On Friday, a union representing more than 3,000 Los Angeles city firefighters gave its full-throated support for Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, who was reportedly <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/la-fire-chief-reportedly-called-to-mayors-office-to-be-fired-heres-what-we-know" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called into Democrat Mayor Karen Bass&#8217; office</a> last week to be fired, though she ultimately kept her job.
Mayor Bass and Crowley have been at odds while the city of Los Angeles battles historic wildfires that have so far killed 25 people, and others remain missing. Additionally, Crowley was recently the subject of an anonymous letter from “retired and active LAFD chief officers&#8221; condemning her performance as chief, and specifically her decision to <a href="https://x.com/CollinRugg/status/1877827973895893084?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1877827973895893084%7Ctwgr%5E585d526402d13d1ba29fc4ec80f388dbccb9aa40%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailywire.com%2Fnews%2Fla-fire-chief-reportedly-called-to-mayors-office-to-be-fired-heres-what-we-know" target="_blank" rel="noopener">call out Mayor Bass</a> on television.
United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112 condemned the letter admonishing Crowley, which they said was signed by &#8220;disgruntled and anonymous individuals.&#8221; The union also thanked Crowley for being “willing to fight” for her staff and the agency’s budget, the Los Angeles Times <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-17/firefighter-union-rallies-behind-lafd-chief-denounces-attack-on-her-performance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
“While we haven’t agreed on everything, you’ve been the only fire chief in decades to repeatedly demand adequate resources,” the union said.
Crowley bluntly told the press last week that city leadership “failed” her department &#8212; a moment the letter admonishing Crowley referred to as an &#8220;outburst.&#8221;
“Chief, please focus on your current duties and responsibilities which currently should be focused on mitigating and stabilizing the Palisades fire,&#8221; the anonymous letter said. &#8220;Your outburst regarding the budget and the statement that the ‘City failed the LAFD’ was ill-advised, poorly timed and took away from the most important issue, the Palisades fire.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
JUST IN: Los Angeles Fire Department chief Kristin Crowley turns on Los Angeles leadership, says they failed her.
Remarkable interview.
Crowley called out the city for having no water in the Santa Ynez Reservoir.
Reporter: &#8220;Did the city of Los Angeles fail you and your… <a href="https://t.co/fUQPoW32QA">pic.twitter.com/fUQPoW32QA</a>
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) <a href="https://twitter.com/CollinRugg/status/1877827973895893084?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
Mayor Bass has been accused of ignoring warnings of the forecasted high winds and fire threat, opting to leave town for a taxpayer-funded trip to Africa. The mayor also cut the fire department budget by <a href="https://abc11.com/post/los-angeles-cut-175m-fire-department-budget-months-before-palisades-signed-mayor-karen-bass/15782731/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$17.5 million</a> just months before the fires broke out, as highlighted by Crowley. Currently, an online petition signed by <a href="https://www.change.org/p/demand-the-immediate-resignation-of-mayor-karen-bass" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more than 155,000 people</a> calls for Bass&#8217; immediate resignation.
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There is also much controversy about the LA Fire Department&#8217;s priorities, specifically its focus on DEI goals over competence and effectiveness. For example, the department’s assistant chief, Kristine Larson, appears in a video in which she says that if someone complains about a woman firefighter’s inability to carry a man out of a fire, her response would be, “He got himself in the wrong place if I have to carry him out of a fire.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
LAFD Assistant Chief Kristine Larson:
&#8220;Am I able to carry your husband out of a fire? He got himself in the wrong place.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/BofTVr6dWP">pic.twitter.com/BofTVr6dWP</a>
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) <a href="https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/1877458240050446339?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
Journalist Michael Shellenberger has reported whistleblowers&#8217; stories about detrimental DEI standards with the department.
&#8220;DEI didn&#8217;t hurt the LA Fire Department&#8217;s response to the catastrophic fires, say the media. But anything that trumps meritocratic standards would,&#8221; Shellenberger posted online. &#8220;And now, whistleblowers within LAFD say the Department lowered standards on ladders, hoses &amp; push-ups to meet DEI quotas for women.&#8221;
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Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/la-fire-chief-reportedly-called-to-mayors-office-to-be-fired-heres-what-we-know" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LA Fire Chief Reportedly Called To Mayor’s Office ‘To Be Fired.’ Here’s What We Know.</a>

Fire Chief Kristin Crowley

LA Fire Chief Gets Backing From Union After Reportedly Being On Mayor’s Chopping Block

Fire

Karen Bass

Los Angeles

Natural Disaster

U.S.

