Rising from the Ashes

Episode two picks up in the quiet aftermath of the fire, when the adrenaline fades and reality sets in. Nataly Tavidian reflects on the moment she learned her family home was gone—a phone call from a close colleague/TV reporter who was reporting live from the property. The episode centers on the shock of seeing what remains for the first time and the emotional weight of hearing devastating news from someone who knew the house, the family, and its history. Through archival audio and a year-later one-on-one conversation with her friend, the episode explores how grief shows up in unexpected ways, even for journalists trained to stay composed. Episode 2 examines the human side of disaster reporting, the role of compassion in moments of loss, and the difficult transition from breaking news to personal reckoning.

Exactly one month ago, the worlds of several thousand LA County residents were turned upside down ... when violent winds stoked massive fires that left a trail of unprecedented destruction. Tonight we will bring you the survival stories of six people who lost everything during the January 7th fires ... three residents of the Pacific Palisades, and three residents of Altadena. We'll ask about processing and overcoming the trauma, about their dealings with insurance companies and the government ... and ask about the next stages of recovering, and rebuilding. The only voices you'll hear tonight, aside from Charles & Margaret, are from the survivors. No politicians, no officials, no analysts ... just the people who lost it all, but have come out the other end still standing ... still fighting.

This is a story about historic fires, survival, and what promises to be monumental efforts to rebuild and flourish in an often hostile environment where danger lurks with every gust of wind. In short, it is a story about ourselves. As tens of thousands of L.A. County residents spent the last two weeks trying to stay alive and keep their homes from burning to the ground, there was little time to think about how these fires will change the complexion of our region. But as the flames die down and we all absorb the staggering losses of people and property, our focus shifts to picking up the pieces and choosing the best path forward. In a KNX News special, we look back at how the fires ripped through communities and the destruction left in their wakes ... and we look forward to the immensely complicated questions about recovery and rebuilding.

We dive into the brewing Republican civil war over whether businesses should be hiring foreign workers over American workers. Then we look back at four years ago today--January 6th, 2021--and whether President-elect Trump and the MAGA movement actually won that day.

We talk with two top constitutional experts about concern from some Democrats that Republicans could force a Constitutional Convention

32 days to go before Donald Trump takes over as President of the United States ... although considering how the last couple of days have gone, one would be forgiven thinking he's already moved into the White House! Thanks for counting down with us ... on today's Countdown 2025: We'll examine the chaos unfolding in Congress ... where the government is set to close down tomorrow night and Republicans can't decide if it's Donald Trump, Mike Johnson or Elon Musk in charge. We'll be talking with a Republican member of Congress to ask what comes next. Speaking of Musk ... we'll also take a closer look at the tech billionaires who once despised Trump, but have decided to butter him up this second time around.

33 days to go before Joe Biden departs the White House ... and Donald Trump moves in for a second run at America's top job. Thank you for counting down the days with us. On today's Countdown 2024: Donald Trump and his allies have perfected the art of intimidation through lawsuits ... and even before his second term has begun, the president-elect is already seeing the results of defamation threats. We'll ask whether journalists and critics will be forced to cower. And, even though it's technically guaranteed in the constitution ... should the Postal Service be handed over to private ownership?

34 days to go in the Trump transition ... thank you for counting down the days with us. On today's Countdown 2024: Lincoln Project co-founder Rick Wilson is with us to preview the strategy for resisting Donald Trump ... a second time around. And we get a preview into the Trump administration's immigration policy playbook from the people who helped to write it at the Heritage Foundation.

35 days to go before Donald Trump is sworn back into the office of the presidency ... thank you for counting down these transition days with us. On today's show: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would bring all kinds of baggage with him to Health and Human Services, if he's confirmed as the department's next secretary ... but the biggest worry with Kennedy is his history of anti-vaccine advocacy. So we'll hear from an FDA advisor who is hoping that Kennedy doesn't come anywhere close to vaccine policy. And ... can the Trump administration derail California's controversial high speed rail project for good?

38 days to go in the Trump transition ... thank you for counting down the days with us. On today's show: we're getting the other side of the passionate debate over gender-affirming care for transgender youth, an issue that will likely be front-and-center during the next four years. And ... ? why is the Trump administration seriously considering axing several of the nation's banking regulatory agencies?

