Rep.-Elect Rouda: Trump Should Lead on Climate Change Instead of Throwing 'Tweet Tantrums'
*By Chloe Aiello and Justin Chermol*
Not many Californians are pleased with President Trump's weekend Twitter response to the wildfires that are devastating parts of California ー especially not Congressman-elect Harley Rouda.
Fresh off a victory in California's 48th Congressional District, the newly-elected House Democrat had some choice words for the president on Monday.
"This is the time to step up and show you have one ounce of empathy in your entire being. And instead, he uses this an opportunity to insult Californians, insult firefighters, insult those families that have lost lives, property ー incredible devastation. These tweet tantrums that show him acting as a temperamental, small child has to stop," Rouda told Cheddar on Monday.
Rouda was referencing a tweet Trump blasted out on Saturday, blaming the destruction on poor forest management. The White House did not immediately respond to Cheddar's request for comment on Rouda's criticism.
"There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor," [Trump wrote on Twitter](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1061168803218948096). "Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests. Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!"
Two new blazes broke out in Ventura County, Calif., on Monday. Firefighting resources are already stretched thin, as they work to combat three fires already scorching the state. In Northern California, the Camp Fire has killed at least 31, making it the deadliest in the state's history. Further south, the Woolsey Fire and the Hill Fire have forced the evacuation of hundreds of thousands, some from the state's wealthiest zip codes.
Trump blamed forest management for the raging fires, failing to mention climate change as a contributing factor. [Climate scientists agree](https://www.fs.usda.gov/ccrc/topics/effects-drought-forests-and-rangelands) climate change aggravates the drought that contributes to wildfires.
"Unfortunately our President denies basic science ... It would be better to see our country take a leadership role in addressing climate change and creating the new industries and new jobs that will have to be created to address this issue for the sake of humanity," Rouda said.
"And that's why I'm excited with our new Congress ... if the President won't do it in concert with Congress, then Congress will march ahead without him," he added.
Rouda just unseated Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a 30-year GOP incumbent with ties to Russia. [The Associated Press called](https://twitter.com/ap_politics/status/1061432753248448512?s=21) the race for Rouda Saturday afternoon, but Rohrabacher has yet to concede.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/congressman-elect-rouda-ousts-30-year-republican-incumbent).
Following the surprising big beat on estimates for the January jobs report, William M. Rodgers III, vice president and director of the Institute for Economic Equity at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, joined Cheddar News to break down the data. “We ended 2021 with a strong crescendo to a recovery that had taken hold, and we started 2022 in good fashion." He also discussed the dueling pressures of wage growth and inflation.
Jessica Mason Pieklo, senior vice president and executive editor of the Rewired News Group and co-host of the podcast. "Boom! Lawyered," joins Cheddar Politics to discuss Justice Stephen Breyer's retirement, legacy and potential replacement on the Supreme Court.
The Biden administration delivered a temporary win for student loan borrowers this year by extending the moratorium on federal payments for a few more months. That moratorium is coming to an end on May 1st and borrowers will again have their monthly loan payment plopped in their lap.
Stephanie Vanderslice, a creative writing professor paying off debt through the Parent Plus program, and Mike Pierce, executive director of the Student Borrower Protection Center, join Cheddar Politics to discuss.
2022 was already going to be a big year for the Supreme Court. We have decisions on major issues like abortion and gun rights on the way. Then, Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement and that set up a major confirmation fight for later this year. Amy Howe, co-founder of SCOTUSblog, joins Cheddar Politics to discuss.
The Labor Department released a better-than-expected report of 467,000 jobs added in January. Heather Boushey, Council of Economic Advisers Member for President Biden, joined Cheddar to tout the administration's handling of the economy amid the pandemic and the upward revisions for the previous month. "It also shows that, because of the revisions, the economy was stronger over the past couple of months," she said. "I don't think that this can be said enough, but economic forecasting during an historic pandemic is extremely difficult." Boushey also addressed issues involving wage growth versus the rapid rise of inflation.
The Labor Department's January jobs report showed 467,000 jobs were added, compared to the 150,000 that were projected, a sign that employment is continuign to return to pre-pandemic levels. Lindsey Piegza, chief economist at investment bank Stifel, joined Cheddar to break down the report, noting the big gains but adding a note of caution. "Remember, even with this morning's stellar report, we're still millions below that level that we had reached prior to the onset of COVID-19," she said." Yes, we are recapturing jobs. We still have further ground that needs to be made before we can talk about reaching that previous peak." Piegza also discussed the role of the Federal Reserve going forward as the employment figures turn more positive.
As President Biden's poll numbers fall with Black voters, Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass. 7th District) joined Cheddar to discuss what she feels could help the embattled administration: deliver on policies. Pressley pointed to stalled legislation such as new voting rights laws and Build Back Betters and canceling student loan debt, which would go a long way to improving his standing with Black constituents. "President Biden has the authority and the power to alleviate this burden, which would also help in closing the racial wealth gap, and he can do it by executive action with the stroke of a pen," she said. "And it doesn't require one vote from Congress. So, the Biden administration just needs to deliver to Black America in a tangible and impactful way."
