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BumRushDaShow

(146,208 posts) Fri Jan 24, 2025, 03:19 AM Friday

Trump threatens to withhold federal aid for LA wildfires over California water rules

Source: USA Today

Published 3:39 p.m. ET Jan. 23, 2025 | Updated 3:40 p.m. ET Jan. 23, 2025

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump threatened to withhold wildfire relief from California if it doesn't reroute water to the southern part of the state. He also hinted at a possible overhaul of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Referring to an executive order he signed earlier in the week ordering California to redirect water from the northern part of the state, Trump said Wednesday evening in an interview with Sean Hannity that he thought the federal government should withhold federal funds.

"I don't think we should give California anything until they let water flow down into there," he said. "It's a political thing. I don't know what it is."

Trump also threatened to shut off wildfire relief to California last year during the 2024 presidential campaign if the state's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, refused to change his policies protecting an endangered species of a small fish – called smelt.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/01/23/trump-withhold-federal-aid-la-california-wildfires/77907699007/

38 replies

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Highlight:

Trump threatens to withhold federal aid for LA wildfires over California water rules (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Friday OP

cool. we'll withhold federal tax dollars tishaLA Friday #1

If only WE Democrats had the power to do that. yes!! riversedge Friday #2

Place the funds in homegirl Friday #15

How do we do that? California doesn't collect our federal taxes -- the IRS does. LauraInLA Friday #25

Worse yet. homegirl Friday #27

Damn well should. That would be more than appropriate to combat the insanity of this unprecedented fascist blackmail. Karasu Friday #3

And use it to fund the repairs from the fire...yes?....Can you do that?...nt mitch96 Friday #6

I wish our California government would do just that. As far as our California Magoo48 Friday #12

I don't know what money California can withhold, do you? The IRS collects our federal tax revenues. LauraInLA Friday #26

You're correct, of course, except some customs duties etc. Magoo48 Friday #33

This ALMOST makes me wish he'd make good on his threat to abolish the fed income tax. LauraInLA Friday #34

Seize an asset Nasruddin Friday #37

Meh. Meet that demand and Trump will make another one. no_hypocrisy Friday #4

And block it in court just like the technique he uses..Delay delay delay..nt mitch96 Friday #7

The gop wants more political power in California. The only way they can do this is with lies. C Moon Friday #5

Great points. It's all about the grift. bronxiteforever Friday #14

Called that one. It was easy though. twodogsbarking Friday #8

This message was self-deleted by its author Initech Friday #21

California can't control its own water? SpankMe Friday #9

It's only "states rights" when Dump says so. sakabatou Friday #11

Is that the water that flows downhill, you know, north to south from Canada? Magoo48 Friday #13

He is seriously convinced there's some magic switch that will make it all go away. Initech Friday #23

"I don't know what it is." Lulu KC Friday #10

Any thoughts os secession? nt rambler_american Friday #16

At this point, I'd be in favor of it. However, I'd prefer to see CA become a part of Canada (a long shot). Karasu Friday #30

Trump is a moron pfitz59 Friday #17

When he says opening the spigot he means to end this project and others for conservation. travelingthrulife Friday #19

This Californian still can't believe that ridiculous "make forests safer act" still passed. Initech Friday #24

Are we supposed to use the Democrat's weather machine to re-direct the rivers and mountains now. travelingthrulife Friday #18

45 is truly a moron. nt LittleGirl Friday #20

The felon bdamomma Friday #22

trump says he is conditioning aid to California following LA wildfires LetMyPeopleVote Friday #28

and as usual azureblue Friday #32

Newom you knew this was coming Nasruddin Friday #38

Charge him with enabling arson. GreenWave Friday #29

Won't work. The SCOTUS ruled that he can do anything he wants and have immunity. n/t totodeinhere Friday #36

Newsom should just say-- azureblue Friday #31

There have been a lot of natural disasters in red states like Florida. And the Biden Administration was totodeinhere Friday #35

tishaLA

(14,433 posts)

1. cool. we'll withhold federal tax dollars

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 03:33 AM

Friday

And stop paying for the economic failures of red states.

riversedge

(73,984 posts)

2. If only WE Democrats had the power to do that. yes!!

Reply to tishaLA (Reply #1)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 04:10 AM

Friday

homegirl

(1,621 posts)

15. Place the funds in

Reply to riversedge (Reply #2)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 12:21 PM

Friday

an escrow account. Then do as Donald does, DELAY, DELAY, DELAY...! DRAG IT THROUGH THE COURTS FOR A DECADE!!!!

