WEBVTT - Previewing Election Night with John Thomas and Steve Hilton 0:00:00.160 --> 0:00:03.280 And we continue at one five in the afternoon on 0:00:03.360 --> 0:00:07.360 the John Phillips Show, Mister Randy Weggs across the Glass, John. 0:00:07.440 --> 0:00:10.960 It is election day. People have until eight o'clock to 0:00:11.039 --> 0:00:14.319 turn their ballots in, and as of about fifteen minutes ago, 0:00:14.440 --> 0:00:18.319 the latest update to the ballot Tracker, nineteen percent of 0:00:18.400 --> 0:00:24.800 Californians have cast their ballot. Early eighty percent of Californians 0:00:25.120 --> 0:00:29.120 either are going to vote today or most likely not going. 0:00:29.080 --> 0:00:29.440 To do it. 0:00:30.920 --> 0:00:35.519 And we have some breaking news regarding Los Angeles Congressman 0:00:35.800 --> 0:00:42.280 Jimmy Gomez. The House Ethics Committee is investigating Congressman Jimmy 0:00:42.320 --> 0:00:49.240 Gomez over sexual misconduct allegations. What's notable here is Jimmy 0:00:49.280 --> 0:00:53.320 Gomez was one of the campaign chairs of the former 0:00:53.400 --> 0:00:59.400 front runner in this governor's race, Eric Swallwell, it's not California, 0:00:59.520 --> 0:01:01.680 but this is a story that went all over the 0:01:01.760 --> 0:01:08.559 place this weekend. Morris Katz, a top advisor to embattled 0:01:08.720 --> 0:01:14.560 Maine Senate candidate Graham Plattner, admitted in a blog post 0:01:14.600 --> 0:01:17.760 that he also sent explicit material to people in the past. 0:01:17.880 --> 0:01:21.320 Quote I've sent nudes and I've received nudes end quote. 0:01:21.560 --> 0:01:24.280 So this is the person that said that Platner was 0:01:24.319 --> 0:01:27.240 sending nudes, or at least sending explicit text, saying I 0:01:27.360 --> 0:01:28.760 also have done some nudes. 0:01:29.040 --> 0:01:32.720 I think they're all doing it. What's Tom Steyer up to? 0:01:36.520 --> 0:01:38.280 I sure hope he doesn't make the top two, because 0:01:38.280 --> 0:01:40.039 we're gonna get in trouble if we play this drop 0:01:40.120 --> 0:01:40.559 this much. 0:01:40.680 --> 0:01:42.920 I'm Tom Steyer. I'm about to write the. 0:01:42.880 --> 0:01:48.120 Team eight hundred two two two five two two two 0:01:48.280 --> 0:01:51.520 East jelphone number one eight hundred two two two five 0:01:51.520 --> 0:01:53.520 to two two two. Can you guess what I'm naming 0:01:53.520 --> 0:01:55.120 the twelve o'clock hour podcast. 0:01:55.360 --> 0:01:56.160 I have an idea. 0:01:57.440 --> 0:01:59.360 It is our pleasure to welcome our next guest to 0:01:59.400 --> 0:02:03.000 the program. He is a Republican political strategist too. You 0:02:03.040 --> 0:02:06.200 can follow on exit the Thomas Guide, John Thomas. 0:02:06.320 --> 0:02:08.760 Welcome, Hey John, good to be with you. 0:02:09.440 --> 0:02:13.240 So on election day here, as people are still standing 0:02:13.280 --> 0:02:17.120 in line, voting at voting centers up and down the state, 0:02:17.200 --> 0:02:19.840 filling out their ballots, taking it to the post office, 0:02:19.880 --> 0:02:23.720 getting it postmarked today, what is your read on the 0:02:23.760 --> 0:02:25.200 gubernatorial election? 0:02:26.919 --> 0:02:27.160 Oh? 0:02:27.240 --> 0:02:31.280 Gosh, well, first of all, what a wild ride it 0:02:31.320 --> 0:02:36.080 has been, and pretty pathetic, honestly that this is the 0:02:36.120 --> 0:02:39.760 best cast of Democratic characters that the Democratic Party in 0:02:39.760 --> 0:02:43.560 the state is blue as California could put up. But 0:02:43.720 --> 0:02:46.960 what I'm watching is, look, it appears to be Howvierbasara 0:02:47.040 --> 0:02:49.600 will take the top slot. That seems to be pretty 0:02:49.639 --> 0:02:53.079 safe at this point. He's kind of taken over for swallwell, 0:02:53.600 --> 0:02:55.960 and it appears as Steve Hilton will get into a 0:02:55.960 --> 0:02:59.799 second place. But you