‘Karma is real:’ Threats over California fire aid reshape disaster politics

Even jaded political veterans profess shock at how fast the California blazes became fodder for partisan warfare and conspiracy theories.

Gone was the customary grace period before finger-pointing began, not to mention the assurance of no-strings-attached assistance from the federal government.

California politicians from both parties are now openly begging the ruling party not to break from the long-standing precedent of apolitical assistance.

Newsom noted natural disasters have led Americans to stand together, “setting aside politics to extend a helping hand to those in need” Not all of the incoming aimed at the Golden State is in bad faith.

Critics have raised legitimate questions about the state’s land use policies and follow-through on brush clearance.

Even a whisper of conditions on aid prompted a furious response from Democrats , even those in unimpacted states.

Ultimately, California ’s prominence in the American imagination may end up being its saving grace.

It is the location of two preeminent interests of Trump — Hollywood and the 2028 Olympics — both of which appeal to his impulse to prioritize spectacle and celebrity.