[Karah Rucker]

MULTIPLE WILDFIRES CONTINUE TO TEAR THROUGH THE HEART OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

THE BLAZE HAS FORCED MORE THAN 45 THOUSAND PEOPLE TO EVACUATE THEIR HOMES. THE “PACIFIC PALiSADES FIRE” HAS KILLED AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE AND CONSUMED MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND STRUCTURES – WITH ZERO PERCENT CONTAINMENT AS OF WEDNESDAY MORNING.

AS FIRE FIGHTERS CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH LIMITED RESOURCES, INCLUDING EMPTY HYDRANTS AMID A WATER SHORTAGE –

IT’S LOCAL AND STATE OFFICIALS WHO ARE TAKING SOME HEAT FROM RESIDENTS, PEOPLE ONLINE, AND THE PRESIDENT-ELECT.

LOS ANGELES MAYOR KAREN BASS IS FACING CRITICISM FOR BEING OUT OF THE COUNTRY DURING A CRITICAL TIME.

BASS WAS IN GHANA, AS PART OF A U.S. DELEGATION FOR THE INAUGURATION OF GHANA’S PRESIDENT.

BASS STILL DECLARED A LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY IN LOS ANGELES TUESDAY AND ASSURED THE PUBLIC THAT THE CITY WAS AGGRESSIVELY ADDRESSING THE FIRES, BUT SOME HAVE CRITICIZED HER PHYSICAL ABSENCE – INCLUDING ELON MUSK CALLING HER QUOTE “UTTERLY INCOMPETENT.”

AND DEVELOPER RICK CARUSO WHO OWNS THE PALISADES VILLAGE SHOPPING CENTER IN THE AREA WENT AFTER  BASS FOR HER TRIP AWAY DURING THE CITY’S TURMOIL.

TELLING LOCAL NEWS – “THIS IS LIKE A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY… THERE IS NO WATER COMING OUT OF THE FIRE HYDRANTS. LA MAYOR KAREN BASS IS ON A FOREIGN TRIP TO GHANA. THE FIREFIGHTERS ARE THERE, AND THERE’S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. IT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN.”

ADDITIONALLY, BASS IS UNDER FIRE FOR CUTTING THE LOS ANGELES FIRE DEPARTMENT’S BUDGET BY $17.6 MILLION IN THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR. THIS REDUCTION COMES AT A TIME OF CONCERN OVER THE CITY’S PREPAREDNESS WITH REPORTS OF WATER RESOURCES RUNNING DRY

THE LOS ANGELES TIMES REPORTED FIREFIGHTERS RADIOING EACH OTHER IN ACTIVE FIRE ZONES SAYING “FIRE HYDRANTS WERE DOWN” AND “WATER SUPPLY HAS DROPPED.”

THEY REPORT THE CITY WATER AND POWER DEPARTMENT ACKNOWLEDGED THE DIMINISHED FLOW BUT COULDN’T ANSWER HOW MANY HYDRANTS WERE AFFECTED OR WHY IT WAS HAPPENING.

PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP – WEIGHING IN ON THE LACK OF WATER DURING CALIFORNIA’S NOW STATE OF EMERGENCY – TAKING AIM AT GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM.

TRUMP POSTED –

Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way. He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish…

Now the ultimate price is being paid. I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA! He is the blame for this.”

THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE TWO OVER CALIFORNIA FIRES, DEFORESTATION, AND WATER SUPPLY WERE  ALL ISSUES OF TRUMP’S FIRST TERM AS WELL.

NEWSOM FILED LAWSUIT TO STOP A TRUMP ORDER IN 2020 THAT WOULD HAVE REDIRECTED WATER SUPPLY TO MAINLY FARMERS.

NEWSOM ARGUED THE ORDER WOULD CAUSE HARM TO ENDANGERED FISH SPECIES.

NEWSOM HAS BEEN ON THE GROUND IN ACTIVE WILDFIRE ZONES –

ASSURING RESIDENTS OF THE EFFORTS BY THE STATE TO WORK TO CONTAIN THE BLAZE.

[California Gov. Gavin Newsom, D]

“hundreds of personnel are here, we’ve prepositioned 110 engines, we’ve got fix winged aircraft, helicopters, dozers, water tenders, specialty personnel, putting everything we can into not only suppressing this fire but preventing additional fires over the course of the next few days.”  

ISSUES OVER WATER HYDRANT FAILURES ARE NOT NEW FOR THE STATE.

