Snake Guys: Trump’s Invasion of California Risks a Literal Firestorm in California [Updated]
In Jimmy Kimmel’s attack on Trump’s authoritarian interference in California last night, he recalled how, earlier this year, Trump claimed California had so many fires because they don’t sweep its forest floors.
It was a funny dig. Except it is also dead serious.
As laid out in California’s bid for an emergency Temporary Restraining Order filed Tuesday, among the problems with Trump’s federalization of the California National Guard is not just that Trump usurped Gavin Newsom’s authority to command the Guard and incited further unrest.
It also steals resources that California relies on to combat forest fires (and fentanyl trafficking).
Defendants’ unlawful federalization of 4,000 California National Guard members, over the repeated objections of Governor Newsom, diverts necessary state resources. See Eck Dec. ¶ 32 (noting the California Military Department has “has identified and committed 4,600 service members to achieve state specific missions, which is 38% of the available strength”); id. ¶ 33 (“In 2025, there have already been 3,332 services members activated for 89,061 duty days, indicating the state will need every available service member to meet the State’s operational needs.”). Most members of the California National Guard serve in a reserve capacity, meaning they work in civilian roles when not serving as part-time militia forces, often in specialized positions. Eck Dec. ¶¶ 21, 37. As one pertinent example, 2,500 California National Guard members were activated in response to some of the most destructive fires in Los Angeles County that occurred in early January 2025. Eck Dec. ¶¶ 35-36. Likewise, the federalized force includes elements of the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team that serve in Taskforce Rattlesnake, the State’s specialized fire combat unit. Eck Dec. ¶¶ 14, 39-40. The 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team also includes Counterdrug Taskforce members that specialize in providing support to stop the trafficking of fentanyl at the U.S.-Mexico Border. Id. ¶¶ 15, 42-43. Members of the California National Guard also serve key roles in a variety of functions, from defending the state from cyber threats to conducting emergency traffic control. Id. ¶¶ 44-46. In short, Defendants’ federalization of the California National Guard jeopardizes vital resources on which the State depends to protect itself from emergencies, including the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team’s specialized fire suppression and drug interdiction teams. Id. ¶¶ 47-50.
In short, Defendants’ unlawful federalization of a significant subset of the California National Guard for 60 days at the expense of state resources jeopardizes the safety and welfare of the state’s citizens on two fronts: first, it removes these servicemembers from their vital roles combating drug trafficking in California’s border zones and fighting wildfires and second, their deployment risks inflaming an unstable and dangerous situation of Defendants’ own making, putting property and countless lives at unnecessary risk. See id. ¶¶ 13-16. [emphasis original]
The Deputy General Counsel in California’s Military Department, Paul Eck, described the specialized roles the Guard plays in combatting fires in a declaration accompanying the TRO request. There are 14 Task Force Rattlesnake crews that focus full-time on wildfire prevention (the kind of mitigation Trump demanded in January) and response.
38. For example, the California National Guard operates FireGuard, a wildfire satellite detection mission. During the last 18 months, FireGuard activated at least fire Emergency State Active-Duty Force Packages, consisting of 360 personnel total, in support of the Bridge Fire, Line Fire, and Park Fire in California. One hundred-forty additional Emergency State Active-Duty Military Police Soldiers were also activated to operate and augment Traffic Control Points at the Line Fire and Bridge Fire.
39. The California National Guard also operates Joint Task Force Rattlesnake, a joint taskforce with CalFire to mitigate and prevent fires through fuels mitigation projects and direct fire suppression. Task Force Rattlesnake provides 14 full-time, year-round Type I Hand Crews to reduce fuels and respond to fire incidents and other emergencies across the State. Each Task Force Rattlesnake crewmember is trained to Firefighter 1C standards, which require at least 540 hours of training. Each of California’s 14 Crews are staffed with a minimum of 22 California National Guard personnel and maintain a minimum of 22 Firefighter 1C trained crewmembers (308 personnel in total).
40. Over the past 18 months, Task Force Rattlesnake responded to at least 738 wildland firefighting response missions, covering 10,243 acres of land. [my emphasis]
Best as I can tell, those filings were submitted around 11AM on Tuesday.
Around 1:30PM, a wildfire in Apple Valley was reported. The now-4,200 acre fire is currently just 10% contained.
Having predicted that Trump’s usurpation of control over California’s National Guard might deprive the state other other emergency response resources on Tuesday, yesterday at 9AM (my screen cap is Irish time, so ET+5 and PT+8), Newsom pointed to the way Trump’s federalization of the Guard has depleted those dedicated fire response Guardsmen.
