1 00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:02,040 Speaker 1: Can't. I am six forty. 2 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:05,520 Speaker 2: You're listening to the John Cobel podcast on the iHeartRadio app. 3 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:08,840 Speaker 2: We're on every day one until four o'clock. And today 4 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:12,159 Speaker 2: I keep forgetting. You got to remind me so I 5 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 2: don't walk out at four. I'm on all the way 6 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 2: to four fifteen. Well, four thirteen, four thirteen, so a 7 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 2: whole extra segment because of the Charger game and the coverage, 8 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:29,160 Speaker 2: so it starts at an odd time. They had this 9 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:33,120 Speaker 2: fifteen thirteen minute gap. Gotten wait in want to come 10 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:35,160 Speaker 2: in all the way? You know, he lives two blocks away. 11 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 2: He's not going to come in and do eight minutes, 12 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 2: So all right, I'll be here until four thirteen before 13 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:44,000 Speaker 2: we get to the guest. I just want to mention again. 14 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:48,200 Speaker 2: There's two documentaries I watched over the weekend about the fires, 15 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:53,519 Speaker 2: Big Rock Burning. This focused on Malibu, the Big Rock Community, 16 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 2: directed by David Goldbloom, and you can go to vimeo 17 00:00:57,120 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 2: dot com and watch it, and you should, and it 18 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 2: will cost you a few dollars, but the money is 19 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:09,679 Speaker 2: going to the Boys and Girls Club of Malibu's disaster 20 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 2: recovery services. And then there's another one you can get 21 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 2: on YouTube and that's twenty three minutes and it's Paradise Abandoned. 22 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 2: It's by Palisades Robert Resident Rob Monts. They're both powerful documentaries. 23 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:29,640 Speaker 2: I'll talk about them later this week. Watch both and 24 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:32,280 Speaker 2: you'll see there's something. There's something that's been going on 25 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:39,120 Speaker 2: here because there was really no preparation, no response that 26 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:42,640 Speaker 2: was of any use, and from a blizzard of lies 27 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 2: from newsome baths, three separate fire chiefs, and everybody else 28 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 2: in public life. Why, which is the question that keeps 29 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 2: coming up in these two documentaries. 30 00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 1: Why. I don't know why, but we're going to figure 31 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 1: it out. 32 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 2: And I'm going to talk with Justin Emsoff because you 33 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 2: had the Altadena fire and known officially as the Eaton fire, 34 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 2: this is the one started by so Cal Edison. But 35 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:12,359 Speaker 2: you have the same problem as you had a lack 36 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 2: of preparation, a lack of response. 37 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 1: You had nineteen people died. 38 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:21,240 Speaker 2: They couldn't even send out emergency warnings effectively over the 39 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 2: cell phone system, and the Ala County Fire Department, the 40 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 2: Sheriff's Department, the board of Supervisors, according to Justin Emsoft, 41 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 2: are dodging responsibility. He's a longtime listener of the show 42 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:37,400 Speaker 2: his wife's family home for thirty five years, all their 43 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 2: possessions were lost, and he's pretty fed. 44 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 1: Up with all this nonsense. Let's get let's get Justin 45 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:44,240 Speaker 1: msoft On. 46 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:48,239 Speaker 3: Justin, how are you doing good? John? Thanks for thanks 47 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 3: for having me and thanks for keeping the spotlight on this. 48 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, tell tell everybody how you feel. I mean, 49 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:59,400 Speaker 2: what is your view of what's been going on here 50 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:00,919 Speaker 2: and you're reaction to it? 51 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, so the crux of it is really 52 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:07,639 Speaker 3: that we're a year on from the fire, and recovery 53 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:11,160 Speaker 3: still just feels so far away. You know, like you said, 54 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 3: the fire itself, you know, whoever started it, the entity 55 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:17,360 Speaker 3: responsible is ultimately the one responsible for the devastation of 56 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:20,640 Speaker 3: that night. But in my mind, the recovery is firmly 57 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 3: the responsibility of the county that we pay so much 58 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:27,639 Speaker 3: taxes to, and I've done so for my entire life. 59 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:31,120 Speaker 3: I've lived in Los Angeles my entire life, and it 60 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 3: seems like they're just insistent on either pointing fingers at 61 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 3: each other, the Fire Department to sheriff, the Office of 62 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 3: Emergency Management, either pointing the finger at each other or 63 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 3: pitching this quote perfect storm idea and to me that 64 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:48,880 Speaker 3: the perfect storm narrative is so dangerous because, like you mentioned, 65 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:51,400 Speaker 3: nineteen people died, and if you're going to use that 66 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 3: as an excuse that it was just unavoidable perfect storm. 67 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 3: We did the best we could, YadA YadA YadA, more 68 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 3: people could die next time, And that's my biggest fear. 69 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,960 Speaker 3: And that's why it's just, you know, we need furm 70 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 3: answers on transparently what happened that night, what were the failures? 71 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 3: I would love to be wrong. I would love for 72 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 3: it to you know, every piece of data comes in 73 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:15,320 Speaker 3: and says, you know, sheriff did wonderfully, fire department did wonderfully. 74 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 3: Nothing could have gotten better. But the fact is we 75 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:21,279 Speaker 3: have one report that is so general you cannot derive 76 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 3: those conclusions. And I think people in Altadena deserve access 77 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:30,240 Speaker 3: to the raw data to confirm for themselves. It's a 78 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:32,839 Speaker 3: response with sufficient and if not, what is going to happen? 