Oslo, Norway, The Women Post — Marius Borg Høiby, the 29-year-old son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has been found guilty of two counts of rape and sentenced to four years in prison.

The three judges in Courtroom 250 at Oslo District Court cleared him of two other counts of rape but found him guilty of many of the other offences of which he had been accused.

Høiby was not in court for the verdict due to unspecified health reasons but joined the session via video link.

Prosecutors had called for Høiby to be sentenced to seven years and seven months in prison. His defence lawyers had argued for a lesser sentence of 18 months and have said he will appeal.

Although Marius Borg Høiby is not a member of the royal family himself, the trial has cast a shadow over the broader monarchy. His mother married Crown Prince Haakon when he was four years old, and he grew up within the royal household. The palace has said it will not comment on Monday’s verdict.

Mette-Marit is seriously ill with a form of pulmonary fibrosis and has recently been placed on a lung transplant waiting list.

Her son’s lawyers have repeatedly sought his release from prison so he could spend time with his mother because of her declining health.

Following the verdict, Høiby’s defence lawyer, Petar Sekulic, again asked the court for his release. Although Oslo District Court initially granted his release last week, the decision was overturned by the Court of Appeal.

One of the three judges in the trial, Judge Jon Sverdrup Efjestad, began Monday’s session with a summary of the court’s conclusions before presenting the 128-page ruling that detailed the verdict.

Høiby had denied all four rape charges, but the judges convicted him of raping two women, including one incident on the Crown Prince’s estate at Skaugum in 2018 and another involving a woman in Oslo in 2024.

He was also convicted of abusing an ex-girlfriend, Norwegian influencer Nora Haukland, and of causing serious bodily harm to another partner, in whose apartment he was arrested in the affluent Frogner district of Oslo in August 2024.

However, he was acquitted of two further rape charges involving a woman he met at a hotel in Oslo in November 2024 and another woman he met while on holiday in the Lofoten Islands in 2023.

Sekulic said it was “in the nature of the case that there could be an appeal.”

His defence colleague, Ellen Holager Andenæs, told reporters they were satisfied with the acquittals but were more critical of other aspects of the verdict.

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Both lawyers then went to discuss the ruling with Høiby at Ila Prison and Detention Centre outside Oslo.

The case against Høiby involved six women, but only one of them was present in court to hear the verdict. She was seen crying as Høiby was found guilty of raping her.

Prosecutors said she had been either incapacitated or asleep when she was raped following a party in Oslo in March 2024, after the pair had engaged in consensual sex.

The case relied on videos that Høiby had filmed at the time. Giving evidence in February, the woman told the court that she had been asleep and would never have consented to what happened.

The court agreed that the victim had been unable to resist.

All four rape charges involved women who were either asleep or incapacitated at the time of the alleged offences. The women were unaware of the incidents until police discovered videos on Høiby’s phone following his arrest.

The judges also found it proven that the woman in the 2018 rape case had been asleep and unable to resist Høiby. She only learned last year that he had filmed the incident.

Høiby was also convicted of several offences, including abuse and reckless behaviour toward the sixth woman in the case, who became known as the “Frogner woman” because of the Oslo neighbourhood where she lived.

The court ruled that he should pay a total of 640,000 kroner (£50,000; €57,000) in compensation to four of the women, including Nora Haukland, the only woman the judges ruled could be identified publicly in the case.

Anja Emilie Kruse, a criminologist at the University of Oslo who researches sexual violence and attended part of the trial, said there is growing frustration in parts of Norwegian society that the courts often appear unable to deliver justice in rape cases.

“The burden of evidence needs to be high,” she told the BBC, adding that most rape allegations made by women are filed away by police. She also noted that state prosecutors pointed out on Monday that one in three Norwegian rape cases that reaches court ends in acquittal.

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“These two women who today experienced their cases ending in acquittal are far from alone in having that experience, and the rape cases that do make it to court are just a kind of tip of the iceberg.”

