Spencer Pratt, now a leading contender in the Los Angeles mayoral race, recently squared off with Bill Maher in a conversation that highlighted their very different priorities for the city.

The encounter took place on Maher’s “Club Random” podcast, where the liberal host tried steering the discussion into California’s solar regulations and tax policies. Pratt, however, refused to take the bait, insisting that residents are focused on more immediate issues, as reported by the Gateway Pundit.

Maher opened by complaining about the state’s overregulation, including his own frustration at waiting years to activate solar panels at his home. Pratt responded by noting, “But now they’re taxing you, I think, for having it.”

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When Maher pressed him on the details, saying, “What do you mean you think so?! You have to know!” Pratt made it clear that solar policy is not his top concern. He said, “I don’t need to know about solar, you know? I need to focus on making sure the moms are safe and the animals are not being abused. That’s my party.”

Maher continued to argue that a mayor must master specifics on every policy. Pratt disagreed, countering with unfiltered pragmatism.

“Solar panels… we’re about three years from worrying about solar panels. We need to get all of the naked drug addicts off of the sidewalks, and then I can worry about solar panels.”

Maher challenged him again, asking whether city leadership can “walk and chew gum at the same time.” Pratt’s sharp response captured his down-to-earth tone: “With the state of LA right now, solar panels, you’re gonna spit that gum out.”

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Pratt then explained his focus on safety, affordability, and basic livability before addressing energy policy. He told Maher, “I love the idea of getting drug addicts treatment and giving them job opportunities. And if we need more solar panels, personally, I think we’ve got to investigate the LADWP and ask why you even need a solar panel.”

The candidate questioned the city’s rising electricity rates, remarking, “You pay so much money for regular electricity that we’ve got to figure out why our rates are going up 10% or more every month, and we’re not getting better electricity. Alkaline water isn’t coming out of our taps.”

He clarified that while renewable energy may be important one day, it is low on his immediate list of priorities. “So I’ll get back to you on the solar panels, but they’re a little lower on my totem pole,” Pratt said.

“My priorities are making sure people aren’t dealing with home invasions every single night, right? Making sure you’re not destroying your suspension because we haven’t fixed the roads.”

Rejecting any notion that his approach lacks depth, Pratt described himself as “basic” — something he believes helps him connect with everyday voters. “That’s why I’m resonating,” he said. “People who are struggling to live in LA right now because it’s so expensive—and who are stepping in human poop—don’t care about your solar panel problem right now.”

He suggested that once those core problems are solved, the city can turn its attention to environmental goals. “Maybe they will once I get rid of the poop and make it more affordable to live there. Then they may want solar panels,” he added.

Maher, who has publicly admitted he “know[s] I’m supposed to hate him” but does not, appeared taken aback by Pratt’s refusal to wade into policy minutiae. During the exchange, Maher had earlier called Pratt a “nice guy” who is “very honest” and runs without professional advisors.

The episode underscored a sharp contrast between Maher’s policy-driven questioning and Pratt’s focus on street-level concerns. Pratt’s message resonated with the tone of frustration shared by many Angelenos navigating rising costs, safety fears, and decaying infrastructure.

The viral interview further cemented Pratt’s image as a blunt outsider unafraid to challenge conventional policy debates with plain talk about everyday issues. It also spotlighted the growing populist undercurrent in Los Angeles politics, where housing instability and public safety often eclipse environmental initiatives in urgency.

By the end of the exchange, Pratt’s message was clear: for many voters, fixing the streets and cleaning up neighborhoods come long before revisiting solar panel debates. His frank remarks earned attention online for their simplicity and for reminding the city’s political class what many residents really care about.

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