Governors across multiple states are considering emergency measures to counter the potential impacts of a Republican spending bill currently making its way through Congress. States from Connecticut to California are contemplating special legislative sessions to address what could amount to hundreds of millions in additional costs.

According to Politico, the GOP megabill, which has already cleared the House and awaits Senate action, has raised significant concerns among state officials who are preparing for what could be the most challenging budget year since before the pandemic. The White House has even floated a controversial pocket rescission tactic to lock in certain cuts. The bill proposes approximately $300 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and projects to remove 7.6 million people from Medicaid, potentially saving $800 billion over a decade.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s statement reflects the urgency felt by many Democratic state leaders, saying “we will definitely be back in a special session to deal with” the reconciliation package if the House-ed version is adopted. Similar sentiments have been echoed by other governors, including New York’s Kathy Hochul, who has indicated readiness to reconvene lawmakers to address any federal changes.

States scramble to address potential fiscal impact

While the SNAP-related provisions wouldn’t take effect until 2028, states are already preparing for immediate actions. Most states begin their fiscal years on July 1, and their current budgets were created based on existing conditions. Officials are now looking at various options to minimize the potential impact of the federal legislation.

The concern crosses party lines, with some Republican officials even expressing worry about the bill’s downstream effects. Alabama’s Republican Agriculture Commissioner, Rick Pate, has noted that his state would struggle to generate the necessary funds to SNAP if the bill es. Even symbolic gestures, like an upside-down U.S. flag flown outside the State Department, have amplified signs of distress and broader backlash within federal ranks. 

State treasurers and financial officers are particularly vocal about the potential consequences. New Mexico Treasurer Laura Montoya, a Democrat, has described the bill as “destructive,” warning it could destabilize entire program networks. In Connecticut, Democratic Treasurer Erick Russell has indicated that a special session would likely be necessary to adjust state policies if the federal budget significantly shifts costs to states.

Some states are considering specific measures to address the potential funding gaps. Connecticut’s governor and legislative leaders are exploring the possibility of declaring a fiscal emergency to raise the spending cap. In New York, state legislators are discussing the possibility of raising taxes on wealthy residents to cover potential Medicaid cuts. California lawmakers have also indicated their willingness to return for special sessions to protect vulnerable programs, with some representatives stating they would convene at any time necessary to address the crisis.

The response to the bill highlights a growing divide between federal and state-level governance, with states increasingly preparing to take on responsibilities traditionally handled by the federal government. According to Brian Sigritz from the National Association of State Budget Officers, states will need to make difficult choices, potentially including benefit cuts, tax increases, or drawing from rainy day funds, as they cannot fully absorb all the projected costs.

Kindness is a resource that seems to be in short supply these days. Donald Trump and his party of bigots have gaslit many in the U.S. into thinking just like them and as such it feels like acts of comion have become rarer and rarer.

The U.S. is in a miserable condition at the moment as the president seems hellbent on sinking into authoritarianism. But despite this, good people are still out there and they’re defying Trump in the best way possible — with kindness.

La Ceiba Restaurante is an El Salvadorean establishment in Compton, much of the staff consist of immigrants to the U.S. Despite the violent clashes between anti-ICE protesters and the police in L.A. and other parts of California, the restaurant remained open and it’s just as well it did. 

Over the weekend, workers were filmed helping police deputies who had received minor injuries during the protests. Multiple armed police officers suffering from exposure to tear gas entered the establishment and were treated by staff who washed their eyes and tried to keep them cool by fanning them. They even provided the police with food.

Kindness in the face of Trump’s cruelty

Donald Trump has been using ICE to terrorize and deport people without due process. While his ers will defend him and claim his policies focus on illegal immigrants, we’ve seen the Trump istration deport legal citizens a few times now. On top of that, the president has sought to end birthright citizenship before. Clearly this is an attack on anyone who isn’t a homegrown caucasian American.

