Last month, comedian Adam Carolla went viral with a brutally honest take on the inevitable bureaucratic nightmare awaiting wildfire victims in California. Carolla didn’t mince words, predicting that victims—many of them staunch Democrats—would soon be choking on the very red tape their voting habits helped create. His warning? Once they face the endless regulations and the smug arrogance of unelected bureaucrats, they might just have a political epiphany: “They’re going to vote for Trump or whoever’s Trumpian next.”
Fast forward to today, and it’s clear Carolla wasn’t exaggerating. Despite Governor Gavin Newsom’s attempt to do some PR damage control, claiming that permits would flow freely and rebuilding would be smooth, reality has hit like a wrecking ball.
Newsom recently appeared on CNN, claiming that wildfire victims “can’t rebuild the same” because of—you guessed it—“the science” and climate change. Translation? Sure, you can rebuild… just as long as you comply with new environmental regulations, stricter building codes, and whatever else Sacramento decides to throw your way.
Gov. @GavinNewsom admits he won't let Pacific Palisades property owners to rebuild as before: "You can't rebuild the same. We have to rebuild with science. We have to build with climate reality in mind." pic.twitter.com/C6bIcd6iUr
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) February 6, 2025
In other words, Carolla nailed it.
While Newsom tries to spin the narrative, the New York Post reports that wildfire victims in Los Angeles could face up to 18 months just to get the toxic ash and debris cleared. Why? Not because of a lack of resources or manpower, but because of layers of bureaucracy. Victims must navigate through the Los Angeles County government, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Environmental Protection Agency before they can even think about laying a new foundation.
Imagine losing your home, thinking you’ll be able to rebuild and move on with your life, only to discover that you’re stuck in paperwork purgatory while your property sits in ashes. Victims have two options:
- Pay out of pocket for costly debris removal (because who needs that insurance money for actual rebuilding, right?), or
- Wait more than a year while bureaucrats shuffle papers, hold meetings, and debate the environmental impact of removing rubble.
This isn’t recovery. It’s a slow-motion disaster.
Adam Carolla’s blunt assessment wasn’t just a comedic rant—it was a prophetic warning. And as more Californians wake up to the crushing weight of progressive policies, don’t be surprised if the next wildfire burns through more than forests—it might just scorch the political landscape, too.