Trump’s Guy Came to L.A. and Called Out Insurers
Feb 6, 2026
Dear friends,
This week, I got an excited call from Joel Pollak.
Let me tell you who Joel is.
Joel is the Opinion Editor of the California Post, the lavishly funded new conservative-friendly counterpart to the New York Post. It's been scooping up serious journalistic talent from across California media.
And it is a daily California tabloid. In print. On wide paper. Backed by Rupert Murdoch. In 2026.
Honestly, wow.
I would not describe myself as conservative. But I am very much conservative-friendly. The Eaton Fire Survivors Network is a broad civic coalition. We welcome all perspectives.
What had Joel fired up was this:
Trump's new guy overseeing the Los Angeles recovery, Lee Zeldin, had just met with Palisades survivors to talk through implementation of the new Trump executive order I wrote about last week.
Huge respect to the Palisades survivors who spoke with clarity and courage about what insurers are doing to families. And real credit to Lee Zeldin for listening carefully and responding in real time.
After the meeting, he stepped outside and delivered unscripted remarks that landed like a thunderclap:
“For any insurance companies that are screwing over these local families and denying them an opportunity to rebuild their home, you obviously have the full attention of all of us. If you are one of those bad actors, you need to get your shit together and get these families and small businesses taken care of so this community can be rebuilt.”
Totally unscripted. As someone who often speaks publicly, I will say to another speaker: well done.
Joel plays a special role in all of this.
He co-hosts the Palisades fire podcast Three Homeless Guys. Back in April, he invited me on to talk about insurance. That conversation helped spark something bigger. It helped Eaton and Palisades survivors realize we were not alone and that our experiences were systemic.
That episode was the beginning of survivors coordinating across Los Angeles to hold insurers accountable.
It was the first of three appearances. As far as I know, I'm the only guest who has been on Three Homeless Guys three times. I told Joel this is better than being a three-time host on Saturday Night Live.
When Joel was appointed founding Opinion Editor of the California Post, he invited me to write an op-ed about what survivors across Los Angeles had actually done.
That piece lays out how Eaton and Palisades survivors connected, compared notes, documented insurer misconduct, and created the accountability that finally moved long-delayed payments.
We unlocked more than $100 million in two tranches, not because insurers suddenly found their conscience, but because survivors built the coordination needed to make payouts move.
A few excerpts:
“Survivor coordination has helped unlock millions of dollars and steer them directly into families' pockets, with millions more now moving through reopened claims and revised settlements.
Not because insurers suddenly became generous, but because survivors made enforcement finally happen.
After disaster, connection matters. Connection creates coordination. Coordination moves money. And money makes recovery possible.
One year in, we've reached important milestones. But we are just getting started.”
Here is the op-ed:
https://nypost.com/2026/01/04/opinion/we-fought-our-insurers-after-the-california-fires-by-uniting-and-won/
The money we have already unlocked is extraordinary. And it is still only a fraction of what is owed. Tens of billions of dollars remain locked up.
So welcome to Los Angeles, California Post. Welcome, Lee Zeldin.
We are genuinely glad to have you join us to secure the insurance payouts families already paid for. Insurance has to work for Los Angeles to recover. If it doesn't, our housing market breaks and families never make it home.
In a sharply divided nation, I still believe we share some core values.
Companies should honor the contracts they sell.
When we pay insurance premiums and taxes, we should get the protections we paid for.
And when families lose everything in a catastrophic fire, they should have a real shot at getting back home.
If you believe those things, then welcome to the Eaton Fire Survivors Network.
We are a big tent. We need your skills, your talents, and your connections.
And the only way we can make these outcomes real is by working together.
Fire Recovery and Taxes: What Survivors Need to Know
Get clear answers before small decisions become big problems
If you lost your home or were displaced by the Eaton, Palisades, or Malibu fires, you likely have tax questions.