Despite this, the workers and the owner of the restaurant did everything they could to help the police. La Ceiba Restaurante is run and owned by Elizabeth Mendoza, an immigrant from El Salvador. Speaking to KCAL News, Mendoza explained that she sympathized with the protesters as the ICE raids were affecting many of her customers.

“My kids, my husband, we’re okay. But I know a lot of people who came… They don’t have papers. They don’t have anything. But they want to work.”

She claims she kept her restaurant open to “help when the people need me.” This wasn’t just for the protesters as Mendoza would prove she was capable of extending her kindness to anybody. When asked why, Mendoza stated it wasn’t about siding with one or the other, she sees both the deputies and the protesters as her beloved customers.

The owners and workers at La Ceiba Restaurante have proven themselves to be much kinder and braver than Trump could ever hope to be. While the president divides the people of the U.S. people like ElIzabeth Mendoza prove that we can all get along despite our differences.

Donald Trump’s decision to bring in the National Guard to quell the protests in L.A. have been criticized by people across the country. While he may try to justify it, Trump’s own words from five years ago have come back to haunt him.

A viral video from sometime around 2020 shows Trump answering questions about restoring law and order to the country. Responding to the interviewer Trump triumphantly claimed that he had restored order, “except in Democrat run cities.” 

The National Guard was deployed in L.A. over the weekend, a move which has been branded as “dangerous” by experts. The decision was made in response to anti-ICE protests which had erupted across the city. According to Donald of the past, he could not do anything as he was unable to call in the National Guard unless the local governor had specifically asked him to.

“We have laws, we have to go by the laws. We can’t move in the National Guard, I can call insurrection but there’s no reason to ever do that even in the Portland case. We can’t call in the National Guard unless we’re requested by a governor.”

So it seems Trump was well aware of the law and more than happy to follow it back then. But the current Donald would never let something as insignificant as the law get in his way. Despite California governor Gavin Newsom making it clear that he did not give approval for the National Guard to be sent to L.A., Trump has done so anyway.

Donald Trump has commandeered the National Guard

Newsom accused the president of commandeering the National Guard, calling it “illegal and immoral.” The California governor also vowed to sue Trump while the president has threatened to have him arrested.

Of course Trump likely doesn’t care for what the law says. He probably doesn’t even care for what he said five years ago either. He’s shown multiple times that he lacks principles and integrity and the worst part is people will defend this behavior. Trump hid behind the law as an excuse for his actions back in 2020 because it suited him then. Now that the law no longer serves his purpose he’s happy to cast it aside.

On X many called out the president’s current involvement in the L.A. protests. One indvidual called out the president for being a hypocrite, but that’s not exactly a surprise for Donald Trump any more. 

Even Bernie Sanders chimed in as he offered a grave warning claiming that Trump’s deployment of the National Guard “is about expanding his never-ending grasp for more power. It is about moving this country toward authoritarianism.”

Ultimately it seems as though Trump is knowingly ignoring the laws. The interview from 2020 proves that he is aware that what he’s doing is a gross misuse of his power, and yet he’s doing it anyway.

Recent aggressive immigration enforcement actions in California have pushed Democratic leaders back into a contentious immigration debate they had previously tried to avoid. The escalation comes after a series of high-profile raids and arrests in Los Angeles, including the detention of a labor union leader and dozens of others.

According to Politico, the situation intensified when Donald Trump announced on Saturday the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to the area, prompting immediate reactions from Democratic officials across California. Governor Gavin Newsom quickly disputed Trump’s claims, calling the deployment “purposefully inflammatory.” He even accused the former president of spreading misinformation.

“We were wrong on the border,” itted Rep. Scott Peters, a Democrat from San Diego, who criticized Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over a raid at a popular restaurant in his city. Peters emphasized that the current enforcement actions are “unproductive” and “un-American.”

