Inside Golden State Politics

"As The World Turns"--On Trump

• Nancy Boyarsky

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Real estate developer Rick Caruso announces his exit from California electoral politics. The world watches Trump go TACO.

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

welcome to another episode of Inside Golden State Politics. I'm Bill Bosky, former city editor and columnist for the Los Angeles Times, and with me is our executive producer and director, Nancy Bosky.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

And I'm Sherry Bevi Jeffrey, political analyst and self-styled. A medium even coming to you from a week cha block with funerals and memorials three friends, each of whom had been up for a long time. A part of California's political life Used to be, each part of my education in California politics and in political journalism, it sort of forced me to yet again, I guess, take stock of where we are and what's been lost. One friend was a Republican consultant. One, a democratic activist and one, a prominent journalist who had once responded to an ad homan and attack on himself by a billionaire newspaper owner. And I quote, I am not beholden to any party government, sect, faction, corporation, union, nor to anyone like yourself. Who believes that your wealth entitles you to harass, smear and intimidate honest people. End quote. Yep. That was Lou Cannon. He was a fighter He was a pretty good boxer his youth. He won his Spurs as a young reporter covering California politics and its newly minted Governor Ronald Reagan for the San Jose Mercury News. He gained national prominence as a top reporter for the Washington Post, as the premier biographer of Reagan, Lou wrote. Five books about the guy all the way from Reagan stint as California's governor through his two terms as US President. A comment online in response to the Washington post's. Excellent obituary summed up contribution to journalism. It summed up Lou better than I could at least. Without choking up, quote, we need more Lou Cannons and we need them now. He was old school in every way and in journalism. That's more missed now than possibly imaginable. Thank you, Cannon. Over to you, bill.

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

And thank you, Sherry, for a wonderful tribute to, to our friend Lou.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

He will be

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

he will be missed, and, you captured him very well.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

Well, thank you. It took a while.

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

I think that, we're gonna talk about, city politics and, we're gonna talk about, the race for the presidency. And, although, we missed the plane to go to Davos, we'll talk about that Great event.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

Sounded like fun.

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

like fun. So the big story in the city is Rick Caruso, the developer of rather nice, elegant shopping centers who ran for mayor and lost against, Karen Bass. Three years ago, has decided he's not going to run for mayor. He's not going to, run for governor. He's gonna do whatever sane people do.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

That is so true. I can't imagine why anybody in this political environment, in this economic environment would ever wanna run for private, public office, particularly as, Caruso does if they have a whole lot on their plate. Beyond that.

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

He really hasn't explained why he, wanted to, drop out he wanted to spend more his family, which to me is a good enough reason. I could see him, at the dinner table announcing he was gonna run for either governor or, mayor. And I could hear the, Cries of, oh no, from his children and his wife,

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

Well remember.

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

worrying about the, on the family that this would cause. figuring he wasn't gonna win anyway and figuring he may blow a whole bunch of money on a losing effort. Daddy, what's that going do to my inheritance?

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

Oh, well, it's a fair question because Caruso spent roughly$110 million of his own money, mostly to run against Karen Bass and he lost by 10 percentage points. He outspend her about 10 to one, lost by 10 points. look real hard at what that meant in terms of another run at the mayor's office. And if it were me, I'd say no for exactly that reason. I cannot believe that there weren't polls, after polls, after polls, which told him, Mr. Carus doesn't look good. You're gonna have to spend a whole lot more. would stop me in my tracks. That and the fact that I do think you were right. You'd have to be insane to run for public office today.

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

You know, there's a a tragic aspect to what Butner, who the head of the, LA school district and, well-known, political figure in town. He is going to run, he says from mayor, challenging Karen Bass. But, tragically, his daughter, 22-year-old, Emily died. And, our go out to him. I mean, on that,

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

definitely.

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

ter terrible, terrible event

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

I just wanted to point out that, just a, as think, Caruso's of upends the full, the dynamics of the mayor's race, we will have to wait to see whether, Butner decides to remain in or decides. To leave the battle because that too, I think, will of the race. And I think in both cases, and I hate to talk about, the Butner tragedy, but I think that right now Karen Bass is in a little better shape than she was. Before, certainly Caruso decided he wasn't going to run

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

And, her disaster

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

our disaster.

