And The Beat Goes On...And On!

We watch the campaigns for California governor and L.A. mayor dive into mud wrestling, a sport that leaves everybody dirty.

Transcript

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 0:00

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

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 0:16

And I am Sherry Mech, Jeffy political analyst and self-styled medium maven, coming to you after being reinvigorated by our spring break. Unfortunately, that respite from reality didn't last long. The California Governor's race is still the weirdest in recent memory. At least it's the weirdest and the wildest regular election. Remember the 2003 recall election 135 candidates on the ballot to replace Governor Gray Davis this year. The major democratic candidates have formed a circular firing squad that could take them all down, leaving two Republicans to face off for governor of this deep blue state. Meanwhile. National Republicans are still engaged in their own introducing warfare, for example, on Iran. Sure, there's a fragile ceasefire, but issues in questions still remain. However, luckily Americans are still protesting this new America Bill and I may have taken a spring break. But the world sure hasn't. I'm exhausted already. Again, over to you, bill.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 1:49

Well, we don't want exhaustion, in this outfit. We just want and, and a strong work ethic. Sherry,

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 1:59

I'll leave you now then.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 2:00

As the weekend today's drew to a close, moving into the following week. The governor's race was. By allegations by a former staff member of Eric Swalwell, the, congressman who's running for governor and who is doing very well in the polls at this time, by the staffer that he, Forced himself upon her at least two occasions, and her drunk and acted inappropriately. The impact of on this has been really sudden. the California Teachers Association, which is one of the most powerful. groups, lobbyists in the state of California, withdrew. Its support of, Congressman Swalwell and, and very important person, the, lawmaker from the San Fernando Valley. Jimmy Gomez withdrew his support for Swalwell and urged him to drop out of the race. So for a person who was being and honored, he's now dropped into, someone who's into the, criteria of political power. The, so-called, polls,

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 3:37

dunno exactly yet though. I mean, it's still very early to determine.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 3:42

Very early, very, very much like out on long shots at, at Santa Anita. Very much like, betting on, Super Bowl. You know, it's a sucker's bet if you wanna bet now, but. But that's who's attracted to the betting markets are, are suckers. But it certainly was, a blow, to swallow. Well, I think,

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 4:08

It has to be in today's political environment. Think about it. I mean, the electorate is almost programmed to say, oh dear, oh dear. Even without evidence. And certainly when there is evidence, but I think Mark Barback in a very good piece about Swalwell and the charges and what's he got himself into, made a very in important point if indeed these charges are there and are true why you run. For governor because of today's political environment, you've gotta know that if you dialed. Way back when even, somebody's gonna come up with it. And in fact, the other democrats, the major democratic contenders are really beginning to, to bash him and we're bashing him even before the, San Francisco's Chronicles article on the topic of his, unwanted, movements against women. They're really wrecking him. Through the goals and I.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 5:23

It was a very long and, extremely thorough. And, devastating article that, that the Chronicle ran. I mean, it didn't pull any punches. It, it was right out there in the Friday paper and then it went on from there. So, it was definitely a blow. Now you wonder why do these people when knowing the, this, grim Reaper is. Why don't they get the hell out the race gonna be nothing but trouble? Well, I don't know. Why didn't Gary Hart, quit the presidential race?

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 6:03

I have the answer.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 6:05

Why is it that people are so driven by their political ambition? That they will put off the truth.

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 6:15

Okay.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 6:16

is it that they will not face facts?

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 6:19

Here it is. Let me tell you something. Back in the late eighties, early nineties, I poked around looking at the behavior of, fairly high, fairly well-known, politicians, and came to the conclusion that there is. And it doesn't necessarily have to be sexually oriented. It could be corruption, it could be conflict of interest, but it's there and they sometimes get caught. And I came to the conclusion that what that is is something I call the professional politician syndrome. And what that means is when you get to a certain point in your political career, and even if you don't get to that point and you're a, an egotistic politician, I guess you tend to believe that the war, the, the rules for ordinary human beings don't apply to you. You've surrounded yourself by yes persons, you get treated. At the very least nicely, and you really honestly begin to lose sight of the fact that you are a human being with failings and you go and do things a you shouldn't do or you wouldn't do unless you thought you had the protection of your office And the way people relate. If indeed this is the case, it fits that.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 7:57

Were doing your, research in those long forgotten days, and you were looking into the peccadillos, as we would say in those days of, of politicians, which were flagrant, Wasn't the atmosphere though in the, state assembly, which is where you were doing a lot of your work such as that it, it was protective. I mean, nobody would

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 8:23

Yeah,

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 8:24

bad about anybody.

