I keep on thinking about something that Robert said on this morning’s call, along the lines of the depravity of the Fox style press for focusing on the petty failures of blue state politicians for allowing this fire failure, bad hydrants and all (very much my broad interpretation of his dismay, but along those lines).
And it occurred to me that this the kind of moment that is an opportunity to turn the narrative, in response to that kind of press henpecking….that we are capable of, rather than handwringing about. There is even a book written about it from a progressive perspective - The Persuaders, by Anand Giridharadas. In short he talks about this as a way to leverage the scope of the debate using the platforms it’s already being discussed on. As many times as we get re traumatized by the vilification and clear intentions of malice, at some point is there not a moment to leverage it and gain traction?
Just an example: “Really”, Karen Bass might say…”So why are you not asking about climate change and how every American city that has suffered under it over the last several years has been equally unprepared for it? I wonder, what will the incoming administration do to help Miami from sinking into the sea? Because I bet we care more about the residents of Miami than they do.” While adding perhaps some flare ala Pete Buttigeig. It has the potential to inspire while calling out truth, pointing out AND brushing aside the distraction all at the same time.
Or do we just ride this all out as Michael Moore points out in his recent Substack, and go from there?
We have to ride this out one way or another anyway, but I do think we have options to radically re-frame it.
Thanks for this. I have been thinking about how is this recent event any different from what has happened numerous times in Florida, yet the right implicates CA in some kind of incompetence. As Lawrence O'Donnell said, the culprit here was wind, with fire. Just as wind, with water, pummeled FL. At the end of the day, there is only so much you can do when the wind is 100 mph and higher. Someone else mentioned the more recent tendency of the press and leaders to immediately go to blaming, as oopposed to helping or mitigating. The negativity demoralizes and exhausts.
Not as if those now stoking hate about the fires in California or federal response to the hurricane in North Carolina ever tried to mitigate the effects of climate change, or add money to FEMA to prepare for disaster.
The Weather Channel has done a short documentary about the California wildfires in which the meteorologist and climate scientists discuss the conditions that made these fires possible and also so destructive.
Thanks Kim. Lawrence is correct - it’s the wind that’s the culprit. Wind-driven fires advance devastatingly fast, into new areas, due to the embers/fire brands that can travel as much as 5 miles ahead of the actual flames. While the fire fighters are working to knock down the actual fire, the fire brands are flying above and beyond due to the high winds. And no one can control the wind.
I've seen posts from people in Florida who feel forgotten about since the recovery down there is still ongoing. They were forgotten about by their actual state leadership.
I’m absolutely intrigued by what you describe and hope that you will post the name of the volume once it comes to your mind. A famed astrophysicist friend of ours was in conversation with us one night while his wife was away attending her very very ill adult daughter… We couldn’t remember something on our minds, and I lightly declared that probably it would come to him at midnight… and he quipped, “If it does, do you want me to call you?” Ha ha ha … that line comes up in conversation with people with greater frequency than you might imagine. Lol! Anyway, I’m very intrigued by what you describe. It sounds so uplifting and productive, constructive, like a turning point and rising above… Thank you for your comment.
And Robert, the photo that you posted is exquisite, along with narrative for us to understand what we are seeing. So grateful. Thank you.
We all must be truth messengers.Every action counts.
Yesterday in yoga class a woman, whose daughter lives alone in LA,told several of us that LA had “run out of water”.We countered that lie with the truth, along with concern for her daughter and a discussion of a safety plan.
Yay, Kathy. It's at least something I/we can do. I talked to a woman in the grocery store the other day who was complaining about the cost of gas. I said "Really? It seems pretty normal to me." She thought a second, then said, "Well, yeah, I guess it has been coming down lately." Then I talked to a man who was complaining that taking down the dams on the Klamath River in California "was all due to some tiny fish." I asked him whether having more water flowing into California was good or bad. He thought, then said, "Well, good, I guess..."
I completely agree with you. That's why we need to be well informed so that when something like your yoga class happens, we're prepared to tell the truth, in a way that is not hostile. One person at a time is the best weapon we have. Thanks!
Great photos, Robert. Reportage and works of art. Thank you to those brave men and women flying those helicopters and planes. I agree with J. Noah's good advice of a counter to journalists and others who think they are being tough with asinine and ill-informed questions. Another good response (inspired by Robert yesterday) is, "IF YOU'D CHECK, you would see. that there is plenty of water but you have to get the water to the hydrants, but because of the very fires we are fighting, AS YOU KNOW, power for the pumps that feed the hydrant is out." Trump does a first-graders version of this with his repeated, "everybody knows" and "look it up," and "you know this, we all know this," deflection of every question and the media play along. In the "press conference" at Mar-a-Lago the other day when acquiring Greenland was the subject, a reporter fell into the common response to Trump's idiocy and lying -- he tried to pose multiple choice questions for the great man to respond to ending with a frustrated, "But will you rule out military force," to which Trump responded, something like, "No, I'm not going to rule that out." Trump's stupidity encourages journalists to think of themselves as the smartest persons in the room no matter who they are talking too, and they are so afraid of getting on Trump's wrong side and not being called on that they are outmaneuvered time and time again. There was no follow-up with, "Gee, Mr. Trump, wouldn't that start a larger war?"
