Los Angeles Times Owner Now Deeply Regrets Paper’s Endorsement of Bass for Mayor

Los Angeles Times Owner Now Deeply Regrets Paper’s Endorsement of Bass for Mayor

Sometimes, the converts are the most active and effective persuaders.

For example, the Los Angeles Times owner and billionaire entrepreneur Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, recently acknowledged that his hyper-partisan paper has conflated news and opinion. Soon-Shiong now vows to ensure that “all voices” will be heard.

He recently added Scott Jennings, the unflappable conservative commentator and CNN contributor, to his editorial board.

To his credit, Soon-Shiong recently spoke with 2Way’s Sean Spicer and admitted that endorsing scandal-ridden Karen Bass for mayor in 2022 was a mistake.

And he even had a few kind words for President Donald J. Trump in his assessment.

Well, first of all, we’ll accept some blame, right? So at the L.A. Times, we endorse Karen Bass. I think right now in front, that’s a mistake.

And we admit that. So I thought it was very early, important early on for me to come out. And I think we were one of the few to say competence matters, maybe 20, 23 million views to show how that was really dear to the heart of most people, whether you’re right or left.

And it’s an interesting thing is that maybe we should think about how we elect people on the basis of, did they actually run a job? Did they actually make a payroll? Do they understand what it is?

And rather than having professional politicians whose only job is really to run for office. There’s nothing, I’m not trying to be disparaging, but I think we are at the stage now of the nation and the world, and there’s many things we’ll talk about even in healthcare, that you really need people to understand how it affects a man in the street, how it affects the working type of person.

And I think President Trump in this election has understood that, and he’s become truly a Republican party.

Now he is working passionately for the recall of Bass… supported by at least 86,000 angry Los Angelenos.

Looks like Angelina’s are taking action. Petition · Demand the Immediate Resignation of Mayor Karen Bass – Los Angeles, United States · https://t.co/CH2WeY95Sk. We will follow this closely ⁦@latimes⁩. #competence matters https://t.co/oNMfr48aos

— Dr. Pat Soon-Shiong (@DrPatSoonShiong) January 16, 2025

Now I have a few words to share with Soon-Shiong that I hope he reads, about his paper’s lack of real scientific expertise when it comes to topics in which a more robust scientific background would be useful.

Dear Dr. Soon-Shiong:

I am writing to you, scientist-to-scientist, to address a chronic problem with the American press and the Los Angeles Times: The use of weakly credentialed writers to analyze important topics of scientific relevance.

Perhaps if the journalists you hired weren't climate cultists and racialists who wanted to "get Trump", one of America's Great Cities wouldn't be burning..,potentially from arson started by terrorists or foreign street gangs. A healthy country needs a healthy press.…

— Leslie Eastman ☥ (@Mutnodjmet) January 10, 2025

One great example is the time a social justice extremist, Sammy Roth, was allowed to publish a “scientific” piece on air pollution in the Los Angeles area….linking it to racism.

With respect, you have social justice extremists covering "science". You need to get people with scientific backgrounds willing to debate the data. Example: LA Times Makes Racist Claims that White Drivers are ‘Polluting the Air’ of ‘People of Color’" https://t.co/OPHkUrRXon

— Leslie Eastman ☥ (@Mutnodjmet) January 17, 2025

Roth was your paper’s “Energy Reporter“.

There is a lot of misinformation to unpack in this gem, so I will start by noting that this is a prime example of ideological capture of the sciences through “science” writers who do not have traditional science-based backgrounds.

A quick review of Roth’s LinkedIn profile shows he graduated from Columbia University with a degree in . . . Sustainable Development.

I majored in Sustainable Development and minored in American Studies, graduating cum laude. My coursework included environmental law, urban studies, energy development, geographic information systems and environmental economics. I reported and edited for the Columbia Daily Spectator, and I worked on water conservation projects for the Columbia Aquanauts, an interdisciplinary water club.

Without a stronger background in questioning assertions and challenging hypotheses, certain elements are not considered. For example, are the patterns of freeway use perhaps more driven by socioeconomic factors rather than race?

The Los Angeles Times, under your ownership, has not permitted reasonable debate nor allowed the publication of information that runs counter to the preferred political narrative on climate and energy.

Good public policy must be based on solid, reliable information. The public has not received full information on climate, what impacts it, subjects involving climatology, energy efficiency, or any other science-related topic that has a significant impact on regulations.

I assert that the ideological capture of the sciences is a contributing factor to the historic fires that have hit the Greater Los Angeles area. I think if you reflect on my hypothesis, you will agree.

I would like to offer you one solution: diversify your staff by including alternative scientific perspectives. For example, you can confer with the CO2 Coalition, who can connect you with serious and experienced people who can do accurate analysis.

You can reach out to people such as geologist and climate expert Dr. Matthew M. Wielicki for guidance.

You can make the same data look very different. pic.twitter.com/n9oTBYVn5q

— Dr. Matthew M. Wielicki (@MatthewWielicki) January 17, 2025

There are scores of other talented scientists mocked or derided for being “tools of fossil fuels” by those who would like to make sure their misinformation is the only information accessible to the public. The louder the complaints, the more effective that researcher tends to be. If you would like a list of other examples, contact me.

One last thought, as we look forward to Inauguration Day 2024. When he was leaving office, President Dwight D. Eisenhower warned:

“Yet, in holding scientific research and discovery in respect, as we should, we must also be alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy could itself become the captive of a scientific-technological elite.

Dr. Soon-Shiong: Please free your publication from its ideological capture. It’s better for Los Angeles. It’s better for California. It’s better for the nation.

With respect,

Leslie Eastman, MSc., CHMM, SDSRP….wife, mother, and Californian.

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