Fires in the Pacific Palisades region have left a trail of devastation, prompting questions about the government's response to the disaster. Deanne Criswell, head of FEMA, and California Rep. Judy Chu came under fire for their handling of the crisis, with some arguing that more should be done to support those affected.
In an exclusive interview, Jonathan Vigliotti shed light on the events leading up to the disaster and the current situation on the ground. However, his report sparked controversy when it suggested that Criswell's performance had been "underwhelming," prompting swift denials from her office.
On Capitol Hill, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich appeared as a guest, sparking debate about the role of politics in disaster response. The appearance highlights the increasingly partisan nature of issues like natural disasters and how politicians are starting to exploit them for their own gain.
Meanwhile, concerns about the adequacy of federal aid continue to mount, with many calling for increased support for those affected by the fire. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the government's response will be under intense scrutiny from lawmakers, experts, and the public alike.
In an exclusive interview, Jonathan Vigliotti shed light on the events leading up to the disaster and the current situation on the ground. However, his report sparked controversy when it suggested that Criswell's performance had been "underwhelming," prompting swift denials from her office.
On Capitol Hill, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich appeared as a guest, sparking debate about the role of politics in disaster response. The appearance highlights the increasingly partisan nature of issues like natural disasters and how politicians are starting to exploit them for their own gain.
Meanwhile, concerns about the adequacy of federal aid continue to mount, with many calling for increased support for those affected by the fire. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the government's response will be under intense scrutiny from lawmakers, experts, and the public alike.
! Politicians are supposed to lead in times of crisis, not exploit them for their own careers 
. Deanne Criswell and Judy Chu were already doing the bare minimum, but do they really need to be roasted by some journalist trying to get clicks? I mean, come on, can't we just focus on supporting those affected by the fire instead of tearing each other apart 
? And what's with Newt Gingrich showing up on Capitol Hill, stirring up more drama? 
Can't we just have a constructive conversation about how to improve disaster response without all the bickering and politicking? This whole thing is just a mess 
.
... it's like, we're still rebuilding from other natural disasters and now another tragedy hits us? 
I've been following this fire on Twitter and it's just heartbreaking to see the before-and-after pics of homes and businesses that were destroyed. And can we talk about how FEMA is handling this? 
I feel like they're doing their best, but there's gotta be more being done to support those affected by the fire. 
. I'm watching this whole situation unfold with bated breath, hoping that we can get some real change soon 
IT'S ONE THING WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A SMALL COMMUNITY, BUT WHEN IT'S A WHOLE REGION LIKE PACIFIC PALISADES, IT'S A WHOLE OTHER STORY. THE FACT THAT THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT FEDERAL AID SUGGESTS TO ME THAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO SUPPORT THOSE AFFECTED BY THIS DISASTER. I MEAN, COME ON, WE KNOW THAT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS LIKE DEANNE CRISWELL HAVE TO DEAL WITH TRAGEDIES LIKE THIS ALL THE TIME, SO IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE NOT PREPARED OR ANYTHING! 
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S ALL ABOUT GETTING HELP TO THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY CAN RECOVER FROM THIS DISASTER. 
The whole situation with the Pacific Palisades fires is super frustrating 
. I feel like everyone's trying to point fingers left and right, but nobody's really addressing the root issue here. We need more aid, yeah, that's true, but we also need a more effective system in place for emergency response so this doesn't happen again 
. It's not just about the politicians' roles or performance, it's about how we can work together to support those affected by disasters like this 
.
. And yeah, politics is getting in the way, but shouldn't we be focusing on finding solutions instead of exploiting these situations for party gains? 
Let's just hope everyone can calm down and work together to make things better 
.
2025 is shaping up to be a bad year for fires, with the Pacific Palisades region being one of the worst hit areas 
90% of it is going towards rebuilding infrastructure, only 10% is helping individual families with their losses... it's just not adding up 
and did you see that graph showing the increase in partisan debate around disaster response? 
45% of politicians now say they'll only support aid if it benefits their own constituents - no wonder we're seeing more exploitation 
And let's be real, she's not the one who's been out there risking their life to evacuate people from those burning buildings. Meanwhile, all this drama about politics on Capitol Hill is just a distraction 
... we should be focusing on getting aid to those in need ASAP 
, not squabbling over partisan points.
. More federal aid and support are necessary to help those displaced by the fire. The government must listen to experts, community leaders, and the public to ensure a more effective response to natural disasters 
.
i feel so bad for all those people who lost their homes 
it makes me think of our school's fire drill drills - we always talk about evacuation routes and shelters but idk if we're really prepared for a real disaster like this 
i hope the gov doesnt play politics with ppl who need help 
think deanne criswell & judy chu cud do better 
. I'm low-key hoping they can get more support soon 'cause this is getting so out of hand 
. And what's with all this politics? I'm just worried about people losing their homes and livelihoods. Can't we just focus on helping them instead of arguing over who's to blame? 
i wanna know more about what actually went down.
. And now we got politicians milking the situation for votes? 
I've been watching this whole thing unfold, and I have to admit that I'm getting a bit frustrated seeing all the bickering back and forth on social media 
.