1 00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:02,040 Speaker 1: Can't I am six forty. 2 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:05,560 Speaker 2: You're listening to the John Cobelt Podcast on the iHeartRadio app. 3 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:08,959 Speaker 2: We are on every day from one until four and 4 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:12,159 Speaker 2: then after four o'clock John Cobelt Show on demand on 5 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:13,320 Speaker 2: the iHeart app. 6 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 1: We were just. 7 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 2: Talking about not believing any public officials or corporate spokespeople 8 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 2: or celebrities, that anybody who's normally in the public eye 9 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 2: because they often lie. And we are also just talking 10 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:33,159 Speaker 2: about how southern California Edison is under suspicion that one 11 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 2: of their transmission wires may have started the fire in 12 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 2: Alta Dina, the Eaton fire, and Edison is denying responsibility 13 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:48,880 Speaker 2: for it. Now some people have produced a video and 14 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:52,160 Speaker 2: they've gotten some attorneys to distribute the video and make 15 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 2: the video public. Edison is still denying it, claiming that, hey, 16 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 2: it might be that homeless encampment over there. In this 17 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 2: story come out from the Los Angeles Times. 18 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 1: This morning. You remember the Creek Fire. 19 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:10,800 Speaker 2: It was one of the lesser fires in twenty seventeen 20 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 2: in the Angelus National Forest. You may not, but the 21 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:23,200 Speaker 2: Creek fire people thought was started by electrical wires. Witnesses 22 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 2: had said they saw a line snap on a high 23 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 2: voltage transmission tower in Little Tohunga Canyon, and so that's 24 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 2: where investigators went. Then the federal government got involved, and 25 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 2: at first everybody thought, well, probably was the LADWP. The 26 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:54,920 Speaker 2: initial investigation was done by the Fire Service and they 27 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 2: thought that the LAWP transmission lines were the source of 28 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 2: the fire. That was released publicly in twenty twenty. Insurance 29 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:14,120 Speaker 2: companies and fire victims suing LEDWP. They asked Edison for 30 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 2: some data because there was another distribution line nearby that 31 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 2: belonged to Edison. Anyway, there was a whole lot of 32 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 2: back and forth, and now it turns out Edison did 33 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 2: cause the Creek fire, and the FEDS are saying that 34 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 2: Edison suppressed evidence all these years. For eight years, they 35 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:40,520 Speaker 2: were willing to let the DWP be blamed for the 36 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:46,800 Speaker 2: fire when they knew that they had proof that it 37 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:49,959 Speaker 2: was their own transmission lines that led to the fire. 38 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:59,639 Speaker 2: What happened was is the insurance companies and fire victims 39 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:05,720 Speaker 2: were doing LADWP, they wanted Edison for some data, and 40 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:10,080 Speaker 2: then curiously, these victims and insurance companies never heard back 41 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:15,640 Speaker 2: from Edison. So Edison was then hit with a subpoena again, 42 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 2: asking for the data, and Edison still wouldn't provide the data. 43 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:21,960 Speaker 1: Now everybody's really. 44 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 2: Suspicious because again they were blaming LADWP. That's what even 45 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:32,519 Speaker 2: the federal government thought. They just needed Edison to provide 46 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 2: some data on their transmission lines, and Edison stonewalled them, 47 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 2: and up until December of twenty twenty, they wouldn't release 48 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 2: any information. And then a day before the statute of 49 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 2: limitations expired, Edison handed over the fault data that clearly 50 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:02,440 Speaker 2: documents several massive elevated events on the Lopez Circuit at 51 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 2: the exact time that the Greek fire ignited. And it 52 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:10,480 Speaker 2: turns out as Edison had the fault data as early 53 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:17,359 Speaker 2: as twenty eighteen, Edison made a deliberate decision at the 54 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 2: earliest stages of its investigation to suppress the evidence and 55 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 2: the play pin the blame on LADWP. Officially, the official 56 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 2: cause of the fire was not changed until twenty twenty four. 57 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 2: So Edison successfully stalled for seven years and almost got 58 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 2: away with it. So you're talking about executives who intentionally 59 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:44,839 Speaker 2: lied to the public. 60 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 1: They allied to. 61 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 2: Plaintiffs attorneys, and we're willing to have LADWP shoulder the 62 00:04:54,760 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 2: entire blame and the cost. So that's why they're going 63 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 2: to be under great suspicion because this Altadena fire was far, far, 64 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 2: far bigger than the Creek fire. Creek Fire is nothing 65 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 2: compared to this Altadena fire. I mean, you had what's 66 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 2: about seventeen deaths, I think, and you've got thousands and 67 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 2: thousands of homes that have burned, and Edison is running 68 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 2: around now trying to blame a homeless encampment that was 69 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 2: nine hundred yards away. 70 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 1: These people are shameless. What is it do they only hire? 71 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 2: They hire executives at these energy companies who are completely soulless, 72 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 2: were complete sociopaths. Because I remember when when PG and 73 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:47,279 Speaker 2: ems starting fires in northern California. Eventually the executives were 74 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:49,800 Speaker 2: forced out, but they all ran off with multi million 75 00:05:49,839 --> 00:05:53,279 Speaker 2: dollar golden parachutes on their way out the door. This 76 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:59,479 Speaker 2: was after Paradise got destroyed. And these are they all 77 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:01,960 Speaker 2: make million dollars in the end, and all along they'll 78 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:03,599 Speaker 2: tell you that they don't have the money to put 79 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 2: transmission lines underground, and they get sued, they have judgments 80 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 2: against them for billions of dollars. They can't pay the judgments. 