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 8:25

that's, oh, a part of the professional politicians syndrome. And it wasn't only, it wasn't simply, limit. To the state capitol up and down. In fact, I began by looking at some questions that were being raised, in, the late mayor Tom Bradley, la Mayor. his behavior in terms of conflict of interest and favoritism were being researched, and you should know, I'm sure you know about that. Basically by the LA Times. It had nothing to do with sex or anything else. It had to do with simply making decisions that you shouldn't make if you're holding public office, investment decision, whatever that I have seen it so often. today. I am not sure whether it matters or not anymore given the role model in the White House and others,

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 9:24

well,

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 9:25

you know,

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 9:26

We won't. Actually, see. When is the election? Second, the election, the primary election for, for governor is gonna be crazy. It's gonna be absolutely intense. Wild.

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 9:39

It's been crazy. It's gonna be

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 9:41

it's,

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 9:41

wild.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 9:42

It hasn't been, people have been complaining, oh, this is boring. Why don't we have some really good stuff? Now we're getting the really good stuff and turn it around or is she in trouble I think that, for a, a second term, after the, fires, that really marked your administration, I think that, that's going to, Really hurt. You know, I, I thought of something else

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 10:08

I dunno.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 10:09

hurt her too, you're not a sports fan, but the price of Olympic tickets

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 10:15

Oh no, you don't have to be a sports

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 10:18

remember,

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 10:18

to get.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 10:18

this was going to be, this was going to be the People's Olympics, she said. Well, it's gonna be the people's Olympics for the very, very rich and and it's gonna be something that you'll sit on your couch and possibly watch, on television.

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 10:38

Well, I've already made that decision.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 10:40

when people start grumbling about that, that's not gonna help her.

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 10:44

It, it shouldn't be a part of it, but it is, even though she has very little control over it. But she is the chief of Executive of the City of Los Angeles, which is the host city, for, the Olympics LA 28. But it's interesting, you know, as I, as I said the last time, I'm now looking at the dynamics of prediction markets. In terms of politics, politic and ramen, councilwoman ramen, her, strongest opponent is, has the highest chance of, of making the runoff and or winning. And, bass is a smaller percentage, but number two. None, nobody's within spar striking distance of 50% plus one to be able to, to claim a victory in June, but the, the markets are telling me this afternoon and it can change and it does up and down and up and down and up and down

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 11:55

And you don't really believe, you don't,

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 11:57

I haven't seen it.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 11:58

it.

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 11:58

Wait a minute, God, bill.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 12:02

well, you've gotta admit you don't, you don't completely believe in them.

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 12:06

No, would you just wait till I finish my point for God's sake.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 12:10

Well, I just

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 12:11

What the markets are telling us this afternoon is that ramen seems to be going down in percentage, and basses seems to be moving up in terms of percentage, and what I am saying is it's fascinating to look at that particular perspective. On it, but again, you know, we just don't know. the only thing it could tell us is that things are still wide open.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 12:46

We had a, real smart person on our show a while back. Mark Baldessari at uc, Berkeley, and he said at that time, still too early to tell. I don't know if he'd say the same thing if we called him before our microphones now, but which we're going to do pretty soon. But. it too early to tell? Is this thing up there particularly for mayor?

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 13:17

Well, I'll tell you this much. The amount of undecided is phenomenal given that it really is so close. To the primary election? Both I think in the Mayor's race and in the governor's race. let's not forget that in 2016 on the national level, Hillary Clinton was already measuring the drapes for the Oval Office two weeks before the election, very much ahead of Trump, but. James Comey, released his letter reopening the investigation of her server 11 days before the election, and her campaign had already canceled polling in the the major battleground states because she was hit by double digits on her campaign. Didn't wanna spend all that money. And guess what? It, the whole thing was turned on its head. I think the day before. The election is still too early to tell you the truth. In the in political environment in which we are living now,

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 14:39

I, I get the feeling that, bass is, sunk about as low as she can go. The only direction

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 14:48

Yeah,

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 14:48

go is

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 14:50

I think you're right. It's looking like there will be obviously a runoff and that the two candidates in the runoff will be, Bass and ramen. Nobody else is anywhere near the two of them, but neither of them are over 50% of the vote in the polling

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 15:12

You have a couple Republicans in there. you've got, Pratt, right?

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 15:19

Yeah.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 15:20

you've got Pratt who had to, move, from his home the mountains that was burned down out to his parents' house, near Santa Barbara.