Trump’s bozo-the-clown response to the TRO request (which forgot to include its Table of Authorities and cited a Fox News story that misrepresents when Newsom and Trump spoke, all the while hiding that Trump can’t even remember when that happened) mentions fires or fireworks nine times — claiming at one point that protestors “lit fires in dumpsters and trans bins,” whatever “trans bins” are. (Whatever they are, they don’t seem like the kind of federal property to which Whiskey Pete Hegseth can assign Guardsmen and Marines.)
But Trump’s response doesn’t address how he’ll undermine efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking and wildfires. Trump’s response doesn’t address how his actions will make California less safe.
In January, Trump lectured California about preventing fires; then he manufactured an emergency to steal the personnel who perform that role.
In January, Trump declared emergencies because (he claims) Mexico, Canada, and China aren’t doing enough to combat fentanyl trafficking. Then he manufactured a different emergency via which he stole some of the personnel California uses to respond to that threat.
Even on Trump’s own terms, Trump is making California less safe.
Update: Paul Eck filed an updated declaration to accompany the state’s reply. He describes over half of the specialized firefighting members.
6. Task Force Rattlesnake, California’s highly trained fire mitigation and ‘ prevention and direct fire suppression unit, lost 190 out of its total 340 members to the Title 10 federal activation. A reduction of 55.88% of California National Guard’s fire prevention and fighting force.
7. The negative impacts of the reduction in force to Task Force Rattlesnake are imminent.
8. Prior to the Title 10 Federal activation of California National Guard forces, Task Force Rattlesnake (Rattlesnake) maintained Fourteen (14) Type 1 Wildfire Handcrews. Post the mobilization, Rattlesnake has been whittled down to Nine (9) Type 1 crews.
9. The reduction in the number of Rattlesnake Type 1 crews has limited the CMD’s, and consequently Cal Fire’s, ability to conduct ground fuels reduction missions, and more importantly, it has negatively impacted CMD’s ability to respond to wildfires.
10. The consequences may be felt soon. As of June 11 there are 13 fires over 10 acres burning in California, including the Ranch Fire in San Bernardino which has consumed over 4,200 acres. If it continues to grow at its current rate of spread, it would necessitate the use of Rattlesnake. [emphasis mine]
He also described that 31% of CA’s drug interdiction team has been affected.
Jimmy Kimmel’s reporting is more accurate than Fox’s. I liked how his map of LA showed just how small the protest area is.
Banana prices at RECORD HIGH. I just paid 63 cents/lb. for bananas, up from 49 cents a few months ago. That’s 28% increase.
And here’s another problem that Trump can ignore: an invasive fish that can move over land and eat birds. https://patch.com/pennsylvania/phoenixville/invasive-fish-can-move-across-land-eat-birds-caught-phoenixville-area
Over 140 cops assaulted by Trump’s goons in 5 hour insurrection on J6 in a one block radius. Trump calls them heroes and releases them from prison.
vs.
Less than a dozen cops assaulted in 7 day protest in a 4751 sq. mile county. Trump brings in troops.
Now now let’s not exaggerate. Wikipedia says Los Angeles County is only 4.083 square miles, so you’re off by 668 sq. mile. The protest area in downtown L.A. is 2 sq. miles max, so about the same size as the Jan. 6 protest area, probably smaller. Since Mayor Bass initiated curfew on Tuesday night, all has been quiet and protests have been completely peaceful, and ongoing…8 days counting today. And now they’re arresting car wash employees. Awaiting the appearance of Marines – they’re here but haven’t been seen as of yet.
TrumpWorld is purposely tainting all of Los Angeles with the relatively tiny protest area. But even if you equate J6 and LA. protest area size the J6 insurrectionists were many times more violent and dangerous.
Oh, hell no – do not mess with a Californian’s god-given right to a newly washed ride! /s
Here’s the link to the main Cal Fire page for the Ranch Fire, which as of last night local time was 25% contained. That’s and improvement, but that can change quickly in either direction depending on three things: (a) the availability of fire crews to attack it, (b) the training and ability of those crews, and (c) the weather conditions (especially winds) in the area. When I first heard that the NG unit Trump activated was specially trained on wildfires, thus making some of the best trained folks unavailable to fight fires, I cringed because you don’t mess with wildfire controls.
And then I realized it is going to get worse as fire season gets going . . .
in thinning the ranks of the Department of Interior, Trump and the DOGEBros were also decimating the US Forest Service’s ability to attack wildfires. Regular USFS employees (i.e., non-firefighters) can and do get called up during bad fires to serve in support roles, and now the USFS has fewer of those folks around.
Heckuva job, Trumpie!
40% contained as of 6:40 AM left coast time. This is beyond infuriating – I have so many family, friends and students in these last fire years (since 2018) whose lives have been disrupted and some changed irreparably….the intense rage I feel towards this entity and those in his cult – well I never thought in my life I would have to grapple daily w/ such contempt for other humans.
