Meet the Man Who Waited OVER SIX HOURS to Issue a Local State Of Emergency While Entire Neighborhoods Burned in the LA Wildfires – Life-Saving Federal Aid Also Denied Thanks to Him

Just when one thinks the debacle regarding California local leadership cannot possibly get worse, a new bombshell drops.

The Gateway Pundit previously reported that a massive 3,000-acre wildfire raged out of control and engulfed homes in Pacific Palisades, California, on Tuesday afternoon. Shocking and heartbreaking footage has emerged showing people abandoning their cars and running for their lives.

Residents have lost their homes, entire livelihoods, and even their lives over the past several days as fires have spread all across Southern California with no signs of abating. Meanwhile, firefighters are having issues with water pressure, thanks to politicians.

The fires would not have been so severe had California politicians led by Governor Gavin Newsom utilized common-sense solutions such as clearing out the dead brush in the woods and filling the state’s depleted reservoirs with water.

Now, actress Justine Bateman has shared a damning new revelation from her friend Eric Spiegelman, who served as a commissioner under former LA Mayor Eric Garcetti and briefly now-Mayor Karen Bass. It turns out that while Bass was in Ghana when the wildfires fire started, LA City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson took over as acting mayor and had a golden opportunity to assert his leadership.

Because Bass was away, she could not make key decisions regarding the fires, such as issuing a state of emergency.

Harris-Dawson, though, completely blew his opportunity in the most damaging way imaginable. When the Pacific Palisades wildfire started just before noon local time, Harris-Dawson decided to instead wait six and half hours for some unknown reason.

LOOK:

This is from my friend @ericspiegelman, who served as a commissioner under both Mayor Garcetti (and then Bass, for a moment).

There is no end to the ball-dropping this week by Karen Bass and her office. pic.twitter.com/yEPJ5pQ9HK

— Justine Bateman (@JustineBateman) January 11, 2025

This move was made despite the fact California is known as much for wildfires as Florida is for hurricanes. Of course, Florida is always prepared for the worst thanks decades of proactive conservative leadership.

While Harris-Dawson dawdled, neighborhoods in LA started to burn down and schools started catching on fire. To make matters worse, NO life-saving federal aid could be deployed during those critical hours due to the lack of state of emergency.

Because of this, the Biden regime was unable to deploy water-dropping navy helicopters until Wednesday.

Bateman also notes that Harris-Dawson supposedly does not do anything significant like this unless he has prior approval from Bass. It is unclear, however, whether the two ever made contact during those critical hours.

Just think of how many homes and lives could have been saved if Bass had been in LA and Harris-Dawson had shown leadership. One could call this criminal negligence.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/01/meet-man-who-waited-six-hours-issue-state/

Far-Left Canadian Leader Threatens President Trump: “If You Think You Can Pick a Fight with Us, There Will Be a Price to Pay!” (VIDEO)

President Trump’s trolling of Canada continues to trigger all of the right people including outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Now, one can add another highly influential leftist and potential Canadian Prime minister to the list.

Jagmeet Singh, the leader of the radical-left New Democratic Party (NDP) and candidate for Prime Minister, is still hopping mad over Trump’s trolling posted a deranged message to Trump on Sunday afternoon on his X account.

“I have a message for Donald Trump,” Singh began. “Our country’s not for sale.

“Not now. Not ever.”

“I lived across this country and I can tell you: Canadians are a proud people,” he continued. “We’re proud of our country and we’re ready to fight like hell to defend it.”

Singh went on to brag about Canadian firefighters showing up to help Californians suffering from the wildfires. Then he turned his attention back to Trump and threatened him.

“If you think you can pick a fight with us, there will be a price to pay!”

WATCH:

I have a message for Donald Trump.

We're good neighbours.

But, if you pick a fight with Canada – there will be a price to pay. pic.twitter.com/o60c4qIyza

— Jagmeet Singh (@theJagmeetSingh) January 12, 2025

Singh went on to say that he has committed to imposing retaliatory tariffs on America if elected Canadian Prime Minister and said all other candidates should follow suit.

It is not clear how Singh thinks he can get Trump to bend the knee, though. It’s not like the Canadians have any sort of army that would concern Trump.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/01/far-left-canadian-leader-threatens-president-trump-if/

President Trump’s Incoming National Security Advisor Rep. Mike Waltz on Hamas Hostages – “There are Gonna be Consequences to Those Who Think They Can Take an American” (VIDEO)

Republican Rep and President Trump’s incoming National Security Advisor Mike Waltz was on “This Week” on ABC with host Jon Karl on Sunday to discuss American hostages being held by Hamas.

“What are the prospects there do you think there that can get done by the 20th?” Karl asked regarding the release of hostages being held by Hamas.

