While appearing on 2WAY Interactive’s The Morning Meeting podcast with Sean Spicer, Mark Halperin, and Dan Turrentine, Los Angeles Times owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong admitted that his paper’s endorsement of Mayor Karen Bass was a mistake.
The Times endorsed Bass against Rick Caruso in their 2022 mayoral race.
“We’ll accept some blame. At the LA Times, we endorsed Karen Bass. I think, right now, upfront, that’s a mistake, and we admit that,” Soon-Shiong said.
“As a paper, we have responsibility to the entire community, whether you’re left, right, Democrat, Republican. Really, our obligation is to provide, inform and inspire, educate and almost create the paper as a media utility,” Soon-Shiong said.
Watch the clip below:
“We’ll accept some of the responsibility. At the L.A. Times, we endorsed Karen Bass and I think right now that was a mistake. And we admit that,” says Patrick Soon-Shiong, who owns the Los Angeles Times. “I think we were one of the few to say competence matters … Maybe we should… pic.twitter.com/lPKFZonzfj
— 2WAY (@2waytvapp) January 13, 2025
Earlier this week, Soon-Shiong posted on X that ‘competence,’ not party matters when electing leaders.
“Wildfire disaster proves why ‘competence,’ not party, matters in electing leaders:#competence matters. Brentwood evacuating today. Never in LA history has the wildfire destroyed so much and affected so many. Our hearts go out to all Angelenos. Stay safe,” Soon-Shiong wrote.
Wildfire disaster proves why 'competence,' not party, matters in electing leaders: #competence matters. Brentwood evacuating today. Never in LA history has the wildfire destroyed so much and affected so many. Our hearts go out to all Angelenos.Stay safe. https://t.co/NY9gn7raVd
— Dr. Pat Soon-Shiong (@DrPatSoonShiong) January 11, 2025
“Maybe the lesson we learned out of this catastrophe in California is to now vote not based on left or right or D versus R but perhaps based on competent or no experience in operating a job !!” the entrepreneur also wrote from his account last week.
Maybe the lesson we learned out of this catastrophe in California is to now vote not based on left or right or D versus R but perhaps based on competent or no experience in operating a job !! We have to elect based on competence…yes competence matters.
— Dr. Pat Soon-Shiong (@DrPatSoonShiong) January 10, 2025
According to Newsweek, one formal recall effort has already been launched against California Gov. Gavin Newsom, while more than 100,000 signatures have been attached to an online petition demanding Bass’ resignation for failing to mitigate the damage from the raging wildfires.