Part 2/7:
The wildfires in California have wrought destruction on an unprecedented scale, causing damage estimated between $135 to $150 billion. In a disconcerting twist, as the state seeks $50 million to fight Trump, lawmakers have also authorized only $2 billion in state aid for wildfire recovery efforts—an amount woefully insufficient compared to the damage incurred. The state is angling for federal assistance potentially worth hundreds of billions, yet its leaders are embroiled in a contentious battle with the federal government.