Spin Cycle: Wildfires Rage, And Politicians Fan The Blame

For those who don't spend their Sunday mornings glued to the television - and
their Sunday afternoons attempting to dig through a week's worth of network
and cable news media spin - The Daily Wire has compiled a short summary of
what you may have missed.

On Sunday, as multiple wildfires still rage out of control in California,
what to do about them and how to prevent such a tragedy from happening in the
future was top of mind on many of the political talk shows. As one might
expect, media personalities were quick to jump to the aid of Democrats - who
are often only too happy to politicize natural disasters when they occurred
in red states - were desperate to put a stop to the criticism being leveled
at California's leadership (or lack thereof) with regard to the fires.

Deanne Criswell, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),
joined host Jonathan Karl on ABC News' "This Week" to discuss the "dangerous
situation" still unfolding in Southern California.

"The red flag warnings have been reissued, the winds are coming back, and we
still want to make sure that people are in a safe place," Criswell said. The
winds had abated enough to allow for air support to fly in water and fire
retardant over the last day, but they are expected to pick up again and the
situation is still extremely volatile.

FEMA's Deanne Criswell tells @JonKarl that the wildfires in
California are still creating a "dangerous situation."

"The red flag warnings have been reissued, the winds are coming
back, and we still want to make sure that people are in a safe
place." https://t.co/DaiAqGdfIK pic.twitter.com/E6hxHKtpFs

- This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 12, 2025

Criswell, fresh off her agency's scandalous behavior in the southeast -
refusing to knock on doors and offer federal assistance where signs
supporting President-elect Donald Trump were visible - assured Karl that the
federal government was prepared to handle the aftermath of the devastating
fires in addition to what was already on their plate.

FEMA's Deanne Criswell tells @JonKarl that the agency has funding
to support the wildfire response in California, as well as
"recoveries from Hurricanes Helene and Milton and the other 179
declarations that we had last year alone across the United States."
https://t.co/9L2wIzgR1g pic.twitter.com/anOvr3S7Ko

- This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 12, 2025

Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) also spoke to Karl about the fires ravaging his
home state, praising firefighters and likening the devastation to that seen
in war zones. "The heartbreak is just overwhelming," he said.

"The heartbreak is just overwhelming."

California Sen. Adam Schiff tells @JonKarl that the level of
devastation in his home state due to the wildfires reminds him of
visiting war zones, praises firefighters for the "extraordinary
job they're doing." https://t.co/ztBCpzSppZ
pic.twitter.com/XL43g6Prb4

- This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 12, 2025

Schiff suggested that the best response to the fires would be to put forth an
independent commission to review what had transpired. "What went right in our
response? What went wrong in it?"

Sen. Adam Schiff calls for an independent commission to review the
response to the California wildfires.

"What went right in our response? What went wrong in it?"
https://t.co/nf9CAUZ2iH pic.twitter.com/Pj3azIxjvm

- This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 12, 2025

The new California senator, elected to fill the seat that was initially
vacated when the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) passed away, also called
on President-elect Trump to join with California in an effort to prevent
future disasters.

Schiff, who spent the majority of Trump's last term attempting to either
impeach him or simply smear him as a Russian asset, claimed on Sunday, "It's
going to be really important for the incoming president to work with all of
us in California to make sure that we get the resources we need to put out
these flames . to get the relief to get back on our feet."

"It's going to be really important for the incoming president to
work with all of us in California to make sure that we get the
resources we need to put out these flames . to get the relief to
get back on our feet," California Sen. Adam Schiff says.
https://t.co/ANK2epHI2F pic.twitter.com/ygCxGG6ESk

- This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 12, 2025

On CBS News' "Face the Nation," FEMA's Criswell also spoke with host Margaret
Brennan - and she argued that despite the growing evidence to the contrary,
California had been adequately prepared to confront the massive blaze.

"I think that they were very prepared," Criswell said - despite multiple
reports of budget cuts to local fire departments, empty reservoirs, and empty
fire hydrants. She went on to blame the excessive winds - which are a common
problem in Southern California - for the difficulties first responders have
faced in battling the fires. "[They] have never seen 100 mph winds that are
fueling the fire."

When asked why the Los Angeles area was so unprepared for these
wildfires, @FEMA_Deanne says, "I think that they were very prepared."
But she adds the firefighters "have never seen 100 mph winds that
are fueling the fire." pic.twitter.com/JELhORdFoE

- Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) January 12, 2025

Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) echoed Schiff's sentiments in calling for bipartisan
efforts in helping California to rebuild.

"These wildfires don't have any political affiliation," she told Brennan.
"They don't belong to any political party. This devastation has affected
thousands upon thousands of people who just ran out of their homes with
nothing in their hands, and are trying to rebuild, and they need help."

She called on President-elect Trump and newly re-elected House Speaker Mike
Johnson (R-LA) to visit the affected area, saying that they need to "witness
the devastation for themselves."

There are plans to invite President-elect Donald Trump and House
Speaker Mike Johnson to the areas of California afflicted by the
wildfires and "witness the devastation for themselves," says Rep.
Judy Chu (D-CA).

"These wildfires don't have any political affiliation," she says..
pic.twitter.com/Lhb9U7F7M8

- Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) January 12, 2025

Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) also weighed in, noting that if
the federal government was going to assist California after obvious failures
in preparation, that there would be "strings attached" to any funding
provided.

"It has to do with being ready the next time because this was a gross failure
this time," he said.

"There will be strings attached" to any disaster and recovery aid
Congress will "ultimately" approve for the California wildfires,
says Senate Majority Whip @SenJohnBarrasso.

"It has to do with being ready the next time because this was a
gross failure this time," he tells. pic.twitter.com/ym9WvXaDoa

- Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) January 12, 2025

Meanwhile, Governor Gavin Newsom joined NBC News' "Meet the Press" - where he
said that Trump had not yet responded to an invitation to tour the damaged
areas of his state.

Trump has not responded to invitation to survey L.A. wildfire damage,
Gov. Newsom says https://t.co/OP9KQebWTM

- Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) January 12, 2025

Saying that the fires would be viewed as one of the worst natural disasters
to be recorded in American history, Newsom also claimed that he still had
complete confidence in the leadership in place - including L.A.'s Democratic
Mayor Karen Bass, who was on a taxpayer-funded trip to Africa when the fires
began.

Gov. Newsom says he has `faith in our leaders' as L.A. Mayor Karen
Bass faces scrutiny https://t.co/l6WlHoYtdP

- Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) January 12, 2025

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