The political climate in California is changing. The Golden State is seemingly on the cusp of a red wave in the Los Angeles mayoral and statewide gubernatorial races. Californians’ deep <a href="https://www.ppic.org/blog/wildfires-are-a-top-concern-for-californians/">concern about the prevalence</a> of high-intensity wildfires plaguing their state is a major reason why.
I previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/america-is-next-for-newsoms-failing-policy-experiments">argued</a> that Governor Gavin Newsom treated California as a policy laboratory for all kinds of radical regulatory experimentation and that the results were overwhelmingly negative. Now there are signs of a state-wide reckoning.
Polling indicates that California residents could put an end to the toxic mix of harmful policies crafted or enforced by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Newsom.
The L.A. mayoral race has put this dynamic on full display. Former reality TV star and political outsider Spencer Pratt has made the Palisades Fire, which occurred under Bass’s watch, a central issue in the race. That fire, started by a deranged arsonist, caused damages <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/01/22/3013659/0/en/Verisk-Estimates-Industry-Insured-Losses-for-the-Palisades-and-Eaton-Fires-Will-Fall-Between-USD-28-Billion-and-USD-35-Billion.html">estimated</a> at over $28 billion and killed dozens of people. Bass’s team oversaw a response that policy experts have <a href="https://www.hoover.org/research/could-palisades-fire-have-been-prevented-perhaps-cost-nearly-zero">criticized</a> as inadequate. At the time, the Washington Post editorial board argued that Bass’s city government “<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/02/06/los-angeles-fires-karen-bass-lafd/">badly mishandled</a>” the response, and, perhaps worse, that Bass tried to sweep evidence of her bungled response under the rug.
Though it happened over a year ago, Spencer Pratt is not letting Bass off the hook for her role in the fire, which affected him personally. “If they didn’t burn my house down, I wouldn’t be running for mayor,” Pratt has <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=3doY2QVesH0YvxAa&amp;v=6DUhu_naEFY&amp;feature=youtu.be">said</a>. That strategy is working for Pratt. While still slightly trailing Bass in recent <a href="https://emersoncollegepolling.com/california-2026-poll-becerra-continues-to-surge-steyer-and-hilton-compete-for-second-spot/">polls</a>, Pratt is slated to face Bass in a runoff election in November.
Bass blamed climate change for the fires, which is no excuse for negligence. In fact, if Bass believes climate change is exacerbating wildfire risk, that arguably casts her in a worse light. If she believed that fires are now more likely to occur, due to climate change or any other reason, her decision to <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/01/08/us-news/la-mayor-karen-bass-cut-fire-department-funding-by-17-6m/">drastically reduce</a> the L.A. Fire Department budget by $17 million before the fire was especially inexcusable.
Bass not only refused to accept accountability but also attempted a cover-up. Bass reportedly <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/02/06/los-angeles-fires-karen-bass-lafd/">altered</a> an after-action report to downplay the role of poor political decisions in the fire’s impact. The original report, much of which Bass reportedly <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/02/06/los-angeles-fires-karen-bass-lafd/">quashed</a>, may have discussed the reservoir <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-10/as-flames-raged-in-palisades-a-key-reservoir-nearby-was-offline">drained ahead of the fire</a> that could have supplied 117 million gallons of water, and the <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-02-21/lafds-failure-to-pre-deploy-before-palisades-fire-a-times-investigation?utm_source=chatgpt.com">insufficient availability</a> of firefighters.
Solely focusing on Bass, though, misses the larger point: In California, ideologically driven leftist policies have prioritized environmental regulations over brush-clearing measures. Faster vegetation growth translates to higher fire risk.
Californians know this, but they have long faced an uphill battle in clearing brush from public land. As a general rule, California <a href="https://www.wsj.com/us-news/climate-environment/how-l-a-bureaucracy-made-it-harder-to-clear-flammable-brush-683f953e?mod=djem10point&amp;ref=pitchstonewaters.com">doesn’t clear brush</a> from public lands for environmental reasons, and residents must apply for a permit to do so — a lengthy and cumbersome process.
This is what happened in the Palisades Fire. Having not been cleared from public lands abutting residential areas, brush plants, which are evolutionarily engineered to burn, <a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/the-morning-jolt/how-policy-decisions-exacerbated-the-devastating-los-angeles-wildfires/">contributed</a> to the fire’s rapid spread.
Californians know that politicians are at least partly to blame for mismanagement and poor policymaking that <a href="https://calmatters.org/environment/wildfires/2025/01/la-county-fires-wildland-urban-interface/#:~:text=The%20fire%20damaged%20or%20destroyed,a%20wildfire%20engulfs%20the%20neighborhood.">cost</a> over 20,000 of them their homes in the most recent major bout of wildfires in early 2025.
That is why Democrats are at risk of losing their grip on power in California at the gubernatorial level, too. Republican candidate Steve Hilton is surging in polls among Californians and could be the first Republican elected governor of California in two decades.
Hilton is not tiptoeing around challenging fire prevention issues. To the contrary, he is leaning in with ambitious <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/05/26/us-news/steve-hiltons-plan-for-first-100-days-if-elected-california-governor-is-wild/">proposals</a> to use remote sensing technology and drones to detect and stop fires before they spread out of control.
At the same time, Hilton has condemned California officials for putting ideology before people. Hilton has <a href="https://www.congress.gov/119/meeting/house/117864/witnesses/HHRG-119-JU05-Wstate-HiltonS-20250206.pdf">noted</a>, “the California Coastal Commission also blocked fire prevention and mitigation measures in the exact hills that just burned, in order to protect a few thousand specimens of the Braunton’s milkvetch shrub.” He also got Californians’ attention, with his <a href="https://www.congress.gov/event/119th-congress/house-event/LC74115/text">claim</a> that the L.A. wildfires were “not a natural disaster” but rather “a man-made disaster.” Thanks to common sense axioms like these, he is currently the <a href="https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/mar/30/republicans-get-surprise-opening-california-governors-race/">frontrunner</a> in the race, much to the chagrin and surprise of California’s Democratic establishment.
California is a solid blue state and has been for many years. A red wave there would mean a red wave could be possible anywhere. And apocalyptic scenes of wildfires, the most salient and striking example of policy failure in that state, are getting voters’ attention like never before.
***
Sydney Rodman is a visiting fellow with the Independent Women’s Center for Energy and Conservation.