79 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:35,240 Speaker 3: To make sure that it is next time, and then 80 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:37,240 Speaker 3: you know, we can get onto the actual recovery, the 81 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:40,040 Speaker 3: rebuilding process, which is also a nightmare. But in terms 82 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 3: of the immediate kind of aftermath, that's those are my thoughts. 83 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, there's three components to it. 84 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 2: You're right, and it was tremendous lack of preparation because 85 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 2: this didn't catch anyone by surprise. This was at least 86 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 2: a well, it's a week's worth of warnings they had. 87 00:04:57,240 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 2: They had warnings going all the way back to December 88 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:02,719 Speaker 2: thirty first, because I've looked all this up. You just 89 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 2: look at the Twitter feed of the National Weather Service, 90 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 2: and the warnings intensified in the five days beforehand, and 91 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 2: then the response. 92 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:17,320 Speaker 3: Happened every year, Yeah, this is a multi day This 93 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:20,760 Speaker 3: happens multiple times every year. They have a name. 94 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, they're historical. I mean everybody in the country has 95 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 2: heard of the sant anaw Wins. They've written books about it. 96 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:35,799 Speaker 2: So the the original preparation was just awful, not existing really. 97 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:39,240 Speaker 2: And then I've read, you know, La time stories about 98 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:43,240 Speaker 2: how confused all the officials were the fire department and 99 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 2: the Sheriff's department, and there was a lack of communication, 100 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 2: a lack of coordination, and I don't know, I mean, 101 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 2: they did have officials all in the same room together 102 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:57,480 Speaker 2: from these various agencies, and how could you have confusion 103 00:05:57,640 --> 00:05:59,040 Speaker 2: You're standing next to one another. 104 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, you should be next to each other, and at 105 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 3: least if you read the one report, which again is 106 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 3: very generic and doesn't have as much detail as we 107 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:10,040 Speaker 3: would need, but if you read that, they were aware 108 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:12,920 Speaker 3: that the fire had spread west of Altadena, I mean 109 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:16,840 Speaker 3: west of Lake Avenue, that it was entering western Altadena, 110 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 3: and at least according to the official report, I think 111 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:22,400 Speaker 3: that was around midnight, and still warnings didn't go out 112 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:25,479 Speaker 3: until three thirty am. I got mine at three something, 113 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 3: and yeah, like you said that, if that's that should 114 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 3: be a critical flaw that we're now looking into. Instead 115 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:34,839 Speaker 3: of saying, well, so and so didn't tell me, he 116 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 3: should have told me. That's the whole point of having 117 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 3: this centralized command. That's that's what I thought you guys 118 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:43,119 Speaker 3: had been working on the last fifty years. If it wasn't, 119 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:44,920 Speaker 3: then just tell us you're not going to show up 120 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:46,479 Speaker 3: and then tell us we're on our own. 121 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:50,840 Speaker 2: Well, they put out so many public service announcements. Do 122 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:54,120 Speaker 2: they ever did they have any meetings? I keep asking 123 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:56,839 Speaker 2: this about the Karen Bass situation with the with the 124 00:06:56,839 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 2: fire chief. Once the warnings came out from the weather show, 125 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:04,320 Speaker 2: So did they sit down and have a big roundtable 126 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 2: discussion A zoom meeting to make sure that everything was 127 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 2: covered properly in advanced Did they you know, deploy the 128 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:12,840 Speaker 2: fire engines? 129 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 1: They should have. 130 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 2: The engine should have been deployed for a week there, 131 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:21,440 Speaker 2: But they don't talk about it. Nobody submits to any interviews, 132 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 2: any questioning, and they have these whitewashed, bland reports that 133 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 2: tell you nothing, and. 134 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 1: Then we're all supposed to like nod along and walk away. 135 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 3: That's exactly right, And I think said more they really 136 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:37,880 Speaker 3: want this to disappear by saying it's a perfect storm. 137 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:39,680 Speaker 3: You know it won't happen again. We're learning all these 138 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 3: lessons until they can concretely point to stuff that says 139 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 3: here's how we're going to do better next time. I mean, 140 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 3: I'm I don't see how anybody should be confident in 141 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:52,240 Speaker 3: southern California, you know, if you live in the foothills. 142 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 3: But even if you don't, they clearly do not have 143 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 3: a plan and they're not working on a plane. If 144 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 3: they do again, should be really easy. Like you said, 145 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 3: don't have a press conference, don't have a publicity shoot, 146 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 3: come out, meetless residents and demonstrate here's how we're going 147 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 3: to do better, Here's how we're not going to fail again. 148 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 1: All right? Can you stay on another segment? 149 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, because what I want to cover next is the 150 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:21,880 Speaker 2: issue that is gripping everybody immediately. I was just in 151 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:25,040 Speaker 2: the pali Stades on Saturday night because Rick Caruso had 152 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 2: the Christmas tree lighting, and it's it's the rebuilding, and 153 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 2: it's the lack of permits, and it's the lack of response, 154 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 2: you know, from the county and the city. We'll talk 155 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:39,560 Speaker 2: about it. Justin Amsoft, one of our listeners who was 156 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:44,040 Speaker 2: the home was burned out by the Altadena fire. We'll 157 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:45,080 Speaker 2: talk more coming up. 158 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:50,200 Speaker 4: You're listening to John Cobelt on demand from KFI AM 159 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:50,760 Speaker 4: six forty. 