The Morning: A ring of fire

Plus, the Supreme Court, the French far right and Cameo politicians.

View in browser|nytimes.com January 9, 2025 By the staff of The Morning Good morning. We're covering the wildfires across Los Angeles, as well as the Supreme Court, the French far right and Cameo politicians. In Pacific Palisades. Loren Elliott for The New York Times Uncontained Los Angeles is surrounded by fire. The city's major wildfires have spread, and a new one started overnight in Hollywood Hills. It threatened a wealthy neighborhood and landmarks synonymous with America's self-image — the Hollywood sign, the Walk of Fame. Streets near Hollywood filled with traffic as helicopters raced through the sky. (Track the fires with these maps.) The wildfires have killed at least five people; forced tens of thousands to evacuate; and charred entire neighborhoods of every socioeconomic status, from the scenic West Coast to the inland suburbs. "It wasn't just that the place was in flames. It was that it seemed to be in flames everywhere at once," The Times's Shawn Hubler wrote of the city. Below, we explain how these fires became a major crisis so quickly. What makes these fires different While Southern Californians are used to wildfire, these blazes are a shock in three key ways: Location: Wildfires are normally contained to Southern California's dry hills. These fires have burned out of control and spread into the city, and two are the most destructive in Los Angeles's history. The flames are visible for miles down the city's famous coastline, a half-moon crescent of sand that is usually domed by blue sky. "I've lived here my whole life and never seen anything like this," a 71-year-old resident said. Extreme winds: Intense winds, known as Santa Anas, have spread these fires into the city. The winds also made it unsafe for aircraft to douse the flames from above, which slowed firefighting. Santa Anas are notorious for aiding California wildfires in the fall, after the landscape dries in the summer. But the impact is often less dramatic by winter, when the hills are more moist from rain. That hasn't been true this year. Dry conditions: It hasn't rained much in Los Angeles for months. As a result, the fires spread more quickly across a dry landscape. Water supplies were also limited. Firefighters sprayed water faster than tanks could be refilled, and hydrants ran dry. Some residents stood and watched as their homes burned away. On Sunset Boulevard, one man fell to his knees and begged firefighters to save his house. Without water, they were helpless to stop the flames. The response In Altadena, Calif. Kyle Grillot for The New York Times Firefighters are continuing their battle, but more destruction is expected. President Biden canceled a trip to Italy, in which he was supposed to meet the Pope, to coordinate the federal response to the wildfires. The White House said it had arranged for Navy helicopters to join the firefighting effort. Biden also appeared alongside Gavin Newsom, California's governor, at a fire station in Santa Monica. "We're prepared to do anything and everything, as long as it takes, to contain these fires and help reconstruct, make sure we get back to normal," Biden said. Forecasters warned that extreme fire danger would continue for at least another day, and millions of people in Southern California remain under fire warnings — which have heightened anxiety across the region. The fires have "merged into a kind of mega-catastrophe for Southern Californians," Shawn wrote. "Ash, smoke, wind and flames carried the heart-stinging realization, which spread like a contagion, that a new and less manageable landscape was on the horizon." Follow the latest news here. More on the fires If you live in Southern California, here are steps you can take to stay safe. And here's where to find shelters. Officials have warned residents of Pasadena and Pacific Palisades about unsafe drinking water. Pet rescues and shelters are straining to care for hundreds of animals left behind as people fled. The fires destroyed several Los Angeles landmarks, including several popular restaurants. Paris Hilton and Adam Brody are among the celebrities who have lost their homes, the BBC reports. An N.H.L. game between the Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames was postponed last night. So were the Critics Choice Awards, which had been scheduled for Sunday. Listen to The Daily podcast explain the fires. THE LATEST NEWS Trump Transition Donald Trump Eric Lee/The New York Times The Justice Department will delay releasing the special counsel's report on Donald Trump's handling of classified documents. That likely means Trump will bury it when he takes office. Trump asked the Supreme Court to halt sentencing in his New York criminal case, which is scheduled for tomorrow. Not long before Trump's filing, Justice Samuel Alito spoke with the president-elect. Alito said the call was a job reference for one of his