Palisades fire

Don’t Overlook The Heat Source Behind California’s Red Wave

California Elections

DW Opinion

Gavin Newsom

Karen Bass

Palisades Fire

Spencer Pratt

Wildfires

Clinton Adams, a prominent social media influencer and hip-hop artist known to his hundreds of thousands of followers as “Clintnlord,” has been <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/04/17/us-news/sick-influencer-learns-fate-after-raping-women-in-fire-damaged-palisades-mansion-he-pretended-to-own/">sentenced</a> to eight years in state prison. The sentencing follows a harrowing series of events in which Adams lured women to a smoke-damaged, evacuated mansion in Pacific Palisades and sexually assaulted them.
Adams, 32, pleaded no contest to the charges after a legal saga that began with his arrest in late 2025. The Northridge resident, who boasted over 400,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok, leveraged his digital persona and a $5.3 million Mediterranean-style villa to deceive his victims. While Adams claimed to own the luxury four-bedroom residence, the ocean-view property had actually been abandoned by its rightful owners due to smoke damage from the devastating January 2025 wildfires.
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Sick influencer learns fate after raping women in fire-damaged Palisades mansion he pretended to own <a href="https://t.co/Hv9fLCoO4W">https://t.co/Hv9fLCoO4W</a> <a href="https://t.co/K9HyvhP10e">pic.twitter.com/K9HyvhP10e</a>
&mdash; New York Post (@nypost) <a href="https://twitter.com/nypost/status/2045123186996453589?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
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After Adams&#8217; arrest, District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman <a href="https://lacounty.gov/2025/12/09/influencer-facing-felony-rape-charges-in-sexual-assault-of-two-women-additional-victims-sought/#:~:text=His%20preliminary%20hearing%20setting%20is,to%20life%20in%20state%20prison.">stated</a>, “These allegations describe predatory attacks carried out in an area still affected by the aftermath of the January wildfires. Taking advantage of a historic disaster and causing severe harm to two women is despicable.&#8221;
Court records and graphic testimony paint a predatory picture of Adams’ actions during the summer of 2025. In one instance occurring in June, a victim testified that after a night of partying, Adams pinned her down in a room at the mansion. Despite her repeated pleas for him to stop, Adams allegedly placed a hand on her neck to prevent her from screaming before raping her. The victim eventually escaped the home barefoot and sought treatment at UCLA Medical Center.
A second assault allegedly took place in August 2025. A woman testified that Adams approached her on a Santa Monica street, claiming to be in the fashion industry. He invited her to the Palisades property under the guise of watching movies, only to violently assault her in a bedroom.
Adams was originally charged with three felony counts of forcible rape and one count of assault with intent to commit rape. Although he initially pleaded not guilty and faced a potential sentence of 90 years to life, the no-contest plea resulted in the eight-year term.

Wildfires tear through Los Angeles

Hip-Hop Influencer Who Committed Heinous Crimes In Abandoned Palisades Mansion Learns Fate

California

Crime

influencer

Rape

U.S.

Reality star Spencer Pratt announced that he will be running for mayor of Los Angeles on the one-year anniversary of the Palisades Fire.
The Republican and former star of “The Hills” has been critical of local Democrats for their actions before and after the fires. Pratt and his wife, Heidi Montag, and his parents all lost their homes.
The TV personality made the announcement while speaking at the “They Let Us Burn” rally, which was organized by residents who lost property. “All of this was preventable,” he said. “We are standing here amongst the ashes of our once beautiful town because the state and local leaders let us burn.”
Pratt blamed California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom for allowing brush to grow wild without management or controlled burns. He also called out the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power CEO Janisse Quiñones and the Los Angeles Fire Department for their poor responses, saying the LAFD’s failure could “be due to lack of budget, lack of knowledge, or simply DEI.” 
Pratt said the fires changed the way he viewed the world and motivated him to strive for change. “This isn’t just a political failure, it’s a moral one.” 
“The system in Los Angeles isn’t struggling; it’s fundamentally broken. It is a machine designed to protect the people at the top and the friends they exchange favors with while the rest of us drown in toxic smoke and ash,” Pratt continued.
“Business as usual is a death sentence for Los Angeles and I&#8217;m done waiting for someone to take real action. That&#8217;s why I am running for mayor.” 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
It’s official. I’m running for Mayor of LA. I’ve waited a whole year for someone to step up and challenge Karen Bass, but I saw no fighters. Guess I’m gonna have to do this myself.
Let’s make LA camera ready again! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MayorPratt?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MayorPratt</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PrattForMayor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PrattForMayor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpencerPrattForMayor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SpencerPrattForMayor</a> <a href="https://t.co/akXG8Jd7H3">pic.twitter.com/akXG8Jd7H3</a>
— Spencer Pratt (@spencerpratt) <a href="https://twitter.com/spencerpratt/status/2009143254684717067?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“Let me be clear, this just isn&#8217;t a campaign. This is a mission, and we are going to expose the system. We are going into every dark corner of LA politics and disinfecting the city with our light. And when we are done, LA is going to be camera-ready again,” Pratt concluded.
Pratt is a first-time candidate facing more than a dozen other contenders for the nonpartisan mayoral primary in June, including current Los Angeles Democratic Mayor Karen Bass, who is seeking re-election. Pratt’s campaign website describes him as “Karen Bass’ worst nightmare.” 
Pratt <a href="https://x.com/RichardGrenell/status/2009005532888355283">received an endorsement</a> from Richard Grenell, the interim head of the Kennedy Center, who also runs the group Fix California.
“Transparency is what we need. Spencer has the passion and the drive to make positive change for Los Angeles,” Grenell posted on X.

