On Tuesday, a variety of publications called the election for Mayor of Los Angeles, thus likely ending former reality TV villain Spencer Pratt's bid for the office. Because no candidate received more than 50% of the votes, the top two candidates, current LA Mayor Karen Bass and LA Councilmember Nithya Raman, both Democrats, will advance to an election in November.

For much of the week following the election, Pratt, a Republican popular nationally amongst Trump-supporters, was in second place, several percentage points ahead of Raman. But as more and more last minute mail-in ballots were counted, the tide shifted dramatically in Raman's favor.

Most people with the ability to reason and exercise critical thinking skills were not surprised by an unqualified, Republican, D-list celebrity has-been losing in a place that leans heavily toward the Democratic party. Additionally, Republicans are less likely than Democrats to vote by mail-in ballot, which are counted last. Nevertheless, the usual suspects cried foul with no credible evidence.

Other Trump sycophants and devoted supporters echoed these sentiments. Pratt also took the news as well as could be expected.

Why are so many Republicans claiming or implying fraud in the California elections? In the year 2026, this is simply how politics and grifting are done, particularly amongst Republicans.

Trump of course seeks nothing more than to increase and consolidate his own power, including over elections, and empower more toadies who will help him enrich himself and avoid accountability.

When it comes to elected officials and most of the other prominent people making such fraud claims, it is hard not to believe that it is due primarily to selfish motivations. These people are willing to undermine the integrity of our elections and the legitimacy of our government simply to curry favor with Trump, retain their positions of authority, and to make money off the slavish Trump zombies who listen to their podcasts and order their products.

For a few more kind words or an endorsement from the President, another year in office, a few more motivated Republican voters, a plum appointment, and/or a few more bucks in their accounts, these people are willing to sell out 250 years of the unprecedented American experiment in freedom and self-governance. There is no curse sufficient to describe such a squandering of what our ancestors fought and worked to provide us and the betrayal of our children and future generations.

As for the people who truly believe it, what more is there to be said? We live in a time of intellectual and civic ignorance. Our culture is suffering from the steady growth of a malignant tumor fed by a never-ending supply of resentment, distrust, gullibility, unearned confidence, and technological disruption. Each day, more people seem hellbent on extinguishing the candle in the dark lit by the Enlightenment while falsely believing that they are truly the enlightened ones.

Our national social fabric is fraying before our very eyes. Instead of rushing to repair and strengthen it, many are rushing to tear as big of a piece off as they can for themselves. Others would rather forsake their country and the principles and ideals on which it stands to earn the favor of their preferred, insular tribe full of people who will unquestionably hoot and holler with them in support of their leader while hissing and leering at their neighbors and countrymen.

A nation can only withstand so much selfish and delusional undermining of its foundation before it collapses, and then those claiming fraud in California will find out what true fraud and injustice look like.