Immigration raids spark protests and political backlash across California

In San Diego, a particularly controversial raid at an Italian restaurant in the South Park neighborhood saw approximately 20 masked agents storm the establishment and handcuff workers, resulting in the arrest of four undocumented immigrants. Local Democratic representatives condemned the agents’ tactics as “needlessly reckless” and accused them of terrorizing residents.

The situation in Los Angeles has been equally tense, with the arrest of the Service Employees International Union’s state president, David Huerta, during immigration sweeps. The incident triggered protests throughout the city and drew sharp criticism from local leaders, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who condemned the enforcement tactics for spreading terror in communities.

Governor Gavin Newsom, who had previously taken a more moderate stance on immigration issues, has now stepped up his criticism of federal enforcement efforts. This represents a notable shift from his earlier approach, which included avoiding the term “sanctuary” when discussing state immigration laws and proposing cuts to healthcare programs for undocumented immigrants.

The Trump istration has defended its actions, with White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson stating that the president is fulfilling his promise to deport illegal aliens. However, critics have highlighted warnings from figures like Adam Kinzinger, who cautioned about the consequences of escalating federal immigration tactics.

ICE officials have also justified their tactics, explaining that agents wear masks due to death threats and that crowd control measures were necessary when situations became volatile. However, Democrats see these recent events as an opportunity to challenge Trump’s immigration policies, particularly as polling suggests his among Latino voters has begun to decline since the 2024 election.

Who could have ever predicted that Canadians would stay away in droves from the Donald Trump-era United States? Why, he only openly threatened to invade Canada, slapped the country with aggressive tariffs, imprisoned innocent Canadians on flimsy pretences, insulted its leaders, and implemented aggressive border searches! No biggie!

As such, Canadians have decided: thanks but no thanks, we’ll be staying on our side of the border for now. Unfortunately for America, Canadians visiting the United States are a major factor in business and tourism. In 2024, Canadian visitors spent more than $20 billion in the United States, a figure which is rapidly shrinking towards zero.

The data on how much this is going to hit the economy in 2025 is still coming in, but in March 2025 alone (before most of Trump’s attacks on Canada were even outlined), the number of Canadians crossing the border by car dropped by a massive 32% compared to March 2024.

Tourist destinations reliant on Canadian visitors are terrified as their livelihoods dry up before their eyes. Now, in a frantic attempt to lure Canadians to the United States, the state of California has said that anyone with a Canadian port or ID can get a 25% discount at 1000 hotels in the state:

#NEWS: The state of California wants Canadian tourism back in the state & is offering Canadians 25% at 1000 hotels. pic.twitter.com/BVFlrjMpUt

— Made In Canada (@MadelnCanada) May 20, 2025

A polite “no”

That, my friends, is the stink of desperation. Canadians aren’t falling for it, with the responses insisting “I wouldn’t go there even if it was a free trip!!!!”, “And get detained at the border because they search our phones and we a free Palestine">

“We know things might seem a little tense here in the ol’ U.S. of A. right now, what with ICE agents randomly arresting legitimate VISA holders, branding them terrorists with no due process, and then ignoring Supreme Court orders to return them from the nightmarish extra-legal prison we dumped them in. But Canadians will be fine probably! You guys are all white, right?”

So, let’s say the mood of our friends in the North is definitely frosty right now. So, if you run a business reliant on Canadian tourists, maybe it’s time to switch up what you have on sale. For example, have you considered the lucrative option of converting your ski resort into a hellish ICE gulag?

California Governor Gavin Newsom has stepped up his efforts to tackle the state’s homelessness problem by once again urging cities and counties to ban homeless camps on public property. This move follows an earlier executive order that required state agencies to clear camps from state land and now encourages local governments to do the same.

The governor made this announcement at the same time as releasing $3.3 billion in Proposition 1 funding, which is set aside to create more housing and treatment options for people who are homeless or struggling with mental illness. This new funding comes on top of the $27 billion the state has already committed to fighting homelessness, per AP News.