The challenge is he has so primed what is left of his followers minds, primed them for buying whatever attribution narrative utters…’It’s Hunters fault…’ (‘dark’ immigrants, nasty women, etc etc). He could say it was Ronald McDonalds fault and the culties would buy it and present it on camera as real. What a fricking shitshow.
Go Gavin! Keep at it, dude.
If their spray tanned god told them it was oxygen’s fault, MAGA would hold their breaths until they passed out.\
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I observe a Reuters report that the head of FEMA didn’t know America has a hurricane season. If that’s true, I suspect none of Trump’s minions know there’s a wildfire season, either.
(I don’t think https://www.reuters.com/world/us/fema-staff-confused-after-head-said-he-was-unaware-us-hurricane-season-sources-2025-06-02/ has tracking information as part of the URL)
Correct, there’s no tracking. Reuters does have a paywall after so many articles, though.
I’m in California, and *I* know there’s a hurricane season. I wonder what his excuse is for not knowing something that’s in the news *every year*.
I read about that, and I’m pretty sure he was joking around. This is not the hill to die on.
The problem with too many Trump appointees is that WE can’t distinguish between “I’m joking”, “I’m stupid”, and “I’m evil” — especially when all three forms are used in rotation during the same conversation, briefing, or interview.
They’re never joking even if they tell you they are. They are often stupid but that’s not relevant because they have approval from their authority figure. If the cruelty is acceptable to them, or if it’s the reason, they’re evil.
Even if they were truly joking, that’s really f*cking UNPROFESSIONAL. That alone costs them any credit they’d get from me from any honest effort to address the issue or their professed ignorance.
Not only do they not know, they choose to not know.
From the Guardian: “Troops and marines deeply troubled by LA deployment: ‘Morale is not great’”
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/12/los-angeles-national-guard-troops-marines-morale
This should be no surprise. A significant factor for someone choosing either the Army or Air Force National Guard over the Army or Air Force Reserve has to do with the National Guard missions in support of their state and communities. When Guard units are deployed to fires, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, blizzards, tornadoes, etc. they are fully aware of the difference they make. And generally, if they can balance home life, civilian careers, and military duties, that’s a clue that you’re dealing with capable individuals.
For Trump and his intestinal parasite coterie, men and women in uniform are just some blend of pawns, toys, servants, and losers. And that’s what many of these deployed Guard and Marines are finding out.
There were those that cheered him and booed his calling out opponents at Fort br…
There are plenty that will put their lives on the line for him.
Those were carefully selected for their political alignment, I understand.
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/fort-bragg-soldiers-screened-appearance-politics-trump-1235362315/
But as long as there are more than zero, we can still have another J6, probably with better planning and results.
We can already see that whether it’s protesters, politicians, union leaders, etc objecting.
The thing I wonder about – the thing I might like to do – is, as a Californian, figure out how to put my Federal Income Tax payments in escrow to be paid to the Federal Government only in a circumstance where the President is not withholding legally allocated funds from the State of California.
If he can decide to not pay us because he’s not happy with something, so should we.
Probably silly, but just like the administration is overburdening the courts with it’s crap filings, I’d like to find a way that a lot of USers not pay their federal income tax and overwhelm the IRS’ ability to collect taxes and file notices, etc.
Like the mortgage delinquencies in 2008 where the default rate number, of I think, 8% collapsed everything.
Of course if there is an administration change, how does a new administration get taxpayers to pay again.
New IRS commissioner Billy Long’s sole qualification to run the IRS is that, in 2023-24, he ran a large-scale tax fraud operation.
https://bsky.app/profile/waldo.net/post/3lrhbzufzck2t
I can never stay up late enough to watch late night…
But that last section of Kimmel’s show really got to me, so I made a transcript…
By the time I got to the end, even though I laughed, my eyes are full of tears.
***************
[9:42] KIMMEL: Try to act like a President for once. [applause] And in case you don’t know what that looks like, maybe this will help, cause it looks like this. [National Anthem soundtrack]
[#34] EISENHOWER: We are, one and all, immigrants, or their sons and daughters.
[#35] KENNEDY: We are the descendants of 40 million people who left other countries to make a new opportunity for themselves and their children.
[#36] JOHNSON: The lamp of this grand old lady is brighter today. And the golden door that she guards gleams more brilliantly in the light of an increased liberty for the people from all countries.
[#38] FORD: I’m convinced that the vast majority of Americans today want these people to have another opportunity.
[#39] CARTER: I was in the party welcomed generations of immigrants.
[#40] REAGAN: If we ever close the door to new Americans our leadership in the world would soon be lost.
[#41] HW BUSH: Immigration is not just a link to America’s past, it’s also a bridge to America’s future.
[#42] CLINTON: This is one country. We like our diversity. We are proud of it.
