The political climate in California is changing. The Golden State is seemingly on the cusp of a red wave in the Los Angeles mayoral and statewide gubernatorial races. Californians’ deep concern about the prevalence of high-intensity wildfires plaguing their state is a major reason why. I previously argued that Governor Gavin Newsom treated California as a policy laboratory for all kinds of radical regulatory experimentation and that the results were overwhelmingly negative. Now there are signs of a state-wide reckoning. Polling indicates that California residents could put an end to the toxic mix of harmful policies crafted or enforced by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Newsom. The L.A. mayoral race has put this dynamic on full display. Former reality TV star and political outsider Spencer Pratt has made the Palisades Fire, which occurred under Bass’s watch, a central issue in the race. That fire, started by a deranged arsonist, caused damages estimated at over $28 billion and killed dozens of people. Bass’s team oversaw a response that policy experts have criticized as inadequate. At the time, the Washington Post editorial board argued that Bass’s city government “badly mishandled” the response, and, perhaps worse, that Bass tried to sweep evidence of her bungled response under the rug. Though it happened over a year ago, Spencer Pratt is not letting Bass off the hook for her role in the fire, which affected him personally. “If they didn’t burn my house down, I wouldn’t be running for mayor,” Pratt has said. That strategy is working for Pratt. While still slightly trailing Bass in recent polls, Pratt is slated to face Bass in a runoff election in November. Bass blamed climate change for the fires, which is no excuse for negligence. In fact, if Bass believes climate change is exacerbating wildfire risk, that arguably casts her in a worse light. If she believed that fires are now more likely to occur, due to climate change or any other reason, her decision to drastically reduce the L.A. Fire Department budget by $17 million before the fire was especially inexcusable. Bass not only refused to accept accountability but also attempted a cover-up. Bass reportedly altered an after-action report to downplay the role of poor political decisions in the fire’s impact. The original report, much of which Bass reportedly quashed, may have discussed the reservoir drained ahead of the fire that could have supplied 117 million gallons of water, and the insufficient availability of firefighters. Solely focusing on Bass, though, misses the larger point: In California, ideologically driven leftist policies have prioritized environmental regulations over brush-clearing measures. Faster vegetation growth translates to higher fire risk. Californians know this, but they have long faced an uphill battle in clearing brush from public land. As a general rule, California doesn’t clear brush from public lands for environmental reasons, and residents must apply for a permit to do so — a lengthy and cumbersome process. This is what happened in the Palisades Fire. Having not been cleared from public lands abutting residential areas, brush plants, which are evolutionarily engineered to burn, contributed to the fire’s rapid spread. Californians know that politicians are at least partly to blame for mismanagement and poor policymaking that cost over 20,000 of them their homes in the most recent major bout of wildfires in early 2025. That is why Democrats are at risk of losing their grip on power in California at the gubernatorial level, too. Republican candidate Steve Hilton is surging in polls among Californians and could be the first Republican elected governor of California in two decades. Hilton is not tiptoeing around challenging fire prevention issues. To the contrary, he is leaning in with ambitious proposals to use remote sensing technology and drones to detect and stop fires before they spread out of control. At the same time, Hilton has condemned California officials for putting ideology before people. Hilton has noted, “the California Coastal Commission also blocked fire prevention and mitigation measures in the exact hills that just burned, in order to protect a few thousand specimens of the Braunton’s milkvetch shrub.” He also got Californians’ attention, with his claim that the L.A. wildfires were “not a natural disaster” but rather “a man-made disaster.” Thanks to common sense axioms like these, he is currently the frontrunner in the race, much to the chagrin and surprise of California’s Democratic establishment. California is a solid blue state and has been for many years. A red wave there would mean a red wave could be possible anywhere. And apocalyptic scenes of wildfires, the most salient and striking example of policy failure in that state, are getting voters’ attention like never before. *** Sydney Rodman is a visiting fellow with the Independent Women’s Center for Energy and Conservation.

A California museum dedicated to remembering the victims of communist China’s brutal Tiananmen Square massacre was vandalized just days ahead of the anniversary of the communist crackdown. Displays and exhibits at the June Fourth Memorial Museum in El Monte, California, were spray-painted on Sunday in what museum officials believe to have been a targeted attack. The Los Angeles County museum tells the history of the June 4, 1989, massacre at Tiananmen Square, where soldiers killed up to 2,600 pro-democracy protesters.  “The main part of the exhibition, including sections of the walls, was vandalized with spray paint, causing serious damage to the museum’s assets. The museum strongly condemns the perpetrators and those instigating the incident and will pursue legal action against them,” the museum said in a statement.  The museum said it was working with the El Monte Police Department and had obtained certain leads and identified suspicious circumstances.”  “We view this incident as yet another instance of ‘transnational repression’ and have reported the relevant details to the FBI and the appropriate committees of the U.S. Congress,” the museum said.  El Monte police sergeant Andrew Mora told Domino Theory that police were probing whether the incident was a hate crime and would report it to the FBI.  Museum co-founder Wang Dan posted photos of some of the vandalism and said that surveillance cameras were destroyed, but that the footage was able to be recovered and sent to the police.  已经到达现场，现场破坏严重。 作案者潜入纪念馆，并破坏了摄像镜头，然后才开始损毁动作。 现发布第一批照片。 pic.twitter.com/hFn5RWYf1z — 王丹 (@wangdan1989) May 31, 2026 “The June Fourth Memorial Hall will never cease operations due to such acts of destruction and threats. On the contrary, with the support of all sectors of society, we look forward to making the memorial hall even better!” Wang said. “No matter how fierce the storm, we will stand firm!” Wang later spoke to the House Select Committee on China about the incident. The committee said the vandalism was “disturbing and sad.”  “The museum will continue and all of us will never let the world forget about Tiananmen Square,” the committee added.  The Congressional-Executive Commission on China also commented on the vandalism and called for the FBI to investigate.  “Vandalism of a [Tiananmen Massacre] museum cannot erase the memory of what happened on June 4, 1989, or cover up the crimes committed by the [CCP] as it crushed peaceful demonstrations for freedom and democracy,” the commission said. “[The FBI Los Angeles] should investigate this as an act of [transnational repression].”

