California politicians are putting on quite the show this wildfire season, and it’s not the kind of drama that inspires confidence in leadership. Sky News, of all outlets, has been right on the scene, catching these so-called leaders in some truly cringe-worthy moments. It’s like a political blooper reel, but the stakes couldn’t be higher, with entire neighborhoods reduced to ash and residents desperate for answers.
Let’s start with L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, who thought it was a good idea to skip town for a jaunt to Ghana while her city burned. She probably hoped to glide back unnoticed, but a Sky News reporter had other plans. When asked if she owed her constituents an apology for being MIA during the crisis or for slashing fire department budgets, she had nothing to say. Not a word. Just silence and a quick exit, leaving everyone to wonder how someone can call themselves a leader and simultaneously ignore a city in flames.
NEW: LA Mayor Karen Bass called for $49M in additional cuts to the fire department just *one week* before the LA fires which would have shut down 16 fire stations.
California: We deserve better leaders.
The revelation was made by the Daily Mail who obtained a leaked internal… pic.twitter.com/QZzZzUxwP9
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 10, 2025
But wait—it gets better. Gavin Newsom, California’s coiffed governor and self-anointed 2028 presidential hopeful, decided to have his own moment of public embarrassment. While visiting the Pacific Palisades area, he was confronted by a distraught woman whose daughter’s school had been destroyed. Instead of offering any real answers, Newsom pretended to be on the phone with Joe Biden. Yes, really.
When the woman asked to hear the call, Newsom suddenly couldn’t get cell service. How convenient. He stammered through some nonsensical excuses about trying to reach the president five times, but the damage was done. The woman pressed further, asking why fire hydrants in her neighborhood weren’t working. Newsom’s brilliant response? “It has to be different next time.” Talk about inspiring leadership. He then mumbled something about resources and reimbursements before awkwardly fleeing the scene like a high schooler dodging an ex at the mall.
🔥 WATCH: Gavin Newsom gets confronted on the street by a furious woman whose home burned down in the wildfires.
He responds by claiming to be on a phone call with Joe Biden that wasn’t going through to try and escape… pic.twitter.com/1xPhTcFNQc
— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) January 9, 2025
This is peak Democratic leadership in California: avoid responsibility, spout vague platitudes, and hope no one notices. Unfortunately for them, Sky News caught it all. It’s a brutal look for Newsom, who can’t even manage a basic conversation with a grieving resident, let alone a crisis. And let’s not forget that his presidential ambitions are no secret. If this is how he handles a wildfire in his own state, imagine him trying to manage a national crisis. Spoiler alert: it wouldn’t go well.
The whole situation perfectly encapsulates what happens when you give Democrats the reins. They talk a big game about climate change, emergency preparedness, and equity, but when disaster strikes, they’re nowhere to be found—or worse, fumbling through excuses. It’s not just a failure of leadership; it’s an outright abdication of responsibility.
If Newsom ever decides to run for higher office, someone should put this footage on a loop. Watching him flounder as a desperate mother begs for answers is a masterclass in why he’s unfit for the job. His polished hair and smooth talk might work for the press junkets, but when it comes to actual governing, he’s all fluff and no substance.
The one silver lining here is Sky News. For once, they stepped out of their usual left-leaning narrative to do some actual journalism, holding politicians accountable in real-time. It’s a rare moment of clarity from the media, and frankly, we could use more of it. Meanwhile, Californians are left to rebuild their lives with little more than empty promises and broken leadership. They—and the rest of us—deserve better.