Reality Star Spencer Pratt Is Running For Mayor Of Los Angeles

Reality Star Spencer Pratt Announces He's Running For Mayor Of Los Angeles

Celebrities

Entertainment

Los Angeles

Mayor

In an attempt to showcase just how dangerous he believes President Donald Trump to be, Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) made the mistake of comparing the United States under Trump to a &#8220;five-alarm fire&#8221; — an analogy that quickly blew up in his face.
Newsom was explaining his position to ABC News anchor Jonathan Karl, and he claimed — among other things — that Trump was likely to do away with elections and the democratic process in their entirety if he was left to himself.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Gavin Newsom: “I really am scared to death about what’s going on in this country. I really believe it is Code Red. It’s five-alarm fire. It’s breaking every hour of every day. We won’t have a country. We won’t have an election that’s fair and free if we don’t stand up” <a href="https://t.co/Zprb4IomBD">pic.twitter.com/Zprb4IomBD</a>
— Marco Foster (@MarcoFoster_) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarcoFoster_/status/1983904722580025440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;I just hope we have more fighters,&#8221; Newsom said, adding, &#8220;I say this seriously — I have no problem being, you know, out there with arrows in my back as long as it gives some space for people to run over me and move forward. I&#8217;m serious about that.&#8221;
&#8220;I really am scared to death about what’s going on in this country,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;I really believe it is Code Red. It’s five-alarm fire. It’s breaking every hour of every day. We won’t have a country. We won’t have an election that’s fair and free if we don’t stand up.&#8221;
But with the memory of the Palisades fire only just in the rear view mirror — and the state&#8217;s abject failure to cut away the layers of red tape preventing those who want to from rebuilding — a number of critics found Newsom&#8217;s &#8220;five-alarm fire&#8221; analogy to be a little too on the nose.
&#8220;Here’s a tip, Slick. You of all people would be wise not to use fire metaphors in your bulls*** rambling,&#8221; actor James Woods observed. &#8220;The last &#8216;five alarm fire&#8217; in California destroyed 16,000 homes and killed 29 people. Thanks solely to you, the commie mayor you support, and your idiot policies. Pipe down.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Here’s a tip, Slick. You of all people would be wise not to use fire metaphors in your bullshit rambling. The last “five alarm fire” in California destroyed 16,000 homes and killed 29 people. Thanks solely to you, the commie mayor you support, and your idiot policies.
Pipe down. <a href="https://t.co/EuNhDro5rJ">https://t.co/EuNhDro5rJ</a>
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealJamesWoods/status/1984159003036021147?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2025</a></blockquote>
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California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton added, &#8220;You are trying to disenfranchise millions of Californians and rig our elections to entrench your authoritarian one party rule. We are not interested in your laughable lectures on threats to democracy. Look in the mirror.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
You are trying to disenfranchise millions of Californians and rig our elections to entrench your authoritarian one party rule.
We are not interested in your laughable lectures on threats to democracy. Look in the mirror. <a href="https://t.co/lZRRducB2D">https://t.co/lZRRducB2D</a>
— steve hilton (@SteveHiltonx) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveHiltonx/status/1984263279880065065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;The Code Red is what happened in the Palisades. Who ordered it?? We can handle the truth!&#8221; RedState&#8217;s Jennifer Van Laar said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Code Red is what happened in the Palisades. Who ordered it??
We can handle the truth! <a href="https://t.co/R9wKldMUhP">https://t.co/R9wKldMUhP</a>
— Jennifer Van Laar (@jenvanlaar) <a href="https://twitter.com/jenvanlaar/status/1984274803378012244?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Does Gavin Newsom know Gavin Newsom&#8217;s record in putting out five alarm fires?&#8221; Margot Cleveland wondered.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Does Gavin Newsom know Gavin Newsom&#8217;s record in putting out five alarm fires? <a href="https://t.co/8BQoBtdXe5">https://t.co/8BQoBtdXe5</a> <a href="https://t.co/R4WAgzVqbD">https://t.co/R4WAgzVqbD</a>
— Margot Cleveland (@ProfMJCleveland) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProfMJCleveland/status/1984097235873956241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;After what happened in California imagine having so little shame and self-awareness to say Trump&#8217;s causing a &#8216;five-alarm fire,'&#8221; Doug Powers said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
After what happened in California imagine having so little shame and self-awareness to say Trump&#8217;s causing a &#8220;five-alarm fire.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/eFkIUUw7pN">https://t.co/eFkIUUw7pN</a>
— Doug Powers (@ThePowersThatBe) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThePowersThatBe/status/1984242101832515648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Vogue World: Hollywood Press Announcement

BACKDRAFT: Gavin Newsom Uses Fire Analogy To Attack Trump, But It Blows Up In His Face

