California Wildfires 2025
On January 7, 2025, the first of 30 devastating wildfires ignited across the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Fueled by dry conditions and intense winds, these fires ravaged the region, destroying homes and displacing thousands. However, the physical destruction was only part of the crisis. A wave of disinformation spread like wildfire, undermining the efforts of firefighters, government officials, and residents to manage the emergency effectively.
Political Exploitation
Some Republican politicians, led by President-elect Donald Trump, saw the wildfires as an opportunity for political gain. Trump’s actions crossed a disturbing line. While his allies speculated about imposing conditions on aid to California, Trump openly suggested leveraging the crisis to force concessions in a debt ceiling bill.
“If you add Los Angeles into it, then you can really do one really beautiful bill because frankly, they want that so badly, they want the money to go out there so badly. I don’t think we should do a bill until Los Angeles is included… and when Los Angeles is included, we get everything we want…”
This statement represents a shocking new low—even for Trump. The audacity to consider withholding aid from a state that contributes over $234.5 billion in federal taxes, more than any other state, is an insult to all Californians, including his own supporters.
The Disinformation Campaign
Trump’s comments came amidst a week-long barrage of falsehoods spread by his allies. These fabrications ranged from water supply mismanagement to fantastical globalist conspiracies, all designed to distract and mislead the public.
Water Supply Mismanagement
Trump falsely claimed Governor Gavin Newsom refused to sign a nonexistent "water restoration declaration," accusing him of depriving Southern California of water. In reality, the region's water supply is unaffected by the Klamath River dam removals that were incorrectly blamed for shortages.
Firefighting Budgets and Misplaced Blame
Right-wing commentators alleged that the Los Angeles Fire Department's budget had been drastically mismanaged, even asserting that a 2022 donation to Ukraine caused financial shortages. Donald Trump Jr. repeated these baseless claims, despite California allocating significant resources to emergency services.
Globalist Conspiracies
Figures like Alex Jones, with Elon Musk’s backing, claimed President Joe Biden orchestrated the fires as part of a "globalist plot." These baseless theories eroded public trust and distracted from real solutions.
Environmental Practices as Scapegoats
Critics targeted environmental policies, such as protecting the Delta smelt fish, as the cause of limited water for firefighting. These claims ignored the broader challenges of climate change and urban sprawl, while experts confirmed water shortages stemmed from outdated infrastructure.
Setting the Record Straight
Let us clarify the facts:
Water Restoration Declaration: This declaration does not exist. The Public Policy Institute of California confirmed that even if such a declaration were real, it would not have addressed this crisis.
Forest Management: Claims that Newsom neglected forest floors are false. In September 2020, California doubled vegetation management efforts, supported by federal funding. Additionally, 57% of California’s forest land is federally owned, underscoring the role of federal oversight.
Diversity and Inclusion: Blaming DEI hires or LGBTQ+ employees for the fires is both baseless and offensive. Elon Musk’s insinuations about Los Angeles’ fire chief, a 22-year veteran firefighter, reflect the depth of disinformation propagated during the crisis.
Governor Newsom’s Leadership
Governor Gavin Newsom responded decisively. He launched a dedicated website to combat false claims and provide accurate updates, ensuring residents had reliable information for evacuation and safety. His administration rapidly deployed resources, expanded aerial firefighting operations, and coordinated mutual aid agreements with neighboring states. Newsom also advocated for stronger climate policies and forest management to address the root causes of these disasters.
More Cruelty From Trump and Political Allies
Instead of aiding a state in crisis, Trump mocked California’s struggles:
“They just can’t put out the fires. What’s wrong with them?”
The insults and cruelty don’t stop there:
Mike Johnson: House Speaker Mike Johnson proposes attaching conditions to federal aid, alleging mismanagement by California’s leadership. He claims changes in water and forest management are prerequisites for relief.
Donald Trump Jr.: Trump Jr. perpetuates unfounded claims that donations sent to Ukraine in 2022 by the Los Angeles Fire Department were to blame for budget shortfalls during the fires. These assertions lack evidence and serve only to distract from genuine discussions about resource allocation.
John Barrasso and Warren Davidson: Senate Majority Whip Barrasso and Congressman Davidson support efforts to link disaster relief to changes in California’s environmental policies, including forest and water management.
Right-Wing Media Personalities: Figures like Alex Jones and Elon Musk push conspiracy theories about globalist plots and grounded firefighting planes, eroding trust in legitimate firefighting efforts.
Sean Hannity: “Any aid has got to insist that the science of forestry be implemented so you, the American people, you don’t have to keep bailing people out. They’ve got to clear out the brush and do things like, oh, control burns and maybe not put a little shrub above the safety of people’s lifeblood, their home.”
Jesse Watters: “Are we just going to keep destroying Western civilization and then paying to rebuild it over and over again? No. There has to be strings attached to this money because we're not going to go bankrupt because California's stupid. They have lost $24 billion on the homeless, $50 billion on COVID jobless claims. They lost, what, $23 billion on a train that doesn't even go anywhere. So they completely fail every leadership test in California from natural disasters to COVID to the riots and we can't let it happen again.”
Glen Beck “…the leaders of California can’t admit that their own disastrous policies, NOT climate change, fueled these fires, they shouldn’t get a DIME of federal aid without serious conditions attached.”
Senator John Barrasso: “There can’t be a blank check on this, I expect there will be strings attached to money that is ultimately approved, and it has to do with being ready the next time because this was a gross failure this time.”
The call for conditioned aid is not just a Democratic exaggeration, in 2018 during Trump’s first term, he withheld disaster relief for California until someone informed him that he had voters there, too. He has commented several times about withholding disaster relief for states that voted for Democrats.
The True Cost of Misinformation
The disinformation campaign during the 2025 wildfires had devastating consequences:
Confusion among residents hindered evacuation and safety efforts.
Erosion of trust in government and emergency services complicated coordination.
Policy paralysis delayed meaningful discussions about disaster prevention.
California, a state that contributes more to the federal government than any other, deserves better than to be exploited in its time of need. As the wildfires illustrate, leadership and accountability are crucial—not only for managing crises but for preserving the integrity of our democracy.
What You Can Do with unCommon Sense
The challenges California faces require collective action. Here are steps we can take to hold leaders accountable and ensure the state gets the resources it needs:
Demand Accountability: Contact your representatives and demand they condemn efforts to restrict aid to disaster-stricken areas. Make it clear that withholding assistance for political leverage is unacceptable.
Email Template:
Subject: Demand Immediate and Unconditional Aid for California Wildfires
Dear [elected official’s name],
I am writing as a concerned citizen to urge you to support immediate and unconditional federal aid for California’s wildfire recovery efforts. The ongoing crisis has devastated communities, and the spread of misinformation is further compounding the challenges faced by emergency responders and residents.
California contributes over $234.5 billion in federal taxes annually, more than any other state. It is unacceptable for political leaders to condition aid on partisan demands. I ask you to publicly condemn these tactics and work to ensure that California receives the resources it needs to recover and rebuild.
Thank you for your leadership during this critical time. I look forward to seeing your support for California’s recovery efforts.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[Contact Information]
Phone Script
Hello, my name is [Name], and I am a constituent from [City/State]. I am calling to urge [Representative] to support immediate and unconditional federal aid for California’s wildfire recovery efforts.
The fires have caused immense devastation, and Californians deserve the full support of our federal government.
Thank you for hearing my concerns. I look forward to seeing [Representative] take action to help California recover.
Support Fact-Checking Initiatives: Donate funds or time to organizations dedicated to countering disinformation and spreading accurate information during crises. Join groups like Common Cause https://www.commoncause.org/issues/disinformation-accountability/
Push for Fire Prevention Funding: Advocate for increased federal and state investment in wildfire prevention, including controlled burns, improved water management, and resilient infrastructure.
unCommon Sense
The 2025 California wildfires are a stark reminder of the damage misinformation can cause, not only to those directly affected but to the integrity of our public discourse. It is up to all of us to fight back against lies and demand better from our leaders. Only then can we ensure that no community, regardless of its political leanings, is left behind in its hour of need.
The United States Government is there to step in and help in situations like these, and to place conditions on that help is unreasonable and extreme. If the Government can put restrictions on emergency funding based on the political divide, then it seems only fair for California to place conditions on the money the state contributes to the US revenue. We must force our elected officials to listen to us, and they won’t listen if we never speak. You may think that one email is not going to do much good, but that isn’t true. I am one voice, but after emailing my reps every day for 3 months, a bill was passed with many of my demands included. If you are willing to email, others are too. You are not alone if you are standing up for the right things. Don’t allow Trump and his minions to have unchecked control of everything, Trump is depending on his critics to sit down and shut up, don’t give him what he wants.
Sources
Cercone, J. (2025a, January 12). Fact-checking Misinformation about the Los Angeles wildfires and California water policy. PBS News. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/fact-checking-misinformation-about-the-los-angeles-wildfires-and-california-water-policy
City News Service. (2025, January 15). 2 more arrested on arson charges in LA amid wildfire danger. NBC Southern California. https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/la-arson-arrests-wildfires/3605576/
Contributors to Wikimedia projects. (2025, January 17). January 2025 Southern California wildfires. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_2025_Southern_California_wildfires?
Dale, D. (2025, January 9). Fact check: As wildfires rage, Trump lashes out with false claims about FEMA and California water policy. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/09/politics/fact-check-trump-california-wildfires-fema/index.html
Kaplan, A., Blankstein, A., & Schapiro, R. (2025, January 16). Are arsonists responsible for the L.A. wildfires? What we know so far. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/wildfires/are-arsonists-responsible-los-angeles-wildfires-rcna186949
Kekatos, M., & Kim, J. (2025, January 14). Debunking 5 claims about the California wildfires. ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/US/debunking-5-claims-california-wildfires/story?id=117549503
Leingang, R. (2025, January 10). US right wing fans misinformation fires as firefighters battle Los Angeles blazes. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/10/rightwing-misinformation-los-angeles-fire
Reilly, L. (2025, January 16). Right-wing media figures call for withholding California wildfire aid, blame ‘liberals’ for disaster. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/15/media/right-wing-media-california-wildfire-aid/index.html
Stelloh, T., Lenthang, M., Cohen, R., & Helsel, P. (2025, January 16). California wildfires: What we know about L.A.-area fires, maps, what caused it and who has been impacted. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/wildfires/california-wildfires-what-know-cause-maps-palisades-eaton-los-angeles-rcna187289
