Beltway Insider: Biden/Carter Funeral, Trump Sentenced, Greenland, LA Fires Set Record

Details: Category: Beltway Insider; Published on Sunday, 12 January 2025 06:44; Written by Janet Walker

President Biden traveled to Los Angeles to meet with Governor Gavin Newsom to announce the federal government disaster relief efforts will remain dedicated to the recovery and rebuilding process long after his term ends.

The President's job approval rating, according to the website fivethirtyeight.com for the period ending January 12, 2025, decreased by 1.1% to 36.2% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness increased by 0.03% to 56.6% of those polled. A slight 3% of the population polled have no opinion. Ratings are calculated weekly.

Beltway Insider: President Jimmy Carter Dies, Biden Announces State Funeral, Trump/Sentencing, NYE Terror Attack

President Jimmy Carter Funeral

The funeral of former President Jimmy Carter was held this week at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. The 39^th President died December 29, 2024, at the age of 100. He arrived in Washington, on Tuesday, January 7, on horse drawn caisson, where he, like every president before him, would lie in state in the Capitol building's rotunda so that mourners, equally, could pay respects to him for his service to the nation.

Gathered in the Cathedral were the five past presidents, their wives, former Vice-presidents, dignitaries and honored guests. Seated in the first row, President Biden, and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, Vice-President Kamala Harris, and Second Gentleman, Doug Emhoff. In the second row, former President Donald Trump and Melania, former President Barack Obama, former President George W. Bush, and his wife, former First Lady Laura Bush, former Secretary of State and former First Lady Hillary Rodman Clinton, and former President Bill Clinton. Behind them were former vice-presidents to each of these administrations.

Biden Delivers Eulogy

President Biden delivered the main eulogy, which can be read here and as someone who knew the former president for six decades, and joined by dedication to faith, and a belief in what many say is a by-gone era of America, and clearly of American politics.

"For keeping the faith with the best of humankind and the best of America is a story, in my view, from my perspective, of Jimmy Carter's life. A story of a man — to state the obvious, you've heard today some great, great eulogies — who came from a house without running water or electricity and rose to the pinnacle of power. A story of a man who was at once driven and devoted to making real the words of his Savior and the ideals of this nation. A story of a man who never let the tides of politics divert him from his mission to serve and shape the world.

The man had character. Jimmy held a deep Christian faith in God and that his candidacy spoke and wrote about. Faith as a substance of things hoped for and evidence of the things not seen. Faith founded on commandments of Scripture: Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and all thy mind and all thy soul and love thy neighbor as thyself. Easy to say, but very, very difficult to do.

In his life — in this life, any walk of faith can be difficult. It can be lonely. But it requires action to be the doers of the world."

Rage Against the Night

The former president's life of service was reflected in his gentle passing. His outspoken beliefs and faith in God, were a guiding principle throughout his life, and while the ravages of age played its evil tricks on the former president, in the end, he died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, family and a lifetime of memories that burned brightly into his long night.

Throughout his post presidency, he clearly earned the right to sit back and relax, but he did not, he turned his post presidency into an ambassadorship, dedicated to humanity. And as the night beckoned, he fought, as there is always more to accomplish.

In the words of the poet Dylan Thomas,

"Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light."

Biden Farewell Address

On Wednesday, January 15 at 8:00 PM, the President will deliver a Farewell Address to the nation from the Oval Office.

World News: Nicolas Sarkozy and Libyan Money

Trump Sentencing

President-elect Donald J. Trump lost his last-ditch effort to have the Supreme Court of the United States, stop the sentencing phase of his criminal trial where he was found guilty on 34 felony counts of fraudulent business practices over a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign.

The court of five conservative justices, three of whom he selected, refused to intervene. Mr. Trump was sentenced in a virtual hearing and was given an unconditional discharge meaning the incoming president will be the first to carry the title of felon into the Oval Office. Mr. Trump will not be required to serve any jail time, pay a fine, or serve probation.

Trump Announces U.S. Hopes to Purchase Greenland

President-elect Trump began this week to shake-up the world with the announcement that he wants the United States to buy Greenland, which is part of Denmark's territories. As the media has jumped on the idea as ludicrous, the question that is not being explored is why? The simple answer is oil.

