Leftist Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman will advance to the November mayoral election after nearly a week of counting late-arriving ballots, locking Republican Spencer Pratt out of the race. Sunday’s vote drop surged Raman past Pratt for the first time, a stunning turnaround for the leftist who trailed Pratt by more than nine points on election night. With 83% of the vote counted, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass holds 34.7%, Raman in second at 27.1% and Pratt placing third with 26.7%. Decision Desk HQ projected the race at 7:57 p.m. EDT. Decision Desk HQ projects Nithya Raman wins the second of two spots in the CA Los Angeles Mayor Nonpartisan Primary#DecisionMade: 7:57 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/PIwkJ5xxGO — Decision Desk HQ (@DecisionDeskHQ) June 7, 2026 Pratt and Raman have been watching the returns closely since the primary election was held on June 2 to determine which of them will face off in November against Democrat incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. Pratt held a lead of nearly ten points on Election Day, but every subsequent ballot dump has favored Raman by a large margin. The projection effectively ends Pratt’s campaign, which tapped into the reality TV star’s savvy social media background to push a message of change in a city plagued by chronic challenges, including homelessness, crime and an affordability crisis. Under California’s system, the top two votegetters in the mayoral primary, regardless of party, secure a place in the November election if neither receives more than 50% of the vote. Bass already secured a spot in the runoff, according to projections. On Sunday, Pratt joined many Republicans nationwide in questioning California’s painstakingly slow vote-counting process. He responded to a social media post stating that late-arriving mail ballots had shifted the race by more than 43,000 votes since Tuesday, comparing that figure to the number of people living on the streets. “A net swing of more than 43,000 votes since Tuesday. … 43,000, huh? Where have I seen that number before? Probably nothing,” Pratt said on X. He is not alone. President Donald Trump stormed out of a ‘Meet the Press’ interview that aired Sunday over election integrity issues in California, ramping up his criticism he first expressed last week. Trump took to Truth Social late Wednesday night and again on Thursday to accuse Democrats of election fraud, asking, “Why the vote counting DELAY???” “Look what’s happening in California, the Dumocrats, right before our very eyes, are stealing the vote,” Trump posted on Thursday. Democrats deny accusations of fraud, pointing to California’s extensive vote-by-mail system and grace period for arriving ballots for the delay in results. Pratt, a victim of the devastating January 2025 wildfires, captured national attention with a stronger-than-expected debate performance and viral advertisements railing against the city’s quality of life. He attempted to reach across party lines in a deep blue city where Republicans only make up 15% of registered voters. An analysis by The New York Times found that Bass dominated South Los Angeles, while Pratt performed strongest in the Palisades and West Los Angeles. Raman, meanwhile, carried Silver Lake and much of the city’s Eastside. Raman, who is aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America, launched a last-minute challenge to Bass and campaigned to peel away support from the mayor’s Left flank. On Tuesday night, she fought back tears as she addressed supporters in downtown Los Angeles. “I hope you know that everything every person in this room is fighting for in this campaign has been about building a city that’s worthy of you and every child in this city,” Raman said.

Ousted “60 Minutes” anchor Scott Pelley teared up when he claimed during a recent interview that he had “been in combat for this country.” Pelley was terminated “for cause” just days earlier by executive producer Nick Bilton, after blowing up at the network’s new leadership under Bari Weiss — and he got emotional when he responded to some of the comments President Donald Trump had made about him. WATCH: Fired 60 Minutes anchor Scott Pelley on the verge of tears: “I’ve been in combat for this country. In Afghanistan and Iraq, Kuwait. Been shot at. Spent nights in fox holes filling up with water in the desert.” pic.twitter.com/me6BJ9Eetg — Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) June 7, 2026 “He also said you were part go this gang of stupid crooked people that don’t care about your country,” interviewer Lulu Garcia-Navarro prompted Pelley. “Stupid, I can take that. Stiff? Yeah, probably,” Pelley conceded, and then clearly struggled to get control of his emotions as he continued. “Don’t care about the country? I’ve never worn the uniform, but I’ve been in combat for this country. In Afghanistan and Iraq, Kuwait. Been shot at. Spent nights in fox holes filling up with water in the desert.” “I’m not aware that the President of the United States has ever done any of those things for his country,” Pelley continued, still choked up a bit as he added, “Please correct me if I’m wrong.” He went on to argue that people became journalists because they “love the First Amendment” and because they truly love the United States. “While all the other descriptions that the president used about me might be applicable, not that one,” he said, his voice breaking. During the same interview, Pelley claimed that the firings at CBS News — his and several others — were like the murders of close friends and family members.

