Rebuilding L.A.

LA Times Studios
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What’s next for L.A. in the wake of its recent wildfires? In “Rebuilding Los Angeles,” broadcast journalist Kate Cagle examines the systems that failed us, the path forward and the innovative fire recovery efforts making L.A. more resilient. You’ll also hear inspiring stories from real Angelenos working to restore their lives and rise from the ashes. “Rebuilding Los Angeles” is more than an essential resource for California — it’s a cautionary tale for everyone affected by climate change.

  1. 6d ago

    Accused Palisades Arsonist Faces October Retrial. Will Anything Be Different?

    The June trial against alleged arsonist Jonathan Rinderknecht, the Uber driver accused of setting a fire that ultimately became the Palisades fire, ended in a mistrial. He is due back in court in October but it's unclear whether anything about the case will change, or if new evidence will emerge, that could alter the outcome in the fall. During the June trial, the majority of jurors moved to acquit Rinderknecht. We discuss the case with LA Times Brittny Mejia, Metro reporter for the L.A. Times, who covered the court case, and former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani.   GUESTS: LA Times Metro reporter Brittny Mejia                                                                             Neama Rahmani, former federal prosecutor and president/ co-founder of West Coast Trial Lawyers   Mistrial declared in Palisades fire arson case, a stunning blow to U.S. prosecutors: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-06-26/jonathan-rinderknecht-verdict-palisades-fire

  2. Jul 22

    The Human Factor: What To Do About Our Role In Southern California's Fires

    In the past decade, California has experienced fourteen of the most destructive fires on record. And there are a lot of factors that contribute to these mega-fires we've experienced: heat, dry vegetation, wind. But there always has to be a spark.   After a series of destructive wildfires in 2017 and 18 – including the Camp Fire that destroyed the town of Paradise, California –  Governor Gavin Newsom created the “California Wildfire & Forest Resilience Task Force” to address the growing threat of fire.   For the last several years, that group has been focused on land management, hardening neighborhoods and perhaps the most elusive - preventing humans from accidentally starting a fire on a bad day.                                                                                                                                 In this episode of Rebuilding L.A., host Kate Cagle talks to some of the members of this task force to learn what the state is doing differently to mitigate our first risk. You can see their draft proposal below -- you can also weigh in and share your thoughts on the link provided.       GUESTS:   Patrick Wright, Director of the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force.                                                                                       Michael O’Connell, president and CEO of Irvine Ranch Conservancy .               Jeff Heys. Shared Stewardship Coordinator with the U.S. Forest Service.   Draft Wildfire and Landscape Resilience Action Plan: https://actionplan2026.wildfiretaskforce.org/       How you can weigh in on the proposal: https://airtable.com/appvMJm0wvHBu2yHG/pagoOh9dwKxPIPeur/form

  3. Jul 15

    Earth, Wind, And Fire (Humans, too): The Multiple Factors Impacting California's Wildfires (with UCLA's Alex Hall)

    Climate change isn’t getting nearly as much credit for last January’s destructive fires as it once did. Evidence of failed electrical equipment, alleged arson, and government missteps has dominated the conversation. But when you talk to the scientists and the researchers, the risks posed by climate change are still very much in the mix. But human activity plays a role, too.   UCLA professor and climate scientist, Alex Hall, joins host Kate Cagle to talk about how we can better prepare ourselves for the next mega-fire, including a proposal to create a classification system -- and a standardized response -- for Santa Ana wind storms, similar to the one we use for hurricanes in the U.S.   GUEST: Alex Hall, Director, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, UCLA   Study: Climate Change A Factor In Unprecedented LA Fires: https://sustainablela.ucla.edu/2025lawildfires Expert Perspective: Wildland Fuels Management Would Not Have Saved Us from the January 2025 LA FiresCalifornia Ecosystem Futures: The Future of California Drought, Fire, and Forest Dieback: https://www.ioes.ucla.edu/project/future-california-drought-fire-forest-dieback/

  4. Jul 1

    Where Are The Federal Relief Funds? (With Rep. Judy Chu)

