Staff Reports
Megyn Kelly’s show this week did what too many national outlets can’t: it admitted reality TV tactics and cheap AI tricks are now real weapons in politics. Mark Halperin joined the show to say what a lot of us have been watching unfold — Spencer Pratt’s viral, Gotham‑style ad could give him a real shot in the Los Angeles mayor race. It’s not just about a funny clip; it’s about how AI and social media are changing campaigns faster than the old guard can say “campaign consultant.”
AI Ads, Viral Reach: A New Playbook in the LA Mayor Race
The ad everyone is talking about looks like a Hollywood trailer. It paints Los Angeles as a Gotham‑style mess and casts Spencer Pratt as a tough, take‑charge figure — the kind of outsider story voters find easy to remember. Reporters traced the spot to filmmaker Charlie Curran of Menace Studios. Curran created it independently and Pratt reposted it, which sent views into the millions and turned a cheap, AI‑driven clip into a headline machine. Mark Halperin summed it up bluntly: “AI, ladies and gentlemen, is the biggest story in the world,” and the ad “was probably made for 20 bucks.”
Why the Cheap, Viral Stuff Works
Here’s the uncomfortable truth for political insiders: you don’t need a billion‑dollar media buy to influence the conversation anymore. Low‑cost AI content can be tailored for shares, memes, and outrage. Spencer Pratt used his reality TV know‑how and a viral ad to punch above his polling numbers. Polls still show Mayor Karen Bass out front and Pratt trailing, but his name recognition and momentum jumped where it counts — on phones and social feeds. RealClearPolitics, Hollywood Reporter and multiple outlets have all signaled the same thing: grassroots, user‑driven AI content is reshaping how campaigns reach voters.
Don’t Be Naive — There Are Risks and Pushback
Before anyone starts treating Pratt like the tech messiah, remember the other side of the story. Local outlets have flagged misleading elements and pushed back on some campaign claims about Pratt’s post‑fire living situation. KTLA and others raised questions that Pratt’s campaign has had to answer. The ethical problem is real: AI can show public figures doing or saying things they never did. For now, Curran’s video wasn’t commissioned by the campaign, but Pratt amplified it. That’s a legal and moral gray area — and it could bite a candidate who wants to be taken seriously as mayor.
What It Means for Los Angeles Politics — and the Country
Los Angeles is a big stage. When cheap AI content can move the dial there, it’s a preview for campaigns everywhere. Mayor Karen Bass, Governor Gavin Newsom and other leaders should be paying attention. The old playbook of TV buys and polished mailers still matters, but it’s no longer the whole toolset. Conservatives should welcome new, innovative ways to reach voters — but we should also demand transparency and accountability. If AI is going to be used in campaigns, voters deserve to know who made the ad and who paid for the message.
At the end of the day, Spencer Pratt’s ad is a warning and a lesson. It shows how messy, fast and cheap modern politics can be. Voters ought to watch the spectacle — and then dig a little deeper. The future of campaigning will be noisy and digital. Smart candidates will use that to talk to real people, not just make headlines. And the rest of us should hold them to account when the headlines start to outpace the facts.