Wildfires

Filmmaker <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mel-gibson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mel Gibson</a> has become the latest <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/patricia-heaton-blows-up-on-la-mayor-as-fires-rage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">celebrity to torch</a> Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass after losing his home in the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/fire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Southern California fires</a>.
Speaking on the “Arroyo Grande” <a href="https://x.com/RaymondArroyo/status/1879912134114513236">podcast</a>, the 69-year-old actor reflected on the destruction of the Palisades Fire and what was left of his home due to the failure of the state&#8217;s leadership.
&#8220;Well, first I thought it was, &#8216;Oh gee, bad luck, tragedy,'&#8221; Gibson explained. “But then I came to realize that it was monumental mismanagement by our elected officials; and that’s the nicest thing you can say about it.”
&#8220;I mean, as a citizen here, Newsom and Bass, they want us to trust them to reimagine the city, our city, and how they think it should be,” he added. “I mean, look at what they’ve done so far to this town. You got nothing but rampant crime, acute homelessness, high taxes, mismanagement of water, firefighters, defunding the department, and we’re supposed to trust them with millions of dollars to sort of remake where we live?”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BREAKING: Mel Gibson on LA 2.0: “Newsom and Bass, they want us to trust them to re-imagine the city, our city… look at what they&#8217;ve done so far to this town, you know…It&#8217;s our city, it&#8217;s the city of the people, and they have another plan.” 
Subscribe to the full ARROYO GRANDE… <a href="https://t.co/nFnTUfVsIM">pic.twitter.com/nFnTUfVsIM</a>
— Raymond Arroyo (@RaymondArroyo) <a href="https://twitter.com/RaymondArroyo/status/1879912134114513236?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
“It’s our city, it’s the city of the people, and they have another plan,” the director continued. “There’s still people from the Woolsey Fire still living in trailers. … When have you seen the government ‘build back better?’ It’s just social engineering, environmental regulation, and spending; that’s the last thing any of us who have been burned out need are a bunch of bureaucrats tellings us how to rebuild our communities.&#8221;
Gibson recently spoke to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hE9VvdUXf8">NewsNation</a> and said he wasn’t even in town when the fires consumed his Malibu home because he was in Austin, Texas, recording an episode with Joe Rogan for “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, as previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/your-heart-just-breaks-jeff-bridges-mel-gibson-and-others-become-latest-to-lose-homes-in-fires">reported</a>.
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“I was doing the Rogan podcast. … And [I was] kind of ill at ease while we were talking, because I knew my neighborhood was on fire, so I thought, I wonder if my place is still there. But when I got home, sure enough, it wasn’t there,” Gibson said. “I went home and I said to myself, well, at least I haven’t got any of those pesky plumbing problems anymore.”
The &#8220;Braveheart&#8221; actor admitted he was still dealing with the “devastating” impact of losing the home that he’d lived in for more than a decade.
“It is obviously, it’s kind of devastating. It’s emotional,” the famed actor said. “You live there for a long time, and you had all your stuff. You remember George Carlin talking about your stuff? I had my stuff there, and it’s all like, I’ve been relieved from the burden of my stuff, because it’s all in cinders.”
Gibson remarked on the destruction left by the fire and said he’d never “seen a place so perfectly burnt. You could put it in an urn … I’ve never seen such complete burn.”
“It’s like someone did it on purpose to really destroy every aspect of it,” the actor said. “My place looked like Dresden. It’s emotional and I lived there for about 14, 15 years, so it was home to me. I had a lot of personal things there I can’t get back.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/your-heart-just-breaks-jeff-bridges-mel-gibson-and-others-become-latest-to-lose-homes-in-fires" target="_blank" rel="noopener">‘Your Heart Just Breaks’: Jeff Bridges, Mel Gibson, And Others Become Latest To Lose Homes In Fires</a>

Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson Becomes Latest Celebrity To Torch Newsom, LA Mayor After Losing Home

California

Celebrities

Entertainment

Gavin Newsom

Hollywood

Los Angeles Mayor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/karen-bass" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Karen Bass</a>’ deputy mayor, who was in charge of overseeing the city&#8217;s fire department, was not on the job in the weeks and days leading up to the historic wildfires that erupted last week because he was placed on leave after he was raided by the FBI.
The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/01/14/us-news/bass-appointee-was-put-on-leave-after-alleged-la-bomb-threat/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that the Los Angeles Police Department initially indicated when the incident happened last month that Deputy Mayor Brian Williams was likely the “source of the threat.”
The FBI took over the investigation because of Williams&#8217; connections to the local police department, the report said.
The raid happened less than three weeks before the fires broke out — burning more than 40,000 acres, causing $50+ billion in damages, destroying 10,000+ structures, and killing more than a dozen people.
Williams was in charge of overseeing several of the city&#8217;s largest departments, including the fire department, police department, and more, the report said.
The controversy is just the latest negative development for Bass, who has seen widespread criticism for her lack of preparedness and the fact that she was in Africa when the fires erupted despite pledging in 2021 to never take international trips if elected as mayor.
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Bass has also faced intense scrutiny over cutting millions of dollars from the city’s fire department budget.
In a memo dated December 4, 2024, L.A. Fire Chief Kristin Crowley wrote that the nearly $18 million in cuts “severely limited the department’s capacity to prepare for, train for, and respond to large-scale emergencies, including wildfires.”
“Without this funding, pilot compliance and readiness are jeopardized, and aerial firefighting capabilities are diminished,” Crowley wrote in the memo that was presented last month to the Board of Fire Commissioners, a panel of mayoral appointees who oversee the management of the department.
Crowley said that the overtime hours funded “Heavy Equipment Operators (HEOs) who make fire control lines around wildland fires, manage firefighting robotics, wildland fire road maintenance, post-fire demolition services, and other allhazard emergency services.”
“Ultimately, loss of funding impairs the Department’s ability to mitigate wildland fires and other hazards effectively,” she wrote.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/karen-bass-ignores-questions-about-her-handling-of-devastating-fires">Karen Bass Ignores Questions About Her Handling Of Devastating Fires</a>

LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 17: L.A. Mayor Karen Bass announces establishing a task force to investigate, apprehend and prosecute suspects who have committed retail theft as businesses grapple with an uptick of smash-and-grabs in recent weeks a press conference held at City Hall in Los Angeles, CA.

