan gatherings where participants relived their past lives. The Church of Scientology was born (not stated, but established 1954) and spread internationally. 
The narrator becomes grave: Hubbard died in 1986. Then he finishes with, “What kind of man could have founded the only major religion of the twentieth century? … A man such as L. Ron Hubbard.” A photo fades in, Hubbard smiling with one hand on his cheek. The music reaches climax, and the projector shutters off. 
Before resuming the tour, allow me to fact-check. L. Ron Hubbard was likely not the youngest Eagle Scout (there are not comprehensive records of Scout ages from the time period), though he did meet Calvin Coolidge at a meet-and-greet. He did travel to Asia but journaled that it was “trashy.”
He attended George Washington University but flunked entry-level atomics before dropping out. He was a Navy lieutenant in charge of two ships but was removed from both commands. He was not wounded in combat but was a patient at Oak Knoll after the war. &#8220;Dianetics&#8221; was a bestseller, and Scientology does carry some traits of a major religion. But it is not the only one established in the 20th century. Contenders include: the Nation of Islam, Falun Gong, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Rastafari, and, according to its members, the Church of Satan.
We then journeyed around a corner to a newspaper stand featuring titles like Cosmic, Astounding, Unbelievable, and Beyond. There were life-size sculptures depicting Hubbard&#8217;s stories. An orange alien with a threatening hunch stood over a device. Across from him was a caveman reaching for it. Next to this was another scene, a &#8217;50s-era cockpit with two semi-humans sitting at the controls. 
Elsa explained the vignettes were from Hubbard’s most popular books. The alien and the caveman were from &#8220;Battlefield Earth&#8221; (1982), and the others were villain-protagonists from &#8220;Mission Earth&#8221; (1985-87). In front of the displays, each book sat beneath enclosed glass. 
“Beautiful, right?” Elsa said. “I’m reading the series right now, book seven.”
“Any good?” 
“It’s…” she looked up, searching, “…you have to read them, and then you have to re-read them.” 
“And then, read them again?” 
“Exactly!” We shared a knowing smile. Then she gestured to follow.
Elsa slid backward into a small theater. A pressed curtain wrapped around an extended stage. I sat in the front row as Elsa vanished behind me. The lights dimmed. The curtain pulled apart. Reveal: a giant sculpted volcano. A symbol? Or a hint to deeper truth? Speakers blared and the volcano “erupted” with red and orange lights like I’d angered it. 
A projector screen rose from the floor. Light struck, and suddenly I was watching what felt like an early commercial for antidepressants. 
The same narrator asked, “Are you unhappy?” followed by a woman, “Does your life lack meaning?” Similar questions rattled off as shadow-people blurred past. Finally, the narrator said, “In this video, you will learn the secrets of Dianetics, and how to apply them to the betterment of your life.” Then the projector clicked off, the screen descended, and the curtains reclosed around the stage. 
“What?” I asked out loud. Where were the secrets? Why would the last line be an obvious lie? The volcano — was that it? I waited for Elsa to return. 
“Now I’m going to take you to one of our most exciting exhibits!” Elsa said, beelining for a stairwell. 
I ran after, and we climbed to the second floor balcony. A massive display of what I’d call Geiger-toasters. Some like deco-radios. A few antiques sported the name Hubbard Electrometer. 
“These are the e-meters, aren’t they?” I asked. 
“What have you heard about these?” Elsa asked, a tone sharper. 
This was the first I’d slipped — showing I knew more than I’d let on. The e-meter was a somewhat pointless device that measured resistance to electrical flow. By holding two metal handles, a person would complete the circuit. 
A church member called an auditor would calibrate the device during sessions. They ask questions like a therapist or interrogator with the intent of releasing spirit demons called Engrams from your mind (and we still haven’t gotten to Space Satan). As Lex Fridman summarized while in conversation with ex-auditor Aaron Smith-Levin, “It’s a real device you can calibrate to probably get an outcome that you want.” 
“I’ve heard about these just from college here in LA,” I said, and Elsa eased.
“Why don’t you take the handles?” 
I followed her instruction and she pointed to the wriggling arrow.
“With this technology, I can tell what you’re thinking — more or less.” 
“You’re an auditor?” I asked, and she nodded, gleaming. Arrow far right. 
“It’s a rewarding experience, especially when you’re a high-enough level, because then two auditors can read each other at the same time —” Elsa inhaled sharply; she’d said more than intended. I didn’t push the topic, but this was the first I’d heard of dual auditing (add it to the wiki). 
Elsa must have read my mind (more or less) because she clicked the e-meter off. Then turned to the next exhibit. 
“I think you’ll like this. You seem very industrious.” 
Next was the least creative display in the entire museum: a glass case containing seven large books breaking down how L. Ron Hubbard thought corporations should be run. Behind the case, a metal plaque showcased hundreds of company names that used his “Efficient Management System.” Names you would recognize. 
“What is this?” 
“L. Ron Hubbard not only wrote epics and explored science; he tackled the problem of management. Each volume represents a key department in any business. All seven must work in tandem.” 
“Where are you in the hierarchy?” 
“I’m in division one, dealing with public relations.” 
“You like it?” 
“I did not enjoy division three.” 
“Oh?” I said, and she did not expand. 
In all fairness, I have no clue if this is legitimate. Redditors have described the system as “diabolically ruthless,” which the ardent capitalist might desire. One can learn the Efficient Management System via purchase of the volume set, or by attending the School for Administration here in Los Angeles. Management experts can also be hired to impose the system upon your underlings. 
This shrine to capitalism was the last second-floor exhibit, so I followed Elsa back down the stairs. We arced left and found ourselves in a cartoonishly extensive hallway, each wall filled with bookshelves. At the end, two monolithic wooden boards covered in framed awards hung on the wall.
“This is my favorite part,” Elsa said, and trumpets blared. 
The panels pulled apart, revealing yet another pair of monolithic boards: certificates, diplomas, plaques. Three more pairs opened before revealing the same photograph of L. Ron Hubbard from earlier. He was middle-aged, smiling with his hand on his cheek, eyes full of joy. 
“Can I get a picture with him?” I asked.
“Oh — it’s going to close in a second, so we have to be quick!” 
I posed, and Elsa clicked the button on my phone’s camera app. Moments later, the music cut, the monoliths reset, and the tour ended. 
On return to the lobby, I expected pressure to buy a book. YouTubers have captured such behavior. But Elsa didn’t push. I was almost offended. When I asked, she beamed, recommending the “church favorite,” &#8220;Final Blackout&#8221; (1940). It chronicled the rise of a charismatic lieutenant in war-ravaged England. Elsa invited me back whenever I liked. 
“It’s been a pleasure,” I said as the door closed. It had been four hours, and I had numerous texts from friends asking if I was alive. I smiled, then didn’t respond. 
Amusing, elaborate — a fine experience for a weekday afternoon. Given the length and free admission, tourists might consider buying a book. It’s a cheap souvenir for LA, a testament to survival, and most aren’t about Space Satan. We never did get to him, though the volcano was a highlight. For the curious, I say, chance the rabbit hole! Enjoy the museum built around one man’s ego and some of his science fiction. As for Elsa, I never did gauge her — if she truly believed in Hubbard’s revelations. 
I looked back through the plate glass, at his bust. I’d run a mile to get past him, seen through his grandeur, and left with his story. He was still too happy. A crack in his facade, maybe — but cast in gold. 
***
Erby Char is the pseudonym of a writer and audio producer whose work ranges across culture, technology, travel, and the strange fringes of modern life. He also writes fiction and designs games. You can follow him on X <a href="https://x.com/ErbyCharWrites">@ErbyCharWrites</a>.
This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/introducing-upstream-a-lifestyle-and-culture-section-of-the-daily-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream,</a> The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.