President Donald Trump referenced a joke on Thursday that he made with his new friend, New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, to hammer his point about trans athletes attempting to compete in women’s sports. “He’s a big strong guy, and I said, how do you think you would do in women’s sports, Jaxson,” Trump said he asked Dart. “He said, ‘Pretty good, sir.’ He didn’t know I was joking.” Trump made the comment while speaking to the media at the White House when he recalled his conversation with Dart while discussing the Supreme Court coming to a decision on biological men participating in women’s sports. While Trump’s comment was just a joke, it allowed him to state the obvious regarding the hypothetical.  “He would’ve been the greatest athlete in the history of women’s sports,” Trump said. “You should see the size of this guy, he’s like a male model, he’s going to be a great quarterback.”    The president and quarterback were with each other publicly for the first time when Dart introduced Trump at a rally for Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) in Suffern, New York, on May 22. Dart, who publicly stated how honored he was to present the president at the event, was ridiculed by leftist outlets, sports media moguls, and even teammate Abdul Carter, who took to X to voice his frustration.  Despite the backlash, stood his ground, supporting America and the president of the United States. “This was a unique opportunity. Being asked and given the opportunity to introduce the president of the United States,” Dart told reporters. “My thinking was pretty simple. I’ve always loved this country. The president position has always been a position that I’ve well respected, regardless of political affiliation, political party.” Trump later backed Dart as the quarterback faced criticism and suggested that the two have grown closer since the rally two weeks ago.

On Thursday, the U.S. State Department sent a warning to the United Kingdom with regard to the tragic events in the death of Henry Nowak, warning against “two-tiered” policing. “Ideological conditioning and two-tiered policing are glaring symptoms of civilizational decline. They must be rejected across the West,” the State Department wrote on X. “The United States sends our condolences to the family of Henry Nowak and the people of the United Kingdom at this troubling time.” Henry Nowak, 18, a first-generation university student studying accounting and finance at Southampton University, was walking home alone after a night out on December 3, 2025, when he crossed paths with Vickrum Digwa, 23, a Sikh man who was carrying a large ceremonial dagger on his belt. There was a brief exchange in which Nowak asked if Digwa was “a bad man” after noticing the visible blade. The exchange then escalated into a confrontation, and Digwa stabbed Nowak four times, including once through the chest, piercing his lung. Over two pints of blood pooled in Nowak’s chest cavity.       After the attack, Digwa told police that Nowak had racially abused him and that he had acted in self-defense. Officers arrived to find Nowak on the ground. “I’ve been stabbed,” Nowak told them. “I don’t think you have, mate,” an officer replied. He was handcuffed, read his rights, and informed he was under arrest for assault. He lost consciousness shortly after. First responders attempted CPR, but he was pronounced dead at 12:37 a.m. At trial, the jury rejected Digwa’s self-defense and racism claims entirely. Sentencing Judge William Mousley was scathing, calling Digwa’s story “wicked lies” and finding that Nowak had said nothing racist. Digwa filmed Nowak as he lay dying, directed his mother to remove the murder weapon from the scene, and whispered to his brother in a police van — unaware they were being recorded — that he had stabbed Henry three times and that self-defense would fall apart if cameras existed in the area. He was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years. Nowak’s father, Mark, said his son “did not die with dignity” — that he was treated as a criminal while his killer was believed on the spot. Body camera footage released after the conviction confirmed the family’s account. Within days, hundreds of protesters gathered outside a Southampton police station, chanting “I can’t breathe” and carrying photographs of Nowak. Riot police blocked streets. Objects were thrown. Reform U.K. leader Nigel Farage called the killing evidence of “two-tiered” policing, and Elon Musk amplified the case globally. Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged the footage raised “serious questions.”

