Podcaster Describes How Spencer Pratt is Teaching Karen Bass About Campaigning

Pratt Takes Aim at Bass in L.A. Mayor Race

On Monday, podcast host Emily Jasinski discussed how Spencer Pratt, a former reality TV star, has positioned Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass as a political adversary in the upcoming election.

Jasinski noted that Pratt, not being a conventional politician, has effectively utilized social media to dominate the narrative and portray Bass as a villain. Her reputation suffered significantly after she traveled to Africa while wildfires ravaged her city, displacing around 200,000 people, including Pratt himself.

“I think Spencer Pratt saw that making Karen Bass into a villain would be relatively straightforward. He understands how people present themselves, and now he’s framing Karen Bass in that light,” Jasinski explained. “In reality TV, there’s often a bit of critical commentary involved… Spencer is adept at managing social media and thus can steer public opinion against a traditional politician like Bass, who struggles with social media and keeps offering poor excuses about her whereabouts during the crisis.”

In his campaign, Pratt emphasizes the disparity between the luxurious lives of Bass and other politicians versus the struggles of everyday Californians, especially after the state experienced severe wildfires that left many homeless.

Jasinski remarked that Pratt is attracting support from voters who might not typically align with Republican candidates as he challenges the usual political establishment represented by figures like Bass.

Bass faces significant issues in addressing the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles. Some representatives within her party, like Rep. Rashida Tlaib from Michigan, advocate for the protection of homeless encampments in urban areas.

“If the goal is to protect these camps, it creates this huge gap that certain nonprofits, some of which may have good intentions, can exploit. It ends up being counterproductive,” Jasinski stated. “Look at what happened in Washington, D.C.—one homeless nonprofit protested to keep people on the streets even in freezing temperatures, claiming it was a compassionate approach. When you focus on protecting encampments, you can get tangled in compassion issues and arrive at the most unhelpful solutions possible.”

“And this creates an environment that’s ripe for someone like Spencer Pratt,” she added.

Pratt announced his candidacy in January, criticizing Democratic politicians for their handling of the wildfires, which destroyed over 11,000 homes and resulted in at least 31 fatalities by the end of January 2025.