Gemini_Generated_Image_jo7n1njo7n1njo7n

What I Saw At The Scientology Founder’s Museum

cult

hollywood

l ron hubbard

lifestyle

los angeles

scientology

I’ll never forget how a small kitchen knife could only slightly nick someone’s heart and still kill them in less than a minute. But the thing that stuck with me most after serving on a murder trial jury was the realization that none of us were ever qualified to determine someone else’s fate.
We were just regular people. We barely had our own lives in order. Let the evidence show we had no business interpreting the facts as they were presented. 
After spending three weeks trekking to the downtown Los Angeles courthouse, and three days in deliberations, we couldn’t agree on what happened at the scene of the crime. I don’t want to blame our hung jury on anyone in particular, but the woman with the curly red hair who announced to the room, “I mean, I could see myself stabbing someone,” was part of the problem. 
With all the buzz around the Lindsay Clancy murder trial — and all the TikTok glommers-on looking for their own 15 minutes of fame — I can’t help but imagine what the scene in jury deliberations must be like. Outside that room, we all have our armchair internet opinions. The experts make their projections. But the only thing we can really count on is that the jury is in no position to have the final say. 
“The jury is the fact finder while the judge determines the law,” The Daily Wire’s legal analyst Heidi Hall says. “Juries resolve questions of fact … what happened, who’s telling the truth, whether the evidence adds up. The point of a jury is to use their common sense and life experience to determine credibility.” This is, of course, assuming jurors possess what’s known as common sense.
Back in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_trial_by_jury_in_England">Medieval times</a>, jurors were chosen because they knew the defendant and could speak to their character, or they had witnessed the crime. We don’t do it like that anymore, opting for the “impartial outsider” strategy. Voir dire — “to speak the truth” in French — eliminates jurors with personal bias toward the facts of the case. But who can really be impartial?
Once the 12 members of my jury were impaneled, someone suggested we break the ice. We introduced ourselves with the bare minimum. “I’m Steve, I work for LA County parking enforcement, and you guys can go to hell,” Juror #2 added, before everyone booed him. Someone else was a delivery driver for a Disney-related laundry service. There was a mom. A painter. A Nordstrom employee. Someone who claimed he had been stabbed on the street. And several people who hate icebreakers. None of us would become friends. If it weren’t for this, we would never associate in real life.
It was only day 1, and everyone already looked exhausted like we had all been sentenced to death row. None of us had a good enough story to be struck from the jury box. I should have said I always believe cops or that I have a sick grandmother at home to care for. “No hablo inglés.” 
I love a true crime series and was fascinated by opening statements. This was it! We were really doing this. Justice with a capital J. Let me be Ancient Rome’s Justitia with her scale, bringing some kind of sanctifying closure to this tragic story. That wouldn’t happen.
Lining up alongside pimps and gangsters in business suits to walk through the metal detectors every day quickly became a slog. The taupe, mid-century marble floors of the never-ending hallways looked like sad oatmeal under piercing fluorescent lights. 
I assumed the courtrooms attracting the biggest crowds were doing cool celebrity murders. Mine was just a guy who got into a fight with his sister’s boyfriend. And pulled out a knife to settle it. 
Then we heard the 9-1-1 call — the movie version where it’s already too late and there’s nothing anyone can do. And all the caller needs is for someone to do something.
“Babe. Oh my God. Breathe! Breathe, babe, oh my God,” we heard the defendant&#8217;s sister’s voice as her boyfriend died in her arms. Uncontrollable tears rolled down my cheeks. After the judge sent us on a short recess, I quickly discovered the excruciating awkwardness of washing my hands in a bathroom sink next to someone I just heard screaming for help that never came.
I wondered why there was no safe place for the family of the victims or the jury. We were all just out there, flapping in the judicial breeze. 
I welcomed any chance at freedom from my assigned chair in the jury box. The wartime-rations concessions room with its fake overpriced vanilla cappuccinos in flimsy cups gave me a reason to live. I glimpsed a sliver of daylight from a tiny window and wondered if I’d be able to readjust to civilian life after this.
Back on the clock, I flipped to a doodle of the murder weapon I sketched in my juror notebook. I retraced the knife again with my pen. As the days wore on, it felt like we were the ones getting punished for someone else’s crime. The defendant got to sit there and let the circus unfold as his own mother — the only eyewitness to the crime that happened in her bedroom — appeared to fall asleep on the stand. 
Eyes closed, and gently chewing on her gums, she put her hand on the judge’s stand. “Judge,” she suddenly blurted out in the middle of questioning. “What are you drinking in there?” She could see he had a glass of something dark perched on his stand. “Let’s get a glass of water for her,” he instructed the bailiff. He was benevolent. After a few more attempts at her testimony, the judge closed proceedings until the following day. 
The Clancy trial jury was never isolated from the outside world. Sequestering is rare in Massachusetts anyway, but according to state <a href="https://www.mass.gov/info-details/learn-about-jury-selection">law</a>, all jury members are instructed to avoid “news in the newspaper, on TV, or on the radio, doing research on the case,” and “sharing information about the case with anyone.” But since they go home to their families, friends, and social media feeds every night, it seems impossible to filter the trial of the summer strictly through evidence introduced in court. 
“If they have a strong opinion either way, you would hope that they’re not easily swayed just because the majority is against them,” Hall advises. Jurors are supposed to stick to the law as it’s given and follow the jury instructions from the judge, “not personal feelings, bias, or something they’ve seen outside of the courtroom.”
“You want them to take the time to make the right decision, not feel rushed to make a choice.”
During deliberation for my jury, there were no votes taken and no lively discussion. Someone brought homemade cookies one day, taking the edge off the thick binder of evidence. Most of us were just doing our time. We asked questions of the prosecution and defense. We really needed the account of a third friend who had been there that night, someone we would find out later was lost in the Los Angeles prison system. 
Then of course, we had our red-haired aspiring murderer. Along with her, another juror — not the one who had been stabbed during a mugging, another guy — claimed he got into a fight one time with a girlfriend who had, in fact, pulled a knife on him and tried to stab him, so he identified with the energy of the defendant. Also known as murdering.
I made a mental note that 75% of Los Angeles thinks it’s okay to use knives to get their point across. Maybe this was exactly what it means to have a “jury of your peers.”
After the judge declared a mistrial, we were released back into the wild of normal life. The defense attorney met with us in the hallway to ask what we thought of our first murder case. Based on the evidence, she said she would have found her client guilty of manslaughter. That’s what most of us had decided, too. Oh well.
I walked out of the courthouse feeling like I wasted my time not doing anyone justice. Worse, we extended the torture for everyone involved in the case. Especially the victim’s family. The defendant went back to prison where he’d await a completely new trial with a re-cast jury. Whatever ragtag group of annoyed civilians they can possibly assemble.
I hoped serving on a murder trial would exempt me from jury duty for life. A year later, I got the postcard: “You are ordered by the Superior Court of Los Angeles to appear for service as a trial juror.” If you’re wondering, “I was on a hung jury” is a great way to get out of doing your civic duty.
***
This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/upstream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream</a>, The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.