know, depending upon the polling, depending 0:02:59.840 --> 0:03:02.800 on the turnout model you see, Tom Steier could be 0:03:02.880 --> 0:03:05.880 interchangeable for either of those two. So those are the 0:03:05.880 --> 0:03:09.480 things you know, I'm watching. And the other thing that's 0:03:09.520 --> 0:03:15.079 fascinating here, John, is that that moderate Democrats have no 0:03:15.280 --> 0:03:20.399 appeal in a state like California. Matt Mahan came out 0:03:20.440 --> 0:03:23.720 with all this fanfare from the tech pros and those 0:03:23.720 --> 0:03:26.840 in northern California, and he's sitting at what three four 0:03:27.000 --> 0:03:30.920 percent in polling, even though he spent tens of millions 0:03:30.960 --> 0:03:32.320 of dollars. 0:03:33.919 --> 0:03:38.000 It seems as if the Las Vegas odds makers have 0:03:38.160 --> 0:03:43.360 it at Besera over ninety percent, they have Hilton at 0:03:43.360 --> 0:03:46.920 seventy five percent, and they have Styre at what was 0:03:46.960 --> 0:03:51.600 at Randy twenty percent according to Calshi. Right now, Tom 0:03:51.640 --> 0:03:54.360 Steyer has a thirty four percent chance of it just 0:03:54.400 --> 0:03:58.680 went up to thirty five percent chance of advancing. What 0:03:58.720 --> 0:04:00.640 do you make of that? Why do you think Las 0:04:00.800 --> 0:04:04.120 Vegas and the people who are placing the bets have 0:04:04.800 --> 0:04:08.000 Steve Hilton so far above Tom Steyer in terms of 0:04:08.040 --> 0:04:08.520 the odds. 0:04:09.760 --> 0:04:12.720 Well, I think that's a pretty safe bet actually, because 0:04:12.720 --> 0:04:17.840 typically in these kinds of contests you generally see coalescing 0:04:18.760 --> 0:04:24.040 where particular party kind of coalesces around one top candidate. 0:04:24.320 --> 0:04:27.880 And although Chad Bianco I like him, he's a good candidate, 0:04:28.200 --> 0:04:33.560 Steve Hilton really has become kind of the definitive Trump 0:04:33.680 --> 0:04:36.760 endorsed Republican in the state, and I think, look, he 0:04:36.839 --> 0:04:39.600 kind of checks all the boxes that the base would 0:04:39.640 --> 0:04:42.480 need to kind of get the joke here. Donald Trump 0:04:42.480 --> 0:04:46.680 has repeatedly pronounced his endorsement. The Democrats have sent out 0:04:46.760 --> 0:04:50.920 mailers attacking Steve Hilton, but basically trying to attacking him 0:04:50.920 --> 0:04:53.839 to Republicans and coalesces his vote. And then, of course, 0:04:54.240 --> 0:04:56.800 I mean I can't I don't think I've gone a 0:04:56.880 --> 0:04:59.200 day or more that Steve Hilton hasn't been on a 0:04:59.200 --> 0:05:01.280 Fox News hit where you really can't say the. 0:05:01.240 --> 0:05:02.239 Same for Chad Bianco. 0:05:02.320 --> 0:05:04.359 So I think the bet on Hilton is that the 0:05:04.400 --> 0:05:07.400 Republicans kind of come home, they coalesce, which I think 0:05:07.480 --> 0:05:11.200 is safe. And you know, Sires again a little bit 0:05:11.240 --> 0:05:12.920 of a wildcard there, but I think. 0:05:12.760 --> 0:05:14.799 It is pretty safe bet on Hilton at this point. 0:05:15.080 --> 0:05:19.560 Let's just say that it is Besarah versus Hilton, that 0:05:19.560 --> 0:05:23.960 that is what the November ballot looks like. What do 0:05:24.040 --> 0:05:26.839 you think Hilton's chances are at winning that election? 0:05:29.200 --> 0:05:32.359 You know, I struggle to see a pathway simply because 0:05:32.360 --> 0:05:36.800 stays like California are so hyper partisan and the numbers, 0:05:37.480 --> 0:05:42.120 you know, aren't really there for Republican However, there are 0:05:42.200 --> 0:05:45.039 a few kind of black Swan glimmers of hope here. 0:05:45.640 --> 0:05:48.159 One would be if you look at in terms of 0:05:48.200 --> 0:05:52.640 independent voters or no party preference. Actually, Steve Hilton is 0:05:52.760 --> 0:05:57.040 leading the field above the Sarah with independence, So people 0:05:57.120 --> 0:05:59.120 kind of who don't like the status quo, they're looking 0:05:59.160 --> 0:06:02.120 for something else. Uh, So maybe there's an in there. 