In an email to the BBC, the palace said that “the matter has been considered by the courts, and we have no comment on the outcome.” It has already made clear that there will be no further updates on Mette-Marit’s declining health until she has undergone a lung transplant.

“There is no doubt that this case has affected people’s perception of the royal family,” said Caroline Vagle, royal correspondent for Se og Hør magazine.

That perception was further complicated by revelations on the eve of the trial that the Crown Princess had maintained a three-year friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

As millions of Americans grapple with rising grocery bills, expensive gas, and growing financial anxiety, Donald Trump offered a surprising response to the latest inflation figures: “I love the inflation.”

The remark came after new government data showed inflation jumped to an annual rate of 4.2% in May — the highest level in three years and the third consecutive monthly increase since the outbreak of the Iran conflict.

The comments are likely to raise fresh questions about whether Trump fully appreciates the economic strain facing ordinary Americans. While the White House insists the administration’s broader agenda remains on track, consumers are increasingly feeling the squeeze as prices climb and confidence deteriorates.

Before the conflict with Iran escalated, inflation stood at just 2.4% in February. Since then, energy markets have been rattled by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes, helping push inflation steadily higher.

Speaking from the White House on Wednesday, Trump dismissed concerns about rising prices.

“No, I love it. The numbers were great,” the president said.

He then pointed to US military actions in the region, claiming the administration had removed millions of barrels of oil from the market without Iran’s knowledge. Trump also made unverified claims about operations involving dozens of ships, arguing that his actions were helping manage global energy markets.

But for many Americans, the reality is harder to ignore.

The latest inflation report showed that energy prices were responsible for roughly 60% of the monthly increase in consumer prices. Gasoline remains elevated at an average of $4.15 per gallon nationwide, while airline fares have jumped nearly 27% compared with a year ago. Food, clothing and household expenses have also continued to rise.

Even after excluding volatile food and energy prices, so-called core inflation rose 2.9%, suggesting broader price pressures remain embedded throughout the economy.

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The White House sought to reassure consumers, describing the inflation report as “at-expectation” and arguing that temporary disruptions caused by Iran should not overshadow the administration’s broader economic achievements.

Officials highlighted falling prices for prescription drugs, cars and some insurance categories as evidence that Trump’s policies are benefiting consumers.

Yet the broader economic mood appears to be darkening.

Recent surveys from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York show households growing increasingly pessimistic about inflation, job prospects and their overall financial outlook. Consumer sentiment has also fallen to historic lows after months of deterioration.

The contrast is becoming harder to ignore: while the administration points to selective improvements, many Americans continue to report feeling worse off financially than they did just months ago.

The inflation surge now places additional pressure on the Federal Reserve as policymakers prepare for their next meeting. The central bank has spent years attempting to bring inflation back to its 2% target and has so far resisted calls to aggressively lower interest rates.

Trump, however, has repeatedly pushed for rate cuts and is expected to continue doing so despite rising inflation.

Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh has aligned himself with Trump’s view that rates should eventually move lower. But some economists warn that cutting rates too soon could risk fueling another wave of inflation just as households are already struggling with higher living costs.

Major financial institutions are becoming increasingly cautious. Goldman Sachs no longer expects the Fed to cut rates this year, while JPMorgan analysts have warned that energy shocks linked to the Middle East conflict could further erode household purchasing power if disruptions continue.

“The energy price spike is now raising inflation and generating a sharp squeeze on household purchasing power,” JPMorgan chief economist Bruce Kasman warned.

For Trump, who returned to office promising economic strength and lower costs, the latest inflation figures present a growing political challenge.

The president argues that his policies are working and that the current pressures are largely the result of geopolitical turmoil. Critics counter that Americans care less about explanations than outcomes — and outcomes are becoming increasingly difficult to defend as prices rise month after month.