LauraInLA

(1,583 posts)

25. How do we do that? California doesn't collect our federal taxes -- the IRS does.

Reply to homegirl (Reply #15)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 02:59 PM

Friday

homegirl

(1,621 posts)

27. Worse yet.

Reply to LauraInLA (Reply #25)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 03:17 PM

Friday

Federal government is holding our money, are they paying interest while they hold It?

"The Interest Never Sleeps"

Karasu

(439 posts)

3. Damn well should. That would be more than appropriate to combat the insanity of this unprecedented fascist blackmail.

Reply to tishaLA (Reply #1)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 04:15 AM

Friday

Go for it, Newsom.

mitch96

(14,876 posts)

6. And use it to fund the repairs from the fire...yes?....Can you do that?...nt

Reply to tishaLA (Reply #1)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 08:56 AM

Friday

Magoo48

(5,742 posts)

12. I wish our California government would do just that. As far as our California

Reply to tishaLA (Reply #1)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 12:16 PM

Friday

Republic is concerned, the deal with the feds is shit. We must respond as radically as he acts. I wish we would totally disregard every fucking horseshit thing coming out of DC which doesn’t serve our state. Fuck him and his bus load of Nazi bozos.

LauraInLA

(1,583 posts)

26. I don't know what money California can withhold, do you? The IRS collects our federal tax revenues.

Reply to Magoo48 (Reply #12)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 03:00 PM

Friday

Magoo48

(5,742 posts)

33. You're correct, of course, except some customs duties etc.

Reply to LauraInLA (Reply #26)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 05:04 PM

Friday

i was just pissed. Whenever he threatens to withhold natural disaster relief it pisses me off.
I’d feel much more secure if we all sent our fed income tax to Sacramento.

LauraInLA

(1,583 posts)

34. This ALMOST makes me wish he'd make good on his threat to abolish the fed income tax.

Reply to Magoo48 (Reply #33)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 05:38 PM

Friday

Nasruddin

(914 posts)

37. Seize an asset

Reply to LauraInLA (Reply #26)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 07:36 PM

Friday

Like a federal building in SF.

Or a national forest.

Or maybe Yosemite.

no_hypocrisy

(49,759 posts)

4. Meh. Meet that demand and Trump will make another one.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 04:33 AM

Friday

mitch96

(14,876 posts)

7. And block it in court just like the technique he uses..Delay delay delay..nt

Reply to no_hypocrisy (Reply #4)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 08:59 AM

Friday

C Moon

(12,664 posts)

5. The gop wants more political power in California. The only way they can do this is with lies.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 04:41 AM

Friday

My guess is they are going to try to put ex baseball star Steve Garvey in the running for governor.
They also want to turn California's energy into the Texas style of energy.
Finally, they will put a shit load of oil drills off our coasts, and sell the sand land to rich homeowners.

bronxiteforever

(9,703 posts)

14. Great points. It's all about the grift.

Reply to C Moon (Reply #5)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 12:19 PM

Friday

twodogsbarking

(12,428 posts)

8. Called that one. It was easy though.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 10:01 AM

Friday

Smelts are tasty. Flour, s&p, fry.

Response to twodogsbarking (Reply #8)

Initech This message was self-deleted by its author.

SpankMe

(3,346 posts)

9. California can't control its own water?

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 10:58 AM

Friday

"States rights" anyone?

sakabatou

(43,671 posts)

11. It's only "states rights" when Dump says so.

Reply to SpankMe (Reply #9)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 12:11 PM

Friday

Magoo48

(5,742 posts)

13. Is that the water that flows downhill, you know, north to south from Canada?

Reply to SpankMe (Reply #9)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 12:18 PM

Friday

Initech

(103,113 posts)

23. He is seriously convinced there's some magic switch that will make it all go away.

Reply to SpankMe (Reply #9)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 01:40 PM

Friday

Lulu KC

(5,823 posts)

10. "I don't know what it is."