I Served On A Murder Jury. What Happened Behind Closed Doors Terrified Me.

criminal justice system

jury duty

lindsay clancy

opinion

true crime

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass can finance her re-election campaign with public funds through a program that uses taxpayer dollars to match eligible campaign contributions.
The &#8220;Super Match Program,&#8221; overhauled by the L.A. city council in 2019, deems any candidate running for mayor, city attorney, city controller, or city council eligible to participate in the program. Bass advertised the initiative in a video released earlier this week, proudly stating that her campaign is funded “by YOU!” 
“Thanks to LA’s Super Match Program, every qualified donation from Los Angeles Residents is matched six to one by the city. If you donate $5, the city turns it into $35&#8230;chip in $25 right now, and the city turns it into $175. Make your matching donation today, thank you so much,&#8221; she said.
&#8220;So we need you to rush your matching donation right now to help fuel this campaign,&#8221; she added.
The &#8220;Super Match Program&#8221; caps donations able to be matched for a mayoral campaign at $257 per contributor and $1,507,000 per candidate for the general election. Bass’ opponent — leftist Nithya Raman, who only secured her spot in the race after late-counted mail-in ballots pushed her ahead of Republican Spencer Pratt in June — is also eligible for the taxpayer-funded donation match.
For the candidate to receive the matching contribution, a contributor certification must be completed that <a href="https://ethics.lacity.gov/wp-content/uploads/Sample-Contributor-Certification.pdf">requires</a> the contributor’s name, residence address, job title, and employer. Los Angeles Municipal Code <a href="https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/los_angeles/latest/lamc/0-0-0-224109">states</a> that if a candidate “knows or should know” that a request for matching funds is based on false information, the candidate can be charged with a misdemeanor and must pay back the matching funds they received. If the candidate is elected, a court could also remove them from office.
Common Cause California says that the program “has led to a wider range of candidates from all backgrounds and perspectives receiving matching funds and running campaigns for citywide and council offices.” The organization adds that the program “has paved the path for a city government that better reflects the diversity of Los Angeles and represents the needs of all Angelenos.”
L.A. isn’t the only city with a Matching Funds Program. New York City matches contributions from city residents at an eight-to-one ratio. New York City created its public funds matching program in 1988 under then-Mayor Ed Koch. In <a href="https://www.nycvotes.org/news-and-press/articles/nyc-matching-funds-program/">1988</a>, the funds matched dollar for dollar. 
Portland, Oregon, also uses its Small Donor Elections program to match contributions with public funds. Other cities, including Seattle and Oakland, have adopted “Democracy Vouchers,” which do not require residents to donate any of their own money for a candidate to receive public funds. For Seattle’s upcoming city council election, residents in District 5 receive two $50 Democracy Vouchers that can go to the candidate of their choice with no strings attached. 
Raman, Bass’ opponent, has <a href="https://cd4.lacity.gov/press-releases/cd4release_democracyvoucher_061323/">advocated</a> for democracy vouchers to be available in L.A. elections.
&#8220;Though democracy vouchers will by no means solve this issue in one fell swoop, they will help create a more equitable campaign finance system that everyone can participate in,&#8221; she said. &#8220;By making campaign financing accessible to all, the City can boost political engagement, diversify the donor pool, and ensure that candidates and officeholders are more representative of the electorate.&#8221;

2026 BET Awards – Arrivals

Yes, It’s Legal For L.A. Mayor To Finance Her Re-election Campaign With Taxpayer Dollars

