Politicians love a good photo op. Sometimes they just shut up and nod. That was Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Monday. She sat quietly during an Instagram Live stream while comedian Kathy Griffin lobbed a massive grenade, accusing the city’s police department of harboring “White nationalism.” Bass didn’t flinch. She smirked.
Griffin was trying to be sympathetic. She claimed Bass, as a Black woman, faces a wall of hostility from both the Los Angeles City Council and the LAPD. “Talk to us,” Griffin pleaded, spinning a theory about a “non-diverse” law enforcement culture infected with right-wing extremism. Bass let the accusation hang in the digital air. No defense. No outrage. Just a pivot.
Instead of tackling the explosive allegation, Bass hid behind the shield of bureaucracy. She quickly pointed out that she cannot control federal immigration agents during local raids. It is a classic political dodge. When the heat gets too hot, talk about jurisdiction. She also reminded viewers that she does not run the school system or the healthcare sector. “I’m also not in charge,” Bass muttered, playing the limitation card. Griffin eagerly agreed, blaming the federal government for school lunch cuts.
Her opponents smelled blood. Spencer Pratt, a rival in the mayoral arena, took to social media to call Bass “scared and desperate.” It was a predictable hit. In the theater of LA politics, every stumble is an opening.
The LAPD kept quiet when asked for comment. Meanwhile, the mayor’s team scrambled, pointing reporters to a defensive social media post. The statement claimed Bass has fought hard to hire more cops and boost their pay. It is a brutal balancing act. Back in 2023, Bass wanted to purge officers linked to far-right domestic extremist groups. Now, she needs those same cops to keep the peace.