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 15:30

Caria.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 15:32

Carpenteria your

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 15:33

Yep. My favorite. And Steve Hilton in the Governor's race

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 15:37

he's endorsed by Trump.

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 15:38

Yes, Hilton was. Interestingly, again, the prediction markets are telling me that that may have had an influence. Hilton in the, in the gubernatorial race has moved up in his chances of winning and bianco is going down. Kind of interesting. I don't know if it will remain that way, but it, it was kind of fun to watch.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 16:08

You know, when you go to the races and, you take it seriously, you go out to the paddock and look around as the horses circle the

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 16:18

The paddock bill.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 16:20

It's the paddock. It's, it's where the horses circle around, get the jockeys, get on, this horses circle around, and then head out to the track for the, And you know, if you're a devoted horse player and you pay a lot of attention to this, you can look at those horses in the paddock and you can tell the ones you should bet on, and the ones you better just forget you just look at the way they're walking, whether they've got a little sore foot there. Just look at all those little signs. it's sort of the same with the political candidate. I think.

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 17:06

Hello.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 17:07

Has he got a sore leg? Is he, is he a little slow? Is he like Congressman Swalwell and has no, sense of, acceptable behavior, I guess would be a way of putting it, or not,

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 17:22

Yes.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 17:23

Why, that's why this is gonna be a, tremendously interesting race to both of them for mayor and for, governor.

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 17:33

Yeah, I mean, it, it, it's very, it's still very fluid. It looks as though, in terms of, of the mayor's race that there are three very strong. Candidates, and that includes Ramen, bass and Pratt. Although Pratt is, not nearly so strong as either of the two women. And it interesting the governor's race, in poly market, one of the two, most, the biggest prediction markets. They're predicting that, the advance to the gubernatorial runoff will be. Hilton, the Republican, and Tom Steyer, the Democrat, who by the way, has spent, I think up to now$112 million of his own money on the race. But you know, I'm one of those who say that's not quite enough. Ask Meg Whitman, who spent well over that in her race against Jerry Brown and Tahi the other major. Has Hilton and Stawell with Steyer as a very close third, so it'll be interesting to see whether Stawell maintains or whether

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 18:58

me,

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 18:59

the money works this time.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 19:01

tell me, Sherry, why should I pay any attention to these markets?

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 19:06

Because it's fun and it does give you, wait a minute, it does give you kind of a sense of the, the dynamic, the clockwork, you know, and it's interesting because it does, what is going on within those markets does reflect, for example, what has been going on in real time. Swalwell and the problem that keeps getting bigger and bigger for him with regard to the charges that, that he's been abusive to women. That's only one of,

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 19:43

Now, should I

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 19:44

and,

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 19:44

more?

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 19:45

and younger people pay attention to this too, particularly younger people. So.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 19:51

I pay attention to anything with numbers in it. That's what you do. I look at odds on all kinds of sporting events. That I follow First thing I, look at are, what are the odds and what is the, point spread. Is this any more reliable though than me, turning to the, person next to me at the bar. And asking that person, who do you think is gonna win the mayor's election? I mean, is, is the person I'm sitting next to at the bar any more reliable? me why I should

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 20:26

In terms of numbers, it's a large, much, much, much larger sample, and it has to be more diverse, even if it isn't diverse because you are asking the opinion of one person. So, I mean, it's like apples and oranges. That's what it is. And of course, that there is a perception, if not a reality these days, that polls can't be reliable. Because of many, many factors because of the lack of trust that people seem to have these days about polling as an operation and, and about the results of polling. you know, another way of focusing on the dynamic of the race and pushing people maybe, maybe. To get more involved, to get more information about the candidates involved and about their, their agenda, their pro.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 21:34

The trouble with that is you, you don't know whether it has any impact or not. You really don't know that you don't know where the information's coming from. You don't know how the odds are set.

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 21:49

You are talking like a.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 21:52

well, I'm talking about somebody who, understands betting. you don't understand that the odds are set by, these, people in, Vegas who, work for the, casinos. you. Don't take into consideration that the whole thing may be fixed. That's one of the problems right now. lemme bring in my favorite subject. Sports gambling, which is more and more, we're getting more and more stories about games being fixed by players, for, for the benefit of the gamblers and of the players.

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 22:28

Whoa.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 22:28

up in a big scandal one day. I think this is gonna end up in a big scandal too, but.

