About this episode

The episode discusses Nithya Raman's victory in the LA mayor race, Trump's claims of election fraud, and features an interview with Rep. Adam Smith on various political issues including Iran and midterm election protection.

Nithya Raman surged past Spencer Pratt in the LA mayor race — and Trump immediately called election fraud on Meet the Press. What that means for the midterms, why California's voting system creates a vacuum, and why Spencer Pratt's reality show contract gives him a vested interest in chaos. Then Gwyneth Paltrow declared herself an independent on the Goop podcast with a Palantir-esque defense contractor and nobody's buying it. Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater have split as she kicks off her Eternal Sunshine tour. She's performing while visibly unwell and the conversation needs to happen. Then Rep. Adam Smith (WA-09), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, on why Trump assumed Iran would break like Venezuela, why Netanyahu's philosophy has never worked, why Jill Biden owes Democrats an apology, how the MAGA cult started with Rush Limbaugh's dittoheads, and three concrete steps to protect the midterm elections. Topics: Nithya Raman Spencer Pratt LA mayor race, Trump election fraud California, Rep Adam Smith Iran war, Netanyahu Iran strategy, Gwyneth Paltrow independent political, Palantir defense contractor, Ariana Grande Ethan Slater split, Jill Biden, MAGA cult Rush…

People in this episode

Hosts: Meredith Lynch, Rebecca Sananès

Guest: Rep. Adam Smith

Topics covered

• LA mayor race
• election fraud
• Iran war
• Gwyneth Paltrow independent
• Ariana Grande tour
• midterm election protection

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Palantir

Books & works: Eternal Sunshine, Goop podcast, Beyoncé album

More episodes of The Moment LIVE! Politics & Culture, Explained

• Taylor Swift Courtside at Knicks NBA Finals, NYT Epstein Cover Up Bombshell, & Rep. Mark Takano on Political Influencer Disclosure · June 12, 2026 · 53 min
• Scott Pelley Fired From 60 Minutes, Jess Craven on Creators vs Journalists, Maine Elections & Could Nithya Raman Still Beat Spencer Pratt? · June 6, 2026 · 50 min

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