With inflation climbing, consumer confidence weakening and interest-rate debates intensifying, many voters may soon be judging the administration on a simple measure: whether their paychecks are keeping up with the rising cost of living.

The United States is once again raising the curtain on a major sporting spectacle. Giant stadiums, cities packed with fans, national teams spread across the country, and an organizational machine designed to impress the world. But just days before kickoff, the perfect picture many imagined is beginning to show cracks—not because of the organization itself, but because of everything surrounding the sport.

The preparations of several national teams have been marked by incidents and setbacks ranging from warnings about venomous snakes to immigration issues, venue changes, complaints about training grounds, a shooting near England’s base in Kansas City, and a 6.1-magnitude earthquake felt in Florida. Not all of these incidents are equally serious, and some have been amplified by headlines that are more alarmist than accurate. Together, however, they paint a somewhat uncomfortable picture. Organizing a World Cup across three countries, with vast distances and vastly different contexts, also means navigating complex challenges.

Warnings Beyond Football

The most striking case is that of Switzerland. The national team was alerted to the presence of rattlesnakes near its training grounds in San Diego, specifically in an area marked as a “snake zone” adjacent to its facilities. The image shared by the Swiss team—a map of the training area—perfectly encapsulates a contrast that has surprised many observers.

Norway has also received warnings about dangerous wildlife at its training camp in North Carolina, including snakes, lizards, and alligators. Again, rather than an emergency, it appears to be a sensible precaution for European footballers arriving in an unfamiliar ecosystem. Nevertheless, it has contributed to the perception of a less controlled environment than many expected.

More serious concerns have emerged on the logistical and political front for Iran. The Iranian national team moved its base from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, amid tensions surrounding visas and entry restrictions in the United States. The Department of Homeland Security later clarified that players would be permitted to enter the United States the day before each match, dismissing reports that they would have to enter and leave on the same day. Even so, the situation remains delicate. Some staff members reportedly encountered visa issues, and the Iranian federation has cited obstacles affecting its supporters.

“The United States doesn’t want Iran to stay overnight in the United States,” said Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico.

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An Incident That Raises Alarms

Japan, for its part, decided to change its training grounds in Mexico after several complaints about the condition of the pitch. Players reported an uneven surface, patches of dirt, and conditions they considered unsuitable for World Cup preparation.

But the concerns do not end there. England has been associated with some of the most controversial headlines before the tournament has even kicked off.

In Kansas City, nine people were injured in a shooting near the area where the team has established its World Cup base. However, local police emphasized that the incident did not occur at a World Cup venue or at facilities directly connected to the tournament. Furthermore, the English squad was not in the area at the time, as it was in Florida.

Florida also felt the effects of a 6.1-magnitude earthquake west of Cuba. The USGS confirmed the quake and described it as the strongest in the region in nearly 150 years. The tremor was felt in Cuba, Mexico, and parts of Florida. While no tsunami warning was issued and no major damage was initially reported, the event added yet another source of concern to preparations already under intense media scrutiny.

At one of the most pivotal moments of Serena Williams’s return to professional tennis, with the match hanging delicately in the balance at 5-5, 30-30, a supporter in the crowd could no longer stay silent. Her voice echoed around Andy Murray Arena as she yelled: “Come on Serena, come on Victoria. You got it!” A nearby spectator responded sarcastically, claiming he could not make out a single word of the encouragement.

Williams, though, had no trouble understanding. She acknowledged the fan with a warm nod before stepping to the line and unleashing a 120mph service winner that helped secure a crucial hold.

That moment was just one of many familiar Serena highlights scattered throughout an entertaining, intense, and ultimately rewarding afternoon at Queen’s Club. Making a surprising comeback to competitive tennis at 44 years old, Williams teamed up with Victoria Mboko to defeat third seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe 7-6 (2), 6-2.

Returning to the professional circuit after years away, Williams received a thunderous reception from the packed stands as she emerged from the clubhouse and walked onto the court. Alongside the highly talented young Mboko, she appeared relaxed and cheerful during the pre-match warm-up on the grass.

