California Blazes

The recent wildfires around Los Angeles are just the most recent example of how extreme weather driven by climate change is affecting housing across the country. Millions of homes are at risk of flooding, fire or drought. Increasingly, local municipalities are facing hard decisions about whether to tear homes down or ban new construction altogether.

Today on The Sunday Story, we share an episode that originally aired last year in which reporters Rebecca Hersher and Lauren Sommer visit three communities in the US trying to balance the need for housing with the threat of climate-driven disaster.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

The Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles has been decimated by some of the worst fires in U.S. history. On Friday, WSJ’s Katherine Sayre accompanied two residents who went back to see what is left of their homes. Further Reading: -The Palisades Residents Who Took Long Journeys to See What’s Left of Their Lives  -Their Wealth Is in Their Homes. Their Homes Are Now Ash.  Further Listening: -The Race to Save an Iconic Train From Falling Into the Ocean  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At least two dozen deaths are attributed to the L.A. Wildfires, as more extreme fire weather is in the forecast. Ceasefire negotiations have resumed in Qatar with Israel and Hamas appearing to close in on a deal. As Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas prepares to leave office, he says the incoming Trump administration will face hard choices on immigration.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Devastating wildfires in the LA area have leveled entire neighborhoods as firefighting resources are stretched thin, a state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter will be held at Washington's National Cathedral, and President-elect Trump met with Senate Republicans to help chart a course for his top legislative priorities.

Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.

Today's episode of Up First was edited by Gigi Douban, Roberta Rampton, Kelsey Snell, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Lilly Quiroz. We get engineering support from David Greenburg. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Hawaii’s landscape has been rapidly changing for the last 200 years thanks to plantations, tourism, and climate change. A reporter and climatologist explain how those factors fueled one of the worst wildfires in US history. Today’s show was produced by Siona Peterous and Haleema Shah, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by David Herman and Cristian Ayala, and hosted by Noel King. Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of the deadliest and most destructive wildfires in California history is raging in the north of the state, as two others burn simultaneously in the south. Devastating wildfires have already become the new normal for the state. We look at why this feels different. Guest: Kirk Johnson, a New York Times correspondent who covers the American West and is reporting from Paradise, Calif. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. This episode includes disturbing language.