Palisades Fire Rages & Wildfire Fallout | 1.9.25

Summary

Morning Wire Episode Summary

Title: Palisades Fire Rages & Wildfire Fallout | 1.9.25
Release Date: January 9, 2025
Hosts: John Bickley & Georgia Howe
Guests: Cabot Phillips, Amanda Presto Giacomo, Tim Pierce

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1. Historic Wildfires Devastate Southern California

The episode opens with Georgia Howe reporting on what is now recognized as the most destructive fire in Los Angeles (LA) history. The Palisades Fire, along with additional blazes, has ravaged Southern California, destroying over a thousand structures and forcing tens of thousands of residents to evacuate.

• Georgia Howe [00:03]: "The most destructive fire in LA history is raging across Southern California, burning more than a thousand structures and forcing tens of thousands of residents to evacuate."

2. Fire Conditions and Rapid Spread

Cabot Phillips provides an in-depth analysis of the factors contributing to the rapid spread of the fires. The National Weather Service had issued its highest fire alert due to low humidity, dry vegetation, and strong Pacific winds with gusts up to 100 mph.

• Cabot Phillips [02:03]: "Humidity was low, vegetation was dry, and most importantly, extremely strong winds with gusts up to 100 miles per hour were coming in off the Pacific."

The Palisades Fire ignited between Santa Monica and Malibu, quickly followed by new fires in Pasadena and the San Fernando Valley. In just 24 hours, the fires consumed over 20,000 acres, destroyed thousands of homes, knocked out power for hundreds of thousands, and forced massive evacuations.

• Cabot Phillips [02:54]: "Within 24 hours, those fires had consumed well over 20,000 acres, destroying thousands of homes and other buildings, knocking out power for hundreds of thousands, and forcing tens of thousands more to evacuate."

3. Chaotic Evacuations and Overwhelmed First Responders

As the fires spread, evacuation routes became congested. Residents abandoned their vehicles, exacerbating traffic jams and hindering first responders.

• Cabot Phillips [02:57]: "Many residents were clearly caught off guard by how quickly the fire was spreading."

First responders struggled to manage the chaos, with fire departments deploying bulldozers to clear streets clogged with abandoned cars. Emotional footage highlighted the bravery of nursing home employees and first responders aiding elderly patients amidst the flames and smoke.

• Cabot Phillips [04:18]: "First responders, particularly the LA County Fire Department, have been completely overwhelmed, with Chief Anthony Marone saying there were, quote, no additional personnel to spare."

Fire Chief Anthony Marone expressed the dire situation:

• John Bickley [03:32]: "This tree is going to kill us all, right? There's nothing we can do now, bro."

4. Criticism of California Leadership

Georgia Howe shifts focus to the criticism facing California officials for their handling of the wildfires.

a. Mayor Karen Bass: Mayor Karen Bass faced backlash for being on a taxpayer-funded trip to Ghana during the initial outbreak of the fires. Her absence and delayed return sparked outrage among residents.

• Amanda Presto Giacomo [06:20]: "As neighborhoods were burning down in Los Angeles, Mayor Bass was on a taxpayer funded trip to the African nation of Ghana."

Resident Rachel Darvish voiced her frustration:

• Rachel Darvish [06:36]: "I don't know where my mayor was when this was happening. For someone to be in charge of my town, where were you?"

Bass was also criticized for cutting the fire department's budget by over $17 million, a decision seen as contributing to the inadequate firefighting response.

• Cabot Phillips [07:01]: "It's all about leadership and management that we're seeing a failure of. And all of these residents are paying the ultimate price for that."

b. Governor Gavin Newsom: Governor Newsom faced scrutiny for inadequate water supply management essential for firefighting efforts. Regulations to protect specific fish populations hindered water availability, limiting firefighting capabilities.

• John Bickley [08:03]: "We've had decades to go remove the brush in these hills that spread so quickly. You gotta have water."

