Bass and Raman clash in final Los Angeles mayoral debate, three weeks before election
Mayor Karen Bass and City Council member Nithya Raman met Tuesday night in their last head-to-head debate before the Nov. 3 election. Coverage centred on Raman's refusal to set a timeline for replacing LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell and on columnists' view that Bass had the better night.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Mayor Karen Bass and City Council member Nithya Raman faced off Tuesday night in a debate hosted by NBC4 and Telemundo52 in Universal City, their last head-to-head before the Nov. 3 election. Los Angeles TimesLC “Karen Bass and Nithya Raman faced off Tuesday night in a debate hosted by NBC4 and Telemundo52 in Universal City.” Read at Los Angeles Times ↗ New York PostR “The election is Nov. 3, three weeks away.” Read at New York Post ↗ Left · 1It was the third meeting between the two, after a primary-season debate and an August debate hosted by the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn.; Spencer Pratt, the former reality TV personality and Republican who lost in the primary, took part in the first. Los Angeles TimesLC “dominated their second debate, hosted in August by the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn.” Read at Los Angeles Times ↗ Los Angeles TimesLC “sans Spencer Pratt, the former reality TV personality and Republican contender who lost in the primary” Read at Los Angeles Times ↗ Mixed · 2Raman opened by invoking Ronald Reagan's question, "Are you better off than you were four years ago?", and accused Bass of being absent during the city's biggest crises, including the Palisades and Lineage fires. Los Angeles TimesLC ““Are you better off than you were four years ago?” she asked while looking directly into the camera.” Read at Los Angeles Times ↗ New York PostR “She accused Bass of being “MIA” during the city’s biggest crises” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 1The sharpest exchange, reported by the New York Post's California Post, came when NBC4 correspondent Conan Nolan asked whether Raman would replace LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell before the 2028 Summer Olympics. Raman said she wants to replace him and believes he has lost the trust of Angelenos, especially over ICE raids, but would not commit to a deadline, saying the decision depends on the Police Commission and City Council. New York PostR ““I wanna replace the police chief. I’ve been very open about that. I’ve been very clear about that,” Raman insisted.”““It will depend on these other factors, on other decision-making bodies,” Raman responded.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1Bass replied that it is "absolutely in the power of the mayor to fire the police chief", warned that doing so before the Olympics could disrupt preparations, and said Raman takes "different positions on different days of the week". New York PostR ““It is absolutely in the power of the mayor to fire the police chief,” she countered”““The problem is that you [Raman] have a tendency to take different positions on different days of the week.”” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1Raman had told the California Post she would replace McDonnell if elected, but in weekend TV interviews said his term runs through 2030 and that removing him was not part of her first 100-day agenda; she also ruled out appointing former District Attorney George Gascón as chief. New York PostR “Raman previously told The California Post she would replace McDonnell if elected. But in weekend TV interviews she stressed that his term runs through 2030”““No, no. I don’t know where the rumors are coming from. I don’t know him personally,” Raman said.” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 1Nolan also asked about a since-deleted video, reposted by Raman's campaign, that featured her and influencer Ed Choi saying "Only you can stop fascist liars" over images of Bass and McDonnell. Raman said it was mis-edited and that she meant ICE and the Trump administration; Bass said it showed Raman was "not ready for prime time". New York PostR ““As soon as we realized that it was a mis-edited video, we took it down,” Raman said.”“it also just showed that you’re not ready for prime time,” the mayor blasted.” Read at New York Post ↗ Mixed · 2The candidates also clashed over homelessness: Bass accused Raman of approving spending on the Inside Safe program while criticising its cost, while Raman said Bass was using personal attacks to distract from her record on homelessness and affordability. Bass also called Raman's relationship with her constituents "contemptuous". New York PostR “Raman accused Bass of resorting to personal attacks to distract voters from her record on homelessness and the city’s affordability crisis.” Read at New York Post ↗ Los Angeles TimesLC “she had a “contemptuous” relationship with her constituents” Read at Los Angeles Times ↗ Right · 1After the debate, Raman took two questions from reporters, while Bass had Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez answer on her behalf; Rodriguez said Raman's claim that removal needs other bodies showed she had "no idea the power of the mayor's office" and accused her of trying to mislead the public. New York PostR “She took just two questions from reporters afterward, while Bass had City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez field questions on her behalf.”““She’s intentionally, I believe, trying to mislead the public.”” Read at New York Post ↗
Left · 1Three Los Angeles Times columnists judged Bass the winner on points: Gustavo Arellano and Lorraine Ali said she looked composed while Raman often checked her notes, and Steve Lopez said Bass had a better command of the moment. They also noted that Raman leads in most reputable polls and that a large share of likely voters remain undecided. Los Angeles TimesLC “The mayor won the debate, if we’re judging by forensics.”“Bass came off composed, confident and in command of the conversation”“a huge percentage of likely voters remain undecided” Read at Los Angeles Times ↗ Left · 1The columnists differed on what it means: Arellano said Raman's task was simply not to fail and that she cleared it, Lopez said the race is not over and he still did not learn who Raman is, citing her shifts on LAPD support, the mansion tax and Inside Safe, and Ali said the debate did little to excite voters. Los Angeles TimesLC “Raman’s job for the night was not failing — and she cleared that low, low hurdle.”“why she's flip-flopped so much (on support for the LAPD, on the mansion tax, on the Inside Safe homeless initiative, etc., etc.)”“This debate didn't help that cause, or juice the race.” Read at Los Angeles Times ↗ Left · 1Lopez noted that Bass has support from 13 of the 15 council members, and that Raman, once a favourite of the Democratic Socialists of America, was not endorsed by the council's DSA members for mayor. Los Angeles TimesLC “Bass has gotten support from 13 of the 15 council members.”“even the council's DSA members didn’t endorse her bid for mayor” Read at Los Angeles Times ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Opinion pieces from LA Times columnists: a pre-debate live chat framed as a boxing 'trilogy', then a verdict that Bass won the night but that Raman, ahead in polls, did not lose ground.
