A reporter confronted the Democratic speaker ca On whether lawmakers should focus on allocating legal funds to “protect Trump” in the Golden State while Los Angeles-area wildfires still burn.
He added, “Is the time now appropriate to hold a special legislative session regarding the allocation of funds?” Fight Trump In a way that you can actually do without a special legislative session?” California reporter Ashley Zavala asked House Speaker Robert Rivas on Thursday.
“I'm here to address… These forest fires.” Rivas replied. “This is a historic wildfire. This is a historic event. These wildfires, as I mentioned, will be, in all likelihood, some of the worst wildfires and disasters in state and national history.”
Newsom proposes $25 million from state legislature to 'Trump-resistant' California
A reporter questions California Democratic State Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (Credit KCRA 3) (Kakra 3)
“While this,” Zavala responded A massive fire occursAnd while people are trying to understand what's going on and worrying about disaster relief, and worrying about being able to get homeowners insurance, your chamber held a special legislative session to prepare for Donald Trump in a way that you're already able to do without a special legislative session. So again, is now a good time for that?”
Once again, Rivas centered his answer on focusing on wildfire recovery, but did not directly respond to Zavala's inquiry.
“So certainly our focus now, as Chairman, Ashley, at this moment, my colleagues and I, are working with great urgency, with great urgency, to ensure that we provide much-needed relief to Angelenos, to ensure that we understand what it will take for them to recover,” Rivas said. This area and supports the people most affected by this disaster.” “And you know that the response of our first responders has been unprecedented, and they are doing everything in their power to control and contain these multiple fires, once again.” Others, and they are doing everything they can to ensure people are kept safe now. “Once again in anticipation and preparation for the recovery, as a state, we, as a legislature, will do everything we can to support that recovery.”
'Devastating': California saw record rainfall last year, but lacked the infrastructure to store it
Shortly after President-elect Donald Trump won the election, Governor Gavin Newsom He announced a special legislative session to strengthen the state's legal fund in the event of attacks from the Trump administration. Trump responded to Newsom after the announcement, saying, “He uses the term 'anti-Trump' as a way to stop all the great things that could be done to 'Make California Great Again,' but I just won the election by a landslide.” “Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.
Between 2017 and 2021, California Department of Justice 122 lawsuits filed Against the policies of the Trump administration, spending $42 million on litigation. In one case, the federal government ordered California to reimburse California for nearly $60 million in public safety grants, Newsom's office said.
While California has filed more than 100 lawsuits against the Trump administration, President-elect Donald Trump has filed only four major lawsuits against the state. In 2018, Trump's Justice Department sued over three California laws restricting cooperation with… Federal immigration enforcement. That same year, Trump sued the state of California over its statewide net neutrality law.
Wind whips embers as a firefighter battles the blaze in the Angeles National Forest near Mount Wilson as wildfires burn in the Los Angeles area, during the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, January 9, 2025. (Reuters/Ringo Chiu)
In 2019, Trump also filed a lawsuit over California's vehicle emissions standards, attempting to revoke California's ability to set its own emissions rules. Trump administration She also filed a lawsuit against the state of California On the controversial independent contractor law, AB 5, in 2020.
California is a sanctuary state for illegal immigrants Abortion procedures And transgender treatments for children could be targeted by the Trump administration, especially given Trump's plan to mass deport illegal immigrants.
Newsom previously said that the Golden State “is a tentpole for the country…that protects and invests in the rights and freedoms of all people” and that officials “will work with the next administration and we want that.” President Trump To succeed in serving all Americans.”
“But when there is overreach, when lives are threatened, when rights and freedoms are targeted, we will take action,” Newsom said. “And that is exactly what this special session is about — setting this state up for success, no matter who is in the White House.”