THE LOS ANGELES TIMES REPORTED WATER SUPPLY FAILURES COMPLICATED EFFORTS TO COMBAT THE MOUNTAIN FIRE IN VENTURA COUNTY THAT BURNED IN NOVEMBER.

INACTIVE WATER PUMPS DELAYED WATER DELIVERIES TO THE AREAS BURNING.

THE PALISADES FIRE HITS CALIFORNIA OUTSIDE OF ITS TYPICAL WILDFIRE SEASON –

AND AS OF THIS RECORDING – WAS STILL ZERO PERCENT CONTAINED.

THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS ALSO UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.

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[Ray Bogan]

Five members of Congress more than doubled the value of their stock portfolios in 2024, in some cases they beat the market by four to six times. The eye-popping increase will raise further questions about members trading stocks while being privy to information the public is not. 

Overall, Democrats saw their portfolios increase 31% while Republicans increased by 26%. They both beat the S&P 500 which skyrocketed by 23%. 

The information was compiled by Unusual Whales, a company that provides services to retail traders. 

Here are the top five individual members- 

1. Republican Rep. David Rouzer whose stock portfolio increased 149%
2. Democratic Rep. Debbie Schultz who saw an increase of 142.3%
3. Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden had a 123.8% increase 
4. Republican Rep. Roger Williams who was up 111.2% for the year 
5. Democratic Rep. Morgan McGarvey who hit 105.8%

How did they do so well? They overwhelmingly bought into big tech companies like Nvidia which went up 154% for the year. 

If you look at holdings by sector – Democrats’ portfolios are 49.4% tech stocks, while Republicans’ are 15.8%, which is still more than any other industry. 

The report also points out that some of the gains were in stocks that benefited from bills they passed like the Chips Act. 

Unusual Whale created this report by reviewing members Periodic Transaction Reports, or PTRs, which are available online. Members must disclose stock transactions greater than $1,000 within 45 days. The public reports contain the type of asset, the amount and the date of the transaction. 

Why should you care? Unusual Whales says lawmakers trading stocks while legislating is inherently problematic. 

“Congress members shape policies that can directly impact markets. Whether or not they act on insider knowledge, the appearance of potential abuse undermines public trust,” the report stated.  

There are many members who say lawmakers should not be allowed to buy individual stocks. A ban on the practice has not been approved, despite multiple attempts.

[Karah Rucker]

EXXON MOBIL IS COUNTERSUING CALIFORNIA … MONTHS AFTER THE STATE SUED THE OIL AND GAS GIANT – CLAIMING IT LIED ABOUT PLASTICS RECYCLING.

THE COMPANY NOW ACCUSES CALIFORNIA’S ATTORNEY GENERAL, ROB BONTA (bon-tah) OF DEFAMATION … SAYING HE STAGED “A DELIBERATE SMEAR CAMPAIGN.”

BONTA FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST EXXON IN SEPTEMBER ASKING THAT THE COMPANY PAY CIVIL PENALTIES AND FINES AFTER A MORE THAN TWO YEAR INVESTIGATION … SAYING IT WAS TIME TO HOLD IT ACCOUNTABLE FOR MISLEADING MARKETING CAMPAIGNS.

BONTA ALLEGED THE COMPANY TRIED TO CONVINCE THE PUBLIC THAT PLASTIC RECYCLING COULD SOLVE THE PLASTIC WASTE AND POLLUTION PROBLEM WHEN IT CLEARLY KNEW THAT WASN’T POSSIBLE – RESULTING IN LANDFILLS AND OCEANS BEING FILLED WITH PLASTIC WASTE. 

EXXON IS ACCUSING BONTA OF MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS IN INTERVIEWS ABOUT ITS RECYCLING TECHNOLOGY CAUSING PROSPECTIVE BUSINESS DEALS TO FALL APART. THE COMPANY IS NOWSEEKING MONETARY DAMAGES AND RETRACTIONS FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AS WELL AS FROM FOUR ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS ALSO NAMED IN THE LAWSUIT.

THE SIERRA CLUB, SAN FRANCISCO BAYKEEPER, HEAL THE BAY AND THE SURFRIDER FOUNDATION ALL FILED THEIR OWN LAWSUIT AGAINST EXXON COINCIDING WITH BONTA’S WITH A SPOKESPERSON FROM THE SIERRA CLUB NOW RESPONDING TO THE NEW LAWSUIT … 

… CALLING IT A “SHAMELESS ATTEMPT AT INTIMIDATION BY A MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR CORPORATION THAT COVERED UP ITS CLIMATE CHANGE DENIAL FOR DECADES.”

