Political firestorm Trump and allies using disaster to attack California Democrats

The president-elect and his Maga (make America great again) acolytes have used the fires to attack the Democratic political ruling establishment in Los Angeles and California - possibly foretelling power struggles ahead over a range of issues after Donald Trump assumes office this month.

- Robert Tait

The attacks have used wild claims, disinformation, conspiracy theories and culture-war tropes. But absent from their critique has been any acknowledgement that climate breakdown has played any role - despite a consensus among experts that the fires were caused by exceptional environmental conditions, such as near hurricane-strength winds, low rainfall and unseasonably high temperatures.

The Republicans have instead blamed Gavin Newsom, California's governor, for supposedly failing to ensure enough water was available to douse the infernos. His fellow Democrat Karen Bass, the Los Angeles mayor, drew flak for not returning from a pre-planned trip to Ghana until after the fires began. Also targeted has been the head of LA's fire department, Kristin Crowley, derided as a "DEI [diversity, equity and inclusiveness] hire" in reference to her being the first openly gay woman to hold the position.