Summary3 min read

Red Scare – "Pratt Summer" TEASER (May 14, 2026)

Hosts: Anna Khachiyan, Dasha Nekrasova
Theme: Cultural and political decline in LA, the rise of homelessness, and the failures of local governance, drawing on commentary surrounding Spencer Pratt.

Episode Overview

In this episode teaser, Anna and Dasha dive into the socio-political state of Los Angeles, foregrounding concerns about one-party rule, the proliferation of homelessness, and the disconnect between governing elites and long-term city residents. Using Spencer Pratt’s perspectives as a launchpad, they reflect on how the "machine politics" in California are fundamentally at odds with the realities facing average Angelenos.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Dangers of One-Party Rule

Power Corrupts:
- "One party has too much power, it becomes corrupt. That's Poli Sci 101." (B, 00:01–00:06)
A ‘Uni Party’ System:
- Anna suggests LA politics have become less democratic and more entrenched, with little space for opposition or genuine change.
  - “It becomes, it becomes like a uni party system.” (A, 00:09)

Spencer Pratt as a Barometer of Local Sentiment

Pratt as Everyman:
- Anna posits that Pratt speaks for the "normal middle class" of LA—regardless of race or background.
  - “Normal middle class person in LA... black people who have been there for ages, like Mexicans who have been there for ages would probably low key agree with Spencer Pratt.” (A, 00:37–00:52)
- Dasha echoes:
  - “Anyone who’s from LA who has skin in the game agrees with Spencer Pratt.” (B, 01:07–01:13)

The New Face of LA Homelessness

Eccentrics to Crisis:
- They note a cultural shift: whereas once LA’s vagrants were “Venice Beach eccentrics” and quasi-community members, today’s homelessness is more severe and disconnected.
  - “But even like amongst like—the vagrants that used to be in LA... it was like Venice Beach, like eccentrics, but they still were like part of the community. And the way that homelessness has like exploded and proliferated is... isn’t that.” (B, 01:27–02:10)
Contributing Factors:
- Climate and geography are discussed:
  - “It’s much easier to be homeless in LA than in any East Coast city.” (A, 02:10–02:21)

The Role of NGOs and Local Governance

NGO Involvement and Waste:
- Anna, referencing points raised by Spencer Pratt, critiques the role of NGOs and NPOs intervening in LA’s homeless crisis.
  - “A lot of this... is the direct meddling of various NPOs and NGOs who come in there... it costs something like $250,000 a bed. That’s how much they’re charging... to build this homeless housing, which the homeless don’t want because 90% of them in LA are mentally ill, drug addicts.” (A, 02:21–02:50)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Political Corruption:
- “One party has too much power, it becomes corrupt. That's Poli Sci 101.” (B, 00:01)
Spencer Pratt as everyman:
- “Anyone who's from LA who has skin in the game agrees with Spencer Pratt.” (B, 01:10)
On homelessness and outsiders:
- “Anyone who's like, yeah, a globalist or like a schizo who came there from Portland or something...” (B, 01:15)
- Anna mocks the transplant dynamic: “Or like fucking Kerala and ice.” (A, 01:23)
On NGOs and efficacy:
- “It costs something like $250,000 a bed... to build this homeless housing, which the homeless don’t want because 90% of them in LA are mentally ill, drug addicts.” (A, 02:21–02:50)

Timestamps for Key Segments

00:01–00:09 – Foundations of political corruption and one-party systems.
00:37–01:13 – Broad-based agreement with Spencer Pratt’s views among LA natives.
01:23–02:10 – The transformation of LA’s homeless population and Venice Beach history.
02:10–02:50 – Climate, geography, and the influence (and inefficiency) of NGOs in the crisis.

Summary

This Red Scare teaser captures Anna and Dasha’s sharp, sardonic take on LA’s socio-political malaise. Using Spencer Pratt’s perspectives as both a symbol and mouthpiece, they articulate widespread frustration among long-term Angelenos with both the visible crisis of homelessness and the entrenchment of one-party rule. The conversation weaves humor and cynicism with pointed social criticism, holding NGOs and local elites to account and painting a vivid picture of a city in decline.

Loading summary

Transcript20 lines

[00:00]
A
Like, I guess what I'm saying is
[00:01]
B
one party has too much power, it becomes corrupt.
[00:05]
A
Yeah.
[00:06]
B
That's Poli Sci 101. Yeah.
[00:10]
A
It becomes, it becomes like a uni party system. I. I'm just saying that like, in spite of the fact that like in an ideal world, like in any ordinary situation, he would be the clear cut winner, it's unclear whether that's possible. And that has nothing to do even with his specific characteristics or platform. Yeah. It's just like everything that he represents is like inimical to, to the machine
[00:34]
B
politics that have been running California into the ground.
[00:37]
A
Yeah. And obviously he's like, I'm sure, like your average, like normal middle class person in la. Not even white person necessarily, but just like black people who have been there for ages, like Mexicans who have been there for age would probably low key. Agree with Spencer Pratt. I think everyone agrees. That's the thing. Yeah. They've been like anyone victimized and burglarized by homeless vagrants.
[01:08]
B
Anyone who's from.
[01:09]
A
Yeah.
[01:10]
B
La who has skin in the game. Agrees with Spencer Pratt.
[01:14]
A
Yeah. Yeah.
[01:16]
B
Anyone who's like, yeah, a globalist or like a schizo who came there from Portland or something, who know, you know.
[01:24]
A
Yeah. Or like fucking Kerala and ice.
[01:27]
B
Woon had a great. She was, she's an, she's an LA girly. Yeah. And she was talking about how there's always kind of been like, you know, like hippie burner, like crystals, whatever. But even like amongst like the, the vagrants that used to be in LA were there, you know.
[01:50]
A
Yeah.
[01:51]
B
It was like Venice beach, like eccentrics, like, but they still were like part of like the community. And the way that homelessness has like exploded and proliferated is. Isn't that. Yeah.
[02:10]
A
And it's like, obviously it comes down to climate and geography in large part because it's much easier to be homeless in LA than it is to be like in any east coast city and.
[02:21]
B
Yeah.
[02:21]
A
Where it's like cold and crowded. Yeah. But a lot of this, as he points out, is the direct meddling of various NPOs and NGOs who come in there. And you know, he was pointing out that like, it's something like it costs something like $250,000 a bed. That's how much they're charging, you know, to build this homeless housing, which the homeless don't want because 90% of them in LA are mentally ill, drug addicts.
[02:51]
B
Yeah.