0:06:02.360 --> 0:06:04.920 And then I think the other wildcard is that Besarah 0:06:04.920 --> 0:06:08.960 gets caught up in some kind of Department of Justice handle. 0:06:09.400 --> 0:06:11.560 Uh and if that happens, all nets are off. 0:06:13.200 --> 0:06:15.680 Who would be your first call to if you were 0:06:15.760 --> 0:06:19.400 Steve Hilton and you made it to the November ballot, 0:06:19.400 --> 0:06:21.880 would beat to Matt Mayhan asking for his endorsement. 0:06:24.120 --> 0:06:28.520 Probably, yeah, Mayhan should. I mean, if he's intellectually honest, 0:06:28.600 --> 0:06:29.760 he he should get there. 0:06:30.520 --> 0:06:31.279 You try to do that. 0:06:31.400 --> 0:06:33.400 I think I would also go back to I'd go 0:06:33.440 --> 0:06:36.120 to places like you know, Jerry Brown, I'd go to 0:06:36.160 --> 0:06:41.520 Governor Schwarzenegger. You know, I try to coalesce statewide figures 0:06:42.240 --> 0:06:44.880 that were thought to be a little bit more moderate 0:06:45.000 --> 0:06:46.839 and try to get mods on your side. 0:06:47.440 --> 0:06:48.520 Try to try to do that. 0:06:49.839 --> 0:06:52.120 It's it's going to be tough because what you're going 0:06:52.200 --> 0:06:55.040 to see, John, because Sarah is thought to be the 0:06:55.080 --> 0:06:58.960 obvious winner. You're going to see a very quick coalescing 0:06:59.000 --> 0:07:02.719 of every local, state, and national Democratic figure that you 0:07:02.720 --> 0:07:04.320 can think off top of your head. They're all going 0:07:04.360 --> 0:07:08.919 to rally from Obama, Biden, Clinton, you know, just just 0:07:08.960 --> 0:07:12.560 the who's who's going to quickly coalesce around Bisera. So 0:07:13.680 --> 0:07:16.280 time is is short if you're Hilton. The other is 0:07:16.320 --> 0:07:17.800 you got to put together a war chest. 0:07:17.880 --> 0:07:18.080 John. 0:07:18.080 --> 0:07:19.760 If Hilton has a shot, I mean he's going to 0:07:19.800 --> 0:07:22.720 have to spend over one hundred million dollars and he 0:07:22.760 --> 0:07:25.880 could potentially do that if he catches fire and small 0:07:25.920 --> 0:07:29.120 donors across the country smell victory, it could be done. 0:07:29.320 --> 0:07:31.000 But it's still very tough in to say, like. 0:07:30.920 --> 0:07:34.840 California, newspapers across the nation are going to write the 0:07:34.880 --> 0:07:40.760 political obituary of Matt Mahon on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, some 0:07:40.880 --> 0:07:43.360 point in the future. What do you think those obits 0:07:43.360 --> 0:07:44.920 are going to say, why didn't it work? 0:07:47.240 --> 0:07:50.480 I think I think they're going to say, probably got 0:07:50.480 --> 0:07:57.120 into late, couldn't excite enthusiasm, I didn't have. 0:07:57.280 --> 0:07:59.080 You going to say he didn't have enough money. 0:08:00.600 --> 0:08:04.560 You know, Porter's obviously already blaming stire for leaking videos 0:08:04.960 --> 0:08:06.760 out of I think Porter is going to, you know, 0:08:07.120 --> 0:08:10.720 blame misogyny, that it's just, you know, women can't get 0:08:10.720 --> 0:08:13.640 ahead in that state, which is ironic because wasn't a 0:08:13.680 --> 0:08:16.800 Kamala Harris who was a statewide elected official. And there's 0:08:16.840 --> 0:08:19.720 so many others. But I'm not sure that argument that 0:08:19.760 --> 0:08:23.400 blame game really hass the sniff test. But I think 0:08:23.400 --> 0:08:25.240 what you're not going to see, John, I think the 0:08:25.240 --> 0:08:27.600 most telling you're not going to see the La Times 0:08:27.640 --> 0:08:30.320 and the Sacramento Bee in the New York Times talk 0:08:30.360 --> 0:08:33.440 about the truth, which is that the Democratic Party has 0:08:33.480 --> 0:08:36.400 shifted so extreme and so far left that they're really 0:08:36.400 --> 0:08:39.920 only interested in socialism and Trump arrangement, and those are 0:08:40.000 --> 0:08:43.199 really the two animating factors of the modern Democratic Party. 