The contest began memorably. After missing a reflex volley into the net during the opening game, Williams quickly made her presence felt. Her next volley was driven directly at Melichar-Martinez, and only two points later she repeated the tactic successfully. The statement was unmistakable: despite the passage of time, her competitive instincts remain as sharp as ever.

Williams excelled at the net throughout the match, but perhaps the most impressive aspect of her performance was the return of one of the greatest serves in women’s tennis history. The delivery remains a devastating weapon, and as the match progressed, its accuracy became increasingly impressive.

Naturally, there were also signs of both her age and lengthy absence from competition. Her return game lacked consistency, her court coverage was not at its peak, and she required time to settle into a rhythm from the baseline. Meanwhile, Mboko, just 19 years old and ranked No 9 in the world, delivered an outstanding display.

To Williams’s credit, she allowed her younger partner to take the lead when appropriate. The Canadian opened service in both sets and was chosen to receive during deciding deuce points.

When asked to evaluate her own performance afterward, Williams responded with a laugh.

“My God,” she said. “I think I would give myself — what do you think? A C-minus?”

The remark drew a knowing reaction from Mboko.

“It’s funny because there were points in the match when we felt like, ‘This isn’t going very well,’ and we were being pretty hard on ourselves,” she said. “But I understand where that comes from.

“It feels like we’re still quite a long way from where we want to be, but that’s also exciting because it means there’s so much room to improve. And we’re motivated to keep getting better.”

The biggest question surrounding Williams’s comeback remains a simple one: why return now?

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Those inclined toward sentimentality might point to the scenes that unfolded on the practice courts before the match. Williams prepared for her first professional appearance in nearly four years on the modest Court Seven, accompanied by her eldest daughter, Olympia, who wore a bright fuchsia shirt that matched her mother’s outfit perfectly.

Although Olympia was old enough to witness her mother’s retirement five years ago, she is now approaching her ninth birthday and can participate more actively in these moments. Before the match, she ran around the court playing alongside Williams while her mother completed her warm-up routine.

As Williams began hitting groundstrokes, Olympia repeatedly stepped onto the court to collect loose balls and toss them back toward the team.

There is something touching about seeing Williams, whose younger daughter Adira is two years old, able to share such an important part of her life and career with her children.

Viewers watching from the United States, however, may have viewed the situation differently. Williams serves as the public face of Ro, the GLP-1 weight-loss company whose products she has used and in which her husband has invested. After accumulating extraordinary wealth throughout her playing career, Williams spent much of her retirement pursuing further business opportunities, particularly in venture capital.

During Tennis Channel’s coverage of her return, viewers were shown numerous Ro advertisements, while the broadcast itself featured sponsorship branding connected to the company.

Yet even the most skeptical observer may have found it difficult not to appreciate the conclusion after a lively 90-minute contest on Andy Murray Arena.

When the time came to close out the match, Williams was entrusted with serving for victory in the latest chapter of her comeback story. She finished the job in vintage fashion, exactly as she had done countless times throughout her legendary career: ace, ace, unreturned serve. Match over.

Iran’s football federation has announced that the allocation of World Cup tickets designated for the country’s supporters has been withdrawn just days before the start of the tournament.

The World Cup, which is being jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, gets underway on Thursday. Iran are set to begin their campaign against New Zealand on 15 June before taking on Belgium on 21 June, with both fixtures scheduled to be played in Los Angeles. Their final group-stage match will see them face Egypt in Seattle on 26 June.

According to the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI), FIFA regulations provide each participating federation with 8% of the tickets available for its matches, allowing those tickets to be distributed among fans from the respective nation.

The federation stated that ticket sales to supporters had already begun under this allocation. However, it says it is no longer able to supply those tickets, despite many fans having already organised travel plans and other arrangements for the tournament.