39 days to go before Donald Trump takes the oath of office and moves back into the White House. Thank you for counting down the transition with us. Mike Simpson pulling double duty today, sitting in for BOTH Margaret Carrero and Charles Feldman. On today's Countdown 2024: Current FBI director Christopher Wray made it easy on Donald Trump, announcing his retirement at the end of Joe Biden's term and saving the president-elect from the chore of firing him when he takes office next month. Is this the start of a dangerous politicization of the nation's top law enforcement agency? We're going to hear from a former FBI special agent who now covers the agency for CNN, Josh Campbell ... and we're talking with a former Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee, Trey Gowdy.

It's an even 40-days left in the Trump transition .... thank you for counting down the days to inauguration with us. On today's Countdown 2024: According to President-elect Donald Trump, Congresswoman Zoe [Z-OH] Lofgren and the rest of her January 6th committee members belong in jail ... so we're asking the Congresswoman herself if she's feeling worried or intimidated about the threat of imprisonment. Then ... the president-elect put forward a national investment policy, of sorts: spend 1-billion-dollars in the U.S. to open a new business or manufacturing plant and Trump will wave those pesky regulations ... we'll make some sense of that.

41 more days to go until Donald Trump reoccupies the White House ... thank you for counting down the transition with us. On today's Countdown 2024: the American media is heading into a second Trump administration in a state of transition and uncertainty. With legacy outlets losing their audience and advertisers ... and nontraditional media, like podcasts and TikToks, gaining new prominence ... the ability, and willingness, to investigate the president-elect and hold him to account could be waning. We're dedicating today's show to journalism in the age of Trump.

42 more days to go until the Trump transition becomes the second Trump administration ... thank you for counting down the days with us. On today's Countdown 2024: Elon Musk spent nearly a quarter-BILLION-dollars of his own money to help Donald Trump get elected to the presidency ... so now what does he want in return for his investment? We'll look at Trump's cabinet stuffed with billionaires. And the president-elect said in an interview over the weekend that he will get rid of birthright citizenship on day one of his administration ... but can a president do away with a constitutional amendment by way of an executive order?

President-elect Trump has promised mass deportations of undocumented immigrants once he gets back into the White House. But how realistic is this? And how will this impact certain immigrants protected by a special program? While Trump talks tough, the action might not be as strong as he says. We get into the realities of the situation and talk to a person who could be sent to a country she doesn't even really know.

46 more days until Donald Trump is back in the White House ... thank you for counting down the days with us, as we keep a close watch over this important transition. On today's Countdown 2024: whether it's Pete Hegseth, Ron DeSantis or someone else entirely that ends up leading the Defense Department in the Trump administration, MAGA-world has big changes planned for the American military--we'll take a closer look at those plans. And ... ? why are the donors financing the Trump transition being kept secret ... and what could that mean for potential conflicts of interest and corruption down the road?

47 days to go until the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump, reoccupies the White House ... thank you for counting down the days with us. On today's Countdown 2024: if Donald Trump's threats are to be taken seriously, no country is safe from having the Trump administration slap a tariff on its imports ... but how will that impact prices on every day goods ... and are trade wars indeed "good and easy to win" like the president-elect says? And we'll look at a pivotal transgender medical care case argued in front of the Supreme Court today, and discuss its implications for the bigger fight over transgender rights.

48 days left in the transition from Joe Biden to Donald Trump in the White House, when there is never a dull moment ... thank you for joining us in counting down the days to inauguration. On today's Countdown 2024: For California's newest U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, it all has to feel like deja vu ... albeit with a new job in a new chamber. The man who played the starring role of public enemy number one for Donald Trump and all of his supporters from 2016 to 2020 is preparing for the sequel ... we'll look down the road over the next four years with Senator-elect Adam Schiff, coming up.

49 days to go in what has already been a controversial and messy transition from Joe Biden to Donald Trump ... thank you for joining us in the count down to inauguration. On today's Countdown 2024: We're talking with a pair of former White House attorneys to help digest two different events over the last couple of days--one from the outgoing Biden administration and one from the incoming Trump administration--that illustrates how far traditional political norms and standards have broken down in the United States. Presidential pardons and FBI nominations, coming up on today's show.