0:08:43.760 --> 0:08:46.200 Do you think today is the last time we'll ever 0:08:46.240 --> 0:08:48.720 see Antonio Via goes his name on a ballot? 0:08:51.600 --> 0:08:52.520 But that's a good question. 0:08:52.920 --> 0:08:57.800 Statewide, yes, I don't think he can go statewide, But 0:08:57.920 --> 0:09:01.079 you know, lookal office. If he just had a thirst 0:09:01.400 --> 0:09:05.520 for serving on the Board of Supervisors, La City Council, 0:09:06.440 --> 0:09:08.920 I would be terribly shocked to see him run for 0:09:08.960 --> 0:09:12.360 those things. Now, maybe you could argue that's below his 0:09:12.440 --> 0:09:14.440 pay grade, but I get the sense that the man 0:09:14.559 --> 0:09:16.680 just wants to be relevant and he wants to serve. 0:09:16.840 --> 0:09:21.679 So done for statewide, done for probably national office, but 0:09:21.679 --> 0:09:22.120 but local. 0:09:22.160 --> 0:09:24.199 I wouldn't count him out at this point. 0:09:24.559 --> 0:09:28.840 Katie Porter has run for statewide office two times, two 0:09:28.880 --> 0:09:32.880 cycles in a row, and assuming the polls are correct, 0:09:33.360 --> 0:09:36.760 she will lose in the election today. Do you think 0:09:36.880 --> 0:09:39.880 she's done or do you think she finds another office. 0:09:39.600 --> 0:09:40.120 To run for. 0:09:42.800 --> 0:09:46.360 Boy, that's another good one. Well, I wish she were 0:09:46.400 --> 0:09:49.200 done for the sake of the country in Californians. I 0:09:49.200 --> 0:09:51.959 don't actually think she's done. I think this is her 0:09:52.000 --> 0:09:54.679 life's purpose. I think her ego is so large that 0:09:54.880 --> 0:09:58.160 really she will blame misogyny. It's anything but her fault. 0:09:59.000 --> 0:10:01.400 So I think you you're going to see her run 0:10:01.880 --> 0:10:05.280 again for some kind of state office down ticket, probably 0:10:05.280 --> 0:10:08.559 attorney general I think is the most obvious fit. I mean, 0:10:08.600 --> 0:10:13.679 look John and these down ticket races particularly well particular statewide, 0:10:13.400 --> 0:10:17.319 but down the state wide ticket. The biggest hurdle for 0:10:17.440 --> 0:10:21.160 most of these races Secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer 0:10:21.559 --> 0:10:25.360 is simply name mighty creation. She has name I D 0:10:26.200 --> 0:10:28.600 So I think if she runs for a lesser office, 0:10:29.160 --> 0:10:32.160 she can be the only candidate with the most name 0:10:32.240 --> 0:10:35.040 might and kind of slide in. Yet the other thing 0:10:35.160 --> 0:10:38.320 she could do is pivot to run for a local 0:10:38.400 --> 0:10:41.600 prosecutorial agency or board of supervisors in Orange County. 0:10:42.040 --> 0:10:42.520 I have a. 0:10:42.480 --> 0:10:46.840 Feeling she feels that's below her ego level. So I 0:10:46.840 --> 0:10:48.920 would bet, if you had a gun in my head, 0:10:48.960 --> 0:10:50.760 that she's going to run for attorney general and that 0:10:50.840 --> 0:10:51.400 social land. 0:10:52.000 --> 0:10:56.400 She seems to really hate Tom Steyer, who she blames 0:10:56.480 --> 0:11:01.120 for producing that video that caused her campaign aim to implode. 0:11:01.760 --> 0:11:04.400 I kind of get the impression that that's just something 0:11:04.559 --> 0:11:06.040 in her life she's never going. 