Southern California faced the devastation of multiple massive, destructive wildfire outbreaks last week – some of the worst in the state’s history. We have to ask – were these fires preventable? How could they have spread so quickly and destroyed entire communities? What policy decisions allowed this – or worse, enabled it? I’m your host, Tess Abraham, and we will be looking at the policy failures made by our elected leaders and their catastrophic results on this week’s episode of The California Conversation!

Resources to Help with LA Wildfires:

Volunteer: LA Dream Center – www.dreamcenter.org/volunteer/

My Safe LA – www.mysafela.org/volunteer

American Red Cross Los Angeles Region – redcross.org/local/California/los-angeles/volunteer

Hearts in Action LA - https://heartsinaction.org/volunteer/

LA Animal Services - https://www.laanimalservices.com/about-volunteering

Donate

LA Dream Center Donations – www.donate.dreamcenter.org

Every Life – https://everylife.com/products/buy-for-a-cause?selling_plan=5498536216

Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles – www.habitatla.org/support-us

Partnerships:

CURIE: Get 10% off nontoxic deodorant and other crunchy approved products at Curie with my code, CURIETESSABRAHAM, or shop my link: curiebod.com/CURIETESSABRAHAM

AMALLOW: Get 15% off clean skincare at Amallow Tallow with my code, LXZ-ZT0ABC7, or shop my link: https://loox.io/z/RLSzVN4Wd

Website & Sources: For sources used in researching today's episode, check out my corresponding article at thecaliforniaconversation.com/articles/california-wildfires-2025. Link to sign the petition for the resignation of Mayor Karen Bass: https://www.change.org/p/demand-the-immediate-resignation-of-mayor-karen-bass

Socials:

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itstessabraham

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The Biden Administration just took action to approve California’s groundbreaking mandate that all new cars sold in the state in 2035 must be electric vehicles. President Trump is touting that he will rescind that approval upon his return to office. Just what is going on in California with electric vehicles? Is Newsom’s new mandate realistic and attainable with the next ten years? I’m your host Tess Abraham, and we will be covering how the shift to electric cars affects YOUR life on today’s episode of The California Conversation!

Partnerships:

CURIE: Get 10% off nontoxic deodorant and other crunchy approved products at Curie with my code, CURIETESSABRAHAM, or shop my link: curiebod.com/CURIETESSABRAHAM

AMALLOW: Get 15% off clean skincare at Amallow Tallow with my code, LXZ-ZT0ABC7, or shop my link: https://loox.io/z/RLSzVN4Wd

Website & Sources: For more information about the podcast, please visit thecaliforniaconversation.com. For sources used in researching today's episode, check out my corresponding article at thecaliforniaconversation.com/articles/california-ev-mandates. Here's the link to let me know what you want to see from the show in 2025: https://www.thecaliforniaconversation.com/contact

Socials:

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itstessabraham

Follow on X (Twitter): https://x.com/itstessabraham

Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564213461410

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - 00:04:05 Controversy over EV Mandate

00:04:06 - 00:08:23 How did we get here?

00:08:24 - 00:10:17 Current Status of Progress Made

00:10:18 - 00:11:26 New Partnership! Amallow Skincare

00:11:27 - 00:18:05 Consumer Concerns about EVs

00:18:06 - 00:23:20 Real Implications of EV Mandates

00:23:21 - 00:26:11 Final Thoughts

As 2024 ends, where is your hope rooted for 2025? How will you weather the political storms that may come our way, as both a country and as a state? I’m your host, Tess Abraham, and I want to give you some encouragement on where true hope can be found on this week’s episode of The California Conversation!

Partnerships:

CURIE: Get 10% off nontoxic deodorant and other crunchy approved products at Curie with my code, CURIETESSABRAHAM, or shop my link: curiebod.com/CURIETESSABRAHAM

AMALLOW: Get 15% off clean skincare at Amallow Tallow with my code, LXZ-ZT0ABC7, or shop my link: https://loox.io/z/RLSzVN4Wd

Website & Sources: For more information about the podcast, please visit thecaliforniaconversation.com. For sources used in researching today's episode, check out my corresponding article at thecaliforniaconversation.com/articles/new-year-2024. Here's the link to let me know what you want to see from the show in 2025: https://www.thecaliforniaconversation.com/contact

Socials:

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itstessabraham

Follow on X (Twitter): https://x.com/itstessabraham

Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564213461410

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - 00:02:07 Show Introduction & Call to Hear from You!

00:02:07 - 00:03:41 New Brand Partnership - Curie

00:03:42 - 00:06:59 Reflecting on 2024 and Looking Ahead to 2025

00:07:00 - 00:13:30 The Price of Politics & Examples of Political Failures

00:13:31 - 00:15:07 The Beauty of Purpose

00:15:08 - 00:18:21 Where True Hope is Found

00:18:22 - 00:19:47 Takeaways for Californians