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Trump renews political threats over California wildfire disaster aid

President-elect Donald Trump blamed California's leadership for devastating Los Angeles wildfires and revived his warning to withhold disaster funds from Democratic leaders.

Scott Waldman reports for E&E News.

In short:

  • Santa Ana winds fueled deadly fires that destroyed over 1,000 buildings in Los Angeles, with at least five fatalities reported.
  • Trump criticized Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Joe Biden, linking the crisis to environmental policies and inadequate wildfire management.
  • Biden issued a disaster declaration to unlock federal aid, but Trump suggested he may use funding as political leverage once in office.

Key quote:

“Firefighters are putting their lives on the lines. Political insults and threats do nothing to help families who are hurting.”

— California Sen. Alex Padilla

Why this matters:

California’s wildfire crisis highlights the devastating impact of extreme weather, intensified by climate change. Threats to politicize federal disaster relief could hinder recovery and set a dangerous precedent for withholding aid during future disasters.

www.eenews.net
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Credit: digitalista/BigStock Photo ID: 324918955

EPA slashes key staff fighting pollution in low-income communities

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is firing hundreds of staffers who worked to protect overpolluted, underserved neighborhoods, effectively gutting its environmental justice efforts.

Rachel Frazin reports for The Hill.

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Elon Musk-linked aide gains sweeping control over U.S. Interior Department operations

A former oil executive with ties to Elon Musk now holds expansive authority to reshape operations at the Interior Department, raising alarms among conservationists and longtime federal employees.

Dino Grandoni and Maxine Joselow report for The Washington Post.

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Arctic cold once defended Canada — now climate chaos threatens military readiness

A warming Arctic is complicating Canada’s military operations, with unpredictable weather destroying equipment, thwarting training, and eroding the region’s role as a natural line of defense.

Leyland Cecco reports for The Guardian.

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World Bank tones down climate messaging as Trump allies threaten U.S. withdrawal

The World Bank has scaled back public climate advocacy as it navigates the political risks posed by President Trump’s administration and its review of U.S. involvement in global institutions.

Sara Schonhardt and Zack Colman report for POLITICO.

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Evangelical churches in Indiana turn to solar and sustainability as an expression of faith

A growing number of evangelical churches and universities in Indiana are embracing renewable energy and environmental stewardship as a religious duty, reframing climate action through a spiritual lens.

Catrin Einhorn reports for The New York Times

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Credit: mikeledray/Big Stock Photo

Lawsuits allege that insurers colluded to limit wildfire coverage and shift costs to state plan

Two lawsuits allege that major insurance companies coordinated to drop coverage in wildfire-prone California areas, pushing homeowners onto a costly, state-backed insurance plan.

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Solar tax credit trading brings clean energy to underserved communities — but faces political risk

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