A SPOKESPERSON FOR CALIFORNIA’S DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SAYS THE LAWSUIT IS “ANOTHER ATTEMPT FROM EXXON MOBIL TO DEFLECT ATTENTION FROM ITS OWN UNLAWFUL DECEPTION” … ADDING THAT BONTA LOOKS FORWARD TO FIGHTING THE CASE.

MEANWHILE, EXXON MAINTAINS THAT ITS RECYCLING TECHNOLOGY IS NOT A “FARCE” OR A “MYTH.”

A RECENT REPORT FROM THE ADVOCACY GROUP “CENTER FOR CLIMATE INTEGRITY” SAYS THAT RECYCLING PLASTICS FAILED BECAUSE IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE TO DO ON A LARGE SCALE … WITH THE RECYCLING RATE FOR PLASTIC ESTIMATED TO ONLY BE 5 TO 6 PERCENT AS OF 20-21. 

FOR SAN – I’M KARAH RUCKER.

… FOR ALL YOUR LATEST NEWS HEADLINES – DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP TODAY.

[KARAH RUCKER]

THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SAYS IT WILL RELEASE VOLUME ONE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL JACK SMITH’S REPORT CENTERING AROUND PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP’S ELECTION INTERFERENCE CASE.

BUT THE DEPARTMENT WILL WITHHOLD VOLUME TWO OF THE FINDINGS FOCUSING ON TRUMP’S POSSESSION OF CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC FOR NOW.

THE FILING WEDNESDAY WAS ISSUED TO A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT WEIGHING A REQUEST FROM TRUMP’S LAWYERS TO BLOCK THE RELEASE OF THE REPORT.

TWO OF TRUMP’S FORMER CO-DEFENDANTS STILL FACE CHARGES IN THE CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS CASE AND REQUESTED EMERGENCY MOTIONS TO BLOCK THE RELEASE OF THE FINAL REPORT THIS WEEK.

JUDGE AILEEN CANNON, WHO DISMISSED TRUMP’S CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS CASE, ISSUED A TEMPORARY HALT ON THE REPORT.

THE D-O-J SAYS IT WILL NOW RELEASE JUST THE FIRST OF TWO VOLUMES – THE ONE FOCUSING ON TRUMP’S ALLEGED EFFORTS TO OVERTURN THE RESULTS OF THE 2020 ELECTION.

WHILE ONLY ALLOWING CHAIRMEN AND RANKING MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEES TO PRIVATELY REVIEW THE CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS REPORT.

VOLUME TWO WON’T BE PUBLICLY RELEASED AS LONG AS THE CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS CASE AGAINST TRUMP’S VALET WALT NAUTA AND PROPERTY MANAGER CARLOS DE OLIVEIRA CONTINUES.

THE D-O-J ARGUES THE “LIMITED DISCLOSURE” WILL PROTECT “THE DEFENDANTS INTERESTS” WHILE INFORMING CONGRESS AND “THE PUBLIC REGARDING THIS SIGNIFICANT MATTER.”

THE D-O-J ALSO REQUESTED IN ITS FILING FOR THE APPEALS COURT TO THROW OUT CANNON’S ORDER BLOCKING THE RELEASE OF ANY PORTION OF SMITH’S REPORT.

UNLESS VACATED, THE TEMPORARY INJUNCTION REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL THREE DAYS AFTER THE APPEALS COURT ANNOUNCES ITS DECISION.

IF THE COURT GRANTS THE DEPARTMENT’S REQUEST VOLUME ONE MAY BE RELEASED ANYTIME AFTER THE RULING.

FOR MORE ON THIS STORY– DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM. 

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M KARAH RUCKER.

[Karah]

CNN IS FACING A DEFAMATION LAWSUIT IN A FLORIDA COURTROOM THIS WEEK AFTER AIRING A SEGMENT ABOUT PRIVATE CONTRACTORS EXPLOITING AFGHANS DURING THE AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL IN 2021.

A NAVY VETERAN FEATURED IN THE PIECE SUED THE NETWORK FOR DEFAMING HIM – SAYING CNN SENSATIONALIZED THE STORY RESULTING IN HIS IMAGE AND BUSINESS BEING DAMAGED.