5. Insurance Crisis Exacerbated by Wildfires

Amanda Presto Giacomo discusses the ongoing homeowners insurance crisis in California, where seven of the state's twelve largest insurance companies have curtailed or ceased operations due to restrictive state regulations.

• Amanda Presto Giacomo [10:08]: "Over the last three years, seven of the state's 12 biggest homeowner insurance companies have paused or limited their business in California."

Residents like a 90-year-old couple in Pasadena are left vulnerable, having recently lost their fire insurance coverage.

• Amanda Presto Giacomo [10:25]: "Just before these fires, they got canceled from their fire insurance. So they're dealing with this. They're 90 years old and they wonder why people leave California."

6. Immigration and Border Security Amidst Wildfires

As the fires devastate California, the episode transitions to immigration issues, highlighting Mexico's efforts to dismantle migrant caravans in response to President-elect Donald Trump's threats of a 25% tariff on Mexican goods.

a. Mexico's Strategy: Tim Pierce explains Mexico's use of dispersion and exhaustion tactics to break up migrant caravans, effectively forcing migrants to return to their home countries.

• Tim Pierce [11:24]: "Mexican authorities will let immigrants on their way to the US walk for days until they are tired. Then Mexican authorities will offer the migrants a ride to a nearby Mexican city under the guise of reviewing their immigration status."

b. Drug Cartels and Potential Military Action: The discussion shifts to Mexico's battle against drug cartels, with President Claudia Sheinbaum emphasizing collaboration against these groups. Trump has suggested designating Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations, which could lead to military interventions.

• Donald Trump [09:09]: "Billions of dollars a year they spend on forest fires. So it was the Department of Commerce that needed the approvals, but Gavin Newsom had to sign them. I got it all done."

7. Legislative Response: The Lake and Riley Act

Tim Pierce outlines the House's passage of the Lake and Riley Act, a significant legislative move aimed at detaining illegal aliens arrested for specific nonviolent crimes. Named after a Georgia nursing student tragically killed by an illegal alien, the bill received strong bipartisan support.

• Tim Pierce [13:13]: "The Lake and Riley act passed the House on Tuesday by a vote of 264 to 159."

House Speaker Mike Johnson praised Democrats who supported the bill, signaling potential bipartisan cooperation to overcome the Senate filibuster.

• John Bickley [13:37]: "170 voted against it, and I think they put politics ahead of principle and we're going to find out where they stand on this."

8. Potential Impact of Trump’s Policies

With Donald Trump set to take office later in the month, his administration is expected to influence both immigration and forest management policies, potentially marking the Lake and Riley Act as one of its first legislative achievements.

• Tim Pierce [14:11]: "There's a chance that the Lake and Riley act could be the first legislative achievement of Trump's new administration."

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Conclusion

The Morning Wire episode on January 9, 2025, provides a comprehensive analysis of the catastrophic wildfires in Southern California, highlighting the failures in leadership and infrastructure that exacerbated the disaster. Additionally, it delves into the ongoing immigration challenges and legislative efforts to address border security, all within the broader context of shifting political landscapes as Donald Trump prepares to assume office.

Notable quotes throughout the episode emphasize the urgency and frustration felt by residents and officials alike, underscoring the critical need for effective management and policy reforms in both environmental and immigration spheres.

Transcript

[Georgia Howe]

The most destructive fire in LA history is raging across Southern California, burning more than a thousand structures and forcing tens of thousands of residents to evacuate.

[John Bickley]

She came out. I'm sorry. Just, you know, one day you're swimming.

[Cabot Phillips]

In the pool and the next day it's all gone.

[Georgia Howe]

I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire editor in chief John Bickley. It's Tuesday, January 9th, and this is Morning Wire. California's leaders are facing scrutiny from angry residents for their handling of the massive wildfires.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

If you want to be the mayor of a city like Los Angeles, you're in charge of some really important things and you just let it go.