160 00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:55,079 Speaker 2: You could follow us at John Cobelt Radio on social 161 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:56,560 Speaker 2: media at John Cobelt Radio. 162 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:56,880 Speaker 1: Oh. 163 00:08:56,960 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 2: Tonight at nine thirty, I'm going to be on CNN 164 00:09:01,679 --> 00:09:04,959 Speaker 2: Alex Michaelson. The story is tonight at nine thirty will 165 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:08,920 Speaker 2: beyond the panel with him, so you tune in and 166 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:14,760 Speaker 2: watch that. Let's continue now with one of our listeners, 167 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 2: Justin Emsoff. Family home, his wife's family home for thirty 168 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:24,760 Speaker 2: five years, burned to the ground during the Eaton fire 169 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:28,720 Speaker 2: and Altadena. All the possessions were lost and everybody there 170 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:32,040 Speaker 2: is furious and angry at the lack of preparation, the 171 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:37,200 Speaker 2: lack of response, the inadequate response, and then after the fire, 172 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 2: we've got the rebuilding and from what I understand is 173 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:45,640 Speaker 2: the county is extremely slow with permits. 174 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:48,680 Speaker 1: Is that true. 175 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:53,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, We've had a few neighbors who have gone through 176 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 3: the permitting process, and I mean it's kind of it's 177 00:09:56,520 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 3: new for everybody, but it's definitely not the same expedi 178 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:02,959 Speaker 3: in process that they describe at the onset of the 179 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:06,640 Speaker 3: rebuilding process. So it still takes I mean, I'm looking 180 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:10,160 Speaker 3: at the county the actual counties data right now, and 181 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 3: there's only nine hundred and thirty four permits, and it 182 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:16,960 Speaker 3: says that the average days the permit issuance is ninety days. 183 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:19,960 Speaker 3: You know, they said originally that it would be weeks, 184 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:23,720 Speaker 3: and now it's already ninety days, and there's at least 185 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 3: fifteen hundred and the backlog of permits that have been 186 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:30,200 Speaker 3: received for application. So it's just not moving at the 187 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 3: pace that you would expect or hope for people that 188 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:35,240 Speaker 3: are really trying to just rebuild their lives, right, they're 189 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:37,400 Speaker 3: not trying to make money off those they're just trying 190 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:40,760 Speaker 3: to get back into their houses. And that's assuming you 191 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 3: can even get a hold of somebody, right, I mean, 192 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 3: all these agencies that were you know, flatting, all these 193 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:48,800 Speaker 3: fast tracked ways to get help, it's really not. You 194 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:51,559 Speaker 3: still wait on hold for hours to try to talk 195 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:53,640 Speaker 3: to a person, and then there's no one to talk 196 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:55,679 Speaker 3: to the wrong thing. 197 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:57,439 Speaker 1: That is inexcusable. 198 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:00,719 Speaker 2: I hear that with the City is Well that you 199 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:03,960 Speaker 2: call and you could end up talking over the course 200 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:06,080 Speaker 2: of time, you know, like the half dozen different people, 201 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:08,559 Speaker 2: and they tell you half a dozen different things. 202 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, I had I had to get a replacement something 203 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:15,520 Speaker 3: or other for the for part of the SBA loan, 204 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:18,200 Speaker 3: and they sent me to three different things. First I 205 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:21,079 Speaker 3: needed a voter registration card. Then I needed my Social 206 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 3: Security card, which already had. And then they said, maybe 207 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:28,960 Speaker 3: you're your child's students' records from school, and I said, 208 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:31,880 Speaker 3: I don't have kids, So what does that mean? I 209 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:34,400 Speaker 3: get I can't apply it. And there's all these There's 210 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 3: just always another path that you were supposed to have 211 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:39,680 Speaker 3: taken that you just don't know of until someone tells 212 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:40,839 Speaker 3: you they told you the wrong info. 213 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:45,920 Speaker 1: Have you asked anybody why, why is it this constant 214 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:46,720 Speaker 1: merry go round. 215 00:11:47,559 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 3: Because you're talking to and I'm sure you know you're 216 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:53,280 Speaker 3: talking to literally the lowest level person on the other side. 217 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 3: It's just that there's no At least at the beginning, 218 00:11:57,320 --> 00:12:01,079 Speaker 3: they had the Center's kind of where every department was, 219 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:03,560 Speaker 3: and you could go talk to multiple people. You could 220 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:06,200 Speaker 3: kind of escalate things there. But now you're just on 221 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:10,840 Speaker 3: phone tree and you're you're talking to one person. Send 222 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:13,120 Speaker 3: you to another person. You have to repeat the same story. 223 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 3: I mean for the last I mean it's it's been 224 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:19,080 Speaker 3: better recently, but for the first six months after John, 225 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:22,959 Speaker 3: I'm telling you, I was on the phone from two 226 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 3: pm to six pm every night trying to talk to insurance, 227 00:12:26,640 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 3: talk to the county, talk to the assess or everybody, 228 00:12:30,679 --> 00:12:32,640 Speaker 3: and and the only com the only thing that actually 229 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:35,320 Speaker 3: did right was USPS. I'll give them credit. They're the 230 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 3: only the only institution that has. 231 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:39,440 Speaker 1: Come through us wood. What is that? 232 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:42,520 Speaker 3: The Postal Service? 