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Morning Joe 1/13/25

Morning Joe

Mon Jan 13 2025

Death toll in California wildfires climbs to 24 with strong winds to continue

Summary

Morning Joe Episode Summary – January 13, 2025

Released on January 13, 2025

Introduction

On the January 13, 2025 episode of Morning Joe, hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, alongside co-host Willie Geist, delve into the pressing issues of the day. The episode prominently features the devastating wildfires in Southern California, the political fallout surrounding disaster management, climate change implications, and upcoming political maneuvers including confirmation hearings for President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees.

1. Southern California Wildfires: Impact and Response

The episode opens with a harrowing account of a couple's struggle to escape the raging wildfires engulfing Southern California. Joe Scarborough narrates their desperate attempt to rescue a neighbor, highlighting the human toll of the disaster.

Devastation Scale: The wildfires have consumed areas larger than the combined sizes of San Francisco, Boston, or Miami. Katty Kay emphasizes the enormity, stating, “The Eaton fire is now one of the deadliest in the state... tearing areas up, devouring areas larger than the combined sizes of Boston, Miami, and San Francisco” (05:16).
Misinformation and Social Media: The Wall Street Journal reports on the challenges officials face combating false narratives. LAPD Public Information Officer Scott remarks, “Proliferating online falsehoods are forcing public officials nationwide to adopt a new job when crisis strikes their community” (03:00).
Weather Conditions: Meteorologist Michelle Grossman explains the exacerbating factors, including Santa Ana winds gusting up to 70 mph, creating “extremely critical fire weather conditions” and raising the threat of explosive fire growth (09:16).
First Responders' Efforts: NBC’s Jay Gray provides a ground report from Pacific Palisades, detailing the overwhelming devastation and the heroic efforts of firefighters battling both the flames and the extreme weather conditions (06:59).

2. Political Fallout and Leadership Under Scrutiny

With the fires ongoing, political tensions escalate, particularly concerning Mayor Karen Bass's handling of the crisis.

Mayor Bass Criticism: The New York Times highlights Mayor Bass’s controversial decision to travel abroad during the peak of the wildfire warnings. Elise Jordan points out, “Her decision to leave the country... has set off a political crisis for Ms. Bass” (13:10).
Trump vs. Newsom: President-elect Donald Trump publicly criticizes California officials, labeling the state's leadership as “incompetent” on social media. Gavin Newsom counters by inviting Trump to witness California's disaster response firsthand (15:10).
Climate Change Connection: Elise Jordan introduces a New York Times piece by reporter David Gellis, linking the intensity of the wildfires to the fact that “2024 was the hottest year in recorded history,” underscoring the role of human-induced climate change in exacerbating natural disasters (21:57).

3. Climate Change and Increasing Natural Disasters

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the interplay between climate change and the frequency/intensity of natural disasters.

Scientific Insights: David Gellis explains how rising global temperatures have led to more severe and unpredictable weather patterns. He states, “2024 was indeed the hottest year in recorded history... leading directly to the kinds of fires we're seeing in Los Angeles right now” (25:00).
Historical Comparisons: Joe Scarborough likens the current wildfires to Hurricane Katrina in terms of devastation, emphasizing the unprecedented scale and suffering caused by these disasters (11:19).
Future Implications: The conversation highlights that without addressing climate change, the nation and the world can expect an increase in such extreme weather events, making disaster preparedness and response even more critical (27:51).

4. Upcoming Political Maneuvers and Confirmation Hearings

Attention shifts to the political landscape, particularly the impending confirmation hearings for President-elect Trump's Cabinet nominees.

Pete Hegseth’s Nomination: The introduction of Pete Hegseth as Trump’s pick for the Defense Department head sparks debate. Concerns arise from allegations against Hegseth, including misuse of funds and past misconduct. Tanks notes, “Democrats have concerns about how comprehensive that background check actually is” (30:22).
Vice President-Elect J.D. Vance’s Stance: Vance differentiates his approach from Trump’s, advocating for pardoning non-violent January 6th protesters while excluding those involved in violent acts. Joe Scarborough remarks on the uncertainty surrounding Vance’s policy alignment with Trump (34:48).
Executive Orders and Policy Directions: Analysts Jim VandeHei and Elise Jordan discuss potential executive actions Trump might take upon inauguration, focusing on immigration and selective pardons. The consensus suggests targeted actions rather than broad sweeping policies (37:41; 38:04).

