Spencer Pratt, $6 Gas, and a Mayor Who Won't Show Up

Karen Bass just pulled out of tonight's Los Angeles mayoral forum. The primary is in three weeks. The last debate she showed up to, 88% of viewers said Spencer Pratt won.Tonight on California Underground, Phil is asking the question the incumbent doesn't want asked — and the one Sacramento doesn't have a good answer for either.On the Los Angeles mayor's race: Pratt lost his home in the Palisades Fire and turned it into a campaign. He's polling second in a city that hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 2001, with 40% of voters still undecided and a primary on June 2nd. We break down the debate, the numbers, and what Bass skipping tonight's forum actually signals.On California's gas crisis: the state confirmed four to six weeks of gasoline supply on hand. Three major refineries have closed in under a year — Phillips 66 Wilmington, Valero Benicia, PBF Martinez — removing 18% of total refining capacity. California has no pipeline connections to other states and imports 20% of its gasoline from overseas. Average price at the pump: $6.13 a gallon. The Iran war closed the Strait of Hormuz and exposed a supply chain California spent years making fragile.Both stories. One show. Every week.California Underground is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.Subscribe to the California Underground newsletter: https://caunderground.substack.com/Follow the show: @californiaunderground on Instagram and TikTok | @ca_underground on XPhil is writing a book about California — sign up for early updates at www.thegildedstate.com