With just days remaining before Joe Biden and Kamala Harris vacate the White House, the duo decided to huddle with senior administration officials for a briefing on the response—or lack thereof—to the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. While homes smolder and lives lie in ruins, the timing of this meeting feels like a last-ditch attempt to feign concern for a crisis that’s spiraled out of control under their watch.
The numbers are staggering. Over 12,000 structures have been reduced to ash, at least 24 lives have been tragically lost, and the damages are now estimated at a jaw-dropping $150 billion. Adding to the chaos, California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass are facing intense scrutiny for slashing fire department funding and failing to address critical infrastructure like filling reservoirs. Perhaps if they’d spent less time on photo ops and more on disaster preparedness, the situation might look different.
Biden, in his infinite wisdom, announced that residents who have lost everything to the flames will receive a generous $770. Yes, $770—just enough for a new toaster and maybe some socks. It’s a gesture that feels more like an insult, particularly when contrasted with the administration’s recent decision to send an additional $500 million in military aid to Ukraine. Priorities, right? Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, ever the diplomat, reassured everyone that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky considers this assistance “essential.” Meanwhile, Californians sifting through the ashes of their homes might beg to differ.
Kamala Harris, never one to miss an opportunity for word salad, offered her own brand of wisdom during the Monday briefing. She urged Californians to “find patience” in this “unprecedented crisis,” a sentiment that likely fell flat among residents who have been left with little more than frustration and disbelief. To make matters worse, many Californians now find themselves without a way to rebuild, as hundreds of homeowners’ insurance policies have been mysteriously canceled.
State Farm, one of the largest insurers in the state, defended its decision to pull coverage, citing financial instability caused by the increasing frequency of wildfires. While their reasoning may hold up on a balance sheet, the real-world impact is devastating. Families are left without options, and the government’s lukewarm response does little to inspire hope. For many, this crisis is a harsh reminder of misplaced priorities, failed leadership, and a growing disconnect between those in power and the people they claim to serve.
Kamala to wildfire victims: "It's critically important that, to the extent you can find anything that gives you an ability to be patient in this extremely dangerous and unprecedented crisis, that you do." pic.twitter.com/zjV2KVxr8u
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) January 14, 2025