LA Mayor Bass Appointee Who Oversaw Fire Dept Was On Leave Over Alleged Bomb Threat

Crime

Reality star <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/khloe-kardashian">Khloe Kardashian</a> had strong criticism for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/los-angeles">Los Angeles</a> Democratic Mayor Karen Bass amid the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/fire">wildfire</a> crisis which has caused tens of billions of dollars in damage and forced residents to flee their homes.
 The 40-year-old mom of two made her opinion known over the weekend when she shared a clip of LA Fire Chief Kristin Crowley on social media discussing a $17.5 million budget cut to her department, per <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/01/11/entertainment/khloe-kardashian-rips-la-mayor-karen-bass-amid-wildfire-disaster-you-are-a-joke/">the New York Post</a>.
In the clip, Crowley told a Fox 11 reporter that the city failed her department.
The influencer wrote, “I stand by YOU Chief Crowley!!!! You spoke the truth and you had tears in your eyes because I can tell you didn’t even want to say that but it was THE TRUTH!!!!”
“Thank you for being honest,” the caption said. “Mayor Bass you are a joke!!!!”
The outlet noted that Khloe and other members of her family who live nearby were forced to evacuate as fires raged on in the area. 
Kardashian also shared an image of a memo sent by the LAFD to the board of fire commissioners stating that the budget cut would “severely limit the department’s capacity to prepare for, train for, and respond to large-scale emergencies, including wildfires.”
The celeb shared in a follow-up post that firefighters and other first responders are “truly inspiring.” 
“The work you do is nothing short of heroic,” Kardashian wrote. “We are deeply grateful to your unwavering commitment to keeping us safe…Please know that your efforts do not go unnoticed, and we are forever grateful for everything you are doing.”
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Kardashian was criticized as a hypocrite by several social media users who brought up a previous <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-08-22/kim-kardashian-kevin-hart-california-drought-water-waste">news report</a> revealing that the Kardashians were among the biggest water wasters in parts of Los Angeles County.
At least 24 people are dead, and more than a dozen others are missing as the fires continue to burn in the Los Angeles area. According to the latest updates from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, at least three major fires are still burning in Los Angeles County.
Bass was also criticized for being out of the country when the fires broke out despite being warned that the risk was high. The LA mayor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/let-me-finish-karen-bass-snaps-at-reporter-who-dares-to-question-her-leadership">avoided questions</a> from a reporter about her role in the disaster, but she has been active on social media, speaking directly to residents via X.
“Angelenos, we&#8217;re still going through it and to any of you and all of you that have experienced a loss, the grief, the anger, the just utter shock. I&#8217;ve seen the devastation. It is unbelievable the amount of loss that people have experienced, but we have to get through this crisis and I know that we will,&#8221; Bass <a href="https://x.com/MayorOfLA/status/1878295018810876077">said</a> in a tweet.

Khloe Kardashian

Khloe Kardashian Blasts LA Mayor Karen Bass For Fire Dept Budget Cuts: ‘You Are A Joke’

Khloe Kardashian Blasts LA Mayor Karen Bass For Fire Dept Budget Cuts: 'You Are A Joke'

In Altadena, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/california" target="_blank" rel="noopener">California</a>, a Catholic family who lost their house in the historic wildfires stood together in the rubble of what was their home and sang praise songs, video shows.
The video, uploaded by Gianna Halpin and shared by journalist Sachin Jose, shows the Halpin family singing &#8220;Regina Caeli&#8221; in Latin. According to a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-halpin-familys-home-loss?attribution_id=sl:75c6b077-ed52-41da-bfb7-a8ec3b57ffed&amp;utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&amp;utm_medium=customer&amp;utm_source=twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fundraiser</a> set up for the family, the Halpins lived in the home for 35 years before it was destroyed on Tuesday night.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
People find solace in singing &#8216;Regina Caeli,&#8217; O Queen of Heaven, after witnessing the devastation of the fire in California.
Video: Gianna Halpin <a href="https://t.co/ENfA4tCceS">pic.twitter.com/ENfA4tCceS</a>
— Sachin Jose (@Sachinettiyil) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sachinettiyil/status/1877579291040395335?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This is the Halpin family glorifying God in the rubble of their own home. They are among a number of marvelous people I know whose homes have been destroyed or damaged by the fires. This may be the worst disaster to strike L.A. in my lifetime – sure feels like it <a href="https://t.co/pg0EoDbhjK">https://t.co/pg0EoDbhjK</a>
— Edward Feser (@FeserEdward) <a href="https://twitter.com/FeserEdward/status/1877797479665553425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
&#8220;Regina Caeli&#8221; translates to &#8220;Queen of Heaven.&#8221; The church hymn is about Mary rejoicing at the resurrection of her son, Jesus Christ. The &#8220;Queen of Heaven&#8221; <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resource/55082/regina-coeli" target="_blank" rel="noopener">prayer</a> goes as follows:
<blockquote>Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia. 
For he whom you did merit to bear, alleluia. 
Has risen, as he said, alleluia. 
Pray for us to God, alleluia. 
Rejoice and be glad, O virgin Mary, alleluia. 
For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.
Let us pray. O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.</blockquote>
Pete Halpin, who organized the fundraiser for his parents and sister, wrote that his family has been &#8220;overwhelmed by your incredible generosity. Your gifts to them, and likely to many others, are true instances of God&#8217;s love.&#8221;
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Halpin noted that his father&#8217;s concrete company, Halpin Bros. Concrete, &#8220;is preparing to help expedite wherever possible, site clean-up for our neighbors in Altadena and in the St. Monica Academy community.&#8221;
As <a href="https://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-organizations-partner-with-la-churches-for-fire-relief.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">highlighted</a> by The Christian Post, Christian organizations, including nonprofits CityServe and World Help, have already stepped up to help those in need in California. The organizations are &#8220;deploying vital aid and working with local churches and community partners to provide immediate relief to those in need,&#8221; the Post reported Friday.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/la-fire-chief-reportedly-called-to-mayors-office-to-be-fired-heres-what-we-know?topStoryPosition=2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LA Fire Chief Reportedly Called To Mayor’s Office ‘To Be Fired.’ Here’s What We Know.</a>