55 days to go until inauguration day ushers Donald Trump back into the White House for the second time ... thank you for counting down the days with me and Larry Perel, sitting in today for Margaret Carrero. On today's Countdown 2024: Politics and family haven't been a good mix for generations ... but something about Donald Trump has turbo-charged those age-old family debates, and not in a good way. Today we'll hear about the various ways people are bracing for, or outright avoiding, talking politics around the holiday dinner table.

56 days left in our post-election transitional period until the second Trump administration gets going ... thank you for counting down with us. On today's Countdown 2024: Democrats can't afford to spend too much time licking their wounds after losing to Donald Trump, as the president-elect is wasting no time putting together a potentially extremist cabinet and enacting a sweeping agenda. So we'll talk with an influential pair of Democrats ... a former U.S. Labor Secretary and the former co-chair of the Harris-Walz campaign ... about what went wrong, and where they go from here.

59 days left in the transition from Democrats to Republicans in charge .... from Biden to Trump. Thank you for counting down with us. On today's Countdown 2024: Nathan Hochman dispatched with George Gascon rather easily three weeks ago, on his way to winning the Los Angeles County District Attorney's race ... as voters here showed their strong preference for a more strictly law-and-order approach for the county's chief prosecutor. But now comes the hard part for the District Attorney-elect: delivering on his promises to bring down crime and make people feel safer as he oversees the biggest DA's office in the country. Nathan Hochman joins us on Countdown 2024.

60 days to go until Donald Trump is sworn back into office ... and if the next 60 days are anything like these last three weeks since election day ... you're going to want to stick with us on Countdown! On today's Countdown 2024: Matt Gaetz is OUT as the nominee to become the country's next attorney general ... much more coming up on this big development. And ... normally reliable Democratic voters in big cities across the country voted for Trump in record numbers on November 5th, spooking Democrats and touching off some serious soul searching about how blue cities and states are being governed. We'll hear from one big city mayor about the lessons Democrats should learn from their wipeout election.

61 days to go until inauguration day and Donald Trump is sworn in as the nation's 47th president ... thank you for counting down the transition with us. On today's Countdown 2024: President-elect Trump couldn't be more clear in his priorities when it comes to the nation's environment and energy policy. Trump believes climate change is a hoax, and he wants to "drill baby drill," even though the U.S. is already the chief global producer of oil and natural gas. So we'll DRILL down on both these issues today ... hearing from the Sierra Club and an oil and gas trader who's been helping the Trump transition team.

62 days to go in the country's transition to a second Trump presidency ... thank you for counting down with us. On today's Countdown 2024: The incoming Republican controlled Congress will face several early tests from the Trump administration, all centered around one core, constitutional question: How much of their power are they willing to cede to President Donald Trump, who seems very eager to seize it? We'll put that question to the Republican Congressman elected to take over Kevin McCarthy's old House seat in Bakersfield. And ... how will journalists navigate their second tour covering the Trump administration, especially after they've been labeled the "enemy of the people?"

63 days to go until the transition is complete and Donald Trump is sworn back into the presidency ... thank you for counting down with us. On today's Countdown 2024: Back in 2016 when Donald Trump first won the presidency and had a Republican House and Senate, conservatives were giddy ... but couldn't really pull off the sweeping transformation of the federal government for which they were hoping. This time both the president-elect and his MAGA faithful are determined to charge full steam ahead ... we'll hear from the CEO of The Federalist about how they'll execute their plans. And we'll talk with a former CDC investigator who thinks Robert F. Kennedy Junior might not be the disaster many fear as head of Health and Human Services.

66 days to go until Donald Trump officially re-takes the reigns of power at the White House ... thank you for counting down this complicated transition period with us. On today's Countdown 2024: The promises from president-elect Trump and several other Republicans to kill off the U.S. Department of Education came early and often during the campaign ... so now that he's back in charge, can he actually shut down a sprawling federal agency overseeing the public educations of some 50-million American kids ... and WOULD he actually do that? We'll hear from a former Secretary of Education. And at the end of today's show: if Donald Trump is a reflection of the American people, what does that say about us?

