Entertainment

Actor James Woods criticized California’s election system, wildfire preparedness, and insurance practices during an interview with commentator Benny Johnson, arguing that state leadership has failed residents on multiple fronts.

Johnson began by asking Woods about reality television personality Spencer Pratt’s political campaign.

“Spencer Pratt, what happened there?” Johnson asked.

Woods responded by arguing that California’s election system lacks sufficient safeguards.

“You know what happened there because we don’t have a Vote America Act because the states that want to misbehave, like Democrat supermajority Democrat California, just simply don’t care who you are if you vote,” Woods said.

Referring to Pratt’s campaign, Woods claimed the race changed after additional ballots were counted.

“When Spencer Pratt was now one of the two in in California,” Woods said. “Two people got to move on to the election. One was Karen Bass, that was fixed, I’m sure, but let’s say it wasn’t even Spencer Pratt was the other by a huge margin.”

Woods questioned the timing and outcome of later vote counts.

“And then we got to wait for the votes to come in, and they always come in in the middle of the night,” he said.

He continued, “It’s like 24,000 votes in a statistical improbability, from what I understand. 24,000 votes, not one for Spencer Pratt.”

Woods acknowledged such a result could occur but questioned its likelihood.

“It’s a mathematical possibility, but if you know anything about statistics, it’s a statistical improbability.”

He also questioned President Joe Biden’s 2020 vote total.

“Does anybody literally still believe that Joe Biden, Joe Uncle Joe, Joseph Biden, got 81 million votes?” Woods asked.

He added, “Millions more than Obama, who was one of the most popular people when he was elected. You know, it’s just it’s inconceivable.”

The discussion then shifted to California’s wildfire policies.

Woods criticized what he described as misplaced priorities in Los Angeles.

“They literally leave the reservoir open in the Palisades with the brush all back. We’re another fire hazard,” he said.

While praising firefighters, Woods criticized leadership within the department.

“The fire department guys and look, and men and women are extraordinary in California. They risk their lives.”

However, Woods questioned the priorities of department leadership.

“The lady who was appointed by the woman fire chief, who was appointed, you know, for L.A. On her biography, though she literally said, ‘My main concern will be diversity, equity, and conclusion in the makeup of this fire department.'”

He added, “And you say, and and water is that of any interest to you, or fire hydrants, or hoses, and any of that stuff work? You know, do you care?”

Woods then reflected on life in Pacific Palisades before the devastating wildfire.

“We had a real neighborhood in the Palisades,” he said, describing the community’s homes as “these little beautiful mid century houses with the most spectacular views of what makes California beautiful.”

He said he intentionally preserved the character of his own home.

“When you move in, we did everything in our house to make it look exactly like it was,” Woods said. “We were the second owners.”

According to Woods, neighbors appreciated that decision.

“Our neighbors all come by. ‘Oh, thank God that you’re not building a mausoleum.’ I said, ‘No, no, I want to be part of the neighborhood.'”

He recalled how neighbors came together during the wildfire emergency, including helping rescue an elderly resident.

“My neighbor and I and Sarah saved the life of our 94-year-old neighbor,” Woods said.

He explained that the man, who suffered from severe Alzheimer’s disease, had been left behind during the evacuation.

“It was close to being one of the most heartbreaking things I’ve ever seen,” Woods said.

He credited the neighborhood’s close relationships for making the rescue possible.

“We all managed to do it, and we all did it because we were friends.”

Looking ahead, Woods expressed concern that the character of the neighborhood will disappear as larger homes replace the original properties.

“Now people are buying three and four lots at a time against the CCNRs of the neighborhood, but nobody’s stopping them,” he said.

“They’re going to build big box mausoleums, and they’re going to ruin it, and it’s going to be gone forever.”

Woods also discussed his ongoing dispute with his insurance company over smoke damage to his home.

“Our house, the insurance company, and we’re in a lawsuit, so I can’t say anything,” Woods said.

He noted that discussions have improved since litigation began.

“I will say positively, they’re working with us… once we file the suit.”

According to Woods, the insurer initially disputed coverage for smoke damage.

“At first they said we don’t cover smoke,” Woods said. “She literally said that to one of the people. We don’t cover smoke damage.”

He responded by pointing to the scale of the wildfire.

“In a catastrophic fire that burns down 16,000 houses and murders murders 31 people through negligence,” Woods said, “there’s often smoke.”

Woods concluded by criticizing the insurance industry more broadly.

“I’ll tell you, the insurance companies in America, they’re not your good friends,” he said. “It’s a bunch of bullsh*t.”

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