A new federal lawsuit filed by two Virginia residents is seeking to halt a planned UFC event on the White House South Lawn, launching yet another legal fight over President Donald Trump’s 250th anniversary celebration plans and drawing accusations of “lawfare” from supporters of the administration. The complaint, filed Saturday by the Public Integrity Project on behalf of Vietnam War veteran Paul Romano and senior citizen activist Susan Douglas, challenges the Trump administration’s plan to host a mixed martial arts event on White House grounds as part of the nation’s semiquincentennial celebrations, arguing the spectacle exceeds executive authority and improperly converts federal property into a private venue. At the center of the dispute is a June 14 event promoted by the Ultimate Fighting Championship, which the White House has framed as part of broader America 250 commemorations. The lawsuit contends the fight card is “not in any material sense” a national celebration, but rather a commercial spectacle tied to the UFC brand and benefiting both UFC leadership and Trump-aligned business interests. The plaintiffs argue that the construction of a large-scale fighting arena on the South Lawn, along with associated staging at national landmarks such as the Lincoln Memorial, required congressional approval and environmental review under federal law. They further claim the event amounts to an unauthorized use of government land for private financial gain. According to the filing, the UFC is selling high-end sponsorship and VIP packages ranging into the seven-figure tier, while additional revenue streams include media rights and promotional partnerships. The complaint also cites Trump’s investment in UFC’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings, as a potential conflict of interest. Brendan Ballou, founder of the Public Integrity Project and lead counsel in the case, described the planned event as a “profoundly corrupt scheme” that turns national monuments into branding opportunities for private entities. The lawsuit also alleges that the temporary construction on the South Lawn constitutes a major federal action that should have triggered environmental review procedures. Romano and Douglas, argue they frequently use and visit the National Mall and surrounding areas and are directly harmed by what they describe as the “aesthetic injury” of converting historic civic spaces into a commercial venue. One plaintiff, Romano, said in a statement that staging a “for-profit cage fight” at sites such as the White House and Lincoln Memorial represents a misuse of sacred national symbols. The suit also challenges the use of the Lincoln Memorial for ceremonial weigh-ins and other promotional events tied to the fight card. The Trump administration has dismissed the lawsuit as an attempt to obstruct a lawful and publicly authorized celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, arguing the UFC event falls within permitted commemorative programming. Officials have compared it to other large-scale events hosted on federal grounds and say it is being conducted in coordination with proper approvals. A White House official, in a statement to ESPN defended the event, called the suit “obstructionist” and without merit, insisting the planned programming is consistent with prior national celebrations and accusing critics of attempting to derail a historic public spectacle. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta — an Obama appointed judge — who will first determine whether the plaintiffs have standing to proceed before considering an emergency injunction request aimed at stopping construction and halting the event altogether. The lawsuit adds to a growing series of legal challenges targeting high-profile Trump-era initiatives in Washington, D.C., many of which center on claims of improper use of federal property and executive authority. However, the pattern reflects an increasingly aggressive use of litigation to delay or derail political and cultural events tied to the president’s agenda. A ruling on the injunction request is expected in the coming days as construction continues on the South Lawn ahead of the scheduled fight.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro sparked outrage this week after posting the phrase “Heil Hitler” on social media in response to a newspaper column endorsing conservative presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, a law-and-order candidate who has openly aligned himself with many of United States President Donald Trump’s policies. Petro’s post consisted solely of the words “Heil Hitler” and appeared as a reply to a social media post promoting a column by Colombian commentator Felipe Zuleta Lleras. The column praised De la Espriella as the candidate best positioned to restore security, reduce the size of government, and reverse the policies of Colombia’s political left. The article argued that Colombia needs “order, authority and economic freedom,” praising De la Espriella’s proposals for a military crackdown on organized crime, the construction of mega-prisons, tax reductions, and a dramatic reduction in the size of the state. “Voting for him is not simply electing a president; it is opting for a surgeon determined to operate the nation’s structural problems without his pulse shaking,” the column concluded, translated from spanish. Petro’s disturbing response came as Colombia heads toward a June 21 presidential runoff election that has become a referendum on the legacy of the left-wing president’s administration. Sunday’s first-round vote saw De la Espriella finish first with 43.7% of the vote, narrowly ahead of left-wing Sen. Iván Cepeda, an ally of Petro, who received roughly 41%. De la Espriella, a businessman and attorney known as “El Tigre,” has campaigned on a tough-on-crime platform, promising a major military offensive against cartels and guerrilla groups, expanded cooperation with the United States, and a dramatic reduction in Colombia’s bureaucracy. The conservative candidate has frequently praised Trump and advocated stronger security partnerships with Washington. Petro, meanwhile, has often clashed with Trump and has criticized what he describes as excessive American influence in Latin America. Although relations between the two leaders improved after a White House meeting earlier this year, the Colombian president