This article is part of Upstream, The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you. *** Welcome to the Bright Side, a weekly roundup of all the good news and ideas you might have missed from the past week. It’s “lemonading” season Summer invites us to take a break from the daily grind to enjoy life’s less structured pleasures, possibly via lake, beach, or hammock. But, like we’ve heard about turning lemons into lemonade, a science-backed “lemonading” mindset offers a mental vacation from negative thoughts. (That cocktail umbrella behind your ear finally makes sense!) Research shows that a playful outlook actually helps frame challenging situations in a more positive light. More effective than the unrealistic “rose-colored glasses” approach, lemonading allows “creatively imagining and pursuing positive possibilities to cultivate adaptive, enjoyable experiences while maintaining a clear-eyed realism about challenges.” Effectively turning even small difficulties into opportunities, the strategy also develops personal resilience, deepens enjoyment, and allows us to flourish. Bartender at the swim-up pool bar, we’ll take a glass half-full of that!   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Jill Beck (@j.v.beck) Best homemade hummus ever Other than close friends, there’s not much I miss about Los Angeles since I moved to Nashville a few months ago. But I will forever crave Hummus Bar in Tarzana. It cost $20 a pop (don’t miss that!), but even my discerning Israeli friends praised the restaurant’s ridiculously silky, creamy hummus topped with pine nuts, sautéed mushrooms, or tender beef, and always drizzled with olive oil with hot za’atar laffa bread on the side.  I may be in an awkward long-distance relationship with this restaurant, but what I do have in my possession is a good blender. And I found one hummus recipe that almost perfectly matches whatever magic they’re working at Hummus Bar. (All they’ll tell me is that they blend it forever!). Cookie + Kate’s Best Hummus Recipe incorporates a few different chef techniques for great results, like boiling chickpeas in baking soda until they’re mushy for maximum smoothness, using tahini from Ethiopian sesame seeds for the best flavor, and adding ice water as you blend for fluffier texture.    View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Cookie and Kate (@cookieandkate) I’m no expert, and mine always turns out gorgeously smooth and full of garlicky, lemon flavor. If only it were this easy to bake flatbread on the side of a tandoor oven like a restaurant! The era of the fashion hoof  Style alert, y’all! Pig feet are so hot right now. Inspired by Hailey Bieber’s $1,000 Valentino stilettos that simulate the look of an animal’s hoof with a peekaboo style cutout over the first and second toes, I discovered the wonderful world of hoof manicures, AKA the relax-maxxing content you need right now. I’ll be honest, I can’t stomach Dr. Pimple Popper videos, or stand listening to the whispering and clicky fingernails of ASMR. What I can do, however, is watch a professional farrier rejuvenate a horse, donkey, or cow’s hoof to full health. If you need a guy, Nate the Hoof Guy turns muddy, injured hooves into the pristine footwear Bessie needs when she’s hanging out with the gals around the farm. When you’re done with that, you can always switch things up with landscaping and pressure washing transformations that serve the kind of restorative calm that comes from everything being clean and in its right place.   What to bring instead of “nothing” Is everyone doing backyard barbecues right now? It stresses me out a little when even a casual dinner party invite includes “don’t worry about bringing anything!” My mind immediately goes to the episode of “Seinfeld” where Elaine gets stuck bringing cinnamon babka as a hostess gift, instead of her preferred chocolate. “We’ll be going in with lesser babka!”  This isn’t to say you shouldn’t feel totally comfy just bringing yourself. But if you aren’t sure about showing up empty-handed, you can always add to the festivities. Suggesting you bring “nothing” is often the host’s way of letting guests off the hook and keeping things on theme. But “something” shows you appreciate the gift of a meal that you didn’t have to cook. A classic bottle of wine works whether it gets opened or not. And a sweet and unfussy dessert says you’re not secretly trying to steal the spotlight. Most people would also gladly accept a scented candle, or flowers pre-arranged in a vase. Personally, I love Ina Garten’s strategy for bringing something the host family can casually enjoy the following morning, like coffee and homemade biscotti. But, as an experienced guest, I can confirm that cinnamon rolls from Whole Foods that come in their own pan (ready to bake and drizzle with icing) satisfy the assignment for a busy family that graciously invited you over for homemade pizza the night before. Ronaldo the soccer playing dog Real footballer Cristiano Ronaldo plays forward, but as soccer fans anticipate the start of the FIFA World Cup across North America this June, fútbol’s cutest viral sensation has become Ronaldo The Football Dog. He’s got stocky little legs, but he’s a natural at goal keeping. A Chihuahua dachshund mix (known as a “Chiweenie”) from Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, six-year-old Ronaldo is less interested in fancy footwork and more into snatching softly inflated soccer balls midair with his mouth as they sail toward the net. As Ronald’s human relative Sam Katzman explained, “He pretty much just decided that he was a goalkeeper.”   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Ronaldo The Football Dog (@ronaldothefootballdog) TBD on whether furry Ronaldo will be appearing at the World Cup, but just like the Super Bowl’s “Puppy Bowl,” the international football competition is set to feature a “World Pup” where rescue puppies will adorably battle it out on the pitch. It’s all part of the fun for a game that can last 90 minutes with zero scoring.   Thank you for spending a little time with us! Feel free to share your own good news and ideas in the comments (or email me). To paraphrase “SNL’s” Stuart Smalley, “You’re good enough, you’re smart enough, and doggone it, people like you!” — Lauren