I agree, Patrick. I find the way-too-common journalistic interview practice of 1) asking the question, 2) rephrasing the question, 3) maybe even coming at it again from a 3rd angle, and then...4) offering some alternative answers, perhaps trying to put words in the interviewee's mouth, but which all too often open the door for a pivot on their part. And boom! There went the opportunity to hold the interviewee's feet to the proverbial fire! Just seems as though interviewers should be able to phrase their questions accurately and pointedly enough to ask it once, and then just sit and wait for the answer. Personally, makes me crazy.
FDR, during WWII, hired Frank Capra, the James Cameron of his day (except Capra was way better), to do the messaging for WWII. Capra made brilliant short films called "Why We Fight" that were showed at the beginning of movies in theaters for four years. Many other things too. If you want a big high, read his autobiography, "The Name Above the Title." It wilI fill you with awe and joy about immigrants, making it in the USA, creativity, and genius. He made films like Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, etc. What we need right now is a progressive billionaire to hire whoever the 2025 version of James Cameron is, to do a massive national media campaign on progressive values. Day and night, cool 21st century messages about values, altruism, kindness, morals, civics, and ethics.
This is the $1m question. The Dems seem absent to the point of complicity. To Robert’s point yesterday, maybe it’s time to just organize at the grassroots level. Start finding each other and meeting. Tall order all of it, but what else to we have?
Well, there's young David Hogg. I think he's running to be the DNC .... something or other (vice chair. I just looked him up), but he's pretty amazing.
You know how we are always being urged to write and call our elected officials? We need to be writing and calling the reporters and editors in these "news" organizations that are amplifying and/or sanewashing the disinformation and lies. We must find a way to wrest the narrative from them. And we need to get LOUD! We could start by putting together and disseminating a list of the contact information of editors and reporters. We would also need a group who would monitor the various news sources and write rebuttals to misinformation that could be used by individuals as verbiage when they write/call (similar to what Jessica Craven at Chop Wood Carry Water does on the political side).
Very good point, Dan. Calling my Republican senators and getting patronizing boiler plate lectures that.say, in efect, "of course, I will do my job and carefully scrutinize every nomination". seems. a useless activity, though I will continue to do it. But a major media outreach from citizens may have an effect..
I see what you are saying but unfortunately, I think you give the people who need persuading too much credit. In my opinion they are too consumed with hate and blame to even hear or consider a different attitude until climate hits home and they too suffer disaster to their lives and family's lives. Bad things happen to other people, not them, so they think. But we know no one is completely safe in this new world of ours.
I'm not sure I completely agree, Lorraine, that all the MAGA people are too consumed with hate. I talked to a man this weekend who was going on and on against immigrants. I asked him why he hated immigrants so much. He looked very surprised, and said, "I don't hate them at all. I just don't want them to get something for nothing." Whatever that means. But I genuinely felt he didn't hate immigrants. He has just been brainwashed according to his own ignorant prejudices. It's bad, but not quite as bad as hate combined with ignorance.
After the NC hurricanes, I posted about the effects of climate change on FB news stories about it. I got a lot of negative comments, but some positive ones. If we all remind people of climate change and what steps they can take to mitigate it, it might make a small difference.
Thank you. Just sitting back and waiting only cements the fictions in the pubic memory. Think about this: When you were young, did you hear about how slaveholders and their allies (yes, they had allies) said that slaves were shiftless and lazy? Did you ever think that that accusation actually reflected the humanity and intelligence of the enslaved? After all, why work hard if what you produce goes to another? It wasn’t until I was in college and took a course from the great historian David Hackett Fisher, and he pointed it out, that that thought occurred to me.
As many have pointed out, a great idea and one that, beyond officials and politicians, all of us can put into play on a regular basis with MSM. trump lives on a barrier island in Florida that has been damaged by hurricanes numerous times since M.M. Post built it (as a home) in 1927, in spite of 3 foot walls and many other extreme structural measures. For trump it's a place of business/home and while maybe not as vulnerable as the majority of FL properties definitely raises questions, given the billions (trillions?) that have gone into FL for storm damage/rebuilding after numerous hurricanes, about barrier island building and whether the government should be responsible. Elon Musk apparently is moving a CA business to TX. Is TX any less vulnerable than CA for weather-related catastrophes? Plenty of factual information on our side to share and inform.
Texas has experienced both an extreme cold weather event as well as extreme heat events in recent years. Those events have caused much suffering as well as deaths. Whether Texas municipalities learned from those events and have taken measures to strengthen their electrical grid, and other measures to help communities become more resilient I don't know.
Is it too late to do this? If so, how? For instance, do we all write to Gavin Newsom and suggest that he do this? Start yelling (sending letters?) about how the rest of the country (FL, NC) doesn't get treated like this, etc., etc.? I would get involved. Oh, and remind the rest of the country that tffg hates us just because we didn't vote for him!
Trump tries to use anything and everything, tragedies included to bash his political enemies, even telling outright lies that only make the situation worse. If he had already taken office he might have and might still, deny CA any disaster relief for the LA fire. And this is the guy the country wants as president?
Disaster resources shared from the fire in Boulder County, Colorado in December 2021:
Where to Start After A Devastating Fire
Wisdom, Insights and Resources from Those Impacted by the Marshall Fire
1. START A GOFUNDME NOW or let friends start a GoFundMe if they offer .
○ People want to support, and in the end this is something that will actually help quite a
bit.
○ If you wait, support will dwindle and you won’t get as much/ too many GoFundMes will
exist. Also, don’t wait for ‘community funds’.
