Sunday shows preview: Wildfires rage through Southern California; GOP tackles Trump agenda

Federal response teams spent the week combating Los Angeles wildfires blazing across hundreds of acres, forcing local residents to evacuate from their homes as a result of the damage. Throughout the chaos, President Biden was on the ground to visit local agencies and brief the country with updates on the flames.

In the midst of burning embers, President-elect Trump remained largely critical of Biden, in addition to other Democratic leaders including Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and Mayor Karen Bass (D), accusing them of a lack of preparation leading up to the disaster. Vice President-elect Vance will likely address the unprecedented flames and suggested solutions during his appearance on FOX News Sunday in discussion with anchor Shannon Bream.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell may address these efforts, which come after two destructive storms ravaged the Southeast region in the later months of 2024, on the Fox News show. Criswell is also scheduled to join ABC’s “This Week,” CNN’s “State of the Union” and CBS’s “Face the Nation.”

The 119th Congress is set to oversee the disbursement of federal funds fueling longer term response efforts and will soon vote on a reconciliation package to address national spending and debt with heavy influence from Trump. GOP lawmakers are currently debating whether one bill will float his agenda or if two texts will be required to sustain the Republican leader’s desires.

Rep. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), a Senate Budget Committee member, will likely discuss party strategy earlier into the new legislative season on Sunday Morning Futures. Marshall, also a Senate Finance Committee member, may discuss China’s recent hack on the U.S. Treasury. Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) and Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) will also likely share comments on the security breach and new efforts to secure the department and prevent foreign adversaries from gaining access to sensitive information.

All of these topics and more will be discussed on this week’s Sunday talk shows.

Here are the full list of appearances:

NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday”: Rep. Dave Min (D-Calif.) and Rep. Erin Houchin (R-Ind.)

ABC’s “This Week”: Deanne Criswell, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency; Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.); Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.); Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), national security adviser nominee

CBS’ “Face the Nation”: Criswell; Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.)

CNN’s “State of the Union”: Criswell; national security adviser Jake Sullivan; Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.)

NBC’s “Meet the Press”: Sens. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif)

“Fox News Sunday”: Criswell; Vice President-elect JD Vance; Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, (R-W.Va.); Ken Martin, chair of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and candidate to be chair of the Democratic National Committee

Sunday Morning Futures: Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.)

Topics

Death toll grows in Southern California as fires continue to rage

At least 10 fatalities have been confirmed as several fires continue to rage in the Los Angeles area. Winds appear to be slowing down, but the weather forecast may change in the following days. CBS ...
CBS News - 1d
Maps show how dry the Southern California is, as L.A. wildfires burn

Dry vegetation helped fuel fires that spread through the Los Angeles area in early January 2025.
CBS News - 1d
Fire official gives update as deadly wildfires rage through L.A. area

Los Angeles Fire Department public information officer Captain Adam Van Gerpen speaks to "CBS Mornings" about the latest in the fight to control the raging wildfires burning through the L.A. area.
CBS News - 2d
WATCH: Wildfire scientist on cause of Southern California wildfires

Wildfire scientist and fire ecologist Chad Hanson discusses the factors that led to the historic and devastating Southern California wildfires and how climate change played a role.
ABC News - 3d
Trump blames Newsom for California's raging wildfires

President-elect Trump blamed California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) for the massive wildfires that are blazing through the Los Angeles area, arguing he should have signed a declaration to pump more water ...
The Hill - 3d
Wildfires in Southern California

Plus, we explain why Facebook is getting rid of fact-checking.
The New York Times - 3d
What We Know About the Wildfires Raging in Southern California

The fast-moving fires are intensifying because of fierce winds, the strongest in Southern California in more than a decade.
The New York Times - 3d
FirstFT: California declares state of emergency as wildfires rage

Also in today’s newsletter, Facebook ends third-party fact-checking, and analysts turn on Citi’s chief executive
Financial Times - 3d
Republicans try to exploit New Orleans attack to push through Trump agenda

Trump loyalists make baseless link between attack and US border and say cabinet nominees must be urgently ratified. Republicans in the US Senate are attempting to exploit the New Year’s Day attack ...
The Guardian - 6d