Where Are The Federal Relief Funds? (With Rep. Judy Chu)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently approved California's request to extend housing assistance to survivors of the Eaton and Palisades fires. But more than 18 months after those January 2025 fires, survivors are still waiting on an additional $16 billion in federal disaster relief from the federal government, which was revised down earlier this year from nearly $34 billion. California leaders say this is unprecedented — the federal government has always sent money to communities recovering from disasters — and that the lack of this funding is directly impacting the rebuild. So where is it?

Congresswoman Judy Chu is hopeful, based on recent conversations between state and federal officials, that this issue could be resolved within the next few months. In this episode, Rep. Chu joins host Kate Cagle to discuss this as well as other support she and the state are working on to help survivors recover and rebuild, including a proposed $100 million rebuilding fund which, if enacted in the state budget, could be announced later this summer.

GUEST: U.S. Representative Judy Chu, CA-28

Rep. Chu Commends Passage of Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2025: https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-chu-commends-passage-federal-disaster-tax-relief-act-2025 U.S. House of Representatives Passes Bill to Shield Eaton Fire Settlements From Federal Taxes: https://www.altadena-now.com/main/government/u-s-house-of-representatives-passes-bill-to-shield-eaton-fire-settlements-from-federal-taxes/ Governor Newsom announces revised budget that eliminates California’s deficit, maintains investment for fire survivors: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/05/14/may-revise/

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Saved By A Story: How the Art of Writing Can Help L.A. Fire Survivors Heal

Long after the smoke cleared and the news crews left, many fire survivors are still carrying grief, anxiety, and the emotional weight of losing a community, a routine, and a sense of place. In this ep...

24 Kesä 32min

The Flames are Long Gone but the Psychological Toll of the L.A. Fires Lingers

Today people are not just rebuilding their homes but their lives. On top of the task of just figuring out whether to move back and rebuild a house or leave and start over someplace else, survivors hav...

17 Kesä 36min

How One Altadena Neighborhood Builds Back, Piece By Piece

It turns out you can burn down a neighborhood and not destroy a community. The one great silver lining to these fires in Los Angeles is that survivors are transcending the physical ties. No matter how...

10 Kesä 33min

Family, Faith, and Good Neighbors: How One Eaton Fire Survivor Has Found The Strength To Move On And Rebuild.

Eighteen months after the Eaton and Palisades Fires, it's not gotten any easier for survivors. But there are good things happening. People are rebuilding. Survivors are making plans to return to these...

3 Kesä 52min

Game Theory: Is L.A. Rebuilding For Survivors - Or For The Olympics? (with CBS News' Jonathan Vigliotti)

The fire in the Pacific Palisades was still smoldering when Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass announced we would rebuild. Now, almost 18 months later, progress has been a mixed bag. Yes, home...

20 Touko 59min

Recovery, From The People's Perspective: 'It's About To Get A Lot Worse'

About 2 in 3 fire survivors are still displaced and, as coverage for temporary housing disappears, that number could get increase. That's according to the latest report from Department of Angels, a no...

13 Touko 55min

The Political Firefight To Be LA's Mayor

There's a big election this year, and we are not just talking about the congressional midterm races. There's a lot of consequential local races, too, including one for LA's next mayor. As incumbent ma...

6 Touko 45min