81 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 2: They donate money to cranks like Gavin Newsom, and he 82 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 2: engineers legislation for the taxpayers to bail out the utilities. 83 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 2: So PG and E are so cal Edison will never 84 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 2: really be on the hook. Certainly their executives won't be 85 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:38,880 Speaker 2: at the most executives might have to resign, but again 86 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:43,360 Speaker 2: they resigned with millions of dollars. It's it's a terrible 87 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 2: vicious cycle. Can't get them to take responsibility. The out 88 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:50,160 Speaker 2: and out lie, the out and out suppress evidence. They 89 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:53,880 Speaker 2: don't put the transmission lines underground, and then the whole 90 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:56,559 Speaker 2: circle starts again in a few years when another fire 91 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:59,839 Speaker 2: breaks out and the same thing they lie about the cause, 92 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:05,120 Speaker 2: they suppress evidence, they proves that there it's their responsibility. 93 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 2: Billions of dollars are are are are leveled against them 94 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 2: in claims and the taxpayers have to bail them out. 95 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 1: I mean, something's got to change there. 96 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 3: I don't. 97 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 2: I don't think most people even track all this stuff. 98 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 2: It's complicated just to read. It's complicated to try to explain. 99 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:30,520 Speaker 2: But we are getting screwed and looted. They not only 100 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 2: burn our towns down, then they lie about it, cover 101 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 2: it up. They individually make a lot of money as 102 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 2: they run for the hills and they never get around 103 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:49,680 Speaker 2: to burying the transmission lines. That's just how sick do 104 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 2: you have to be to be a uh energy executive, 105 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:55,560 Speaker 2: a utility executive. 106 00:07:57,480 --> 00:07:57,760 Speaker 1: Man? 107 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:05,440 Speaker 2: If you want, if you want, what sociopathic behaviors about? 108 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:09,440 Speaker 2: People who don't have a conscience, who have no remorse, 109 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:14,200 Speaker 2: who have no feeling for the consequences of their actions. 110 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 2: This is classic here you look to electric utility executives 111 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 2: PG and E, SoCal Edison, d w P. Seems they 112 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 2: all hire the same men and women. All right, more 113 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 2: coming up. 114 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 4: You're listening to John Cobelt on demand from KFI AM 115 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 4: six forty. 116 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:37,960 Speaker 2: We're gonna have a congressman now, a congressman Vince Fong 117 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:42,120 Speaker 2: on Republican Next Hour. He represents the Bakersfield area and 118 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 2: he met with Trump, what he visited the wildfire victims, 119 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:51,800 Speaker 2: and he's going to explain what Trump's wildfire relief plan 120 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:54,319 Speaker 2: is going to look like for people here in southern California. 121 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:57,720 Speaker 2: Vince Fong coming on the show just after Devers two thirty. 122 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:02,720 Speaker 2: News Boy. Theme of the show has been people who 123 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 2: lie in public. Do you remember when a Venezuelan gang 124 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 2: named Trend Deuragua had taken over a condo complex in Aurora, Colorado, 125 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:18,800 Speaker 2: and other people who lived in the complex were basically 126 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:21,840 Speaker 2: held hostage by this group. And the group was very 127 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:24,360 Speaker 2: violent and they were armed, and they would barge into 128 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:29,240 Speaker 2: people's condos and to demand money, like for protection. They 129 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:32,319 Speaker 2: would extort money for one reason or another. And some 130 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:35,000 Speaker 2: of this was on video, and it was a national sensation. 131 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 2: It was a couple of months before the election, and 132 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:41,160 Speaker 2: a lot of local officials and even local law enforcement 133 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:43,800 Speaker 2: were saying, no, no, this is wildly exaggerated. 134 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 1: Here, that is completely exaggerated. 135 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:48,240 Speaker 2: No, No, there's just a couple of guys, you know, 136 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:49,000 Speaker 2: we can handle it. 137 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 1: In fact, I think JD. 138 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:53,920 Speaker 2: Van's got in an argument with one of the TV 139 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:57,319 Speaker 2: anchors over this issue with I think it was Marsha 140 00:09:57,400 --> 00:10:02,640 Speaker 2: Radits from ABC. She was downplaying the seriousness of this. Well, 141 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 2: as we have found out, No, this was real. It 142 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:11,040 Speaker 2: was worse than you imagined because in the last over 143 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:16,680 Speaker 2: the weekend, federal agents rounded up fifty five zero fifty 144 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:22,360 Speaker 2: Trend deer Ragua members at their own nightclub just outside 145 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:27,640 Speaker 2: of Denver. They had they had created their own their 146 00:10:27,679 --> 00:10:33,280 Speaker 2: own disco and they arrested fifty of them. It was 147 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:37,960 Speaker 2: an invitation only party in Adams County, just outside the 148 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 2: Denver city limits, and the Drug Enforcement Agency bagged lots 149 00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:52,160 Speaker 2: of cash, weapons, guns, and drugs, including a lot of tussy. 