Comedian Adam Carolla is predicting that the wildfires in California will help turn the tide on the state’s endless red tape.
The actor spoke with The Daily Wire in the aftermath of the disaster, discussing how California can come back from the fires and blasting leftists’ focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Carolla also mentioned how he had tried to become a firefighter in L.A. but was turned down.
“I tried to be a firefighter, you know, when I was 19 … I wasn’t black enough, or Hispanic enough, or female enough to be let on to the crew. So I did have a little kind of special place in my heart for equity, ‘cause I was poor, and needed a job, and was willing to work,” Carolla said in an interview that aired on Morning Wire.
He continued, “The people who just want their property saved or just want their kids saved or their pets saved or their husband or their wife saved don’t care about equity. And I also don’t think people in 2025 America care at all.”
“We just sort of want the best-qualified person,” Carolla went on. “I think it’s racist and a lot of projection when they would say …the fire department needs to resemble the community that it serves. I’d always go, I don’t know, why? Who cares?”
The podcast host is one of thousands who had to evacuate his home. Carolla said his apartment survived the inferno, but the entire area around it was burned down.
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When asked if the rebuilding process will help cut down on regulations and government red tape, the comedian was optimistic, saying most people don’t realize how much exists until they come face to face with it. He said the rebuilding after the fires will inspire a “renaissance.”
“I had a front-row seat to like really bad regulatory systems and lots of overreach and too much intervention by the government early and I’ve complained about it my entire radio career, but no one else cared because they just didn’t come from that,” he said. “So they didn’t really experience it, but I think now they’re getting a little bit of a front-row seat to it. And so I hope sort of globally it is impactful.”