2. Dial 211. They have partnered with Airbnb and are giving a week free housing, they also will
have resources just like they did after the Marshall Fire. There should be a recording that says what to do and offers resources. Or visit: https://www.211ca.org/
3. Get a certified copy of your insurance policy (not just the declarations page).
4. Get everything in writing with your agent and insurance company. Follow up any oral
conversation with an email stating what was discussed.
5. Agree on finding housing quickly and contact the insurance company to request assistance with
rental payments.
6. Go to Zillow or Redfin NOW and screenshot the worth of your house.
7. Hire a private adjuster when you know your full situation/if it is appropriate. Educate yourself
on what your policy limits are and go after every single cent.
8. Open a bank account for insurance proceeds. It is so helpful to be able to track that money.
9. Sign up with FEMA immediately, and do the same with the Red Cross and SBA for business
owners. It will protect against fraud (during past fires, people discovered fraudsters were using
their names). Monitor GoFundMe for fake requests using your name (happened during the
Marshall Fire).
10. Connect with others to learn of opportunities and share information.
11. Enlist in a friend with good organizational skills to sort everything (that friend can start
monitoring social media and websites for information and opportunities as well).
12. Start scanning ALL receipts.13. Check out United Policyholders’ website at www.uphelp.org and they have a CA 2025 fire
library up. They also have significant information about smoke damage to help those whose
homes remain standing but may have considerable contamination including not-obvious or
even non-visible damage.
14. When visiting your property, wear a mask and gloves. Plastics and electronics that burn leave
carcinogens behind. If your house didn’t burn, expect there will be smoke damage, and it could
also make you sick to enter . Be safe and follow safety protocols.
15. Give yourself grace. There are days ahead that will be very hard. And you also will find
resilience, perseverance, and strength you didn’t know you had.
Resources from Meryl Suissa, Founder, Marshall Fire Community FB Group:
1. Federal Assistance
● FEMA Individual Assistance Program: Provides grants for temporary housing, home repairs, and
Purpose: Provides immediate food relief to evacuees and first responders in disaster zones.
Online: Visit the World Central Kitchen website. Contact: Email info@wck.org for more
information.
● Salvation Army’s Disaster Services
Purpose: Offers emergency relief and long-term assistance to those impacted by naturaldisasters, including wildfires. Online: Visit the Salvation Army USA website and select “Disaster
Relief”
. Contact: Call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769) for more information.
● CAL FIRE Benevolent Foundation
Purpose: Provides financial assistance to firefighters and their families affected by injuries or
fatalities and supports burn victims. Online: Visit the CAL FIRE Benevolent Foundation website.
Compiled from input of members of the Marshall Fire Community Facebook Group by Marisa Connors.
**Disclaimer: This document is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. While
every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, no guarantees are made regarding its completeness, timeliness, or suitability for any particular purpose. The author and contributors disclaim all liability for any decisions made or actions taken based on the information herein. Users are advised to consult with relevant professionals or agencies for specific advice or
Thank you very much, Ellie! I will share with my nephew who just lost his home in Altadena and my husband will share it on Facebook with the inordinate number of musicians who have lost their homes there.
Following the news and social-media views about the L.A. fires, I am staggered at the level of hate and schadenfreude toward the victims of catastrophe. It is not just the cynical and manipulative propagandizing from the right, it is also the ghoulish reveling in the misery of fire victims who are wealthy. What has happened to collective, and individual, humanity?
Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater, jdintx. Cults may have too much power in our society. But plenty of people--most--are not in a cult and are good, reasonable people. They just don't have a unified identity or a unified voice.
I hope you and your family and home continue to be safe!! The loss for Angelenos (and those who love the city) is staggering, and the whole city will be grieving for some time. The misinformation being promulgated is so frustrating. Here is a link to an excellent article explaining the forces that led to this heartbreaking firestorm: https://calmatters.org/explainers/california-wildfire-season-worsening-explained/
Robert, I want to thank you for talking with us yesterday and being encouraging despite all the horrible political news. I thought about what you said when you were a trial lawyer and you noted that we will get our chance to respond to Trump. Right now we just have to wait for our turn like you had to do when you were a defense attorney listening to the prosecutor present his/her opening statement. That thought helped me make it through the night and not succumb to despair. Thank you so much for all you do!
I was raised in the San Fernando Valley, got my BA from what was then San Fernando Valley State College, went to law school at UCLA, and was, at one time or another, in all of the places I am reading about. The thought of the loss of those beloved places, and worry for the Lake Shrine in Pacific Palisades and Forest Lawn and so many other landmarks. But the aggregate sadness of the personal loss is its own grief on top of grief. All day long, from my San Diego location, part of my attention and my heart is in Los Angeles. The elements care about no one.
I lived in Santa Monica the summer I turned three (1956) and I can remember walking into the ocean, away from the shore with my mother, the water never rising about my knees. I was back in LA for about a week on a reporting trip in 1990. LA is a special place, and I hope we can save it, but to do so will require stopping CO2 emissions.
Please wear a mask when you're outdoors, Robert (and family). I've read reports the smoke is full of the same type toxins present at 9-11, highly carcinogenic. We're all thinking about you and all of the many people this fire has affected.