150 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:54,520 Speaker 1: You know what tusy is? 151 00:10:54,559 --> 00:10:55,240 Speaker 5: What is tussy? 152 00:10:55,559 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 2: Tussy is pink cocaine. It is very popular there now. Fancy, Yeah, 153 00:11:02,559 --> 00:11:05,440 Speaker 2: that's that's what the rich people store. You show up 154 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:06,800 Speaker 2: with a party with old white. 155 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:08,400 Speaker 5: Cocaine, like you get kicked out. 156 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:11,360 Speaker 1: Yeah. No, think cocaine is where it's at. I have 157 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: no idea how it's any different. 158 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:15,319 Speaker 5: Yeah, is it? 159 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:17,040 Speaker 1: I've never I've never had any cocaine. 160 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:21,160 Speaker 6: Well, oh okay, I haven't either. Is it a die? 161 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 6: I mean this is going to sound very ignorant, but 162 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:24,960 Speaker 6: do you diet? 163 00:11:25,040 --> 00:11:25,319 Speaker 1: Diet? 164 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:25,720 Speaker 2: Oh? 165 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 1: They diet? Yeah. I'm looking at the FDA website right now. Okay, 166 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:30,520 Speaker 1: I was going to ask you where a website? Excuse 167 00:11:30,559 --> 00:11:31,360 Speaker 1: where you get work? 168 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:32,360 Speaker 2: Do you know? 169 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:35,280 Speaker 1: Eric, I'm looking at the website. Okay, all right, that's 170 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 1: what they say. 171 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:40,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, so they there's video there showing a white bus 172 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:44,440 Speaker 2: full of the busted gang members being escorted on the 173 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 2: snowy roads by law enforcement vehicles. These are all legal aliens, 174 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:55,440 Speaker 2: all from Venezuela most likely, and they got rounded up 175 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:58,040 Speaker 2: just like that. And these guys were working in plain 176 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:03,960 Speaker 2: sight all these months in a world and everybody, all 177 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 2: the official people in public were denying its existence. 178 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:11,920 Speaker 5: Were they afraid they you don't want? 179 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:16,240 Speaker 2: I have a big question, and I bring this up frequently, 180 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:21,520 Speaker 2: but I noticed nobody covers this story. We have allowed 181 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:25,079 Speaker 2: the drug cartels to run a book, right, and the 182 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:29,280 Speaker 2: drug cartels are making billions of dollars smuggling people and drugs. 183 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:35,120 Speaker 2: They're killing conservative estimates, seventy thousand Americans a year just 184 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:39,240 Speaker 2: with FENL VENTANL, probably one hundred thousand or more when 185 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:44,920 Speaker 2: you calculate all the drugs. So it's a huge enemy 186 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:51,719 Speaker 2: presence within our country, within our cities, big distribution networks. Obviously, 187 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:54,160 Speaker 2: we're well aware that it exists, and it's existed for 188 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:54,920 Speaker 2: many years. 189 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:57,560 Speaker 5: I mean, do you want to go up against well 190 00:12:57,840 --> 00:12:58,800 Speaker 5: a drug cartel? 191 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:01,680 Speaker 2: This is one of the things I'm most interested to 192 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:04,079 Speaker 2: see if Trump follows through. Is he really going to 193 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:07,520 Speaker 2: send the military, because it's only a military could handle this. 194 00:13:07,679 --> 00:13:10,960 Speaker 2: These guys are extremely well armed with all kinds of 195 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 2: semi automatic and automatic weapons. They're ruthless, they're psychotic. There's 196 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:19,439 Speaker 2: an insane amount of money, by the billions at stake here. 197 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:24,320 Speaker 2: They are more powerful than most countries militaries. They have 198 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:29,640 Speaker 2: an economy by themselves larger than many nations. So are 199 00:13:29,640 --> 00:13:33,200 Speaker 2: we going to go after them? And why haven't we? 200 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:36,120 Speaker 2: I wonder if there's been a lot of people in 201 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:39,520 Speaker 2: the US government, California government who've gotten. 202 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:39,960 Speaker 1: A cut all. 203 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:44,760 Speaker 2: Mean, I mean, they own much of the Mexico legislature. 204 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:50,840 Speaker 2: They've always they've owned many of the presidents. So how 205 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:53,679 Speaker 2: many of our people have been owned by the Mexican 206 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:59,640 Speaker 2: drug cartels because down there, any politician that runs for 207 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:05,120 Speaker 2: office gets killed. I mean they've shot and killed dozens 208 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:08,360 Speaker 2: of politicians and journalists too. Like you can't do a 209 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:11,719 Speaker 2: special series on the evils of I would never you know. 210 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:18,200 Speaker 6: That's my edit button is in full force when it 211 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 6: comes to the cartels. 212 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:23,200 Speaker 2: It's not worth one of those golden mics. No, definitely, 213 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 2: not right. So they run the country. I always say, 214 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:30,320 Speaker 2: the guy that owns the guns sets the rules. So 215 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:33,480 Speaker 2: in Mexico it doesn't matter who the president is. And 216 00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:36,400 Speaker 2: it kind of annoys me that everyone pretends the president 217 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:40,760 Speaker 2: there matters. It's the guys who run the drug cartels, 218 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:47,720 Speaker 2: and that's the economy. They employ tens of thousands, hundreds 219 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 2: of thousands of people. I mean, Mexico doesn't exist without 220 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:55,160 Speaker 2: its drug economy. So Trump's making a lot of noise 221 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:57,520 Speaker 2: that he's going to send the military down there, the 222 00:14:57,520 --> 00:14:59,880 Speaker 2: border patrol, They're going to bust up the drug card 223 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:04,200 Speaker 2: this and that, which I'm rooting for, but it's hard 224 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:05,680 Speaker 2: to believe that he's going to go through with it. 225 00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:07,160 Speaker 1: Everyone else is terrified. 