Conservative senator breaks with Republicans who want to make CA disaster aid conditional

In Los Angeles County, at least 24 people have died from the devastating wildfires that have destroyed countless homes and businesses. That's the direct death toll: climate scientist Jeff Masters believes that the "eventual death toll from the disaster" is "likely to be far, far, higher" when the "health effects from the toxic smoke from the fires are fully realized."

Many liberals and progressives are citing the L.A. wildfires as a sobering reminder of the threat climate change poses. But quite a few MAGA Republicans and right-wing media pundits are blaming "woke policies" for the destruction.

One of those Republicans is Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who told Fox News competitor Newsmax that Californians "don't deserve anything" from the federal government "unless they show us they’re gonna make some changes" and reject "woke policies."

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But Alabama's other Republican U.S. Senator, Katie Britt, has very different views on the wildfires.

During an interview on Tuesday, January 14, Politico's Jonathan Martin noted that some Republicans are calling for aid to California to be conditional.

But Britt responded, "I think what we need to be doing right now is standing firmly with the people of California, letting them know they have our prayers, they have our support — and that we stand ready to be thoughtful about ways that we can help in making sure that they have the resources they need…. I think the people of California need to know that America stands with them."

Britt recalled losing her own home in 2011, when it was destroyed by an Alabama tornado.

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"Everything you have is gone," the conservative senator remembered.

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