SoCal Fire Risk Rises & Confirmations Hearings Begin | 1.14.25

Summary

Morning Wire Podcast Summary Episode: SoCal Fire Risk Rises & Confirmations Hearings Begin | 1.14.25

Release Date: January 14, 2025
Hosts: John Bickley, Georgia Howe
Presented by: The Daily Wire

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Southern California Fire Crisis Escalates

Extreme Weather Conditions and Fire Impact

The episode opens with Georgia Howe highlighting the severe fire situation in Southern California. As of [00:03], extreme winds have returned to Los Angeles, exacerbating ongoing fires that threaten numerous homes and lives. John Bickley provides specifics on the weather conditions:

"There is a red flag warning in effect for this area until 6pm Wednesday. We're expecting north northeast wind gusts, very low humidity, and again, the vegetation is... [00:11]"

Brandon adds, emphasizing the dry conditions:

"Still very, very dry." [00:20]

Amanda Presto Giacomo raises concerns about the rebuilding challenges faced by residents:

"Why are many residents worried they won't be able to rebuild?" [00:21]

Casualties and Missing Persons

Tim Rice discusses the human toll of the fires:

"At least two dozen people have died from these fires, but unfortunately, dozens more are missing, so that number is expected to rise." [02:04]

He notes the prolonged duration of the fires and the return of extreme winds, leading to more devastation and challenges for firefighters. In LA County alone, tens of thousands are under evacuation orders.

Investigation into Fire Causes

Georgia inquires about the origins of the fires amidst rumors of arson:

"Over the past week, there have been numerous rumors about arson. Do we have any information about the cause of the fires?" [02:28]

Tim explains:

"Authorities believe the Palisades fire could have been caused by human origins, but not necessarily arson. There are several popular hiking trails in the area where teens sometimes have fires. So that's being investigated as a possible cause." [02:35]

He further details ongoing investigations and unconfirmed videos suggesting possible arson, causing public anger and concern. Additionally, an electrical tower is under scrutiny for its potential role in the Eaton fire, though the company denies involvement.

Insurance Crisis and Rebuilding Challenges

Georgia shifts the focus to the financial implications:

"Another major concern is how California is going to pay to rebuild from all this damage. Are homeowners having trouble getting covered?" [03:19]

Tim responds:

"Thousands of Los Angeles homeowners were dropped by the insurers this past year or so. Many in just the past. There's a massive insurance crisis in California... companies are barred from raising premiums to reflect the increasing fire risks. As a result, insurers have limited their coverage or just stopped doing business altogether in California." [03:27]

He highlights the inadequacy of the state’s safety net, FAIR, which faces a $458 billion exposure against only $700 million in cash. Federal intervention is anticipated, with President Biden promising funding and low-cost loans for uninsured properties. House Speaker Mike Johnson suggests that any financial assistance should come with conditions.

Leadership Failures and Political Repercussions

Amanda criticizes state and local leadership:

"There's been water resource mismanagement, forest management mistakes, all sorts of problems. And it does come down to leadership. And it appears to us that state and local leaders were derelict in their duty in many respects." [04:24]

Georgia addresses the fallout for Mayor Karen Bass:

"People are extremely unhappy about how this has been handled. What is that going to mean for Mayor Karen Bass?" [04:36]

Tim outlines the mounting pressure on Bass:

"First, she was on a different continent when these fires started. Her more than 24-hour absence is only compounding what many view as her leadership failures... There’s an online petition signed by more than 30,000 people demanding the mayor's resignation." [04:46]

He also mentions media backlash, including criticism from the LA Times owner.

House Speaker Mike Johnson comments on political accountability:

"I think we were one of the few to say competence matters. Maybe we should think about how we elect people on the basis of did they actually run a job?" [05:10]

Georgia concludes this section by stating that the current crisis will be a defining moment for Los Angeles.

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Confirmation Hearings for Trump’s Cabinet Nominees

Overview of the Confirmation Process

Georgia introduces the topic of Trump’s cabinet confirmations, mentioning the commencement of vetting processes for nominees starting with Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense [00:25].