former clerks. Trump has raised a record amount of money for his inauguration, a haul so big that some seven-figure donors will not receive V.I.P. tickets. Fani Willis has asked the Georgia Supreme Court to review a decision that disqualified her from prosecuting Trump's election interference case. More on Politics Biden told USA Today that he might issue pre-emptive pardons for political figures Trump has attacked. Jimmy Carter's state funeral will take place today, bringing together all five living presidents. Biden will give a eulogy. Daniel Lurie, an heir to the Levi Strauss fortune, was inaugurated as San Francisco's mayor. In his speech, he detailed an emergency plan for the city's fentanyl crisis. Tim Walz endorsed Ken Martin, a fellow Minnesotan, to lead the Democratic National Committee. International In Giza, Egypt. Heba Khamis for The New York Times Egypt says refugees from Sudan, Syria and Gaza are straining its resources. It has tightened its immigration policies, hoping for Western support. The Israeli military said it found the body of a hostage in a tunnel in Gaza. Iran released an Italian journalist after arresting her on vague charges last month. National Rally, the French far-right party, spent years trying to distance itself from its founding father, Jean-Marie Le Pen. After his death this week, it hailed him as a visionary. Russia bombed the city of Zaporizhzhia in southeastern Ukraine, killing at least 13 people. Ukraine had attacked an oil depot deep inside Russia hours earlier. The Chinese government is separating Tibetan children from their families and placing them in boarding schools, where they are indoctrinated in loyalty to Beijing. Other Big Stories Dockworkers outside the Port of New Orleans. Annie Flanagan for The New York Times The dockworkers' union on the East and Gulf coasts reached a tentative deal with employers, averting a potentially damaging strike. TikTok, which faces a possible ban in the U.S., is also waging legal battles in at least 20 other countries. America's efforts to cut pollution stalled last year, with greenhouse emissions dropping just a fraction. Demand for electricity surged, in large part because of a hot summer. Opinions The TikTok law doesn't ban content — it bans Chinese control of that content, David French argues. Here are columns by Charles Blow on drinking culture and Nicholas Kristof's "win a trip" winner on the benefits of breastfeeding. A subscription to match the variety of your interests. News. Games. Recipes. Product reviews. Sports reporting. A New York Times All Access subscription covers all of it and more. Subscribe today. MORNING READS Mike Ellis Personal health: Do your genes matter more for longevity than your lifestyle? It depends how long you hope to live. Social Qs: "My brother and sister-in-law no longer want to put me up. I'm hurt!" Risks: Middle-aged Americans are outdrinking younger adults — and suffering the consequences. Space: Pluto may have captured its biggest moon after an ancient dance and kiss. Lives Lived: Carole Wilbourn was a self-described cat therapist, known for her skill in decoding the emotional lives of misbehaving pets. She died at 84. SPORTS College football: Penn State and Notre Dame meet tonight in the semifinals of the first 12-team Playoff. Both teams have reputations on the line. N.B.A.: Cleveland outlasted Oklahoma City, 129-122, in a matchup of the league's best teams. N.F.L.: The Chicago Bears will interview the Iowa State coach Matt Campbell for their head-coaching vacancy. The Raiders got a rebuff from the former Patriots coach Bill Belichick, currently at North Carolina. ARTS AND IDEAS Photo illustration by Joan Wong Cameo, a website where celebrities sell personalized videos, has become a haven for out-of-work Republican politicians. Both George Santos, who charges $400 a video, and Matt Gaetz are using the platform to monetize their notoriety, and they appear to be having fun. More on culture The house in Albuquerque that played Walter White's on "Breaking Bad" is on sale for nearly $4 million. Jamie Lee Curtis became teary while talking about the Pacific Palisades fires on "The Tonight Show." THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Bake oatmeal for a satisfying breakfast. Eat better with these tips. Declutter your fridge. Organize your pantry. GAMES Here is today's Spelling Bee. Yesterday's pangram was impartial. And here are today's Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku, Connections and Strands. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Editor: David Leonhardt Deputy Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti Associate Editor: Lauren Jackson News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for the Morning newsletter from The New York Times, or as part of your New York Times account. To stop receiving The Morning, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. 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