Spin Cycle: Wildfires Rage, And Politicians Fan The Blame

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

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

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

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

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

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

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 12, 2025

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

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

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 12, 2025

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

“The heartbreak is just overwhelming.”

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

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 12, 2025

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

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

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

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 12, 2025

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

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

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

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 12, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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