President Donald Trump on Friday as soon as once more made it clear that he needs wildfire-ravaged California to bend to his calls for if residents need to see any federal catastrophe assist.
“I would like two issues: I would like voter ID for the folks of California. All of them need it. Proper now you don’t have voter ID,” Trump stated Friday, as he toured elements of North Carolina nonetheless reeling from the consequences of Hurricane Helene.
Trump added: “And I would like the water to be launched, and so they’re going to get numerous assist from the U.S.”
California’s left-leaning voters and Democratic management are certainly one of Trump’s favourite punching baggage; he has not made any suggestion that future assist to conservative-leaning states be hinged on political calls for.
Nationwide polling means that voter ID legal guidelines are broadly popular, however critics say they appropriate for an issue — ineligible folks, like noncitizens, trying to illegally vote — that is very rare, and do hurt within the course of. Analysis reveals that voter ID legal guidelines disproportionately influence sure demographics who’re much less more likely to have a suitable ID, similar to aged and Black voters. Voter fraud additionally doesn’t happen in any widespread approach, quite a few consultants say and investigations have discovered.
As for California’s water provide, officers have stated that quantity isn’t the issue.
Some hearth hydrants ran dry throughout efforts to cease the Pacific Palisades hearth, however officers stated that was because of the hearth’s damaging results on the system, not a scarcity of water to run by means of it. A reservoir within the space was undergoing renovations and had been taken out of service, though it’s unclear how a lot that useful resource would have helped comprise such a big, sizzling and fast-moving blaze. (Hearth retardants and ground-clearing methods might be more practical.)
The state’s water administration effort is complicated, with critics on all elements of the political spectrum.
Go Advert-Free — And Defend The Free Press
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
Home Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and different congressional Republicans have been discussing attaching strings to wildfire assist, placing California Republicans in a difficult position.
Federal assist for pure disasters might also look far completely different sooner or later if Trump will get his approach and overhauls or eliminates the Federal Emergency Administration Company, as he additionally prompt on Friday. That might as an alternative depart states to arrange their very own emergency response to any disasters.
