Spencer Pratt’s improbable rise from reality television personality to national political sensation ended when he failed to qualify for the runoff to challenge Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Nithya Raman, a progressive city council member, will face Bass in November. Pratt's candidacy was fueled by celebrity and artificial intelligence videos generated by his supporters. Although he fell short, his relentless focus on quality of life concerns in America's second-largest city tapped into angst over persistent homelessness and a slow recovery from last year's wildfires. Pratt often said “my city failed” during his campaign, while Bass, who is seeking a second term, dismissed him as a political novice.

President Donald Trump, a longtime New York Knicks fan, has confirmed that he would attend the first NBA Finals game in New York since 1999. As a result, the NYPD has warned fans that watch parties near Madison Square Garden are canceled and that anyone attending the game on Monday should arrive at least two hours early as part of enhanced security measures.

Israel and Iran appear to be backing away from further strikes, just hours after they traded fire for the first time since the U.S. and Tehran agreed to a ceasefire two months ago. However, both countries warned Monday that they remain ready to launch retaliatory attacks if provoked. The renewed fighting raised concerns that the Middle East could be plunged back into a full-scale war. Iran's military says it has halted offensive strikes but will respond to aggression by Israel or its allies. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also hinted the latest round of fighting is over. But he said Israel will respond with force if attacked further by Iran.

A federal trial has begun in Los Angeles for the man accused of sparking last year’s deadly Palisades Fire. It comes as the neighborhood continues to rebuild and the aftermath of the blaze reverberates through the race for LA mayor. Jury selection began Monday in the case against 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht, who has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors say Rinderknecht started a fire on Jan. 1, 2025, that burned undetected deep in root systems before flaring back up a week later. His attorneys argue that Rinderknecht is being made a scapegoat for the fire department’s failure to extinguish the blaze.

The leaders of the U.K., Ukraine, France and Germany discussed the “urgent need” to ramp up production of weapons to combat Russia’s powerful hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missiles in a meeting in London on Sunday. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at 10. Downing Street. In a statement released by Starmer’s office following their evening meeting, the leaders condemned Russia’s “large-scale missile and drone attacks — including the repeated use of the Oreshnik missiles — on Ukrainian cities with a tragic toll on civilians.”