0:11:06.000 --> 0:11:06.480 To get over. 0:11:08.800 --> 0:11:12.760 I think Katie's known to hold grudges, particularly against men, 0:11:13.920 --> 0:11:17.920 the sense I've got there. But look, whether or not 0:11:18.000 --> 0:11:21.640 it was Styre who leaked it, that's that's the nature 0:11:21.679 --> 0:11:24.360 of these high profile races, is that if it's not 0:11:24.400 --> 0:11:25.960 going to be Stire, it's going to be one of 0:11:25.960 --> 0:11:29.320 your other opponents. So I think she needs get over it. 0:11:29.360 --> 0:11:31.719 If I were bounceling her, John, I'd say, look, this 0:11:31.800 --> 0:11:34.920 is a this is a sport. You entered the arena, 0:11:35.080 --> 0:11:38.240 you're going to get smacked. Stop blaming If it wasn't Tire, 0:11:38.360 --> 0:11:40.959 be somebody else who leaked it, stop blaming others, and 0:11:41.000 --> 0:11:43.400 how about not screaming at your staff and try being 0:11:43.400 --> 0:11:44.120 a nice person. 0:11:44.200 --> 0:11:45.120 That's the place to start. 0:11:45.800 --> 0:11:48.920 One of the possibilities is that we could end up 0:11:48.960 --> 0:11:53.000 with Tom Steyer versus Javier or Bessira, an all Democratic 0:11:53.080 --> 0:11:57.640 top of the ticket Republican lockout. Does the Democratic Party 0:11:57.720 --> 0:12:01.400 want that or do they want one Democrat and one 0:12:01.440 --> 0:12:03.840 Republican so they can check the box and move on. 0:12:05.559 --> 0:12:08.640 Oh, it'd be a nightmare. For the Democrats have two 0:12:08.679 --> 0:12:12.520 Dems at the top of the decade, because if you 0:12:12.559 --> 0:12:14.880 have a Democrat like the Sarah and then you have Hill, 0:12:15.480 --> 0:12:17.360 it kind of got just got to go through the motions. 0:12:17.679 --> 0:12:20.520 And you know, Bessara is what is considered by the 0:12:20.600 --> 0:12:22.839 establishment kind of a safe choice. And by the way, 0:12:22.840 --> 0:12:25.880 I think he's safe because it's not because he's competent. 0:12:25.880 --> 0:12:27.920 I think he's a total idiot and useless. It's because 0:12:27.920 --> 0:12:32.520 he's manipulable, like special interests and unions in particular, the 0:12:32.520 --> 0:12:34.680 state can own him and tell him what they want 0:12:34.720 --> 0:12:37.080 to do, and that'll be doun. They won't be well run, 0:12:37.520 --> 0:12:38.320 but the money. 0:12:38.160 --> 0:12:40.640 Will flow where it needs to flow for the interests. 0:12:41.080 --> 0:12:45.560 The problem with the Stire Besarah matchup is the establishment 0:12:45.640 --> 0:12:50.880 Democrats do not want Tom Steyer to be to be 0:12:50.920 --> 0:12:54.240 the governor. And if Stire's in this race, I could 0:12:54.240 --> 0:12:57.800 see a scenario where Stire is the next governor. So 0:12:57.920 --> 0:13:00.319 no Democrats want this to be an R and a 0:13:00.400 --> 0:13:01.319 D for sure. 0:13:02.280 --> 0:13:05.200 Let's move on to the LA mayor's race. Who do 0:13:05.240 --> 0:13:06.960 you think is going to get a ticket to move 0:13:07.000 --> 0:13:07.840 on in November? 0:13:09.320 --> 0:13:13.880 Well, it appears to be obviously Karen Bath although amazingly. 0:13:14.000 --> 0:13:16.880 I mean, she is so badly damaged and weakened for 0:13:16.960 --> 0:13:20.760 an incumbent, it's really too bad. I think we haven't 0:13:20.760 --> 0:13:23.480 seen a stronger candidate kind of step up because I 0:13:23.520 --> 0:13:25.640 think that's been one of those cycles. She could have 0:13:25.640 --> 0:13:28.400 been defeated and then it appears to be Pratt. At 0:13:28.400 --> 0:13:32.960 this point, you know, we'll go to a runoff between 0:13:33.000 --> 0:13:35.280 the two of them, and then I think it again 0:13:35.360 --> 0:13:38.240 becomes more of a partisan game. At that point, again, 0:13:38.280 --> 0:13:41.959 I struggle to see a path for Pratt. I give 0:13:42.040 --> 0:13:44.280 him kudos for throwing his hat in the ring. I 0:13:44.280 --> 0:13:47.360 think he's run a good race, but you know, I 0:13:47.440 --> 0:13:50.319 just see how you escape the mechanics that is La 0:13:50.400 --> 0:13:52.360 City in an R and D contest. 0:13:53.240 --> 0:13:55.240 What do you make of him as a candidate, because 0:13:55.240 --> 0:13:58.360 I've had him on the show twice and I have 0:13:58.480 --> 0:14:01.960 been thoroughly impressed each time he's appeared on the program. 