226 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:09,000 Speaker 5: Yeah, why isn't he terrified? 227 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean he's good at just blustering right. 228 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:15,400 Speaker 6: Well, of course, lots of people are. But when it 229 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:18,240 Speaker 6: comes down to actually doing it, hey, we'll see. Hey, 230 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:21,240 Speaker 6: if he does, we get rid of these people, that 231 00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:22,239 Speaker 6: would be amazing. 232 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:25,480 Speaker 2: But I've wondered if the last few presidents and their 233 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 2: administrations have been compromised in some way. 234 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 1: Or is it just fear. 235 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:30,600 Speaker 5: I think probably both. 236 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:39,040 Speaker 2: I mean, they have they continue to rounding up people 237 00:15:39,160 --> 00:15:41,560 Speaker 2: all over the country. Oh, they did some raids here 238 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:46,400 Speaker 2: in Los Angeles, but they've been very muted on details, 239 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 2: so I don't know the size of the operation. But 240 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 2: I've seen several stories with like vague references to raids 241 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:54,280 Speaker 2: done here in the LA area. 242 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:58,600 Speaker 5: Hang on, I actually just saw a story. 243 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:00,000 Speaker 1: I got one here. 244 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:02,440 Speaker 2: You're an MS thirteen gang member from l Salvador who 245 00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:06,520 Speaker 2: was wanted for aggravated homicide, taken into custody by ICE 246 00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 2: Los Angeles on January twenty fourth. 247 00:16:08,880 --> 00:16:10,600 Speaker 5: Okay, that's probably the one that I had. 248 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:14,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, Ice Los Angeles also took in an unnamed Mexican 249 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 2: man wanted for murder. But they don't they don't. They 250 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:26,120 Speaker 2: don't have the names, they don't have the details. I 251 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 2: got a photo of this guy, a guy arrested in 252 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:33,640 Speaker 2: Los Angeles January twenty fourth. I could see his photo, 253 00:16:33,680 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 2: but they don't have his name attached to any of these. 254 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 1: Any of these graphics. 255 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:43,520 Speaker 2: But you know, again, our existing government, run by Karen 256 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:48,480 Speaker 2: Bass and Gavin Newsom, by law, was protecting this guy, 257 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:52,960 Speaker 2: this psychotic bastard who's staring out from his mugshot. 258 00:16:53,280 --> 00:16:58,080 Speaker 1: He was protected. Remember when you hear Karen. 259 00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 2: Bass say the reason you can't go at your home 260 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:03,200 Speaker 2: in the Palisades is she wants to make sure you're safe. 261 00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:07,840 Speaker 2: She wants you to be safe from inhaling your rubble 262 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:11,640 Speaker 2: but as far as you know, the crazy guy from 263 00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:16,360 Speaker 2: Mexico or El Salvador who's wanted for aggravated murder, well, 264 00:17:16,920 --> 00:17:18,639 Speaker 2: she doesn't want you to be that safe. 265 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:21,560 Speaker 5: There's a limit, John, there's what. 266 00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:24,560 Speaker 2: Is aggravated murder? It seems like murder, all right, the 267 00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:28,120 Speaker 2: guy's dead. What's aggravated murder? You kick him around after 268 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:30,639 Speaker 2: he's dead. Got more coming up. 269 00:17:31,640 --> 00:17:36,520 Speaker 4: You're listening to John Cobelts on demand from KFI A sixty. 270 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:40,040 Speaker 2: We're on every day from one until four after four o'clock. 271 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:43,160 Speaker 2: John Cobelt's show on demand on the iHeart app and 272 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 2: you can follow us at John Cobelt Radio on social media. 273 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:50,440 Speaker 2: We are going to talk now to Vince Fong, his 274 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:57,120 Speaker 2: Republican congressman from Bakersfield, formerly in the Senate, and he 275 00:17:57,640 --> 00:18:00,879 Speaker 2: won an election recently, and he was meeting with Trump 276 00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:04,359 Speaker 2: when he visited the wildfire victims and was sitting at 277 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:07,359 Speaker 2: that roundtable about when they were discussing how to get 278 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:09,720 Speaker 2: people back in their homes. And he's going to talk 279 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:13,080 Speaker 2: about Trump's response to all this and what people in 280 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:16,440 Speaker 2: southern California who are affected by the fires can look 281 00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 2: forward to from the federal government. 282 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:19,119 Speaker 1: Vince, How are you. 283 00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:21,760 Speaker 3: I'm doing well, How are you? 284 00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:22,720 Speaker 1: I'm all right? 285 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:29,359 Speaker 2: Tell me you've been working with Trump, talking with him 286 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:33,480 Speaker 2: regarding the fire and the aftermath here, What can you 287 00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:34,040 Speaker 2: tell people? 288 00:18:34,119 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 1: What do you know? 289 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:40,760 Speaker 3: Well? I mean, I think Trump's visit to California five 290 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:44,679 Speaker 3: days after he was worn in as president, highlights his 291 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:49,480 Speaker 3: commitment to California and to addressing the needs of our state. 292 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:54,120 Speaker 3: I mean, certainly, I've had multiple conversations with him on Friday. 293 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:58,560 Speaker 3: It wasn't the first conversation that we've had about wildfire prevention, 294 00:18:59,560 --> 00:19:04,639 Speaker 3: helping Los Angeles, dealing with our water crisis in our state. 