5. Humanitarian Efforts and Community Support

In the midst of disaster and political turmoil, the episode underscores the importance of community support and humanitarian efforts.

Salvation Army’s Role: Major Anthony Barnes from the Salvation Army discusses the ongoing support for evacuees, providing meals and ensuring immediate needs are met. He emphasizes the collaborative efforts between community agencies and government bodies to aid those affected (20:38).
Personal Stories: The hosts share poignant stories of families affected by the fires, highlighting the emotional and physical challenges faced by residents attempting to reclaim or salvage their homes amidst chaotic conditions (18:08).

6. Closing Remarks and Upcoming Segments

As the episode progresses, hosts briefly touch upon other news stories, including:

International Relations: Italy’s release of an Iranian businessman in coordination with Trump-led negotiations.
Space Exploration: Blue Origin postponing its first orbital rocket launch due to technical issues.
Sports Highlights: A brief segment on NFL playoff games and college football, featuring insights from MSNBC’s Pablo Torre.

Notable Quotes

Joe Scarborough: “This type of devastation stretches for miles... it's devastating from the flames from those fighting the fire” (06:59).
Katty Kay: “There are still active fires... they are still extremely, extremely dangerous for the public” (19:07).
Elise Jordan: “2024 was the hottest year in recorded history... the world has entered a dangerous new era of chaotic floods, storms, and fires” (21:57).
Jim VandeHei: “Most of the worst January 6th folks will get pardoned. The very worst will not” (38:04).

Conclusion

The January 13, 2025 episode of Morning Joe provides a comprehensive examination of the intersecting crises of natural disasters exacerbated by climate change and the ensuing political ramifications. The hosts and their guests navigate through personal stories of tragedy, the complexities of disaster response, misinformation challenges, and the strategic political maneuvers on the horizon, offering listeners a nuanced and in-depth analysis of the issues shaping the nation's discourse.

Note: All timestamps are approximate references based on the transcript provided.

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Transcript

Tanks (0:00)

Spectrum Business knows that you put in unlimited effort to unlock the unlimited possibilities of your small business. Get Internet, mobile phone and TV services to connect all aspects of your business and see your business made limitless. Learn more@spectrum.com business what's up podcast listeners? It's Tanks, host of the It's Me Tanks podcast. Join me weekly on It's Me Tanks as I dive into topics like relationships, why it's okay to feel lonely, fighting summer comparison, and pop culture's hottest takes. I don't shy away from getting candid about my personal experiences and I want to share all the advice I have learned with you. I'm even joined by some of my friends like Claudia Ashray, Connor Wood and Amanda Hirsch each Friday for our new Office Hours episodes. You can listen to It's Me Tanks every Monday, Wednesday and Friday wherever you listen to podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show so you don't miss an episode.

Joe Scarborough (0:57)

I grabbed him by the hand. He couldn't even barely would get dressed as he was trying to drag himself. He had his phone, a charger around his cable and his walking cane and I dragged him in the car. The Ambers were coming in the car at the same time.

Tanks (1:12)

It's like we're living an alternate reality. I still don't feel like it's real. Even this morning. I was like, no, the house is still there. We'll be able to go back. And I was like, no, it's gone. Everything is gone.

Joe Scarborough (1:27)