Newsom shared a sample law for local governments to use as a guide when creating their own rules about homeless encampments. The model law suggests banning long-term camping in one spot and preventing camps that block sidewalks or walkways. However, it also says that officials must try to offer shelter options before clearing any temporary living spaces, as reported by Reuters.

California Governor trying to stop homelessness

The city of Los Angeles already has rules in place that ban encampments within 500 feet of schools and daycare centers and prevent camping within five feet of doorways or in ways that block wheelchair access.

The governor’s proposal has received both and criticism. Some see it as a needed step to improve public safety and take back public spaces, while homeless advocates argue that the state does not have enough ive housing or shelter space to house everyone who would be forced out of encampments. These advocates say the proposed bans ignore the real causes of homelessness, such as the lack of affordable housing and California’s high cost of living.

The legal situation around encampment bans changed after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that said it is legal to ban public camping, even if there is not enough shelter available. This decision allowed 42 of California’s 482 cities and two of its 58 counties to camping bans. This trend is happening across the country, with about 160 cities and counties nationwide adopting similar rules. The Supreme Court’s ruling played a big role in shaping the governor’s plan and the model law he proposed.

On the other hand, conservative groups like the Cicero Institute are pushing for even stricter measures. They want California to laws that would let the state sue cities if they do not do enough to handle encampment problems. They argue this would make sure cities take responsibility for protecting both homeless residents and the general public. This viewpoint stresses the need for stronger enforcement and ability at the local level.

Governor Newsom’s plan to address homelessness includes multiple strategies, such as putting more money into housing and treatment programs while taking a harder stance on public encampments.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted to cancel California’s clean truck regulations, which could lead to a major legal fight. The House used the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overturn the Biden istration’s approval of these rules, even though the Government ability Office (GAO) and the Senate parliamentarian have said that the CRA does not cover the waivers allowing these regulations.

California’s regulations, led by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), include two main parts. One part is meant to boost the number of electric trucks with zero emissions on California roads. The other part is designed to cut nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, which are a major cause of smog and breathing problems.

CARB points out that while heavy-duty trucks make up a small portion of vehicles on the road, they produce a much larger share of NOx and particle pollution. Just the NOx rule is expected to bring $23 billion in health benefits, per Reuters. As reported by The Hill, the House votes ed with 231 to 191 and 225 to 196, with some Democrats ing Republicans to the repeal.

California trucking law has been repealed

Thirteen Democrats sided with Republicans on the first vote, and ten did the same on the second. Republican Representative Brian Fitzpatrick from Pennsylvania was the only Republican to vote against the measures.

The House’s decision goes against the GAO’s ruling that the EPA’s approval of California’s regulations, given as waivers under the Clean Air Act, cannot be overturned using the CRA. The GAO says the CRA applies to rules, not waivers.

Similarly, the Senate parliamentarian oversees Senate rules and has also said these waivers cannot be repealed under the CRA. CARB has clearly stated that these House votes break both the CRA and the nonpartisan opinions of the GAO and the Senate parliamentarian. Despite these legal views, House Republicans, who say they want to stop what they call “comply-or-die Green New Deal mandates,” pushed ahead with the votes, showing they are willing to ignore established legal interpretations and congressional traditions.

Republican Representative John James, who introduced one of the resolutions, claimed that California’s rules would raise vehicle prices, making things harder for families and truckers. The broader Republican argument focuses on how these regulations could hurt the trucking industry and consumers. On the other hand, ers of California’s rules emphasize the major public health benefits of reducing air pollution and fighting climate change.

The vote on the clean truck rules is not the only action being taken. The House is also planning to vote on a measure to stop California’s plan to end the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035, a policy that eleven other states have also adopted. The EPA approved this plan under the Clean Air Act, which lets California set stricter vehicle emission standards than the federal government because of its history of serious smog problems. The Clean Air Act recognizes California’s unique challenges and allows the state to create tougher regulations with EPA approval. This vote is also expected to face legal challenges.