233 00:12:43,520 --> 00:12:45,720 Speaker 2: I haven't heard that in a long time. All right, well, 234 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:49,960 Speaker 2: you have a vote for the postal Service. You're in 235 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:51,960 Speaker 2: a you're in a bad league. If the Postal Service 236 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:56,000 Speaker 2: is is the best responder? Hi? 237 00:12:56,840 --> 00:12:57,320 Speaker 3: Exactly? 238 00:12:57,440 --> 00:13:01,480 Speaker 1: Wow, Yeah, how does this. How do you? How do 239 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:02,960 Speaker 1: you live with this every day? 240 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:05,880 Speaker 2: I mean, this has got to be all consuming from 241 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:09,000 Speaker 2: the moment you wake up, if you even sleep well 242 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 2: at all, to the last thing you think at night. 243 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:14,520 Speaker 2: And there's just an endless calls you have to make, 244 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:16,360 Speaker 2: and people you have to talk to, inform as you 245 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 2: have to fill out, and and and you know, people 246 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 2: not responding, getting getting refused, getting getting denied. I mean, 247 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:27,960 Speaker 2: what is that like emotionally to deal with for you 248 00:13:28,040 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 2: and your wife? 249 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:32,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's draining. I mean if we didn't have each other, 250 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:35,360 Speaker 3: I think we'd be in a much worse spot. But 251 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:37,080 Speaker 3: it's like you said, it's draining. And you have your 252 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 3: regular life. You have to keep up with, right, you 253 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:44,040 Speaker 3: have work, you have family commitments. I mean else I have. 254 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:45,880 Speaker 3: I have some good friends. But I would say most 255 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:47,640 Speaker 3: people have kind of moved on from the fires, which 256 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:49,160 Speaker 3: is why I think it's great that you're keeping it in 257 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:52,200 Speaker 3: the spotlight. I think most people have assumed, hey, a 258 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 3: year has passed, everything's probably fine. They got their insurance, 259 00:13:55,720 --> 00:13:59,080 Speaker 3: which we barely got any insurance. Uh, they got there, 260 00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:03,120 Speaker 3: you know, seven hundred and fifty dollars FEMA credit and 261 00:14:03,559 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 3: things must be back in ready order, and it's just 262 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:09,400 Speaker 3: so far from the truth. So yeah, it's exhausting. And 263 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:13,640 Speaker 3: every single week and every single month there's some new thing, 264 00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:17,640 Speaker 3: you know, as we've gotten closer to rebuilding that we're realizing, 265 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:21,280 Speaker 3: you know, just that there's always something new. It's not 266 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:22,800 Speaker 3: it's just never easy. 267 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:23,440 Speaker 1: Yeah. 268 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:28,120 Speaker 2: Now, and see the total failure of government there, you know, 269 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 2: the response, the preparation, and now the aftermath, the total failure. 270 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 2: It's like if I'm if I ever end up in 271 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:38,880 Speaker 2: a conversation with anybody telling me how wonderful government is, 272 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:42,480 Speaker 2: I'm I'm I might get I might get like physically violent. 273 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:44,360 Speaker 1: I I'm this this is a disaster. 274 00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:46,080 Speaker 2: And it's been going on a year, and it's at 275 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:50,560 Speaker 2: every level of government and and there's no intelligence, there's 276 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 2: no compassion, there is no response. It's just it's like 277 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:57,160 Speaker 2: it's strike like trying to talk to ghosts. 278 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 3: Yeah. And you and you know, you're on social media, 279 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:06,440 Speaker 3: you watch the news and it's the same fire chief sheriff, 280 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:10,640 Speaker 3: Catherine Barger, board of supervisors. They're all just there patting 281 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 3: themselves on the back. I know, a fane outrage here 282 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:17,640 Speaker 3: and there, but really they're all just taking photo ops 283 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 3: and and pretending like things are back to normal when 284 00:15:19,560 --> 00:15:20,920 Speaker 3: it's it's just not even closed. 285 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:23,120 Speaker 1: It's galling. And they know the thing is they know 286 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:25,880 Speaker 1: they know that things are terrible. They don't care. 287 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, and they never tell the truth, and that that 288 00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 2: that is so infuriating. 289 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:35,000 Speaker 1: Just tell the truth. They're not that stupid. They know 290 00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 1: this thing's a disaster. 291 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:38,960 Speaker 2: They know every aspect of their response to this government 292 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:42,000 Speaker 2: was a complete disaster, and so they'll just pretend it 293 00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:42,680 Speaker 2: never happened. 294 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:47,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, And I think most residents in Altadena, like they 295 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:51,160 Speaker 3: as angry as we are. We just we do actually 296 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 3: just want to move on. We're not looking for escapegoat. 297 00:15:53,680 --> 00:15:57,000 Speaker 3: We're not looking to, you know, have everybody lose their jobs. 298 00:15:57,080 --> 00:16:01,120 Speaker 3: We need to know that it's take it seriously that 299 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:03,680 Speaker 3: things will be different next time. And like you said, 300 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:06,400 Speaker 3: they're hoping that people forget to the point that it's 301 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:08,920 Speaker 3: what they're no longer accountable or answible. 302 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:10,680 Speaker 1: To that that's what they want. Justin imsoft. Thanks for 303 00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:11,040 Speaker 1: coming on. 304 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:13,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, thanks, John, I appreciate it. 305 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:19,360 Speaker 2: Former resident of Beltadena. The fire destroyed his wife's house, 306 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:23,400 Speaker 2: his wife's family's house that they everybody was living in 307 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:25,400 Speaker 2: for thirty five years. All right, more coming up. 308 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:30,760 Speaker 4: You're listening to John Cobel's on demand from KFI AM 309 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:31,320 Speaker 4: six forty. 