2026 midterm election

campaign finance

karen bass

nithya raman

politics

A Los Angeles judge showed surprising leniency to an ex-con who shot and hit an LAPD helicopter with an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle, explaining that while the dangerous stunt demanded prison time, the crime stemmed from drug abuse and the shooter was very polite while defending himself in court.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mildred Escobedo sentenced Douglass Byers to 12 years and eight months behind bars, rejecting prosecutors&#8217; demands for a 41-year sentence. The judge exercised her authority to throw out severe firearm enhancements, according to <a href="https://mynewsla.com/crime/2026/08/11/man-convicted-of-shooting-at-lapd-helicopter-sentenced-to-prison">MyNewsLA.com</a>.
The wild August 2025 incident <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-03-12/lapd-helicopter-shooting-trial">unfolded</a> when South L.A. residents dialed 911 over a barrage of gunfire behind a home Byers shared with his mother. Arriving officers discovered an AR-15 assault rifle, mock firearms, and 18 shell casings scattered around the property.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
An ex con convicted of using an AR-15 to shoot and hit a LAPD helicopter w/ two officers in it last year has been sentenced to just under 13 years in prison instead of 41 years asked for by the prosecution after the judge said the defendant had acted friendly during the trial,…
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) <a href="https://x.com/BillMelugin_/status/2087671585377550431?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Though police initially handcuffed Byers for negligent discharge, a post-flight inspection of an LAPD helicopter circling above revealed something far more terrifying: a high-powered bullet had punched straight through the aircraft&#8217;s tail section.
Authorities realized the round slammed within inches of vital control gear. Had the shot landed mere moments before, the chopper could have plunged into the crowded neighborhood below, putting the pilot, tactical officer, and residents in deadly peril.
Forensic teams linked the recovered casings directly to the rifle stashed in Byers’ shed. The trigger-happy felon later admitted he bought the weapon out of state and smuggled it back to California on a train, insisting he only fired it during holiday celebrations. His mother told investigators he was suffering from illness and deep paranoia leading up to the shooting, while Byers himself admitted to knocking back tequila, smoking marijuana, and using methamphetamine around the time of the chaos.
Despite facing overwhelming evidence, Byers maintained his innocence at trial, claiming he was simply too drunk to make such a shot and insisting he held no grudge against law enforcement. A jury saw right through the story, convicting him in less than an hour on charges of assault on a peace officer and firearm possession by a felon.
Prosecutor Eric Siddall vented his frustration after the sentencing, arguing that a convict who committed perjury and nearly slaughtered two officers deserved a far harsher reckoning.
But Judge Escobedo’s soft spot for the polite, self-representing gunman ensured Byers will serve only part of the maximum punishment.

Missouri State v USC

Judge Cuts Sentence by Decades For ‘Respectful’ Felon Who Shot LAPD Helicopter

california

gun violence

lapd

sentencing

A manufacturing malfunction in a supply line nearly destroyed our almost 100-year-old home in Los Angeles. We were away for a week-long road trip to Oregon, and upon returning home, our family found it flooded and severely damaged. To say I was shocked is an understatement. 
As we settle into rental life before we can return to our home next summer, I&#8217;ve moved all the way through the phases of grief to the advice-giving stage. I want to make sure that if something like this happens to you, you&#8217;re prepared. So here are some things my husband and I have learned through this process.
Review your insurance policy
You need to know how much your insurer values your dwelling and personal possessions (everything not an appliance or nailed down). Just like a new car, pretty much anything you buy will depreciate the moment you purchase it. The Zara sweater I bought in Spain last fall: depreciated. The family room couch where we’d snuggle and watch family movies: depreciated. Allegedly, the only things insurers cannot depreciate are the vintage rugs and the damaged midcentury furniture. Buying second-hand, getting hand-me-downs, and purchasing vintage items and antiques will help you collect things that will retain their value in a debate with your insurance company on what your belongings are worth.
Next, understand the coverage for your hotel or temporary rental, something I didn’t even think or know about until this incident. Most <a href="https://www.usnews.com/insurance/homeowners-insurance/what-is-loss-of-use-coverage">“loss of use coverages</a>” mean 20 to 30% of the value of your insured home will be budgeted to find a place to stay while you’re out of it. Depending on your real estate market, it’s good to assess whether or not your policy has enough coverage.
To house a family our size (a minimum three- to four-bedroom space), you are looking at a national average of $3,000 a month. I can attest that it’s much much more in Los Angeles where an <a href="https://www.apartments.com/rent-market-trends/ca/">oversaturated</a> market, still-displaced fire victims, and our family having to house three adults and four children made it challenging to find a spot for the next year.
I know some people talk about being “over-insured,” but after going through this, I don&#8217;t know if that&#8217;s possible. Who can really afford to pay a mortgage and rent? Not many. Being insured (life, home, property, auto) is the wise decision for yourself and your family.
Save for a rainy day
Our policy coverage is good, but it’s slow. An emergency fund is vital. You&#8217;ll still have to pay your mortgage. Believe it or not, if you have a leak like us, you’ll have to contact your local department of water and power to figure out forgiveness or a payment plan. Your life may be in chaos, but the world still continues. Bills have to be paid, clients have to be served, and kids have to go to school, be fed, and sometimes watched at a financial cost to you.
Additional costs for us so far include loss of work, the hotel, the security deposit for our rental, childcare, and extra fuel for the added commutes due to the new housing situation. We had to re-purchase basic items such as toiletries, medicine, pajamas, swimsuits, shoes, and clothing for our kids and my mother-in-law.
We spent three times as much on food and fuel as we do in our normal lives, having to live in a hotel for a month. Even if insurance reimburses that, it adds up fast. Having a nest egg to cover yourself for a couple of months is key. Any monies or gifts you get from your community, family, and friends are a bonus. 
Ask for help
A friend recommended we set up a fundraiser. We didn’t until a month later, and we should have done it earlier. “Strike while the iron is hot” might seem slightly crass, but it’s true. If a friend or family member can do this for you, assign it to a capable person, even if you think you might not need it.
I splurged and got groceries delivered for the first time ever because I had to be on a podcast, had no childcare, and also needed to feed my kids and get my toddler pull-ups. God bless the friend who gave me an Instacart gift card so I could get the grocery delivery and the friend who gifted us a DoorDash gift card that paid for the lunch I ordered while I restocked the rental chest freezer and fridge with food for my brood. Adrenaline, caffeine, and willpower can only carry you so far.
I also reached out to friends in our community for aid. I told them we needed clothes, and they brought hand-me-downs. I told them we’ll need school uniforms, and they brought their extras. I told them my kids needed to get out of the hotel, and they brought them to the movies, to play dates, and to lunch. Learning to ask for help can be hard, but we, especially moms, need to exercise that muscle more.
Be honest with yourself and your family
We had a lot of questions. We still have a lot of questions. This is the most “unknown” our kids have ever experienced, and it hurts my heart how much it’s rocked their world. But it’s been so precious to see the things they truly cared about. Stuffed animals from their great-grandparents who have passed away, a family photo from a trip we took for their dad’s birthday, our family Christmas ornaments. Not just toys and clothes, but items that held special meaning.
When they ask, “What’s going on?” I tell them honestly. It’s been a lot of me saying “I don’t know” and “Mommy doesn’t totally understand either.” And, “This sucks. I’m sorry I can’t fix it.”
Our kids are learning a lot about the cost of real estate, plumbers, electricians, contractors, permitting departments, adjusters, lawyers, engineers, total loss inventory, and how many blue collar businesses there are that deal with mold remediation, water removal, and moving and storage. We protect them in a lot of ways, but I will tell them every step of the way what’s going on and why.
They lost their home too, and they deserve to know. It’s helped them pause and process with us how they feel because they get we’re in this together and we, their parents, are doing everything we can to advocate for them.
You cannot always know how you will handle an emergency situation until you’re in it, but putting prior preparation in place before something big happens is good practice. There are so many strangers who will roll into your house to do their jobs, so many decisions to be made, so many emotions occurring, and so many details to manage that having a game plan will help you in the midst of the chaos.
One thing is for sure: We will rebuild!
***
Elisha Krauss is a conservative commentator, writer, and speaker who resides in Los Angeles, California, with her husband and their four children. She is an advocate for women’s rights, school choice, and smaller government.
This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/upstream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream</a>, The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.