[John Bickley]

And Mexico is urgently working to break up U. S. Bound migrant caravans ahead of Trump's inauguration day.

[Georgia Howe]

Thanks for waking up with Morning Wire. Stay tuned. We have the news you need to know.

[Brandon]

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[John Bickley]

Historic wildfires continue to rip through Los Angeles, forcing tens of thousands from their homes and pushing first responders to the brink.

[Georgia Howe]

Here with the latest is Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips. So, Cabot, a major disaster unfolding in one of the most densely populated regions of the country. Truly shocking footage coming out of California. Get us up to speed.

[Cabot Phillips]

Well, at the start of this week, the National Weather Service issued its highest fire alert for Los Angeles county, warning that conditions were ripe for a serious blaze. Humidity was low, vegetation was dry, and most importantly, extremely strong winds with gusts up to 100 miles per hour were coming in off the Pacific. And sadly, those warnings came to fruition Tuesday when what's now being called the Palisades Fire broke out in the morning between Santa Monica and Malibu. Hours later, a separate blaze, potentially caused by flying embers, started near Pasadena. And then again, yet another blaze set off in the San Fernando Valley northwest of downtown LA. Within 24 hours, those fires had consumed well over 20,000 acres, destroying thousands of homes and other buildings, knocking out power for hundreds of thousands, and forcing tens of thousands more to evacuate well, the.

[Georgia Howe]

Scenes of the evacuation and the destruction are just horrifying.

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah, it really has looked like something out of a disaster movie. Many residents were clearly caught off guard by how quickly the fire was spreading. In one video, you can hear two men attempting to fight the fire with a garden hose before fleeing down the street as trees and rooftops all around are set ablaze.

[John Bickley]

No. Just let it burn. And God, protect this house. In the name of Jesus, protect this neighborhood.

[Cabot Phillips]

God.

[John Bickley]

In Jesus name I pray. Amen. This tree is going to kill us all, right? There's nothing we can do now, bro.

[Cabot Phillips]

But as more and more folks rushed to evacuate, roads out of town became snarled with traffic. Many chose to abandon their cars to flee on foot, which only worsened the gridlock and made it even harder for first responders to get to the scene. In a number of instances, fire departments brought in bulldozers to clear a path through street after street of abandoned luxury cars. In Pasadena. Just harrowing footage shows nursing home employees and first responders frantically pushing elderly patients down gridlocked streets with, again, flames and smoke all around them. You can get an idea of the chaos in this footage from the scene.

[Georgia Howe]

Just incredible heroism from those nursing home employees and first responders there.

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah. And it's worth noting, first responders, particularly the LA County Fire Department, have been completely overwhelmed, with Chief Anthony Marone saying there were, quote, no additional personnel to spare. 24 hours after the fires began, Marone said they were 0% contained. He added that they were prepared for one or two major fires, but not four at once. The fact that there are all those fires burning simultaneously has again stretched resources thin, with fire hydrants across the city running out of water, firefighting planes and helicopters simultaneously grounded due to the intense winds. So it really is just a perfect storm right now. In response, fire departments from around California and even surrounding states poured into LA to offer help. And sadly, first responders are also having to contend with looters taking advantage of homes left empty. Listen to this firefighter, for example, requesting police help to stop break ins.

[John Bickley]

Defense two, go ahead.

[Cabot Phillips]

I could use some more resources up here, Pine Crest, if I need, because I do have trying to break in.

[Donald Trump]

To help up here now.

[Cabot Phillips]

As crews work to contain the blaze, officials say when all is said and done, it'll likely be the costliest wildfire in American history. With billions of dollars worth of property destroyed. That's in addition to the lives lost. We just don't know how many people have been killed right now. Keep in mind, many of the neighborhoods being destroyed are Home to some of the most expensive real estate in the country. Places like Malibu, Pasadena, Pacific Palisades, and that's in addition to the dozens of working class neighborhoods that are leveled as well. But we won't get a full accounting of the damage or the death toll until these fires are put out. And right now that is far from accomplished.

