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Current lead governor candidate Steve Hilton, O’Briens Irish Pub readies for World Cup, and more
Supporters of Steve Hilton, a candidate for California governor, wave hats in the air at an election night party in Huntington Beach on June 2, 2026.
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Libby Rainey
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LAist
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The latest on the ongoing election count
The topic:
Three days after polls closed, California is still counting ballots, and the race to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom remains unsettled. We check the latest numbers and talk with Republican candidate Steve Hilton about where his campaign stands.
Context: California's universal vote-by-mail system means counting stretches for weeks, with nearly one million votes across L.A. and the O.C. outstanding. Steve Hilton, alongside Democrats Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer are all vying for one of two spots on the general election ballot.
Why it matters: No Republican has won a statewide race in California since 2006. If Hilton's lead holds, voters get a sharp left-right choice for governor in November, and the still-uncalled second spot will define the matchup.
Also happening: Incumbent L.A. Mayor Karen Bass is projected to face either Spencer Pratt, who currently leads the vote count, or Nithya Raman, who’s closing the gap with successive ballot drops and may have a viable, albeit narrow, path forward.
Guests:
- Steve Hilton, Republican candidate for governor, former Fox News host and director of strategy for British Prime Minister David Cameron from 2010 to 2012.
- Frank Stoltze, LAist civics and democracy correspondent
Tournament of Roses president joins AirTalk
The Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Rose Court performs at the 136th Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025.
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Damian Dovarganes/AP
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AP
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The topic:
As the first openly gay President in the history of Pasadena’s Tournament of the Roses, Terry Madigan has led the organization in all capacities from hosting, judging, and operations. Today, Larry speaks with him on the organization’s evolution.
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2027 parade preview: The theme for next year’s Rose Parade is “Welcome,” which reflects the ways Madigan says he approaches life by being kind and accepting.
Guest:
- Terry Madigan, President and Chairman of the Board for the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association
World Cup pub crawl: O’Briens Irish Pub
The topic:
O'Brien's Irish Pub includes menu items like a full Irish breakfast and an Irish coffee.
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Courtesy Willy O'Sullivan
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If you’re wondering where a great place to watch the upcoming World Cup is on the west side of L.A. — particularly if you can’t break the bank for a ticket — there’s O’Breins Irish Pub in Santa Monica. It’s been around for decades and has been open at all kinds of hours for matches. In our ongoing series highlighting local pubs, we speak to the owner.
Restaurant details:
- First opened in May 1994, O'Breins was founded by Cork City native Willy O'Sullivan.
- O’Breins has Irish pub classics, including Fish & Chips, Corned Beef and Cabbage, and a Full Irish Breakfast.
- It’s best known for hosting the local Manchester United F.C. fan club, Los Angeles Red Army. They also host supporters groups for Leeds United and the New York Giants.
Location and hours:
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Address: 2226 Wilshire Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90403
Hours: Monday-Wednesday 11:30 a.m.- 12:30 a.m.; Thursday-Friday 11:30 a.m.- 2:30 a.m.; Saturday opening varies, closes at 1:30 a.m.; Sunday opening varies, closes at 2:00 a.m.
Guest:
- Willy O'Sullivan, owner of O’Breins Irish Pub in Santa Monica
FilmWeek: ‘Masters of the Universe,’ ‘Renoir,’ ‘Scary Movie,’ and more!
Nicholas Galitzine stars as Prince Adam in the new Masters of the Universe movie.
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Courtesy Amazon MGM Studios
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The Topic:
Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Claudia Puig and Tim Cogshell review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.
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The films:
Masters of the Universe, Wide Release
Renoir, Laemmle Nuart [West LA]
Scary Movie, Wide Release
Carolina Caroline, In Select Theaters
The Currents, Laemmle Royal [West LA]
Time and Water, Laemmle Royal [West LA] & Laemmle Glendale
Office Romance, Streaming on Netflix
Savage House, Laemmle Royal [West LA]|Laemmle Town Center [Encino]|The Frida Cinema [Santa Ana]
Chum, Laemmle Glendale|Available on VOD
The critics:
- Tim Cogshell, film critic for LAist, Alt-Film Guide and CineGods.com; he tweets @CinemaInMind
- Claudia Puig, film critic for LAist and program director for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival
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Today on AirTalk: the latest on California vote counting, 60 Minutes, international games and conflict, network TV still tops ratings, and TV Talk. -
Today on AirTalk: Primary statewide and local election results, California vote count, and more. -
Today on AirTalk: Primary Election 2026, L.A.'s 'mansion tax,' voter turnout, and your first voting experience.
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Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
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