Tim Pierce provides an overview:

"Trump said he was gonna hit the ground running on Inauguration Day, but with the slate of hearings we have, it seems like he's getting the ball rolling a week. Thirteen of his 15 cabinet nominees have hearings scheduled this week." [05:57]

Pete Hegseth’s Confirmation Hearing

Amanda identifies Pete Hegseth as a particularly scrutinized nominee:

"Hegseth has probably drawn more scrutiny than any of Trump's picks. What's the latest there?" [06:36]

Tim elaborates on the criticisms:

"There have been two main criticisms of Hegseth. The first is that he was unqualified for the job... The second involves attacks on Hegseth's personal life, including allegations of sexual assault and claims of alcohol abuse." [06:56]

Hegseth addresses these accusations:

"Compared to who's been in the Pentagon the last four years... I think Pete is going to be terrific in terms of recruitment, in terms of morale... [06:56]"

He further defends himself against personal attacks:

"First of all, I've never had a drinking problem. I don't..." [07:40]

Tim adds that Hegseth's FBI background check was deemed "unremarkable," suggesting Republicans will defend him while Democrats persist in their criticisms [07:54].

Other Nominees and Upcoming Hearings

Tim moves on to discuss other nominees, highlighting Doug Collins for Veterans Affairs:

"He’s a veteran himself and a former congressman... This is probably going to be one of the easier confirmation hearings." [08:13]

He outlines the schedule for the week, mentioning key figures like Kristi Noem for Homeland Security and Marco Rubio for State Department. Tim notes potential questioning points for nominees like Doug Burgum, focusing on his role in the National Energy Council and possible conflicts of interest [08:36].

Amanda concludes this segment by assuring listeners of ongoing coverage of the hearings [09:45].

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Trump’s Inauguration and Political Landscape

Inauguration Weekend Highlights

Georgia transitions to discussing the upcoming inauguration:

"What can we expect to see at Trump's second inauguration?" [10:05]

J.D. Vance outlines the planned events:

"The weekend will be packed with all sorts of dinners, meetings, ceremonies, and a Make America Great Again victory rally... Acclaimed country artist Carrie Underwood is slated to perform America the Beautiful." [10:13]

Trump’s Popularity and Approval Ratings

Brandon and J.D. Vance discuss Trump's current popularity:

"Trump is arguably more popular than ever." [10:52]

Vance provides context with poll data:

"According to a Morning Consult poll out last week, Trump's favorability rating is at a seven-year high... However, Trump's net favorability rating is about minus one, compared to past presidents like Obama and Bush who had significantly higher ratings." [10:56]

Despite mixed personal approval, support for Trump’s agenda remains strong:

"A Signal poll last month found a majority of Americans back key planks of Trump's agenda... 60% support immigration reforms led by Elon Musk, and 56% support Trump's commitment to mass deportations." [11:53]

Vice President J.D. Vance’s Interview Highlights

Georgia highlights Vice President Vance’s recent interview [11:53]. Vance discusses Trump's foreign policy priorities, notably the strategic interest in acquiring Greenland:

"Greenland is really important for America strategically... There's a real opportunity here for us to take leadership to protect America's security... He's good at making deals." [12:10]

He explains the complexities involved:

"Denmark has said it doesn't want to sell Greenland, but the Danish government is open to negotiating more U.S. influence over the Arctic island... Greenland's premier favors independence but is open to a closer working relationship with the U.S." [12:51]

Vance also addresses Middle East policies, specifically the conflict with Hamas:

"Trump threatening Hamas and making it clear that there is going to be hell to pay is part of the reason why we've made progress on getting some hostages out... We are hopeful there's going to be a deal." [13:19]

J.D. Vance adds:

"Reports on Monday said that Israel and Hamas were close to a deal and that more hostages could be released at any time." [13:43]

Georgia wraps up by stating that Daily Wire will continue to cover these developments closely [13:51].

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Conclusion

This episode of Morning Wire provided an in-depth analysis of two major topics: the escalating fire crisis in Southern California and the commencement of confirmation hearings for Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees. Additionally, it touched upon the preparations and political implications surrounding Trump’s upcoming inauguration, highlighting his current popularity and strategic policy focuses.

Notable Quotes:

• John Bickley [00:11]: "There is a red flag warning in effect for this area until 6pm Wednesday..."
• Pete Hegseth [06:56]: "I think Pete is going to be terrific in terms of recruitment, in terms of morale..."
• Doug Collins [07:40]: "First of all, I've never had a drinking problem. I don't..."
• J.D. Vance [10:13]: "The weekend will be packed with all sorts of dinners, meetings, ceremonies..."
• J.D. Vance [12:10]: "Greenland is really important for America strategically..."