Donald Trump

Media

Politics

President Donald Trump announces that Israel and Hamas have agreed to phase one of his Middle East peace plan, authorities arrest a Florida man accused of setting the deadly Palisades Fire, and the Supreme Court hears arguments on Colorado’s ban on so-called “conversion therapy.”
It’s Thursday, October 9, 2025, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
Morning Wire is available on video! You can watch today’s episode here:
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If you would rather listen to your news, today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
<div class="ad-wrapper" data-testid="ad-wrapper"><iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trump-announces-peace-deal-palisades-arson-arrest-10-9-25/id1576594336?i=1000730957612" height="175" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Trump: The Peace President</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-983355" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/The-Peace-President-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/The-Peace-President-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/The-Peace-President-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/The-Peace-President-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/The-Peace-President-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/The-Peace-President.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: President Trump announced on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas have agreed to terms on the first phase of a peace deal that could end the war in Gaza.
Trump was hosting a public event with several independent journalists when he was approached by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. After whispering something in Trump’s ear, Rubio then handed the president a handwritten note, which, based on photographs, appeared to say that a deal was “very close.” It then said, “Need you to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce the deal first.” 
Moments later, the president’s account published that post, which read: “I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan. This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace…This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America…BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!”
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As part of the first phase, Hamas plans to release the 20 living hostages this weekend, according to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/egypt-gaza-talks-kushner-witkoff-israel-hamas-news-10-08-2025-ac80d3ed50ff2a9b4106ab5e13156651" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Associated Press</a>. Hamas is responsible for the bodies of 28 dead hostages, though it is unclear whether the terror group can locate and retrieve them. Once the Israeli cabinet approves the agreement, the terror group has 72 hours to return the hostages.
Israel’s military has 24 hours from the time the Israeli cabinet approves the deal to withdraw from the heart of Gaza to a predetermined boundary.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">SCOTUS Hears Colorado &#8220;Conversion Therapy&#8221; Case</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-983361" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Conversion-Therapy-Hearing-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Conversion-Therapy-Hearing-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Conversion-Therapy-Hearing-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Conversion-Therapy-Hearing-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Conversion-Therapy-Hearing-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Conversion-Therapy-Hearing.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week in a case addressing the legality of so-called “conversion therapy.” Historically, the term referred to counseling or treatment aimed at changing a person’s sexual orientation from gay to straight. However, leftist activists now use the label more broadly, applying it to efforts that encourage transgender individuals to accept their biological sex.
The case: The plaintiff, a Christian counselor named Kaley Chiles, is challenging a law in Colorado that’s been dubbed the “Minor Conversion Therapy Law.” It was passed in 2019 by a Democrat-controlled legislature, and it bans counseling that “attempts or purports to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity.” 
The plaintiff: Chiles’ legal team, Alliance Defending Freedom, says Chiles is currently under investigation by the state of Colorado over this law, and they’ve stressed that minors are being deprived of her services. 
The state of Colorado argues that this is not a free speech issue, but rather a matter of regulating conduct and medical treatment—even if that “medical treatment” is only speech, like talk therapy. The law is then constitutional, according to state attorneys. Colorado says that talk therapy that doesn&#8217;t affirm the gender-confused is harmful to children, which the state bases on “experts” and the so-called medical consensus.
SCOTUS watch: The justices appear to be leaning in favor of the plaintiff, and not just the conservatives. Liberal Justice Elena Kagan seemed to side with Justice Samuel Alito when he said the Colorado law seemed like, quote, “blatant viewpoint discrimination.”
A ruling is expected next summer. And if the tea leaves are being read correctly, an overturning of this Colorado law could influence similar laws in dozens of other states.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Authorities Arrest Suspected Palisades Fire Arsonist</h2>
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Topline: Authorities have arrested 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht, who they say intentionally sparked the fire that destroyed Pacific Palisades, California, back in January.
The suspect: Rinderknecht is an Uber driver who now lives in Melbourne, Florida. Officials from the Justice Department and the Los Angeles Police Department held a joint press conference on Wednesday to announce the arrest. According to officials, Rinderknecht started the Lachman Fire on New Year’s Day. The Lachman Fire eventually became the Palisades Fire after it was rekindled by severe winds a week later.
What happened: According to U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, Rinderknecht was in Pacific Palisades late on New Year’s Eve after working throughout the evening. He drove toward Skull Rock trailhead, got out of his car, and walked up a trail to a nearby hilltop, where he recorded videos and listened to a rap song. According to Essayli, the song was accompanied by a music video showing objects being set on fire.
In addition to that, Rinderknecht’s phone had images he created with ChatGPT of people fleeing from burning forests. Another ChatGPT search made around the time he called 911 to report the fire said, “Are you at fault if a fire is lit [sic] because of your cigarettes?”
Firefighters were able to suppress the fire shortly after, but it continued to burn underground until strong winds revived it a week later, starting the Palisades Fire.
The blaze eventually became one of the worst in California history. It killed 12 people and destroyed nearly 7,000 structures, resulting in $150 billion in damage. The rebuilding process has been long and difficult. As of last month, the city of Los Angeles had <a href="https://www.carriermanagement.com/news/2025/09/30/279930.htm">approved</a> just over 600 permits to rebuild out of about 1,500 applications.
The charges: Rinderknecht is only charged with destruction of property by means of fire. But prosecutors may add more charges to the indictment later. They accused him of lying to authorities, with Essayli stating that Rinderknecht provided false information to police about the fire when officers interviewed him on January 24. But Essayli made no mention of a charge on that in the indictment. As is, Rinderknecht faces up to 20 years in prison.

MRN_251009_V1

Morning Brief: The Peace President, SCOTUS Takes Up ‘Conversion Therapy,’  & Palisades Fire Arrest

Morning Brief: The Peace President, ‘Conversion Therapy’ At SCOTUS, And Suspected Palisades Arson