I also heard Gov. Newsom on Pod Save America, and was very impressed at how much had been done in preparation. Not that facts matter to the haters. I know it's a high stress situation, but Mayor Bass, on the other hand, should have had someone coach her on better responses. I think it is worth pointing out that the Altadena is not in the city of Los Angeles, and the Pacific Palisades is in the city.
Jack Smith has resigned the DOJ. This makes me sad, again. He could have, should have, nailed trump's greasy hide to the prison wall but for a corrupt judge.
Thank-you for talking to us yesterday.I thought it was helpful when you said the next 10 days are going to be some very hard times and to prepare for it.I have been dreading the upcoming sh*tstorm and it has caused me and I am sure , others, much angst.I am going to buckle up and keep my hands inside the car. And soldier on.
The Guardian has a thought provoking article with John Vaillant, the author of a book on the Canadian fires of 2016. He calls us a fire species: Fire of all sorts surrounds us—in our engines etc. And we have created a flammable universe of plastics, and all sorts of materials that burn differently than real wood etc; and we have changed nature. It is worth a read.
Also he gives this advice for LA residents right now:
“Don’t look at the fire, look at the wind. If the wind is blowing over you, it means the embers are, too. The fire could be 2 miles away, but if the wind is toward you, the embers are, too, and act accordingly.”
Thinking of everyone in LA right now, including you and Jill, Robert.
Those who politicize this horrific tragedy are indeed reprehensible. All of the many people impacted need our total support, and the many courageous people fighting the fires and rescuing people, animals, and property are truly the best among us.
I don’t think any of us know the true devastation the fires in California have caused. Thousands of people have lost their homes and in several areas impacted their home owners insurance was canceled before the fires because of high risks. I honestly believe that everything that can be done to fight the fires is being done but again in order to counter act the vicious lies perpetrated by Republicans Governor Newsom and the various state and Federal agencies officials need to be in front of the news media everyday detailing the support they are receiving. What we don’t want is Trump coming into office and making the tragedy of the fires a political event and a staged photo opportunity.
I keep on thinking about something that Robert said on this morning’s call, along the lines of the depravity of the Fox style press for focusing on the petty failures of blue state politicians for allowing this fire failure, bad hydrants and all (very much my broad interpretation of his dismay, but along those lines).
And it occurred to me that this the kind of moment that is an opportunity to turn the narrative, in response to that kind of press henpecking….that we are capable of, rather than handwringing about. There is even a book written about it from a progressive perspective - The Persuaders, by Anand Giridharadas. In short he talks about this as a way to leverage the scope of the debate using the platforms it’s already being discussed on. As many times as we get re traumatized by the vilification and clear intentions of malice, at some point is there not a moment to leverage it and gain traction?
Just an example: “Really”, Karen Bass might say…”So why are you not asking about climate change and how every American city that has suffered under it over the last several years has been equally unprepared for it? I wonder, what will the incoming administration do to help Miami from sinking into the sea? Because I bet we care more about the residents of Miami than they do.” While adding perhaps some flare ala Pete Buttigeig. It has the potential to inspire while calling out truth, pointing out AND brushing aside the distraction all at the same time.
Or do we just ride this all out as Michael Moore points out in his recent Substack, and go from there?
We have to ride this out one way or another anyway, but I do think we have options to radically re-frame it.
Thanks for this. I have been thinking about how is this recent event any different from what has happened numerous times in Florida, yet the right implicates CA in some kind of incompetence. As Lawrence O'Donnell said, the culprit here was wind, with fire. Just as wind, with water, pummeled FL. At the end of the day, there is only so much you can do when the wind is 100 mph and higher. Someone else mentioned the more recent tendency of the press and leaders to immediately go to blaming, as oopposed to helping or mitigating. The negativity demoralizes and exhausts.
Not as if those now stoking hate about the fires in California or federal response to the hurricane in North Carolina ever tried to mitigate the effects of climate change, or add money to FEMA to prepare for disaster.
The Weather Channel has done a short documentary about the California wildfires in which the meteorologist and climate scientists discuss the conditions that made these fires possible and also so destructive.
Thanks Kim. Lawrence is correct - it’s the wind that’s the culprit. Wind-driven fires advance devastatingly fast, into new areas, due to the embers/fire brands that can travel as much as 5 miles ahead of the actual flames. While the fire fighters are working to knock down the actual fire, the fire brands are flying above and beyond due to the high winds. And no one can control the wind.
I've seen posts from people in Florida who feel forgotten about since the recovery down there is still ongoing. They were forgotten about by their actual state leadership.
I’m absolutely intrigued by what you describe and hope that you will post the name of the volume once it comes to your mind. A famed astrophysicist friend of ours was in conversation with us one night while his wife was away attending her very very ill adult daughter… We couldn’t remember something on our minds, and I lightly declared that probably it would come to him at midnight… and he quipped, “If it does, do you want me to call you?” Ha ha ha … that line comes up in conversation with people with greater frequency than you might imagine. Lol! Anyway, I’m very intrigued by what you describe. It sounds so uplifting and productive, constructive, like a turning point and rising above… Thank you for your comment.
And Robert, the photo that you posted is exquisite, along with narrative for us to understand what we are seeing. So grateful. Thank you.
We all must be truth messengers.Every action counts.
Yesterday in yoga class a woman, whose daughter lives alone in LA,told several of us that LA had “run out of water”.We countered that lie with the truth, along with concern for her daughter and a discussion of a safety plan.