has repeatedly attacked U.S. foreign policy and aligned himself with left-wing movements throughout the region. The “Heil Hitler” post is particularly notable given Petro’s long history of invoking Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany in political disputes. Immediately following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 terrorist attack on Israel, Petro repeatedly compared Israel’s military operations in Gaza to Nazi Germany. He accused Israel of operating “concentration camps,” suggested that Hitler was being “reborn” through modern political movements, and drew comparisons between Israeli military actions and the Holocaust. Those remarks prompted sharp criticism from both Israeli and American officials. Israeli diplomats accused Petro of making hostile and antisemitic statements after he repeatedly refused to explicitly condemn Hamas while escalating his criticism of Israel. Deborah Lipstadt, the U.S. State Department’s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, later testified before Congress that Petro’s comments had crossed a “red line.” “It is offensive and unfortunate that leaders like Petro have compared what is happening with Hitler,” Lipstadt said during a House hearing focused on rising antisemitism in Latin America. She also criticized Petro’s rhetoric for undermining peace efforts and contributing to concerns within Colombia’s Jewish community. Petro has repeatedly denied accusations of antisemitism, arguing that his criticism is directed at the Israeli government rather than Jewish people. In October 2023, he claimed accusations that he supported Hamas or harbored anti-Jewish views were the product of “ignorance.” Yet his latest social media post demonstrates a continued willingness to invoke Nazi imagery against political opponents. The controversy comes at a particularly sensitive moment for Colombia as voters prepare to choose between two starkly different visions for the country’s future. De la Espriella has promised an aggressive crackdown on crime, closer ties with the United States, and sweeping free-market reforms. Cepeda, backed by Petro, has pledged to continue many of the current administration’s policies, including negotiations with armed groups and expanded social programs. As of publication, Petro had not publicly elaborated on the meaning of his “Heil Hitler” post or offered any clarification regarding the remark, nor has the post been deleted.

WASHINGTON— Saturday morning at the Naval Observatory looked a little different than usual. Once again, the Vance family hosted dozens of families at “Camp VPR,” a one-day camp that Second Lady Usha Vance created that takes place on the lawn of the Naval Observatory. The second lady shared exclusive photos of the day with The Daily Wire, showing children coloring, reading, painting, playing, and even digging in a play garden as they celebrated the beginning of summer and kicked off the second lady’s summer reading challenge. While there have been many parties at the residence in the past, Camp VPR is a creation of the Vances, and the largest of its type. “We kicked off an exciting summer of sunshine, outdoor play, and reading at Camp VPR,” Second Lady Usha Vance told The Daily Wire, encouraging children to “keep the fun going all summer long with my Summer Reading Challenge!” School buses shuttled campers from their pickup locations to the vice president’s residence, where the children received branded baseball hats and drawstring bags to carry their Camp VPR goodies back home. Upon arrival at the camp, the children threw themselves headlong into activities including a rock wall, a slip n’ slide, an inflatable obstacle course, an inflatable moon bounce, and face painting. The U.S. Navy Band Cruisers, the Navy’s top music group, returned for the second year in a row to play for the campers. Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance host Camp VPR at Vice President’s Residence in Washington, D.C. Saturday, June 06, 2026. (Official White House Photo by Emily J. Higgins.) (Official White House Photo by Emily J. Higgins.) (Official White House Photo by Emily J. Higgins.) (Official White House Photo by Emily J. Higgins.) (Official White House Photo by Emily J. Higgins.) (Official White House Photo by Emily J. Higgins.) Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance host Camp VPR at Vice President’s Residence in Washington, D.C. Saturday, June 06, 2026. (Official White House Photo by Emily J. Higgins.) (Official White House Photo by Emily J. Higgins.) (Official White House Photo by Emily J. Higgins.) (Official White House Photo by Emily J. Higgins.) (Official White House Photo by Emily J. Higgins.) Second Lady Usha Vance hosts Camp VPR at Vice President’s Residence in Washington, D.C. Saturday, June 06, 2026. (Official White House Photo by Emily J. Higgins.) (Official White House Photo by Harrison Koeppel) In a nod to America’s 250th birthday, this year’s Camp VPR had a nostalgic red-white-and-blue theme and color palette with hints of books strewn all around the camp. All elements of the camp were tied to the second lady’s “Summer Reading Challenge,” wherein students read 12 books of their choice between June 1 and September 4 of this year and receive a personalized certificate from the second lady as well as a chance to visit Washington, D.C. The kids who attended Camp VPR on Saturday received a welcome note from the vice president and second lady, participated in a scavenger hunt to find books about the property, played mad libs about their day at camp, tie dyed Camp VPR shirts, did rock painting, and more. Every vice president’s family leaves a mark on the Naval Observatory through their legacy items they leave behind. Through “Camp VPR,” campers themselves can leave a mark on the Naval Observatory by painting a rock for the gardens on the property. Representatives from the Library of Congress attended the event with baseball memorabilia from the Library’s collection, and the DC Public Library Bookmobile attended the event, offering kids the opportunity to receive library cards for public libraries in the DMV so they can read more over the summer. Local 4-H students were also on hand to team campers about the Vance family’s brand new chicken coop, which The Daily Wire first reported Sunday morning, and to show campers how to make their own coop made out of popsicle sticks.