All-In Podcast
Steve Hilton y Spencer Pratt: arreglar California, gasolina más barata, fraude electoral y republicanos de CA
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TL;DR
Resumen de investigación
▶ Hilton presenta su candidatura y la importancia de California
La presentación describe a Steve Hilton como candidato republicano a gobernador de California, inmigrante británico y antiguo empresario tecnológico de Silicon Valley. Hilton critica los impuestos y el gasto estatal, y propone eximir de impuestos estatales los primeros ingresos de los trabajadores. Ante el público, dice que quedan siete semanas para intentar salvar el estado. Explica que California ha sido importante por su innovación, energía, ambición y espíritu emprendedor, que atribuye al desarrollo de sectores como el entretenimiento, la tecnología y la agricultura. Sostiene que el estado debe evitar seguir deteriorándose.
▶ Críticas al gobierno estatal y a la concentración de poder
Hilton afirma que California conserva ventajas como su belleza, clima, universidades y ecosistema de innovación, pero sostiene que 16 años de control demócrata han coincidido con los mayores niveles del país de pobreza, desempleo, costo de vida y vivienda, y con la salida de residentes. También cita una clasificación empresarial que, según dice, sitúa al estado en el puesto 50 de 50 por clima de negocios. Atribuye los resultados a un sistema de partido único que, en su opinión, favorece a una élite y a grupos de interés, incluidos sindicatos y abogados litigantes; alega que iniciar un negocio conlleva un 90 % de probabilidad de acabar en litigio. Señala que los demócratas controlan los cargos estatales, la legislatura, grandes condados y ciudades, y el Tribunal Supremo estatal; critica que la legislatura aprobara 1.118 proyectos de ley el año anterior. Anuncia como objetivo reducir más de 420.000 regulaciones a menos de 200.000 al final de su primer mandato. El entrevistador plantea que los grupos dominantes también controlan la maquinaria electoral y dificultan la entrada de candidatos externos. Hilton coincide en que existe una maquinaria financiada de forma corrupta, pero replica que una mayoría de californianos quiere cambios: compara el 35 % combinado de los republicanos con el 65 % demócrata en las primarias y dice que la brecha en las encuestas cayó de 30 a ocho puntos. Rechaza que los residentes deban resignarse o marcharse y llama a demostrar que el cambio es posible.
▶ Votantes, costo de vida y propuestas de campaña
Ante la pregunta de por qué algunos votantes considerarían una traición votar contra los demócratas, Hilton dice que percibe descontento y relata que personas que se identifican como demócratas de toda la vida le han dicho que votarán por él. Cuenta que ha visitado los 58 condados y que, según su experiencia, la vivienda y el costo de vida generan desesperación: menciona un precio medio de vivienda cercano a un millón de dólares y un salario individual mediano de 65.000 dólares. Añade que empresarios le advierten que se marcharán si no hay cambios, por lo que llama a la elección decisiva. El entrevistador contrapone las bajas probabilidades que le atribuye Polymarket, encuestas con diferencias de ocho a veinte puntos y su escaso apoyo demócrata; pregunta cómo puede cambiar el panorama en el debate previsto para el 30 de septiembre. Hilton presenta una encuesta inicial de su campaña: 33 % con él, 41 % con Xavier Becerra y 26 % indeciso, compuesto mayoritariamente, según él, por votantes previos demócratas abiertos a la persuasión y trabajadores sin título universitario preocupados por el costo de vida. Propone recortar gasto y burocracia, cancelar el tren de alta velocidad, reducir en un 10 % la plantilla pública y lograr un ahorro de eficiencia del 5 %, entre otras medidas. Afirma que los ahorros permitirían eximir de impuesto estatal sobre la renta los primeros 150.000 dólares. También propone utilizar recursos energéticos de California y eliminar cargos y normas que, según él, encarecen la gasolina, para pasar de unos seis dólares a cerca de tres por galón. Aclara que se refiere a impuestos y programas como el estándar de combustibles bajos en carbono y cap-and-invest, no a eliminar el requisito de limpiar la gasolina; estima que esos conceptos añaden alrededor de 1,50 dólares al precio. Finalmente, promete limitar el registro vehicular a 73 dólares anuales por vehículo y abolir el DMV.
▶ Becerra, el clima de negocios y la economía estatal
Hilton cuestiona la aptitud de Xavier Becerra para gobernar y lo caracteriza como político de carrera con 36 años de trayectoria. Atribuye a Susan Rice, exfuncionaria de las administraciones de Obama y Biden, descalificaciones personales sobre Becerra, y cita a otra persona del gabinete de Biden que, según él, dijo que dirigir una gran agencia ejecutiva no era su especialidad. Hilton lo presenta como alguien que obedecería a sindicatos, abogados litigantes y activistas. Un participante responde que los republicanos necesitaban un candidato adecuado y pide que la elección se centre en California para atraer independientes. David Sacks observa que Silicon Valley podría funcionar como una maldición de recursos: su riqueza e impuestos permitirían, en su opinión, sostener un gobierno deficiente. Hilton relata que Becerra respondió a preguntas sobre los problemas del estado citando su tamaño económico y atractivos turísticos. Hilton sostiene que la economía está desequilibrada, que el PIB incluye el crecimiento del gobierno, que este se duplicó en diez años y que la creación neta de empleos privados desde la pandemia fue prácticamente cero. La conversación concluye con una llamada a prestar atención a la situación del estado.
▶ Spencer Pratt se suma y describe su campaña en Los Ángeles
Los presentadores invitan a Spencer Pratt, empresario de medios y candidato a alcalde de Los Ángeles, a unirse a Hilton. El video de presentación alude a que Pratt responsabiliza a la alcaldesa Karen Bass por los incendios que destruyeron su vivienda, la de sus padres y las de sus vecinos. Pratt llama a la estructura política local un cártel criminal y acusa a sus integrantes de canalizar dinero de los contribuyentes mientras empeoran las muertes en las calles; son acusaciones suyas. Explica que su campaña comenzó al hablar en distintas plataformas sobre lo que considera la verdad y que eso generó un movimiento de base con aportes de personas creativas. Dice que el mensaje, más que la inteligencia artificial usada en algunos videos, fue lo que conectó con la gente. Afirma que muchos de sus votantes eran demócratas y que los republicanos registrados en Los Ángeles no participaron en número suficiente; exhorta a votar y sostiene que se pueden superar los márgenes de fraude. Al relatar el recuento de su elección, dice que iba diez puntos por delante y que luego una candidata inicialmente en tercer lugar lo superó con votos por correo. Sugiere que el volumen de esos votos era inverosímil y cuestiona las reglas para validar testigos, aunque niega estar afirmando que hubo fraude. Los presentadores le señalan que sus palabras sí suenan a acusación y explican que una firma de testigo puede ser una marca; la discusión queda interrumpida por el cierre de la participación de Hilton.