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 22:35

Well, I think that there's a point there, people are beginning to talk about insider trading. with regard to, prediction markets. People are making big bets that are really almost molecular in terms of the timing and the amount of money because, it's kind of a bet that can only be made if you've got inside. Information. And, there's a move on now to begin to investigate whether this inside trading, insider trading is, is a problem with the prediction markets. the market itself has been described as basically a stock market fruit. Happenings for events as opposed to stocks and bonds and all of that? Yeah, I mean, I could, if you get, let's say ask college students, sit down, you can, you can earn$25 an hour, let's say, if you just call in and bet X, Y, and Z on my candidacy, so it looks like I'm moving up. Sure. That could happen. It could happen for anything. It it, it could happen. As you described, it's happening in sports, but that doesn't mean it, any of this is useless. It's not definitive. It's not determinative.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 24:12

It's not useless. What it is, is it's information, that you, you accumulate, you know, something. There is some fears about the election, about being fixed, about whether, this election is gonna be on the up and up. Democrats are holding shadow

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 24:32

about nationally or, California and Los Angeles?

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 24:36

Democrats

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 24:36

haven't heard it about,

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 24:38

hearings in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Nevada, more to come. These are, these are non enforceable hearings. By Democratic lawmakers, trying to find out, whether the Republicans are trying to fix the, upcoming elections.

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 24:57

yeah. But I mean, federal elections. Yes.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 25:01

yeah.

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 25:02

Yes. So the point is.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 25:05

Point is, you've been talking to me about this. What's your point on this? Is this important? Is this something we should be worried about?

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 25:13

Oh, but the fixing of elections or the, shadow hearings as they are called, because they were called by Democrats basically, who have very little power, but what, and need to get their side of the issue out, which is no, our, our elections are in the hands of the state and they are clean, and they are good, and they are accurate. And that's the way you get it done when you don't have control of the Congress and you won't bring the issue up to a formal hearing in the nation's capitol.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 25:50

there is a great fear among Democrats that, on election day, Republicans by various, steps will, We will try to fix the election. In other words, they'll try to keep people away from the polls. They're

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 26:09

What do.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 26:12

They'll reject your vote because, last name doesn't ma match the last name on your voter registration.

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 26:21

It is very obvious, isn't it? I mean, that's what Save America Act is all about. It's blocking people of color. It's blocking women because of. Little tweaks and big tweets in the requirements to vote, and it's something that needs to be looked at. And it was something that the, the hearings that were held in San Francisco and Los Angeles were beginning to explain, and that's, you know, I thought it was pretty smart, although there wasn't very much coverage. Of those hearings because of other events happening, like the war, like the moonshot, it got very, those hearings, if they were meant to bring up issues, if they were meant to educate, didn't have a very big opportunity to do so.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 27:22

No, just, of a warning. Thing may happen. You ought to really keep your eye on it. It, it puts a, another obligation, on the narrow shoulders of the media. mean, gonna find out, whether these elections were fixed?

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 27:42

Yeah.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 27:42

know, it takes a lot of work to do that. And, I think that should be occupying, not only the, media out there, but pilots like us too to, focus attention on these elections and the intricate boring procedures that proceed and follow the elections. I mean, this

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 28:09

don't forget that, Trump himself has said that he wants to nationalize the elections. They, I don't believe he can do it. I think that's unconstitutional, but that's gotta be a clue. He wants to play games. It's, you know, this is, this could be a very serious thing in terms of the evolution or devolution of our democracy,

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 28:37

I

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 28:37

the way. By the way. We never really, and got to talk about where we are vis-a-vis, the war in Iran. But I'm going to do something. I am going to give you a. Pop quiz one question. You ready? Who said this quote? Every gun that is made, every worship launched, every rocket fired signifies in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed Those. And are not clothed. Dwight d Eisenhower,

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 29:24

Well, he certainly

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 29:25

staunch Republican Staun.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 29:27

He was the person who first, raised the specter of the, industrial complex dictating American policy. When he did so in a speech, it was a sensation and then a speech that's kind of lived on, the years and, it's gives us something to follow.

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 29:54

Well,

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 29:56

go.

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 29:56

oh, go ahead. No, I was just going to agree with you on that, but I think it tells a lot about where we are. As a nation, as a society, and where this administration, this federal administration is Dwight d Eisenhower. Got it right. But at this point in time, there are an awful lot of people who either don't care or don't recognize that simple effect.

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 30:32

Or don't have his courage,

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 30:34

That's a point. Yeah. I mean, the guy did win the second World War, didn't he? He's got, he knows, or he knew the dynamic of what we are going through. I

host-4ha0_2_04-10-2026_160732 30:46

Sherry? Will, we'll continue this discussion next week.

squadcaster-292d_2_04-10-2026_160732 30:50

Okay. Goodbye everybody. Cheers.