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions presented in the episode, providing a clear and engaging overview for listeners who missed the live broadcast.

Transcript

[Georgia Howe]

Extreme winds return to Los Angeles as fires continue to rage across Southern California, endangering more homes and lives.

[John Bickley]

There is a red flag warning in effect for this area until 6pm Wednesday. We're expecting north northeast wind gusts, very low humidity, and again, the vegetation is.

[Brandon]

Still very, very dry.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Why are many residents worried they won't be able to rebuild?

[Georgia Howe]

I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire Editor in chief John Bickley. It's Tuesday, January, and this is MORNING wire. The process of vetting Donald Trump's cabinet nominees begins today, starting with his pick for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth.

[Pete Hegseth]

Well, he certainly has the qualities that we need to lead the Pentagon. He knows about a fit fighting force. He has a distinguished record of service in the military.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

And Donald Trump is cruising into his inauguration with historically high approval ratings and support for his agenda.

[Georgia Howe]

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

[Brandon]

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[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

American meat delivered Southern California continues to burn with extreme winds expected today through Wednesday. Red flag warnings are in effect this morning through most of tomorrow.

[Georgia Howe]

Here to discuss is Daily Wire reporter Amanda Presto Giacomo. So, Amanda, a harrowing situation getting even more dangerous in the next day or two. What's the latest?

[Tim Rice]

Hey, Georgia. Yeah. It's been confirmed that at least two dozen people have died from these fires, but unfortunately, dozens more are missing, so that number is expected to rise. The fires have been raging for a week now starting last Tuesday, and forecasts show a return to extreme winds, so there will likely be more devastation and increasing challenges for firefighters. In LA county alone, tens of thousands of people are under evacuation orders.

[Georgia Howe]

Now, over the past week, there have been numerous rumors about arson. Do we have any information about the cause of the fires?

[Tim Rice]

The New York Times reports that authorities on the ground do believe that the Palisades fire could have been caused by human origins, but not necessarily arson. There are several popular hiking trails in the area where teens sometimes have fires. So that's being investigated as a possible cause. As for the arrests related to arson, there have been three so far, but none have been linked to any of the large devastating fires. The Kenneth fire is still being investigated as a possible cause of arson. There have also been a variety of unconfirmed videos circulating online of individuals setting fires in and around la. So that has caused a lot of anger and worry. LA Times has also reported that an electrical tower is being investigated in association with the Eaton fire in Pasadena, though the company is denying that now.

[Georgia Howe]

Another major concern is how California is going to pay to rebuild from all this damage. Are homeowners having trouble getting covered?

[Tim Rice]

Yeah, this is a huge issue. Thousands of Los Angeles homeowners were dropped by the insurers this past year or so. Many in just the past. As we highlighted last week, there's a massive insurance crisis in California. A recent Wall Street Journal editorial pinned that crisis on the state's politicians. For example, in California, companies are barred from raising premiums to reflect the increasing fire risks. As a result, insurers have limited their coverage or just stopped doing business altogether in California. And the state's supposed safety net for those left without private insurance, which is called FAIR, that has a $458 billion exposure while it only has around 700 million do in cash on hand to pay out claims. President Joe Biden has already promised federal funding for those affected by the fires, including low cost loans for those with uninsured properties. And House Speaker Mike Johnson was asked on Monday about sending financial assistance to California and he said that should come with conditions.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

There's been water resource mismanagement, forest management mistakes, all sorts of problems. And it does come down to leadership. And it appears to us that state and local leaders were derelict in their duty in many respects.

[Georgia Howe]

So that's something that has to be backward in now. Speaking of leadership, people are extremely unhappy about how this has been handled. What is that going to mean for Mayor Karen Bass?

[Tim Rice]

Yeah, things are not looking good for Bass. First, she was on a different continent when these fires started. And her more than 24 hour absence is only compounding what many view as her leadership failures. There's an online petition signed by more than 30,000 people demanding the mayor's resignation. And even legacy media is turning on the mayor. LA Times owner Dr. Patrick Soon Chiang called his paper's endorsement of Bass a mistake.

