Shamita Basu

Jacob's connection to the loss that these communities feel was a big driver for him to write this book.

But another major theme emerged while homes were still on fire—calls for accountability.

This was just two weeks before President Biden's term ended and President Trump was sworn in.

And the responses were politically charged.

She was not in town at the time.

Well, let's talk a little bit about some of what Trump was saying at the time.

Again, not yet in office, but on the verge of taking office.

He was sharing these incorrect theories about water.

He was saying there was no available water for the firefighters to use and that it was largely the fault of Governor Newsom's water policies.

Now later it was determined that there was plenty of available water, but because so many fire hydrants and hoses were being used, there wasn't enough water.

pressure in the system for firefighters to sufficiently fight the flames but tell me how this played out in that moment in those early days and hours of this disaster unfolding

Mm hmm.

Yeah, that's right.

This was pre Doge days.

Elon Musk, not yet in the Trump administration, but he did show up on the ground and had had donated some cyber trucks and Starlink units, satellite units.

Yeah.

Well, one year later now, it's clear Governor Newsom and President Trump still don't see eye to eye on a lot of this.

Certainly on federal aid and a lot of recovery related efforts.

Can you tell me the latest on their relationship and what is still in contest?

I mean, Governor Newsom has talked about efforts that he's making.