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 12:01 PM

Friday

He sure doesn't.

rambler_american

(864 posts)

16. Any thoughts os secession? nt

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 12:25 PM

Friday

Karasu

(439 posts)

30. At this point, I'd be in favor of it. However, I'd prefer to see CA become a part of Canada (a long shot).

Reply to rambler_american (Reply #16)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 04:32 PM

Friday

Last edited Fri Jan 24, 2025, 05:11 PM - Edit history (1)

Cascadia isn't sounding like a half-bad idea anymore, either. Provided it encompasses the whole state and not just NorCal.

If this is the way these fascists are already starting out of the gate with CA, something drastic needs to be done. CA can't afford to play by their rules anymore--and it has no reason to.

pfitz59

(11,204 posts)

17. Trump is a moron

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 12:55 PM

Friday

California water is the most heavily managed in the world. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Water_Project

travelingthrulife

(1,325 posts)

19. When he says opening the spigot he means to end this project and others for conservation.

Reply to pfitz59 (Reply #17)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 01:26 PM

Friday

He is saying this nonsense because farmers have been forced to be more responsible than they have been. So...farmer's with water rights whining.

Initech

(103,113 posts)

24. This Californian still can't believe that ridiculous "make forests safer act" still passed.

Reply to pfitz59 (Reply #17)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 01:40 PM

Friday

travelingthrulife

(1,325 posts)

18. Are we supposed to use the Democrat's weather machine to re-direct the rivers and mountains now.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 01:24 PM

Friday

What is he babbling about?

LittleGirl

(8,528 posts)

20. 45 is truly a moron. nt

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 01:28 PM

Friday

bdamomma

(67,218 posts)

22. The felon

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 01:35 PM

Friday

Is fucking bully and idiot.

LetMyPeopleVote

(157,107 posts)

28. trump says he is conditioning aid to California following LA wildfires

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 03:22 PM

Friday

tft is now going to condition aid on voter id
https://bsky.app/profile/ecmclaughlin.bsky.social/post/3lgj3cupnlk2d

Link to tweet

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-president-news-01-24-25

President Donald Trump told reporters Friday that he will be conditioning aid to California following the devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area, demanding the “water to be released.” He also said he wants voter ID in the state.

“I want two things. I want voter ID for the people of California, and they all want it right now. You have no, you don’t have voter ID. People want to have voter identification. You want to have proof of citizenship. Ideally, you have one day voting. But I just want voter ID as a start,” Trump told reporters upon landing in North Carolina.

“And I want the water to be released, and they’re going to get a lot of help from the US,” he added.

It is an unusual political demand for the president to make, and one that politicizes disaster relief in a state that is reeling from the wildfires.

azureblue

(2,345 posts)

32. and as usual

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Reply #28)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 04:44 PM

Friday

Trump is lying and doesn't have a clue about what he's talking about.

Nasruddin

(914 posts)

38. Newom you knew this was coming

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Reply #28)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 07:39 PM

Friday

I hope there's a real plan!
Not that our voting system couldn't stand some improvements, but this isn't it.

GreenWave

(9,858 posts)

29. Charge him with enabling arson.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 04:31 PM

Friday

totodeinhere

(13,456 posts)

36. Won't work. The SCOTUS ruled that he can do anything he wants and have immunity. n/t

Reply to GreenWave (Reply #29)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 06:26 PM

Friday

azureblue

(2,345 posts)

31. Newsom should just say--

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 04:43 PM

Friday

"Then you don't get any money from CA until you deposit full FEMA funds in the state's accounts. CA would be far better off using our money for relief and repair. CA is supporting way to many Red states that can't get their act together.""
Trump isn't the only person that can play chicken.

totodeinhere

(13,456 posts)

35. There have been a lot of natural disasters in red states like Florida. And the Biden Administration was

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Jan 24, 2025, 06:25 PM

Friday

always right there providing comprehensive disaster aid regardless of the politics of the region. That is the way it should be.

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