0:14:02.720 --> 0:14:05.040 Based on the email and the calls that we get, 0:14:05.080 --> 0:14:08.320 the audience seems to agree. He seems to have found 0:14:08.400 --> 0:14:10.920 lightning in a bottle in this race. I just don't know, 0:14:11.000 --> 0:14:14.320 given the politics of Los Angeles, if it'll be enough 0:14:14.640 --> 0:14:20.560 to win the seat, but he certainly has performed well 0:14:20.760 --> 0:14:23.040 to my eye, Well. 0:14:22.880 --> 0:14:25.280 He's certainly outperformed where I thought he'd be when you 0:14:25.320 --> 0:14:27.720 first saw him get in, and he's really captured what 0:14:27.760 --> 0:14:32.000 I would say John is the most valuable thing in politics, 0:14:32.080 --> 0:14:36.840 which is he's authentic and he's credible when he delivers 0:14:36.880 --> 0:14:40.440 his message about erring to change LA, that LA's hit 0:14:40.520 --> 0:14:45.080 rock bottom, that it's incompetent. I believe that he believes 0:14:45.120 --> 0:14:48.200 them because he suffered the consequences he and his family 0:14:48.240 --> 0:14:50.640 did by having his home burned down, et cetera. So 0:14:51.440 --> 0:14:57.600 that level of raw authenticity is so rare. Donald Trump 0:14:57.680 --> 0:15:00.600 had it, but you don't see it lot. And so 0:15:00.840 --> 0:15:04.160 he's captured that, and then he's poured terrooscene all over 0:15:04.200 --> 0:15:07.520 it to get more attention, and so far it's worked, 0:15:07.920 --> 0:15:11.280 and now he's early on. He kind of coalesced kind 0:15:11.280 --> 0:15:15.840 of the maggot influencers. He's a fixture on right wing 0:15:16.120 --> 0:15:19.040 media outlets. So I think the Republicans are kind of 0:15:19.120 --> 0:15:23.120 understanding that, and Pratt is trying to reach out beyond 0:15:23.160 --> 0:15:26.960 the base. I think it's just it's going to be 0:15:26.960 --> 0:15:28.960 difficult for him. I think to beat to Bath simply, 0:15:29.000 --> 0:15:31.960 I said, because of the partisan dynamics. I think the 0:15:32.000 --> 0:15:35.920 real long term coat tails of Pratt here is that 0:15:35.960 --> 0:15:40.880 if you're a reality celebrity or a celebrity and you're 0:15:40.960 --> 0:15:43.840 in a different state and you're watching this John as 0:15:43.880 --> 0:15:47.640 we go into the next presidential cycle, you may think, hey, 0:15:47.680 --> 0:15:49.520 you know what, I'm going to throw my hat in 0:15:49.560 --> 0:15:52.920 the ring and run because now Pratt has trailblazed the 0:15:52.920 --> 0:15:56.960 blueprint for people who are celebrities to get up enthusiasm 0:15:57.040 --> 0:15:58.840 and become viable political candidates. 0:15:59.480 --> 0:16:03.040 Usually, when an incumbent is running for reelection, the focus 0:16:03.080 --> 0:16:05.640 of the news media is on the performance of the 0:16:05.680 --> 0:16:11.080 incumbent and not the challenger. This time around, in this race, 0:16:11.840 --> 0:16:15.160 most of the focus has been on Spencer. Pratt has 0:16:15.200 --> 0:16:17.360 been on things that he has done or said at 0:16:17.360 --> 0:16:20.200 some point in the past, on the character that he 0:16:20.240 --> 0:16:23.720 played on the television show whatever. The focus is on 0:16:23.840 --> 0:16:26.920 him and not on Bess. Do you think that's because 0:16:26.960 --> 0:16:29.320 of media bias or do you think they're doing it 0:16:29.400 --> 0:16:32.480 because he's a more interesting person than her. 0:16:33.720 --> 0:16:37.520 I think it's both, you know, Pratt, I mean, Karen 0:16:37.640 --> 0:16:41.680 is the most boring candidate you know. You can remember 0:16:42.240 --> 0:16:45.240 she really is a placeholder candidate. I mean she kind 0:16:45.280 --> 0:16:49.040 of checks the identity box that the Democratic candidate should. 0:16:49.800 --> 0:16:52.520 She had a when she was a member of Congress, 0:16:52.560 --> 0:16:55.800 I think she was one of the least remarkable members there. 