Yay, Kathy. It's at least something I/we can do. I talked to a woman in the grocery store the other day who was complaining about the cost of gas. I said "Really? It seems pretty normal to me." She thought a second, then said, "Well, yeah, I guess it has been coming down lately." Then I talked to a man who was complaining that taking down the dams on the Klamath River in California "was all due to some tiny fish." I asked him whether having more water flowing into California was good or bad. He thought, then said, "Well, good, I guess..."
they live on sound bites.
I completely agree with you. That's why we need to be well informed so that when something like your yoga class happens, we're prepared to tell the truth, in a way that is not hostile. One person at a time is the best weapon we have. Thanks!
The Persuaders, by Anand Giridharadas.
Just bought it, thanks!
Great photos, Robert. Reportage and works of art. Thank you to those brave men and women flying those helicopters and planes. I agree with J. Noah's good advice of a counter to journalists and others who think they are being tough with asinine and ill-informed questions. Another good response (inspired by Robert yesterday) is, "IF YOU'D CHECK, you would see. that there is plenty of water but you have to get the water to the hydrants, but because of the very fires we are fighting, AS YOU KNOW, power for the pumps that feed the hydrant is out." Trump does a first-graders version of this with his repeated, "everybody knows" and "look it up," and "you know this, we all know this," deflection of every question and the media play along. In the "press conference" at Mar-a-Lago the other day when acquiring Greenland was the subject, a reporter fell into the common response to Trump's idiocy and lying -- he tried to pose multiple choice questions for the great man to respond to ending with a frustrated, "But will you rule out military force," to which Trump responded, something like, "No, I'm not going to rule that out." Trump's stupidity encourages journalists to think of themselves as the smartest persons in the room no matter who they are talking too, and they are so afraid of getting on Trump's wrong side and not being called on that they are outmaneuvered time and time again. There was no follow-up with, "Gee, Mr. Trump, wouldn't that start a larger war?"
I agree, Patrick. I find the way-too-common journalistic interview practice of 1) asking the question, 2) rephrasing the question, 3) maybe even coming at it again from a 3rd angle, and then...4) offering some alternative answers, perhaps trying to put words in the interviewee's mouth, but which all too often open the door for a pivot on their part. And boom! There went the opportunity to hold the interviewee's feet to the proverbial fire! Just seems as though interviewers should be able to phrase their questions accurately and pointedly enough to ask it once, and then just sit and wait for the answer. Personally, makes me crazy.
Hallelujah to you for saying something that our MSM should consider with every breath.
From Framing experts Lakoff and Duran below… the question is what to do to stop this, to break the cycle?
Here’s the streamlined process by which Republicans hijack news stories with their frames:
1. Select a high-profile negative story.
2. Make false claims linking it to Democratic or progressive policies.
3. Get the press to amplify the claims to achieve media virality.
4. Threaten action (executive, legal, or legislative) to prolong coverage.
See the FrameLab Substack to following Lakoff and Duran.
Lakoff is a messaging genius on the wrong side. We need to find our own and empower him or her far beyond what Lakoff does.
Anat Shenker-Osario is our progressive Democratic framing expert. Here’s her Research Collaborative team which has Zoom meetings we can join:
https://researchcollaborative.org/our-team
I love this turnabout on the narrative. It must happen. I wish we could get this new narrative out there….give this to Ms. Bass and to the governor.
I completely agree but for me the question is who will lead the effort to reframe the messages and approach. It takes leadership.
FDR, during WWII, hired Frank Capra, the James Cameron of his day (except Capra was way better), to do the messaging for WWII. Capra made brilliant short films called "Why We Fight" that were showed at the beginning of movies in theaters for four years. Many other things too. If you want a big high, read his autobiography, "The Name Above the Title." It wilI fill you with awe and joy about immigrants, making it in the USA, creativity, and genius. He made films like Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, etc. What we need right now is a progressive billionaire to hire whoever the 2025 version of James Cameron is, to do a massive national media campaign on progressive values. Day and night, cool 21st century messages about values, altruism, kindness, morals, civics, and ethics.
also patriotism. Capra was a phenomenol patriot.
This is the $1m question. The Dems seem absent to the point of complicity. To Robert’s point yesterday, maybe it’s time to just organize at the grassroots level. Start finding each other and meeting. Tall order all of it, but what else to we have?
So many Democrats are still in a circular during squad. Time to move beyond that.
Can someone take leadership? I would try, but can't, for personal reasons. But I would try to contribute to the effort.
We need a young National leader
Well, there's young David Hogg. I think he's running to be the DNC .... something or other (vice chair. I just looked him up), but he's pretty amazing.
True and we need hundreds like him.
You know how we are always being urged to write and call our elected officials? We need to be writing and calling the reporters and editors in these "news" organizations that are amplifying and/or sanewashing the disinformation and lies. We must find a way to wrest the narrative from them. And we need to get LOUD! We could start by putting together and disseminating a list of the contact information of editors and reporters. We would also need a group who would monitor the various news sources and write rebuttals to misinformation that could be used by individuals as verbiage when they write/call (similar to what Jessica Craven at Chop Wood Carry Water does on the political side).
Very good point, Dan. Calling my Republican senators and getting patronizing boiler plate lectures that.say, in efect, "of course, I will do my job and carefully scrutinize every nomination". seems. a useless activity, though I will continue to do it. But a major media outreach from citizens may have an effect..
