Laura Ingraham Shuts Down California Candidate in Heated Reparations Debate

Laura Ingraham, a host on Fox News, faced backlash after interrupting a California gubernatorial candidate who highlighted his Republican opponent’s stance on reparations. During an episode of “The Ingraham Angle,” Ingraham hosted Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a gubernatorial candidate, to discuss the state’s heated governor’s race. Bianco took the opportunity to differentiate himself from his Republican competitor, former Fox News commentator Steve Hilton, by pointing out Hilton’s public endorsement of reparations for Black Americans.

Bianco remarked, “No, there actually isn’t,” in reference to the Democratic candidates, adding, “Unfortunately, even for the Republican side, Mr. Hilton has said he’s willing to give reparations in property. So, if we want sanity, I’m really the only option on that stage.” Ingraham seemed to brush off Bianco’s claim, responding, “I never heard him say that, I don’t know what you’re talking about.” However, viewers quickly took to social media to remind her that Hilton had indeed expressed support for reparations during his time on Fox News. On a 2019 episode of “The Next Revolution,” Hilton stated, “We will never, never, never achieve racial harmony in this country until we acknowledge these truths as the first step in a process of national reconciliation. I use all those words deliberately.”

Hilton had further advocated for a “truth and reconciliation process” in the U.S., suggesting that it should consider significant measures to bridge the wealth and opportunity gap, including reparations for historical injustices. Critics of Ingraham’s dismissal of Bianco’s statement were vocal, with one person commenting on social media, “She’s an idiot. He absolutely talked about asset reparations.” Another criticized Ingraham’s handling of the interview, saying, “Sometimes Ingraham shows herself a hack, and this interview was one of those times. Bianco is the smart choice for California, even if Trump said Hilton is a progressive dressed up as a conservative.” A third user questioned if Ingraham would “issue an apology on air tomorrow for your CRUDE statement and error????”

‘Laura cuts everyone. She is unwatchable to me,’ wrote a fourth person. ‘That really upset me. Chad Bianco was my Sheriff in Riverside, CA. He is a stand-up guy. What Laura did was despicable,’ added a fifth. The Daily Mail contacted The Ingraham Angle for comment. Hilton, who is British, hosted The Next Revolution on Fox News from 2017 to 2023. He moved to the United States in 2012 after serving as an advisor to former British Prime Minister David Cameron. The London-born former advisor has more recently taken up residence on the ritzy San Francisco Peninsula, where venture capitalists and NBA superstars like Steph Curry live. He became a US citizen in 2021 and announced his run for governor in 2025.

While the candidate field is largely crowded with Democrats in deep-blue California , Bianco and Hilton are the leading Republicans who have made headway in the polls. California puts all candidates on a single ballot, and the two with the most votes on primary day, June 2, go on to the November general election regardless of party. Democrats have worried that their crowded field could result in two Republicans advancing, a historic calamity for the party. Democrats have dominated state government in California for years. The GOP has not won a statewide election in two decades, and registered Democrats outnumber Republicans about 2-to-1. The race was shaken up this month after the dramatic downfall of Representative Eric Swalwell over sexual assault allegations.