295 00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 1: So you know, the President is committed. 296 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 3: He signed an executive order on that night to fast 297 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:15,240 Speaker 3: track every single federal agency that's involved, to streamline the 298 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:18,200 Speaker 3: process to get the recovery process going, whether whether it's 299 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:24,000 Speaker 3: removing debris, whether it's allowing for more assistance for federal agencies. 300 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:27,240 Speaker 3: I mean, this is an amazing contrast that the federal 301 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:30,679 Speaker 3: government is moving faster than the state of California and 302 00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:32,200 Speaker 3: the local city jurisdictions. 303 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:35,359 Speaker 2: Hey, you were sitting next to Karen Bass I understand, 304 00:19:36,119 --> 00:19:37,879 Speaker 2: and there there was there was kind a bit of 305 00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:41,119 Speaker 2: a heated exchange there. I mean, just describe what you 306 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 2: saw and heard there, because it's it's clear that Trump 307 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:49,880 Speaker 2: wasn't putting up with any rhetoric about delays and waiting. 308 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:54,159 Speaker 3: Well, yeah, I mean President Trump was was channeling the 309 00:19:54,240 --> 00:19:57,600 Speaker 3: emotion and the frustration that he had seen all day. 310 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:00,560 Speaker 3: I mean, he traveled, he started that morning going to 311 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:05,400 Speaker 3: North Carolina seeing uh the inability of FEMA to act 312 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:10,800 Speaker 3: adequately helping the states affected by the hurricanes that happened 313 00:20:10,880 --> 00:20:13,600 Speaker 3: last year. And then he's traveling to Los Angeles and 314 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:18,000 Speaker 3: he's meeting with with neighbors and residents uh that were 315 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:21,119 Speaker 3: living around that fire station who had not been able 316 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:25,760 Speaker 3: to see their homes uh since the fire up. You know, 317 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:29,840 Speaker 3: those fires broke out, And so I think the President 318 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:32,080 Speaker 3: was saying, you know, we we have to we have 319 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:33,840 Speaker 3: to meet this moment. We have to act with a 320 00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:37,919 Speaker 3: sense of urgency. There is no reason why these families 321 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:42,600 Speaker 3: that are sitting uh with us, who are pleading with 322 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:45,520 Speaker 3: with the mayor and with the county and with the 323 00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:48,600 Speaker 3: President United States and all of us, to say, why 324 00:20:48,680 --> 00:20:51,919 Speaker 3: are we not allowed to see our homes to begin 325 00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:55,240 Speaker 3: the effort uh to remove the debris, to to to 326 00:20:55,320 --> 00:20:58,200 Speaker 3: begin to clean up process and to and to begin 327 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:02,000 Speaker 3: you know, the process of of of of of of 328 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:05,280 Speaker 3: planning uh, their life again. I mean that that's and 329 00:21:05,320 --> 00:21:07,720 Speaker 3: the back and forth was was that it was. It 330 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 3: was definitely a tense situation because President Trump's baker, I 331 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:14,639 Speaker 3: would let you go in tonight and and turning to 332 00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:18,359 Speaker 3: the mayor, you know she and she I think she 333 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:20,600 Speaker 3: was hemming and hawing about you know what it's going 334 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:23,720 Speaker 3: to be, you know, a week like the neighbors had 335 00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:29,120 Speaker 3: heard eighteen months and I and I'm living through this myself. 336 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:32,359 Speaker 3: I mean, look Old California as the wildfire wildfire prone area. 337 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:35,880 Speaker 3: You know, my community has been devastated for the for 338 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:40,520 Speaker 3: for decades with caststarvic wildfires. I'm I'm I was in 339 00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:43,960 Speaker 3: a meeting with FEMA a week ago trying to get 340 00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:48,240 Speaker 3: reimbursements for my county for the flooding that happened two 341 00:21:48,280 --> 00:21:52,880 Speaker 3: years ago that wiped out bridges right the roads. Yeah, 342 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:57,840 Speaker 3: they were I'm still fighting FEMA for the reimbursements, uh, 343 00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:02,240 Speaker 3: for these critical infrastructure projects that happened two years ago. 344 00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:05,680 Speaker 2: Can I I know you've been in the federal government 345 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:08,040 Speaker 2: for a very short time, right, just a few months. 346 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:12,199 Speaker 2: Sometime last year you moved up to Congress, but you 347 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:16,520 Speaker 2: have enough experience in Sacramento. What is wrong with these agencies? 348 00:22:17,240 --> 00:22:23,120 Speaker 2: Why does everything take months in years, especially when people 349 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:26,400 Speaker 2: are in extreme distress? What those what do all these 350 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:29,119 Speaker 2: people do every day in their offices? 351 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:33,920 Speaker 3: They're so focused. I mean, I'll say this as someone who's. 352 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:36,200 Speaker 1: Who's been involved for a while. 353 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:40,760 Speaker 3: And I'm they're so there's so focused on checklists and 354 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:45,120 Speaker 3: processes that they can't understand that the when the process 355 00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:48,760 Speaker 3: doesn't work, it has to change. But they're not creative 356 00:22:48,880 --> 00:22:51,560 Speaker 3: enough to change the process. They just stick to whatever 357 00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:54,040 Speaker 3: has been done because it's always been done that way. 358 00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:57,880 Speaker 3: And that's why President Trump is so different. He's he's 359 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:00,480 Speaker 3: willing to think differently. He wants to be just eruptive 360 00:23:01,119 --> 00:23:04,760 Speaker 3: because I mean he's he's seeing this devastation and he's 361 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:07,040 Speaker 3: a builder. He's said, why does it take so long? 362 00:23:07,119 --> 00:23:09,840 Speaker 3: I mean you have I mean, you've got private companies 363 00:23:09,920 --> 00:23:12,800 Speaker 3: right now. I've talked to a number of folks in 364 00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:16,399 Speaker 3: my community that's willing to travel to La to go 365 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:20,000 Speaker 3: to Pacific Policies, to go to Alcadina. We're we're approved 366 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:23,919 Speaker 3: and certified by the City of California by the federal government. 