No Mercy / No Malice: After The Fires - The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

Summary

Podcast Summary: No Mercy / No Malice: After The Fires

Release Date: January 18, 2025
Host: Scott Galloway
Narrator: George Hahn

Introduction

In this episode of No Mercy / No Malice, Scott Galloway delves into the devastating wildfires that recently swept through Los Angeles. Narrated by George Hahn, the discussion explores the multifaceted impact of the fires, the ensuing political blame game, misinformation challenges, economic repercussions, and the broader societal implications surrounding climate change and community resilience.

Overview of the LA Wildfires

George Hahn begins by detailing the sheer scale of the wildfires in Los Angeles, highlighting the extensive area affected and the human toll. He notes:

[01:29] George Hahn: "Students at UCLA were warned to prepare for an evacuation order that thankfully didn't come. Friends lost homes. Others don't know if their houses are still standing or they're contemplating moving back to what feels like a blast zone."

The wildfires have destroyed over 12,000 structures with a death toll of 25, an outcome largely attributed to the effective efforts of frontline responders and the community's resilience.

Political and Social Reactions

Hahn examines the immediate political reactions to the disaster, emphasizing the swift attribution of blame across the political spectrum:

[02:45] George Hahn: "Immediately the left claimed it was climate change and blamed Republicans. Maybe. Or perhaps you're tempting fate when you build hundreds of thousands of tinderboxes in a desert."

He highlights how political figures from various backgrounds, including Elon Musk and Donald Trump, directed criticism towards policies and officials, regardless of the factual basis of their claims.

Misinformation and Media Response

The episode underscores the rapid spread of misinformation in the digital age, contrasting it with traditional media's role:

[05:10] George Hahn: "Contrary to viral claims on social media, the Hollywood sign didn't burn down. One clue that the AI-generated images were fake."

Hahn criticizes the ease with which false information circulates online, detracting from the essential work of disaster response and recovery.

Insurance and Economic Impact

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the economic fallout from the wildfires, particularly focusing on the insurance industry's struggles:

[09:30] George Hahn: "California's insurance market was already in crisis as leading insurers had done the math and decided to leave the state or not renew policies in fire-prone areas."

The rising costs of property insurance and the state's reliance on the Fair Plan highlight the broader financial challenges exacerbated by climate-induced disasters.

Rebuilding Efforts and Challenges

Rebuilding Los Angeles poses both logistical and ethical dilemmas. Hahn argues against unchecked redevelopment:

[13:50] George Hahn: "I'm not arguing against disaster relief, but against the continued gestalt in our society where we always find a narrative and empathy to bail out the rich while throwing some loaves of bread and a circus at the poor."

He critiques the proposal of a $2.5 billion Marshall Plan for rebuilding, suggesting it may perpetuate wealth disparities rather than address systemic issues.

Community and Volunteer Efforts

Amidst the chaos, Hahn acknowledges the unsung heroes of the disaster response:

[15:20] George Hahn: "Canada and seven western states, including Texas, also sent aid across Los Angeles and beyond. Businesses and regular people didn't ask if help was needed, they just showed up."

He lauds the community's solidarity, particularly highlighting volunteer firefighters and street vendors who transformed local spaces into donation hubs.

Personal Reflections on Love

Transitioning from the macro to the personal, Hahn shares his introspective thoughts on love:

[19:00] George Hahn: "Love is giving witness to someone's life to notice them and their lived experience."

He emphasizes actionable support over mere inquiries, advocating for tangible assistance to those affected by the fires.

Conclusion

Scott Galloway, through George Hahn's narration, presents a comprehensive analysis of the LA wildfires' aftermath. The episode interweaves critical commentary on political narratives, the dangers of misinformation, economic strains, and the importance of genuine community support. Hahn's reflections on love and societal values serve as a poignant reminder of the human element amidst disaster recovery.

Notable Quotes

[01:29] "The LA fires will likely go down as the costliest natural disaster in US history."
[02:45] "Everyone works together to put out the fire as fire is apolitical, unemotional and does not discriminate."
[05:10] "Contrary to viral claims on social media, the Hollywood sign didn't burn down."
[09:30] "California's insurance market was already in crisis as leading insurers had done the math and decided to leave the state or not renew policies in fire-prone areas."
[13:50] "We always find a narrative and empathy to bail out the rich while throwing some loaves of bread and a circus at the poor."
[15:20] "Businesses and regular people didn't ask if help was needed, they just showed up."
[19:00] "Love is giving witness to someone's life to notice them and their lived experience."

Final Thoughts

This episode serves as a critical examination of the intersection between natural disasters, political discourse, and societal values. Scott Galloway, through George Hahn's insightful narration, challenges listeners to rethink prevailing narratives and advocate for more equitable and effective responses to crises.