▶ Gasto público, negocios locales y gestión de la ciudad
Hilton describe una visita a MacArthur Park con Norm Langer, cuyo deli lleva casi 80 años abierto. Afirma que el caos de la zona amenaza al negocio y que vio personas consumiendo drogas a plena luz del día. Sostiene que organizaciones sin fines de lucro financiadas por los contribuyentes distribuyen pipas, agujas y drogas; un interlocutor precisa la afirmación y Hilton matiza que las entidades financian las agujas y que una persona vinculada a una ONG también fue sorprendida vendiendo drogas. Hilton relata asimismo la visita a una tienda de zapatos de una pareja latina que llevaba 14 años operando y, según él, estaba cerrando por la competencia de vendedores callejeros que no pagan impuestos, alquiler ni electricidad. Atribuye la expansión de la venta callejera a una ley estatal aprobada en 2018 que, según su interpretación, limita la capacidad de ciudades y condados para actuar. Resume su diagnóstico como un sistema que, en su opinión, castiga a quienes cumplen las reglas y recompensa a quienes las infringen. El entrevistador dice que estas leyes concretas deben exponerse y que, si los relatos son exactos, serían muy malos resultados. Pratt afirma que la ciudad destinó 500.000 dólares a carritos para vendedores de comida mientras, según él, el LADWP no reparó por 200.000 dólares una cubierta de embalse que habría protegido su zona. Pratt critica las opciones electorales de Los Ángeles y la gestión de Bass y Nithya Raman; Hilton recuerda un incendio de almacén en Boyle Heights y dice que 85 millones de libras de carne se descompusieron durante cinco semanas. Pratt aconseja mantener una campaña centrada en el sentido común, el uso de los impuestos y la recuperación de los parques. Al despedirse, Hilton presenta un plan para crear diez ciudades nuevas en California y sostiene que, reduciendo regulaciones, litigios, tasas e impuestos, el estado podría volver a atraer empresas, viviendas y personas.
▶ Debate sobre denuncias de fraude y voto por correo
Tras la salida de Hilton, Pratt reitera que si la gente vota, Hilton puede ganar, pero los presentadores cuestionan el pesimismo sobre el sistema electoral y las acusaciones de fraude. Pratt dice que la maquinaria no debería disuadir a la gente de votar y vuelve a insinuar que el recuento de su elección estuvo amañado. Explica que, según él, las papeletas se separan de sus sobres al contarse, lo que impediría relacionarlas después con quienes las firmaron; otro participante señala que la certificación está en el sobre. Pratt dice que podría haber solicitado un recuento, pero que no habría permitido auditar las papeletas. Al preguntarle directamente si perdió por fraude, responde que, sin pruebas, diría que no; luego afirma que con pruebas sería alcalde. Los interlocutores distinguen entre papeletas falsas y el uso legal de la recolección de papeletas, y exigen evidencia de delitos o acoso. Pratt alega que activistas de la DSA recogen votos y presionan a residentes; reconoce que no documentó esa conducta y sostiene que algunos recolectores reciben pago y otros actúan voluntariamente. También menciona un estacionamiento vacío en el centro de Los Ángeles al que, según dice, llegan cientos de papeletas. No presenta pruebas de que esos votos sean falsos; plantea que podrían recolectarse irregularmente y pide identificación de votantes. Uno de los entrevistadores dice que apoya el requisito de identificación y pregunta por la base de las acusaciones. Pratt mantiene que las reglas de California facilitan la recolección de papeletas, pero alterna las acusaciones con la admisión de que no tiene pruebas concluyentes y con la afirmación de que no está diciendo que las papeletas sean falsas.
▶ Próximos pasos de Pratt y responsabilidad por los incendios
Pratt dice que se postuló para amplificar sus críticas y que planea seguir activo; no descarta volver a competir dentro de cuatro años. Al hablar de la reconstrucción de su vivienda en Pacific Palisades, afirma que dos embalses siguen vacíos y que la zona recibe agua mediante una manguera desde Topanga. Culpa a las autoridades estatales y a los parques por permitir que se acumulara vegetación seca, y dice que un cortafuegos de 300 yardas habría costado menos de 500.000 dólares. Sostiene que las reglas de protección ambiental impiden cortar vegetación y menciona una multa de un millón de dólares al LADWP por cortar maleza alrededor de un poste. Dice que no podrá reconstruir hasta que avance una demanda colectiva por negligencia que, según él, representa a 10.000 víctimas. Describe un incendio de ocho acres en Nochevieja que fue extinguido y afirma que los parques estatales no vigilaron las brasas antes de un episodio de viento posterior; cita declaraciones de bomberos y fotografías incorporadas a declaraciones juradas como respaldo. Atribuye responsabilidad a los parques estatales por el peligro, al LADWP por los embalses vacíos y también a la ciudad. Pratt cuenta que empezó a publicar videos para apoyar a su comunidad y que se postuló al decidir que Bass no tendría oposición; sostiene que las autoridades deben hacer cumplir la ley y proteger a los pequeños negocios. Dice que sigue produciendo contenido político y que está hablando con personas en Nueva York. Bromea con convertir Skid Row en centros de datos, pero relata que un experto le advirtió sobre la infraestructura deteriorada de Los Ángeles. Rechaza la televisión de realidad por considerarla demasiado centrada en fabricar una imagen y afirma que los políticos actúan como malos influencers de TikTok. Hacia el final dice que usará los próximos dos años para organizarse en las comunidades y vuelve a atacar a Nithya Raman y a la DSA, cuyas posiciones invita a consultar en su sitio web. La conversación termina con la despedida de Pratt.