I see what you are saying but unfortunately, I think you give the people who need persuading too much credit. In my opinion they are too consumed with hate and blame to even hear or consider a different attitude until climate hits home and they too suffer disaster to their lives and family's lives. Bad things happen to other people, not them, so they think. But we know no one is completely safe in this new world of ours.
I'm not sure I completely agree, Lorraine, that all the MAGA people are too consumed with hate. I talked to a man this weekend who was going on and on against immigrants. I asked him why he hated immigrants so much. He looked very surprised, and said, "I don't hate them at all. I just don't want them to get something for nothing." Whatever that means. But I genuinely felt he didn't hate immigrants. He has just been brainwashed according to his own ignorant prejudices. It's bad, but not quite as bad as hate combined with ignorance.
we'll just agree to disagree. few people would ever want to admit that they hate. and besides, he's joined the hate club whether he knows it or not.
It’s not hate, it’s fear. Someone will get something and I’ll lose out.
After the NC hurricanes, I posted about the effects of climate change on FB news stories about it. I got a lot of negative comments, but some positive ones. If we all remind people of climate change and what steps they can take to mitigate it, it might make a small difference.
Many climate activists have shifted from the term “climate change” to “climate crisis.”
Thank you. Just sitting back and waiting only cements the fictions in the pubic memory. Think about this: When you were young, did you hear about how slaveholders and their allies (yes, they had allies) said that slaves were shiftless and lazy? Did you ever think that that accusation actually reflected the humanity and intelligence of the enslaved? After all, why work hard if what you produce goes to another? It wasn’t until I was in college and took a course from the great historian David Hackett Fisher, and he pointed it out, that that thought occurred to me.
The whites were so lazy they imported four million slaves to do the work for them.
As many have pointed out, a great idea and one that, beyond officials and politicians, all of us can put into play on a regular basis with MSM. trump lives on a barrier island in Florida that has been damaged by hurricanes numerous times since M.M. Post built it (as a home) in 1927, in spite of 3 foot walls and many other extreme structural measures. For trump it's a place of business/home and while maybe not as vulnerable as the majority of FL properties definitely raises questions, given the billions (trillions?) that have gone into FL for storm damage/rebuilding after numerous hurricanes, about barrier island building and whether the government should be responsible. Elon Musk apparently is moving a CA business to TX. Is TX any less vulnerable than CA for weather-related catastrophes? Plenty of factual information on our side to share and inform.
Texas has experienced both an extreme cold weather event as well as extreme heat events in recent years. Those events have caused much suffering as well as deaths. Whether Texas municipalities learned from those events and have taken measures to strengthen their electrical grid, and other measures to help communities become more resilient I don't know.
Is it too late to do this? If so, how? For instance, do we all write to Gavin Newsom and suggest that he do this? Start yelling (sending letters?) about how the rest of the country (FL, NC) doesn't get treated like this, etc., etc.? I would get involved. Oh, and remind the rest of the country that tffg hates us just because we didn't vote for him!
Great idea, if only Karen Bass would read this! Could you send it to her?
Trump tries to use anything and everything, tragedies included to bash his political enemies, even telling outright lies that only make the situation worse. If he had already taken office he might have and might still, deny CA any disaster relief for the LA fire. And this is the guy the country wants as president?
https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/09/politics/fact-check-trump-california-wildfires-fema/index.html
Inflation has made this the 10 million dollar question
Disaster resources shared from the fire in Boulder County, Colorado in December 2021:
Where to Start After A Devastating Fire
Wisdom, Insights and Resources from Those Impacted by the Marshall Fire
1. START A GOFUNDME NOW or let friends start a GoFundMe if they offer .
○ People want to support, and in the end this is something that will actually help quite a
bit.
○ If you wait, support will dwindle and you won’t get as much/ too many GoFundMes will
exist. Also, don’t wait for ‘community funds’.
2. Dial 211. They have partnered with Airbnb and are giving a week free housing, they also will
have resources just like they did after the Marshall Fire. There should be a recording that says what to do and offers resources. Or visit: https://www.211ca.org/
3. Get a certified copy of your insurance policy (not just the declarations page).
4. Get everything in writing with your agent and insurance company. Follow up any oral
conversation with an email stating what was discussed.
5. Agree on finding housing quickly and contact the insurance company to request assistance with
rental payments.
6. Go to Zillow or Redfin NOW and screenshot the worth of your house.
7. Hire a private adjuster when you know your full situation/if it is appropriate. Educate yourself
on what your policy limits are and go after every single cent.
8. Open a bank account for insurance proceeds. It is so helpful to be able to track that money.
9. Sign up with FEMA immediately, and do the same with the Red Cross and SBA for business
owners. It will protect against fraud (during past fires, people discovered fraudsters were using
their names). Monitor GoFundMe for fake requests using your name (happened during the
Marshall Fire).
10. Connect with others to learn of opportunities and share information.
11. Enlist in a friend with good organizational skills to sort everything (that friend can start
monitoring social media and websites for information and opportunities as well).
12. Start scanning ALL receipts.13. Check out United Policyholders’ website at www.uphelp.org and they have a CA 2025 fire
library up. They also have significant information about smoke damage to help those whose
homes remain standing but may have considerable contamination including not-obvious or
even non-visible damage.