367 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:26,959 Speaker 2: Let us go in and do what what kind of 368 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:28,960 Speaker 2: what kind of work do these companies? 369 00:23:29,359 --> 00:23:33,760 Speaker 3: They removed the soil, they removed of the debris. They'll 370 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:39,320 Speaker 3: remove all the all the the the toxic uh uh 371 00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:42,840 Speaker 3: you know, potentially toxic uh uh uh you know soils 372 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:45,240 Speaker 3: that are there. I mean, they're certified to do that. 373 00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:48,520 Speaker 3: But you know, there's there's everyone's so rigid that I think, oh, well, 374 00:23:48,560 --> 00:23:50,680 Speaker 3: I'm going to allow this one company or two companies, 375 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:54,320 Speaker 3: Send ten companies, send twenty companies. If there's a company 376 00:23:54,320 --> 00:23:56,359 Speaker 3: in Texas, if there's a company in Colorado, there's a 377 00:23:56,359 --> 00:23:59,800 Speaker 3: company in Oregon, let's let's approve them all to come 378 00:23:59,840 --> 00:24:03,399 Speaker 3: in l a well and partner with these families and 379 00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:06,000 Speaker 3: this let's let's let's remove the soils. 380 00:24:06,320 --> 00:24:09,800 Speaker 2: I was I was actually talking about this, uh earlier today, 381 00:24:10,080 --> 00:24:13,119 Speaker 2: is that I've got to think that every decent sized 382 00:24:13,160 --> 00:24:16,920 Speaker 2: company in America is looking at the Palisades and Alta 383 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:22,040 Speaker 2: Dina as a huge opportunity to put it crashly, to 384 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:23,800 Speaker 2: make a lot of money here. I mean, there's a 385 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:26,160 Speaker 2: lot of business to be had, and they're ready to come. 386 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:28,480 Speaker 2: They're ready to put their equipment on trucks and and 387 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:31,159 Speaker 2: roll in and do the work. And it's going to 388 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:34,840 Speaker 2: be stemied for months by by paperwork and approvals and 389 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:37,280 Speaker 2: this and that. But they're out there and they're ready 390 00:24:37,280 --> 00:24:38,920 Speaker 2: to go, and they want to make the money. 391 00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:39,919 Speaker 1: That's their incentive. 392 00:24:41,160 --> 00:24:43,520 Speaker 3: Well, that's what and that's what these families are telling us. 393 00:24:43,760 --> 00:24:48,520 Speaker 3: They're willing to to call whatever company to go themselves 394 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:52,439 Speaker 3: and and to and to find and to and to 395 00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:54,320 Speaker 3: begin the process of clean up. I mean, these are 396 00:24:54,320 --> 00:24:57,680 Speaker 3: heart this is a heartbreaking to to to hear these words. 397 00:24:58,040 --> 00:25:00,880 Speaker 3: My I have a staff member who's who's childhood home 398 00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:05,400 Speaker 3: was destroyed. His house was two blocks three blocks away. 399 00:25:05,400 --> 00:25:08,000 Speaker 3: I walked to it those four minutes, four minute walks 400 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:10,880 Speaker 3: from the fire station. He asked me, if you were 401 00:25:11,040 --> 00:25:15,320 Speaker 3: able to go onto the property, could you find the 402 00:25:15,359 --> 00:25:19,360 Speaker 3: bullet from the twenty one gun salute at my grandfather's funeral? 403 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:20,000 Speaker 1: Oh? 404 00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:23,280 Speaker 3: Man, I mean, these are the things that are like 405 00:25:23,320 --> 00:25:28,800 Speaker 3: we don't think about now. There that diamond rings from 406 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:32,320 Speaker 3: my grandmother, you know, whatever it is. I mean, these 407 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:35,720 Speaker 3: are the memories and the and the things that these 408 00:25:35,840 --> 00:25:38,159 Speaker 3: families are trying to salvage. 409 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:38,280 Speaker 1: And get back. 410 00:25:38,359 --> 00:25:40,159 Speaker 3: All Right, and they can't go and they can't go 411 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:40,720 Speaker 3: back to the home. 412 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:43,399 Speaker 2: So here's the tension that I'm sure you felt. I 413 00:25:43,440 --> 00:25:46,400 Speaker 2: saw at the meeting, the whole word saw. Karen Bass 414 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:49,440 Speaker 2: is of the bureaucracy. She's a creature of it, right. 415 00:25:49,960 --> 00:25:53,680 Speaker 2: She doesn't have any executive experience. Trump is all about 416 00:25:53,720 --> 00:25:56,760 Speaker 2: making quick decisions and saying, hey, let's get this done tonight. 417 00:25:57,280 --> 00:26:00,520 Speaker 2: Trump's in Washington, He's got a thousand things his play. 418 00:26:01,920 --> 00:26:04,240 Speaker 2: Karen Vass is the one actually running everything here, for 419 00:26:04,359 --> 00:26:05,879 Speaker 2: better or for worse, mostly worse. 420 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:07,520 Speaker 1: How how do. 421 00:26:07,600 --> 00:26:11,240 Speaker 2: You get somebody who has spent her whole life as 422 00:26:11,280 --> 00:26:16,320 Speaker 2: one of these dodgy bureaucrats to look at this creatively 423 00:26:16,480 --> 00:26:20,200 Speaker 2: and say, fine, let's let everybody do what they need 424 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:21,399 Speaker 2: to do and do it quickly. 425 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:23,840 Speaker 1: How do you get through a mindset like that? 426 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:27,560 Speaker 3: Well? I think I think President Trump is is that example. 427 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:31,520 Speaker 3: I mean, look, he's so engaged, he's hands on, I 428 00:26:31,600 --> 00:26:34,280 Speaker 3: mean he's but he's also surrounding himhimself with people that 429 00:26:34,359 --> 00:26:37,080 Speaker 3: think differently. I mean, he's got Elon, he's got other 430 00:26:37,119 --> 00:26:40,200 Speaker 3: people that are like, hey, what's the question that President 431 00:26:40,240 --> 00:26:43,399 Speaker 3: Trump always ask is what can can we make it better? 432 00:26:43,760 --> 00:26:45,639 Speaker 3: Can we make the process more efficient? Can we make 433 00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:47,879 Speaker 3: the can we streamline the process? What are the troke points? 434 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:49,840 Speaker 3: Can we get rid of it? I mean that's I 435 00:26:49,880 --> 00:26:52,359 Speaker 3: mean I thanked them in the roundtable for his push 436 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:55,840 Speaker 3: on California water policy, because you know, our water supplies 437 00:26:55,880 --> 00:26:58,000 Speaker 3: have been have been held up throughout the state of 438 00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:01,240 Speaker 3: California because of his these owners regulations when it comes 439 00:27:01,280 --> 00:27:04,240 Speaker 3: to the smells and other species and just you know, 440 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:07,960 Speaker 3: regulations that have just built up over time, and President 441 00:27:07,960 --> 00:27:13,080 Speaker 3: Trump saying, why are we forcing every single Californian to 442 00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:15,960 Speaker 3: live with scarce water supplies when we can actually live 443 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:19,120 Speaker 3: with abundance, Like why can't we why can't we move 444 00:27:19,119 --> 00:27:19,520 Speaker 3: more water? 