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Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who ran against Donald Trump in the 2024 GOP primaries but later endorsed him, isn’t holding back her thoughts on some of Trump’s big decisions for his new administration. She’s especially raising eyebrows at two of Trump’s picks: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard.

Trump wants RFK Jr., known for his controversial views on vaccines, to head the Health and Human Services Department. Haley isn’t convinced he’s the right guy for the job. “Who is RFK Jr.?” she asked during her SiriusXM show Nikki Haley Live. “He’s not a health expert. He’s talked about what’s in our food—okay, great—but that’s not the same as running healthcare in America.” She also didn’t shy away from calling him a “liberal Democrat” multiple times, pointing out that his political past doesn’t exactly align with GOP values.

Kennedy has a long history of questioning vaccines, though he now says he’s not “anti-vaccine.” Still, many public health experts worry that putting him in charge of HHS could undo decades of progress in keeping people safe from preventable diseases. Haley seems to agree. “He’s just not trained or experienced in healthcare. It’s a bad call,” she said.

Then there’s Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence. Haley has serious issues with this choice, too. Gabbard, a former congresswoman from Hawaii, has faced backlash for her past comments about Syria and her controversial 2017 meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who’s been accused of war crimes. “She met with Assad while he was killing his own people,” Haley said. “That’s disgusting. And the things she said about it sounded like straight-up Russian propaganda.”

Gabbard defended her meeting with Assad at the time, calling it a “fact-finding mission,” but later admitted he’s a “brutal dictator.” Still, she’s been vocal against U.S. involvement in Syria and, more recently, against America’s support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. Haley thinks that kind of mindset doesn’t belong in a role that demands unbiased judgment. “This job needs someone neutral and trustworthy, not someone with baggage,” she said.

Adding more drama to the mix, Trump’s plans to nominate Rep. Matt Gaetz as attorney general hit a roadblock. Gaetz withdrew his name after facing allegations of sexual misconduct and illegal drug use, which are under investigation by the House Ethics Committee.

While Trump’s nominees still need to go through Senate approval, Haley’s harsh critique has already stirred up debate. With so much at stake, it’s clear these choices won’t sail through without a fight. Stay tuned—things are just heating up in Washington.

In the days following Donald Trump’s win for a second term as president, wildfires were already making their presence known. Flames tore through neighborhoods in Southern California, while on the East Coast, smoky skies darkened New York and New Jersey. For many, it was a troubling reminder: wildfires aren’t waiting for anyone—not even a new president.

As America continues to face longer fire seasons and thicker clouds of smoke, the challenges are stacking up. Federal firefighters are stretched too thin, fire prevention costs are skyrocketing, and millions risk losing their home insurance because of the growing destruction. Meanwhile, the landscapes we cherish and the homes we’ve built are burning faster than ever.

But what’s Trump’s plan for tackling this fiery crisis? So far, he hasn’t shared much. Instead, he’s focused on promises of deregulation—cutting government rules—and reducing the role of agencies that handle emergencies like wildfires. Many experts fear these moves could make an already tough situation much worse.

Looking Back: Trump’s First Term and Wildfire Challenges

During Trump’s first presidency, his approach to wildfires was, well, controversial. After devastating fires in California, including the tragic Camp Fire that killed 85 people in 2018, Trump shifted blame to the state itself.

“You gotta clean your floors, you gotta clean your forests,” he said, suggesting California hadn’t done enough to clear dead trees and leaves, which he called “so flammable.” That year, wildfires burned a record 10.2 million acres across the U.S. His comments frustrated experts who said the problem was far more complex than sweeping up dry leaves.

Trump also resisted strategies that scientists and forest managers recommended, like carefully removing overgrown vegetation, protecting old-growth forests, and using controlled burns to prevent bigger fires. Instead, he pushed for more logging, which some worry could harm forests instead of helping them.

What’s Next: New Challenges Under Trump 2.0

Now, as Trump gears up for his second term, the wildfire crisis has grown worse. Experts are divided on whether Trump’s focus on cutting government rules could help or hurt. While some say it might speed up much-needed forest treatments, others worry it could lead to reckless decisions.