[Georgia Howe]

Right. Well, as a former Los Angeles resident, it is devastating seeing these videos. Cabot, thanks for reporting.

[Cabot Phillips]

Anytime.

[Georgia Howe]

California officials, including LA Mayor Karen Bass and Gov. Gavin Newsom are taking criticism for their handling of the historic wildfires.

[John Bickley]

Here to discuss the fallout is Daily Wire reporter Amanda Presto Giacomo. Hey, Amanda. So perhaps the biggest controversy angering a lot of Residents revolves around LA's mayor Karen Bass. That includes that she was on another continent when this began. Tell us what happened there.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Right. As neighborhoods were burning down in Los Angeles, Mayor Bass was on a taxpayer funded trip to the African nation of Ghana. Bass was there for the inauguration of Ghana's new president and she didn't make it back to LA until Wednesday. In the airport, she was peppered with questions to which she did not respond.

[John Bickley]

Do you owe citizens an apology for being absent while their homes were burning? Do you regret cutting the fire department budget by millions of dollars?

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Madam Mayor, residents have said that they had very little notice, if any at all, and they're upset that Bass was MIA for so long. Here's one. Pacific Palisades resident Rachel Darvish expressing some of that frustration on Fox News. We have questions. We have questions. I know where I am right now, but I don't know where my mayor was when this was happening. For someone to be in charge of my town, where were you? Where were you when the decisions should have been made on how to get in and out of places? Bass is also taking flak for cutting the fire department's budget by more than $17 million, which is actually a more modest cut than the 23 million the Democrat initially wanted to axe. Bass signed off on that budget just months ago, so the timing is particularly bad. Businessman Rick Caruso, a Democrat who narrowly lost the 2022 mayoral race, said that firefighters hands are tied by leadership and he specifically noted that fire hydrants in the area are bone dry. Caruso was one of those criticizing Bass for being out of the country while this devastation raged on.

[John Bickley]

We've had decades to go remove the brush in these hills that spread so quickly. You gotta have water. And my understanding is the reservoir was not refilled in time and in a timely manner to keep the hydrants going. It's all about leadership and management that we're seeing a failure of. And all of these residents are paying the ultimate price for that.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Governor Newsom is also taking criticism specifically for the lack of water to fight these fires. One of California's top water supply systems has been heavily regulated to appease environmentalists who are worried about two specific fish populations. Now, Donald Trump, when he was President back in 2019, he tried to pump more water from the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta, but was stonewalled. Here's the president elect on the popular Joe Rogan podcast. Just three months ago.

[Donald Trump]

In order to protect a tiny little fish, the water up north gets routed into the Pacific Ocean. Millions and millions of gallons of water gets poured. I could have water for all of that land. Water for your forests. You know, your forests are dry as a bone. Yeah, okay.

[John Bickley]

Dangerous.

[Donald Trump]

That water could be routed. You know, you could have everything. Not only dangerous, billions of dollars a year they spend on forest fires. So it was the Department of Commerce that needed the approvals, but Gavin Newsom had to sign them. I got it all done. Nobody could believe it. It was all done. I said, I got it. You got so much water, all you have to do is sign. And that guy didn't want to sign.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Trump battled Newsom during his first term over these constant fires in California. In 2018, Trump threatened to withhold federal funds if Newsom didn't amp up forest management. He said at the time that billions of dollars were being given each year, yet lives were still being lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests. Trump also said in a post on Wednesday that Newsom is to blame for this most recent devastation, calling it a true disaster.

[John Bickley]

Some harsh criticism. We're also seeing reports about concerns over insurance. What's happening there?

