Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass just tossed a curveball by praising the Trump administration for tackling wildfires, while California’s own Governor Gavin Newsom can’t stop throwing shade.
In a surprising turn on ABC News’ This Week on Sunday, Bass gave a rare nod of approval to the administration’s handling of the Palisades and Eaton wildfires in Los Angeles during their first six months, Breitbart reported.
Bass didn’t hold back, declaring, “I will heap praise on the administration for the first six months in Los Angeles with the fires.” Now, that’s a statement you don’t hear every day from a big-city mayor in a blue state. Let’s be real—while some might call this a refreshing bit of bipartisanship, others will wonder if she’s just playing nice to secure more federal aid.
Contrast that with Governor Newsom, who earlier this month unleashed a barrage of criticism against the Trump team and their point man, special envoy Ric Grenell. Newsom accused the administration of letting fires rage unchecked on federal lands in California, a claim that’s sure to rile up conservatives who argue the state’s policies are often the real tinderbox.
Newsom didn’t stop there—he also aimed Grenell’s comments on California’s fire and water management, painting the envoy as out of touch. For those of us who value federal-state cooperation over finger-pointing, this feud feels like a distraction from the real work of rebuilding.
Meanwhile, Bass stayed laser-focused on the wildfire response during her ABC interview, sidestepping broader controversies like immigration policy. It’s a smart move—why wade into that swamp when you can score points on a crisis that hits close to home?
Speaking of the wildfire response, federal agencies like the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have apparently stepped up their game. Reports indicate they’ve cleared hazardous waste and debris from the affected areas faster than in any prior wildfire disaster. That’s the kind of boots-on-the-ground action conservatives have long demanded from Washington.
Yet, Bass wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows when pressed on other issues during the interview. On immigration, she said, “I think that the viewpoint has been punitive.” While her critique may resonate with progressive talking points, it’s worth asking if she’s overlooking the need for secure borders amid real public safety concerns.
Still, her focus remained on the fires, and that’s where her praise landed hardest. It’s a reminder that even in polarized times, a job well done can—and should—be acknowledged.
Back to Newsom, whose sharp words for Grenell and the administration seem to ignore the federal cleanup efforts Bass highlighted. For many on the right, this smacks of the usual Sacramento playbook: blame Washington while dodging accountability for state-level failures.
Newsom’s claim that fires spread due to federal neglect on California lands is a serious charge, but where’s the evidence of state-level prevention measures? Conservatives might argue that decades of restrictive environmental policies have left brush and forests primed for disaster—hardly a federal fault.
Bass, by contrast, seems to grasp that pointing fingers won’t douse a single flame. Her willingness to commend the administration’s early wildfire response could be a model for other leaders, if they can stomach setting aside partisan gripes.
So, where does this leave us? On one hand, Bass’s comments on ABC News offer a flicker of hope that practical governance can trump ideological divides, at least on urgent issues like disaster response. On the other, Newsom’s ongoing clash with Grenell and the administration signals that California’s political battles are far from over.
For conservatives, Bass’s praise is a small victory—a sign that even left-leaning leaders can’t ignore effective federal action when they see it. But let’s not get carried away; her broader skepticism on policies like immigration shows the divide remains wide.
At the end of the day, the Palisades and Eaton wildfires remind us all what’s at stake when disaster strikes. If federal and local leaders can keep the focus on results—like the rapid debris cleanup—rather than political posturing, maybe, just maybe, we’ll get somewhere. Until then, expect more sparks to fly between Sacramento and Washington, and not just from the wildfires.