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The Costly Mistakes Too Many Homeowners Make

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Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is blaming President Donald Trump for a recent surge in homelessness that has left thousands more people living on the streets of the so-called City of Angels.
<a href="https://www.foxla.com/news/los-angeles-homelessness-expected-rise-3-5-sources-say-ahead-lahsa-count">FOX11 reported</a> that homelessness in America&#8217;s second-largest city is expected to rise by about 3.5% when the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority releases new data Friday.
Ahead of Friday&#8217;s official release, FOX11 reported that the city estimates roughly 45,000 people are living on its streets—an 8% increase from last year—underscoring Los Angeles&#8217; ongoing struggles with homelessness and quality-of-life issues.
The looming report also undercuts Bass&#8217; campaign narrative that homelessness has significantly dropped under her rocky tenure. Her signature Inside Safe initiative has spent <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-04-05/under-la-mayors-300-million-homeless-program-40-have-returned-to-street">more than $300 million</a> to move roughly 5,800 people into interim housing, mostly hotels and motels, but about 40% have since returned to the streets, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/could-spencer-pratt-be-l-a-s-outsider-hero">The Daily Wire</a> reported. Just one in four participants has reached permanent housing, at a cost of more than $200,000 per permanent placement.
To explain the recent surge, Bass turned to her party’s favorite political punching bag: President Trump. 
&#8220;For two years straight, we drove down homelessness by historic margins — but as expected, last year our efforts ultimately couldn’t keep up with policies and funding cuts on the federal and state levels,&#8221; Bass said, according to FOX11. &#8220;The Trump administration has driven up the cost of gas, groceries, and rent — pushing more families to the edge — and slashed critical safety net funding.”
The embattled mayor, who is facing a stronger-than-expected challenge from her left flank, also took aim at Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom&#8217;s handling of the state budget.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
WATCH: Inside sources tell me L.A.’s homeless count is expected to rise… ending two straight years of reported declines.
The official numbers won’t be released until Friday, but multiple sources familiar with LAHSA’s latest count say homelessness is trending upward in Los… <a href="https://t.co/sUYPMVcN54">pic.twitter.com/sUYPMVcN54</a>
— Matthew Seedorff (@MattSeedorff) <a href="https://x.com/MattSeedorff/status/2080162994324144515?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2026</a></blockquote>
“And, last year’s state cut of over $70 million severely impacted our work to keep people housed and get more Angelenos off the streets,” she said in a <a href="https://x.com/MattSeedorff/status/2080161071936221606?s=20">statement</a>. “The lack of adequate services continues to be a real problem and a contributing factor to people cycling in and out of homelessness, and these services are controlled by LA County.” 
The latest figures come as little surprise to many Los Angeles residents, including billionaire real estate developer Rick Caruso, who unsuccessfully challenged Bass in the 2022 mayoral race. “I doubt anyone living in LA is surprised,” he <a href="https://x.com/RickCarusoLA/status/2080334679530758318?s=20">said.</a>  
Some residents questioned the city&#8217;s count, arguing the actual homeless population is far higher than reported.
“I don’t listen to the numbers, my eyes are better than numbers,” one man <a href="https://x.com/RickCarusoLA/status/2080334679530758318?s=20">told FOX11</a>, in a report showing littered streets, vandalized buildings, and open drug use. 
Leftist L.A. City Councilmember Nithya Raman will face off against Bass in the November mayoral election after <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/spencer-pratts-race-has-been-called-see-the-results">troves of late-arriving ballots</a> locked Republican Spencer Pratt out of the race.
Pratt’s viral campaign ads tapped into the reality TV star’s savvy social media background to push a message of change in a city plagued by chronic challenges. His platform captivated nationwide attention but ultimately fell flat in a deep-blue city dominated by leftists. 
His election defeat, however, has not stopped the Palisades wildfire victim from speaking out against the city’s leadership.  
“SHOCKER&#8230;the LA homeless count is going UP!” Pratt <a href="https://x.com/spencerpratt/status/2080284771846918154?s=20">said</a> Thursday. “I warned you guys: the more homeless people, the more money Nithya Raman and Karen Bass can launder through their corrupt NGOs. You will NEVER fix this problem by electing people who profit off it.”