“Those negotiations are literally happening as we speak. Hamas is completely isolated,” Waltz said.

“Hamas has nowhere else to go but to enter into some type of agreement allow, you know, let’s have a cease fire, let’s allow our hostages to be set free. I want to see them walking across the tarmac, or at a minimum, some type of agreement before inauguration,” Waltz said.

“Any deal will only get worse for Hamas and there will be all hell to pay in the middle east if we continue to have this kind of hostage diplomacy,” Waltz said.

“There are gonna be consequences to those who think they can take an American, there is gonna no longer be any upside for those who harm Americans abroad,” Waltz warned.

Watch:

Incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz says negotiations to free hostages in Hamas-Israel war “are literally happening as we speak.”

“I want to see them walking across the tarmac, or at a minimum, some type of agreement before inauguration.” https://t.co/6BbapZVTAj pic.twitter.com/IOAjft3FYm

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 12, 2025

Waltz also talked about national security threats to the Western Hemisphere.

“President Trump made some serious waves this week when he didn’t rule out the possibility of using military force to take over the Panama Canal and Greenland. Is he serious about that? Is that really an option?” Karl asked.

“What he is very serious about is the threats that we are facing in the artic and the threats that we are facing in the Western Hemisphere,” Waltz said.

“There are elements for the US to come in and defend its critical assets in the Panama Canal, in the Panama Canal Treaty, in the Neutrality Treaty, and for Greenland there is precedent there as well with the 1951 Defense Agreement that we entered in,” Waltz continued.

Watch:

Asked if Trump was serious about using military power to acquire Greenland and the Panama Canal, Rep. Mike Waltz says, “What he's very serious about is the threats that we're facing in the Arctic, the threats that we're facing in the Western Hemisphere.” https://t.co/vJQYg6nDhu pic.twitter.com/EC7tbbYvLa

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 12, 2025

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/01/president-trumps-incoming-national-security-advisor-rep-mike/

Fearing tariffs, Mexico scrambling to disperse migrant caravans ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration

Facing threats of 25 percent tariffs on Mexican goods from the incoming Trump administration, Mexico has adopted its new, controversial "dispersion and exhaustion" strategy of deterring migrants from reaching the U.S. border.

The strategy is giving Mexican officials the ability to scatter migrants far from traditional migration routes. This policy is being criticized as inhumane.

Migrants report being misled by Mexican officials, who promise transit permits but leave them stranded far from migrant routes without access to transportation and other assistance.

Critics argue that Mexico’s dispersal strategy undermines its claim of a humanitarian focus, as migrants face dangers like cartel violence and exploitation. The situation highlights the human cost of political and economic pressures on migration policies.

As President-elect Donald Trump's second inauguration looms less than two weeks away, the Mexican government is taking drastic measures to break up migrant caravans heading toward America's southern border.

Traveling in caravans, migrants believe there is safety in numbers, as large groups are harder for immigration agents to detain. However, Mexican authorities have been quick to dissolve these caravans, leaving migrants scattered and vulnerable.

Trump has threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on Mexican imports if the country fails to curb the flow of migrants. This economic pressure has forced Mexico to adopt aggressive measures.

Facing the threat of massive tariffs on Mexican goods under the incoming administration, Mexico has adopted a strategy of dispersing migrants across the country, including sending them to the once-glamorous but now crime-ridden tourist destination of Acapulco. (Related: Mexican President Sheinbaum relents, now ready to receive Mexican nationals deported by Trump.)

This policy, described as "dispersion and exhaustion," aims to reduce the number of migrants able to reach the United States by housing them far from traditional migration routes.

Authorities allow migrants to walk for days until they are physically exhausted, then offer to bus them to various cities under the guise of reviewing their immigration status. However, many migrants report being abandoned in unfamiliar and dangerous locations with little support or resources.

Acapulco, a major city on the Pacific coast and once a crown jewel of Mexico’s tourism industry, is now a shadow of its former self. Ravaged by organized crime and still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Otis in 2023, the city has one of the highest homicide rates in Mexico. Yet, it has become an unlikely destination for busloads of migrants, many of whom are left stranded without the means to continue their journey north.

Critics describe Mexican dispersal policy as inhumane

Migrants like 28-year-old Venezuelan Ender Antonio Castaneda describe being misled by Mexican immigration officials.

"They told us they were going to give us a permit to transit the country freely for 10 to 15 days, but it wasn’t like that," Castaneda said. "They left us dumped here without any way to get out. They won’t sell us bus tickets. They won’t sell us anything."

Castaneda is one of thousands of migrants who recently left Tapachula, a city near Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala, in hopes of reaching the U.S. before Trump takes office.