Transcripción completa
[0:30] doubled [music] the budget? Of course not. >> California means to America what America means [music] to the world. >> Please welcome Steve Hilton. >> [music] [applause] [music] >> Wake up. Wake up, buddy. Let's go. Hi. >> All right. >> Wake up, California. We have 7 weeks to
[1:00] save our state. Are you ready? Are we going to do it? We got 7 weeks. That's all. But we can do it. >> 7 weeks. Um there's a lot of people here who aren't from California. Well, actually, who's from California? Raise your hands. Some applause. >> Who's from Cali? >> that's a lot of people from California. >> What's But But help explain why California's so important. >> California is not just the biggest
[1:31] state, uh the richest state in the richest, most important country on Earth. It's It's As I said just then and and and you saw, California means to America what America means to the world. I'm an immigrant, moved here in 2012. Neighbors with Chamath. So, how about that? I picked a good spot. Um and I was inspired by this state. It represents for me and for so many people over the like century plus that this
[2:02] state has been growing and leading in so many ways the absolute essence of what we love about America. Innovation and energy and ambition and hustle and that kind of rebel spirit that that create that's why we've created so many industries here that have completely transformed the world starting right here in Los Angeles over a century ago the entertainment industry obviously tech that you're all so familiar with but also our great ag in we have the leading agriculture industry in the world. We've done in so many different
[2:34] fields we have led the world. That's why it's so important we don't let California go down any further. >> is the state of the state then? >> This state I'm afraid despite all our incredible advantages and of course we still have them the things that the people in charge haven't managed yet to ruin our incredible natural beauty and the weather and the energy that you see in our startup communities the best innovation ecosystem anywhere in the world great universities but look at the facts we've had 16 years of one party in
[3:06] control today in California we have the highest poverty rate in the country the highest unemployment rate the highest cost of living by far look at how you we have housing costs the highest in the country that's why people are leaving they are leaving millions of people leaving California this beautiful place. >> You got two right here. >> And exactly you've got now Chief Executive Magazine has ranked California in its annual survey of business leaders for more than a decade 50th out of 50 for business climate. It's just incredible when you look at the range of
[3:39] issues where the policies that we've been subjected to have just >> But why do you >> created the worst outcomes not just um bad in comparison to other states the worst out of every state. >> We know We know how you measure the outcome, but go go back a few layers and think about just the root causes. Democrats have run this state for a long time. Democrats used to be sort of like peace and love and permissiveness and openness. Um
[4:09] So, just corral that for us because I think this is a place now that has become rules on top of rules on top of rules. How did a group of people who basically were just like peace and love and leave us alone become the rule police? >> It's exa- exactly right. Um We This is what happens with one party rule, actually. And you see that in history. Um whether it's on the from the right or the left, it always ends up with a kind of insular, self-regarding elite that just forgets about their
[4:40] responsibility to everyone else and just just gets obsessed with their own ideology, their internal motivations, that whoever their interest groups are that they represent. And by the way, in Sacramento, we have one of the most corrupt systems anywhere in in in the country in terms of the power of the donors to the politicians who make the decisions. The The unions, the the trial lawyers. That's why we have the worst litigation risk anywhere in the country. You run a business in California, you start a business in California, 90%
[5:11] chance you're going to end up in litigation. So, it's just a complete mess when you get one party rule. It's now um 16 years, the Democrats have run everything. All eight statewide elected positions, the state legislature with the two-thirds majority, every big county, every big city, the state Supreme Court with a 6-1 Democrat appointed majority. So, this is what happens. It's just the rules get piled up because every year they pass legislation that just adds to the burden and the bloat. Last year, the
[5:41] the Sacramento legislature passed 1,118 bills. We printed them out. I did an interview >> Very very productive. >> We very productive productivity going up there. We're going to We're going to be doing this year's in Sacramento on Thursday. We printed it all out. I mean, I'm not that tall, but it was twice my height. Okay? Nobody's reading this. You think Gavin Newsom is reading all this before signing it? No. It's written in the interests of the narrow groups that
[6:12] control that process, and it benefits them, but hurts everybody else. That's why we have by far the highest regulatory blow. That's why one of the things I'm announcing today actually is that we're going to cut the number of regulations in California from where we are today, which is over 420,000 by the end of my first term to under 200,000, which makes us competitive with the rest of the country. >> Now, what but if if there's a if there's a nar- if there's a narrow interest group that controls the legislature, is
[6:44] it not also the case that that narrow interest group controls the machinery that I would argue doesn't necessarily elect people, but appoints people, which makes it difficult for rational outsiders to have a shot at a true kind of democratic campaign? That they own the ballot harvesting machines, that they own the campaigning machines, that they get everyone in the state behind them, all the unions, all the votes, everything is aligned under one controlled mechanism, and therefore it is at this point gotten so far down the road that is impenetrable, and we cannot
[7:14] actually break in. >> Well, it's definitely the case that we have this very powerful and corruptly funded machine that's running every I agree with that. In fact, one of the ways that we're telling the story of this campaign is the people versus the machine. That's what this is. But, there's a majority of Californians who want change. That's clear from every single poll. When we started the general election part of this campaign, if you look at the primary results on primary night in California in the governor's race. If
[7:44] you add up that myself and the other Republican, that's 35%. I got 25%, the other Republican 10. You add up all the Democrats, 65%. That's a 30-point gap. The first poll came out, it was a 25-point gap. I know a lot of people were discouraged by that, but we were just beginning our campaign. And look what's happened just in the last couple of months. From a 30-point gap on primary night to 25 points, 18 points, 14 points, the latest poll, an eight-point gap. We are showing that people want change in this state,
[8:15] and I just don't accept that we have to put up with this, and your only choice is to put up with all this nonsense and bloat and tax and cost and all the hassles of living here or trying to work here. Uh your only choice is to put up with it or leave. That's if I may say so as a new American citizen, that's a very un-American attitude that it can't be done, that we can't make change happen. We've got to fight for it. There are plenty of people who um believe that the state needs
[8:48] change. We just have to show in the next 7 weeks that change really is possible. Why do you think If we get more votes, we'll win. It's that simple. >> Steve, why do you think that people feel that it would be almost a betrayal though, even if they want change, to not you know, vote Democrat. Why is it there's there's there seems to be in California, at least as I've lived it, a lot of very irrational people who feel sort of out of place. They're not quite sure whether they should be a Republican. They're made to feel guilty for not being completely a
[9:18] Democrat, so they either don't vote or they just go in and they find the D and check the box. Um and so all of the insanity sort of compounds. And if that if that continues to happen, don't we need to hit rock bottom? Like isn't there going to be some financial event or otherwise that needs to happen to reset? I got to tell you, I think it's pretty rock bottom now in terms of what it's actually like to live here. I mean, I travel this state. I've been to every one of our 58 counties. No candidates done that in a very long time. I sit we've done hundreds of
[9:48] events, town halls up and down the state. Every single day I see this there's just the pain and the struggle in people's eyes to live here. I mean, look, we house you try and own a home here. We used to have the highest rate of home ownership in the country in California and the most affordable housing. Now, the median house price in California is nearly a million dollars. The median salary in California for an individual 65,000. I mean, it's just completely broken and people are broken by this and they are
[10:19] desperate for change. The number one thing that people say to me when I'm out and about and where they come up to me in the airport or the street or wherever we are at my events, it's not good luck, hope you do well. There's an intensity this year. The number one it's almost word for word. This is what everyone says to me. I've heard it even here backstage. You have to win. There's an intensity about it this year. Um and I think that this is the year we can really do that. Just to your point about Democrats, that's true. That you've had this habit of voting
[10:51] Democrat even though the results have been increasingly disappointing. But I think that's changing. I'm just I don't know. I give Friday, 9/11. I was at the 9/11 memorial event in Sacramento. Not there participating. I was just there to show my respects. I took my seat in the back. Um people came up to me, take pictures and so on as they often do. Just there just randomly in a pretty small event. I had a number of people must have been four or five people just randomly all almost said the same
