The wildfires that are still burning in Southern California have been thrusted into the national stage as President Donald Trump continues his threats to withhold wildfire aid unless California aligns with his policies on water, or forestry management, or immigration or voter ID.
The situation has put California Republican members of Congress in a bind, writes CalMatters’ Yue Stella Yu: Should they fight for unconditional aid to quickly help California constituents at the risk of Trump turning against them? Or should they side with him and expose themselves to criticism that they didn’t rush to help Californians in need?
It’s unclear whether Trump’s potentially unprecedented demands to tie federal disaster aid with conditions will happen. But the state’s GOP House delegation is already splintering. Rep. Young Kim, whose district includes fire-prone parts of Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties, said that conditional aid is a “slap in the face” to wildfire victims and first responders.
But Rep. Tom McClintock, whose district includes regions damaged 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.”
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana is also considering making the aid conditional.
Speaking of the wildfires: On Sunday Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to deliver more water from the Central Valley Project, reports CalMatters’ Alastair Bland.
Though Trump cited the fires as the reason behind the directive, the order would mostly serve farms. (While fire hydrants in Los Angeles did run out of water during the wildfires, city, fire and utility officials said it was due to a high demand of water and the limited capacity of pipelines — not a lack of water.)
The order also calls for expediting “action related to any exemption under the Endangered Species Act” — a reference to the smelt, salmon and sturgeon that are already imperiled in the water systems the Central Valley Project draws from.
How will Trump’s second presidency affect your corner of California? CalMatters is working with public radio partners to gather perspectives across the state. Share your thoughts here.
Wildfire newsletter: CalMatters is teaming up with PBS SoCal, LAist and KCRW to offer a free newsletter that delivers new and accurate information about the Southern California fires. Read an edition and subscribe.
Other Stories You Should Know
Trump and abortion policy in the West
Though the ideological makeup of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals remains reliably liberal and unlikely to change over the next four years, its 16-13 split between judges appointed by Democrats and Republicans hasn’t been this narrow for nearly three decades — with Trump playing a major role in that.
As CalMatters’ Kristen Hwang explains, at the end of President Barack Obama’s second term, GOP congress members froze confirmation hearings, leaving dozens of vacancies. This enabled Trump to make 10 appointments during his first administration, which ultimately helped to remake the West Coast’s federal judiciary 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 instance, has a near total abortion ban and has become a hotspot of litigation that could impact all of the nine states the 9th Circuit oversees.
The balance on the 9th Circuit is also important as states such as California file lawsuits to block Trump’s policies during his second term. Compared to decades before, the likelihood of a case being considered by a conservative-majority panel of judges is much higher.
Sen. Rubio back as insurance committee chair
For three weeks, the seat to lead the state Senate’s insurance committee remained vacant. That was until Friday, when Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire of Santa Rosa reappointed Sen. Susan Rubio as chairperson of the committee, report CalMatters’ Ryan Sabalow and CBS Sacramento’s Julie Watts.
The West Covina Democrat has headed the committee since 2019, but came under scrutiny in recent months over her possible involvement in a federal corruption investigation related to bribes from a cannabis company.
The probe prompted McGuire to wait for “additional information” before finalizing the seat appointment. But on Friday, McGuire said he has “confidence in (Rubio’s) experience and her ability to lead the committee while the state faces unprecedented challenges with the insurance market.”
- McGuire, in an emailed statement: “The Senate takes allegations of ethical and criminal behavior incredibly seriously. … What’s been learned: No case has been filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and no additional information is available from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
Rubio most recently denied accepting bribes in a CBS News interview that aired Wednesday.
And lastly: LA turns over shelter records
L.A. officials have repeatedly denied public records requests from CalMatters about conditions inside homeless shelters. Now they’ve begun releasing thousands of internal documents. Find out why from CalMatters’ investigative reporters Lauren Hepler and Byrhonda Lyons.
California Voices
California must leverage Proposition 36 to move beyond harm reduction, writes Vern Pierson, district attorney of El Dorado County and co-sponsor of Prop. 36.
Other things worth your time:
Rent illegally rose by 20 percent across LA County after fires // The Washington Post
Dayslong power shutoffs draw complaints from Inland Empire residents, politicians // Los Angeles Times
CA’s need for caregivers could collide with a crackdown on immigrants // Los Angeles Times
Congress member presses Trump administration on use of Bay Area-based airmen at border // San Francisco Chronicle
UC concerned about Trump’s pause on grant review // Los Angeles Times
CA just debunked a big myth about renewable energy // Grist
One year after historic flooding, San Diego neighbors are ‘here in the fight’ // The San Diego Union-Tribune
Two years after deadly Half Moon Bay shooting, farmworkers still in limbo // San Francisco Chronicle
Condo developers say Oakland ripped them off. A US Supreme Court case helped them // The Oaklandside
The framing of the shrew: CA students photograph mammal never caught on film // The Guardian