Criticism Mounts for Newsom's Wildfire Fundraising

California Governor Gavin Newsom is facing backlash for directing donations for wildfire victims through a website linked to his campaign and the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue. Critics argue that while the site encourages contributions to the California Fire Foundation, it also collects personal information from donors, who are automatically signed up for campaign text messages. Amid ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles, where at least 16 people have died and thousands have been displaced, many have pointed out that direct donations can be made to the California Fire Foundation without the Democratic intermediary. Newsom has defended his actions by stating that the site aims to combat misinformation about California's firefighting efforts and budget. ActBlue has claimed it will waive processing fees for donations related to the wildfires, but concerns about fund allocation and donor privacy remain. The situation continues to develop as the state grapples with the impact of the fires.