[11:22] word for word thing. I'm a lifelong Democrat, but I'm voting for you this year. I just I think we have reached that point. And I that's why I'm saying we got to wake up cuz the other thing I hear all the time from business leaders or business owners every single day is if you don't make it in November, we're out. And I'm just serious about this. If we if we think that it's bad now, I think that the
[11:53] exodus of business that we've seen from California in the last couple of years, if we don't show some change here and some balance in our system, it's going to turn into a stampede for the exits. It really is. I think this is a now or never election for California. >> Let's Let's talk about the metrics and the path to victory here. Polymarket has you at 5% chance of winning. The actual polls have you as close as 8% to 20% and it's incredibly polarized. You have 90%
[12:23] or 89% of Republican voters, okay, mission accomplished. You've only got 30% of independents, work to do. And [snorts] then if you look at Democrats, you've got less than 10%. So, you've captured the Republicans, making some headway with independents, but you're not making aside from the anecdotal stories you're telling us, massive headway with these Democrats yet. But you have one debate, September 30th versus Becerra. What do you have to do in that debate to change the narrative and to shake this up? So,
[12:54] what's the plan? >> No, it's a great question. It is the question in many ways. Um and I'll just give you our metric and our numbers, which is, you know, we wanted to see what is the pathway to victory for real. So, this is not us cooking the numbers at all. This is a poll that we took right at the beginning of the of the campaign when it's clear that it was myself and uh Xavier Becerra, and these are the numbers. 33% solidly with me, 41% solidly with Becerra, 26%
[13:26] um up for grabs. Now, most of that 26% have voted Democrat before, but they are not committed Democrats. They are open to persuasion. And then you ask, well, who are those people and what are they focused on? Overwhelmingly, uh non-college educated, regular working people in California who are at breaking point financially. And their overwhelming interest is practical things to help with the cost of living. And that's what our campaign's been all about, not just in response to the
[13:58] crisis, >> but since the beginning of the campaign. And I can tell you what it is very simply. Um to reduce the bloat and the waste in our budget. They've doubled the budget of the state of California in the last 10 years. With 2 million people having left the state, everything's gotten worse. We're going to cancel high-speed rail. We're going to have a 10% head count reduction >> [applause] >> in the government, 5% efficiency saving many other things, stop the funding of these non- profits that are making homelessness worse. And that all adds up
[14:29] to enough money for us to cut state income tax, your first 150 grand tax-free. No state income tax. That puts thousands of dollars in the pockets of regular working people. Secondly, we're going to have a sensible energy policy. Instead of shipping oil halfway around the world pretending that we're doing something about climate change, even though we're actually increasing emissions by doing that, we're going to use California energy resources. And that means and and get rid of the ridiculous outdated regulations and the
[15:00] hidden taxes on gas so we can deal with the number one thing that's hurting working people every day, which is gas prices. Instead of $6 gas, we can get towards $3 gas in California like you have in other states right now. >> By getting rid of the emissions um premium or getting rid of the cleaning of the gasoline? >> No, it's not that at all. It's the hidden taxes, the low All these things, the low carbon fuel standard, the cap and invest program. That's about a $1.50 on the gas price right there. Guess where that money goes, the cap and invest program. That's what's funding
[15:31] high speed rail. I mean, you dig into all these things in California, they are gouging you on every single possible thing they can. The announcement we made last week is going to help regular working people to register your car or truck in California. Hundreds of dollars, many people paying eight, nine hundred dollars, over a thousand dollars. In most other states it's under a hundred dollars. It's another hidden tax. Well, we are going to cap vehicle registration at the flat registration rate of $73 per
[16:01] vehicle per year by abolishing the DMV, which is a symbol of the >> [applause] >> a sym- a symbol of this this this absolutely ridiculous bloated nanny state bureaucracy that is driving everyone crazy and driving up everyone's Also, you just need to send an outsider to Sacramento that wants to shake up this system that's clearly broken. >> Why shouldn't people vote for Becerra? What is the flaw in his personal character? >> Well, I
[16:31] I mean, the the short answer is I'm going to quote uh the people who worked with him. He touts the fact that he's got so much experience. Yeah, he's a 36-year career politician. Let's look at uh the verdict not of other Republicans but Democrats who worked with him. Susan Rice, President Biden's head of domestic policy, was President Obama's national security um head of national national security advisor. She worked with him for four years. Her description, Becerra is a quote idiot.
[17:01] >> Okay, so the reason not to vote for him >> term is By the way, she also said, and I don't know quite what she meant by this, he's a ass. So, make of that what you [laughter] will. >> Don't think he's pretty qualified for a role to run California. >> Exactly. Maybe it's just >> He's It's ass idiot. >> ass idiot. ass idiot. So, that >> Give him the keys. >> another one, right? Uh From the Biden cabinet said but said the thing about having you need to know is running a large executive agency is not exactly his skill set. I mean, this is just if if you don't think it can get worse
[17:31] after Gavin Newsom, I have two words for you, Xavier Becerra. He [laughter] is exactly what the machine, to your point, wants. A puppet who will do the bidding of the unions and the trial lawyers and all these activists that have ruined the the business climate in California, made everything more expensive. He'll just go along with it. He's even even worse than Newsom. >> I want to get you in, Sachs, here. Um why haven't the Republicans invested in California more? Because
[18:01] you're coming in, Steve, I think with a lack of infrastructure, correct? And you obviously speak for all Republicans. So, why haven't >> Well, >> on this podcast? >> We haven't We haven't had a candidate as good as Steve. So, we needed the right candidate, right? >> So, can can you get some more money from President Trump? He just called in. But when he calls in this afternoon, can we get him some more funds here? It seems like he's got a puncher's chance. I mean, if you put this energy into the debate, maybe you take this guy out with punches. >> I think >> How how gone is California, Sachs?
[18:31] >> California, I mean, look, what we need is for this election to be about the state, not about national politics, right? And Steve is focused on the problems here. Let's not bring in the rest of the country because we have to appeal to independents. And Steve is right, the state's really broken. We have all these budget deficits for no reason. We're gifted with so many unbelievable assets. We have Silicon Valley. By the way, you know, what one observation Peter Thiel made years ago was that Silicon Valley was like a resource curse for the state of California cuz it generates so much
[19:03] wealth and taxes that they don't need a good government here. You know, it's like one of and that's how you get a one-party state. >> Can I just sort of pick up on that, if I may? So, So you actually there's there was a brilliant moment I mean a depressing moment with Becerra just before the the primary where he was on CNN and he was asked that question and they to be fair to this the host said look we got some problems here homelessness highest poverty rate highest unemployment rate terrible cost of living what do you think really would you have done differently what needs to change from a policy point of view he literally
[19:34] said well you know we're the fourth biggest economy in the world and many people still love coming to Disneyland and our beaches so things must be going right and the point about the resource curse is exactly right this is what you hear from Gavin Newsom the whole time fourth biggest economy in the world that's mainly driven by the fact that we have this incredibly successful sector that's generating a lot of revenue but not creating a lot of jobs it's a very imbalanced economy the other reason that we have the fourth biggest economy in
[20:04] the world is that that number is the GDP number includes the size of the government they've doubled the size of the government in the last 10 years the number that that the figure for net job private sector job creation since the pandemic in California is basically zero it's a disaster economically but we're kept afloat by that one sec >> and by the way if prop 40 passes I think they'll no longer be >> it's going it's going exactly that's why honestly wake up everybody this is a really
[20:34] serious moment >> Hey Friedberg we had an idea you have another guest here who might be great to join Steve >> Yeah so Steve you know you've obviously I think been running a great campaign someone else ran a great campaign here in LA and we were hoping you'd be okay to have him come out early and maybe join you for a little bit yeah I don't know who you could be thinking of >> Let's find out play our video >> have a look >> He's trying to make the campaign a reality show now no my my dear you made my life a show when you burned
[21:06] my town down. >> You know his face, you [music] know his name. His name is Spencer Pratt. >> A media entrepreneur. >> To be clear, I never wanted to run for any political office or have anything to do with politicians. >> Like to see him do well. He's a character. >> Mayor Bass and I are definitely [music] not working together. >> I blame this person for burning my house and my parents' house and my town and all my neighbors down. [music] I'm only running for mayor to to one last Hail Mary. >> Please welcome Spencer Pratt.