310 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:34,520 Speaker 2: We are on from one until four o'clock every day 311 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:37,800 Speaker 2: and then after four o'clock John Cobel Show on Demand 312 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:39,320 Speaker 2: on the iHeart app. 313 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:42,440 Speaker 1: Today we go to four thirteen, four thirteen. 314 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 2: The show has been extended one day only because the 315 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:52,080 Speaker 2: Chargers are playing, and Chargers pregame coverage starts at about 316 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:55,360 Speaker 2: four point fifteen, and we'll end the program at four thirteen. 317 00:16:55,960 --> 00:16:59,480 Speaker 2: And Tim is I don't know where he is, but 318 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 2: watching the game, probably probably watching, probably betting on the game. 319 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:04,240 Speaker 1: Probably is where he is. 320 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 2: Let's say, moistline is eight seven seven moist eighty six, 321 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:10,680 Speaker 2: eight seven seven moist eighty six. For this Friday talkback 322 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 2: feature on the iHeart app, you can call in and 323 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:18,960 Speaker 2: leave your angry, outraged message or whatever is on your mind. 324 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:23,360 Speaker 2: You know, we keep asking the same question for different stories, 325 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:27,719 Speaker 2: is like why why why? We had a guy on, Oh, 326 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:31,480 Speaker 2: it's just last hour. He's actually quit his job. He 327 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:34,360 Speaker 2: came here from Ecuador. He hasn't been here that long, 328 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:37,600 Speaker 2: what a year? Juan Nualla's is a name and he's 329 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:39,400 Speaker 2: so disgusted by all the trash in. 330 00:17:39,359 --> 00:17:41,240 Speaker 1: The streets that he's quit his job. 331 00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 2: He's raising money online and he spends all his days 332 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:47,560 Speaker 2: with a group of volunteers picking up the garbage that 333 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:49,240 Speaker 2: Karen Bats. 334 00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:50,959 Speaker 1: Allows to pile up all over the city. 335 00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:55,359 Speaker 2: Why cause the sanitation department gets the big run around 336 00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:57,080 Speaker 2: he just had Justin. 337 00:17:57,160 --> 00:18:00,240 Speaker 1: I'msoft on Justin's. 338 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:06,080 Speaker 2: Family home destroyed in the fire, trying to get building 339 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:10,240 Speaker 2: permits and get some massive run around, over and over 340 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:13,360 Speaker 2: and over again. And here are the politicians who run 341 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:19,439 Speaker 2: La County badly, Jennis Han, Holly Mitchell, Hilda Salise, Lindsey 342 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:23,560 Speaker 2: horv F Catherine Barger. I mentioned their names a little 343 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:28,480 Speaker 2: while ago. Why is everything so bad? I told you 344 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:31,280 Speaker 2: about the criminals when Michael Monks was in here earlier 345 00:18:31,320 --> 00:18:35,879 Speaker 2: in the show. We got twenty four county workers who 346 00:18:36,119 --> 00:18:42,720 Speaker 2: stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in pandemic money, COVID 347 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:48,919 Speaker 2: unemployment money. There was another new eleven announced yesterday or 348 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:54,320 Speaker 2: this morning by Nathan Hackman. Four from here nurses. One 349 00:18:54,359 --> 00:18:59,639 Speaker 2: of them was at Hawkman's office. Why why didn't they 350 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:02,640 Speaker 2: put controls on so it can't be so easily stolen? 351 00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:06,919 Speaker 1: Why can't you have more people working the permit hotlines. 352 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:10,040 Speaker 2: Why don't you have clear instructions to help out the 353 00:19:10,080 --> 00:19:13,199 Speaker 2: people who want to rebuild their homes. Why aren't they 354 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:17,720 Speaker 2: picking up the garbage in Los Angeles? And then I 355 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:24,280 Speaker 2: saw this post online from Memet Oz and he's in 356 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:28,679 Speaker 2: charge of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, doctor 357 00:19:28,760 --> 00:19:34,800 Speaker 2: Oz from TV and he posted this, and I'll just 358 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:38,600 Speaker 2: truncate it. You've probably heard the news by now. Minnesota 359 00:19:38,640 --> 00:19:42,640 Speaker 2: fraudsters stole over one billion dollars from medicaid and you 360 00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:47,439 Speaker 2: deserve an explanation. Our staff at CMS told me they've 361 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:51,840 Speaker 2: never seen anything like this in Medicaid and everyone from 362 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:55,679 Speaker 2: Governor Tim Waltz on down needs to be investigated because 363 00:19:55,680 --> 00:19:57,199 Speaker 2: they've been asleep at the wheel. 364 00:19:57,520 --> 00:19:58,840 Speaker 1: And he goes through. 365 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:02,119 Speaker 2: Lot of the detail that you've probably heard of in 366 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:05,840 Speaker 2: the last week, and he says, this chest isn't fraud, 367 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:13,720 Speaker 2: it's political patronage and public of events. Somali scammers got 368 00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:16,880 Speaker 2: rich off programs that Waltz was supposed to be managing. 369 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:20,960 Speaker 2: Minnesota politicians get elected with Somali votes and keep the 370 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:28,040 Speaker 2: money flowing. When Minnesota told the Center for Medicaid and 371 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:31,240 Speaker 2: Medicaid Services last year about the problem. They assured us 372 00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:33,919 Speaker 2: that they'd handle it by summer. It was obvious they 373 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:37,200 Speaker 2: couldn't or wouldn't, so we stepped in and shut down 374 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:41,680 Speaker 2: the worst of the programs housing And now they're putting 375 00:20:42,760 --> 00:20:48,080 Speaker 2: everyone on an audit. They're freezing enrollment in a few 376 00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:51,200 Speaker 2: of the most abused programs. So now the state has 377 00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:54,479 Speaker 2: to provide the Center for Medicare and Medicaid with weekly 378 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:57,600 Speaker 2: updates on how the state is stopping the fraud. Freeze 379 00:20:57,680 --> 00:21:01,680 Speaker 2: enrollment of all high risk providers for six months, confirm 380 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:04,719 Speaker 2: all providers are legitimate or remove them, and on and 381 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:07,120 Speaker 2: on and on, and i'm i'm, I'm I'm looking at 382 00:21:07,119 --> 00:21:10,240 Speaker 2: this and it's like, why why do they have to net? 383 00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:18,040 Speaker 2: Why wasn't this always the policy. They don't care. They 384 00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:20,680 Speaker 2: don't care if you die in a fire. I keep 385 00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:23,919 Speaker 2: telling you this. They don't care if you rebuild your 386 00:21:23,920 --> 00:21:26,960 Speaker 2: house or not. They don't care if the money gets stolen, 387 00:21:27,359 --> 00:21:29,680 Speaker 2: they don't care if the garbage piles up. 388 00:21:32,280 --> 00:21:33,679 Speaker 1: I don't know why. 389 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:37,159 Speaker 2: They're capable of fooling so many people over and over 390 00:21:37,320 --> 00:21:41,639 Speaker 2: and over again, with the wonders of government and charge 391 00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:45,920 Speaker 2: you really high taxes. And then I got a story 392 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:48,120 Speaker 2: about San Francisco. I'm gonna have to do it tomorrow. 