"According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Greenland is estimated to have around 17.5 billion barrels of undiscovered oil reserves offshore, primarily located in the North and South Danmarkshavn basins; however, the current Greenland government has banned all future oil exploration due to climate change concerns." A recent Time Magazine article has estimated there may be double that estimate.

Trump, beneath all the political persona is a businessman, a strategic future thinking businessman. For his legacy to continue, on all points, he will need to appease environmentalists within the United States to continue to move forward his long-range agenda through other candidates, and what better way, than securing this barely inhabitable ice sheet, and enacting his motto of drill, drill, drill, which stops drilling and land destruction in protected areas of the United States.

The concept is like the mining of rare earth elements, which have exponentially increased in value as we lean more on technology and any device with a screen. China mines the majority of the world's RRE, and the region surrounding the mine are akin to Three Mile Island disaster, the vegetation is destroyed, the water supply is polluted, the land is desolate. China produces 95% of the world's needed RRE, meaning they have a stranglehold on the world.

California's Mountain Pass, one of the richest rare earth deposits in the world, was closed after a toxic spill in 2002, and wasn't reopened due to competition from Chinese suppliers. It currently produces 15% of the world's RRE from previously mined materials.

By purchasing Greenland and drilling protects the continental United States from any environmental disasters, much like China and rare earth elements.

Coronavirus Total

The CDC has recommended every person from age six months, including senior citizens should receive at least one shot of an updated COVID-19 vaccine, annually. The death toll from Covid-19 has dramatically decreased, as has transmission of the virus. Even as confirmed new cases continue each week, fewer are dying from the newer variants.

For the seven days ending January 12, 2025, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases reported by The World Health Organization increased by 51,618 confirmed cases totaling 777,126,421. The total worldwide death toll increased by 783 to 7,079,925 deaths. The United States has stopped providing Covid data to the World Health Organization. (Data updated December 29, 2024, from The World Health Organization).

Hollywood Week: LA Fires Produce Catastrophic Devastation, LA Awards Season Paused

Los Angeles County Fires

The Los Angeles County Fires, a ring of multiple fast-moving infernos, that began Tuesday, January 7, at 10:00 am, have collectively ranked as the highest economic loss in the state's record keeping history, and second highest structure loss.

A preliminary estimate of $57 billion in total damage and economic loss was quickly revised. AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter updated the "total damage and economic loss as catastrophic wildfires in Southern California continue to ravage the Los Angeles area to $135-$150 billion." He added, "To put this into perspective, the total damage and economic loss from this wildfire disaster could reach nearly 4 percent of the annual GDP of the state of California."

Currently, the fires have destroyed 12,397 structures, second to the 2018 Camp Fire, which destroyed the town of Paradise, killing 85 and destroying 19,000 structures. The death toll in the LA Fires currently stands at 16 and is expected to increase.

The annual Santa Ana winds, the hot winter winds coming off the ocean meet up with the cool low pressure, usually over the Mountain-West region, and often they produce warm gusts of 40-50 mph. It is during these times that the fire warnings are high, as a simple spark from a still lite cigarette by a passing motorist can spark an inferno.

The fast-moving Pacific Palisades fire, and the Eaton Fire, the two most devastating, are still under investigation as arson investigators attempt to piece together the cause. One fact is certain, on Tuesday, when the small brush fire, which exploded into the raging fast-moving wind driven Pacific Palisades fire began, it doesn't appear to have been a natural event, such as a lightning bolt or other natural electrical charge that caused the initial spark.

Coupled with the unusually high winds, which by nightfall had increased to category one hurricane strength grounded any aerial support, which left the whole of government unable to impede on any level the wind charged fires, which spread embers for miles in burst of fire showers. These ember showers are likely the cause of the additional six other fires within the region.

By Tuesday night, fires were raging in a half moon shape around the city of Los Angeles. The Eaton Fire, which decimated the city of Altadena, resembles, from the news footage, like the whole region was set upon by a flame thrower. The intensity of the fires, whipped by the winds, created an impossible equation, and the result was shocking devastation.

Breaking: Preliminary Estimate from California Fires Surges Above $57 Billion

Biden Visits, Pledges Support

President Biden arrived in Los Angeles to pledge a whole of government response to the Los Angeles fires. He said during a press conference, "I immediately approved the governor's request of major disaster declaration, which will pay for things like debris removal, temporary lodging, and first responder overtime pay. Both of these — the grants and the declaration — usually cover 75 percent of the state's costs. But yesterday, I directed the federal government to cover 100 percent of state costs for 180 days."

