Government handling of LA fires: 'Completely, woefully unprepared' - Podcaster Tim Dillon

On Monday, Tim Dillon, a Los Angeles-based comedian and podcaster, criticized the government's management of the wildfires in an episode of "The Tim Dillon Show."

""The city has been completely devastated. The hydrants were dry and there was no water to fight the fire. No one cleared the brush or performed controlled burns, which could have prevented the disaster. Dillon claims that these actions were ignored because we prioritized not upsetting a fish," he says."

Last week, President-elect Donald Trump criticized Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom for prioritizing the protection of an insignificant fish species over the water requirements of Californians. This isn't the first time Trump has attacked Newsom over this issue; during an interview with Joe Rogan in October, he slammed Newsom's handling of the matter ahead of the 2024 election.

Trump recounted a conversation with some congressmen while driving through California farmland. He observed that the land looked barren and asked why it was so. The congressmen replied that there was no water, and Trump asked if there was a drought.

Trump stated, "I remarked, 'Why do you not have any water?' Since the water is not permitted to flow downwards, it is rerouted into the Pacific Ocean to safeguard a small fish species. As a result, millions of gallons of water are poured."

The governor's press office refuted Trump's accusations, stating that the president-elect was confusing two separate issues: the delivery of water to Southern California and the source of that water.

"Despite Trump's claims, there is no water shortage in Southern California at the moment, according to Newsom's office. However, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power stated that high water demand and ongoing fires have hindered the ability of crews to refill tanks at higher elevations. To address this issue, they have resorted to using water tenders to supply water, a common practice in wildland firefighting."

Dillon expressed his frustration with California's leadership, stating, "You go to bed thinking someone's in charge. No one's in charge. That's the thing."

The only individuals who appear to possess some form of knowledge are actively working against the public's best interests at all times. The only individuals who possess power in society are consistently making your lives more difficult and dangerous, and their actions are constantly causing harm that you cannot prevent. The only individuals who possess authority or control are consistently engaging in terrible actions that you have no ability to stop.

Dillon questioned, "What cult are you a part of, why do you support it, who recruited you, and what benefits do you receive from it?" after being perplexed by individuals who continue to back Gov. Newsom despite the fires' failure to be contained.

In the podcast, Dillon criticized the California government's readiness, saying, "You can't have people acting irrationally and setting things on fire," and emphasizing the need for preparation.

"We've allowed individuals to control our city with unrealistic proposals that appeal to young Twitter users. It's time for us to take charge with experienced professionals who can execute plans effectively," he stated.

Planet Chronicle Digital's Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.