445 00:27:19,640 --> 00:27:23,200 Speaker 2: It's it's so crazy. And the delta smelt hardly exists anymore. 446 00:27:23,600 --> 00:27:25,600 Speaker 2: And you can grow it in fish farms if you 447 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:28,400 Speaker 2: if you want to see a delta smelt that badly. 448 00:27:29,200 --> 00:27:30,760 Speaker 1: They do exist exactly. 449 00:27:31,480 --> 00:27:33,720 Speaker 3: And I think a lot of yeah, and I think 450 00:27:33,720 --> 00:27:36,480 Speaker 3: a lot of people don't realize the same water that 451 00:27:36,520 --> 00:27:39,800 Speaker 3: comes to the Central Valley also goes to Southern California. 452 00:27:39,960 --> 00:27:44,320 Speaker 3: Thirty percent of Southern California's water supplies come from Northern California. 453 00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:46,719 Speaker 3: It comes from the same water project. So when the 454 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:49,600 Speaker 3: President is saying, hey, we need to coordinate, we need 455 00:27:49,640 --> 00:27:53,000 Speaker 3: the state water system to coordinate with the federal water system, 456 00:27:53,160 --> 00:27:55,560 Speaker 3: and we need to move more water through both, I 457 00:27:55,600 --> 00:27:59,200 Speaker 3: mean that that is that doesn't it's so common sense, 458 00:27:59,480 --> 00:28:02,840 Speaker 3: but it is such a sea change when it comes 459 00:28:02,840 --> 00:28:06,119 Speaker 3: to the operations of our state and our and our 460 00:28:06,119 --> 00:28:06,920 Speaker 3: water delivery. 461 00:28:07,359 --> 00:28:09,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, I just I'm going to go and do 462 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:11,959 Speaker 2: the news. I just hope we can. You guys can 463 00:28:12,080 --> 00:28:15,879 Speaker 2: unblock this, uh, this bureaucracy, because I heard you. 464 00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:16,679 Speaker 1: Got to keep pushing. 465 00:28:16,720 --> 00:28:19,360 Speaker 2: I heard a news report this morning that if people 466 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:22,399 Speaker 2: want to if they if they have to wait on 467 00:28:22,520 --> 00:28:25,200 Speaker 2: the government to do the toxic cleanup, it's going to 468 00:28:25,240 --> 00:28:27,119 Speaker 2: take months. You know, if they want to pay like 469 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:29,880 Speaker 2: one hundred and fifty thousand dollars themselves, they could do it, 470 00:28:29,960 --> 00:28:32,480 Speaker 2: do it quickly. And that that's a lot of money 471 00:28:32,520 --> 00:28:35,240 Speaker 2: just for cleanup. Considering what's going on, and it just 472 00:28:35,240 --> 00:28:37,280 Speaker 2: seems like there's got to be a better way than this. 473 00:28:37,880 --> 00:28:38,840 Speaker 3: It shouldn't be that way. 474 00:28:39,560 --> 00:28:40,840 Speaker 1: There's a better way, all right. 475 00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:43,040 Speaker 2: Vin, It's good talking with you again. Keep in touch 476 00:28:43,080 --> 00:28:44,600 Speaker 2: on this issue because this is going to go on 477 00:28:44,640 --> 00:28:48,240 Speaker 2: for years. Thank you to hopefully yeah, thank you. 478 00:28:48,280 --> 00:28:49,160 Speaker 1: Nope, not all right. 479 00:28:49,240 --> 00:28:53,360 Speaker 2: Vince Bong, the Bakersfield Congressman, Republican. He was sitting at 480 00:28:53,360 --> 00:28:55,920 Speaker 2: that meeting right next to Karen Bass and Trump. 481 00:28:56,800 --> 00:29:02,200 Speaker 4: You're listening to John Cobbel on demand. KFI Am sixty. 482 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:04,400 Speaker 2: Run from one until four and then after four o'clock 483 00:29:04,480 --> 00:29:06,120 Speaker 2: John Cobelt's show on demand. 484 00:29:06,800 --> 00:29:09,080 Speaker 1: There's a clip actually I wanted to play yesterday. I 485 00:29:09,120 --> 00:29:09,760 Speaker 1: didn't have time. 486 00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:12,040 Speaker 2: And this is a guy who wants to get back 487 00:29:12,480 --> 00:29:15,520 Speaker 2: and see his house in the Pacific Palisades. And he 488 00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:17,920 Speaker 2: stopped by a member of the National Guard. And this 489 00:29:17,960 --> 00:29:22,440 Speaker 2: is after Bass said on Friday that you know, people 490 00:29:22,520 --> 00:29:25,160 Speaker 2: can go back if they want that that you know, 491 00:29:25,160 --> 00:29:27,800 Speaker 2: there shouldn't be a delay. She was agreeing with Trump. Well, 492 00:29:27,840 --> 00:29:30,720 Speaker 2: Trump forced her into agreeing to that. Let let's play 493 00:29:30,720 --> 00:29:33,600 Speaker 2: this clip. I haven't been able to get to the 494 00:29:33,640 --> 00:29:36,280 Speaker 2: house since January seventh, since January twenty fifth, right, so 495 00:29:36,720 --> 00:29:38,840 Speaker 2: President Trump said that we could go. 496 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:42,960 Speaker 1: Now what's going on? I'm not too sure, sir. Unfortunately 497 00:29:42,960 --> 00:29:45,200 Speaker 1: with US we play that year with LAPD. They kind 498 00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:47,600 Speaker 1: of talked to Arkaman and Arkaman is what laps is. 499 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:50,160 Speaker 3: So LAPD is saying I can't go to my house. 500 00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:53,600 Speaker 1: Well without a police escort. Yeah, you could get to 501 00:29:53,640 --> 00:29:55,520 Speaker 1: your house, but you can need a police hospital say. 502 00:29:56,280 --> 00:30:00,520 Speaker 2: And the police escort apparently takes about five hours to 503 00:30:00,600 --> 00:30:07,480 Speaker 2: show up because everyone's busy. There's no excuse for this now, 504 00:30:08,560 --> 00:30:10,440 Speaker 2: and I don't know what state things are in at 505 00:30:10,440 --> 00:30:13,600 Speaker 2: this given moment. That clip was from yesterday, but this 506 00:30:13,720 --> 00:30:17,120 Speaker 2: is the frustration that's boiling over. Imagine knowing that your 507 00:30:17,160 --> 00:30:21,880 Speaker 2: house has been completely destroyed, and eighteen days later you 508 00:30:21,960 --> 00:30:22,760 Speaker 2: can't get there. 509 00:30:23,280 --> 00:30:26,040 Speaker 6: Why can't people just sign waivers and say, you know what, 510 00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:29,400 Speaker 6: we're going to release you from any responsibility. If something 511 00:30:29,440 --> 00:30:31,960 Speaker 6: happens to me, then so be it. I want to 512 00:30:32,000 --> 00:30:34,600 Speaker 6: see what was what's left of my house. 513 00:30:34,640 --> 00:30:37,920 Speaker 2: It's not allowing adults to take the risks that adults 514 00:30:37,960 --> 00:30:42,400 Speaker 2: should be allowed to take. It's this, it's this overbearing 515 00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:46,120 Speaker 2: mommy state that we're in. Well, it's when Bass said 516 00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:48,120 Speaker 2: I want you, I want everyone to be safe. 517 00:30:48,160 --> 00:30:50,760 Speaker 5: Well you heard Trump say, well they weren't. They're not safe. 518 00:30:50,840 --> 00:30:52,680 Speaker 1: Now, I mean they weren't safe. 519 00:30:53,040 --> 00:30:54,600 Speaker 5: The damage has been done. 520 00:30:54,720 --> 00:30:57,720 Speaker 2: On January seventh, Bass would have told us, hey, we're 521 00:30:57,760 --> 00:30:58,320 Speaker 2: all safe. 522 00:30:58,320 --> 00:30:59,640 Speaker 1: Hey, we got this don't worry. 523 00:30:59,680 --> 00:30:59,920 Speaker 5: We out. 524 00:31:00,080 --> 00:31:02,520 Speaker 2: You know there's extreme fire danger, but don't worry. We're 525 00:31:02,520 --> 00:31:04,600 Speaker 2: all going to be safe. And then she doesn't have 526 00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:08,520 Speaker 2: the fire department manning in the high risk zones. In fact, 527 00:31:09,240 --> 00:31:11,960 Speaker 2: it was so unimportant she left the country. I can't 528 00:31:12,040 --> 00:31:13,959 Speaker 2: I can't get over that. I can't get around it. 529 00:31:14,000 --> 00:31:16,920 Speaker 2: I'll never stop talking about it. I don't understand why 530 00:31:17,280 --> 00:31:19,480 Speaker 2: she hasn't been forced out office over this and. 531 00:31:20,000 --> 00:31:20,640 Speaker 1: Do some too. 532 00:31:21,080 --> 00:31:24,760 Speaker 2: And then after all the destruction, all the loss, all 533 00:31:24,760 --> 00:31:28,520 Speaker 2: the heartache, Well, he just wants you to be safe, deaf. 534 00:31:28,400 --> 00:31:30,320 Speaker 5: And you, well, you said it, you said it. 535 00:31:30,360 --> 00:31:32,800 Speaker 6: We are all adults, and if adults want to go 536 00:31:32,920 --> 00:31:35,960 Speaker 6: and see their property, then they should be allowed to 537 00:31:36,000 --> 00:31:36,360 Speaker 6: do it. 538 00:31:36,920 --> 00:31:40,200 Speaker 2: I'll take the risk, even if this stuff is toxic. 