Hope In Darkness: L.A. Christians Sing Praise Song While Standing In Rubble Of Their Former Home

L.A. Christians Sing Praise Song While Standing In Rubble Of What Was Their Home

Christianity

The destructive <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/wildfires" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Palisades Fire</a> reached Mandeville Canyon — a densely populated area north of Santa Monica, California — on Saturday.
At least one home in Mandeville Canyon was engulfed in flames Saturday morning as firefighters made multiple water drops from aircraft to prevent the fire from spreading through the neighborhood, ABC 7 <a href="https://abc7.com/post/mandeville-canyon-home-burns-firefighters-race-protect-neighborhood-residents-face-gridlock/15790596/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. The Palisades Fire, which has already burned through over 22,000 acres and resulted in at least two deaths, dramatically shifted overnight Friday and is now threatening the Brentwood area and the western San Fernando Valley.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKINGNEWS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKINGNEWS</a>: AIR7 aerials spotted what looked like a home burning in the Mandeville Canyon, which is the first time we&#39;ve seen flames reach a structure in the area since the Palisades Fire started burning toward the 405 Freeway. <a href="https://t.co/sv8HZSHSdl">https://t.co/sv8HZSHSdl</a> <a href="https://t.co/K4loOs0AtO">pic.twitter.com/K4loOs0AtO</a>
&mdash; ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) <a href="https://twitter.com/ABC7/status/1878149217941934475?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Fox News reporter Matt Finn shared a video of the fire moving toward the Mandeville Canyon as giant flames were visible above a canyon ridge.
&#8220;More devastating news. We are in densely populated Mandeville Canyon above Brentwood and homes are on fire. Fire slowly making its way down the canyon. This exposes entire regions of west LA to spread of fire,&#8221; Finn wrote on X.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
More devastating news. We are in densely populated Mandeville Canyon above Brentwood and homes are on fire. Fire slowly making its way down the canyon. This exposes entire regions of west LA to spread of fire. <a href="https://t.co/StbDTOzBJA">pic.twitter.com/StbDTOzBJA</a>
&mdash; Matt Finn (@MattFinnFNC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattFinnFNC/status/1878145381248196835?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Mandeville Canyon &#8220;is a luxury neighborhood in Brentwood that has emerged as a popular choice among celebrities in recent years,&#8221; according to <a href="https://uniquelyre.com/neighborhoods/mandelville-canyon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Uniquely Real Estate</a>.
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Evacuation orders are in place for a massive area, stretching from &#8220;the Pacific Ocean to the west, the 405 Freeway to the east, San Vicente Boulevard to the south and the Encino Reservoir to the north,&#8221; according to ABC 7. The latest update from Cal Fire reports that the Palisades Fire is 11% contained. Dozens of residents attempted to return to their homes in Mandeville Canyon early Saturday morning, but authorities prevented them from doing so, The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/01/11/us/los-angeles-fires-california/e7f83463-5d15-5bec-8ae3-b79740d44a39?smid=url-share" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
Earlier this week, Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said the Palisades Fire &#8220;is one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles.&#8221; The fire started on Tuesday and, stoked by Santa Ana winds, quickly spread through Pacific Palisades and Malibu, destroying hundreds of homes and businesses.
“The clouds just cleared, and I can tell you it’s the most devastating event that I’ve seen. I’ve seen the earthquakes, all the fires here for the last 30 or 40 years, and we’ve never seen anything like this,” an ABC 7 reporter said on Thursday.
“As you can see, row after row after row, every single home burned right down to the foundation,” the reported added.