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

were the fires and, her failure be here at that crucial moment. It was a real error in judgment and a setback. And it tested her to see whether she could, this and rise above it. And, at first, she couldn't, she looked bewildered. And, these, big guys, were sort of dominating the, show. But she's sort of like the little engine that could, yes, I can, yes, I can. Has been plugging along and, well, Sherry and I haven't talked to her because of her boycott of our podcast,

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

Another staff error. I'd say

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

A severe staff error.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

severe,

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

I wasn't surprised at her failure to show up for the fire. I mean, with a staff like that.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

Now. Now Bill, we will not mimic Donald Trump's staff Ag Cabinet members throwing mud at other politicians. Okay,

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

apologize. I very, very poor taste anyway, she's been plugging away and, now I think she'd have to consider her the favorite in the race. You know, I. These, candidates, they are without, you know, I don't wanna reflect badly on'em, but, they're really not very well known and don't seem to have the money to make themselves well known. And, so it looks like in, in a way you could say it's, at this point anyway, it's a, a clear field for Mayor Bass. Or at least a more clear field than it had been.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

My guess is that the bass operation's breathing a little easier right now. And don't forget that even though Caruso lost to Karen Bass in 22, took Pacific Palisades. Pacific Palisades really the heart of his political base. Gave him an enormously higher number of votes for mayor. Now, those votes are certainly up for grabs, are donors, some groups who might have wanted to hold off a little bit. Now no Caruso. Now, what I would warn to know that the deadline for follow for filing to be in mayor's election is February the seventh, man, that's like almost, that's two less than a month away. So who's going in the three? Or so left in the filing process is going to be able to leap in and start running, I

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

let's talk this to New York and the mayor's, victory there. And he was a, a Democratic socialist, and,

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

as a Democrat. Yeah.

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

He is a left wing democrat and he did very well. What, you don't hear much about the Democratic socialist in the political mix of Los Angeles. I've been thinking I can't, if I had to explain it to somebody, well, actually I do have to explain it to our audience.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

please.

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

I don't know why. Have you thought about this, Sherry?

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

Well, first of all, we do have, four incumbent city council members who are Democratic socialists, two candidates who are, democratic socialists for the city council. We do have citywide officers who, are Democratic socialists. moving the, the council is moving so far. but it's not, I mean, could be a, a joker and say, well, you know, man, this is la you know, we're not gonna get riled up about anything. We're just gonna go surfing. Well, no, that's not right and you knew it. But there is a, shall we say, difference in. The dynamic here on the left coast, interestingly, and on the East coast, and it also, it all comes down to what every campaign comes down to. of all, turnout. But you gotta add to that media that the candidate does that. And money, I'm telling you, ma Donny's social media campaign just blew everybody out of the water. And that's going to be, by the way, I think, very important in the future politics at every level, which may make it a little bit easier for non billionaires. To not only run, but when a lot's gonna depend on your staff and on the candidate himself or herself, and their knowledge of how to communicate with voters in the 21st century. also, you know, look at what happened. A guy came outta nowhere, a young guy what he was doing. Very articulate, spoke. To a group of voters, mainly non-voters in some, let me sit back, are looking for something different to something new, something not quite old. He beat Ani. Beat Cuomo, a former governor of New York, and the heir to a political dynasty. The son of Mario Cuomo, a former mayor, nearly as good a candidate as ami. It all depends on many factors that are sometimes out of control of the candidate of the campaign, and even sometimes the voters.

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

Well, yes, that's true. But you know, there's this field of, of unknowns. There's butner, if he runs,

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

he is running. We

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

I mean, he is running, he will inherit, Rick Caruso's ties to the business community. I mean, ner is definitely the kind of person that, Los Angeles's big business and multimillionaires, would feel very comfortable with. And he'd have to be the, with, with Caruso out. Butner would have to be the favorite to beat Bass.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

Why would he have to be the favorite?

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

Because, the Richie Riches would like him because he's a. Comfortable white guy,

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

Well in LA

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

a guy

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

doesn't necessarily make it axiomatic.