The transition to a new president and a new controlling party in Washington D.C. marches on ... with 67 days left to go before Donald Trump is sworn back into office. Thank you for counting down this post-election period with us. On today's Countdown 2024: Donald Trump's nomination of controversial Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz has a lot of people worried that Trump will follow through on his threats to use the Justice Department to exact revenge on his political enemies ... so we're talking with the ACLU today on its plan for resistance. And ... can Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy really root out trillions of dollars in government fraud and waste?

68 days to go until January 20th, when Donald Trump will be sworn into the presidency to serve a second term ... thanks for sticking with us as we cover this complicated period of transition. On today's Countdown 2024: we're focusing on foreign and military policy under the incoming Trump administration ... which means asking about the fate of Ukraine, the fate of NATO and whether a Fox News host is up to the task of leading the world's biggest and most advanced military.

One week ago today Americans made their choice to send Donald Trump back to the White House ... and we're tracking the 69 days until the president-elect is sworn back into office. Hope your election hangover has eased a bit over the last week! On today's Countdown 2024: We'll look at why Donald Trump's victory and Kamala Harris's defeat were generations in the making because of deep-seeded economic patterns in this country ... and ask whether Trump can do anything to change those patterns. And we're picking through the first round of cabinet appointments ... for clues to how Trump will govern during his second go of it.

Almost one week after election day, we are now an even 70 days away until Donald Trump is sworn in to become the 47th president of the United States ... thanks for sticking with us as we countdown towards another landmark for the country. On today's show: President-elect Trump consistently promised two things on the campaign trail over the last year: Sweeping, across the board tariffs ... and broad tax cuts for just about every segment of the economy. Can he now pull off those pledges and what will the impacts be for you and me?

It's election day plus-three ... and there are now 73 days until Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th president of the United States. Thanks for joining us as we look ahead to the big changes in store for Americans. On today's show: What went so horribly wrong for the Democratic Party in Tuesday's election? We hear from a California Congressman on everything from the candidate to the messaging. And we'll talk with California's state senate president on whether the Golden State can find a way to work with its old arch nemesis, President Trump.

It's election day plus-two ... or, another way to think of it: there are 74 days until Donald Trump is sworn back in as the 47th president of the United States. Thanks for joining us..... On today's show: On the campaign trail, Donald Trump said he would implement a mass deportation of illegal immigrants on "day one" of retaking the White House ... and now he'll have an opportunity to enact what could be one of the most impactful policies of his second term. How would mass deportation look ... and what might it mean for the society and economy of Southern California?

Welcome to the post-election phase of Countdown 2024 ... where instead of looking ahead to election day, we're now preparing for Donald Trump's transition back into the White House. On today's show: we have a postmortem on Kamala Harris's defeat and Trump's big win, and look ahead to what a second Trump administration will bring for the country. Then we're turning our focus on Southern California election results, where a new law-and-order district attorney will take office ... and major changes are likely coming to LA County governance.

We're finally here. Election Day. It's what we've been counting down to. While people cast their ballots and we wait for results, we're going to look at the election from the view of people overseas. How much are our allies paying attention? And if you know someone who's threatening to pack up and leave the country if the election doesn't go the way they want, we're going to explain just how easy it is to do it.

Rent control. Many people feel rent is already, as they say, "too damn high" and now they'll have a chance to do something about it. Voters are being asked once again to decide on a statewide ballot measure that would make it easier for cities to enact rent control. It's Prop 33 and we're going to hear from both the YES and NO sides on this surprisingly contentious issue.

There are now a mere four days separating us from election day in the United States. But even before we get to November 5th, over 64 MILLION Americans have already cast early ballots ... that's 40-percent of the TOTAL vote in 2020, putting 2024 on pace to be a record turnout year for voters. On today's Countdown: We'll take a final look at the polls and the electoral college forecasts with the man who helped to guide George W. Bush to two election victories. And if you're feeling particular anxious and stressed out about Tuesday ... you're not alone. We'll end today's show talking about how to cope with election worries.

We're now down to five days. Then, it's show time. But we're not just voting for president. There are statewide and local ballot measures too--not to mention judges. It can all look confusing and overwhelming but we're going to help you make the best choice on all those local measures that could have a bigger impact on your life than you might think.

6 days left before election day and voters in LA County will decide on a measure that will probably have more direct impact on their lives than who wins the presidency. Measure G will transform how the county is governed. We heard a couple of weeks ago from one county supervisor who supports the measure. Now, we hear from another county supervisor who says it's a bad idea.