In an official statement, the FFIRI argued that denying Iranian supporters access to their designated ticket quota runs counter to the principles that should govern international sporting events.

“Preventing Iranian fans from receiving their legitimate and official share of match tickets is inconsistent with the spirit of international competitions and the principle of equal treatment among participating nations,” the statement read.

The federation further suggested that the situation raises concerns about the influence of political factors on the management of football’s premier international competition.

“This development creates serious concerns regarding the involvement of non-sporting and political considerations in the organisation of the world’s largest football tournament,” the statement added.

FFIRI also urged FIFA to maintain its commitment to neutrality and fairness, calling on the governing body to respect its own regulations and ensure equal treatment for all competing nations.

Iran’s preparations and participation in the World Cup have faced a series of challenges in recent months, many of which have been linked to ongoing tensions and conflict in the Middle East, along with broader security concerns.

On 25 May, Iran announced that it would relocate its training base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana in Mexico. Federation officials claimed the move was necessary because the United States was unwilling to accommodate the team.

As part of the visa arrangements in place, Iran’s squad will be required to travel into the United States only on matchdays before returning afterwards for each of their three group-stage fixtures.

Further complications emerged on 6 June when the federation alleged that US authorities had refused visas for several key members of the national team’s support staff. According to the FFIRI, 15 administrative officials were denied entry, including individuals considered essential to the team’s operations.

Earlier, the federation had submitted a list of 10 requests to FIFA concerning Iran’s participation in the tournament. Among those conditions was a request that players, coaches and officials who had completed military service with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) be allowed to take part without restriction.

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has previously indicated that Iran’s players would be permitted to attend the tournament. However, he also noted that individuals with ties to the IRGC could be subject to entry limitations under existing regulations.

Iran was also absent from FIFA’s annual congress held in Vancouver in April. The country became the only participating nation not represented after a delegation of FFIRI officials, including federation president Mehdi Taj, was reportedly denied entry at the Canadian border.

For survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse, Tuesday’s testimony from longtime assistant Lesley Groff could represent another opportunity to uncover the truth about how the disgraced financier operated for years while exploiting vulnerable young women and girls.

Groff, who worked as Epstein’s executive assistant from 2001 until his arrest in July 2019, is scheduled to appear before the House Oversight and Reform Committee as lawmakers continue investigating the network of employees, associates, and systems that surrounded Epstein throughout much of his criminal activity.

Survivors and advocates have long argued that understanding how Epstein was able to abuse so many victims requires examining not only Epstein himself, but also the people who managed his schedule, coordinated appointments, arranged travel, and helped oversee the day-to-day operations of his sprawling personal and professional life.

Documents released by the Department of Justice earlier this year include notes from a 2021 FBI interview in which Groff described how she first came to work for Epstein after being contacted by a recruiter who told her there was a position available to “organize one man’s life.” According to the records, Groff said she had never heard of Epstein before interviewing for the role and eventually met with both Epstein and his longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is now serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking offenses.

The FBI interview notes indicate that Groff’s responsibilities included managing Epstein’s calendar, arranging meetings, making phone calls, coordinating with household staff, and overseeing many aspects of his daily schedule.

One detail that has drawn particular attention from investigators and survivors is Groff’s acknowledgment that massage appointments were a routine part of Epstein’s daily life. According to FBI notes, Groff said arranging such appointments was simply another task she handled as part of her job responsibilities.

For many survivors, however, questions remain about what employees and associates may have understood about the true nature of those appointments and the environment that existed around Epstein’s homes and properties.

Groff has consistently denied any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes. Through her attorneys, she has maintained that she was unaware of any illegal conduct and has never been accused of criminal wrongdoing by prosecutors. No criminal charges have ever been filed against her.

Still, public scrutiny intensified after it became known that Groff was among four women identified as potential co-conspirators who received immunity under Epstein’s controversial 2007 plea agreement with federal prosecutors in Florida, a deal that has faced years of criticism from victims and victim advocates.