US-HOMELESS-CENSUS-LOSANGELES

L.A. Mayor Blames Trump For City’s Homelessness Surge

Democrats

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Housing

Housing Crisis

inflation

News

President Trump

Rick Caruso

spencer pratt

Former MTV reality star Spencer Pratt has repeatedly made it clear that he is not going to walk away silently after his loss in the Los Angeles mayoral race — and in his most recent video, he took direct aim at California&#8217;s election process and the potential for fraud.
Pratt, in a nine-minute video posted on Wednesday, laid out the reasons people believe California elections are rife with fraud — and why he believes they&#8217;re right to be worried.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I didn’t get cheated.
You did. <a href="https://t.co/ihDoZeEh9J">pic.twitter.com/ihDoZeEh9J</a>
— Spencer Pratt (@spencerpratt) <a href="https://x.com/spencerpratt/status/2075036220803993958?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;In judicial ethics, the mere appearance of potential fraud is disqualifying,&#8221; Pratt began — and then compared that to elections. &#8220;Whether or not there is widespread fraud occurring, there certainly could be. And it doesn&#8217;t matter how many times you scream, &#8216;There is no widespread fraud.&#8217; A lot of people believe there is.&#8221;
Pratt went on to explain how California, in particular, had built a system that at best enabled the appearance of fraud and at worst facilitated it: &#8220;This isn&#8217;t about whether fraud is swinging the election — the appearance of fraud already is swinging the election.&#8221;
Using his own election as an example, Pratt explained that the mail-in ballot system — which allows votes to be counted for days after the election — created the appearance of fraud even if that wasn&#8217;t what was happening. In the Los Angeles mayoral race, he explained, he was in second place on Election Day — and the mail-in ballots that came in after benefited Nithya Raman, who had been the third-place candidate.
&#8220;For some reason, only the third-place Democrat who needed the votes saw a disproportionate spike in votes several days after the election,&#8221; he said.
Pratt compared the whole system to a bank heist in which the bank owners &#8220;can&#8217;t lock the bank vault, you&#8217;re not allowed to have security cameras, and you can&#8217;t count the money inside the vault. Robbing the bank is still 100% illegal, but there&#8217;s no way to stop it from happening.&#8221;
&#8220;How can you secure the money if you can&#8217;t lock the vault?&#8221; Pratt asked. &#8220;How can you catch the robbers if you&#8217;re not allowed to monitor the vault? And how can you even identify if the vault were even robbed in the first place if you can&#8217;t even count the money? &#8230; The bank vault is wide open.&#8221;
Pratt called for an overhaul of the system, saying that the right way would not be easy, but it would end with &#8220;commie animals in handcuffs.&#8221;
&#8220;To all you fraudsters out there, we&#8217;ve been watching you,&#8221; he added. &#8220;And justice is coming.&#8221;

election night Spencer Pratt

Spencer Pratt Just Went Scorched Earth On ‘Communist’ Election Fraudsters

Spencer Pratt Just Went Scorched Earth On 'Communist' Election Fraudsters

2026 elections

Election Fraud

Elections

Los Angeles mayor

President Donald Trump offered some advice — from his own experience — to former MTV reality TV star Spencer Pratt in the wake of his loss in the Los Angeles mayoral primary election.
Trump mentioned Pratt while speaking to the Faith &amp; Freedom Coalition on Friday, jabbing at California&#8217;s long, drawn-out ballot-counting process, which he and numerous others argue opens the doors wide for anyone with the desire to commit election fraud.
WATCH:<iframe style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; max-width: 100%; width: 100%; margin: 20px auto 5px; border: 0;" src="https://player.mux.com/bpVrFHWzivCfxT600ZT02VsRnbeL6n5lpA?metadata-video-content-type=embed_video&amp;metadata-video-id=b93417f7-9a96-4528-a5a9-9eb4b4cc8b50&amp;metadata-video-stream-type=on-demand&amp;metadata-video-title=2026-06-26%20Trump%20Says%20Pratt%20Should%20Not%20Go%20Quietly&amp;poster=https%3A%2F%2Fdailywireplus-v2.imgix.net%2Fimages%2Fembedded-videos%2Ff7384346-0d5f-47b6-b078-4ad5a2327ad3.png&amp;autoplay=false&amp;accent-color=%23DB3D3B&amp;primary-color=%23ffffff&amp;secondary-color=%23000000" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
&#8220;It&#8217;s happening in California, where the ballots still aren&#8217;t in,&#8221; Trump began. &#8220;They&#8217;re still not — can you believe it? You know what&#8217;s happened? They&#8217;re cheating. The kid won. Or he was certainly in the top two. I don&#8217;t know him, I never met him. Spencer Pratt.&#8221;
The president then advised Pratt to keep pushing back, adding, &#8220;And he went away quietly. We didn&#8217;t go away quietly. He shouldn&#8217;t go away quietly; he should protest, because it was, in my very strong opinion, a rigged election. That kid should be in the runoffs.&#8221;
Trump went on to describe how Pratt — solidly in second place when the polls closed on Election Day — had seen his lead chipped away and then eventually obliterated as mail-in ballots overwhelmingly favored Democratic Socialist City Councilwoman Nithya Raman.
&#8220;The woman who edged him out after like a long time,&#8221; Trump referenced Raman with a chuckle. &#8220;Days. Days and days. And then you&#8217;d hear reports: &#8216;Spencer Pratt is not doing so well&#8217; even though he was strongly in the lead.&#8221;
Despite his loss, Pratt has promised to continue his efforts to expose the failures in the city&#8217;s leadership — beginning with incumbent Democrat Mayor Karen Bass, whom Pratt and many others blame for the disastrous response to the deadly Palisades Fire. He has also promised to continue his efforts to help clean up Los Angeles.
While Trump did not officially endorse Pratt, he spoke positively about him when asked — and Pratt, who is a registered Republican, made it clear from the beginning that his campaign was interested in results over partisanship.