Mandeville Canyon

Palisades Fire Reaches Densely Populated Mandeville Canyon In SoCal

The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/los-angeles" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Los Angeles</a> County district attorney promised on Saturday to bring down the hammer on any looters or scammers who attempt to exploit the devastating fires raging in the area.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/video/6366958042112" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Fox News</a> that he was warning any would-be criminal that his office would be prosecuting to the fullest extent of the law and throwing the “full book” at anyone arrested. Reports have already come out of Los Angeles of looters going into neighborhoods amid the fires that first responders are still struggling to contain.
“I want to send an unmistakably clear message to those who are thinking about looting, to those who are thinking about burglary, robbery, grand theft, to those who want to get on the internet and defraud people who have suffered this tragedy: you will be arrested, you will be prosecuted, and you will be punished to the full extent of the law,” Hochman said in an interview.
According to the <a href="https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents" target="_blank" rel="noopener">latest updates</a> available from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, there are multiple major fires still blazing throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties that are not fully contained. The data show just 11% containment for the Palisades Fire (22,660 acres), 15% containment for the Eaton Fire (14,117 acres), 80% for the Kenneth Fire (1,052 acres), and 76% for the Hurst Fire (799 acres).
Police have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/police-arrest-arson-suspect-behind-massive-new-california-fire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">already arrested</a> on suspect they believe was behind the Kenneth Fire.
“I know that prior to my taking office, people might have thought you could commit crimes and nothing is going to happen,” Hochman said, referring to the leftist policies of previous DA George Gascon. “Let me assure you: if you get caught &#8212; and you will get caught &#8212; the full book will be thrown at you and maximum punishment will be sought.”
He said that a federal, local, and state task force was being put together to go after looters and scammers.
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“The warning shot is to deter them from doing it in the first place,” he added. “This is your warning. The minute you cross that line, we’re going be coming after you with the full force of the law.”
Previously on Thursday, Hochman promised <a href="https://www.newsnationnow.com/banfield/la-da-punishment-guilty-looters-arsonist/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">during an interview</a> with NewsNation that “justice will be swift” and that “the day and age of a DA’s office standing on the sidelines is over.”
Hochman <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/leftist-l-a-county-da-george-gascon-loses-re-election" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defeated</a> Gascon in November after running on a tough-on-crime platform and promising to bring back law and order.
“The voters of Los Angeles County have spoken and have said enough is enough of D.A. Gascón’s pro-criminal extreme policies; they look forward to a safer future,” Hochman said after his victory.

US-WEATHER-FIRE-EATON

‘Justice Will Be Swift’: L.A. District Attorney Promises To Bring Down Hammer On Looters

George Gascon

Law Enforcement

Los Angeles County

Multiple unauthorized drones flew above the Palisades fire in Santa Monica, California, on Friday afternoon, forcing important firefighting aircraft to leave the area for safety, The Los Angeles Times <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/incredibly-dangerous-more-unauthorized-drones-043914110.html?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADfuVX9LTvTCkrvYKXFQUr71ziMLT9b2r3ZM46qkPRV-apjCPc1oNv65InftuEQT3bE16A5-fvb4OtRCtbXgPKdk7yPnxb-6lOmB7wTifw5LNgmLIUdwXMD23NIDdbD0nN_EGkB5tVycHa7JT07XmSD5NVEVhlIvO0MW0xgoPzbG" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
Authorities decided to move the firefighting aircraft out of the area after a drone collided with a Super Scooper aircraft on Thursday. That plane was grounded for several days to be repaired, taking away a key asset for firefighters as the Palisades fire continues to burn. Authorities said that the drones were spotted near the southeastern portion of the fire around 4:40 p.m. on Friday, according to the Times.
“Because of safety, we have to get all the aircraft out of the area until we know the drones are gone,” said Chris Thomas, the public information officer for the Palisades fire. “So that is very dangerous, because it takes water-dropping capability away from the fire.”
“If we have to take helicopters out of an area and the wind catches one of those cinders in that area and lifts it up, we could ignite a whole other area,” Thomas added.
The Palisades fire, which has already blazed through over 22,000 acres in Los Angeles County, is only at 11% containment as of the latest update from the Cal Fire on Saturday morning. New evacuation orders were issued in Brentwood and Encino on Friday evening as the fire moved toward Mandeville Canyon, the Times <a href="https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. At least two people have <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2025/01/10/los-angeles-fires-updates-california-palisades-eaton/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">died</a> in the Palisades fire, while at least five people have been reported dead from the Eaton fire on L.A.&#8217;s east side.
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As the fires continue to rage in Southern California, airplanes and helicopters are vital for firefighters seeking to protect communities from the flames. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a statement on Thursday warning drone operators of the consequences of interfering with firefighting efforts.
&#8220;It&#8217;s a federal crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison, to interfere with firefighting efforts on public lands,&#8221; the FAA said. &#8220;Additionally, the FAA can impose a civil penalty of up to $75,000 against any drone pilot who interferes with wildfire suppression, law enforcement or emergency response operations when temporary flight restrictions are in place.&#8221;
L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said that the FBI is planning to come to the area to assist in ensuring that no more drones are endangering firefighting efforts.
“This is not just harmless fun. This is incredibly dangerous,” Thomas, the Palisades fire spokesman, added. “Seriously, what if that plane had gone down? It could have taken out a row of homes. It could have taken out a school.”