393 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:51,920 Speaker 2: But San Francisco has seen an enormous share of their 394 00:21:51,920 --> 00:21:54,840 Speaker 2: budget go to nonprofits. It's double what it was a 395 00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:55,560 Speaker 2: few years ago. 396 00:21:55,840 --> 00:21:58,280 Speaker 1: Double. Well, how does it double. 397 00:21:58,320 --> 00:22:02,080 Speaker 2: It's because the money's getting stolen this nonprofit system, from 398 00:22:02,119 --> 00:22:07,000 Speaker 2: the federal government on down, whether it's Minnesota money for 399 00:22:09,040 --> 00:22:13,959 Speaker 2: the pandemic, housing money here in Los Angeles. This nonprofit 400 00:22:14,160 --> 00:22:19,440 Speaker 2: cesspool is destroying the government from the inside out. 401 00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:20,400 Speaker 1: It's rotting it out. 402 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:23,760 Speaker 2: We are getting no services from this, We are getting 403 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:29,640 Speaker 2: just big tax bills. It's the people who work in government. 404 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:32,120 Speaker 2: I'm sorry, a lot of them are really disgusting. They're 405 00:22:32,119 --> 00:22:37,040 Speaker 2: disgusting thieves and crooks. There are narcissistic sociopaths who don't 406 00:22:37,080 --> 00:22:40,200 Speaker 2: give a wit if anybody lives or dies. They don't 407 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:42,760 Speaker 2: care about how filthy the city is, or how dangerous 408 00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:47,200 Speaker 2: the city is, how crazy everything is. Didn't used to 409 00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:50,800 Speaker 2: be that way. Just a few years ago. Something changed 410 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:54,919 Speaker 2: in the psyche and the psyche of the country, but 411 00:22:55,160 --> 00:22:59,639 Speaker 2: especially people in government, especially you know well, I mean 412 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:02,720 Speaker 2: those I have supervisors. I mentioned you never see any 413 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:07,520 Speaker 2: of them speaking out about the fire and about the terrible, 414 00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:14,200 Speaker 2: the terrible uh preparation, the terrible execution in battling the fire, 415 00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:18,400 Speaker 2: the terrible rebuilding process. Nothing from Karen Bassard the city 416 00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:22,280 Speaker 2: council either. They just don't speak anymore, and nobody asks 417 00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:25,240 Speaker 2: them any questions, nobody pushes them. It's it's it's bizarrely 418 00:23:25,320 --> 00:23:32,920 Speaker 2: fascinating and lights are blinking like crazy here. I'm gonna 419 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:34,960 Speaker 2: end up with an epileptic fit. I don't know what's 420 00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:38,400 Speaker 2: going on, or did they not pay the electric bill? 421 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:40,920 Speaker 2: Or you want me to turn the Christmas tree off? No, 422 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:44,159 Speaker 2: it's not the tree, it's the overhead lights. I think 423 00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:49,600 Speaker 2: something is Yeah, the overhead lights. Oh, I'll turn them 424 00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:52,720 Speaker 2: up in the break. Oh yeah, it's it's weird. 425 00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:55,920 Speaker 1: Uh. 426 00:23:56,280 --> 00:23:58,639 Speaker 2: You know what, when we come back, I got two things, 427 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:02,960 Speaker 2: all right. So we talked before at New York Times 428 00:24:03,160 --> 00:24:07,960 Speaker 2: and expose on Joe Biden's immigration policies, how the administration 429 00:24:08,640 --> 00:24:11,480 Speaker 2: really had their heads up their rear ends and they 430 00:24:11,480 --> 00:24:15,200 Speaker 2: were warned before Biden even was sworn in that their 431 00:24:15,359 --> 00:24:18,679 Speaker 2: policies were going to be a disaster, and they destroyed 432 00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:23,879 Speaker 2: their own administration over letting illegal aliens in It's a 433 00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:27,760 Speaker 2: fascinating story. Biden is still out there and he was 434 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:33,280 Speaker 2: allowed to speak publicly over the weekend at the LGBTQ 435 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:36,720 Speaker 2: plus Victory Institute. We have a short clip to play 436 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:41,639 Speaker 2: because you could see how his sinility hasn't intensified. And also, 437 00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:43,440 Speaker 2: I don't even know how I'm going to explain this, 438 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:50,120 Speaker 2: but Newsom's all the the eleven year olds who work 439 00:24:50,240 --> 00:24:56,200 Speaker 2: for Newsom's communication office put out another photo of Newsom 440 00:24:57,440 --> 00:25:02,800 Speaker 2: a in a they it's an AI doctored photo and 441 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:06,080 Speaker 2: he's got his legs in some kind of obscene position. 442 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:08,960 Speaker 2: It is gonna be really hard to explain, but I'm 443 00:25:08,960 --> 00:25:12,960 Speaker 2: gonna do it because it looks extremely stupid and I 444 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:15,040 Speaker 2: can't figure out what the point of this was. But 445 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:17,840 Speaker 2: he's sitting in a chair with his legs spread open, 446 00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:21,919 Speaker 2: his rear end and his mad parts like thrust forward, 447 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:26,560 Speaker 2: and his hands are clasped together as if he's praying, 448 00:25:26,760 --> 00:25:29,920 Speaker 2: but they're in between his legs which are bent over 449 00:25:29,960 --> 00:25:32,600 Speaker 2: the top of his hands. And this is what his 450 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:36,119 Speaker 2: press office puts out. I'll give you the background of 451 00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:37,280 Speaker 2: this when we come back. 452 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:41,360 Speaker 4: You're listening to John Kobels on demand. 453 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:46,240 Speaker 2: From KFI A six forty after Michael Krozer's newscast, We're 454 00:25:46,240 --> 00:25:49,040 Speaker 2: gonna come back for one more segment, a bonus segment, 455 00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:54,120 Speaker 2: because schedule is different today. We've got a Chargers football 456 00:25:54,160 --> 00:25:57,600 Speaker 2: game coming on and the pregame starts at four point fifteen. 457 00:25:57,840 --> 00:26:01,040 Speaker 2: So Michael do the news. I'll give you a few 458 00:26:01,040 --> 00:26:03,920 Speaker 2: more minutes and then we'll go into Chargers land here 459 00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:08,680 Speaker 2: all right, now, this first one is easy to explain. 460 00:26:09,280 --> 00:26:12,320 Speaker 2: This is Joe Biden. He is still allowed out of 461 00:26:12,320 --> 00:26:18,040 Speaker 2: the house. He was speaking at the LGBTQ plus Victory Institute. 462 00:26:18,119 --> 00:26:21,160 Speaker 2: I don't know what that is, but he was all 463 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:24,960 Speaker 2: indignant and indignant about Trump and what's going on in 464 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:28,520 Speaker 2: the world. Uh, listen to this and you can try 465 00:26:28,520 --> 00:26:29,199 Speaker 2: to decode it. 466 00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:32,159 Speaker 5: We just have to get out as long as we 467 00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:35,239 Speaker 5: keep the faith, summon hope, and get back up and 468 00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:36,600 Speaker 5: remember who in the hell we are. 469 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:39,359 Speaker 6: We're the United States of Americato. 