Trump Support Unsure

As Mr. Trump will assume the office of the presidency in ten days, and he has already begun to assess blame of this disaster to California Governor Gavin Newsom, and with the rebuilding and recovery needs of California residents expected to extend into the foreseeable future, the blame game should cease, and the needs of the people should be paramount.

"In a letter to Trump posted to social media on Friday, Newsom noted their joint 2018 tour of the ruins of the Camp and Woolsey fires. "As you prepare to assume the presidency once more, I invite you to come to California again — to meet with the Americans affected by these fires, see the devastation firsthand, and join me and others in thanking the heroic firefighters and first responders who are putting their lives on the line. In the spirit of this great country, we must not politicize human tragedy or spread disinformation from the sidelines," MSNBCnews.com reported.

Shocking Devastation

Currently, the fires are still burning, and wind events are expected to continue until Wednesday, January 15, 2025. As there have been breaks between events, the ability to add much needed ariel support, including water and flame retardant drops, forming a first defense line has increased.

Governor Newsom has issued a state of emergency, imposed a 6:00 pm to 6:00 am curfew in affected areas to ward off looters and issued in the strongest possible language looters will be arrested and prosecuted, and in advance of the upcoming weeks expected high wind event has continued to ready additional resources.

With more than 14,000 civilian firefighting personnel, 1,680 California National Guardsmen, and 1,700 pieces of firefighting equipment, this round of fires, which gained strength when ariel support was grounded, have been exponentially more difficult to manage.

Of the five most damaging fires, more than 40,198 acres from 101 wildfires have burned in the SoCal region. The Pacific Palisades Fire, (14,117 acres burned, 15% contained) after devasting that entire neighborhood, and parts of Malibu, has moved east toward the neighborhoods of Brentwood, Encino, and the 405 Freeway, UCLA, and The Getty Center, The Eaton Fire erupted (Altadena/Pasadena area, 14,117 acres, 15% contained) and still burning) The Hurst Fire, (799 acres, 76% contained), the Kenneth Fire in West Hills, (1,052 acres, 90% contained) and during the night mandatory evacuation were ordered for the Hollywood Hills areas, which threatened many of the iconic Hollywood structures and attractions, as vegetation caught fire near Franklin Avenue. The combined fires have resulted in more than 12,397 homes being destroyed, including supermarkets, coffee shops, banks, churches, schools.

Often the worst of humanity is all that the news cycles features, and throughout this horrific and catastrophic apocalyptic devastation, Angelenos has seen some of the best of humanity. Firefighters are the bravest men and women in the world, and the global response has been heartwarming, as firefighters around the world have arrived to assist the over-extended LAFD continue to fight against these fires.

FEMA has activated it Critical Needs Assistance program which provides a one-time payment of $750 to survivors so they can quickly purchase critical items, like water, formula, gasoline, and prescription drugs. All survivors should go to DisasterAssistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362.

The LA County Department of Mental Health (DMH) is providing 24/7 support and resources through its help line at (800) 854-7771 or via the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Resources on the LA County website include a variety of wildfire disaster mental health resources and downloadable tip sheets for the City of Los Angeles and at Ready LA County.

For more information on President Joe Biden: Whitehouse.gov.

Janet Walker is the publisher, founder, and sole owner of Haute-Lifestyle.com. A graduate of New York University, she has been covering international news through the Beltway Insider, a weekly review of the nation's top stories, for more than a decade. A general beat writer/reporter and entertainment/film critic, she is also an accomplished news/investigative news/crime reporter and submitted for Pulitzer Prize consideration "Cops Conspire to Deep Six Sex Assaults" in the Breaking News Category and was persuaded to withdraw the submission. Ms. Walker has completed five screenplays, "The Six Sides of Truth," "The Assassins of Fifth Avenue," "The Wednesday Killer," "The Manhattan Project," and the sci-fi thriller "Project 13: The Last Day." She is completing the non-fiction narrative, "Unholy Alliances: A True Crime Story," which is expected to be released in early 2025. She is a member of the Los Angeles Press Club, the National Writers Union, and a former member of the International Federation of Journalists.