Colorado

Hamas

Israel

Los Angeles Fires

Marco Rubio

Morning Wire

SCOTUS

Federal officials on Wednesday announced the arrest of a man accused of deliberately sparking the deadly blaze that devastated Pacific Palisades, California, in January.
The Justice Department and the Los Angeles Police Department said at a press conference that 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht of Melbourne, Florida, started the Lachman Fire on New Year’s Day. The Lachman Fire eventually became the Palisades Fire after it was rekindled by severe winds a week later. In the federal criminal complaint, Rinderknecht is charged with maliciously starting the fire that eventually “burned down the Palisades,” according to Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli.
If convicted on that charge, Rinderknecht faces up to 20 years in prison. However, Essayli stated that authorities have not yet determined all the charges that Rinderknecht will face, and more charges will likely be presented to a federal grand jury.
Essayli said that Rinderknecht, an Uber driver, was in Pacific Palisades late on New Year’s Eve after working throughout the evening. Rinderknecht allegedly got out of his car and walked up a trail to a nearby hilltop, where he recorded videos and listened to a rap song. The song was accompanied by a music video that showed objects being set on fire, according to Essayli.
“Twelve minutes into the new year, environmental sensing platforms indicated that a fire had started. It took the defendant several tries to contact 911 to report the fire,” Essayli said. “He fled the scene in his car, but turned around after passing fire engines driving in the opposite direction to fight the fire. While the Lachman Fire burned, the defendant walked up the same trail from earlier that night to watch the fire and firefighters, using his iPhone to take short videos of the scene.”
The U.S. attorney added that while firefighters successfully extinguished the blaze, the fire continued to smolder underground “within the root structure of the dense vegetation” and was rekindled by heavy winds on January 7, “causing what became known as the Palisades Fire.”
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Rinderknecht was questioned by law enforcement on January 24 and is accused of lying to investigators about where he was when he first saw the Lachman Fire. Rinderknecht claimed that he was near the bottom of the hiking trail, but geo-location data from his 911 call revealed that he was standing “above the fire in a clearing nearly 30 feet from the blaze as it rapidly grew,” Essayli said.
Some of Rinderknecht’s passengers on New Year’s Eve told investigators that the suspect appeared agitated before he dropped them off. Essayli also pointed to images the suspect allegedly generated on the artificial intelligence platform ChatGPT that showed a burning city. The suspect allegedly generated the image in the months leading up to the fire.
Charging documents contained snippets of a conversation Rinderknecht had with ChatGPT, in which he reportedly said, &#8220;I am 28 years old. And … I basically … This just happened. Maybe like … I don’t know, maybe like 3 months ago or something. Like, the realization of all this. I literally burnt the Bible that I had. It felt amazing. I felt so liberated.&#8221;
They also included the prompt that Rinderknecht allegedly entered on July 11, 2024, to create the image:
<blockquote>“A dystopian painting divided into distinct parts that blend together seamlessly. On the far left, there is a burning forest. Next to it, a crowd of people is running away from the fire, leading to the middle. In the middle, hundreds of thousands of people in poverty are trying to get past a gigantic gate with a big dollar sign on it. On the other side of the gate and the entire wall is a conglomerate of the richest people. They are chilling, watching the world burn down, and watching the people struggle. They are laughing, enjoying themselves, and dancing. The scene is detailed and impactful, highlighting the stark contrast and the direct connection between the different parts of the world.”</blockquote>
Rinderknecht was arrested in Florida, where he was most recently living, but was living in Pacific Palisades at the time of the fire. Essayli stated that Rinderknecht has no criminal history, and authorities did not disclose their belief regarding Rinderknecht’s motive, adding that it would be addressed in court.
Rinderknecht is scheduled to appear in the U.S. District Court in Orlando at 1:30 ET on Wednesday.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Today we are announcing the arrest of 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht on a criminal complaint charging him with maliciously starting what became the Palisades Fire in January. 
⁰The complaint alleges that Rinderknecht&#8217;s started a fire in Pacific Palisades on New Year&#8217;s Day &#8211;… <a href="https://t.co/UzrFa0Lmrz">pic.twitter.com/UzrFa0Lmrz</a>
— Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) <a href="https://twitter.com/USAttyEssayli/status/1975954598201536880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The Palisades Fire ripped through the Los Angeles neighborhood on January 7, killing 12 people and destroying thousands of homes. It was one of multiple devastating fires that ripped through Los Angeles County in January. The Eaton Fire, about 15 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles in Altadena, was the most destructive blaze, killing 19 people and destroying more than 9,000 buildings. The cause of the Eaton Fire is still being investigated.