- Emphasis
- Delivery and composure, polling, undecided voters, council support, how few people watched.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives little space to the LAPD chief deadline exchange and the 'fascist liars' video.
- Charged language
- “biblically bad four years”“A whining Raman”“funereal”“knockout punch”
- For example
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“The mayor won the debate, if we’re judging by forensics.” — Los Angeles Times
“Bass, meanwhile, came off as funereal” — Los Angeles Times
“two pugilists who used to fight for the same club” — Los Angeles Times
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- A news report from the New York Post's California Post led on Raman dodging a deadline to fire LAPD Chief McDonnell, with Bass and her ally attacking Raman's shifting positions.
- Emphasis
- The police chief question, Raman's changing statements, the deleted video, Bass's attacks; Rodriguez's post-debate criticism.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits polling showing Raman ahead, undecided voters, and Bass's council support and record problems such as the Palisades fire.
- Charged language
- “dodges”“fiery”“flip-flops”“hot seat”“fascist liars”
- For example
-
“refusing to say when she’d pull the trigger as a top ally of Mayor Karen Bass blasted her for misleading voters.” — New York Post
“Bass appeared relaxed and confident as the candidates faced off before an in-person audience.” — New York Post
What every side reports
- The debate took place Tuesday night at NBC4's Universal City studios, three weeks before the Nov. 3 election.
- Raman opened with Ronald Reagan's 'better off than four years ago' question.
- Bass told Raman she was 'not ready for prime time'.
- Homelessness and the Inside Safe program were among the main topics of clash.
Where accounts differ
-
Who came out ahead and what mattered most
- Left
- LA Times columnists said Bass won the night on composure and command, though Raman leads polls and the race is not decided.
- Right
- The New York Post's California Post emphasised Raman dodging a deadline for replacing the police chief and Bass relaxed and confident, with Bass allies accusing Raman of misleading voters; it did not declare a winner.
-
Whether Raman's position on firing Chief McDonnell is evasive
- Left
- Lopez cited Raman's flip-flops on the LAPD among reasons voters still do not know who she is.
- Right
- Raman said she wants him replaced but it is not a unilateral mayoral decision; Bass and Rodriguez said the mayor can fire the chief and Raman is misleading the public.
Nithya Raman person
Raman presents herself as the change candidate, says Angelenos are worse off and Bass was absent in crises; she says she wants to replace McDonnell but not unilaterally, and that the video was mis-edited and aimed at ICE and the Trump administration.
““I would never imply that this city is fascist or that this mayor is fascist or that our police chief is fascist,” Raman maintained.” — New York Post
““We cannot afford another four years of decline, of mismanagement, of excuses.”” — Los Angeles Times
Karen Bass person
Bass defends her record, says the mayor can fire the police chief, and portrays Raman as inconsistent and unprepared; her ally Rodriguez accused Raman of misleading the public.
““It is absolutely in the power of the mayor to fire the police chief,” she countered” — New York Post
““If you cannot manage the work of your committee, how on earth are you going to manage the second-largest city in the country?” Bass said.” — New York Post
Jim McDonnell person
McDonnell did not comment in the coverage; Raman says he has lost public trust over ICE raids, while Bass says replacing him before the Olympics could disrupt preparations.
“I believe he’s lost the trust of Angelenos, especially in response to the ICE raids.”” — New York Post
Left2 articles
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Los Angeles TimesLC · · Opinion
Live chat: Our columnists analyze L.A.'s mayoral debate
Mixed Pre-debate columnist chat casting the race as a boxing trilogy and weighing the stakes for each candidate.
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Los Angeles TimesLC · · Opinion
Commentary: Bass vs. Raman: Here's who won the L.A. mayoral debate
Mixed Columnists' verdict that Bass won on poise, tempered by Raman's poll lead and voters' unanswered questions about her.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
-
Critical News report centred on Raman's refusal to set a deadline to replace the police chief, with Bass camp attacks on her flip-flops.
- 14 Oct 02:09 First Los Angeles TimesLC Live chat: Our columnists analyze L.A.'s mayoral debate Opinion
- 14 Oct 05:03 +2h 54m Los Angeles TimesLC Commentary: Bass vs. Raman: Here's who won the L.A. mayoral debate Opinion
- 14 Oct 05:43 +3h 34m New York PostR Nithya Raman dodges LAPD chief deadline as Karen Bass blasts rival’s flip-flops in fiery LA mayor debate
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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