[21:38] >> [music] >> Wow, you're popular. >> Oh, wow. >> Popular with this crowd. >> All right, nice to see you. >> All right, welcome. >> That's your governor right here. >> Steve, Spencer. Spencer, Steve. >> It's good to be >> How are you? You guys have some things in common. I mean, how how hard is it to break the machine in California, Spencer? >> Uh he keeps calling it a machine. I like to call it a corrupt criminal mafia
[22:08] cartel. You know, [laughter] machine is when you're a candidate, you have to call it a a machine. These are criminals. That's that simple. They launder all of our tax money to increase people dying on our streets and then they say, "Oh, he's a Republican candidate. You can't vote for him. Let's let people keep dying on our sidewalks cuz we have compassion." So, no, those are criminals, actually. >> Spencer, you have >> criminal machine. >> Spencer, you did something
[22:38] worthy of a round of applause, for sure. Spencer, you did something extraordinary um in terms of an independent candidate getting massive earned media with these videos, AI-generated, but they were incredibly daft at communicating messages. Who made them? Did you direct them? Was this like a covert group chat with a not And then, how can we get Steve to do these? >> I am. We're on the same team.
[23:08] >> Okay, tell us what's going on. Yeah. >> So >> And the impact it had cuz we saw them. Yeah. >> Initially what kicked off was just the truth. That's all I did. I went out on as many platforms and I just started saying the truth and what that created was a grassroots movement and to reference a machine, it became a machine creative people across the country could throw their genius or their ideas into it. I
[23:38] wouldn't say it was the AI that worked. I think it was a piece of a lot of things that were working. Same with Steve. You know, AI is a piece of it. Every you know, people just expect these things now, but for me it's the message that was cutting through. It It wasn't the AI, was what was in these videos I was saying in real life just as Steve is saying in real life. People are tired of being lied to. People want the truth. I didn't set out to be as the president would call me a big mega guy or the guy
[24:08] with the mojo for the Republicans. I set out as a guy whose town burned down, my neighbors burned down. I just wanted somebody speaking the truth and that wasn't political to me. And so that's why most of the people that voted for me were Democrats. I would have won 100% and beat all the super meth addicts that voted for Nithya Raman and Bass if the 200,000 Republicans that are registered in Los Angeles actually voted. And that's what we need people to do for Steve. People need to vote. We've got to this idea
[24:39] with the mail-in ballots and all the alleged voter fraud and the non-alleged voter fraud that we can't beat this system. But people just need to show up. One of the great things the president did say was the two big to rig. And not only is that work, you know, I've talked to a lot of people behind the scenes. You can beat these margins of cheating with voting. >> Can you Steve, can you I mean Spencer, can you actually explain what happened in your election because for the casual observer, it seemed like there was a period you were winning and
[25:09] then something happened and then a lot of votes showed up at the end and then there was a I So for for those of us that were not steeped in what happened in LA, can you just give us a summary of what happened? >> Yeah, I was at Don Antonio's celebrating while my opponent Nithya Raman from the communist DSA was crying on camera because she was losing by 10% and then mathematically the most impossible thing in the history of politics happened. The third place candidate started slowly each day
[25:40] winning but of course they'll say, "Oh yes, but Democrats they they vote by mail-in ballots." But this Democrat was against the current mayor who's also a Democrat and the third place candidate somehow bypassed not just me but the first place Democratic candidate to get just enough votes to beat me. And here's my favorite part. Of the 43,000 votes she got in those mail-in ballots, how many naked drug addict zombies are there in downtown LA in this area?
[26:11] 43,000. There's really about 100,000 but they say 43,000. So again, I'm not saying they cheated because the system >> you just said >> Guys, guys >> But no, I but hold on a second. >> Spencer, you just >> did say they cheated. Okay. >> The system is designed so what we think is cheating is not cheating cuz ready for this? Mail-in ballots, the witness can sign with a smiley face, an X. This witness can be a witness to >> They're not allowed to check.
[26:41] >> This This witness can be a witness to 43,000 ballots. >> All right guys, listen. These two are only here cuz Steve's got to go to another a thing but I want to see if Spencer and Steve maybe have you guys met or talked much about his campaign? And is there anything you can share about the experience here that you've just went through? >> Can Can I I just want to say one thing to underline what Spencer said at the beginning, which is the deep thing that's going on here about what's happening with our money. For everyone who put their hand up and said, "I'm here in California." So, you'll know this story. Um you've seen it. You've
[27:12] been there. You told the story. I was with at Langer's the other week, Langer's Deli right by MacArthur Park. And we crossed the nearly 80 years in business. A couple of years ago, uh Norm Langer wanted to shut it down because the chaos all around in LA, the customers rallied round. It's still in business. And the chaos is back even though you got a DA now in LA that's cracking down on the drugs and the crime. And you've got a US attorney, Bill Ali, good friend of ours who's doing a great job trying to go after the
[27:43] criminal gangs and the cartels. But But what's actually happening? This was a Tuesday morning last week. About 10:30, mid-morning. We He said, "Come and see what's happening." It's like whack-a-mole because you go out into MacArthur Park 10:30 on a Tuesday morning, every single place you look, you've got the people you described. You got crack pipes, people smoking crack, injecting drugs, folded over with fentanyl in the middle of a beautiful sunny day in the center of LA. Dozens and dozens of people. Why? Because every
[28:15] single day four nonprofits show up handing out crack pipes, handing out needles, handing out drugs. Who's paying for that? You are. We are. We are paying for these people >> you mean we're paying for drugs? >> Because the taxpayers are funding the nonprofits who are handing out the crack pipes, the needles, and the drugs. >> So, what drugs are we talking about? >> They hand out fentanyl needles, a black G >> I pay taxes. They take the taxes. They buy fentanyl and then And give it to
[28:45] you. >> buy the needles and interestingly enough, one of these people from the NGOs that was handing out the needles, Bill as silly also caught him selling the drugs, too. So, technically you're not buying the drugs, but the people that were paying for the needles happen to also be selling the drugs on the side. >> I I just Can I just tell I I'm going to be >> It's called a side quest in our industry. >> I just want to say one one other story that really captured >> Side hustle. >> and I'll I'll head out. I just want to tell this other story that captured this
[29:16] story that we've just we've just had experience of and one other that actually captures me in a deeper way what this election is all about. Just a couple of days before that experience in MacArthur Park, there's this Latino couple wanted me to come and see their business in South Central LA. It's you know, it's not Skid Row, but it's pretty rough and it's the usual squalor that I'm afraid we're used to in this city because they don't know how to run the place. But in the middle of all that squalor, this beautiful little store They run a store. It's a shoe store.
[29:47] And they've been running it 14 years. Latino couple, we went in, we were talking, they gave me all the usual things that I'm very familiar with, the taxes, the ridiculous bureaucracy, the permits that get more complicated and costly every year, the electric bill, etc. They said, "But that's not why we wanted you to come here. Come with me." They took me outside. You walk along, we we went for a walk two city blocks, could have gone even further. Every single part of the sidewalk, street vendors.