The situation in Acapulco highlights the broader challenges facing migrants in Mexico. Many fear being targeted by drug cartels for kidnapping and extortion, while others accuse Mexican authorities of exploiting them.

"We're a little scared by the lack of safety getting on buses, that they’re going to stop us," said Cuban migrant Dayani Sanchez, who recently received a transit permit to travel within Mexico.

Despite the risks, migrants continue to push forward, driven by the hope of reaching the U.S. before Trump’s administration implements stricter border policies.

The Mexican government insists its immigration strategy has a "humanitarian" focus, but critics argue that dispersing migrants to violent areas like Acapulco undermines this claim.

"We know they’re going through a very difficult time, with a lot of needs," said Father Leopoldo Morales, a priest in Acapulco who has been helping migrants with food, water and clothing.

Watch this short clip of a migrant caravan being prevented from staying in Mexico.

https://www.naturalnews.com/2025-01-11-fearing-tariffs-mexico-scrambling-disperse-migrant-caravans.html

Trump refuses to rule out military action to secure Greenland, Panama Canal for U.S. national security

President-elect Donald Trump refused to rule out using military or economic force to secure control of Greenland and the Panama Canal, citing national security and trade interests.

Trump emphasized Greenland's value for national security, its untapped wealth in natural resources and the need for the U.S. to exert more influence over the Arctic amid growing Russian activities in the region.

Trump criticized Panama's "rip-off" fees for American ships and expressed unease over China's growing influence near the canal, calling it a threat to U.S. interests.

Denmark and Panama reaffirmed their sovereignty, with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stressing respect for Greenlandic autonomy and Panamanian officials declaring their sovereignty over the canal as non-negotiable.

President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday, Jan. 7, refused to rule out the use of military or economic coercion to secure control of Greenland and the Panama Canal.

Speaking at a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Trump left open the possibility of using force to assert American control over the Arctic territory of Greenland, an autonomous region of Denmark, and the Panama Canal, a critical global trade route formerly occupied by the United States but currently under Panamanian sovereignty. (Related: Trump warns U.S. could take over Panama Canal if Panama continues to impose "rip-off" passage fees on American ships.)

When pressed by a reporter on whether he would rule out military or economic coercion, Trump responded with a blunt “No,” underscoring his willingness to consider all options.

The Panama Canal, built by the United States between 1904 and 1914, was returned to Panama in 1999 under a treaty signed during the administration of recently deceased former President Jimmy Carter. Greenland, meanwhile, has been a territory of the Kingdom of Denmark since the 18th century, though the U.S. has maintained a strategic military presence there since World War II.

Trump’s comments mark a dramatic escalation of his long-standing interest in acquiring Greenland, which he first sought to purchase during his presidency, and his growing concerns over Chinese influence in Panama.

"We need Greenland for national security purposes," Trump said during the news conference. "The Panama Canal is vital to our country. I'm not going to commit to [ruling out military force]. It might be that you'll have to do something."

Trump's interest in Greenland is not without precedent. Since 1867, multiple U.S. administrations have considered acquiring the Arctic island, which is rich in natural resources and increasingly strategic as rapidly melting ice opens up new shipping routes and access to untapped natural resource reserves. Russia and China have also intensified their activities in the region, with both nations seeking to expand their influence in the Arctic.

Raheem Kassam, editor-in-chief of the National Pulse, noted that U.S. control of Greenland could enhance missile defense capabilities and provide a critical foothold in the Arctic.

"Greenland is becoming an important territory as Russia and China continue to push for greater influence over the far northern reaches of the globe," Kassam said.

The Panama Canal, meanwhile, remains a linchpin of global trade, with approximately six percent of the world’s shipping passing through its waters annually. Trump has repeatedly criticized Panama’s warming relations with China, claiming that Beijing operates the canal.

"China controls two ports near the canal," Trump said. "And they're operating the canal itself."

Panama, Denmark reassert sovereignty over their territories

Trump’s comments have drawn sharp rebukes from both Denmark and Panama.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, in an interview with broadcaster TV2, emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Denmark alliance but stressed that any discussions about Greenland must respect the autonomy of its people.

"It must be done in a way that is respectful of the Greenlandic people," Frederiksen said. "At the same time, it must be done in a way that allows Denmark and the United States to still cooperate in, among other things, NATO."

Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha reiterated that the canal’s sovereignty is non-negotiable.

“The sovereignty of our canal is not negotiable and is part of our history of struggle and an irreversible conquest,” he said.

Watch this Jan. 8 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, discusses the national security concerns influencing President-elect Donald Trump's desire to take control of Greenland and the Panama Canal.

https://www.naturalnews.com/2025-01-11-trump-military-greenland-panama-canal-national-security.html