If there were an Olympic event for political spin, Jessica Tarlov would be standing on the podium draped in gold medals.
The Fox News commentator jumped onto social media this week to mock skeptics of Los Angeles’ mayoral primary results, acting stunned that anyone could possibly have questions about a race that took nearly a week to fully sort out. According to Tarlov, concern over a candidate’s late surge in the vote tally is apparently beyond the pale.
Right. Because nothing says “trust the process” quite like watching ballots trickle in for five days while the standings shift and voters wonder what exactly they’re looking at.
Shocked that a Trump endorsed dude who loves crystals and Alex Jones and has a closing message of we should jail Karen Bass and Gavin Newsom didn’t resonate with LA liberals https://t.co/hYSyXwJFhy
— Jessica Tarlov (@JessicaTarlov) June 8, 2026
The reaction from many observers wasn’t complicated. People who rarely question election administration suddenly found themselves scratching their heads after a candidate who appeared to be underperforming ended up securing second place following days of additional counting. Whether those concerns are ultimately justified or not, pretending the questions don’t exist is a strategy straight out of the political consultant playbook.
And that’s where Tarlov stepped in. Rather than address why voters might be confused by a prolonged counting process, the response seemed to be the familiar script: ridicule the skeptics, invoke Donald Trump, and move on.
There’s just one problem with that approach.
The narrative being pushed online hinged on the idea that Trump somehow endorsed Spencer Pratt and that the election result could be framed through that lens. But critics quickly pointed out that while Trump expressed support for Pratt, there was no formal endorsement. That’s a meaningful distinction — at least to people who still care about facts.
Not that details tend to slow down a good political talking point.
Jessica, Trump never endorsed him. You’re a disgrace.
— David Levine (@DavidLevineX) June 8, 2026
Meanwhile, Los Angeles voters continue grappling with issues that actually affect their lives — public safety, homelessness, governance, and recovery from crises that have tested confidence in local leadership. Yet somehow the outrage machine always finds time to focus on Trump, whether he’s directly involved or not.
For political operatives and media personalities, that may be enough. For ordinary voters looking for answers, it increasingly isn’t.
And that’s why attempts to wave away every uncomfortable question with a smirk and a Trump reference aren’t landing the way they used to. The public has grown weary of canned narratives, and no amount of social-media sarcasm can change that.