0:16:55.840 --> 0:16:58.960 And as mayor, I mean, I really can't think of 0:16:59.000 --> 0:17:01.800 anything she's done. The only thing she's I can think 0:17:01.840 --> 0:17:05.720 of things she's messed up or not done. But Pratt 0:17:05.720 --> 0:17:07.600 has kind of sucked all the oxygen out of the 0:17:07.680 --> 0:17:10.359 room because he's interesting. It is an interesting story that 0:17:10.440 --> 0:17:14.160 a reality show celebrity could potentially be the next mayor. 0:17:14.520 --> 0:17:16.840 And then, of course, remember the local media doesn't want 0:17:16.880 --> 0:17:21.040 to fixate on how bad their favorite Democratic choice was 0:17:21.080 --> 0:17:25.480 because remember they also backed her over Rick Caruso last 0:17:25.480 --> 0:17:27.119 go around, and so of course they don't want to 0:17:27.160 --> 0:17:30.440 look like they were wrong in recommending people to vote 0:17:30.440 --> 0:17:31.440 for Bass over Crusoe. 0:17:31.880 --> 0:17:33.280 Last question before you go. 0:17:33.520 --> 0:17:36.879 Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker of the House, announced that 0:17:36.920 --> 0:17:40.480 she is not running for reelection. She's retiring from public office. 0:17:40.880 --> 0:17:45.320 Scott Wiener, the state senator from San Francisco who generates 0:17:45.359 --> 0:17:49.480 a lot of attention, much of it negative, He announced 0:17:49.520 --> 0:17:51.760 that he was going to run for Congress before she 0:17:51.880 --> 0:17:56.240 said she was going to retire. She didn't like that clearly. 0:17:56.880 --> 0:18:01.240 Now she's endorsed Connie chan who is a liberal member 0:18:01.280 --> 0:18:04.800 of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors who's running against 0:18:04.840 --> 0:18:08.399 Scott Wiener. Why do you think Pelosi did that? Do 0:18:08.440 --> 0:18:11.440 you think it's still sour grapes from him announcing his 0:18:11.520 --> 0:18:15.280 candidacy before she retired. Do you think that she thinks 0:18:15.280 --> 0:18:17.320 he's too far to the left. What do you think 0:18:17.400 --> 0:18:18.240 is going on there? 0:18:19.359 --> 0:18:21.160 Yeah, I don't think it's that she thinks he's too 0:18:21.160 --> 0:18:23.720 far to the left. I've dealt with this dynamic many 0:18:23.760 --> 0:18:27.520 times in my career, John, where a long time incumbent 0:18:27.880 --> 0:18:30.440 wants to feel that they're in control. 0:18:30.000 --> 0:18:31.639 Of their successor. 0:18:32.119 --> 0:18:34.480 So I really think that at the core of it 0:18:34.520 --> 0:18:37.639 is that she's upset that he pulled the trigger and 0:18:37.840 --> 0:18:40.960 ran for her seat without her blessing and her go ahead, 0:18:41.040 --> 0:18:43.840 and she's just kind of never, you know, never looked back. 0:18:43.880 --> 0:18:44.920 And look. 0:18:45.000 --> 0:18:49.280 The other thing is Weiener probably figured through the whether 0:18:49.280 --> 0:18:51.119 he can talk to her explicitly or her people, that 0:18:51.200 --> 0:18:53.400 he wasn't going to get her support. Otherwise he would 0:18:53.400 --> 0:18:56.439 have waited and probably you know, jen reflective kissed the 0:18:56.520 --> 0:18:59.000 ring in due time. But he decided to get out there, 0:18:59.440 --> 0:19:03.359 you know, fourhand to try to become a viable, viable contender. 