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Groff’s attorney, Michael Bachner, has said that “Epstein repeatedly deceived Groff and other staff members regarding the allegations against him. According to Bachner, Epstein insisted he was being blackmailed and falsely accused, and denied knowingly having contact with minors.”

Whether employees accepted those explanations or questioned them remains one of the many issues that continue to interest investigators and lawmakers.

Additional records released by the Justice Department include an internal FBI document from 2019 listing Groff among several individuals identified as possible co-conspirators. Groff’s attorney has said she was never informed that law enforcement viewed her in that way and emphasized that she cooperated voluntarily with investigators.

At the same time, some survivors have expressed a different perspective. In a 2020 FBI interview, one survivor reportedly stated a belief that Groff “knew what was going on” and understood that massage appointments were sexual in nature. The survivor also acknowledged that they never directly discussed those concerns with Groff.

Following Epstein’s death in 2019, Groff was named in several civil lawsuits filed by survivors against Epstein’s estate and various associates. Some plaintiffs alleged that she helped facilitate aspects of Epstein’s abuse. Groff has denied those allegations, and the claims against her were ultimately dismissed.

Despite those dismissals, many survivors continue to seek answers about who knew what, when they knew it, and why warning signs may have gone unaddressed for so long.

That search for accountability is expected to be a central focus of Groff’s appearance before Congress.

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In a letter subpoenaing Groff to testify, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer stated that public reporting, Justice Department records, and materials obtained by the committee suggested she possessed information relevant to the ongoing investigation.

For survivors who spent years fighting to be heard, Groff’s testimony represents more than another congressional interview. It is another chance to shed light on the inner workings of Epstein’s world and potentially provide long-awaited answers about how his abuse was able to continue for so many years behind closed doors.

Last month, another former Epstein assistant, Sarah Kellen, also appeared before the committee. Kellen denied being an accomplice to Epstein and testified that she herself had been sexually and psychologically abused during her time working for him.

As lawmakers continue their investigation, survivors and advocates alike are hoping that those who were closest to Epstein’s daily operations will finally help fill in the remaining gaps and bring greater clarity to a chapter that continues to leave many questions unanswered.

Nithya Raman, a progressive member of the Los Angeles City Council, has secured a place in November’s mayoral runoff after narrowly surpassing former reality television personality Spencer Pratt, earning the opportunity to challenge incumbent Mayor Karen Bass.

Pratt, who launched his mayoral campaign after losing his Pacific Palisades residence in the devastating 2025 wildfires, maintained a slight advantage over Raman for several days. However, as election officials continued counting ballots from last week’s primary, Raman eventually moved ahead.

Bass, who is seeking re-election as mayor of the nation’s second-largest city, learned on primary night, 2 June, that she had obtained enough support to advance to the general election. The battle for the second runoff spot, however, remained unresolved for nearly a week.

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Following confirmation that Raman had advanced, Bass’s campaign released a statement Monday evening. “A campaign against Nithya Raman, who permits encampments near schools and supports reducing police staffing, is a race Mayor Bass is eager to win,” said campaign strategist Douglas Herman.

With many Democratic voters submitting ballots in the final days before the election and California’s election-counting process known for being comprehensive yet slow, outcomes in several major statewide contests remain uncertain. In the governor’s race, voters are still awaiting confirmation of whether Republican Steve Hilton or Democrat Tom Steyer will move on to face former Biden administration official Xavier Becerra. Becerra officially advanced to the general election on Friday.

As Californians continue waiting for final results, misinformation and conspiracy theories regarding election integrity have spread online. During an NBC Meet the Press interview on Friday, Donald Trump exited the discussion after making unfounded claims about election fraud, labeling California’s system as “crooked” and alleging widespread “cheating.”

“It’s four days, and they aren’t even close to counting [ballots],” Trump remarked.

