You know, it’s not like the LAtimes can’t host their own debate with their own rules.
GOP party rules are that a candidate participating in a debate not sanctioned by the GOP will be ineligible to take part in any other sanctioned debate.
Both the RNC and DNC made rules this year that if a candidate participates in an “unsanctioned” debate, they are excluded from all remaining debates. So LAT could set one up, but no one would come.