Hollywood, Los Angeles

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass faces a tough reelection fight against city council member Nithya Raman, backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Bass, who won just 34% in the June primary, is seeking a second term after a rough first stint marked by the Palisades Fire and rising homelessness. Raman, 45, represents a generational and ideological shift, echoing New York's election of democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, though she lacks major local endorsements compared to Bass's establishment backing from Newsom, Harris, and Pelosi. The candidates differ sharply on policing and homelessness, with turnout so far low amid broad voter disillusionment.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and City Council member Nithya Raman met in a forum sponsored by the Jewish Federation Los Angeles, days before mail ballots go out, as the city grapples with homelessness, crumbling infrastructure and a continuing exodus of Hollywood production jobs. Raman, backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, initially endorsed Bass before entering the race herself, drawing comparisons to Zohran Mamdani's democratic-socialist win in New York, though her campaign has lacked similar star power or visibility.

Bass, the incumbent since 2022, has faced criticism over her handling of the deadly Palisades Fire and a summer warehouse fire, along with data showing homelessness rose after a brief decline; she blames federal policy cuts. She retains major establishment backing, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris and labor unions. Raman argues City Hall favors insiders at working people's expense and has pledged faster housing construction and better city services. Republican Spencer Pratt, who gained attention with AI-boosted campaign videos, failed to make the runoff but continues criticizing both rivals. Voter engagement remains low as the race competes with national political turmoil for attention.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Paramount Skydance reached a settlement Monday, resolving an antitrust lawsuit that had threatened to derail Paramount's $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The suit, joined by attorneys general from 11 other states, had prompted Paramount CEO David Ellison to reportedly warn senior leaders that the company was "not wanted" in California, fueling speculation the studio could relocate.

The dispute is the latest episode in California's long-running effort to keep film and television production in-state. Since 2009, the state has repeatedly expanded its production tax credit, from an initial $100 million annually under Gov. Schwarzenegger to $750 million a year through 2030 under Gov. Newsom, who called the industry "on life support." Lawmakers also created a new post-production tax credit and formed a legislative committee dedicated to retaining Hollywood jobs as other states aggressively court productions with their own incentives.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom capped a multi-state "take it back tour" with eight public events across South Carolina, plus stops in Alabama and North Carolina, intensifying speculation about a 2028 Democratic presidential run. In North Carolina, Newsom campaigned for U.S. Senate candidate Roy Cooper in Charlotte and rallied Labor Day weekend crowds in Monroe, urging Democrats to focus on the 2026 midterms rather than 2028. He accused Trump of ruthlessness, corruption and attempting to "nationalize" elections through mail-in voting restrictions, telling supporters it's time to "fight fire with fire." Newsom told the Associated Press a 2028 decision could come before year's end.

Voters and strategists increasingly frame California itself as Newsom's central liability, with critics warning his state's liberal image could hurt him against rivals like Josh Shapiro and Pete Buttigieg. Republicans, including North Carolina Senate candidate Michael Whatley and local officials, mocked the visits with "Wrong Coast" signs and accused him of trying to "California" their states. Newsom's team counters that his progressive record on health care, wages and climate could be an asset in a Democratic primary. South Carolina, hosting Democrats' first 2028 primary, remains a key early proving ground alongside hopefuls like Cory Booker.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has publicly pushed back on Paramount Skydance's tactics in the antitrust suit over its $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, calling a recent motion to force a $1.88 billion bond onto taxpayers a sign of "desperation" and dismissing threats to relocate Paramount out of California as ineffective pressure. Bonta, who leads 12 state attorneys general suing to block the merger ahead of a March trial, said he remains open to settlement talks but only through "structural," not "behavioral," remedies — such as divesting cable channels rather than pledging future theatrical output.

Bonta noted some shifting positions among stakeholders, with the DGA, IATSE and Cinema United now favoring settlement, though WGA, SAG-AFTRA and the Teamsters still oppose the deal. He said Governor Newsom and gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra's comments favoring negotiation align with his own preference to resolve disputes outside court, while insisting the case remains a straightforward antitrust matter unaffected by press-freedom concerns over CNN or CBS News ownership. Arizona lawmakers continue to scrutinize taxpayer exposure from the bond dispute.