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Welcome back. In the news today: Nithya Raman advances to the Los Angeles mayor runoff, passing Spencer Pratt; why Netanyahu and Trump are at odds over the Iran war; and a federal judge blocks the Trump administration’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee. Also, the World Cup is just around the corner, and host cities are gearing up — even zoo animals are getting involved. More on preparations for the tournament below.
Nithya Raman, a candidate in the Los Angeles mayoral race, smiles during a campaign event discussing tenant protections with renters in Los Angeles, Monday, June 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Progressive Nithya Raman advances to November runoff against Los Angeles Mayor Karen BassNithya Raman made a last-minute entry into the race after she had endorsed incumbent Karen Bass for reelection. The runoff is an unexpected matchup between the two Democrats to run the struggling city of nearly 4 million. The outcome means Spencer Pratt, a Republican and former reality television personality from “The Hills,” is out of the running. Read more.Why this mattersRaman was elected to the city council with the support of the Democratic Socialists of America, and the election will test whether voters in the heavily Democratic city want to move further to the political left to address long-running problems of homelessness, buckled streets and climbing housing prices.The race also has historical markers. Bass is the first Black woman to hold the post, and Raman could be the first South Asian woman in the job.Related coverage →The rise and fall of ‘The Hills’ star Spencer Pratt’s improbable campaign