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

a guy.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

He's a guy. That's true. But again, I think you'll see through the endorsements that. Again, I don't think he's gonna many of them away from Karen Bass. In fact, the, the police, LA Police Protectively, which is the very politically powerful union of our police officers in 22 endorsed strict Caruso, but they have now already endorsed Karen Bass. I mean, you know, she'll eat up quite a few, players who are gonna wanna stay friendly toward the city government.

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

Yes. And, if you, just read this steady, stream of statements that come from her office and the topics, that, she's choosing. She certainly has her eye on, these city hall powers, like the police union, the service employees union, all of these, all of these powers. She's, lining them up. so after her gaps early, long before the campaign started, except for her gaps. She has, done very well and a very nice, comeback.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

To a point Bill. You're right. Sheldon Plaid, who is a reality television personality who lost his home in the fires, began hitting really hard at the mayor's performance during the fires. The the two harshest critics of her and her governmental style and the way she handled the fires were Caruso and Ner. Now, Butner. If he stays in, and I have no idea what's gonna happen. He is not the, it, it, the criticism that comes to the mayor will still be spread among several of the candidates. I don't think it will act axiomatic, adhere to one candidate. I mean, the, the arithmetic in all of this to me at this point. Looks like bass is, as I said, far better off than she was a few weeks ago. But if I were her crew, I would say, you know, campaign like you're losing.

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

Something about the Palisades, even today is a big Republican part of the city of Los Angeles. And, if you go back over other elections, the Palisades usually goes for the Republican or the most, conservative. It's always been a, just a tough one for, a Democrat to, crack. I mean, I remember, long ago when, Tom Bradley was running for, I guess it was his last term, meeting the Palisades, and, walking around with him. And I thought that was significant because, he was really received well, you know, very, very well. He really had cracked open the Palisades. But you gotta remember, there's so much more of Los Angeles. I mean, there is the whole east side, there is the harbor,

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

Everybody

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

there is North Los Angeles, there's the valley. Let's not, I mean, that is, the valley is crucial to these campaigns, so that whoever one of these, now unknown, candidates, emerges, they're gonna have to learn how to do that. Both sides of the Santa Monica Mountains, you know.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

You know what's I found extremely interesting as well as extremely frustrating. can't find a definitive list of who the candidates are, who are actually still in the race. Couldn't find it on the city clerk's website either

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

I couldn't.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

Article said something like 1921 list is only of about seven people. I mean, you know, I, this is the key. There are e enough Some of'em are all of them, because they're not even listed, that I can only hear adhere positively toward the incumbent mayor.

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

Oh, Sherry, it's a political subject, but slightly different. Did you, have a spare 3, 4, 5 hours? With nothing to do. And you watched the Trump press conference and his speech to the, big, financial poo boss at Davos. One after the other.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

I really have

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

Hmm.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

tell you the truth? Yes. Can't you see it in my eyes? The crossing. half asleep. Oh my God. I mean, there is no doubt in my mind that, but shall we say, our president is not, kicking on all cylinders. I'm very sorry to have to say that, both speeches. We're absolutely ranting nonsense. In fact, you know, I am so embarrassed for my country, particularly as a result of the way he handled. Dabo speech, dumping on our allies, nasty to his and national political opponents. This is not a president of the United States. Oh, I hope it is. I hope this isn't the new role model presidency. I could just feel the respect and the power

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

Okay.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

draining away. From our country this meeting of international

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

You know, governor,

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

you know what, oh, excuse me. One more point. I was watching, particularly the news conference, which lasted almost two, well, I'm sorry. His speech at the news conference lasted almost two hours. I. It reminded me of the way Fidel Castro used to stand up before the microphone sometimes for three hours ranting, I felt very uncomfortable with that thought.

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

I thought, governor, Andy Beshear of Kentucky, who, may himself be a candidate for president one day he described that speech at Davos dangerous. And unhinged.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

He is not the only one who's made that the description. It's mine too. But it is also, you're hearing more language like that, not only from Democrats but a few Republicans. That's probably FBI, wanting to know where I live.

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

Yeah. Well, we'll just tell no.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

Who I've never heard of her before. But, no, I mean it's, there is a realization coming about things aren't all right with Donald J. Trump, and you can see it in the polls. His approval ratings are down people. Asked, how did his first year make you feel respondents to one P poll? Exhausted. they must have interviewed me because that's the way I feel and I am not

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

It was, just a, coincidence, I'm sure, but, the other governor who was, on around the fringes of, the Davos, conference was our own, governor Gavin Newsom,

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

Having a.

