Pod Save America The Audacity of Pope
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Apr 14, 2026 
Nithya Raman, Los Angeles City Council member and mayoral hopeful focused on housing and homelessness, joins for a sharp tour of LA’s biggest crises. They also dig into Trump’s bizarre clash with Pope Leo, the fallout from failed Iran talks and a Strait of Hormuz showdown, a scandal rocking California politics, and brighter Senate odds for Democrats.
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California's Governor Race Just Reordered Itself
- With Swalwell out and Trump backing Steve Hilton, the hosts think the top-two primary lockout fear has eased but not fully disappeared.
- Tommy Vietor says the Democratic contest likely narrows to Tom Steyer versus Katie Porter, while Matt Mahan remains a spoiler risk if tech money floods in.
Democrats Suddenly Have A Real Senate Path
- New Senate ratings suggest Democrats' path back to the chamber may have been understated, especially in North Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, Iowa, and Alaska.
- The hosts argue war costs, gas prices, tariffs, and farm pain could scramble states that looked safely Republican only months earlier.
Why Nithya Raman Jumped Into The Mayor Race
- Nithya Raman says she entered the LA mayor's race because City Hall showed no urgency on housing, homelessness, or whether the city was moving backward.
- She says the breaking point was realizing Angelenos might get a mayoral election without a serious debate about LA's failures.