0:19:04.080 --> 0:19:07.640 But uh yeah, I think really, at the core of it, 0:19:07.640 --> 0:19:10.360 it's a petty thing that Pelosi doesn't give a rip 0:19:10.400 --> 0:19:13.440 about viability. She's just upset that she wasn't in charge 0:19:13.440 --> 0:19:15.359 of controlling who's going to take over her seat. 0:19:16.040 --> 0:19:19.960 John Thomas, Republican political strategist. You can follow him on 0:19:20.480 --> 0:19:23.560 x at The Thomas Guide. And John, you're going to 0:19:23.640 --> 0:19:25.640 come back and join us later on in the week 0:19:25.720 --> 0:19:28.119 and go over all the results with us. 0:19:28.640 --> 0:19:31.000 Yeah, I can't wait. And thanks for all your election coverage. Sean. 0:19:31.280 --> 0:19:34.000 All right, John Thomas, everyone, thanks so much for stopping by. 0:19:34.520 --> 0:19:37.439 Eight hundred two two two five two two two is 0:19:37.560 --> 0:19:41.240 telephone number one eight hundred two two two five two 0:19:41.280 --> 0:19:43.679 two two. If you'd like to email the show, you 0:19:43.720 --> 0:19:46.440 can do so at Johnny don't Like show at gmail 0:19:46.560 --> 0:19:50.720 dot com. That's Johnny Don't Like Show at gmail dot com. 0:19:51.200 --> 0:19:54.680 And Randy, if you missed yesterday's interview with Spencer Pratt 0:19:54.760 --> 0:19:56.479 and you want to send it to people who are 0:19:56.560 --> 0:19:59.760 voting in Los Angeles, that's easy to do. All you 0:19:59.760 --> 0:20:01.680 got to do is search for the John Phillips Show 0:20:01.720 --> 0:20:03.960 wherever you get your podcasts, and that could be the 0:20:04.000 --> 0:20:07.560 Apple podcast app. iHeart Spotify, search for the John Phillips Show, 0:20:07.600 --> 0:20:09.720 hit subscribe, you can download all the episodes. 0:20:09.920 --> 0:20:11.640 You could do a Google on the YouTube. 0:20:11.680 --> 0:20:14.880 You can get the free KABC app, the free KSFO app, 0:20:14.960 --> 0:20:17.320 or even the KMJ now app. Because we're on in 0:20:17.320 --> 0:20:20.480 the Central Valley Saturdays at noon, so many different ways 0:20:20.480 --> 0:20:22.600 to listen live to what we're doing every single day 0:20:22.640 --> 0:20:24.919 from noon to three. With the magic of streaming and 0:20:25.000 --> 0:20:27.320 with podcasts, you can share them with your friends, and 0:20:27.359 --> 0:20:29.320 you can listen to them on your time, and you 0:20:29.359 --> 0:20:31.480 can listen to them while you're doing something else. A 0:20:31.520 --> 0:20:33.840 lot of people listen to podcasts while they're at work. 0:20:34.080 --> 0:20:37.440 Some people listen to podcasts while they're exercising. Some people 0:20:37.560 --> 0:20:40.200 might even listen to podcasts while they're on the couch 0:20:40.240 --> 0:20:42.680 watching heated rivalry with a big ol Martini. 0:20:42.960 --> 0:20:46.000 Why do you have to watch porn in the living room? 0:20:46.560 --> 0:20:49.159 And coming up later tonight, we're gonna be live in 0:20:49.240 --> 0:20:53.200 Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Fresno. We're gonna be live 0:20:53.240 --> 0:20:58.360 and statewide from seven to nine pm with our election coverage. 0:20:58.400 --> 0:21:00.720 We will have all the rest else as they come 0:21:00.720 --> 0:21:03.119 in as the polls close at eight o'clock, everything that 0:21:03.160 --> 0:21:05.480 we can report will bring to you right then and there. 0:21:05.880 --> 0:21:07.920 John and I will be here, joined by Frank Motech 0:21:07.960 --> 0:21:11.600 of KABC and Philteresi of KATE MJ. We'll have some 0:21:11.640 --> 0:21:14.040 special guests on the phone as well, so stick with 0:21:14.119 --> 0:21:17.840 us live statewide seven to nine. We'll be covering all 0:21:17.880 --> 0:21:20.840 the races, the LA mayors race, the congressional races, the 0:21:20.880 --> 0:21:26.040 ballot measures, and of course the governor's race between Javier Bessera, 0:21:26.440 --> 0:21:28.560 Steve Hilton and this guy. 0:21:28.760 --> 0:21:32.760 I'm Tom Steyer. I'm about to ride the team, all right. 0:21:32.840 --> 0:21:36.160 Speaking of which pleasure, it is our pleasure to welcome 0:21:36.200 --> 0:21:39.320 our next guest to the program. He is a Republican 0:21:39.400 --> 0:21:44.119 candidate for governor. You can get him online at goldentogether 0:21:44.240 --> 0:21:47.119 dot com and follow him on exit Steve Hilton X. 0:21:47.280 --> 0:21:48.680 Steve Hilton, Welcome. 0:21:49.920 --> 0:21:51.760