[Mike Johnson]

I think we were one of the few to say competence matters. Maybe we should think about how we elect people on the basis of did they actually run a job? Did they actually make a payroll. Do they understand what it is? And rather than having professional politicians whose only job is really to run for office.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, this is going to be a defining moment for Los Angeles no matter what. Amanda, thanks for reporting.

[Tim Rice]

You're welcome, Georgia.

[Georgia Howe]

This morning Congress will begin a whirlwind few days of confirmation hearings for some of Donald Trump's most high profile nominees.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Here with a look at what's sure to be a momentous week in Washington is Daily Wire deputy managing editor Tim Rice. Hey, Tim. So a lot happening on Capitol Hill this week with the confirmations. What can we expect?

[Tim Pierce]

You know, John Trump said he was gonna hit the ground running on Inauguration Day, but with the slate of hearings we have, it seems like he's getting the ball rolling a week. Thirteen of his 15 cabinet nominees have hearings scheduled this week. That's everybody except HHS nominee Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. And Labor Department pick Lori Chavez Darimer, two of Trump's more controversial picks. But that doesn't mean this week is going to be without controversy. Things are starting off on a relatively easy note at 9am When Veterans affairs nominee Doug Collins meets with the Veterans affairs committee. But at 9:30, we have what will likely be the most watched hearing of the season as Pete Hegseth takes the hot seat before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Right, Hegseth. Hegseth has probably drawn more scrutiny than any of Trump's picks. What's the latest there?

[Tim Pierce]

Well, listeners may remember that there have been two main criticisms of Hegseth. The first is that he was unqualified for the job, which usually goes to a general or a top Pentagon official. Here's Wyoming Senator John Barrasso on that, the current nominee.

[Pete Hegseth]

Compared to who's been in the Pentagon the last four years, where they had a woke military, where recruitment went down, morale went down, I think Pete is going to be terrific in terms of recruitment, in terms of morale, in terms of returning Americans to a fighting force, which is what the American people really want.

[Tim Pierce]

But even more notable were the attacks on Hegseth's personal life. Reports surfaced that a woman accused him of sexual assault in 2017, and stories began circulating that Hegseth was often drunk at work at Fox. Hegseth says the 2017 encounter was consensual and a police investigation resulted in no charges being filed. And around a dozen of Hegseth's Fox coworkers dismissed the claims of him drinking as totally ludicrous. He later dismissed those claims in an interview with Megyn Kellogg.

[Doug Collins]

First of all, I've never had a drinking problem. I don't. No one's ever approached me and said, oh, you should really look at getting help for a drink. Never. I've never sought counseling, never sought help. I respect and appreciate people who do.

[Tim Pierce]

Just yesterday, Punchbowl News reported that senators have been told Hegseth's FBI background check was, quote, unremarkable. So we should expect Republicans to lean heavily on that while Democrats keep up their same criticisms.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Seems like that will be a lively hearing to say the least. Now, you mentioned Doug Collins. What can we expect from his hearing?

[Tim Pierce]

Well, that one's going to be a lot less interesting, which is no doubt a relief for Collins. He's a veteran himself and a former congressman. And the VA is a historically troubled department. So senators are really just looking for someone with a proven commitment to helping vets, and they've got that in Collins. He's got tons of support from Republicans and not much pushback from Democrats. So this is probably going to be one of the easier confirmation hearings.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Now looking ahead quickly, who's scheduled for the rest of the week?

[Tim Pierce]

Yeah, tomorrow's the big day with seven hearings scheduled. That includes Kristi Noem, Trump's pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security, and Marco Rubio, his choice for the State Department. Attorney general nominee Pam Bondi will have the first of two hearings tomorrow and will wrap up on Thursday when Treasury nominee Scott Besant and EPA pick Lee Zeldin will also take center stage. Also appearing Thursday is North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, whose hearing was originally scheduled for today but got pushed at the 11th hour. Now you may think that will be another easy one. Burgum's pretty non controversial. He was in the spotlight a lot during his presidential campaign. And the Department of the Interior just isn't something lawmakers tend to get excited about. But remember, Trump also tapped Burgum to lead the newly created National Energy Council, where he'll be in charge of bolstering fossil fuel production. So we're already hearing reports that Democrats are going to grill Burgum about that and try to get him to commit to protecting certain land from drilling. There will also probably be some questions about conflicts of interest since Burgum is a wealthy investor. That's part of why Democrats moved to delay the hearing. They say they still haven't received Burgum's financial disclosure forms.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

We'll of course, be watching these hearings closely and we'll be back tomorrow with any highlights. Tim, thanks for reporting.