Suspect In Palisades Fire Linked To Strange AI Images, ChatGPT Queries

Arson Suspect Nabbed For Setting Catastrophic Palisades Fire In California

Department of Justice

Fire

wildfire

President Donald Trump jabbed at Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) after $100 million in donated funds — raised through a concert named FireAid — did not go directly to the victims of the recent California wildfires.
FireAid was billed as a one-night concert event, featuring artists like Katy Perry, Olivia Rodrigo, and Lady Gaga — which was supposed to raise money for residents who lost their homes during the devastating wildfires that ravaged Altadena and the Pacific Palisades. In fact, A-List actors promised people that was the express purpose of the event. 
Actor Miles Teller – from Top Gun Maverick –  told everyone that FireAid would go “directly” to victims, saying, &#8220;All the money raised will go directly to people who need it now and long-term efforts to build it back.&#8221;
&#8220;The Avengers&#8221; star Samuel L. Jackson offered a similar take, encouraging as many people as possible to donate at the website even if they couldn&#8217;t attend the event: &#8220;Give what you can. All the money will go directly to people who need help in the short term and the long-term effort to get this city back on its feet.&#8221;
But as Sue Pascoe — Editor and Chief of Circling the News, who <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-03-27/lafd-records-secrecy">lost</a> her home in the Palisades fire — discovered, the money <a href="https://www.thefp.com/p/where-did-100-million-in-la-fire">did not go directly to individuals</a>: &#8220;There’s all sorts of skullduggery going on, and basically wildfire victims and Palisades and Altadena got no direct relief.&#8221;
Local residents backed up what Pascoe said as well. David Howard, who lost two homes in the Pacific Palisades, told the local Fox affiliate, &#8220;I have not seen any benefit from the FireAid money, and I am very involved here and neither have my neighbors.&#8221;
Likewise, Altadena fire victim Mark Jones said that he too had been led to believe the money was going to go directly to the people. &#8220;The fire aid was for us. So, we figured where is the money? Where is it going?&#8221; he asked.
President Trump weighed in on Friday, lashing out in all-caps from his Truth Social platform:
<blockquote>“FIREAID” IS A TOTAL DISASTER. LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER DEMOCRAT INSPIRED SCAM. 100 MILLION DOLLARS IS MISSING. WAS SUPPOSED TO TO GO TO THE LOS ANGELES FIRE VICTIMS, FIRES THAT, WITH PROPER MANAGEMENT, WOULD NEVER HAVE EVEN HAPPENED. GOVERNOR NEWSCUM REFUSED TO RELEASE BILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WATER FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, AND THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT WOULD HAVE MADE! I HAVE SINCE OVERRULED HIM, AND IT IS NOW RELEASED. All FEDERAL HOUSING PERMITS HAVE ALSO BEEN APPROVED, THE CITY IS YEARS LATE. GET THE FIRE VICTIMS THEIR APPROVALS TO REBUILD, AND DO IT NOW!</blockquote>
Newsom responded to Trump&#8217;s post on X, sarcastically mocking up a screenshot of the president&#8217;s Truth post and rebutting some of his claims.
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Go to bed, grandpa. It’s past your bedtime. <a href="https://t.co/9qRtdqMhha">https://t.co/9qRtdqMhha</a> <a href="https://t.co/SvEnokL4YZ">pic.twitter.com/SvEnokL4YZ</a>
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovPressOffice/status/1948915120337551815?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
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FireAid has claimed that the money was never intended to go directly to the people — despite the claims made by celebrities promoting the event — and issued a statement saying, &#8220;FireAid does not have the capability to make direct payments to individuals and that was never the plan. We partnered directly with trusted local non-profits&#8230;to reach communities in need.&#8221;
Some of those nonprofits, according to <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/california-wildfire-victims-left-wondering-where-100m-went-following-fireaid-benefit-concert" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox News Digital</a>, include one that works to promote “self-determination in the Latino community” and promised to use the funding to build not just houses but “a more humane and democratic society by responding to the needs and problems of disenfranchised people.” Another organization promised to use the money to “cultivate egalitarian relationships based on trust and respect.&#8221; 
Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) has asked the Attorney General to get to the bottom of the situation.
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Americans showed amazing generosity in giving $100 million to support LA fire victims as part of the &#8220;Fire Aid&#8221; concert. Yet the money did not go directly to victims, and went to several questionable nonprofits.
I&#8217;ve asked the Attorney General to investigate. <a href="https://t.co/n4UfBxzaAE">pic.twitter.com/n4UfBxzaAE</a>
— Rep. Kevin Kiley (@RepKiley) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepKiley/status/1948783871236944093?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Listen to this story and the rest of today&#8217;s &#8220;Morning Wire&#8221; podcast here.
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US-WEATHER-FIRE

Trump Jabs At Newsom After $100 Million In FireAid Concert Funds Don’t Go Directly To Victims

Trump Jabs At Newsom After $100 Million In FireAid Concert Funds Don't Go Directly To Victims

President Donald Trump finalizes a historic trade deal with the European Union and brokers a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia. The Department of Justice questions Ghislaine Maxwell for the first time, as FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino issues a cryptic warning about government weaponization. And Trump slams California Governor Gavin Newsom after nearly $100 million in celebrity-raised wildfire aid reportedly fails to reach victims. 
It’s Monday, July 28, 2025, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. 
Morning Wire is available on video! You can watch today’s episode here:
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<h2>Trump Strikes EU Trade Deal, Brokers Ceasefire</h2>
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Topline: President Trump secured a historic trade agreement with the European Union over the weekend and successfully brokered a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia. 
On Sunday, President Trump finalized a massive trade deal with the EU just four days before his August 1 deadline. Under the terms of the agreement, the United States will set a baseline tariff of 15% on most European goods, while the EU will open its markets to American products at a zero-percent tariff. The EU also agreed to purchase $750 billion in energy and defense products from the United States. Collectively, the nations in the EU bloc are America&#8217;s largest trading partner.
Announcing the deal, Trump <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1949527667478319115">said</a>, “It’s great that we made a deal today instead of playing games.” The agreement is a significant win for the White House, as the EU had initially proposed a lower 10% tariff rate.
The deal capped off a weekend of foreign policy wins for the president. After a long-disputed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/very-good-conversation-trump-says-peace-between-cambodia-and-thailand-imminent-after-phone-calls">border conflict</a> between Thailand and Cambodia erupted into a firefight that killed at least 35 people, Trump intervened. The president threatened both nations with 36% tariffs if they did not immediately begin peace talks. Within hours, the two countries agreed to negotiations, which are set to take place on Monday.
With the deadline just days away, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick issued a firm warning to other trading partners that have not yet reached an agreement with the United States. &#8220;No extensions, no more grace periods — August 1st, the tariffs are set,&#8221; he said. 
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<h2>DOJ Questions Ghislaine Maxwell For The First Time</h2>
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Topline: The Department of Justice has interviewed Jeffrey Epstein’s accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell for the first time, a development that legal experts find remarkable, as FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino issued a cryptic warning about government corruption. 
The DOJ met with Maxwell last week, with her attorney David Oscar Markus confirming that prosecutors questioned her about &#8220;100 different people.&#8221; Markus noted that it was the &#8220;first opportunity she&#8217;s ever been given to answer questions about what happened.&#8221; George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley called the development remarkable, expressing shock on Fox News that Maxwell, &#8220;the one who knows the most,&#8221; had been an untapped resource for so long. 
It&#8217;s very likely that Maxwell hopes to trade her testimony for clemency &#8211; she&#8217;s currently serving a <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/ghislaine-maxwell-sentenced-20-years-prison-conspiring-jeffrey-epstein-sexually-abuse">20-year sentence</a> for her role in Epstein&#8217;s sex trafficking ring. President Trump has not ruled out a pardon for Maxwell, but her attorney stated that there have been no discussions on this point. Maxwell was reportedly offered limited immunity for the interviews. 
As the DOJ began questioning Maxwell, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino released a statement on X regarding his discovery of political corruption within the government. Bongino said that the information he has seen relating to government weaponization &#8220;shocked [him] down to [his] core&#8221; and that he would &#8220;never be the same after learning what I’ve learned.&#8221; He urged patience and promised answers would come after a full investigation is completed &#8220;by the book and in accordance with the law.&#8221; 
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<h2>California Wildfire Aid Reportedly ‘Disappears’</h2>
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Topline: President Trump is criticizing California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom after nearly $100 million in aid raised by the &#8220;FireAid&#8221; celebrity concert reportedly failed to reach the wildfire victims it was intended to help. 
The &#8220;FireAid&#8221; concert, featuring A-list artists like Katy Perry and Lady Gaga, raised money for residents impacted by the devastating Pacific Palisades and Altadena wildfires earlier this year. Celebrity spokespeople, including actors Miles Teller and Samuel L. Jackson, assured the public that &#8220;All the money raised will go directly to people who need it.&#8221; However, victims on the ground say they have not received any of the money. 
President Trump took to social media to blast the situation, calling it &#8220;A TOTAL DISASTER&#8221; and &#8220;ANOTHER DEMOCRAT INSPIRED SCAM.&#8221; He also slammed Newsom’s forest management, which he said allowed the fires to happen in the first place. FireAid has since issued a statement claiming the plan was never to make direct payments to individuals, but to work through local non-profits. 
An investigation by local news editor Sue Pascoe, who lost her home in the Palisades fire, found that some of these nonprofits appear to be using the funds for their own social and political causes. One group promised to use the money to &#8220;cultivate egalitarian relationships based on trust and respect,&#8221; while another said it would work to build &#8220;a more humane and democratic society.&#8221; Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) is now pushing for an investigation into where the funds went.