Denmark is responding to President Donald Trump‘s threats in gloriously petty fashion, as the country sets its sights on U.S. territory.

For weeks now, Trump has been threatening Greenland — a territory of the Kingdom of Denmark — with United States seizure, and it seems the country has had enough. It’s pushing back on Trump’s conquistador energy with impeccable style, as it targets one of the biggest U.S. states. The kicker? California is more than on board.

It took no time for Trump to spiral into actual mania following his occupation of the Oval Office, and the early weeks of his second term have been defined by truly insane decisions. Rather than deal with rising inflation, joblessness, gun violence, or any of the other very real issues plaguing Americans, Trump is trying to seize Greenland, — and give it a Kindergarten student’s idea of a new name — hand control of the country over to an unelected, unwanted billionaire, and rename the Gulf of Mexico in a strange, vapid vanity project.

Since he’s so dead-set on acquiring Greenland — a territory the U.S. has absolutely no right to, by the way — it seems Denmark’s citizens are more than willing to play Trump’s game. So they’re responding in kind, and a petition to “help Denmark buy California” already has more than a quarter-million signatures.

The petition is halfway to its 500,000 signature goal, and it’s likely it will topple the benchmark within a few days. This also isn’t just some tossed-together ploy to irk DJT — the petition genuinely lays out some stellar reasons why California may want to become another Danish province.

Cheekily inviting people to sign with its opening, the petition ponders if anyone has “ever looked at a map and thought, “You know what Denmark needs? More sunshine, palm trees, and roller skates.” Well, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make that dream a reality. Let’s buy California from Donald Trump!”

Deeper on the petition’s page, it outlines why California is its chosen target. Reasons include all that sunshine — Denmark isn’t known for its cloudless conditions — California’s tech dominance, and, of course, “to protect the free world.” The page even has fake reviews promoting the plan — including a very positive message from not-Viggo Mortensen.

Then it digs into why Trump might consider sale of California to Denmark. As the petition accurately notes, “Trump isn’t exactly California’s biggest fan.” And if the country really does throw in “a lifetime supply of Danish pastries to sweeten the deal,” chances of a sale are actually quite realistic.

That’s where the “Tremendous Plan” comes in. Denmark proposes that it needs to meet a crowdfunding goal of $1 trillion (give or take a few billion), which it seems confident it can manage, particularly with the “bestest negotiators” at the helm. If those negotiators can pull it off, Denmark promises that “Danish Values” will soon become Californian values. “We’ll bring hygge to Hollywood, bike lanes to Beverly Hills, and organic smørrebrød to every street corner.”

Californians, for their part, couldn’t be more on board with the plan. Social media reactions to the petition are near-universally positive, and see quite a few Golden State citizens offering up their state free of charge — all for a chance to ditch Donald Trump’s America.

Californian here. I have a counter offer for you Denmark… You can have us for free. We'll even bring you a $322.3 billion dollar balanced budget without a deficit to sweeten the deal. https://t.co/Gz0J9KRIHd

— She_Persisted (@Impeach_Cheeto) February 12, 2025

Californian here. Honestly, Denmark: you guys don’t have to pay. We’ll go willingly. https://t.co/0ZHQu1ojBx

— Trinity Votes (@TrinityMustache) February 10, 2025

As a Californian, I don't mind if our state ends up being in a bidding war between Denmark and Canada. pic.twitter.com/RTSfqC4AfU

— Charlie Rengel (@Charles_Rengel) February 11, 2025

And let’s not forget the final promised perk, as outlined by the petition: “Rule of law, universal health care and fact based politics might apply.” That sure sounds like an me.

Less than a week into his presidency, Donald Trump is enacting some of his most controversial “concepts of plans,” and average Americans are bracing themselves for his next move. g more than 200 executive orders in one day, rolling back civil rights, terrorizing anyone even suspected of being an undocumented immigrant, and pardoning 1500 insurrectionists might be hard to top, but 47 is well on his way to managing it.