It's a couple from Southern California describing their frantic escape from the wildfires. Helping a neighbor make it to safety as well, of course, is the raging wildfires have claimed more lives. We're going to bring you a live report and the latest forecast straight ahead. Meanwhile, it's a busy week in Washington with the first confirmation hearings for Donald Trump's Cabinet picks. We're going to go through what you can expect to hear on Capitol Hill this week and we're going to have a look at President Biden's final week in office and preview his farewell address to the country. Good morning and welcome to Morning Joe. It's Monday, January 13th, and with us this morning we have co host of our fourth hour, Jonathan Lemire, MSNBC political analyst Elise Jordan. She's a former aide to the George W. Bush White House and State Department and U.S. special correspondent for BBC News, Katie Kay. Katty, A few things have jumped out in this morning's paper to me. Let me read a couple. One from the New York Times. The authorities reported making some Headway on Sunday in which the fight against, the fight against these fires which are still burning out of control and have devoured, Listen to this. Have devoured a combined area larger than the city limits of San Francisco, Boston or Miami. It's extraordinary the size and scale. And also while these firefighters and heroes, first responders are fighting the fires and fighting to save lives, the Wall Street Journal has a front page story, biggest story across the front that talks about LA official's race to fight rumors and conspiracy theories and how that's getting in the way of what they're trying to do. And there the Wall Street Journal writes quotes LAPD Public Information Officer Scott says we're trying to battle the most devastating natural disaster in Los Angele. It takes people and it takes time to track down or debunk social media rumors. It takes us away from doing important things fast. Proliferating online falsehoods are forcing public officials nationwide to adopt a new job when crisis strikes their community. Their duties now include beyond saving lives, knocking down the inevitable wave of half truths and conspiracy theories, some wild, some believable, that have lately a part of every major public emergency. And they were talking this time about a post by Alex Jones on X that 29 million people saw saying that LA firefighters were battling the blazes using ladies handbags and buckets because officials donated equipment. The Ukraine of course, just a complete bald face lie and also of course allowed to be spread 29 million times on X. And of course making the work of those heroes and first responders even more difficult because resources taken away because they have to debunk crazed conspiracy theories. It's this fire is continuing for the most part to be out of, out of control and as the time says now tearing areas up, devouring areas larger than the combined sizes of Boston, Miami and San Francisco Caddy.

Joe Scarborough (6:59)

Look, the devastation here, and we've all talked about it, we've all seen the video, which doesn't do it justice, by the way, but it's overwhelming. It's unimaginable. Look behind me and you can see it. This area looks like the aftermath of a bombing attack. It is devastated from the flames from those fighting the fire. And this type of devastation stretches for miles. In other areas, there's just simply nothing left, no clue of what stood before the flames. And as you talk about, there's growing concern that we could see another firestorm over the next several days here. Let's talk about what's happening on the ground here in the Palisades and other areas that have been hit the hardest. National Guard staked out across the area. A thousand more troops called in overnight. You've got law enforcement and firefighters that are constantly patrolling these areas that are locked down by the way. They're of course, looking, looking for hot spots, trying to make sure that they douse those where they can, but also preparing for those severe winds. And that event, according to forecaster, is likely to start really ginning up sometime later this afternoon. You've got people, thousands wanting to get back in, see what, if anything is left of their homes. We saw a few people over the last couple of days getting in, trying to find what they could and salvage anything they could from the rubble that's been locked down, that's, that's been closed off with these winds beginning to pick up again. And what officials have said is that they don't expect to let anyone into areas like this until at least Thursday morning. And it could be longer than that. That will mean some of these folks have been out of their homes for over a week and just the agony of what they're going through, sometimes they're not knowing can be as difficult as knowing what's happened. And so a lot of people looking to find their way back in and really assess what's happening. But if you want to talk about cleanup, if you want to talk about recovery, you can't do that until the flames are under control. And right now that's just not the case.

Tanks (9:16)

Hi there, Katie. We had a bit of a break over the weekend. We're going to start to really see those winds picking up 50, 60, 70 miles per hour. The climate connection is we're drier. We're looking at those winds kind of staying in place. We have an atmosphere that is not moving. A big area of high pressure interacting with this area of low pressure and that's funneling these winds. So we're looking at really bone dry conditions as well. 10 million people impacted this morning and through Wednesday with red flood warnings. That includes places like Ventura, Santa Clarita, Pasadena, Riverside, Temecula, Escondido. The place has already hit so hard and we will see those winds really gusting and they're going to stay in place for quite a while. Now the National Weather Service out of the LA office has issued a pds. It's called a particularly dangerous situation, doesn't happen very often. It's really highlighting that we have extremely critical fire weather conditions really ramping up this afternoon. Staying place Tuesday, also Wednesday. That means a high risk for large fires with explosive growth, just like what we saw last week. We have an extreme risk that's in the bright pink color. Also critical risk in the red, a yellow is that elevated risk. And we are seeing those fires burning. So we have The Eaton fire 27% contained. Palisade's fire at 13%. Hearst fire doing much better at 89%. But we're worried about more fires. We're worried about these fires also expanding now as we look at the winds right now, not too bad. Again, we had a bit of a break over the weekend. We're looking at winds anywhere from 10, 20 miles per hour, but starting to ramp up and we're going to see that big time later on today. We're looking at winds gusting near 50, 60 miles per hour. 70 miles per hour, certainly not out of the forecast. And this is why we have a atmospheric situation where we have this big area of high pressure just pushing that storm track to the north. We're not seeing that rainy season, and we're seeing those winds moving onshore as well. Back to you.

