A second wave of coverage has hit Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, and this time it's a New York Times deep-dive into his past relationships. Thomas breaks down both the texting article and the "several women" piece: who the sources actually are, what the reporting can and can't corroborate, why one accuser's background raises serious questions, and whether either story should have run at all. Plus, a broader conversation about what voters are supposed to do when the candidate they've got is... complicated.

Sources:

• Platner's Texts with Women Concern Campaign as Senate Race Took Off (Katie Glueck & Lisa Lerer, The New York Times; May 30, 2026)

• Several Women Who Dated Graham Platner Recall 'Unsettling' Behavior (Katie Glueck & Lisa Lerer, The New York Times; June 4, 2026)

If you enjoy our work, please consider leaving a 5-star review! You can always email questions, comments, and leads to lydia@seriouspod.com.

Please pretty please consider becoming a patron at patreon.com/wherethereswoke!

If you have lived in blissful peace not knowing who Spencer Pratt is, Lydia is so sorry, but it's time. The former The Hills reality TV villain is a serious contender in the Los Angeles mayoral race (as of recording - votes are still being counted) and Lydia breaks down everything: who he actually is, what his campaign infrastructure reveals about who's really behind it, the claims he keeps repeating about homelessness that don't hold up to scrutiny, and why this is the Trump playbook running in one of the biggest cities in America. It's a lot. Lydia is not okay.

• Toward a New Understanding: The California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness (Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, University of California - San Francisco; June 2023)

• Assaf RD, et al. Illicit Substance Use and Treatment Access Among Adults Experiencing Homelessness. JAMA. 2025 Apr 8;333(14):1222-1231.

• Spencer Pratt Is Running Trump's Playbook in Los Angeles—and Trump Approves (Philip Elliott, Time; 5/21/2026)

• LA City Ethics Commission campaign finance filings, Spencer Pratt

  • 1/1/26-4/18/26: https://ethics.lacity.gov/viewdoc/141063

  • 4/19/26-5/16/26: https://ethics.lacity.gov/viewdoc/142921

  • 5/17/26-5/27/26: https://ethics.lacity.gov/viewdoc/143643

If you enjoy our work, please consider leaving a 5-star review! You can always email questions, comments, and leads to lydia@seriouspod.com.

Please pretty please consider becoming a patron at patreon.com/wherethereswoke!

We're SO excited to welcome journalist Kat Tenbarge to Where There's Woke! Over the years Kat's beat has been focused on internet culture and influencers, and the transformation of that space pre-COVID to now. Naturally, we had tons to talk about -- Why does it matter to pay attention to these spaces at all? Did influencers really make an impact in the 2024 election? What can we glean about the population's media literacy based on the digestion of this content? Is there an alt-right influencer pipeline for women? We had a blast, and can't wait to talk to Kat again soon!

Be sure to check out her reporting at Spitfire News! And don't forget to follow Kat on Bluesky!

**If you enjoy our work, please consider leaving a 5-star review! You can always email questions, comments, and leads to lydia@seriouspod.com.**