Spencer Pratt/Donald Trump

Trump’s Advice To Spencer Pratt

The old &#8220;Baywatch&#8221; featured lifeguards in signature red bathing suits rescuing beachgoers in the ocean, but in 2026, the lifeguards are rescuing beachgoers on land. 
L.A.&#8217;s homelessness crisis made its way into the &#8220;Baywatch&#8221; reboot as filming featured a homeless man attempting to attack one of its lifeguards, The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/06/24/entertainment/baywatch-scene-shows-the-scary-realities-of-visiting-venice-beach/?utm_campaign=capost&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter">reported</a>. The scene takes place on Venice Beach when a homeless man approaches Hassie Harrison’s character with a knife. Stephen Amell’s character rushes in to intervene and fights the homeless before Amell knocks him to the ground and paramedics aid the fallen attacker. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
A video of the cast filming a scene for the new “Baywatch” reboot blurred the lines between the fantasy and reality of living in modern-day Venice Beach. <a href="https://t.co/O0Y9eBFyo3">https://t.co/O0Y9eBFyo3</a> <a href="https://t.co/GzZVkHsqni">pic.twitter.com/GzZVkHsqni</a>
— California Post (@californiapost) <a href="https://x.com/californiapost/status/2070086205044085188?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The fictitious scene is grounded in reality as L.A.&#8217;s large homeless encampments continue to plague residents, including near Venice Beach, where encampments have grown this year and attracted drug users, KTLA <a href="https://ktla.com/news/local-news/large-homeless-encampment-in-venice-continues-expanding-attracting-crime-drug-activity/">reported</a>. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass cleared out the encampments in 2023, but residents of the area claim the homeless residents stayed in the area after their tents were cleared and eventually expanded their encampment. 
Venice resident Craig Riveiro told KTLA 5, “Mothers and babies cannot walk on the sidewalks. It hurts the mom-and-pop businesses. It hurts the residents. It caused mayhem.” Other residents say the area has become a hotspot for crime, drug activity, and safety hazards. 
Bass, who declared 2026 as her goal to end street homelessness in L.A., blames government bureaucracy for the failure. 
“We haven’t ended it,” she <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/karen-bass-grilled-over-broken-homelessness-promise-blames-bureaucracy-slowed-progress">said</a> in May. “Basically when I said that, it was at the beginning of my term. I am very committed to achieving that goal. I didn’t anticipate some of the bureaucratic barriers that I would experience, but I am prepared to take those on now.” 
Bass, who advanced to the mayoral general election over outsider Spencer Pratt, also claimed people who work in the government are reluctant to end homelessness. &#8220;The city and the county never made that commitment before, and I found something that surprised me. I found a lot of people who work internally in the system who were very resistant to ending street homelessness.&#8221;
While homeless individuals represent a small percentage of the population, the R Street Institute estimates that they are responsible for about roughly <a href="https://www.rstreet.org/commentary/the-crime-and-safety-blindspot-do-homeless-populations-pose-an-increased-risk-to-public-safety/">15%</a> of violent crimes in the city. 
Earlier this month, the federal government halted all funds going to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) after the city failed to deliver results after nearly $1 billion in the last five years. 
The Trump administration will keep the suspension in place until the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) completes its investigation into the LAHSA. “Under President Trump’s leadership, HUD will fund results, not corrupt failure or the homeless industrial complex,” <a href="https://www.hud.gov/news/hud-no-26-048">said</a> HUD Secretary Scott Turner.
“Year after year, hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars were funneled to LAHSA with little accountability. Meanwhile, homelessness skyrocketed,&#8221; Turner added. &#8220;Taxpayers will no longer bankroll an organization that puts its own self-interests ahead of the Americans it was created to serve.”

SEE IT: ‘Baywatch’ Is The Latest Victim Of California’s Homeless Crisis

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Former reality TV star turned Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt dropped another viral video on Friday, declaring &#8220;war&#8221; on what he called &#8220;the machine&#8221; that left voters with &#8220;two corrupt communists&#8221; in the general election.
&#8220;I got in this to expose this corrupt machine,&#8221; Pratt says at the beginning of the video. &#8220;I don&#8217;t have the campaign laws hamstringing me now. It&#8217;s war.&#8221;
The three-minute video, called &#8220;Saving LA &#8211; Phase III,&#8221; targets incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and far-left Councilmember Nithya Raman, two Democrats who advanced to the November runoff after Pratt finished third in the primary.
Pratt said he is now &#8220;moving on to the next, more interesting phase&#8221; of his mission, which includes a secret recording he claims implicates &#8220;one of your exalted candidates.&#8221; He threatened to make the recording public and said it would &#8220;make her resign in shame.&#8221;
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  <iframe style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; max-width: 100%; width: 100%; margin: 20px auto 5px; border: 0;" src="https://player.mux.com/Zakre00lFFMsjSY0200a31SQZ2vPfxylQ7r?metadata-video-content-type=embed_video&amp;metadata-video-id=e3dab635-9079-4982-ba37-e60002d72ca0&amp;metadata-video-stream-type=on-demand&amp;metadata-video-title=2026-06-12%20Spencer%20Pratt%20Goes%20Scorched%20Earth&amp;poster=https%3A%2F%2Fdailywireplus-v2.imgix.net%2Fimages%2Fembedded-videos%2Fe4c93522-e7be-4ab4-b2b8-cb172b285d14.png&amp;autoplay=false&amp;accent-color=%23DB3D3B&amp;primary-color=%23ffffff&amp;secondary-color=%23000000" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Credit: X: @spencerpratt
</div>
&#8220;Go ahead and pick your demon, certify your choice, and then you get to see it,&#8221; he said. &#8220;So Karen and Nithya, ask yourself, is it possible that one of your employees may have a recording of you doing or saying something that would force you to resign in disgrace? I hope you sleep well over the next five months.&#8221;
Pratt painted a bleak picture of L.A. through images of rampant graffiti, garbage-strewn streets, drug activity, public defecation, burned-out structures, and shuttered businesses.
&#8220;Angelenos are now stuck with two morons responsible for all of their problems, and they have to choose between dumb and dumber,&#8221; Pratt said. &#8220;That&#8217;s not a choice. That&#8217;s the machine protecting the machine.&#8221;
&#8220;And now every problem that plagues Los Angeles because of these two corrupt communists is going to accelerate, and the city will tumble headlong into the abyss,&#8221; he added.
With roughly 98% of the vote counted, Bass finished first in the primary with 34.3% of the vote, while Raman overtook Pratt earlier this week to finish second with 28.9%. Pratt received 25.5%. The top two finishers advance to the general election unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote.
Pratt, a Republican, vowed to continue attacking both Democrats through the runoff campaign.
&#8220;I&#8217;m going to be lighting you up every single day,&#8221; Pratt promised.
&#8220;My goal hasn&#8217;t changed. I&#8217;ve been laser-focused on stopping these commie animals, and I will stop them.&#8221;