Palisades fire

Unauthorized Drones Threaten Safety Of Firefighting Aircraft Above Palisades Fire

Airplane

Drones

Firefighter

Soon after <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/los-angeles" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Los Angeles</a> Fire Chief Kristin Crowley publicly blamed city officials for the disastrous response to historic wildfires in California, embattled Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass reportedly summoned Crowley to her office.
Reports swirled Friday night that Crowley was going to be axed from her position by Bass. The Daily Mail, relying on a source, even <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14272935/fire-chief-kristin-crowley-fired-mayor-karen-bass-humiliated.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that Crowley had been fired. However, the mayor&#8217;s office has since claimed that Crowley remains in place as fire chief.
&#8220;The Mayor and Chief met. The priority remains fighting these fires and protecting Angelenos,&#8221; the office said in a statement.
The LAFD&#8217;s public information officer, Erik Scott, released a similar message late Friday night.
&#8220;On Friday, January 10th, Fire Chief Kristin Crowley of the Los Angeles City Fire Department met with Mayor Karen Bass,&#8221; Scott posted on X. &#8220;Their foremost priorities continue to be fighting the current wildfires and safeguarding Angelenos. It is important to note that the Fire Chief was not dismissed and is in full command of the LAFD.&#8221; 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
To answer the abundance of inquiries…
On Friday, January 10th, Fire Chief Kristin Crowley of the Los Angeles City Fire Department met with Mayor Karen Bass. Their foremost priorities continue to be fighting the current wildfires and safeguarding Angelenos. It is important to…
— Erik Scott (@PIOErikScott) <a href="https://twitter.com/PIOErikScott/status/1877947947918225650?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
According to a Daily Mail source, Crowley said her goodbyes before heading to the meeting, expecting to be fired.
&#8220;She was going into the meeting, telling everybody goodbye, because she was told the whole purpose of the meeting was to fire her,&#8221; the source said. &#8220;When she was summoned into the meeting, it was with the direct purpose to fire her.&#8221;
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&#8220;Whatever happened in that meeting, minds got changed,&#8221; the source added. &#8220;Either Bass realized it would be suicide to fire her, and came to her senses, or Crowley talked her out of it. She came back in the office briefly, told her staff &#8216;I’m not fired yet&#8217; and went into a meeting with all her chiefs.&#8221;
Earlier on Friday, Crowley bluntly told the press that city leadership &#8220;failed&#8221; her department.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
JUST IN: Los Angeles Fire Department chief Kristin Crowley turns on Los Angeles leadership, says they failed her.
Remarkable interview.
Crowley called out the city for having no water in the Santa Ynez Reservoir.
Reporter: &#8220;Did the city of Los Angeles fail you and your… <a href="https://t.co/fUQPoW32QA">pic.twitter.com/fUQPoW32QA</a>
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) <a href="https://twitter.com/CollinRugg/status/1877827973895893084?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
As neighborhoods burned down in LA this past week, Bass was on a <a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/article_37e8fb00-cd43-11ef-9250-4b279f82148d.amp.html">taxpayer-funded</a> trip to the African nation of Ghana for the inauguration of the nation&#8217;s new president. To much criticism, Bass did not make it back to the city until <a href="https://x.com/nicksortor/status/1877101632258777380">Wednesday</a>, and was peppered with questions about her absence upon her arrival. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
🚨 911, I&#8217;D LIKE TO REPORT A M*RDER: This reporter just sat here and showered the mayor of Los Angeles with scathing questions for being MIA during the fires.
REPORTER: &#8220;Do you owe citizens an apology for being absent while their homes were burning?&#8221;
LOS ANGELES MAYOR KAREN… <a href="https://t.co/UBwVgrx1N9">pic.twitter.com/UBwVgrx1N9</a>
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/1877122045806264466?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
Residents have since spoken out about the mayor&#8217;s lack of leadership. &#8220;We have questions,&#8221; a Pacific Palisades resident named Rachel Darvish said on Fox News. &#8220;I know where I am right now, but I don’t know where my mayor was when this was happening.&#8221; 
&#8220;For someone to be in charge of my town &#8211; where were you?&#8221; Darvish added. &#8220;Where were you when the decisions should have been made about how to get in and out of places.”
Bass is also taking flak for cutting the fire department&#8217;s <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/01/08/us-news/la-mayor-karen-bass-cut-fire-department-funding-by-17-6m/">budget</a> by more than $17 million dollars, which is actually a more modest cut than the $23 million the Democrat initially wanted to axe.
Meanwhile, Crowley has been <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/01/08/us-news/megyn-kelly-accuses-la-fire-chief-and-mayor-bass-of-putting-dei-ahead-of-fire-safety/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">criticized</a> for her commitment to DEI goals over competence and effectiveness.
For example, the department&#8217;s assistant chief, Kristine Larson, appears in a video in which she says that if someone complains about a woman firefighter’s inability to carry a man out of a fire, her response would be, “He got himself in the wrong place if I have to carry him out of a fire.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
LAFD Assistant Chief Kristine Larson:
&#8220;Am I able to carry your husband out of a fire? He got himself in the wrong place.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/BofTVr6dWP">pic.twitter.com/BofTVr6dWP</a>
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) <a href="https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/1877458240050446339?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2025</a></blockquote>

Deputy Fire Chief Kristin Crowley has been selected to lead the Los Angeles Fire Department. Crowley would become the first woman to lead the city’s fire agency.

LA Fire Chief Reportedly Called To Mayor’s Office ‘To Be Fired.’ Here’s What We Know.