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Right? There's a major homeowners insurance crisis in California. Over the last three years, seven of the state's 12 biggest homeowner insurance companies have paused or limited their business in California due in part to state regulations. Companies, for example, have been blocked from raising their rates due to the increasing risks of wildfires. So instead, they've chosen to leave the state. Here's one woman in Pasadena speaking to an ABC News affiliate about her 90 year old parents losing their coverage. Just before these fires, they got canceled from their fire insurance. So they're dealing with this. They're 90 years old and they wonder why people leave California.

[John Bickley]

A terrifying and as you've laid out, extremely frustrating situation for many residents there. Amanda, thanks for reporting.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

You're welcome, John.

[John Bickley]

Trump won't take office until later this month. But he's already influencing immigration south of the border. New reports say that Mexico is breaking up migrant caravans after the president elect threatened a 25% tariff on Mexican goods.

[Georgia Howe]

Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce is here to talk about what's happening with immigration and what action Republicans are already taking to restrict it. So, Tim, first off, what action is Mexico taking?

[Tim Pierce]

Yeah. The Mexican government has adopted a tactic known as dispersion and exhaustion. According to Fox News, Mexican authorities will let immigrants on their way to the US Walk for days until they are tired. Then Mexican authorities will offer the migrants a ride to a nearby Mexican city under the guise of reviewing their immigration status. But immigrants have said they can't get any help after they arrive. They can't even buy bus tickets out of the city. So these large caravans are slowly broken up, and the migrants are basically forced to turn around back to their home countries. Mexico has, of course, done this after Trump threatened to put a 25% tariff on its goods unless it takes action on the border.

[Georgia Howe]

Right, and that would be a very severe blow to Mexico's economy. Now, what about drug cartels? That's also been a major issue. Is Mexico doing anything there?

[Tim Pierce]

There are some signs that point that way. For instance, Mexican authorities last month announced the largest seizure of fentanyl pills in Mexico's history. But at the same time that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has welcomed collaboration against the drug cartels, she has accused the United States of making false claims about drug trade. Sheinbaum said that fentanyl is a much bigger problem in the US And Canada and that stories about Mexico's Sinaloa cartel manufacturing massive quantities of the drug are false. Of course, there are many experts in the US that disagree with that. In fact, Trump's team is considering a move to designate Mexican drug cartels as terror groups. That designation could open up possible military action against the cartels that have plagued the southern border with drugs, human trafficking, and other crimes. Now, Trump explored something like that during his first term, but held off because the Mexican government didn't like it. But Trump may have a different mindset now after four years of unprecedented illegal immigration.

[Georgia Howe]

Right. Well, military action against the cartels would be a huge departure from our current approach. So Republicans in D.C. though, just passed a big priority bill in the House. Tell us about that.

[Tim Pierce]

Yeah. The Lake and Riley act passed the House on Tuesday by a vote of 264 to 159. The bill was named after Lake and Riley, a Georgia nursing student who was killed by an illegal alien last February if it signed into law that act would require illegal aliens to be detained if arrested for certain nonviolent crimes. The bill passed with unanimous Republican support, as well as with 48 votes from Democrats. That's a positive sign that it could get past the filibuster in the Senate. This was also a big victory for House Speaker Mike Johnson. Before the vote, Johnson said that Democrats who voted against the bill last year put politics ahead of principle.

[John Bickley]

170 voted against it, and I think they put politics ahead of principle and we're going to find out where they stand on this. Now we welcome with open arms any Democrat who wants to help us solve these problems because the American people demand to deserve it. It's overdue and we'll be looking for that and we'll see how it shakes out.

[Tim Pierce]

So we'll see what happens in the Senate. But there's a chance that the Lake and Riley act could be the first legislative achievement of Trump's new administration and.

[Georgia Howe]

Will continue to track its course through Congress. Tim, thanks for joining.

[Tim Pierce]

Thanks for having me on.

[John Bickley]

Thanks for waking up with us. We'll be back this afternoon with more news you need to know.

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