THE SEGMENT – WAS ABOUT PRIVATE CONTRACTORS CHARGING AFGHANS LARGE SUMS OF MONEY TO HELP THEM LEAVE THE COUNTRY AT A TIME OF DESPERATION.

THE CNN REPORTER DESCRIBED IT AS “BLACK MARKET” EVACUATIONS.

ONE OF THOSE CONTRACTORS – ZACHARY YOUNG – THE ONLY ONE MENTIONED BY NAME IN THE NEWS SEGMENT – SUED THE NEWS OUTLET –

SAYING THE NETWORK FALSELY ACCUSED HIM OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITY AND TURNED HIM INTO AN “INTERNATIONAL PARIAH.”

YOUNG’S LAWYER CALLING IT “A HIT PIECE.”

SAYING –

“The world braced for the Taliban’s return, but CNN sitting at their desks in D.C., wanted to tell America a more sensational story. CNN took pleasure in casting Zach as a villain.

Overnight, he went from patriot to criminal and his career as a private intelligence and security consultant has not recovered. CNN’s reckless journalism stole Zach’s income and reputation.

YOUNG SAYS HE NEVER ACCEPTED MONEY FROM INDIVIDUAL AFGHANS BUT INSTEAD WAS PAID BY SPONSORS OR CORPORATIONS WHO WANTED TO HELP IN EVACUATIONS.

YOUNG SAYS CORPORATIONS LIKE AUDIBLE AND BLOOMBERG PAID HIM TO GET MORE THAN A DOZEN PEOPLE OUT OF AFGHANISTAN.

BUT CNN’S LAWYER TOLD THE JURY, THE REPORT WAS ACCURATE.

DURING TRIAL CNN’S ATTORNEY, SAID –

“Every word you are going to see from CNN’s reporters was true and was accurate. There is no evidence in this case that there was anything sensational in the story.”

YOUNG’S LAWYER ALSO INTRODUCED TO THE JURY THIS WEEK TEXT MESSAGES BETWEEN CNN REPORTERS AND EDITORS – EVIDENCE OBTAINED THROUGH THE SUIT.

ACCORDING TO THE TEXTS, REPORTERS SAID YOUNG “HAD A PUNCHABLE FACE” AND MOCKED HIM.

YOUNG TOLD THE JURY –

“It’s devastating when you’re labeled a criminal all over the world for someone like me. We refer to ourselves as quiet professionals. Discretion is everything.”

FIVE MONTHS AFTER THE STORY AIRED – CNN ISSUED AN ON-AIR APOLOGY TO YOUNG SAYING ITS USE OF THE PHRASE “BLACK MARKET” WAS WRONG.

AND THE NETWORK DIDN’T INTEND TO SUGGEST THAT YOUNG PARTICIPATED IN A BLACK MARKET AND SAID THEY REGRETTED THE ERROR.

THIS CASE – HIGHLIGHTING CURRENT CHALLENGES FACED BY TRADITIONAL MEDIA IN AN ERA WHERE MISINFORMATION, MEDIA MISTRUST, AND CALLS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY ARE AT THE FOREFRONT.

WITH DECLINING VIEWERSHIP, REVENUE, AND INCREASING COMPETITION FROM DIGITAL PLATFORMS, LEGACY MEDIA OUTLETS LIKE CNN ARE NAVIGATING A NEW LANDSCAPE –

AND THIS DEFAMATION SUIT COULD FURTHER HURT THE NETWORK’S IMAGE AS CNN’S BEHIND THE SCENES OPERATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS BECOMEPART OF THE TRIAL.

CASES AGAINST THE MEDIA ARE RARE DUE TO U.S. PROTECTIONS OVER THE PRESS –

OFTEN LEADING TO DISMISSALS OR SETTLEMENTS –

JUST LAST MONTH – ABC PAID15 MILLION DOLLARS TO SETTLE A DEFAMATION SUIT BROUGHT BY TRUMP.

AND IN 2023 – A HIGH-PROFILE LIBEL CASE AGAINST FOX NEWS ENDED WITH THE NETWORK PAYING 787 MILLION DOLLARS TO SETTLE WITH DOMINION VOTING SYSTEMS.

CNN’S DEFAMATION TRIAL IS EXPECTED TO LAST TWO WEEKS.

WE’LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THIS STORY AND YOU CAN TOO.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS – I’M KARAH RUCKER.