The partisan feud over the deadly Los Angeles wildfires intensifies, with President Trump and congressional Republicans ramping up attacks on California and local response.

President Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 27 that allows the federal government to leapfrog local leaders and expedite permits.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said President Trump lacks the authority to fast-track wildfire rebuilding efforts in her own backyard after he signed an executive order aimed at speeding up the sluggish process.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday, bypassing California’s state and local permitting processes to fast-track rebuilding for structures destroyed or damaged in last year’s brush fires.

Nancy Ward, the head of CalOES, left office on Dec. 30. She had publicly begged FEMA to test for toxic substances after the fires — then, according to an internal memo obtained by the L.A. Times, privately advocated against it.

Following a Times investigation, a state lawmaker is proposing the first health-based standards for assessing smoke contamination after wildfires.

Pregnant women's exposure to wildfire smoke — particularly in the third trimester — may increase the risk of autism in their children, according to new research.

In 2022, Edwin Castro became biggest lottery winner ever with $2.04 billion Powerball. In January 2025, California wildfires impacted one of his homes.