On Wednesday’s CNN This Morning, Democratic strategist Antjuan "Sour Grapes" Seawright lashed out at the growing success of political newcomers like Spencer Pratt in the Los Angeles mayoral primary, dismissing the trend as part of a “reality TV, or trash TV” model in the Republican Party. “I also think there’s a new model in the Republican Party, reality TV, or trash TV, and you don’t have to have experience and you audition for the job.” Great point, Antjuan! Unlike Karen Bass, whose "experience" includes letting the Palisades burn, while needles and human waste pile up on LA’s streets. Seawright argued that voters responding to name ID and relatability — the same factors he credited for Donald Trump’s rise — support candidates who lack serious policy depth. At the end of the segment, Seawright, while still predicting defeat for candidates like Steve Hilton and Spencer Pratt, grudgingly conceded: “However, I think competition is good for the marketplace.” That was too much even for host and fellow liberal Audie Cornish, who responded with sarcasm: "Very charitable of you, Antoine. I appreciate you saying that." Conservative panelist Terry Schilling, president of the American Principles Project, was visibly amused [see screencap] throughout Seawright’s condescending "trash TV" rant. When given the floor, Schilling offered a far more sensible take, saying Republicans are looking for outsiders who will actually speak to the concerns of working families. The exchange perfectly encapsulated the Democratic party’s current posture toward populist-conservative candidates: whistling past the graveyard with open contempt, mixed with reluctant acknowledgment that competition might not be so bad after all — especially when their own party’s grip on deep-blue California is showing cracks. CNN’s chyron tried to downplay Pratt’s strong performance by claiming he was only competing for "second" — despite live results showing him much closer to Bass than Raman is to him. A more accurate chyron would have been: "Pratt, Bass Competing For First In L.A. Mayor's Race." Here's the transcript. CNN This Morning 6/3/26 6:14 am EDT ANTJUAN SEAWRIGHT: I also think there's a new model in the Republican Party, reality TV, or trash TV, and you don't have to have experience, and you audition for the job.  And some of what the primary process is about is name ID and whether people can relate to you from some other experience. I think that's part of the reason Donald Trump's rise in politics happened. I think there are others in the Republican ecosystem who feel like Trump maybe opened up a pathway for them to try that same model. Because in reality, most people cannot articulate what his policy positions are, and how he will seriously make a difference, if you've never had your tires kicked or your hood checked in politics. . . .  SABRINA RODRIGUEZ:  Well, I think, look, the bottom line when it's all said and done about this race, this California governor's race, it has been a mess. I mean, we were talking over a year ago about whether Vice President Kamala Harris would decide to run for governor, we talked about whether Senator Alex Padilla would decide to run for governor. Neither one did it. We saw Governor Newsom didn't endorse, Nancy Pelosi didn't endorse in this race. I mean, we saw a sort of a free for all. AUDIE CORNISH: Which has allowed these Republicans to advance in a way, and obviously California can have a Republican governor, it's happened plenty of times. What is it about Hilton that you think is striking a chord? 'Cause we were talking during the break of like, who does he represent in this sliver of the Republican coalition? TERRY SCHILLING: Well, as Antoine was saying earlier, I would have a more charitable view of it, these outsiders, people that aren't in politics — that's what Republicans are looking for. They're looking for someone that can speak to their concerns for their families. You know, it's really tough to get by for working families these days, and they know that the current regime of Democrats in California public office aren't -- CORNISH: The California term is disruptor from Silicon Valley, right? Like someone who's gonna come in and break a system they think is not really working. SEAWRIGHT: After this primary process is complete — well, this jungle primary, let me start here — is about survive and advance. It's like political June madness in California. But after that process is over, you're gonna see base consolidation, and that's where you're gonna see Democrats, independents align with a serious candidate who not only can win, but who can speak directly to the issues and get something done.  And that's why Steve Hilton does not even stand a chance of winning in November. However, I think competition is good for the marketplace, and I think you'll see the same thing -- CORNISH: Very charitable of you, Antoine. I appreciate you saying that.  SEAWRIGHT: I think you'll see the same thing in the mayor's race, although it may be close because last race was close with a billion -- CORNISH: Well, I'll be watching to see at what point does the race basically, fundamentally become national, or a referendum on Trump?