Trump appeared on Sean Hannity‘s Fox News program after his inauguration, where he attacked none other than the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA, a robust agency that relies on taxes for funding and operates under the Department of Homeland Security, helps victims recover from natural disasters by coordinating rescue operations, living situations, and monetary compensation.

Trump asserted that “states take care of their own problems” and his comment has sounded alarm bells over possibilities that the agency will be dismantled.

Will Trump dissolve FEMA?

Trump has been railing against FEMA for years. Complaints range from the agency not working fast enough, to claiming that it withheld aid from Trump ers — but he insists that it actually worked under his watch. “Unless you have certain types of leadership,” he told Hannity, FEMA only “gets in the way.”

Planting the seed of doubt has worked out for Trump’s istration in the past, and his digs at FEMA are almost certainly laying the groundwork for his istration, or the Heritage Foundation, as some online believe, to abolish the agency, or heavily rework it. At the time of writing, however, FEMA is still fully operational. Unfortunately, in the coming months, California will serve as a litmus test for the rest of the country.

The Golden State is suffering one of the worst fires of our lifetime. Major parts of California have burned, particularly in Los Angeles and adjacent counties, including the historic and diverse community of Altadena, and Pacific Palisades — home to a plethora of Hollywood elites — and the blaze is continuing with gusto. Before Trump ascended to the White House, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson was already pushing for California’s aid to be withheld, insinuating that Governor Gavin Newsom and the state’s majority Democratic Representatives would have to capitulate in order to receive aid. Some of his Republican colleagues pushed back against the idea, but Trump has yet to comment, and seems to be leaning in.

While speaking with Hannity, Trump reiterated a talking point he has been fond of lately — that states should be responsible for their own disaster aid and recovery. “FEMA is gonna be a whole big discussion very shortly because I’d rather see the states take care of their own problems,” he told the host. He doubled down, saying that he doesn’t believe “we should give California anything until they let the water flow down.” The President signed an executive order to redirect water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in the northern part of the state, which experts quickly shot down as “political posturing” and advised would do more harm to the Golden State than good.

Many experts have warned that, since FEMA only responds to emergency situations, several states receive more funding than any others — chiefly those that ring the Gulf of Mexico. Coincidentally, historically, Trump-ing red states like Florida, Texas, and Louisiana receive the most aid, with Florida receiving nearly $2.5 billion. It’s the same amount Governor Newsom proposed California set aside in case of natural disasters in November of 2024, just before multiple fires ravaged the Los Angeles area. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, on the other hand, only spared an additional $7.8 million for those impacted by Hurricane Helene.

While FEMA came about during the istration of the late President Jimmy Carter, disaster aid has existed since the inception of our country, and though it’s changed names several times throughout the decades, it’s always been used to provide relief as quickly as possible to people in need. FEMA has of course, taken time to help people, like its failure to help people trapped by Hurricane Katrina for five days, but speed has also led to trouble. Investigations have shown that FEMA’s haste to approve funerary, housing, and medical costs has allowed Americans to take advantage of the program. More recently, FEMA has been accused of not caring enough, but the organization has warned for years that experienced workers are exhausted, and that readiness is not where it needs to be.

2024 marked some of the worst hurricane seasons on record, and FEMA has been on the ground helping wherever it can. Trump has never been about helping people, he’s only ever wanted to help the people who adore him. Many fear that if Trump does leave states to fend for themselves, he will inevitably find help for those state whose governors align with Trump’s values. If killing FEMA means hurting governors like Gavin Newsom, he wins — no matter how many other people lose.

After days of devastating fire, some California residents are finally returning home — even as firefighters are still struggling to quench several neighborhoods. SNL alumni and comedic actor Bill Hader is one of the lucky few to have a home to return to, though his return felt less than triumphant amid the sea of destruction.