LA Fire Chief Reportedly Called To Mayor’s Off ‘To Be Fired.’ Here’s What We Know

Former U.S. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/olympics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Olympic swimmer</a> Gary Hall Jr. said he lost all 10 of his Olympic medals after his home was destroyed in the Palisades fire as the blaze in Los Angeles continued to rage.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/09/sport/gary-hall-jr-loses-olympic-medals-in-palisades-wildfire-spt/index.html">CNN</a>, Hall said that when they were told to evacuate due to the multiple wildfires in Southern California, he thought he had more time, but found out very quickly he had to get out and save himself rather than gather the medals and other personal belongings.
“I saw the fire charging down the hill and knew that I had to get out of there,” the Olympic swimmer said. “I opened up the back of my SUV, I loaded a painting, one other object. By the time I was going back in from that run, hot embers were raining down from the sky.”
“I knew at that point that I just didn’t have much time,” he added. “I could see the embers hitting the roofs of the houses around me and made that decision: it’s time to go. The medals were in a closet in my bedroom, 70 feet away, and I didn’t have time to go get them.”
“From the time that I saw the first plume of smoke at the top of the hill … I had about three minutes between then and when it came charging toward me,” Hall continued. “It wasn’t easy to leave that behind. I worked a lifetime to achieve that, and the memories remain but the souvenir is gone.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Gary Hall Jr. won 10 Olympic medals in the water. Then he lost them in the Palisades fire <a href="https://t.co/BjbYiuZWzT">https://t.co/BjbYiuZWzT</a>
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) <a href="https://twitter.com/latimes/status/1877812921280893032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
Representing the U.S. at the Olympics in 1996, 2000, and 2004, Hall Jr. had not only won ten Olympic medals, including five gold, but also six world championship medals (three gold and three silver) during his career, all of which are gone now.
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Diagnosed in 1999 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hall also described to CNN some of the terrifying scenes of the day he had to get out as the fires completely engulfed the area due to the high-speed Santa Ana winds.
“I was one of the first hill evacuees to make it into the village,” Hall said. “There was one other car of a person that had fled in the parking lot, surrounded by five pre-schools, elementary schools, kindergartens and schools still in session and you could see it went from an idyllic, peaceful Palisades village, descending into mayhem and panic.”
“There were people screaming, cars driving up on the sidewalk,” he added. “Imagine the desperation of a parent trying to get to their child in time to get them from the school and to safety. So you have cars blowing through stop signs, red lights, crashes happening and people running in every direction.”
A <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-gary-hall-jr-after-devastating-fire">GoFundMe</a> page has been set up to help Hall Jr.
“Gary Jr. lost his home and his livelihood in the devastating Palisades Fire on January 7th,” a statement on the site reads. “Gary saw flames out his window while he was at home before collecting his dog, Puddles, his insulin, a painting of his grandfather, and a religious wooden piece his daughter Gigi gave him and drove towards the ocean as quickly as possible.”
“He was forced to leave behind everything else he owned, such as irreplaceable family heirlooms, photos, and more,” the statement added. “He has also most likely lost his ten Olympic medals, but nothing can take away his spirit that won those medals.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/anna-faris-adam-brody-mandy-moore-become-latest-celebs-to-lose-homes-in-socal-fires" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anna Faris, Adam Brody, Mandy Moore Become Latest Celebs To Lose Homes In SoCal Fires</a>

Palisades fires

Former U.S. Olympic Swimmer Says He Lost All 10 Of His Olympic Medals In SoCal Fires

Olympics

Sports

Swimming

Jeff Bridges, Mel Gibson, and Milo Ventimiglia have become the latest <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/anna-faris-adam-brody-mandy-moore-become-latest-celebs-to-lose-homes-in-socal-fires" target="_blank" rel="noopener">celebrities</a> to share the heartbreaking news that they’ve lost their homes in the Los Angeles wildfires.
Bridges&#8217; representative <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/jeff-bridges-family-home-malibu-destroyed-palisades-fire-1236105814/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confirmed</a> to The Hollywood Reporter that the Palisades home he shares with his siblings, that originally belonged to his parents, has burned to the ground as firefighters continue to deal with high winds in the area that forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people in multiple wildfires in Southern California.
The “Big Lebowski” star primarily lives with his wife Susan Geston at their Santa Barbara home, THR noted.
Actor and filmmaker Mel Gibson told <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hE9VvdUXf8">NewsNation</a> he wasn’t even in town when the fires consumed his Malibu home because he was in Austin, Texas, recording an episode with Joe Rogan for “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Mel Gibson shared in a NewsNation interview that his Malibu home burnt down in the fires — but his chickens survived.
&#8220;We gave them some grain and some water and they’re happy and laying eggs and stuff. So there you go, they weren’t roast chickens.” <a href="https://t.co/9fv1yNsO4t">https://t.co/9fv1yNsO4t</a> <a href="https://t.co/drqB6aWFV3">pic.twitter.com/drqB6aWFV3</a>
— Variety (@Variety) <a href="https://twitter.com/Variety/status/1877704480063361347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
“I was doing the Rogan podcast. … And [I was] kind of ill at ease while we were talking, because I knew my neighborhood was on fire, so I thought, I wonder if my place is still there. But when I got home, sure enough, it wasn’t there,” Gibson said. “I went home and I said to myself, well, at least I haven’t got any of those pesky plumbing problems anymore.”
The 69-year-old actor admitted he was still dealing with the “devastating” impact of losing the home that he’d lived in for more than a decade.
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“It is obviously, it’s kind of devastating. It’s emotional,” the famed actor said. “You live there for a long time, and you had all your stuff. You remember George Carlin talking about your stuff? I had my stuff there, and it’s all like, I’ve been relieved from the burden of my stuff, because it’s all in cinders.”
Gibson remarked on the destruction left by the fire and said he’d never “seen a place so perfectly burnt. You could put it in an urn … I’ve never seen such complete burn.”
“It’s like someone did it on purpose to really destroy every aspect of it,” the actor said. “My place looked like Dresden. It’s emotional and I lived there for about 14, 15 years, so it was home to me. I had a lot of personal things there I can’t get back.”
Actor Milo Ventimiglia and his pregnant wife Jarah Mariano, also lost their Malibu home. Ventimiglia said that his “heart just breaks” thinking of the memories they were going to have in the home, <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/milo-ventimiglia-pregnant-wife-lose-malibu-home-la-wildfires-1236105865/">THR</a> noted.
“I think there’s a kind of shock moment where you’re going, ‘Oh, this is real and this is happening,’ and then at a certain point, we just turn it off,” the 47-year-old actor said. “It’s like, what good is it to continue watching, you know. We kind of accepted the loss.”
“You start thinking about all the memories in different parts of the house and whatnot, and then you see your neighbors’ houses and everything kind of around, and your heart just breaks,” he <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/this-is-us-star-milo-ventimiglia-loses-home-los-angeles-fires/">added</a>. “We got good friends and we got good people we&#8217;re working with and we&#8217;ll make do. Wife and baby and dog, most important.”
Wife of the late TV producer Aaron Spelling, Candy Spelling, said the home they owned for 50 years was gone, <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2025/01/09/jeff-bridges-candy-spelling-lose-homes-los-angeles-wildfires/">TMZ noted</a>.
“I’m in shock and processing this massive loss for our family,” Spelling said. “I am beyond grateful for the memories. It was truly a wonderful gift to have.”
Other celebrities like James Woods, Billy Crystal, Anna Faris, Ricki Lake, Cameron Mathison, and so many others have also shared the sad news that nothing was left of their homes due to the fires, as previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/everything-is-gone-celebrities-post-about-losing-their-homes-in-california-fires" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/everything-is-gone-celebrities-post-about-losing-their-homes-in-california-fires" target="_blank" rel="noopener">‘Everything Is Gone’: Celebrities Post About Losing Their Homes In California Fires</a>