[30:17] You think illegal street vendors. What are they selling? Shoes and apparel, t-shirts, just the entire sidewalk. This 14-year business, a lovely little local business, everything spotless, everything clean, exactly what we would want to see, is going out of business because you got people there that are not paying tax, not paying electric, not paying rent, not complying with any licensing. And then I said to the guy, "When did all this happen? Uh when did it start? So
[30:47] when did was this has this been here all the time you've been here?" No, "It's the last 6 or 7 years." I said, "Is it something to do with the pandemic?" No. I looked into it. 8 years ago, in 2018, they passed a bill in Sacramento to legalize street vending in California. Across the state, cities can't do anything about it. Counties can't do anything about it. Um you've got in Langas, you've got food stands there. They're pouring their grease into the drain right in front of their store. You got rats, you got all of it legalized. And what does it tell
[31:18] you when you take that into account? And then what you see in MacArthur Park with the drugs and the >> guys should do? >> Can I just tell you what this lesson is from this? That we've become a state where if you do the right thing, you're punished. And if you do the wrong thing, you're rewarded. That is upside down. But that's the story below below beneath everything. And that's what we need to turn around. That's what this election is actually about. >> No, I I really think it's important for you guys to be able to tell the stories of these specific laws because
[31:50] it doesn't it doesn't matter your political persuasion. When you hear that, if it is as accurate as you say, it's functionally one of the stupidest things I've ever heard. And if there's a 20 or 30 of these examples, it's important for people to know this because that's the only thing that cracks this entrenched system because I do think that these belief systems are very difficult to turn over. And you have to just hit them with facts over and over. But these things are ins- insane. If if ac- as accurate as you
[32:20] said, Steve, it's insane. >> The craziest part about this, so there's they say there's 50,000 food vendors, 50,000. And they made it more affordable, so most of them don't even have the permit that costs $21. But our city council green-lit and they already did this, they gave these food vendors a $500,000 to give them an actual cart. My town burned down because Mayor Bass and the LADWP didn't repair the reservoir cover that was $200,000.
[32:52] So, they have money to have a lot of these people are not sit- sit- tax-paying citizens. They have the money to give them $500,000 for food carts, but they can't get the Civic Center that's paying most of the taxes for the whole city. They can't get the reservoir cover. >> What what does it say, Spencer, if this city elects Karen Bass again? And what does it say in terms of lessons about your campaign that you can't beat somebody that incompetent?
[33:22] >> I mean, we're up against Dumb and Dumber. We'd say they're less dumb than picking this socialist, communist, alleged terrorist supporter, uh, Nithya Raman. So, we're in a position where it's either worse or worse. And at least with Mayor Bass, we know, oh, she only burns out one town every 4 years. [laughter] >> Right. >> How many does Nithya Raman burn down? >> We'll find out. >> Yeah, so no, it's I hate to say this. Let's hope we don't, you know. >> Yes. >> Can I say something? Not a complete
[33:52] joke, right? What what what you just said. So, we launched our general election campaign after the primary in Boyle Heights, East LA. Why? Because that that was the site of another fire where Karen Bass was out of town. Incredible. The warehouse fire that burned for a week. She was out of town for that one as well. Um, and you had it was a warehouse. You had 85 million pounds of rotting meat that was left there for 5 weeks. This is a working-class Latino neighborhood in LA.
[34:23] It's just you we launched our campaign that the press wasn't very happy because you have flies everywhere. The whole place stinks. You have rats, medieval diseases. This is in the the the second city of America. I mean, it's just what these people have done is actually unforgivable. We've got to kick these people out this year. We really do. >> Before before Steve leaves, any advice for him? >> Uh I feel like Steve doesn't need my advice. Uh he's doing incredible. What
[34:55] he just needs to continue doing and he does it is appealing because you're never going to win as a Republican in California. But what he's running is common sense and the message is, you know, for the people that are like, "I'm voting for Basura." Basi- What is What is Biden calling him? >> we say Basura. I think we say Basura. We're going to take Basura from Karen Bass and apply it there. >> these people think they're voting because he says, "I'm going to fight president." The president is gone in 2 years. So then what? You're just going to have another entrenched terrible
[35:26] person running the state? And don't worry, the whole entire state is run by Democrats. If there's one registered Republican, it's okay. So I would say the message is Steve is about common sense and he just wants our tax money to stop being stolen and he wants kids being able to go back to parks. It's These aren't a Republican or Democrat. It's just a non-communist message. So >> Ben, you're going to you're going to stay with us for a bit. Steve, I know you got to run. Any last words? Anything
[35:57] you want to say before you head out? >> I just want to tell um everyone that actually it's not just about stopping the crazy stuff that we've been talking about. There's a There's It's There's so much we can do in this amazing state. I got a plan here uh that we're publishing today, 10 new cities for California. We've got so much opportunity here. If we just have some common sense, we get rid of these insane regulations and lawsuits and fees and taxes, the talent is here, the energy is here. We can once again be the place where people are
[36:28] coming to build amazing businesses and companies and houses and the great things we built in the heyday of California. We can be all that again and very, very quickly cuz we've got everything we need to be truly magnificent again except a good governor, but very soon we'll have that as well. Thank you very much. >> [applause] >> Thanks for being here. >> [music] >> Thank you. >> What's your favorite viral Spencer Pratt video? I know mine. It's we have the
[36:59] money is just being stolen. You remember that one? >> I do. I mean, what I loved about running so much is it was finally a way to channel all of my anger and it was it was so therapeutic. >> [laughter] >> This feels so good. But yeah, Steve's incredible. I pray for him. I obviously everybody who I thought was a genius involved in my campaign connected these people. So he's got
[37:29] >> Spencer, what's going to happen in this election now? >> If people vote, Steve wins, but people need to vote. It's like >> You You think that You think there's still an opportunity to vote in this state versus having the machine fill it out for me? >> Correct. I I is I'm a I'm so optimistic. Psych. No, I mean you just got to be got we got to try. People need to vote and I don't think the the machine and the idea that we can't win should stop from trying.
[38:00] >> Yeah. >> Like if I had thought that way, I mean I had my plan, I would 100% been the mayor. I didn't know they were going to pull what they pulled that soon. I thought they were going to wait till November. So I had the plan to win, but I'm going to save it for my next election. So you know. >> What What What does that What does that mean exactly? >> Well, I mean behind offstage I can tell you, you know, I can't give the DSA >> you need a better vote stealing operation than they have, right? >> I've learned is it's not stealing, it's
[38:31] legal. So, I got my own plan now. >> Ballot harvesting they call it. Yeah. >> You know, I I got something up my sleeve. >> Well, no, no, in seriousness, Spencer, um Ian's being serious. >> I'm like [laughter] dead s- >> Okay. So, um you have legal recourse. Voter fraud is a very significant crime. People have been prosecuted very regularly for committing voter fraud. You're making these claims, Freeberg's making these claims, you're piling on. >> Hold on, what claims did I make?