“The thing people keep saying is ‘unreal.’ And it does; it doesn’t seem real,” Hader said in an on-the-scene interview. It’s hard to see your life in shambles, and even if his $4.2 million dollar home was mostly intact, the neighborhood surrounding it was hit hard. Apologizing for his scattered thoughts, Hader stumbled through his shock, trying to put words to the feeling of loss. “It’s just gone. Everything.”

Hader lives near the alphabet streets, which the actor considers “the heart of Palisades.”This beautiful, beautiful area is just gone,” he says in shock. “The whole thing is just gone.”

Hader was away for a shoot when the fire broke out, but his home security camera caught everything. He rushed back, “But by the time I got back, it was gridlocked [traffic],” he told KTLA, a local station that was on the ground when he returned home.

Hader’s family was able to evacuate without problem while he was away, and the actor encourages everyone to “just leave” if they get the evacuation notice.

“I do know people who were like, ‘Well, wait and see,’ and things like, ‘I’m in the yellow zone’ or whatever. This thing, once it went red, you couldn’t get out.” Hader is right: when the time comes, roads can be gridlocked, preventing those impacted from driving to safety. Palisades firefighting crews had to bring in bulldozers to clear roads of abandoned cars left by those who fled from danger too late.

Several TikTok videos circulated showing residents trapped inside their homes, unable to leave as the flames quickly engulfed their multimillion-dollar homes.

“Don’t listen to your friends who are like, ‘Ah, you’re being a little freaked out,” he advised. “Just get out.” The comment smacks of personal experiences. Hader has been incredibly candid about his battles with anxiety over the years. Even as he was bringing audiences to tears during his lengthy SNL tenure, the actor was constantly fighting his nerves. He revealed that even showrunner Lorne Michaels knew, once coming to Hader before a show to tell him, ‘Calm the F— down. Just have fun. Jesus Christ.”

The California fires came on so quickly that even the most enthusiastic doomsday preppers would have struggled to grab their bags and go. “It’s just so mind-boggling how fast it happens. I just hope that everyone is safe,” a dazed Hader told reporters.

Even now, the blaze is less than 25% contained. Officials estimate that some 12,000 buildings have been destroyed and at least 25 people are dead. As residents trickle back into communities, local officials remind them that even though the fire was extinguished, dangers still remain. Downed power lines may still carry electricity, structures are compromised due to damages, and chemical leaks from household appliances can impact air quality.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may well have to the tens of thousands evacuating their homes amid the ongoing Los Angeles fires, thanks to the arrival of high-power winds leaving their own neighborhood on the brink of threat and officially being dubbed an “extreme danger zone.”

The LA fires have already left untold devastation in their wake — destroying 40,000 acres and claiming the lives of 24 people at last count — but Tuesday, Jan. 14 is being discussed as the most dangerous day of the wildfires yet. This is due to the arrival of fierce Santa Ana winds — dubbed “The Devil’s Winds” — which are predicted to cause “explosive fire growth.” With the powerful hurricane-force winds forecast to reach 70mph, the fires are expecting to spread further than ever.

This has led to the duke and duchess’ affluent neighborhood of Montecito to fall under a red flag warning, along with most of Santa Barbara County. As per official guidelines shared by the @montecitofire Instagram , residents should “be vigilant,” “prepare now,” and “be ready to evacuate” at any time. Power shortages are at risk of occurring, so locals have been advised to “keep your phones and important electronic charged.” A warning reads, “Under these conditions, fires will grow rapidly and behave erratically. Be ready to evacuate in the event of a vegetation fire.”

While Harry and Meghan have been able to remain safe in their home to date, the Sussexes haven’t been idle. The pair have been actively involved in their relief effort, throwing open the doors of their $29 million mansion to those in need of shelter as well as offering donations through their Archewell Foundation. The couple were also spotted helping serve meals to local victims of the fire alongside Jennifer Siebel Newsom, wife of beleaguered governor Gavin Newsom.