One week away. That's it. Then, America will decide. And we'll have the answer to one of the big questions this election season--Is the country ready for a woman president? It's a question that maybe goes beyond a simple yes or no and it's a question we'll explore on today's show. We also look into how religion is playing a role in the election and whether God is losing his influence.

On today's Countdown 2024 : Geraldo Rivera on why he's ditching Donald Trump for Kamala Harris. He also has a lot to say about Trump's rally in New York City over the weekend. And former Washington Post editor Marty Baron is not happy the paper is now refusing to endorse a candidate. We ask him what it means for the future of political journalism.

11 days to go until polling places open up across the country. Already, an estimated 34 MILLION Americans have cast their ballots in early voting. On today's Countdown 2024 : Some think Jill Stein is a courageous and progressive ideologue who keeps fighting against long odds. Others, think she is a cynical opportunist who knowingly plays spoiler. Either way, Green Party candidate for president Jill Stein is with us today.

An even dozen days until election day ... thank you for counting down with us. 18-million Americans have already gone to the polls, with this election already in full swing. On today's Countdown 2024: how will a Trump or Harris administration effect your TAXES? We're talking with the commissioner of the IRS on the competing tax policies of the two candidates ... and getting you ready for the 2025 tax season which, unfortunately, will be here before you know it.

13 days away now until the election. You know how debates have closing arguments in which both sides make their final pitches? We're doing that here. We talk with Long Beach Democratic Congressman Robert Garcia who's the Harris-Walz campaign co-chair. We also talk with Republican strategist Brian Darling.

We have officially hit the two-week mark for election day. In just 14 days, polling places across the country will be open for business to pick the next president of the United States. Thank you for counting down the days with us ... coming up on today's show: Not only are the Secretaries of State for Arizona and Nevada tasked with overseeing what might be the closest and highest stakes election either swing state has ever experienced ... they also must fight off disinformation and even violent threats. Joining us today on Countdown 2024 is Adrian Fontes, Arizona's Secretary of State ... and Francisco Aguilar, Nevada's Secretary of State. Both men are Democrats ... and of course both Arizona and Nevada are crucial battleground states this year.

Only 15 days separates us from election day ... as early voting continues across the country. In swing state Pennsylvania alone, over 1-million people have already voted! Thanks for counting down with us on Countdown 2024 ... on today's show: We'll talk with the vice chair of the Federal Election Commission about what will easily be the most expensive election cycle in this country's history. And we'll hear from the Democratic challenger hoping to knock Republican Mike Garcia out of his Congressional seat ... and aiming to knock the GOP out of power in the House.

Just 18 days to go until election day ... it's estimated that over 10-million Americans have already voted, so the 2024 election is already well underway. On this Friday edition of Countdown 2024: Margaret Brennan ... host of Face the Nation on CBS News and one of the best political reporters in the business ... helps us handicap the homestretch of the campaign. And we'll hear from Dave Min, the man hoping to keep Katie Porter's House seat in Democratic hands.

A mere 19 days separates us from election day in America ... as early voting continues with significant early turnout across the country. Thank you for counting down with us! On today's Countdown 2024: For generations there were two groups of voters that Democrats could count on to be firmly in their camp: working class Americans without college degrees ... and Black Americans. But, more Black voters than ever before seem to be giving Republicans a chance. The question is: Why? Also on today's Countdown 2024, we'll examine the so-called diploma divide. Can you tell a person's political preference by whether they have a college degree or not?

Just 20 days to go until polls open across the country ... with early voting well underway in most states! Thanks so much for counting down with us. On today's Countdown 2024: Republicans are about to make their last stand to keep control of the House of Representatives right here in Southern California ... we'll talk with California's Republican Party chairwoman about those efforts. And we'll hear from the state assemblywoman who is hoping to succeed Adam Schiff in Congress.

A mere 21 days to go until election day ... as we are rounding the bend and entering the campaign homestretch! Thanks for counting down with us. On today's Countdown 2024: we're closely examining the wheels that turn the country's election process ... starting with the electoral college, which remains one of the most unusual parts of any democracy, anywhere in the world. And later in today's show we're looking at the billions of dollars being raised and spent during the campaign ... asking whether we have the proper safeguards in place to police all of that cash.