Transcript

A (0:00)

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A (1:06)

I'm Scott Galloway and this is no mercy, no malice. The LA wildfires appear to be subsiding. What lessons will we take from this crisis after the fire? As read by George H.A.

B (1:29)

My hometown of Los Angeles is experiencing wildfires that have torched a surface area greater than Boston or San Francisco. Students at ucla, my alma mater, were warned to prepare for an evacuation order that thankfully didn't come. Friends lost homes. Others don't know if their houses are still standing or they're contemplating moving back to what feels like a blast zone. At least 12,000 structures have been destroyed. The death toll stands at 25. Given the scale of the disaster, that is remarkably low and a testament to the good work of frontline responders and the broader community. The LA fires will likely go down as the costliest natural disaster in US history. The question now what happens after the fire? The first rule of fires is simple. Everyone works together to put out the fire as fire is apolitical, unemotional and does not discriminate. But just as electric cars go from 0 to 60 faster than cars with combustion engines, digitized information accelerates from zero to blame much faster than analog media. Immediately the left claimed it was climate change and blamed Republicans. Maybe. Or perhaps your tempting fate when you build hundreds of thousands of tinderboxes in a desert where high and low pressure systems collide to create tidal waves of hot air, that is the Santa Ana winds, First Lady Elect Elon Musk blamed DEI the shitposter in Chief Donald Trump blamed California governor Gavin Newsom for failing to sign the water restoration declaration, providing much needed water to emergency services. The problem a that declaration does not exist. In local news, the billionaire real estate developer who lost in LA's most recent mayoral election blamed the city for fire hydrant failures. In Pacific Palisades, the system was pushed beyond its limits as water demand was four times normal demand for 15 plus hours. Note the people screaming the loudest about wasteful government spending are always the first to demand government help in a crisis. LAFD Chief Kristen Crowley took time out from fighting the fires to blame Mayor Karen bass for cutting $17.6 million from the department's budget. The department's $895 million budget actually increased by $58 million as a result of the latest union contract. To get that higher pay to firefighters, the department reduced spending on equipment and training. The mayor's response added to the drama, fueling rumors that the chief had been fired. Right wing podcasters blame Fire Chief Crowley's gayness, saying she was a DEI hire. Note she has outstanding qualifications. We've become stupid hurting others while hurting ourselves with algorithms and politics that reward divisive rhetoric. Both sides engage in this, but the right is louder and bolder. That is more full of shit than the left. It's far more likely that climate change played a role in the fires than China, Ukraine or dei. Contrary to viral claims on social media, the Hollywood sign didn't burn down. One clue that the AI generated images were fake. An extra letter making it Holly Wooded adjudicated liar. Alex Jones falsely claimed that firefighters were battling the blazes using ladies handbags as buckets because officials had donated their equipment to Ukraine. His post on Twitter X has 29 million views. As an LAFD public information officer told the Wall Street Journal, quote, it takes people and time to track down or debunk social media rumors. It takes us away from doing more important things. By coincidence, the fires began the same day Mark Zuckerberg, the Immortan Joe of the Information Wasteland, announced that Meta would end fact checking and replace the program with community notes. Zuckerberg cited free speech. His decision was about bending the knee and shareholder value. Zuck also made a stupid comment about companies needing more masculine energy. He believes masculinity is increasing your personal wealth by sacrificing the safety of the most vulnerable. No, masculinity is about protecting the vulnerable. See aerial firefighters demonstrating expertise at enormous personal risk to save lives and protect homes twice, LA county officials mistakenly sent evacuation alerts to 10 million people. Those were potentially dangerous errors. Old school local broadcasters corrected these mistakes in real time, heading off a catastrophic panic. Meanwhile, WatchDuty, a nonprofit app that tracks emergencies and sends real time Alerts, has had 2 million downloads since the fires began. It's currently available in 22 states, operating with a team of 200 volunteers and 15 full time employees. Unfortunately, local news is in short supply across the U.S. over the past decade there have been $23 billion worth of broadcast TV ownership deals, concentrating an industry in which the three largest owners already control 40% of all local news stations and are present in over 80% of media markets, zooming out to include print, radio and digital. More than half the counties in the US have little or no access to local news. Most of these news deserts are located in high poverty areas and serve historically marginalized communities. People say digital media gives everyone a voice. Maybe, but digital media has definitely drowned out actual journalists. The question isn't whether to rebuild, but where. Pacific Palisades is a wonderful place to live, but those amazing views of beautiful topography of foothills, mountains, canyons and ridgelines are located in fire zones. Early estimates put the total cost of the wildfires at 250 to 275 billion dollars. The property insurance