Part 7/8:
Amidst the backlash, discussions emerged about the role of identity politics in the aftermath of the fires. Some critics accused news outlets, particularly those with a liberal bias, of emphasizing the gender and identity status of firefighters instead of focusing on the essential issue of their effectiveness in disaster response. This viewpoint stresses that during a crisis, competence should outweigh considerations of diversity or representation, arguing that taxpayers deserve assurance that their safety is the priority, regardless of the backgrounds of those serving them.