Elise Jordan (13:10)

Yeah, this is Mayor Karen Bass. She was in Ghana. She was in West Africa attending the inauguration of the new president there when the fire in the Palisades ignited. And as you mentioned, the Times does a good job of chronicling she had vowed to not travel overseas. She said she was open about how much she'd missed that. She's a member of the House Foreign Relations Committee, spent a lot of time working on US Africa relations, spent a lot of time overseas, but did make that pledge were she to be elected mayor, that she would not Travel abroad. And certainly there's a long history of mayors being caught out of place when something does happen here in New York. Famously, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was in Bermuda when a major blizzard pounded New York. He was late getting back. He was able to his plane was able to land, the last plane, in fact, to land at LaGuardia. And he was able to oversee the response, but took a lot of heat for not being there during the early hours of the storm. And as noted in this story, it's not like an earthquake, which of course, cannot be predicted in any way, shape or form, but rather, the National Weather Service had warned that these winds did present a real fire danger. She knew that was overseas anyway. Now she's defended herself, saying that she was in constant contact while in Africa, while on the plane, on the flying back. But certainly there are real questions here, including some of her initial halting responses when she landed. Since then, though, she has been holding news conference after news conference and saying that she understands how upset Los Angeles are there. And as Joe also just mentioned, President elect Trump is criticizing a slew of California officials over their handling of the deadly wildfires in Los Angeles county. Yesterday. In a truth social post, Trump called the state's leadership incompetent. He's also made claims about the state's water supply, suggesting that Governor Gavin Newsom is responsible for for the lack of resources. Newsom responded to the criticism in an interview with NBC's Meet the Press, saying he has actually invited Trump to come to California to see the response firsthand.

Tanks (42:25)

This is the headliner, Jonathan. It's been known to be the headliner since just late last year when Hegseth was nominated and then embroiled in multiple controversies around allegations of misuse of funds when he was running a veterans organization. Misuse and abuse of alcohol during multiple of his jobs, including most recently at Fox News. That's reporting that NBC News has really dug into. And then of course, the sexual assault allegation and the lengthy police report out of California. Of course, those charges were never brought. But all of that is very much in the swirl. When I talked to senators on the Republican and Democratic side, there was a lot of consternation about the fact that this FBI background check, many of them want to see it, many of them have not yet gotten the chance to see it. Democrats also have concerns about how comprehensive that background check actually is. They would prefer to see it, regardless of its level of comprehension, than to not see it. But it looks like they are very likely to be going into this confirmation hearing tomorrow without the information in that background check. Nevertheless, my Democratic sources say that the way they're gonna treat these hearings is a way to sort of raise some early red flags that they can then point back to later in administration if these folks are concerned. So really, in the words of one source setting the table to be able to say, we warned you about this later on. But in order for Hegseth to even get to the full floor, and I know that this is getting a little bit of ahead of the initial opening of the confirmation hearing itself, there are going to be key Republicans that he has to win over. We've talked a lot about Senator Joni Ernst. She met with Hegseth twice. She has her own concerns that's going to Be one member of the committee where when these hearings are going on, yeah, we're going to look at what Democrats are doing. But what is Joni Ernst asking and is it a sign that she's either on board with many of the members of her party who are getting on board, or is she not? Jim, Elise here, following up on that. There's a lot of volatility, sure to say, and anything could happen once these hearings start. But of the big four, of the four most controversial nominees, Pete Hegset, then you have RFK Jr. Then you have Cash Patel, and then Tulsi Gabbard, who do you think is the least likely to get through?