[39:01] >> You just said if you can actually win or that somebody automatically signs it for you, you're insinuating that the system is corrupt. Let me >> That's not my claim. That was a joke about the >> Okay, fine, but in our private chat In our private chat, you say all the time no >> I'll not only insinuate it, I'll assert it. >> Yeah. Anyway, the point is >> is corrupt. It's statistically impossible. We all saw the lines. >> I I Here, here, I'll tell >> Okay, but hold on. Hold Let me Let me >> I know where this is going. Everyone says, "Well, why didn't you Why didn't you investigate?" Da da da da. So, obviously I got the top law firms. I'm
[39:32] like, "Yeah, we're going to get them." And then you Ready for this? The second those mail-in ballots get to where they count the votes cuz they say, "Come down here. Check this out." The second they get there, you know what they do with the ballots? They separate them from the envelope. So, let's say I know 42,000 of these were cooked with the NGO, drug addicts, and the people that are paying them billions of dollars cuz they want that money to keep I know it's all from there. Oh, well, we can't connect those ballots to those envelopes. We separated the chain of custody from those So, >> The certification signature's on the
[40:02] envelope, to be clear. It's like right there. >> So, you So, I know Let's say I know this DSA terrorist commie person signed all these I know da da da this one. They go, "And this is where they're from." Oh, we don't have that person's signature to connect those ballots. So, you can't I could have definitely said, "I want a recount." >> You can't audit is basically what you're saying. >> and they would have recounted the same ballots. So, I'm not alleging anything. This is just a fact in California. >> This is what I mean by the mechanism >> I I didn't get to ask my question.
[40:32] >> because this is legal and the way it's set up legally is what makes it impossible to intervene unless you are willing to go play that game where you're now going to go collect all the ballots from the apartment buildings and fill them all out and get someone to put a happy smiley face on it and be like, "Here you go." That's the mechanism that ultimately I think the other side is going to end up having to employ if they actually want to get people elected in a state that's 2/3 one side of the uh yeah. >> President Trump did 60 of these lawsuits when he lost last time and claimed the same thing. All 60 he lost. You're not
[41:04] even willing to do a lawsuit, but is your contention that you lost because of fraud? Yes or no? >> It's a trick question. >> Well, no, it's a simple question. You're I I That's >> It's a trick question. I without evidence, I would say no. >> Okay. >> So, >> So, it's a but he can't What he's saying is he can't collect ballots. >> so if I had the evidence, I would tell you I would be the mayor right now. >> Okay. >> So, >> Well, what I would say what I would say is that on election night, you were the
[41:34] clear number two. And then a week later, you'd been narrowly displaced by a bunch of ballots that were counted after. >> Yeah, I the it seems like there would have to be in this case, correct me if I'm wrong, tens of thousands of fake ballots. >> No, I'm not saying fake. This is what This is again >> It's not fraud, Jason. It's that they're following the law that was created to let them do what they're doing. It's legal. >> So, so >> So, why is voter ID illegal? >> so watch this. Watch this. Watch this. >> I'm in favor of voter ID, to be clear. But, you're still having to explain where the crime occurred here.
[42:04] >> Watch this. The crime occurred here. >> Go ahead. >> [laughter] >> Ready for this? >> I'm awake now. >> All right, here we go. So, if I go up to you when you go to like a basketball court to vote, you know, with the nice people and they say in California they say, "Don't show us your ID. You that's illegal." Those people if I go up to you and I'm wearing like Mayor Pratt hat and I say, "Who's on your ballot? You this is why you should vote for Spencer Pratt." This is electioneering. This is illegal. But, it's not illegal for DSA
[42:36] commies to ride around on their bikes and to go into your apartment building, knock on your door, say, "Hey, this is your ballot. You got to vote for Nithya Raman. She's going to make everything cheap, give you free money, a cell phone. She's going to pay for your Netflix, all these things. Fill it out, we'll take it in." This is would be illegal at the gym, but it's not in California with ballot harvesting. So, what these DSA soldiers, these are sold these are true believers do, they do it in New York, they're doing it all over
[43:07] the they go around, thousands of them, and they go get these ballots. So, they're not fake ballots. It's ballot harvesting and they can people pay these people. I did legal ballot harvesting. >> can't pay them per ballot and this became law legal in California how many years ago? Like a decade ago? >> Now the claim is >> So, I understand. I just want to make sure I understand the claim. The claim now is that DSA soldiers went, gave money to people and convinced them to place their vote and then brought their >> I didn't document
[43:37] >> You let him answer Freeberg. >> The DSA operatives are being paid. >> Got it. >> And some do it as for free cuz they are true believers. >> Like people who knock on doors and say >> So, my campaign had legal door knockers. >> Yes. >> Half a million dollars. They knock and they say, "Spencer's so great." And they say, "No, I don't want to vote." And they door shuts and they walk away. These people continue. They You go on the the DSA website, they'll tell you a whole there'll be a whole breakdown on ballot harvesting and they'll say, "Go back three times. It becomes harassment.
[44:09] Finally, somebody's going to be like, here, yeah, take this. Get out of my >> So, now the claim is the DSA is persistent, and you weren't. You go one time, they go three. Just so I'm clear. >> No, what I'm saying is illegal to harass people into who they vote. That's illegal. What the DSA does >> Has any of those people ever filed a complaint about being harassed? >> Do you know where they're going? These people don't You can't buy >> I'm asking you. You're the one making this claim that you lost because of fraud. >> I also didn't I said I don't have the
[44:39] evidence. >> You literally tweeted that the fraudsters stole the election from you. >> I said no. I said 200,000 Republicans didn't show up and vote. >> Okay. So, that's why you lost. >> There's many reasons to not win and lose in games. Also, in politics. >> Do you think Do you think that the other side that Republicans are going to start to employ the ballot harvesting tactic? >> It won't work. I did it. Unless you are nefarious, it doesn't work. >> Mhm. >> If you are just like a genuine like Hello.
[45:09] >> Yeah. >> You like to vote? Like that doesn't work. These people So, tell me this. >> Okay. >> claims. Why won't California clear their voter rolls? >> What does that mean? Just a different >> Yeah, yeah. >> Right now, the voter rolls, if you moved out of California, if you are dead, these are all ballots >> There's an There's an empty parking lot downtown LA that gets hundreds of ballots mailed to it, an empty parking lot. And people have registered to this address. Hundreds of ballots show up there. >> So, back to your thing of these are fake ballots. They're not fake ballots. There
[45:39] could be potentially a million ballots out and about that now a DSA person could harvest, get these ballots, fill in a circle, and then do a smiley face as the witness, and mail that in. So, we can call it a claim, or we could call it who knows. It's like, who knows what's going on. The point is we We voter ID. People need to get that on the ballot. So >> Yeah, yeah, no, I mean you're the person who made this claim, so I'm just asking you the questions. And And for the record, I think if you have to show an
[46:10] ID to get on a plane, it's quite reasonable that you should show one to vote. So I'm for voter but >> You also need an ID. You also need an ID to shop at Commie Mommies New Markets. So If you want If you want Commie food, you need an ID. >> Dencer, what are you doing next? Let's move on past this >> Oh, this is it. I This is the >> You're joining the show, fifth bestie? >> Uh you know, I have Zoom. >> [laughter]
[46:40] >> You have Zoom and you have time. >> love premium tequila. Uh you know >> This could work. This [laughter] could work. Fifth bestie. >> There's a lot of >> I mean Brad Garshier is very popular, but I think you have a >> [laughter] >> We might need to move him to sixth bestie. >> What uh I will continue doing cuz I only ever ran for mayor to increase my message of fighting these people who have destroyed my beautiful state, my beautiful city, and then >> And your home. >> My home, my parents' home, all my
[47:11] neighbors. So >> Let me ask you a question about the incompetence of these idiots. You They burn your home down cuz they can't keep water in the reservoir. And then have you been able to rebuild? What's the state of the Palisades right now? >> So here's the best part. That empty reservoir is still empty. And the reservoir across the street from my house that I was convinced I was I was house was never going to burn, the one they didn't even talk about, that one's still empty. They have a hose. I just posted a video about this. They have a hose that comes all the way from Topanga through all the regrown dead brush. This
[47:43] is the hose now supplying the Palisades. But back to rebuilding, what happened is we all had Farmers and all these great insurance, but and I don't blame the insurance companies because it's our Gavin Newsom and our state parks that allowed the 60 years of dead fuels, dead brush to surround our communities knowing that there's no firebreak. All they would have had to do, I talked to the top guy that does all the cutting of this brush and he's and I said, "How much would this have cost to cut a whole
[48:13] firebreak 300 yards around the Palisades?" He said, "Under $500,000 to save billions of dollars." So, back to rebuilding, insurance dropped everybody because they were smart. They saw all this dead brush into every It's illegal if I go cut. So, if I'm my backyard has Gavin Newsom State Park dead brush coming into it, if I cut it, those are protected milk vetch. >> You're going to get a fine. >> I can The LADWP got fined $1 million for
[48:43] cutting some dead brush around a downed pole in these state parks. So, the CARB, who's in charge of this, these people that care more about plants, they're also ruining the federal fire service right now and they're fighting literal the federal government right up to protect these plants again over people. So, back to building, no, I won't be able to build build until we win the lawsuit against Gavin Newsom and the state parks and the city and the LADWP, which we >> What is What is the lawsuit that you filed?
