For 2025, I am taking the gloves off on far right, "christian" conspiracy theories and those who spread them. Today is the first of what I plan to make a regular, no-punches-pulled set of entries that will illustrate the lunacy - STRIKE THAT - the lies that are being sent from these people.
Our first installment today comes from Victor Davis Hanson. Mr. Hanson is one of the most prolific writers of history (mainly military history). He has decided to print his thoughts now as a Republican and frequently releases videos that mark his points. Mr. Harris knows well how to source statements, as he frequently does so when writing about history.
In the spirit of critical thought, let's all watch this video as Mr. Hanson claims to know the cause of the Southern California wildfires earlier this month:
Now, leaving aside the fact that Mr. Hanson was never in the front lines as a firefighter, there's one thing that seriously bothers me in the video and others made by Mr. Hanson- absolutely no corroborating evidence. He has copious uses of the word "they" and never tells us who "they" are and makes assertions that are completely unproveable like "they want to take California back to the 19th century" without explaining why "they" would want that in the first place.
It doesn't take long to discern that something is amiss here. I saw this video at 7:00am this morning, and now it's 1pm and I have completed investigating the assertions made here that seem to be able to be researched. So, here's what I found:
ASSERTION: LAFD Fire Chief Kristin Crowley and Deputy Chief Kristine Larson claimed publicly that they intended to have 70-80% DEI-based hires, regardless of experience.
I could find absolutely nothing to corroborate this. Researching this a bit further:
The LAFD has implemented initiatives to promote diversity within its ranks. In November 2022, the department launched its first-ever Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Bureau, led by Deputy Chief Stephen Gutierrez, aiming to ensure a safe, diverse, and inclusive workplace.
In 2022, of the more than 6,500 applicants to the LAFD, 70% were people of color, and nearly 8% were women, which is double the current percentage of female firefighters within the department.
ASSERTION: Gavin Newsom redirected water to the ociean instead of the California Aqueduct, which is the cause of the lack of water and water pressure.
The claim that California Governor Gavin Newsom redirected water from the Sacramento River to the ocean instead of the California Aqueduct is a simplified or mischaracterized explanation of water management policies and decisions. Here's the context:
Water Management in California
- Environmental Protections: A significant portion of water from the Sacramento River flows naturally into the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. This is not a "redirection" but part of the natural hydrological cycle. However, water management policies sometimes require limiting the amount of water diverted for human use to protect endangered species, such as the delta smelt and Chinook salmon, which rely on adequate freshwater flow.
- Drought and Water Allocations: During droughts, water allocations are adjusted. Some criticize these adjustments, arguing they prioritize environmental needs over agricultural and urban water demands. Others support them, citing long-term ecosystem health and legal obligations under federal and state laws.
- California Aqueduct: The aqueduct is a vital part of California's water infrastructure, moving water from northern to southern California. Decisions about how much water is diverted into the aqueduct are based on multiple factors, including water availability, infrastructure capacity, environmental laws, and court rulings.
SOURCES:
• Reputable news outlets like the Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee, and San Francisco Chronicle often cover California's water issues in depth.
• Academic and policy analysis from institutions like the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) provide insights into water management.
ASSERTION: Gavin Newsome claimed publicly (bragged) that he blew up 4 dams on the Klamath River. These dams provided clean hydroelectric power to 80,000 homes.
Governor Gavin Newsom did not personally claim to have "blown up" the four dams on the Klamath River. However, he has been a prominent supporter of the dam removal project, which aimed to restore the river's ecosystem and support salmon populations. The four dams—J.C. Boyle, Copco No. 1, Copco No. 2, and Iron Gate—were part of the Klamath River Hydroelectric Project and collectively generated approximately 169 megawatts of electricity, sufficient to power about 80,000 homes.
SOURCES:
ASSERTION: There is no timber industry left in California due to fires.
It is not true that there is no timber industry left in California. The timber industry in California still exists, but it has significantly declined over the years due to a variety of factors, including environmental regulations, changing economic conditions, and shifts in land use.
Current Status of the Timber Industry in California
- Information on timber harvesting regulations, sustainable forestry practices, and wildfire prevention: California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection | CAL FIRE
- Federal forest lands statistics on timber production: https://www.fs.usda.gov
- Representing the timber industry in California and advocates for policies affecting forest management: Calforest | Advocating For California’s Forestry Sector
ASSERTION: Gavin Newsome gave away firefighting equipment to help Ukraine.
- Several fire departments in California donated surplus firefighting equipment to Ukraine. These donations, initiated in 2022, were part of humanitarian efforts to support Ukrainian firefighters amid the ongoing conflict. For instance, the Los Angeles County Fire Department contributed hoses, nozzles, helmets, body armor, and other personal protective equipment.
- Additionally, the Kern County Fire Department donated a fire engine to Ukraine, which has been actively used in responding to emergencies caused by the conflict.
- These contributions were made from surplus supplies and were intended to aid Ukrainian first responders facing challenging conditions. It's important to note that these donations were coordinated in 2022 and were not connected to the recent wildfires in California.
SOURCES:
Interestingly enough (and not surprising to this author) I tried to research these claims using the more "religious/right wing" sources (Truth Social, X, Fox News, etc.) and when I could find mention of these things, those outlets had the same use of "they" that Mr. Hanson refers to, but absolutely no actual corroborating evidence whatsoever. References like "taking California back to the 19th century" were heard with the pronoun "they", but we have no idea who "they" are and no mention of why "they" would want to do these things, except to say that it's an anti-human conspiracy.
Now, I know what you're thinking- "Why would you waste your time on something like this?" It's pretty simple. Lies are the transportation vehicle for evil. It's time to call people like Mr. Hanson what they are- liars. They are not mistaken or brainwashed. They are LYING, and it's time this gets exposed for what it is.
Stay tuned here- I have a rather large article (it might be a series) on Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills. He's not a mainstream liar like a lot of the people you've heard of like Mark Driscoll or Charlie Kirk, but his style of preaching is one of the more sinister styles I've seen in a long, long time.
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