Politics and views in the United States.

Republicans want to attach 'strings' to California fire aid, a judge clears the release of findings about Trump election interference, and North Carolina Republicans seek to invalidate tens of thousands of votes in the state's Supreme Court race. 

TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to 2025 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

I expect that there will be strings attached to money that is ultimately approved, and it has to do with being ready the next time, because this was a gross failure this time.

Wyoming Republican John Barrasso says California must meet requirements before Congress will send disaster aid.

The Kohl State Senator did not blame climate change, but says liberal diversity policies hampered fighting the fires that have destroyed more than 10,000 homes and businesses.

California fire officials say the water infrastructure was just not built for urban fires of this size.

A federal judge says the Justice Department can release special counsel Jack Smith's report on President-elect Donald Trump's 2020 election interference.

Trump's lawyers may appeal to the Supreme Court, but Smith says the public should know that the January 6th insurrection was fueled by lies.

Lies by the defendant targeted at obstructing a bedrock function of the U.S. government, the nation's process of collecting, counting, and certifying the results of the presidential election.

A Friday hearing will determine if the department can release separate findings in Trump's classified documents case.

Both cases were closed because Justice Department policy says no sitting president can face charges.

Repeated recounts in a North Carolina Supreme Court race have shown the Democrat winning by a few hundred votes, but the Republican is suing to invalidate about 60,000 ballots.

As of now, the current state Supreme Court is blocking the Board of Elections from certifying the race.

Former Governor Roy Cooper says these kinds of anti-democratic challenges could become the norm.

This is a scheme to throw out legal votes en masse by eligible voters who even showed their voter ID to be able to vote.

According to media reports, the Republican is challenging the ballots of Black voters at twice the rate of white voters.

Vice President-elect J.D. Vance is walking back Trump's promise to issue near-blanket pardons of January 6th rioters.

He tells Fox News some violent protesters may not deserve release.

If you committed violence on that day, obviously you shouldn't be pardoned.

And there's a little bit of a gray area there, but we're very much committed to seeing the equal administration of law.

The mixed messages have angered some supporters who say if Trump avoided jail, those who rallied for him should too.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has called a special legislative session to prepare for mass migrant deportations, but lawmakers from both parties, including Democratic Representative Fentrice Driscoll, says that's premature.

Is the Florida Guard going to start removing students from college?

Are they going to start breaking up families?

We need to think about what the implications of these policies are.

DeSantis has vowed to suspend any elected officials who don't help with the new immigration policies.

I'm Katherine Carley for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

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