539 00:31:40,760 --> 00:31:42,840 Speaker 2: I'll put a mask on. If that'll make you happy, 540 00:31:42,840 --> 00:31:45,160 Speaker 2: I'll put a helmet on. But I want to go 541 00:31:45,240 --> 00:31:47,000 Speaker 2: see what's left of my stuff. 542 00:31:47,760 --> 00:31:50,600 Speaker 5: But that toxic stuff is all over. 543 00:31:50,280 --> 00:31:52,480 Speaker 6: The place, not just in the Palace Dades, not just 544 00:31:52,520 --> 00:31:54,680 Speaker 6: an Altadena Pasadena with those. 545 00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:56,320 Speaker 5: Wins, It's everywhere. I mean, it's you. 546 00:31:56,360 --> 00:31:59,040 Speaker 6: I mean, look at we were complaining about breathing and coughing. 547 00:31:59,280 --> 00:32:02,760 Speaker 5: I mean, right, now we were ingesting that we're. 548 00:32:02,600 --> 00:32:06,959 Speaker 2: All screwed already exactly, I uh I I. And notice 549 00:32:07,200 --> 00:32:09,760 Speaker 2: the guys with the guns and they're they're they have 550 00:32:09,800 --> 00:32:14,560 Speaker 2: to follow orders, right, but they're used against the homeowners. 551 00:32:15,160 --> 00:32:17,720 Speaker 2: What why Why are the guys with the guns keeping 552 00:32:17,760 --> 00:32:21,360 Speaker 2: the homeowners from seeing their homes? This is what government 553 00:32:21,400 --> 00:32:24,600 Speaker 2: does with its power, prevent like but then they did 554 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:27,800 Speaker 2: this during COVID. They prevented your kid from getting educated, 555 00:32:27,920 --> 00:32:29,000 Speaker 2: They prevented you from. 556 00:32:28,880 --> 00:32:29,600 Speaker 1: Earning a living. 557 00:32:31,160 --> 00:32:33,680 Speaker 2: And then and then, and then the money that was 558 00:32:33,680 --> 00:32:36,640 Speaker 2: supposed to go to you in unemployment, much of it 559 00:32:36,680 --> 00:32:41,600 Speaker 2: went to fraudsters around the world. They didn't keep that 560 00:32:41,680 --> 00:32:44,960 Speaker 2: money safe, which is a whole other thing. How much 561 00:32:45,040 --> 00:32:47,600 Speaker 2: how many fraudsters are now going to enter the uh 562 00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:52,240 Speaker 2: this this this free for all of of money coming 563 00:32:52,280 --> 00:32:55,720 Speaker 2: from the federal and state government to try to pay 564 00:32:55,760 --> 00:32:57,400 Speaker 2: for this disaster. I'm going to get to that after 565 00:32:57,440 --> 00:33:02,040 Speaker 2: three o'clock because they you know, there's this tension between 566 00:33:02,520 --> 00:33:07,680 Speaker 2: cutting the red tape and loosening the system. But with COVID, 567 00:33:08,480 --> 00:33:11,520 Speaker 2: they just you know, gave away fifty billion dollars to 568 00:33:12,240 --> 00:33:13,760 Speaker 2: criminals around the world. 569 00:33:14,920 --> 00:33:16,480 Speaker 1: I don't know why they can't do it, right. 570 00:33:16,600 --> 00:33:18,920 Speaker 2: I don't know why, with all the technology, there's not 571 00:33:18,960 --> 00:33:21,640 Speaker 2: an intelligent way to disperse money to the people who 572 00:33:21,720 --> 00:33:24,920 Speaker 2: deserve it and keep it away from the criminals. I'm 573 00:33:24,960 --> 00:33:30,800 Speaker 2: sure there is. Here's a But again, everything comes back 574 00:33:30,800 --> 00:33:34,120 Speaker 2: to voting patterns. I'd mentioned earlier in the show. There 575 00:33:34,160 --> 00:33:37,040 Speaker 2: was a couple interviewed in the La Times where one 576 00:33:37,080 --> 00:33:41,680 Speaker 2: of the women who lost a home. She said that 577 00:33:41,720 --> 00:33:44,800 Speaker 2: she voted for Crusoe, but she was weighing Bass seriously 578 00:33:45,560 --> 00:33:52,480 Speaker 2: because Bass was a black female, all right, And again, 579 00:33:52,640 --> 00:33:56,280 Speaker 2: I don't know how anyone could ever vote on color 580 00:33:56,120 --> 00:33:58,120 Speaker 2: or gender parts. 581 00:33:59,120 --> 00:34:00,440 Speaker 1: This is this is the curse. 582 00:34:00,600 --> 00:34:04,360 Speaker 2: This is why de ei is so toxic and cancerous 583 00:34:04,360 --> 00:34:10,640 Speaker 2: in a society. All my life, everybody I knew, we 584 00:34:10,760 --> 00:34:14,520 Speaker 2: all believed in merit. You hire what you perceived to 585 00:34:14,560 --> 00:34:17,279 Speaker 2: be the best for the job. And then it got 586 00:34:17,280 --> 00:34:19,840 Speaker 2: turned upside down in the last ten years or so, 587 00:34:20,480 --> 00:34:26,120 Speaker 2: and now merit wasn't even discussed anymore. And so what 588 00:34:26,200 --> 00:34:29,120 Speaker 2: do you get instead of Rick Caruso's mayor, you get 589 00:34:29,200 --> 00:34:29,920 Speaker 2: Karen Bass. 590 00:34:30,360 --> 00:34:35,240 Speaker 1: He had all the merit, She had color and gender. 591 00:34:37,160 --> 00:34:40,839 Speaker 2: Here's another quote, Gary South, You ever hear of him? 592 00:34:40,920 --> 00:34:44,719 Speaker 2: Democratic strategist has been around for decades, And this is 593 00:34:44,760 --> 00:34:50,040 Speaker 2: an article in the Washington Post over Bass's political future, 594 00:34:51,320 --> 00:34:53,600 Speaker 2: and Gary South says there gets to be a point 595 00:34:53,640 --> 00:34:57,000 Speaker 2: of no return when the tide of public opinion turns 596 00:34:57,040 --> 00:35:01,080 Speaker 2: against the mayor that she made not have a deep 597 00:35:01,200 --> 00:35:05,040 Speaker 2: reservoir of public support that some elected officials can fall 598 00:35:05,120 --> 00:35:08,560 Speaker 2: back on when disaster strikes, because she's kept such a 599 00:35:08,600 --> 00:35:13,360 Speaker 2: low profile, different than say of the Aragosa or a Dickriardan. 600 00:35:14,360 --> 00:35:17,040 Speaker 2: South then says, she comes into this job with no 601 00:35:17,160 --> 00:35:23,399 Speaker 2: executive experience, no governing experience. All of a sudden, she's 602 00:35:23,440 --> 00:35:25,960 Speaker 2: the head of the second largest city government in the US. 603 00:35:26,640 --> 00:35:29,480 Speaker 2: And I'm not saying this to unduly criticize her, but 604 00:35:29,600 --> 00:35:31,960 Speaker 2: I really don't believe she's ever made the transition from 605 00:35:31,960 --> 00:35:34,279 Speaker 2: being a member of Congress to being an executive. 606 00:35:35,480 --> 00:35:41,640 Speaker 1: But South endorsed her against Crusoe. Well, why did you 607 00:35:41,680 --> 00:35:44,360 Speaker 1: do that? Why did you pick her. 608 00:35:45,160 --> 00:35:49,719 Speaker 2: To endorse to be LA mayor when you knew she 609 00:35:49,960 --> 00:35:52,920 Speaker 2: had no executive experience and after two years on the 610 00:35:53,000 --> 00:35:57,600 Speaker 2: job she indicates no ability to transition to being an executive. 611 00:35:59,040 --> 00:36:02,120 Speaker 2: Why else do you think he would endorse her because 612 00:36:02,120 --> 00:36:07,160 Speaker 2: of color and gender? Clearly, if executive experience matters, and 613 00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:11,160 Speaker 2: it does greatly as a mayor and as a governor 614 00:36:11,200 --> 00:36:17,399 Speaker 2: and a president. Overwhelmingly. Then Crusoe was the only option there. 615 00:36:18,600 --> 00:36:25,399 Speaker 2: But again the Dei disease merit doesn't matter anymore. It's 616 00:36:25,440 --> 00:36:34,520 Speaker 2: your personal characteristics that you were born with visual characteristics, right, 617 00:36:34,680 --> 00:36:37,719 Speaker 2: Deborah Mark Lyden, KFI twenty four Hour Newsroom. Hey, you've 618 00:36:37,719 --> 00:36:40,239 Speaker 2: been listening to the John Covelt Show podcast. You can 619 00:36:40,280 --> 00:36:43,040 Speaker 2: always hear the show live on KFI AM six forty 620 00:36:43,120 --> 00:36:45,600 Speaker 2: from one to four pm every Monday through Friday, and 621 00:36:45,680 --> 00:36:48,759 Speaker 2: of course anytime on demand on the iHeartRadio app.