[Tim Pierce]

Anytime.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

With Inauguration Day just six days away, the president elect is coming into office with historically high approval ratings for him and widespread support for his agenda.

[Georgia Howe]

Here to break it all down is Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce. So, Tim, what can we expect to see at Trump's second inauguration?

[J.D. Vance]

Yeah, so the weekend will be packed with all sorts of dinners, meetings, ceremonies, and a Make America Great Again victory rally. The weekend is even expected to feature several performances by the Village People. That's the band that first performed the song ymca, a staple at Trump's rallies about half a century ago. On Inauguration Day, acclaimed country artist Carrie Underwood is slated to perform America the Beautiful. She'll be accompanied by the Armed Forces Chorus and the Naval Academy Glee Club. After Trump is sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts, he will down the parade route to the White House, where he's expected to sign a slew of executive orders, with special attention to immigration and the border.

[Georgia Howe]

Now, all of this comes as Trump is arguably more popular than ever, correct?

[Brandon]

Right.

[J.D. Vance]

The polls have been clear on that front. According to a Morning Consult poll out last week, Trump's favorability rating is at a seven year high. Americans generally approve of Trump's transition, but while Trump's approval rating is high for him, it's still low relative to past presidents. According to pollster Harry Entin, Trump's net favorability rating is about minus one. Contrast that with Joe Biden's plus 23 point favorability in January 2021. A 2009 Gallup poll put Obama's favorability at plus 54. And in 2001, Bush entered office with a 28 point positive approval rating. That said, a Signal poll last month found a majority of Americans back key planks of Trump's agenda. 60% of Americans support Doge reforms led by elon Musk, and 56% support Trump's commitment to mass deportations. While many Americans may have their doubts about Trump personally, they like his agenda and want him in Washington to shake things up.

[Georgia Howe]

Now, over the weekend, his vice president, J.D. vance, also gave his first interview since the election. What did he say?

[J.D. Vance]

Yeah, Vance covered a lot of topics in that interview, but one issue that has gained a lot of attention is Trump's seriousness about acquiring Greenland. Vance doubled down on that. Here he is.

[John Bickley]

Greenland is really important for America strategically. It has a lot of great natural resources. My friend Donald Trump Jr. Was there a couple days ago, and you know what they told him? They want to be empowered to develop the people of Greenland want to be empowered to develop the resources there. We also need to make sure that Greenland is properly cared for from an American security perspective. And frankly, the current leadership, the Danish government, has not done a good enough job of securing Greenland. I think there actually is a real opportunity here for us to take leadership to protect America's security, to ensure that those incredible natural resources are developed. And that's what Donald Trump is good at. He's good at making deals, and I think there's a deal to be made in Greenland.

[J.D. Vance]

Now, this is going to be a complicated discussion moving forward. Denmark has said it doesn't want to sell Greenland, but the Danish government is open to negotiating more U.S. influence over the Arctic island. And Greenland's premier favors independence from both the U.S. and Denmark. But he's also open to a closer working relationship with the U.S. the other major foreign policy issue is Trump's approach to the conflict in the Middle East. Vance said that Trump's team wants a deal for Hamas to release hostages before Inauguration Day.

[John Bickley]

It's very clear that President Trump threatening Hamas and making it clear that there is going to be hell to pay is part of the reason why we've made progress on getting some hostages out. We're hopeful there's going to be a deal that's struck towards the very end of Biden, Biden's administration, maybe the last day or two. But regardless of when that deal is struck, it will be because people are terrified that there are going to be consequences for Hamas.

[J.D. Vance]

To that point, reports on Monday said that Israel and Hamas were close to a deal and that more hostages could be released at any time.

[Georgia Howe]

So a positive sign at least. And with inauguration coming up, Daily Wire is going to be on the ground with all of the big news next week. Tim, thanks for reporting.

[J.D. Vance]

Good to be on.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

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

[Brandon]

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