Pratt appeared to echo similar concerns in a social media message, stating, “They’re not the only ones who know where to find votes,” while implying that Raman’s lead was boosted by ballots cast by much of Los Angeles’s unhoused population.

In the run-up to the election, Pratt—despite having no prior political experience—rose rapidly in opinion polls. His campaign attracted attention through controversial videos and relentless social media criticism directed at his opponents, depicting both Bass and Raman as ineffective public officials. Nonetheless, his candidacy faced persistent scrutiny over his lack of governing experience and his registration as a Republican in heavily Democratic Los Angeles.

Raman’s surprise entry into the race in February, only hours before the filing deadline, caught many political observers off guard. Just weeks earlier, she had publicly endorsed Bass’s re-election effort. The two politicians had also frequently praised one another on social media in previous years.

“I am so grateful for your friendship and your support,” Raman replied at the time.

Raman has largely brushed aside questions regarding their past relationship. “I don’t think conversations about LA’s future should revolve around friendship or betrayal,” she previously said. “We should be focused on the challenges facing our city and the solutions needed to address them.”

Whoever becomes the next mayor will be responsible for demonstrating progress on Los Angeles’s long-standing homelessness crisis, revitalizing Hollywood amid an ongoing production exodus, and strengthening emergency response systems following last year’s deadly wildfire season.

Before becoming mayor, Bass built a prominent political career at both the state and national levels, serving in the California State Assembly and later in the US Congress. In 2022, she defeated billionaire developer Rick Caruso to become the first woman elected mayor of Los Angeles.

Public dissatisfaction with Bass intensified after the catastrophic 2025 wildfires that devastated Altadena and Pacific Palisades. At the time the fires erupted, Bass was on a diplomatic visit to Ghana. Her absence, combined with reports of budget reductions affecting the fire department, fueled widespread criticism and calls for her resignation.

Since then, Bass has worked to rebuild public confidence. Nevertheless, frustration surrounding post-fire recovery efforts and the city’s homelessness challenges has continued.

Raman, who identifies as a democratic socialist, has presented herself as the candidate capable of delivering a new direction for Los Angeles. In 2020, she defeated councilmember David Ryu in a victory that inspired progressive candidates nationwide. She has highlighted achievements including limiting rent increases and significantly reducing encampments within her district. Housing policy remains the centerpiece of her mayoral campaign, with an emphasis on expanding development throughout the city.

Although Bass and Raman share common ground on several issues, they differ in their approaches to some of Los Angeles’s most pressing concerns. Bass has promoted the Inside Safe initiative, which removes encampments and places unhoused residents into temporary accommodations, often motel rooms.

Raman, however, argues that the program has consumed substantial resources without producing sufficient results. She has advocated for reforms that would introduce stronger data tracking, performance measurements, and accountability standards for homelessness programs.

The two candidates have also disagreed over Raman’s opposition to proposals that would increase firefighter hiring following the 2025 wildfires, as well as an ordinance targeting homeless encampments. Raman has characterized the camping measure as merely a short-term solution.

Bass’s re-election campaign has received endorsements from several high-profile California Democrats, including Governor Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris. At the same time, a number of Raman’s progressive colleagues on the City Council have backed her candidacy.

Polling conducted before election day indicated that Raman and Pratt were locked in a close contest for the opportunity to challenge Bass in November.

Pratt first gained national attention through The Hills, MTV’s popular reality series following the lives of young adults in Los Angeles between 2006 and 2010. His frequent confrontations and highly publicized relationship with fellow cast member and now-wife Heidi Montag helped cement his reputation as one of reality television’s most notorious villains.

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I’ve spent nearly a decade formulating supplements, reading clinical research, and building a brand around the idea that what you put in your body matters. I’m the founder of Beekeeper’s Naturals. My job is quite literally to know what to take and when to take it. I have a long list of doctors, researchers, and functional medicine pr…

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In fact, experts say combining healthy habits with targeted exercises can provide even better support for long-term pelvic health.

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