[#43] W BUSH: Amid all the complications of policy, may we never forget that immigration is a blessing and a strength.
[#44] OBAMA: These people, our neighbors, our classmates, our friends, they did not come here in search of a free ride or an easy life. They came to work.
[#46] BIDEN: We don’t demonize immigrants. We don’t single them out for atack.
We don’t believe they’re poisoning the blood of the country.
We’re a nation of immigrants, and that’s why we’re so damn strong.
[#45/47] TRUMP: They’re eating the dogs.
The people that came in. They’re eating the cats.
They’re eating, they’re eating the pets.
**********
Thanks for typing this out.
That Reagan quote linking extreme jingoism and loss of world standing sure seems rather prescient.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKz6RjPSchI/
Senator Alex Padilla, a sitting United States Senator, was just grabbed by agents during Noem’s press conference, drug out of the room and thrown to the floor and handcuffed. Where do we go from here.
Wow.
Since this is from Jacob Soboroff’s IG account from 30+ minutes ago, it will undoubtedly make it onto an NBC/MSNBC program later today.
This ain’t El Salvator, Kristi…
It is already there, it is everywhere. A very large line has been crossed.
He’s making a statement right NOW [English and Spanish]
LIVE: Alex Padilla speaks after removed from Kristi Noem’s press conference
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJKS4syY3GY
Ends with “Please continue peacefully protesting.”
Good that his statement is in both English and Spanish. All Canadian politicians, whether they are native French speakers or not make public statements in both languages in order to communicate with their constituents.
As Trump taught us on J6, Padilla should’ve broken the door down and threatened Trump’s life then they would’ve done nothing. The “no recording allowed” at the end was a nice little touch.
MAGA fascism is here.
yes it is…and the no kings protests planned for this weekend and that coinciding with the traitor’s maga birthday parade in DC tells me it will be a hot weekend…stay as safe as possible while demonstrating your 1A rights to peacefully assemble and protest an unlawful presidency.
NOEM is already on TV LYING about it:
https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3lrgosm6dik22
June 12, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Is this the Administration’s subtle way of reminding Republican Members of Congress to stay in line?
They don’t need to be reminded.
Their excuse ios that he wasn’t wearing his ID pin. He did say who he was, though, when he started to ask. They could have asked for ID, but no…they had to use force.
And this is IN L.A. – and not how you get people to cooperate.
Has AG Bondi arrested the DHS thugs that assaulted Senator Padilla?
Reagan’s comment suggests that this president and administration are aligned with forces determined to see America declining in global stature.
Israel has just launched a preemptive strike against Iran. I hope people wake up to the reality finally. George Orwell warned us.
Bib must have lost what was left of him mind.
Bibi is not known as “NutANDyahoo” in some circles for nothing.
“…yahoo”, riding bare-chested on top of the bomb as it sails away.
@xyxyxyxy June 13, 2025 at 7:35 am
Beebs is actually furry cheated. Very!
(I notice these things. :p )
There’s and old (they all are) joke: The Rabbi notices one of his older students reading a book on astronomy. “So boychik” the Rabbi asked, “what can that book teach you about the heavens that you can’t learn from the Torah or the Mishnah?”
“Well” the student replied, “it says here that in 30 billion years the sun will expand and explode and destroy all life on earth!”
“But I have one question your book can’t answer” asserted the Rabbi, “Is this good for the Jews, or bad for the Jews?”
For some reason Israel’s actions since the Gaza attack keep reminding me of that old saw.
District Judge Charles Breyer issued TRO returning CA National Guard to Newsom.
https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.450934/gov.uscourts.cand.450934.64.0.pdf
Good. I hope it sticks.
No doubt, a certain sad, insomniac orange clown will be raging on his social at THAT ruling, around two-in-the-morning.
There are people at Kos who will report on it. Bill Addis is one of them.
The 9th Circuit has already stayed the ruling. By the time this gets through the snail’s pace of the judicial system the Guard’s 60 day deployment will already be over. I’d really like to be wrong about this, but this admin is adept at using the courts in a way that makes quick rulings impossible. They know how to fuck with the system, always to their advantage. Delay, delay, delay……… They NEVER fully comply, always coming back for another bite, and another, and another.
\All those guys are still in a Salvadoran prison, except for Garcia, and he’s in jail and won’t get out, either. By the time they’re finished with him he will be back in a Salvadoran prison. Again, I’d like to be wrong about this, too.
I don’t think the judicial system yet knows what they are dealing with, or even how to deal with it, should they figure it out. The admin simply will not comply, and they are always plotting workarounds to decisions they do not like, after the delay, delay, delay.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/la-protests-national-guard-california-1.7560206
What judicial system?
Everything ends up with the Supremes and they side with the admin.
Thanks – it’s a good read and merits its own thread, for sure.