On her SiriusXM podcast Monday, Megyn Kelly called out CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale for what she described as “running cover for Democrats” during the ongoing wildfire crisis in Los Angeles County.
Kelly accused Dale of downplaying water shortages in Pacific Palisades, an area severely impacted by the wildfires.
The wildfires, which began last week, have caused significant destruction across Los Angeles County, forcing thousands to evacuate.
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Pacific Palisades was among the hardest-hit communities, with many homes and businesses reduced to ashes. Local and state officials have faced criticism for their preparedness and response to the crisis.
On her show, Kelly criticized Dale for claiming there was no water shortage in Los Angeles.
“Now you’ve got the media, including CNN’s fact checker air quotes Daniel Dale, trying to tell us that there was no shortage of water in LA. I mean we know that the reservoir that serviced the area that burned to the ground was empty,” Kelly said.
She played a clip of Dale stating, “There is no shortage of water in the LA area,” while attributing reports of dry fire hydrants to “technical logistical infrastructure” issues.
Kelly cited a report from the Los Angeles Times that contradicted Dale’s statements.
The report quoted Janisse Quiñones, chief executive and chief engineer at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, who acknowledged that the Santa Ynez Reservoir in Pacific Palisades had been out of service since February 2024.
The reservoir, which typically holds 117 million gallons of water, would have alleviated pressure on the water system during the fire response.
Quiñones stated that the lack of operational capacity at the reservoir likely contributed to diminished water pressure and dry hydrants in the area.
“So how do you figure that there’s no shortage of water in the LA area, Daniel Dale? And that this empty reservoir had no effect? Who died and made you fire chief or Department of Water investigator?” Kelly said, adding, “He knows nothing, this guy. All he knows how to do is run cover for Democrats.”
Megyn Kelly Lays Waste to CNN Fact-Checker’s Wildfire Response Claims…
On her SiriusXM podcast Monday, @megynkelly called out CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale for what she described as “running cover for Democrats” during the ongoing wildfire crisis in Los Angeles County.
Kelly… pic.twitter.com/Nepv2DfG6p
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California Governor Gavin Newsom addressed the crisis in interviews with NBC News and CNN.
On Sunday, Newsom told NBC News that the state’s reservoirs were full but announced plans for an independent investigation into the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
During a CNN interview last Wednesday, he deflected responsibility for the water shortages, saying, “The lack of water in the area was up to the local folks.”
Critics have questioned Newsom’s handling of the crisis, pointing to the reservoir’s prolonged closure and the state’s overall infrastructure issues as contributing factors to the emergency.
The wildfire has highlighted ongoing concerns about California’s water management and disaster preparedness.
With the Santa Ynez Reservoir offline for over eight months, emergency response efforts were hindered, leaving firefighters without adequate resources to combat the flames.
As Pacific Palisades residents begin to assess the damage and rebuild, the state faces mounting pressure to address the systemic issues exposed by the disaster.
The independent investigation promised by Newsom may shed light on how the water infrastructure failed and what measures are needed to prevent future crises.
Kelly’s remarks underscore the growing frustration among critics who accuse media outlets and public officials of minimizing accountability during one of the state’s most destructive wildfire seasons.
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