Stunning Moment 'Woke' L.A. Mayor Karen Bass Deadpans Reporter as Fires Rage

Where's Karen?

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass faced blistering criticism for attending Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama's inauguration while devastating wildfires wreaked havoc on her city. Her decision to leave during the crisis sparked fury among residents and officials alike.
Upon her Wednesday, January 8, return, journalist David Blevins cornered the leader at LAX with a razor-sharp blitz of questions only to be met with deadpan silence from Bass. 

Mum's the Word

Bass' silence has only fueled public outrage, with critics demanding explanations for her lack of leadership at such a critical time.

"Fire chiefs say that they're really stretched to the limit and running out of water, what have you got to say to that? Have you no response to that?" Blevins asked.
"Do you owe your citizens an apology for being absent while their homes were burning? Do you regret cutting the fire department by millions of dollars, Madam Mayor? Have you nothing to say today?"

Bass: silence…

Mayor's $17.6M Fire Department Cuts Come Back to Haunt

Bass' controversial decision to slash $17.6 million dollars from the Los Angeles Fire Department's budget has come under scrutiny. 

With firefighters reporting empty hydrants and inadequate resources to fight the blazes, residents are calling the cuts a "catastrophic mistake."

'Hellscape' Homes

The wildfires have left a trail of destruction, leveling over 1,000 structures and claiming at least two lives, reports show. 
The scale of the devastation has sparked heated debates about the city's lack of preparedness in handling such a disaster.

'Where's the Water, Madam Mayor?'

The LADWP (Los Angeles Department of Water and Power) revealed that while water tanks in Pacific Palisades were filled to capacity, the unprecedented demand during firefighting efforts left them empty.
This revelation has raised questions about the city's infrastructure and crisis response. Rick Caruso, Bass' billionaire defeated challenger in the 2022 mayoral race, also had some things to say.

'Third-World' L.A.

"What is most concerning to me is, our first responders and our firefighters who are trying to battle this, there's no water in the Palisades," the real estate developer stated. "There's no water coming out of the fire hydrants. This is an absolute mismanagement by the city. We've got a Mayor that's out of the country and we've got a city that's burning and there's no resources to put out fires. If you look at your pictures, you don't see the firefighters there because there's nothing they can do. It looks like we're in a third-world country here."

Critics Blast Bass for Putting 'Wokeness' Over Wildfire Safety

Commentators accused the mayor and fire officials of focusing on diversity and equity initiatives instead of prioritizing essential emergency services. The "woke" backlash highlights tension between progressive policies and the need for practical disaster management.

Megyn Kelly roasted Bass on her self-titled radio program on Wednesday, January 8. "Who gives a s— if the fire chief is gay. I'm sorry but who gives a flying fig about who she likes to sleep with, can you fight the f—— fires, madam? That's the relevant question," she said.

L.A. Demands Answers Amid Leadership Failures

As Los Angeles battles its most devastating wildfire in recent history, calls for accountability grow louder. 

Residents and officials are demanding transparency from city leaders and some are calling loudly for a reassessment of budget priorities to prevent future disasters.
For now, everyone is "bracing for how bad this might get… it is absolutely unbelievable," a Malibu resident shared on X.