One of the biggest concerns is firefighter pay. Federal firefighters—who battle the nation’s biggest wildfires—earn shockingly low wages, often less than what a fast-food worker makes. President Biden had temporarily raised their pay, but those increases are set to expire soon. If they’re not made permanent, many firefighters may quit—right when their skills are needed most.

“We need a well-funded, professional firefighting team that can handle fires year-round,” said Jonathan Golden, a leader in a group advocating for federal firefighters. “Otherwise, we’re going to struggle even more.”

A Political Wildfire in the Making

Another big issue is how Trump might handle disaster funding. During his first term, he threatened to withhold federal money from California and other Democratic-led states after major wildfires. This time, his plans could go even further.

His team, following a conservative blueprint called Project 2025, is considering shifting most disaster costs to state and local governments. That could mean less federal help for states like California, where wildfires are a constant threat. There’s even talk of cutting funds for agencies like FEMA, which helps communities recover from disasters, and NOAA, which provides crucial weather forecasts.

Trump’s picks for key cabinet positions don’t inspire much confidence either. His choices for the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of the Interior are known for opposing climate change measures. Experts fear they’ll prioritize deregulation and resource extraction over protecting public lands and addressing climate issues.

Why It Matters: Fires Don’t Stop at Borders

California is already preparing for Trump’s second term by doubling down on its own fire prevention efforts. Voters recently approved a $10 billion climate bond to fund wildfire prevention and mitigation. But as experts point out, fires don’t respect state lines.

“If the federal government steps back, states like California will struggle to handle this on their own,” said Julia Stein, a climate expert at UCLA. “The effects of inaction will be felt across the country and even globally.”

The bottom line? Wildfires are a growing crisis, and with Trump returning to the White House, many worry the response might be slower, less effective, and more politically charged than ever. With smoky skies and rising risks, the stakes have never been higher.

Former President Donald Trump made a big announcement: he wants Pam Bondi, the ex-attorney general of Florida, to take over as the nation’s top law enforcement officer. This news came just hours after Matt Gaetz, a controversial former congressman, stepped aside from being considered for the same role. Gaetz faced strong pushback from Senate Republicans because of lingering allegations of sexual misconduct, which made his confirmation nearly impossible.

So why Pam Bondi? For Trump, it seems to boil down to loyalty and trust. Bondi has been one of his most vocal supporters for years. She stood by him during his 2016 campaign, defended him during his first impeachment trial, and has remained a fierce advocate ever since. Trump praised her toughness and dedication to his “America First” vision in a post on Truth Social.

“I am proud to nominate Pam Bondi as our next Attorney General,” Trump wrote. “Pam has a long track record of being tough on violent criminals, and she will help refocus the DOJ on its mission: fighting crime and making America safe again.”

Bondi didn’t lobby for the job, but her close ties to Trump and her ability to defend him effectively on TV made her an appealing choice. Sources close to Trump say her broad support among Senate Republicans was another key factor, especially since Gaetz was unlikely to win enough votes to get confirmed.

The process leading up to this decision was anything but traditional. At Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club, the former president reportedly evaluated candidates based on their loyalty, how well they perform on television, and whether they align with his agenda. Gaetz, who Trump initially picked, fit the bill in many ways, but his nomination quickly fell apart after a string of meetings with skeptical Republican senators.

By Wednesday evening, it was clear to everyone, including Gaetz, that he wasn’t going to make it. Trump called Gaetz Thursday morning to break the news, and Gaetz gracefully withdrew from consideration. “I didn’t want to be a distraction,” Gaetz later told associates.

Bondi’s nomination now heads to the Senate for approval. If confirmed, she’ll be rewarded for years of loyalty to Trump and step into one of the most powerful positions in the country. Her nomination also underscores Trump’s approach to picking key players: loyalty matters, as does the ability to fight for his agenda.

This decision is the latest chapter in Trump’s unconventional way of doing things, and it shows he’s laser-focused on surrounding himself with allies he trusts to stand by his side, no matter what.