bill is expected to easily top 20 billion dollars. California's insurance market was already in crisis as leading insurers had done the math and decided to leave the state or not renew policies in fire prone areas. California's state backed Fair Plan is the insurer of last resort in these areas. Statewide, the number of Fair Plan policies in 2024 increased 40% from 2023 and 85% in Pacific Palisades. Continuing to underwrite wood built Craftsman homes in Altadena, median home value $1.3 million and mansions along the Pacific coast highway is a wealth transfer from California's taxpayers to some of its wealthiest people. This isn't unique to California. Ten states across the political spectrum, including Florida and Texas, sued a federal flood insurance program after it adjusted premiums to better reflect climate realities. As one meme put it, you may not believe in climate change, but your insurance company does. Governor Newsom has proposed a $2.5 billion Marshall Plan to kick start rebuilding that emotionally feels right. However, I'd argue it is yet again a transfer of wealth from the middle class to the rich under the auspices of a tragedy. Covid caused the greatest intergenerational theft this century, flushing the markets with $7 trillion in stimulus, 85% of which wasn't needed but sent asset prices soaring. This was great for the incumbents, home and equity owners, and awful for entrants, the young who will have to pay for our largesse via deficits. The median value of a home in the Palisades is $3.3 million, or eight times the national median. I'm not arguing against disaster relief, but against the continued gestalt in our society where we always find a narrative and empathy to bail out the rich while throwing some loaves of bread and a circus at the poor. I live on the water in Florida, where insurance rates have skyrocketed, as they should. Homes vulnerable to the floods and wildfires caused by climate change tend to be in beautiful areas on the water or in hilly, dry climates. I don't believe anybody has a birthright to live there, and the risks or costs of doing so shouldn't be transferred to people who can't live on the beach. Also, will we ever get serious about climate change if we normalize? That is beyond bail out the powerful who are the agents of change in a capitalist America. Los Angeles will be rebuilt as it's wonderful and worth it, regardless of who ultimately bears the cost. After the 1991 Oakland fire, 8 out of 10 residents rebuilt after disasters. Most people decide to stay. The project, however, will put Trump's biggest policies under the microscope. Trump has vowed to deport millions of people. I've written that we won't do that as immigrant labor is Too profitable in LA, 28% of the construction workforce is undocumented. Trump's tariff plan 60% on goods from China, 20% on everything else the US imports is an elegant way to turn a no brainer building boom into an own goal that'll make us nostalgic for Covid supply chain disruptions and post pandemic inflation. My prediction? Trump will turn against his plans, blame someone else for his fatuous ideas and declare victory while standing next to James woods at a groundbreaking ceremony in LA. I donated to several charities and GoFundMe campaigns in the aftermath of the fires. To its credit, GoFundMe has raised millions for people affected by the catastrophe since its founding. The for profit firm, last valued at $600 million in 2015, has processed $30 billion in crowdfunding. That's a lot of cabbage for GoFundMe. I paid a 14% fee to donate. An LA county supervisor complained about the same 14% charge. The company's VP for Communications reached out to me to clarify that its standard transaction fee is 2.9% plus 30 cents and insisted that tipping is optional. However, the tip option is the default and I have about as much choice as the service charge on a bill at a Miami restaurant. GoFundMe needs to be more transparent that tips are optional and opt in. That's how tipping works. And if the organization really wants a tip, here it is. Don't treat your customers like assholes and claim an opaque charge is optional. Neighbors are helping neighbors Mexico didn't send their best people, they sent some of their bravest, that is Firefighters. Canada and seven western states, including Texas, also sent aid across Los Angeles and beyond. Businesses and regular people didn't ask if help was needed, they just showed up. My personal favorite the street vendors who turned the Rose bowl and Santa Anita park racetrack into donation centers. Honorable mention the 900 plus incarcerated volunteer firefighters working on the front lines for $10 a day. As one of them explained, for the first time in his life he has a job and the community values his contributions. We should give the same opportunity to every young American by investing in a national service program as it would benefit every community in the country I've been thinking a lot about love the past decade as I'm not that good at it. I've had few people in my life whom I loved and loved me. My definition of love used to be caring about someone's well being more than my own. This misses the mark however, as it would mean I only love my immediate family, which I don't think is true. A better definition, love is giving witness to someone's life to notice them and their lived experience. My friend Rabbi Steve Leder said something that hit hard this week. Calling people and asking if you can help is the wrong thing to do the right thing. Just help. Pick up their dogs, drop off food, send a photo of the room in your house they can stay in, wire them cash. Don't ask do are there people in LA you love? Then give witness to their life notice. What would help? Don't ask. Just give witness notice and love them.