[49:13] >> It's a mass tort. It's 10,000 victims for the negligence. They let So, what people don't realize cuz they're not in the weeds or we should we say in the milk vetch on this. Uh on New Year's Eve, there was a fire in the Pacific Palisades, 8 acres. They put it out. The state park did not monitor that fire, which is in their state park manual, and they let it smolder leading into a known wind event that was coming on January 6th, January 7th. I've now
[49:43] had firefighter whistleblowers tell me that there was clearly smoldering coals on the side of this hill and now in the depositions with the state park employees, we have their photos. They took photos of the hillside just smoking. And when asked, "Why didn't you do anything?" They say, "Oh, we're not firefighters." So, the state park is liable for allowing a dangerous condition to burn down the community. The LADWP is liable for leaving the reservoirs empty and having no water.
[50:13] And the city is liable >> So, basically, you're just trying to set the record straight, hopefully get back some recompense for you and these other families. But is most of it this first part of just like make the record public of of all of this incompetence in the hope that people realize that it doesn't need to be this way? >> That was initially why I was out making my videos and doing the content to like help my community. And then when I saw Mayor Bass was just automatically going to be the mayor again, I was like, "Oh, no way." And then I called Rick Caruso. I said, "Are you going to run or what?" He's like, "No." I was like, "Oh, it's
[50:44] on." So, then I ran with the intention to just try to stop her from becoming mayor. If that meant me being mayor, it honestly people are like, "Oh, you have no experience." Oh, to enforce the law? What LA needs is a mayor that enforces the law. Neither Mayor Bass nor Nithya Raman have any intention on enforcing the laws because it doesn't look good. It doesn't look good if you tell the illegal food vendors that they can't ruin a small business that's been paying taxes for 40 years. Oh, you're you're
[51:14] messing with this community, this at-risk community. No, this is illegal. They're they're destroying this family's business. So, these simple things that I would have been able to do as mayor that's unfortunate that it's going to take 4 years of pure destruction for them people to call me up in 4 years like "Let's go." And I'll be ready. Um so, >> Fentanyl, are you are you still are you still doing content? Like what are you doing right now with your time? >> So, there's three opportunities that, you know, are in play. And yes, I'll,
[51:44] you you content what I realized when I got out of this is the media and this sounds very POTUS, but the media just lies. Like there's so many lies that I witness all day long first hand in my city. That was like, I need to be out here making content with the truth. It's not It's not a It's in the center. I keep saying to people like, "Oh, he's reporting." No, the truth doesn't have a side. Is that Is that that simple? And these people across the country now are trying to destroy it. They truly are. And And when
[52:15] you start living this all day long like me, it's not for LA now. Now I'm like, "Damn, I got to fight for America." Like I'm like Jason Bourne. This is crazy. So, yeah, no, I you know, now I'm flying to New York and meeting with people in New York trying to help them because I don't want New York to go down even worse than >> I have a suggestion for you. >> So, what were the other two things? You said there was three things. Is that that all three? >> No, there's there's three plays. >> I see. >> But I mean, I was going to be the big guy in AI as mayor because I was going to turn Skid Row into all just data
[52:46] centers. >> [laughter] >> So, >> I mean, you're weaving You're speaking our language. >> a I actually had a call trying to like get the information about data centers with >> [laughter] >> a guy that knows data centers. He said And he said, "Spencer, do you understand this is the time for like a city like LA whose infrastructure is collapsing into the ground to take private business and billions of dollars be like, 'Hey, yes, you can put this data center where we have naked drug addict zombies and no actual human being can go for 50 blocks.
[53:16] We're going to put that here, but you need to redo our water pipes. You need to redo our electric >> the fentanyl addicts to be electricians. Meta's got a program for that. >> You know, as I drove over here, I >> Solve two problems at once. >> You know, there's a I was going to solve a lot of problems. So, that's the >> But Spencer, in all seriousness, >> Yes. >> you're incredibly quick-witted and entertaining on camera. You should consider doing reality TV. >> You know, You know why I don't like reality TV and it's only thing worse
[53:46] than people in politics is there's too much image crafting. And that's what makes a bad reality shows. Now everyone is image crafting trying to create a persona what's going to be in the comment section. What are people going to say on the blogs? You cannot be on real like the last reality show I was on when they rebooted The Hills. >> on a reality show? >> A couple A couple, you know. You know, I am the reality candidate. That's reality check. But everybody was just faking their actual identity. And now
[54:17] what's so funny is if you watch any politician, they're just a bad Tik Tok influencer. Like you look at Abdul Sayed, he thinks he's Alex Earl. It's like like what are you What are >> Honestly, I got to got to tell you, I love you and what a mistake because not only would you have gotten some great done, this would have been the most entertaining mayorship in history. >> Well, he's got time. >> Yeah, you got to run again. >> a lot of time. >> This is [laughter] amazing. >> Yeah, I know. I What's funny is I
[54:48] actually am way more of a threat to these people now because I have >> You're dangerous. >> two years to really get into these communities. >> I suggest you torture them. Torture Karen Bass for the next two years. >> Karen Bass is not our worst nightmare. And I will never say anything positive. Nithya Raman and the DSA, people like people do not get my Democrat friends do not understand what the DSA is. I keep telling them, go on their website. It's not a conspiracy. Read their website and you tell me >> Abolish the police, yes.
[55:19] >> the list goes on and on. And this is what they stand by. And And then I used to call them commies and they're like, "Oh, you can't call them commie." Now I'm like, "That sounds nice." >> It's a compliment to them, yeah. They're anarchists. >> Like gassing them up. >> [laughter] >> Crazy. >> Ladies and gentlemen, Spencer Pratt. Wow. >> Thanks, Rob. >> All right. Great stuff.