2024 Disney Upfront

‘Your Heart Just Breaks’: Jeff Bridges, Mel Gibson, And Others Become Latest To Lose Homes In Fires

Jeff Bridges

California Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/gavin-newsom" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gavin Newsom</a> asked President Joe Biden during a video conference call on Friday afternoon to combat criticism over his disastrous response to the wildfires that erupted this week.
Newsom&#8217;s call with Biden comes after several fires erupted in Los Angeles on Tuesday that have, in just a matter of a few days, destroyed approximately 10,000 structures and caused $50 billion in damages and economic loss.
&#8220;I ask you, we&#8217;ve got to deal with this misinformation,&#8221; Newsom said. &#8220;There were hurricane force winds of mis[information] and disinformation — lies.&#8221;
&#8220;People want to divide this country, and we&#8217;re gonna have to address that as well,&#8221; he claimed. &#8220;And it breaks my heart, as people are suffering and struggling, that we&#8217;re up against those hurricane forces as well, and that&#8217;s just a point of personal privilege that I share that with you, because it infects real people that are out there, people I meet every single day, people the mayor has been meeting with, and they&#8217;re having conversations that are not the typical conversations you&#8217;d have at this time, and you wonder where this stuff comes from and it&#8217;s very damaging as well.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&#8220;There are hurricane force winds of mis- and disinformation. People want to divide this country. We&#8217;ll have to address that as well. It breaks my heart. &#8230; You wonder where this stuff comes from.&#8221;
&#8212; California Gov. Gavin Newsom during wildfire briefing with Biden and Harris <a href="https://t.co/AOdhTu2xKO">pic.twitter.com/AOdhTu2xKO</a>
— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1877791085705003369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
The remarks from Newsom come as President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly called for him to resign this week over his lack of preparedness for the wildfires.
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Some of Trump&#8217;s posts about Newsom included:
<ul>
<li>&#8220;One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning down to the ground,&#8221; Trump wrote. &#8220;It’s ashes, and Gavin Newscum should resign. This is all his fault!!!&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;Governor Gavin Newscum should immediately go to Northern California and open up the water main, and let the water flow into his dry, starving, burning State, instead of having it go out into the Pacific Ocean,. It ought to be done right now, NO MORE EXCUSES FROM THIS INCOMPETENT GOVERNOR. IT’S ALREADY FAR TOO LATE!&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;Fire is spreading rapidly for 3 days — ZERO CONTAINMENT. Nobody has ever seen such failed numbers before! Gross incompetence by Gavin Newscum and Karen Bass….And Biden’s FEMA has no money — all wasted on the Green New Scam! L.A. is a total wipeout!!!&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;The fires in Los Angeles may go down, in dollar amount, as the worst in the History of our Country. In many circles, they’re doubting whether insurance companies will even have enough money to pay for this catastrophe. Let this serve, and be emblematic, of the gross incompetence and mismanagement of the Biden/Newscum Duo. January 20th cannot come fast enough!&#8221;</li>
</ul>

California Governor Gavin Newsom Holds News Conference

Newsom Asks Biden To Combat Criticism Over His Disastrous Fire Response

Joe Biden

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