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Morning Brief: Trump’s EU Trade Deal, Ghislaine Maxwell’s Interview & California’s FireAid Meltdown

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European Union

Ghislaine Maxwell

Jeffrey Epstein

Tariffs

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“The Hills” actor Spencer Pratt is coming down hard on California governor Gavin Newsom (D) and the state Senate for supporting a bill that will allow the city to purchase fire ravaged lots to construct low income housing. 
“&#8230; I used my trusty Chat GPT pro asking why this Bill would be bad for residents. The response was interesting. So I asked my new 4 agents at Grok 4 heavy the same question,” the 41-year-old reality star wrote in his Instagram caption. 
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Pratt included images of the bill’s text and the AI platform breakdowns of what it all meant. 
“Obviously I’m no genius… but having the people in charge of the town they just let burn down make any decisions in rebuilding it… seems crazy to me,” he added.   
The images included detailed breakdowns of California Senate Bill 549 via Grok 4 Heavy. 
“Removes local control over land use in fire-affected areas; enables county rezoning/redevelopment without resident input; risks displacement, overdevelopment, added bureaucracy, delays, and new taxes,” one image in the carousel said.
Another image detailed why SB549 was “bad for residents,” giving reasons such as “creates a county authority that overrides city/community decisions on rebuilding after wildfires” and “enables rezoning without input.”
Pratt lost his $3 million home during the wildfires that ravaged the Los Angeles area in January. He previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/reality-star-spencer-pratt-says-hes-suing-state-of-ca-after-losing-3m-home">announced</a> his intention to sue the state for their handling of the natural disaster. 
Per Los Angeles Magazine, the bill will allow the city to purchase now vacant lots of structures destroyed by the fires to build low income housing.
Newsom <a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/07/08/governor-newsom-commits-101-million-to-jumpstart-critical-rebuilding-efforts-after-la-fires/">announced</a> that he has allocated $101 million in taxpayer funds to help with the project. 
“Los Angeles has taken significant steps to rebuild after January’s fires, but the devastation is significant and there remains a long road ahead. Thousands of families – from Pacific Palisades to Altadena to Malibu – are still displaced and we owe it to them to help,&#8221; Newsom said, saying the bill seeks to &#8220;accelerate the development of affordable multifamily rental housing so that those rebuilding their lives after this tragedy have access to a safe, affordable place to come home to.&#8221;

Reality Star Spencer Pratt Slams California Plan To Build Low-Income Housing In Fire Ravaged Areas

Reality TV

Actress and singer Mandy Moore complained that the process of rebuilding the parts of Los Angeles destroyed by wildfires in January has been a nightmare of red tape.
The “This Is Us” star expressed her frustration in an Instagram story earlier this week, according to <a href="https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/mandy-moore-slams-la-wildfire-rebuild-protocol-as-heartless/">US Weekly</a>. &#8220;Thanks, LA County for making it as frustrating and impossible to rebuild after the fires as possible,&#8221; Moore shared at the time.
&#8220;Shouldn’t be surprised but it’s mind boggling the red tape and hoops they’re putting us all through,&#8221; she added. &#8220;It’s maddening and heartless … the endless hoops and meaningless protocol LA County is asking of fire victims who want to rebuild and get their lives back. Wasn’t California going to make this as easy as possible?&#8221;
The “A Walk to Remember” star brought up the situation again on Thursday. &#8220;6 permits issued in Altadena. 10,000 structures burned down. The pace is glacial. The nonsensical red tape they have in place that prevents those of that are ready to rebuild is just mind boggling,” Moore seethed.
&#8220;And I say this as someone with privilege: we have insurance, plans, a contractor, etc… everyone deserves an advocate and a system that is streamlined and supports success. People want to get the ball rolling and start to piece their lives back together.&#8221;
&#8220;We JUST finished building one of the structures that burned down [this past] November. We have all the plans and permits ready to go and we were just told we have to resubmit everything and start over,&#8221; Moore continued. &#8220;For no reason. LA County should want success stories right now but instead, they&#8217;re focused on antiquated protocol. This is why people are leaving California in droves. They make it impossible.&#8221;
Moore’s home in Altadena was partially destroyed. She was one of many celebrities to have property damage as the uncontrolled fires devastated the area at the beginning of this year.
&#8220;Miraculously, the main part of our house is still standing. For now. It’s not livable but mostly intact,&#8221; the actress <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DEnXs-Gy2jn/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;ig_rid=f6d90c6d-7550-4b8c-8259-a015c9cc7361&amp;img_index=1">shared on Instagram</a> in January alongside a photo carousel of the damage. 
&#8220;We lost Taylor and Griffin’s studio with every instrument and piece of equipment they’ve ever owned,&#8221; Moore said. Her husband Taylor Goldsmith and his brother Griffin are members of the band Dawes. 
&#8220;We lost our garage and back house. Everyone we know lost everything. Every house on our street is gone.&#8221;
She concluded the post, “Feeling weird survivors guilt. We love this community and will do everything we can to help rebuild and support. Thanks for everyone for checking on us and offering us help. Altadena strong.”

