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The wildfires still burning in Southern California have been thrust onto the national stage as President Donald Trump continues his threats to cut off wildfire aid unless California follows through on its policies on water, forestry management, immigration or voter ID.
The situation put California Republicans in Congress are in a bindwrites CalMatters’ Yue Stella Yu: Should they fight for unconditional aid to quickly help California voters at the risk of Trump turning on them? Or should they side with him and expose themselves to criticism for not rushing to help Californians in need?
It’s not clear whether Trump’s potentially unprecedented demands tying federal disaster aid to conditions will happen. But the GOP delegation in the state House is already splitting. Representative Young Kim, whose district includes fire-prone parts of Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties, said the conditional aid is “a slap in the face” for wildfire victims and first responders.
But Congressman Tom McClintock, whose district includes regions hit by the 2022 Mosquito Fire, not only agreed with Trump but said federal aid should bypass state officials and be administered “directly to the victims.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, is also considering making the aid conditional.
Speaking of wildfires: On Sunday, Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to delivers more water than the Central Valley Projectreports CalMatters’ Alastair Bland.
Although Trump cited the fires as the reason for the directive, the order will primarily serve farms. (Although Los Angeles fire hydrants ran out of water during the wildfires, city, fire and utility officials said this is due to high demand for water and limited pipeline capacity—not a lack of water.)
The order also calls for expediting “actions related to any exemption under the Endangered Species Act” — a reference to smelt, salmon and sturgeon, which are already endangered in the water systems from which the Central Valley project draws.
How will a second Trump presidency affect your corner of California? CalMatters works with public radio partners to gather perspectives across the state. Share your thoughts here.
Forest Fire Bulletin: CalMatters has partnered with PBS SoCal, LAist and KCRW to offer a free newsletter that provides new and accurate information about the fires in Southern California. Read on edition and subscribe.
Other stories you should know
Trump and abortion politics in the West
Although the ideological makeup of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals remains reliably liberal and is unlikely to change in the next four years, its 16-13 split between Democratic and Republican-appointed judges has not been this close in nearly three decades — with Trump playing a major role in this.
Like CalMatters Kristen Huang explains that at the end of President Barack Obama’s second term, GOP members of Congress froze confirmation hearings, leaving dozens of seats open. This allowed Trump to make 10 appointments during his first administration that ultimately helped reshape the federal judiciary in the West Bank and influenced national reproductive health policies.
The 9th Circuit covers more states than any other federal appeals court, including some with more restrictive abortion policies than California’s. Idaho, for example, has a near-total abortion ban and has become a hot spot for litigation that could affect all nine states the 9th Circuit oversees.
The balance of the 9th Circuit is also important as states like California file lawsuits to block Trump’s policies during his second term. Compared to decades before, the likelihood of a case being heard by a panel with a conservative majority is much higher.
Senator Rubio again as Chairman of the Insurance Committee
For three weeks, the seat to lead the state Senate’s insurance committee remained vacant. That was until Fridaywhen the Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire of Santa Rosa reappointed senator Susan Rubio as committee chair, reports CalMatters’ Ryan Sabalow and CBS Sacramento’s Julie Watts.
The West Covina Democrat has chaired the committee since 2019, but has come under scrutiny in recent months for her possible involvement in a federal corruption investigation related to bribes from a cannabis company.
The probe prompted McGuire to wait for “further information” before finalizing a spot appointment. But on Friday, McGuire said he has “confidence in (Rubio’s) experience and her ability to lead the commission as the state faces unprecedented challenges in the insurance market.”
- McGuirein an emailed statement: “The Senate takes allegations of unethical and criminal behavior incredibly seriously. … What we learned: The U.S. Attorney’s Office has not filed a case and no additional information is available from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
Rubio recently denied accepting bribes in a CBS News interview aired on Wednesday.
And finally: LA hands over the shelter’s archives
Los Angeles officials have repeatedly denied public records requests from CalMatters about conditions at homeless shelters. Now they have started releasing thousands of internal documents. Find out why by CalMatters investigative reporters Lauren Hepler and Bironda Lyons.
California voices
California should use Proposition 36 to move beyond harm reduction, writes Verne PearsonEl Dorado County District Attorney and co-sponsor of Prop. 36.
Other things worth your time:
Illegal rents rose by 20 percent in LA County after fires // The Washington Post
Day-long power outages cause complaints from residents of the Inland Empire, politicians // Los Angeles Times
CA’s need for caregivers may collide with repression against immigrants // Los Angeles Times
A member of Congress pressures the Trump administration on the use of Bay Area-based airmen at the border // San Francisco Chronicle
UC concerned about Trump pause while reviewing grants // Los Angeles Times
CA just debunked a big myth for renewable energy // Grist
One year after the historic floodneighbors from san diego are “here in the fight” // San Diego Union Tribune
Two years after the deadly shooting in Half Moon Bayfarm workers still missing // San Francisco Chronicle
Condo developers say Oakland has ripped them off. A US Supreme Court case helped them // Oaklandside
Land framing: California students photograph a mammal that has never been captured on film // The Guardian