    The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently approved California's request to extend housing assistance to survivors of the Eaton and Palisades fires. But more than 18 months after those January 2025 fires, survivors are still waiting on an additional $16 billion in federal disaster relief from the federal government, which was revised down earlier this year from nearly $34 billion.  California leaders say this is unprecedented — the federal government has always sent money to communities recovering from disasters — and that the lack of this funding is directly impacting the rebuild. So where is it?   Congresswoman Judy Chu is hopeful, based on recent conversations between state and federal officials, that this issue could be resolved within the next few months.  In this episode, Rep. Chu joins host Kate Cagle to discuss this as well as other support she and the state are working on to help survivors recover and rebuild, including a proposed $100 million rebuilding fund which, if enacted in the state budget, could be announced later this summer.   GUEST: U.S. Representative Judy Chu, CA-28   Rep. Chu Commends Passage of Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2025: https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-chu-commends-passage-federal-disaster-tax-relief-act-2025                                                                             U.S. House of Representatives Passes Bill to Shield Eaton Fire Settlements From Federal Taxes: https://www.altadena-now.com/main/government/u-s-house-of-representatives-passes-bill-to-shield-eaton-fire-settlements-from-federal-taxes/ Governor Newsom announces revised budget that eliminates California’s deficit, maintains investment for fire survivors: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/05/14/may-revise/

  5. Jun 24

    Saved By A Story: How the Art of Writing Can Help L.A. Fire Survivors Heal

    Long after the smoke cleared and the news crews left, many fire survivors are still carrying grief, anxiety, and the emotional weight of losing a community, a routine, and a sense of place. In this episode of Rebuilding LA, we visit Saved By A Story, a writing workshop founded by Palisades fire survivor Kathy Katims. The monthly gatherings bring together survivors of the Palisades and Eaton fires to write, reflect, and share their experiences in community. Eighteen months after the disaster, this episode explores how storytelling can help survivors process trauma, reconnect with one another, and begin to reclaim what was lost. GUESTS: Kathy Katims, founder of Saved By A Story, and members of the wildfire survivors writing group, including Karen Lee Hopkins, Millie Hopkins, Manson Jones, and other survivors of the Palisades and Eaton fires

  6. Jun 17

    The Flames are Long Gone but the Psychological Toll of the L.A. Fires Lingers

    Today people are not just rebuilding their homes but their lives. On top of the task of just figuring out whether to move back and rebuild a house or leave and start over someplace else, survivors have lives to live, jobs to carry out, children to raise, and marriages to hold together. The weight of it all can sometimes feel too heavy to bear. But there are ways to work through it and process the trauma.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                To talk about this, Rebuilding L.A. host Kate Cagle talks with Dr. Bonnie Zucker. She’s a clinical psychologist, specializing in anxiety. She is also a Palisades fire survivor.   GUEST: Psychologist Bonnie Zucker Bonnie Zucker's book Freedom from Panic: https://www.newharbinger.com/9781648487347/freedom-from-panic/?srsltid=AfmBOor2oaRy6Y-qmd37rDtvPRynSOrMfJRwT8Y--8K34Wcn6lPudWy8   Anxiety Matters podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/anxiety-matters/id1787949420

  7. Jun 10

    How One Altadena Neighborhood Builds Back, Piece By Piece

    It turns out you can burn down a neighborhood and not destroy a community. The one great silver lining to these fires in Los Angeles is that survivors are transcending the physical ties. No matter how much has been destroyed or how far people have been scattered, relationships between neighbors have become deeper.                                                                                                                                                                         We’ve seen evidence of this all across L.A., in the Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and Altadena, and so we will head back to one neighborhood -- one street  -- that’s a pretty good example of that bond: West Poppyfields Drive in Altadena.   GUESTS: Altadena residents Whitney Haggins, John Hall, Pat and Kate Gray, Sandra and Donald Estes, and Shelley Thai.

  8. Jun 3

    Family, Faith, and Good Neighbors: How One Eaton Fire Survivor Has Found The Strength To Move On And Rebuild.

    Eighteen months after the Eaton and Palisades Fires, it's not gotten any easier for survivors. But there are good things happening. People are rebuilding. Survivors are making plans to return to these burned out communities — and it's not just one person at a time, but neighbors are coming back and rebuilding together.  One street where that's happening is Poppyfields Drive in Altadena. Resident Whitney Haggins has been charging ahead on her rebuild since her home burned down in January 2025, and at least 6 of her neighbors are following in her footsteps. It may be not the typical but it is a story of optimism that these residents hope will rub off on more people throughout Altadena. GUEST: Whitney Haggins, Eaton Fire Survivor

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What’s next for L.A. in the wake of its recent wildfires? In “Rebuilding Los Angeles,” broadcast journalist Kate Cagle examines the systems that failed us, the path forward and the innovative fire recovery efforts making L.A. more resilient. You’ll also hear inspiring stories from real Angelenos working to restore their lives and rise from the ashes. “Rebuilding Los Angeles” is more than an essential resource for California — it’s a cautionary tale for everyone affected by climate change.

Information

  • Creator
    LA Times Studios
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    47
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Rebuilding L.A.

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