14. When visiting your property, wear a mask and gloves. Plastics and electronics that burn leave
carcinogens behind. If your house didn’t burn, expect there will be smoke damage, and it could
also make you sick to enter . Be safe and follow safety protocols.
15. Give yourself grace. There are days ahead that will be very hard. And you also will find
resilience, perseverance, and strength you didn’t know you had.
Resources from Meryl Suissa, Founder, Marshall Fire Community FB Group:
1. Federal Assistance
● FEMA Individual Assistance Program: Provides grants for temporary housing, home repairs, and
other disaster-related expenses.
● How to Apply:
○ Visit DisasterAssistance.gov. Phone: Call FEMA’s toll-free number at 1-800-621-3362.
○ Required Information:
■ Social Security number
■ Insurance information
■ Damage description
■ Bank account details for direct deposit
2. State Assistance
● California Disaster Assistance Act (CDAA):
○ Offers financial aid for disaster-related costs.
○ Contact: California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES)
○ Phone: (916) 845-8110
○ Email: RecoveryPayments@caloes.ca.gov
3. Non-Profit Organizations
● California Fire Foundation’s Supplying Aid to Victims of Emergency (SAVE) Program:
○ Provides $250 cash cards to eligible victims for immediate needs.
○ How to Access-Distributed through local fire departments. Contact your local fire
department to inquire about availability.
● California Fire Foundation Disaster Relief: Offers financial assistance to communities affected
by wildfires. Visit California Fire Foundation Disaster Relief.
4. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loans-Home Disaster Loans: Low-interest loans for
homeowners to repair or replace damaged property. Visit SBA Disaster Assistance. Call SBA’s Customer
Service Center at 1-800-659-2955.
5. Local Resources
● Disaster Help Center - California Department of Social Services:
Provides various services, including assistance with replacing lost documents and connecting
with local aid. Visit Disaster Help Center.
6. Insurance Claims:
● Homeowners Insurance: Contact your insurance provider to file a claim for property loss or
damage.
○ Steps: Document all damages with photos or videos.
○ List all damaged or lost items.
○ Keep receipts for any temporary repairs or accommodations.
7. Community Support-Local Assistance Centers (LACs):
● Set up in affected areas to provide in-person support and resources.
○ Monitor local news outlets for announcements.
○ Contact local government offices for locations and hours.
● Important Considerations:
○ Application Deadlines: Be aware of and adhere to deadlines for each assistance
program.
○ Documentation: Maintain thorough records of all communications, applications, and
expenses related to your recovery efforts.
Additional Information and Resources:
● California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Recovery Fund
Purpose: Provides mid-term to long-term recovery support for communities affected by
California wildfires, focusing on rebuilding homes, providing financial assistance, and
supporting mental health services. Online: Visit the Wildfire Recovery Fund page. Contact:
Email donorrelations@calfund.org or call (213) 413-4130 for more information.
● World Central Kitchen
Purpose: Provides immediate food relief to evacuees and first responders in disaster zones.
Online: Visit the World Central Kitchen website. Contact: Email info@wck.org for more
information.
● Salvation Army’s Disaster Services
Purpose: Offers emergency relief and long-term assistance to those impacted by naturaldisasters, including wildfires. Online: Visit the Salvation Army USA website and select “Disaster
Relief”
. Contact: Call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769) for more information.
● CAL FIRE Benevolent Foundation
Purpose: Provides financial assistance to firefighters and their families affected by injuries or
fatalities and supports burn victims. Online: Visit the CAL FIRE Benevolent Foundation website.
Contact: Email info@calfirefoundation.org or call (916) 641-1707 for more information.
● GoFundMe’s California Wildfire Relief Fund
Purpose: Centralizes various fundraisers related to the wildfires, providing direct support to
individuals and communities in need. Online: Visit the GoFundMe California Wildfire Relief
Fund page. Contact: Visit the GoFundMe Help Center for assistance.
● American Red Cross
Purpose: Provides shelter, food, and emotional support to those affected by disasters,
including wildfires. Online: Visit https://www.redcross.org/ Contact: Call 1-800-RED-CROSS
(1-800-733-2767) for more information.
● Direct Relief
Purpose: Provides medical assistance to improve the health and lives of people affected by
poverty and emergencies, including wildfire victims. Online: Visit the Direct Relief website.
Contact: Email info@directrelief.org or call (805) 964-4767 for more information.
● Dream Center
Purpose: Provides support to individuals and families in need, including those affected by
disasters like wildfires. Online: Visit the Dream Center website. Contact: Email
info@dreamcenter .org or call (213) 273-7000 for more information.
● Friends In Deed
Purpose: Offers supportive services to meet basic human needs, including assistance during
disasters. Online: Visit the Friends In Deed website. Contact: Email info@friendsindeedpas.org
or call (626) 797-2402 for more information.
● Canine Rescue Club
Purpose: Provides temporary foster care for displaced dogs during emergencies like wildfires.
Online: Visit the Canine Rescue Club website. Contact: Email info@caninerescueclub.org for
more information.
Compiled from input of members of the Marshall Fire Community Facebook Group by Marisa Connors.
**Disclaimer: This document is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. While
every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, no guarantees are made regarding its completeness, timeliness, or suitability for any particular purpose. The author and contributors disclaim all liability for any decisions made or actions taken based on the information herein. Users are advised to consult with relevant professionals or agencies for specific advice or
assistance.
This is outstanding. I will copy and forward to people I know who have been impacted. Thank you.
Terrific!
Wow. I will post to FB. Thanks!!
Thanks for this, Ellie.
Thank you very much, Ellie! I will share with my nephew who just lost his home in Altadena and my husband will share it on Facebook with the inordinate number of musicians who have lost their homes there.
Thanks for the wealth of information. I donated to the Red Cross disaster fund: CA fire
Following the news and social-media views about the L.A. fires, I am staggered at the level of hate and schadenfreude toward the victims of catastrophe. It is not just the cynical and manipulative propagandizing from the right, it is also the ghoulish reveling in the misery of fire victims who are wealthy. What has happened to collective, and individual, humanity?
Our society is cult driven and as we all know, cults lack even an iota of humanity
Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater, jdintx. Cults may have too much power in our society. But plenty of people--most--are not in a cult and are good, reasonable people. They just don't have a unified identity or a unified voice.
Glad you know some…
I hope you and your family and home continue to be safe!! The loss for Angelenos (and those who love the city) is staggering, and the whole city will be grieving for some time. The misinformation being promulgated is so frustrating. Here is a link to an excellent article explaining the forces that led to this heartbreaking firestorm: https://calmatters.org/explainers/california-wildfire-season-worsening-explained/
Robert, I want to thank you for talking with us yesterday and being encouraging despite all the horrible political news. I thought about what you said when you were a trial lawyer and you noted that we will get our chance to respond to Trump. Right now we just have to wait for our turn like you had to do when you were a defense attorney listening to the prosecutor present his/her opening statement. That thought helped me make it through the night and not succumb to despair. Thank you so much for all you do!
The efforts to politicize a still unfolding tragedy should be against the law, legally and morally
I was raised in the San Fernando Valley, got my BA from what was then San Fernando Valley State College, went to law school at UCLA, and was, at one time or another, in all of the places I am reading about. The thought of the loss of those beloved places, and worry for the Lake Shrine in Pacific Palisades and Forest Lawn and so many other landmarks. But the aggregate sadness of the personal loss is its own grief on top of grief. All day long, from my San Diego location, part of my attention and my heart is in Los Angeles. The elements care about no one.
I lived in Santa Monica the summer I turned three (1956) and I can remember walking into the ocean, away from the shore with my mother, the water never rising about my knees. I was back in LA for about a week on a reporting trip in 1990. LA is a special place, and I hope we can save it, but to do so will require stopping CO2 emissions.
Please wear a mask when you're outdoors, Robert (and family). I've read reports the smoke is full of the same type toxins present at 9-11, highly carcinogenic. We're all thinking about you and all of the many people this fire has affected.
Think this is worth sharing. Governor Newsom has a webpage up on his campaign site to address the lies. https://gavinnewsom.com/california-fire-facts/ Also I heard him on Pod Save America, how in the world does he keep all that data in his head? https://youtu.be/EKdioEFwQZw?si=j10bqGDunmmGb9oj
I also heard Gov. Newsom on Pod Save America, and was very impressed at how much had been done in preparation. Not that facts matter to the haters. I know it's a high stress situation, but Mayor Bass, on the other hand, should have had someone coach her on better responses. I think it is worth pointing out that the Altadena is not in the city of Los Angeles, and the Pacific Palisades is in the city.
Excellent webpage! Thank you.
Jack Smith has resigned the DOJ. This makes me sad, again. He could have, should have, nailed trump's greasy hide to the prison wall but for a corrupt judge.
Thinking of you, Robert, and all folks affected by this disaster. Be safe.
Thank-you for talking to us yesterday.I thought it was helpful when you said the next 10 days are going to be some very hard times and to prepare for it.I have been dreading the upcoming sh*tstorm and it has caused me and I am sure , others, much angst.I am going to buckle up and keep my hands inside the car. And soldier on.
A pulled quote from RH, "The efforts to politicize a tragedy that is still unfolding are reprehensible.
"The efforts to politicize a tragedy that is still unfolding are reprehensible."
This should be the headline of every decent newspaper and on T-shirts everywhere.'
Wonderful photos. Thank you.
The Guardian has a thought provoking article with John Vaillant, the author of a book on the Canadian fires of 2016. He calls us a fire species: Fire of all sorts surrounds us—in our engines etc. And we have created a flammable universe of plastics, and all sorts of materials that burn differently than real wood etc; and we have changed nature. It is worth a read.
Also he gives this advice for LA residents right now:
“Don’t look at the fire, look at the wind. If the wind is blowing over you, it means the embers are, too. The fire could be 2 miles away, but if the wind is toward you, the embers are, too, and act accordingly.”
Thinking of everyone in LA right now, including you and Jill, Robert.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/11/wildfires-los-angeles-climate-crisis-john-vaillant?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Those who politicize this horrific tragedy are indeed reprehensible. All of the many people impacted need our total support, and the many courageous people fighting the fires and rescuing people, animals, and property are truly the best among us.
I don’t think any of us know the true devastation the fires in California have caused. Thousands of people have lost their homes and in several areas impacted their home owners insurance was canceled before the fires because of high risks. I honestly believe that everything that can be done to fight the fires is being done but again in order to counter act the vicious lies perpetrated by Republicans Governor Newsom and the various state and Federal agencies officials need to be in front of the news media everyday detailing the support they are receiving. What we don’t want is Trump coming into office and making the tragedy of the fires a political event and a staged photo opportunity.