L.A. Wildfires Turn Political: Karen Bass, Gavin Newsom Draw Heat Over Response

130,000 Los Angeles residents were forced to leave their homes due to a fierce blaze that broke out on January 6th. Mayor Karen Bass faced swift criticism as she departed for Ghana, Africa the day before the fire started, as part of a delegation sent by President Biden for the inauguration of the new president. Although her trip was planned prior to the fire, meteorologists had been warning for days about the high and dangerous winds that could potentially trigger a fire. As the disaster unfolded, Bass faced criticism for not returning until Wednesday afternoon. This critique mirrors the backlash experienced by Senator Ted Cruz when he left Texas during a statewide freeze and power outage crisis in 2021 to vacation in Cancun.