Mandy Moore

Mandy Moore Blasts LA County For ‘Nonsensical Red Tape’ Attempting To Rebuild Post-Wildfire

Mandy Moore Blasts LA County For 'Nonsensical Red Tape' Attempting To Rebuild Post-Wildfire

A 19-year-old man was arrested on arson charges for the massive fire that burned thousands of acres in New Jersey earlier this week, law enforcement announced Thursday.
The Ocean County Prosecutor&#8217;s Office charged Joseph Kling on Wednesday with aggravated arson with the purpose of destroying the forest and arson over the blaze that has burned around 15,000 acres in Ocean County. The fire prompted thousands of evacuations and led to a state of emergency being declared.
Kling was determined by law enforcement to be the &#8220;individual responsible for setting wooden pallets on fire &#8211; and then leaving the area without the fire being fully extinguished,&#8221; Ocean County prosecutors said. Kling, from Watertown, is currently behind bars at the Ocean County Jail. The county has <a href="https://coroms.co.ocean.nj.us:8087/IML" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> no information about when Kling will appear in court. 
Investigators determined that the fire was incendiary, likely from an improperly extinguished bonfire, and used GPS to determine its origin. 
The fire prompted around 5,000 people to evacuate from the area, though the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said Thursday that the evacuation orders for Lacey and Ocean Townships had been lifted. The forest service also announced that the blaze had been 50% contained. 
On Wednesday, Lacey Township Mayor Peter Curatolo <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/nj-wildfire-ocean-county-barnegat-lacey/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that the fire may &#8220;very well end up being the largest wildfire in New Jersey in 20 years.&#8221;
There have been no reported deaths or loss of homes from the fire, though at least one commercial building was destroyed alongside multiple vehicles and outbuildings.
The investigation involved Ocean County&#8217;s Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, and the New Jersey State Fire Marshal’s Office.
&#8220;Thanks to the incredible, heroic work of the good men and women of our New Jersey Forest Fire Service, folks&#8217; homes and lives have been saved, and we&#8217;ve truly averted a major disaster,&#8221; New Jersey Forest Fire Service Commissioner Shawn LaTourette<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/nj-wildfire-ocean-county-barnegat-lacey/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> </a>said Wednesday. &#8220;This wildfire is not under full and complete control, we still have a lot of work to do to achieve complete containment of the wildfire. But there were 1,300 homes that were threatened during the course of fighting this fire.&#8221;

MixCollage-24-Apr-2025-12-11-PM-7379

Police Arrest 19-Year-Old Over Massive New Jersey Fire, Reveal Cause Of Blaze

Arson

New Jersey

Mel Gibson blasted Democrat California Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday, calling for the recall of the governor over his “gross mismanagement” of the state, especially when it comes to the massive wildfires in Southern California.
During a <a href="https://x.com/TONYxTWO/status/1894948199934079110">press conference</a> in Los Angeles, the 69-year-old actor told the crowd that both Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass let them down after Gibson became one of the numerous people who lost their homes in the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire.
“Governor Newsom and Karen Bass let us all down,” Gibson said, pointing out how much California residents pay in taxes. “Now for that kind of money, we deserve much more and much better, and there is absolutely no adequate excuse the governor or mayor can make for this gross mismanagement and failure to preemptively deal with what they knew was coming.”
“Was it incompetence? Was it indifference, complacency, carelessness? Was it negligence? Absolutely,” he added, asking the crowd if the mayor or governor “give a damn about you,” to which the crowd replied, &#8220;no.&#8221; “Newsom … has brought us nothing but rampant crime, acute homelessness, horrendous inflation.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Mel Gibson speaks at Newsom recall event 🔥
“Governor Newsom and Karen Bass let us all down.”
“There is absolutely no adequate excuse the Governor or Mayor can make for this gross mismanagement and failure to preemptively deal with what they knew was coming.” <a href="https://t.co/jwH61x4EYG">pic.twitter.com/jwH61x4EYG</a>
— TONY™ (@TONYxTWO) <a href="https://twitter.com/TONYxTWO/status/1894948199934079110?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
“I mean, the industry I work in, the film industry, this used to be the Mecca of filmdom. It is no more. All of my fellow citizens who have lost their homes, they have no recourse, no insurance payouts because the carriers dropped them,” Gibson continued, per The <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/mel-gibson-slams-mayor-bass-governor-newsom-altadena-press-conference-1236148644/">Hollywood Reporter</a>. “Even the carriers realized that California was ill-prepared and had scant resources to deal with the inevitable fires. They knew that. So are we supposed to believe that our elected officials didn’t know that? Of course they knew that. Of course.”
At one point, “The Passion of the Christ” director praised the firefighters who worked hard to try and save the homes.
“The firefighters, I have to say they were practically in tears. You know why? Because they thought they had let us down,” Gibson said. “I want to say loudly right here: You did not let us down.”
The event, which was organized by <a href="https://savingcalifornia.vote/">Saving California</a>, is focused on recalling Newsom and fixing the state’s economy, per its website.
In January, Gibson opened up about how 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" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
“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 actor admitted he was still dealing with the “devastating” impact of losing the home that he’d lived in for more than a decade.
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 Blasts Newsom At Recall Event For Governor

Hollywood

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