470 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:42,800 Speaker 1: That's where we are for the US, and there's. 471 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:49,760 Speaker 6: Nothing I mean, We're the United States of Americato. 472 00:26:49,600 --> 00:26:51,679 Speaker 1: The United States of America. Got it. 473 00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:54,720 Speaker 6: We're the United States of Americato. 474 00:26:55,040 --> 00:26:58,280 Speaker 1: Ameer, got it? Okay? The United States of America got it. 475 00:26:58,760 --> 00:27:01,080 Speaker 1: He knows. He started with a little too at the beginning. 476 00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:04,080 Speaker 1: I know, And that's so weird and creepy. 477 00:27:04,320 --> 00:27:07,720 Speaker 5: We just have to get out to keep the faith 478 00:27:08,560 --> 00:27:10,720 Speaker 5: someone hope, and get back up and remember who in 479 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:15,160 Speaker 5: the hell we are. We're the United States of America. 480 00:27:16,280 --> 00:27:18,840 Speaker 2: He couldn't make it to America. That's how bad his 481 00:27:18,920 --> 00:27:23,000 Speaker 2: brain has turned to much. It's like I now, either 482 00:27:23,080 --> 00:27:26,080 Speaker 2: he was about to curse right, Eric and I have 483 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:28,200 Speaker 2: been talking about whether he was going to say United 484 00:27:28,240 --> 00:27:31,760 Speaker 2: States of America and then drop a GD yeah, or 485 00:27:32,720 --> 00:27:34,480 Speaker 2: he was saying United States, it's America. 486 00:27:34,720 --> 00:27:37,720 Speaker 1: Comma got it? Yeah? Could be either one. I don't know. 487 00:27:38,359 --> 00:27:41,600 Speaker 2: But he never got there and never corrected himself either. No, 488 00:27:41,840 --> 00:27:47,360 Speaker 2: just kept going. God. Now. This other thing is hard 489 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:53,760 Speaker 2: to explain because it's radio. But Gavin Newsom was on stage. 490 00:27:54,040 --> 00:27:57,040 Speaker 2: There was an event that The New York Times was 491 00:27:57,080 --> 00:27:59,840 Speaker 2: sponsoring called deal Book, and they were interviewing all kinds 492 00:27:59,880 --> 00:28:03,720 Speaker 2: of prominent people. That's the one where Holly Berry came 493 00:28:03,720 --> 00:28:08,600 Speaker 2: out and trashed Newsom for vetoing and menopause bill And 494 00:28:08,840 --> 00:28:13,680 Speaker 2: eventually Newsom got interviewed by an LA Times journalist and 495 00:28:14,440 --> 00:28:20,320 Speaker 2: he was sitting in a white chair, and during the 496 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:25,600 Speaker 2: interview he had his legs crossed severely, and you know, 497 00:28:25,640 --> 00:28:30,920 Speaker 2: the idiots on the internet, they start sending the photo 498 00:28:31,119 --> 00:28:35,440 Speaker 2: around social media saying that this was a testicle crusher 499 00:28:35,560 --> 00:28:39,719 Speaker 2: pose because his legs are really pointed. You know, he's 500 00:28:39,760 --> 00:28:44,520 Speaker 2: crossed his legs and they're pointed sharply in opposing directions. Well, 501 00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:48,680 Speaker 2: I don't understand this, but the press office decided to 502 00:28:48,680 --> 00:28:52,239 Speaker 2: have to respond, so I got on X. Well, they 503 00:28:52,240 --> 00:28:58,520 Speaker 2: were making fun of his masculinity, and so they posted 504 00:28:58,520 --> 00:29:02,160 Speaker 2: a photo again. This is newsom staff and he's got 505 00:29:02,440 --> 00:29:05,080 Speaker 2: he's sitting in a chair, but instead of his legs 506 00:29:05,680 --> 00:29:12,000 Speaker 2: coming over the seat, he's got his legs up in 507 00:29:12,040 --> 00:29:18,280 Speaker 2: the air, his shoes pressed together, his rear end and 508 00:29:18,960 --> 00:29:20,600 Speaker 2: testicles are thrust out. 509 00:29:21,240 --> 00:29:23,080 Speaker 1: And in between. 510 00:29:24,440 --> 00:29:28,720 Speaker 2: His rear end and his shoes which are at face level. 511 00:29:28,880 --> 00:29:31,200 Speaker 2: I know this sounds ridiculous, but I don't know how 512 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:34,080 Speaker 2: to explain this. And he's got his hands clasped as 513 00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:40,120 Speaker 2: if he's praying, so it's a yoga like position. It 514 00:29:40,240 --> 00:29:45,600 Speaker 2: looks just abstupid, just ridiculous. And this is what the 515 00:29:45,680 --> 00:29:48,080 Speaker 2: children in his press office sent out. 516 00:29:50,040 --> 00:29:53,520 Speaker 1: And it's not funny. It's supposed to be some. 517 00:29:55,120 --> 00:30:00,320 Speaker 2: Response to all the jokes about his testicle cri watching 518 00:30:00,400 --> 00:30:08,720 Speaker 2: cross legged posture. It does he know what's going on? 519 00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:11,920 Speaker 2: You gotta you gotta look at it. Go go go 520 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:14,120 Speaker 2: find it. We got Michael Krazer with the news and 521 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:16,360 Speaker 2: then we'll be back live in the KFI twenty four 522 00:30:16,360 --> 00:30:16,960 Speaker 2: hour newsroom. 523 00:30:17,840 --> 00:30:22,760 Speaker 4: You're listening to John Cobels on demand from KFI Am sixty. 524 00:30:23,800 --> 00:30:27,680 Speaker 2: Tim is, well, he's not in today because they only 525 00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:29,800 Speaker 2: wanted him to be on the air for about eight minutes, 526 00:30:30,640 --> 00:30:36,240 Speaker 2: and he said, no. 527 00:30:33,800 --> 00:30:36,120 Speaker 1: I'm gonna stay home. I'm not coming in for eight minutes. 528 00:30:36,280 --> 00:30:38,240 Speaker 2: I mean, he lives two miles down the road, So 529 00:30:38,400 --> 00:30:41,760 Speaker 2: all right, I'll sit here for eight minutes. But you 530 00:30:41,800 --> 00:30:46,000 Speaker 2: have the Chargers coming on at four point fifteen because 531 00:30:46,000 --> 00:30:47,360 Speaker 2: it's Monday night football. 532 00:30:47,440 --> 00:30:48,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, they played the Eagles. 533 00:30:48,840 --> 00:30:51,840 Speaker 2: It's a huge game, Chargers and Eagles at four fifteen, 534 00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:54,800 Speaker 2: and you know, the pregame starts and then and then 535 00:30:54,840 --> 00:30:58,200 Speaker 2: the game and it's always here on KFI. So in 536 00:30:58,240 --> 00:31:04,160 Speaker 2: the meantime, you got me for a few more minutes, and. 537 00:31:06,880 --> 00:31:07,080 Speaker 5: You know. 538 00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:10,800 Speaker 2: The twenty twenty eight Olympics has led the city Council 539 00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:15,120 Speaker 2: to want to raise the minimum wage for la hotel 540 00:31:15,160 --> 00:31:19,520 Speaker 2: and airport workers to thirty dollars an hour. Thirty dollars 541 00:31:19,560 --> 00:31:25,280 Speaker 2: an hour, and the hotels and the airport workers, well, 542 00:31:25,360 --> 00:31:28,640 Speaker 2: the people who run the hotels, the companies are saying, 543 00:31:28,680 --> 00:31:33,200 Speaker 2: we can't afford this now, this mandatory minimum wage, and 544 00:31:33,240 --> 00:31:35,840 Speaker 2: these are very high minimum wages that we have. You know, 545 00:31:35,920 --> 00:31:42,320 Speaker 2: the restaurant industry responded to the twenty dollars mandatory minimum 546 00:31:42,400 --> 00:31:46,680 Speaker 2: wage by firing about nineteen thousand workers in this state. 547 00:31:47,600 --> 00:31:51,840 Speaker 2: A couple of years ago, Newsom and the Democratic legislature said, hey, 548 00:31:51,840 --> 00:31:54,240 Speaker 2: we're gonna have a minimum wage twenty bucks an hour, 549 00:31:55,280 --> 00:31:59,840 Speaker 2: and the companies who run the fast food chains go, no, 550 00:32:00,520 --> 00:32:05,240 Speaker 2: we can't afford that. Actually, you know, most of the 551 00:32:05,320 --> 00:32:09,720 Speaker 2: fast food restaurants are owned locally franchise owners who are 552 00:32:09,760 --> 00:32:12,800 Speaker 2: middle class people, and they can't pay people twenty dollars 553 00:32:12,800 --> 00:32:17,200 Speaker 2: an hour. So what's happened now is twenty thousand people 554 00:32:17,240 --> 00:32:23,400 Speaker 2: got fired in the state. And you do your orders 555 00:32:23,520 --> 00:32:27,040 Speaker 2: at kiosks, you know, you just got a big screen 556 00:32:27,080 --> 00:32:30,120 Speaker 2: and you just press the panels on the screen and somebody, 557 00:32:30,160 --> 00:32:33,480 Speaker 2: maybe somebody carries out the order. Eventually, that's going to 558 00:32:33,480 --> 00:32:35,440 Speaker 2: be a robot or maybe you're going to have to 559 00:32:35,480 --> 00:32:38,080 Speaker 2: go in the kitchen and pick it up yourself. But 560 00:32:38,120 --> 00:32:42,480 Speaker 2: it totally failed. And all this stuff is pushed by unions. 