Gideon Resnick

But Politico notes that's only a part of the story. The city was in the process of negotiating a new contract with the fire department, and a separate fund was set aside that ended up adding $50 million to the fire department budget year over year. Still, fire officials say they're understaffed and under-resourced.

One of Bass' most outspoken critics is real estate developer Rick Caruso, who ran against her in the 2022 mayoral election. His daughter lost her home in the wildfires, and he's been blasting Bass and the city for the lack of available water. Here he is on the local Fox affiliate earlier in the week.

One of Bass' most outspoken critics is real estate developer Rick Caruso, who ran against her in the 2022 mayoral election. His daughter lost her home in the wildfires, and he's been blasting Bass and the city for the lack of available water. Here he is on the local Fox affiliate earlier in the week.

One of Bass' most outspoken critics is real estate developer Rick Caruso, who ran against her in the 2022 mayoral election. His daughter lost her home in the wildfires, and he's been blasting Bass and the city for the lack of available water. Here he is on the local Fox affiliate earlier in the week.

But the L.A. Department of Water and Power says that isn't quite right. At issue wasn't supply, but strain on the system that feeds hydrants. Here's Kevin Tidmarsh, a reporter with LAist.

But the L.A. Department of Water and Power says that isn't quite right. At issue wasn't supply, but strain on the system that feeds hydrants. Here's Kevin Tidmarsh, a reporter with LAist.

But the L.A. Department of Water and Power says that isn't quite right. At issue wasn't supply, but strain on the system that feeds hydrants. Here's Kevin Tidmarsh, a reporter with LAist.

Water to those hydrants is supplied by massive tanks that hold a million gallons each and are designed to maintain pressure as water is pumped up hills. The water department says the tanks and palisades were filled to capacity, but as firefighters drew more and more water while the flames spread, the system just couldn't hold. Here's Tidmarsh again.

Water to those hydrants is supplied by massive tanks that hold a million gallons each and are designed to maintain pressure as water is pumped up hills. The water department says the tanks and palisades were filled to capacity, but as firefighters drew more and more water while the flames spread, the system just couldn't hold. Here's Tidmarsh again.

Water to those hydrants is supplied by massive tanks that hold a million gallons each and are designed to maintain pressure as water is pumped up hills. The water department says the tanks and palisades were filled to capacity, but as firefighters drew more and more water while the flames spread, the system just couldn't hold. Here's Tidmarsh again.

Another factor at play are the high winds, which have forced firefighters to battle these blazes almost exclusively from the ground while getting very little aerial support. Greg Pierce, the director of the UCLA Water Resources Group, told Tidmarsh a lot of this was to be expected and that any government would be taken by surprise with a disaster of this magnitude.

Another factor at play are the high winds, which have forced firefighters to battle these blazes almost exclusively from the ground while getting very little aerial support. Greg Pierce, the director of the UCLA Water Resources Group, told Tidmarsh a lot of this was to be expected and that any government would be taken by surprise with a disaster of this magnitude.

Another factor at play are the high winds, which have forced firefighters to battle these blazes almost exclusively from the ground while getting very little aerial support. Greg Pierce, the director of the UCLA Water Resources Group, told Tidmarsh a lot of this was to be expected and that any government would be taken by surprise with a disaster of this magnitude.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, he added, is one of the most prepared and efficient in the country, and the department achieves that regardless of who is in charge. Despite all the finger-pointing among politicians, Tidmarsh told us that on the ground in Los Angeles, people are coming together to support each other. Let's turn now to a big legal development.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, he added, is one of the most prepared and efficient in the country, and the department achieves that regardless of who is in charge. Despite all the finger-pointing among politicians, Tidmarsh told us that on the ground in Los Angeles, people are coming together to support each other. Let's turn now to a big legal development.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, he added, is one of the most prepared and efficient in the country, and the department achieves that regardless of who is in charge. Despite all the finger-pointing among politicians, Tidmarsh told us that on the ground in Los Angeles, people are coming together to support each other. Let's turn now to a big legal development.

The Supreme Court declined to delay President-elect Trump's sentencing in the New York hush money case. Trump is scheduled to be sentenced this morning. It comes after a jury convicted him of 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the lead up to the 2016 election.

The Supreme Court declined to delay President-elect Trump's sentencing in the New York hush money case. Trump is scheduled to be sentenced this morning. It comes after a jury convicted him of 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the lead up to the 2016 election.

The Supreme Court declined to delay President-elect Trump's sentencing in the New York hush money case. Trump is scheduled to be sentenced this morning. It comes after a jury convicted him of 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the lead up to the 2016 election.

The judge in the case says he will not give Trump jail or probation. Still, this will cement his status as the first felon to occupy the White House. The sentencing takes place early this morning, so check the Apple News app for more updates. Also today, the Supreme Court will hear arguments challenging the government's efforts to force a sale of TikTok to an approved buyer by January 19th.