Wildfire Death Toll Rises, Biden's News Conference, Steel Merger Delay, Cabinet Hearings Begin

Today on America in the Morning Blame For LA Wildfires The death toll continues to rise, dangerous winds are fanning the flames again, and finger pointing, blame and questioning continues as does the fire fight against deadly wildfires in Los Angeles. From the City of Angels, here’s our Jim Roope. Biden News Conference After being criticized for a scarcity of doing news conferences, President Biden held a rare Q and A with reporters, likely his last one at the White House. John Stolnis has more from Washington. Planning For Executive Orders Republican lawmakers are expecting a slew of executive orders when President-elect Donald Trump enters the White House one week from today. Correspondent Clayton Neville reports. Latest On Hostage Talks President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone to discuss the latest in the hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas. Laurence Brooks reports a large Israeli delegation is heading to Qatar in the hopes to secure a US-mediated hostage release. Second Bird Flu Death A second person has died from the Bird Flu. Fox News reports a man in his 60’s succumbed in Louisiana, and now a child in California is dead. Ben Thomas reports on ways to avoid the Bird Flu, which is also responsible for the increase in the cost of eggs. Steel Merger Delay After ordering a block of an announced merger between Nippon Steel and Pittsburgh’s US Steel, the Biden administration has ordered a delay until June for the Japanese-based steel giant to abandon it’s nearly $15 billion dollar bid. Latest On The LA Wildfires Now for the latest on the still-out-of-control wildfires in the Los Angeles area. The death toll has climbed above two dozen, one of those was a 66-year-old man desperately trying to defend the home he lived in for 55 years. As correspondent Julie Walker reports, strong Santa Ana Winds are expected to fuel the fire that has destroyed thousands of structures, and Governor Gavin Newsom says this could become the most costly disaster in American history. Combating Wildfire Looting In the midst of all the carnage and chaos in dealing with the Los Angeles wildfires, looting has become a serious issue. A man dressed like a firefighter was arrested after being caught burglarizing a home in the Malibu area. Cabinet Hearings To Begin Just one week from today, President-elect Donald Trump will be inaugurated, and during this week, his Cabinet picks are attending confirmation hearings on Capitol Hill. Correspondent Clayton Neville reports. Italy Releases Man Wanted By The US Italy released an Iranian engineer who is wanted by the United States over a drone strike that killed three U.S. service members. Mohammad Abedini arrived in Iran last night, after the Italian Justice Minister asked an Italian court to vacate his arrest. Vance On Wildfires, J6 & Greenland Vice President-elect J.D. Vance believes some January 6 protesters were treated unfairly and should be pardoned by Donald Trump. Pamela Furr reports on a wide-ranging interview Vance gave to Fox News. Southern Snow After one of its hottest summers, most of Georgia ground to a halt with snow and ice leading to power outages, shuttered schools from Texas to Tennessee, and thousands of delayed and canceled flights in the Peach State and throughout the South. Correspondent Donna Warder reports that Memphis, Tennessee received three times the amount of snow it gets in one year, in less than a day. Finally Baseball season begins next month with Spring Training and after that, the regular season, but for two New York Yankee fans, they can watch the games at home but they will find they are persona non grata if they try to enter any Major League stadium. Mike Hempen tells us why. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices