Joel Pollack: California Must Stop Prioritizing Identity Politics Above Saving Lives

Joel Pollack, Senior Editor at Breitbart News, and Dr. Hooman Hemmati, a board-certified doctor and Ph.D. scientist, joined ‘The Ingraham Angle’ recently to discuss possible causes of California’s devastating wildfires and evacuations. 

Pollack emphasized that while some may blame climate change for the increase in wildfires, the real issue lies in the lack of preparation and emergency planning by the state government. 

“We were not prepared with an emergency plan for evacuation. Our mayor was out of the country. Our governor doesn’t have a clue. The residents had to help each other. And it is a miracle that everybody, at least in Pacific Palisades, was able to evacuate alive without injury,” Pollack said. 

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“When you go into the neighborhood and I’ve been reporting from there for the last two days for Breitbart News, the scale of devastation is unimaginable.”

Dr. Hemmati echoed Pollack’s frustration, particularly with Newsom’s response to the crisis.

“This is something that should never have happened. This could have been Gavin Newsom’s Rudy Giuliani moment after 911, where he stood up strong and tall and commanded a force and reassured the people and said, I’m in charge and we’re going to take care of things. Instead, what did he do? It was one photo op after another,” Hemmati explained.

“And not only did [Newsom] start attacking Trump while claiming that he’s not making this political, he is now gaveling in that special session of the state legislature to authorize $25 million in spending of money we don’t have not to take care of the wildfire victims, but to Trump-proof California… And he’s demonstrated to the nation that he is absolutely incapable, out of touch, and simply just does not care.”

Pollack also noted that Newsom’s administration has consistently prioritized cultural issues over practical concerns like wildfire prevention. 

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“We have prioritized the wrong things in our leaders in California. Gavin Newsom has spent more time on transgender surgeries in red states than he has spent on wildfire prevention in his own state,” Pollack said.

“We have a fire insurance disaster because Gavin Newsom’s administration artificially capped the price of insurance, resulting in companies leaving the state and people in Palisades losing their policies. That is a disaster of another order and economic disaster that’s looming because of his administration. And we have to stop prioritizing identity politics and cultural issues above saving lives.”