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

He said he thought the speech was remarkably boring, remarkably insignificant. He says there wasn't anything new in it, for an American audience. It was interesting. He was standing, in the back of the room against the wall mostly he didn't have an expression, but when he did, it was a

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

He was giggling.

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

contemptuous laughter.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

Sure. I like that description a whole lot. And don't you think it is interesting that, the governor had been scheduled to, participate in an event at the US House, which is the, at the headquarters, the venue for, the US delegations I guess it was today the invitation was pulled, no, you can't do it. And people immediately blamed the White House and Donald Trump and the White House, and Donald Trump didn't say It wasn't us. It is clearer according to, the mayor's Secretary and the governor's staff and the governor that, it was the Trump administration who put pressure on Fortune Magazine and the organizers of this conference to pull him the agenda. He's still, I guess, expected to be a part of the formal conference per se, not the outlying events. We'll see what happens if, if and when he speaks before the Davos conference. Honestly, this is, you know, you know this is worth some mean girls.

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

The fact was though, during this, long, long speech, to the Davos crowd, he, he mentioned that he wasn't going to send armed forces into Greenland.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

He meaning Trump,

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

Yeah.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

not.

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

Trump said that he was not going to send out, or armed forces into, Greenland, or as he called it, Iceland.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

Four times at

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

Right.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

He talked about Iceland.

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

Yeah.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

I mean, I've misconstrued names before, but then again, I'm not the president of the United States who is dealing quite riskily about the issue of it's scary. sorry. I am now. I am now certifiably about the direction we as a nation and our government. Are taking

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

Well, well, I am too. And, here we are at this worldwide conference and

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

the.

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

who are the. Who were the two people who had the guts to, to take on, Trump? I mean, just criticize them. Two governors, one from Kentucky, one from California. Still, you have a nation of the political class of the nation, is still really afraid of this guy. I mean, you know, very, very afraid. Remained terrorized of Trump terrorized.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

and you know, as we've talked about many times, it has a lot to do with. The primaries, the Republican primaries. I mean, Trump is threatening to endorse challengers to incumbents who cross him. He is endorsing challengers. Before even the challengers knew they were gonna be challengers as, as he did in the case with Senator Kennedy. But watch the approval ratings, watch the reaction. Of American citizens to what's going on with regard to ice, with regard to prices, with regard to healthcare, with regard to the president's behavior, and there will be Republicans will be very nervous to simply march in line hope to be there. I guess it was the, Cook Political Report has now moved 18 CD districts who had been leaning Republican to leading Democrats in midterm election. We'll see how many of the Republican incumbents who are now hiding under their desks remain there when it looks like if they continue to do it.

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

I think he's, very frightened of, the midterm elections.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

Well, it could. It

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

And, as he's looking ahead to the remaining three years of, of his term, and I just can't get it outta my mind that he's gonna try to pull a fast one and sneak his way into it.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

go.

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

Go for a third. You know, even though it's illegal, unconstitutional, contrary to everything that, our country believes in., He has no regard for any of that. So I don't know. I do know that he came out of this. Davos and his press conference, the, the day before looking, weaker and looking older

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

and that's just after one year in the presidency, in this one year as President Donald Trump basically redefined reality. Think about it.

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

I have, he talks a lot about Sleepy Joe. I'll talk about sleepy dawn, Sherry.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

and, and people were paying attention to that in a way that they didn't do with Biden until basically the last year of his

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

Yeah.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

term.

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

right. Okay, Sherry. Good talk.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

Yeah. A little depressing, know, but what the

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

Did it cheer you up a little?

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

Well, yeah, only because I have been so down, so ripped

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

Right.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

because of this, everything I had to do this, weekend, I don't think this depression or this exhaustion is gonna leave me many others. In the near future.

host-4ha0_2_01-21-2026_151122:

Okay. We'll, talk next week.

squadcaster-1i35_2_01-21-2026_151121:

Well, everyone on that chewy note. Cheers. Bye-bye.