Spencer Pratt

WATCH: Spencer Pratt Goes Scorched Earth On ‘Two Corrupt Communists,’ Declares ‘War’

Spencer Pratt responded with skepticism Sunday night as his socialist opponent overtook him in the Los Angeles mayoral race after days of vote counting that has led to Republicans calling for major election reforms in California.
Leftist councilwoman Nithya Raman officially jumped out in front of Pratt on Sunday after mail-in ballot dumps throughout the week consistently shifted the race in her favor. Pratt led Raman by around nine percentage points on election night. After the big swing in Raman&#8217;s favor, Pratt raised questions about where all the ballots came from to support her. 
&#8220;&#8216;A net swing of more than 43,000 votes since Tuesday..&#8217; 43,000, huh? Where have I seen that number before&#8230;? Probably nothing,” Pratt posted on X, highlighting an article which reported that Los Angeles had over 43,000 homeless people out on the average night. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&#8220;A net swing of more than 43,000 votes since Tuesday..&#8221;
43,000, huh? Where have I seen that number before&#8230;?
Probably nothing. 🤷 <a href="https://t.co/W2E3k6PHyR">https://t.co/W2E3k6PHyR</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZfzHCy9enb">pic.twitter.com/ZfzHCy9enb</a>
— Spencer Pratt (@spencerpratt) <a href="https://x.com/spencerpratt/status/2063784193688056310?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
After the Sunday ballot count update, Decision Desk HQ projected that Raman would advance to the general election against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, leaving Pratt locked out of the race. 
President Donald Trump, who supported Pratt’s campaign, claimed that Pratt and Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton were being cheated in their elections. Hilton, who started in first place, has seen his Democrat opponents rapidly gain ground as mail-in ballot counting continues. 
“Has anybody been watching the CROOKED Election going on in California. Two great Republican Candidates are being cheated, and so is America, which if the Dumocrats are able to fulfill their mission, great trouble and consternation will follow,” Trump posted on Truth Social on Sunday night. “Watch this ‘Election’ closely!!!”
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&nbsp;
Federal officials are seeking to audit California’s election system, which has been criticized for its agonizingly long vote-counting process. 
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said Sunday that California was blocking an audit of its voter rolls and noted that the state <a href="https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/hava-id-standards">allows</a> first-time voters to use &#8220;surprising&#8221; forms of ID to register to vote, including a gym membership card, employer ID card, credit or debit card, prescription drug label, and insurance card. 
“This is permitted when a voter fails to provide a Social Security number or driver’s license at registration. Our office believes this policy deserves a closer look,” he said. “We also have serious concerns about how California maintains its voter rolls. There are open questions about whether the state is promptly removing deceased voters, people who have moved, and individuals convicted of disqualifying felonies.”
“On top of that, California allows third parties to collect and turn in ballots on voters’ behalf (a practice known as ballot harvesting) with few restrictions. This makes it difficult to track who actually received, completed, and submitted each ballot,” he added. 
The Trump administration sued California after the state failed to provide information on its voter rolls as it attempts to ensure that only American citizens are registered to vote.

Celebrity Sightings In Los Angeles – June 02, 2026

Spencer Pratt Connects Raman’s Vote Surge To A Statistic LA Can’t Escape

California Elections

The man accused of killing &#8220;Top Gun: Maverick&#8221; actor James Handy made a chilling 911 call after allegedly stabbing the 81-year-old actor outside of a Los Angeles home.
Michael Gledhill, who is the son of Handy’s girlfriend, Wendy, allegedly stabbed Handy in the chest in the front yard of the home of Handy’s girlfriend, where her son also lived. After the stabbing, Gledhill told 911 dispatchers, &#8220;I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin,&#8221; according to <a href="https://ktla.com/news/local-news/i-just-killed-the-man-of-sin-tarzana-man-arrested-in-fatal-stabbing/">KTLA</a>.
The stabbing that has shocked avid movie fans who knew Handy’s work most recently in &#8220;Top Gun: Maverick,&#8221; happened around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in the 19200 block of Erwin Street in the Tarzana neighborhood of Los Angeles.
“I’m just trying to make it through one day at a time, a minute at a time,” 76-year-old Wendy Gledhill <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/06/05/us-news/james-handys-girlfriend-breaks-silence-after-her-son-allegedly-killed-top-gun-maverick-actor/">told</a> The California Post.
“I loved James and my son. I still can’t believe it. &#8230; I can’t believe my son did it. I’m just trying to,&#8221; she added.
When officers arrived after the phone call from Gledhill, they found the veteran actor unconscious, per KTLA. Handy was taken to a local hospital by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics and was later pronounced dead.
In video obtained by <a href="https://www.foxla.com/video/fmc-qaaks9n29mquwcyp">Fox 11 Los Angeles</a>, Gledhill is seen on a neighbor’s doorbell camera walking away from the gruesome scene before returning and turning himself in to police. The video also shows a blue shirt on the ground covered in blood.
The motive for the killing is still under investigation, but according to KTLA detectives believe the stabbing was an isolated incident and there isn’t a threat to the public. Gledhill’s bond is set at $2 million, <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/06/05/us-news/james-handy-girlfriends-son-seen-calmly-walking-away-from-where-top-gun-maverick-actor-was-stabbed-to-death/">the New York Post</a> reported.
Handy had a long career in Hollywood starting back in the 1970s. He had a role in &#8220;Arachnophobia,&#8221; as well as playing the exterminator in the blockbuster hit, &#8220;Jumanji,&#8221; alongside Robin Williams. He had several TV roles as well, including &#8220;Melrose Place,&#8221; &#8220;Alias,&#8221; &#8220;The West Wing,&#8221; and &#8220;NYPD Blue.&#8221;
Handy lived a reclusive life in his later years and made his last public appearance nearly 10 years ago in September 2017, per the Post.

Credit: Adam Larkey/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Actor Stabbed To Death — Suspect Made Chilling Call To Police

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