The Sussxes are hyper-aware of the dangers bearing down on them, then, and the duo are known to have already entered “crisis mode.” Luckily for Harry and Meghan, they have an expert security team on their payroll and reports have claimed that their people are prepped and ready to go on an evacuation plan, with packs filled with emergency items for their kids, Prince Archie (5) and Princes Lilibet (3).

This is definitely not how Harry and Meghan had expected this week to go. Markle’s latest Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, was all set to land on streaming this Wednesday, but it was wisely decided that releasing a breezy cookery show set against the sunny, unburning backdrop of Southern California from last year was maybe not what people wanted to watch right now. With Love, Meghan has instead been moved back to March 4.

The good news for the Sussexes, and the whole of SoCal, is that the strong winds are only due to last until Wednesday, after which the containment of the fires can perhaps finally begin to grow more effective. If they are lucky, the family won’t have to evacuate their home and they can continue to help doing their bit for all of those who have suffered the worst start to a new year imaginable.

As Los Angeles residents flee their homes and watch from afar as their lives are burned to ash from the county’s various wildfires, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is contemplating how to capitalize on the horrific situation.

Dozens are dead and hundreds of thousands of California residents are displaced as fires continue to ravage their communities. Harsh winds continue to both feed and spread furious flames across several southern California neighborhoods, and the state is increasingly desperate for aid. Just under a week into the fire’s spread, things are dire for nearly half a million American citizens, but there are politicians still willing to let them suffer for the sake of leverage. Politicians like Mike Johnson.

The Republican leader of the House of Representatives indicated on Jan. 13 that “conditions” will be attached to any funding provided to the historically Democratic state’s disaster relief. It seems he’s planning to initiate a political tug-of-war over vital aid Californians desperately need, but he’s not overly specific about what would be attached.

Johnson s Donald Trump and a bulk of right-wing airheads claiming the fires are a result of Democratic leaders who “were derelict in their duty.” They believe California Governor Gavin Newsom should resign, and they’ve been blame-slinging since the flames first started spreading through the Golden State.

Keep in mind, of course, that this is the same political party that thinks Democrats control the weather. So, brutal as it is, it’s actually quite reasonable to believe that Johnson, egged on by the likes of Marjorie ‘Space Lasers’ Greene, thinks negotiating with the Democrats is akin to harnessing Mother Nature.

Johnson told reporters on Monday that the House Republican Conference is prepped for a “serious discussion” about aid for California. “I think there should probably be conditions on that aid,” he said. “That’s my personal view. We’ll see what the consensus is. I haven’t had a chance to socialize that with any of the over the weekend because we’ve all been very busy, but it’ll be part of the discussion.”

So there’s a very real chance that, if the nation wants to see California receive Congressional aid, Democrats will be forced to meet conditions laid down by Johnson. These will likely have nothing at all to do with disaster response, access to water, or brush removal, but rather lean into the disastrous policies championed by their incoming president-elect. The same ones Democrats have been ardently opposed to from the start.

That fact wasn’t lost on the American public, which let its ire be known in social media pushback to Johnson’s statement. Over on Reddit, commenters pointed out that Johnson is engaging in the exact same behavior Republicans are always accusing Democrats of, and he’s not even being clever about it. “Literally every accusation is a confession with those dipshits,” another added.

Johnson’s comments came after he was asked if he was open to sending funding, which may leave it up to a bare few Republican voices to decide how much help California citizens deserve. There’s no indication of when said discussion will occur, but as strong winds continue to hamper first responders’ efforts to tame the flames, we must hope it will be soon. More lives and land are lost every moment that Johnson and his crowd delays, but that seems to matter little when it’s a Democratic state that’s suffering.

Keep in mind that President Biden, in response to those hurricanes Greene is convinced Democrats control, sent nearly $2 billion in assistance for hurricane recovery efforts. Biden sees people where Johnson sees pawns, and he’s about to hand the reigns over to the guy pulling Johnson’s strings. Lord, help us all.