561 00:32:42,520 --> 00:32:46,680 Speaker 2: The unions bribe the politicians. The politicians say, sure, here 562 00:32:47,640 --> 00:32:50,200 Speaker 2: you get the twenty dollars an hour minimum wage, but 563 00:32:50,760 --> 00:32:53,240 Speaker 2: if you've lost twenty thousand jobs, I don't understand the 564 00:32:53,280 --> 00:32:59,760 Speaker 2: point of this. It's baffling to me. And that's what's 565 00:32:59,760 --> 00:33:02,720 Speaker 2: going to happen here at these hotels and with these 566 00:33:02,760 --> 00:33:03,640 Speaker 2: airport workers. 567 00:33:04,600 --> 00:33:06,440 Speaker 1: Eventually they're all going to get fired. Now. 568 00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:12,240 Speaker 2: The LA City Council President Marquise Harris Dawson has tried 569 00:33:12,280 --> 00:33:16,640 Speaker 2: to delay the price the wage increase until twenty thirty, 570 00:33:17,080 --> 00:33:20,520 Speaker 2: phase it in over a long period of time. And 571 00:33:20,720 --> 00:33:26,080 Speaker 2: this has caused a controversy, and it may be because 572 00:33:27,840 --> 00:33:31,520 Speaker 2: the business owners filed the paperwork to put a ballot 573 00:33:31,560 --> 00:33:36,640 Speaker 2: measure together to repeal the city's business tax. Yeah, if 574 00:33:36,640 --> 00:33:38,840 Speaker 2: you have a business in the city, you got to pay. 575 00:33:39,720 --> 00:33:43,880 Speaker 2: They're not a state business city business tax. And if 576 00:33:43,880 --> 00:33:48,080 Speaker 2: it got repealed, that would take away seven hundred and 577 00:33:48,120 --> 00:33:51,560 Speaker 2: forty million dollars a year from the City of Los Angeles, 578 00:33:52,560 --> 00:33:56,080 Speaker 2: from the general fund, which is what they used to 579 00:33:56,120 --> 00:34:00,840 Speaker 2: pay the police officers and the firefighters, or what's. 580 00:34:00,680 --> 00:34:01,280 Speaker 1: Left of them. 581 00:34:03,120 --> 00:34:09,600 Speaker 2: And this referendum has been approved for signatures. Several airlines 582 00:34:09,640 --> 00:34:13,120 Speaker 2: as well as the American Hotel and Logic Association is 583 00:34:13,360 --> 00:34:18,160 Speaker 2: supporting this. And this is the business community's way of 584 00:34:18,239 --> 00:34:22,160 Speaker 2: trying to block this thirty dollars an hour minimum wage. Now, 585 00:34:23,120 --> 00:34:25,480 Speaker 2: thirty dollars an hour sounds like a very very high 586 00:34:25,520 --> 00:34:27,040 Speaker 2: minimum wage. I don't know if you can call that 587 00:34:27,120 --> 00:34:30,160 Speaker 2: a minimum wage when you're getting to thirty dollars an hour. 588 00:34:30,200 --> 00:34:33,080 Speaker 2: But you know, I never understand about these workers and 589 00:34:33,120 --> 00:34:35,440 Speaker 2: they don't want to strike for this stuff, or you know, 590 00:34:35,520 --> 00:34:39,680 Speaker 2: they they have their their unions bribe the city council 591 00:34:40,360 --> 00:34:42,920 Speaker 2: to pass these sort of things. It's like, why don't 592 00:34:42,920 --> 00:34:46,760 Speaker 2: you just go get a better job in a different industry. 593 00:34:47,760 --> 00:34:52,399 Speaker 2: Why are you mandating the government mandating us to use 594 00:34:52,440 --> 00:34:57,719 Speaker 2: our to I don't get it. There's only so much 595 00:34:57,760 --> 00:34:59,719 Speaker 2: people are going to pay for a cheeseburger at a 596 00:34:59,760 --> 00:35:02,279 Speaker 2: fast food restaurant. There's only so much money people are 597 00:35:02,280 --> 00:35:04,840 Speaker 2: going to pay for a hotel room. There's only so 598 00:35:04,880 --> 00:35:07,560 Speaker 2: much money people are going to pay in taxes. Eventually, 599 00:35:07,640 --> 00:35:10,600 Speaker 2: you hit a wall and you'll get a response. And 600 00:35:10,680 --> 00:35:14,520 Speaker 2: the response in business is, you know what, We're gonna 601 00:35:14,520 --> 00:35:16,320 Speaker 2: have to close down because we can't make a profit, 602 00:35:17,280 --> 00:35:19,120 Speaker 2: or we're going to fire you and replace you with 603 00:35:19,160 --> 00:35:21,600 Speaker 2: a robot, or replace you with a screen. Or my 604 00:35:21,680 --> 00:35:25,880 Speaker 2: favorite is, and this is going on in New York City. 605 00:35:26,640 --> 00:35:28,799 Speaker 2: You go to a fast food joint and you get 606 00:35:28,800 --> 00:35:33,279 Speaker 2: a screen and it has a human in the little 607 00:35:33,360 --> 00:35:36,400 Speaker 2: video picture in front of you. But that person's in 608 00:35:36,440 --> 00:35:41,080 Speaker 2: the Philippines. Seriously, seems like everybody in the Philippines has 609 00:35:41,120 --> 00:35:43,400 Speaker 2: a job. There was a hotel that did that, remember 610 00:35:43,719 --> 00:35:44,920 Speaker 2: with the front desk workers. 611 00:35:45,120 --> 00:35:47,439 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's right, that's right. 612 00:35:48,360 --> 00:35:51,640 Speaker 2: But I saw the video of the lady taking the 613 00:35:51,760 --> 00:35:53,920 Speaker 2: order at some fast food joint in New York City, 614 00:35:55,239 --> 00:35:59,520 Speaker 2: and you know then it's you know, you swipe your 615 00:35:59,520 --> 00:36:01,440 Speaker 2: credit card, it spits out a receipt and then you 616 00:36:01,520 --> 00:36:03,879 Speaker 2: wait for a human in the kitchen to carry it out. 617 00:36:04,680 --> 00:36:07,160 Speaker 2: And that guy's days are number two. There's no reason 618 00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:09,239 Speaker 2: you can't have a little mini robot come out with 619 00:36:09,280 --> 00:36:14,640 Speaker 2: the well, like those Coco those Coco carts that go 620 00:36:14,680 --> 00:36:17,520 Speaker 2: around Santa Monica. Have you ever seen them? You don't 621 00:36:17,560 --> 00:36:19,719 Speaker 2: need people for this before which means all these people 622 00:36:19,760 --> 00:36:21,120 Speaker 2: are just going to be out of work. There's not 623 00:36:21,160 --> 00:36:24,719 Speaker 2: going to be minimum wage jobs to get, so this 624 00:36:24,920 --> 00:36:26,520 Speaker 2: is a suicide mission. 625 00:36:26,800 --> 00:36:30,480 Speaker 1: I don't understand why the unions push this, because eventually. 626 00:36:30,480 --> 00:36:32,919 Speaker 2: You have twenty thousand people in the restaurant industry now 627 00:36:32,960 --> 00:36:38,239 Speaker 2: who aren't working, so they're not paying dues anymore. I 628 00:36:39,320 --> 00:36:43,240 Speaker 2: don't get the economics of it. I get the bribery 629 00:36:43,280 --> 00:36:51,279 Speaker 2: aspect of it. Anyway, the thirty dollars minimum wage is 630 00:36:51,320 --> 00:36:53,480 Speaker 2: on hold, or it's going to be phased in into 631 00:36:53,480 --> 00:36:58,160 Speaker 2: the future because the business industry is saying, you know, 632 00:36:58,160 --> 00:37:01,080 Speaker 2: we'll put this on the ballot and get this business 633 00:37:01,120 --> 00:37:10,200 Speaker 2: tax repealed. And when they get the money, they obviously 634 00:37:10,239 --> 00:37:13,480 Speaker 2: didn't spend it on the fire department. They're not spending 635 00:37:13,480 --> 00:37:17,680 Speaker 2: it on the police. We're probably two thousand police short 636 00:37:18,040 --> 00:37:20,319 Speaker 2: of what we need in LA. We only have half 637 00:37:20,360 --> 00:37:25,040 Speaker 2: a fire department. As we all know. It's astonishing how 638 00:37:25,040 --> 00:37:28,600 Speaker 2: the money just evaporates and disappears, and they fight like 639 00:37:28,640 --> 00:37:30,960 Speaker 2: hell to hold on the money because all these people 640 00:37:31,360 --> 00:37:35,279 Speaker 2: are corrupt to their bones. This is all corruption, and 641 00:37:35,320 --> 00:37:39,800 Speaker 2: this is all theft, and I don't know when finally, 642 00:37:40,080 --> 00:37:41,960 Speaker 2: I guess most people don't even know what's going on. 643 00:37:42,920 --> 00:37:46,040 Speaker 2: It's just busy scrolling, all right. We got the Chargers 644 00:37:46,200 --> 00:37:50,200 Speaker 2: and the Eagles coming up. Pregame show and then the 645 00:37:50,239 --> 00:37:54,319 Speaker 2: game in about an hour, and Conway will be back tomorrow. 646 00:37:54,800 --> 00:37:57,360 Speaker 2: I'll be back tomorrow one o'clock. Michael Kerzner has the 647 00:37:57,400 --> 00:37:59,640 Speaker 2: news live in the KFI twenty four hour News Center. Hey, 648 00:38:00,000 --> 00:38:02,440 Speaker 2: you've been listening to the John Cobalt Show podcast. You 649 00:38:02,480 --> 00:38:05,040 Speaker 2: can always hear the show live on KFI AM six 650 00:38:05,120 --> 00:38:07,880 Speaker 2: forty from one to four pm every Monday through Friday, 651 00:38:07,880 --> 00:38:11,160 Speaker 2: and of course, anytime on demand on the iHeartRadio app