We're hosting a one-hour educational webinar with Public Counsel to help survivors understand what must be reported, what may be excluded, and how choices made now can quietly affect you years down the line.
We'll cover:
Whether insurance proceeds are taxable, including ALE
Federal and state disaster-related exclusions
Casualty loss vs involuntary conversion
Rebuilding vs buying replacement property
Capital gains exclusions
Timing, extensions, audits, and how settlements affect taxes
This is a 1,000-person Zoom, and more than 600 survivors are already registered, so if you're coming, grab your seat now.
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
7–8 PM | Zoom
Register here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8lnRr7w_TXq1v-DqL8WUjA#/registration
All Eaton, Palisades, and Malibu fire survivors are welcome. Please share with friends and networks who might need this information
Know Any Brands, Athletes, or Public Figures Who Love L.A.?
This is for all of us
After the fires, a small neighborhood pickleball chat became the Eaton Fire Survivors Network. CBS News told our origin story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ_07-FqTLE
That same spirit is carrying into Rally for Recovery: A Community Pickleball Day, on Saturday, April 11 at Whittier Narrows.
For one day, more than 1,000 fire survivors and allies will fill 52 pickleball courts. Survivors. Families. Neighbors. A day built around laughter, joy, healing and connection.
Center Court is where recovery becomes visible. Think pro athletes, movie stars, business leaders, loud crowds, music, and announcers who make every whiff look intentional.
A very L.A. kind of day.
It's designed to generate earned and social media that keeps survivors at the center of the story long after the day ends.
If you know brands, athletes, movie stars, teams, or partners who love Los Angeles and would want to show up in a visible, human way for survivors, please introduce us. You can reach me directly at joy.chen@efsurvivors.net.
Practical Resources for Survivors
Emergency Rent Relief | LA County
Reopens Monday, Feb 9, 2026. Tenants can now apply directly for up to $15,000, covering up to 6 months of rent, paid directly to landlords. Applications close Wednesday, Mar 11 at 4:59 PM.
https://www.lacountyrentrelief.com/
Cal Assist Mortgage Relief | Homeowners
Up to 3 months of mortgage assistance, max $20,000. Funds are still available. Income limit $211,000. Designed to create short-term breathing room during displacement. https://www.calassistmortgagefund.org/
Mortgage Forbearance Update | State of California
More than 160 lenders have committed to offering up to 90 additional days of forbearance, beyond the 12 months required under AB 238. https://dfpi.ca.gov/lafires/
Workshop: Hiring a Contractor
Free, in-person guidance on how to hire safely, avoid scams, understand financing, and protect your rights. Presented by LA County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs.
Saturday, Feb 7 | 10 a.m.–12 noon | Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Drive
Supporting Grieving Children | Eaton Fire Collaborative
A community event with developmental pediatrician Dr. David Schonfeld on how to support children coping with grief and loss after disaster.
Monday, Feb 9 | 10–11:30 AM at Young & Healthy, Pasadena
RSVP: bit.ly/drschonfeld
SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers | In-Person Support
The SBA has reopened two Disaster Loan Outreach Centers in LA County to support survivors and small businesses through rebuilding.
Palisades DLOC: Ronald Reagan Palisades Post, 283, 15247 La Cruz Drive, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 | Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM
Altadena DLOC: The Collaboratory, 540 W. Woodbury Road, Altadena, CA 91001 |
Mon–Fri, 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
Survivor Furniture & Home Goods Discounts
20% off regular-priced items for survivors at Pottery Barn, West Elm, Williams Sonoma, Crate & Barrel, CB2, Scandinavian Designs.
Additional survivor discounts at Sit 'n Sleep (Santa Monica and Pasadena locations; excludes Tempur-Pedic, Stearns & Foster, Sealy) and The Sofa Guy (Thousand Oaks).
For real-world experiences with any of the resources above, including what worked and what to watch out for, survivors are sharing updates and comparisons every day in the Discord.
Two Ways to Listen to This Moment in Our Recovery
If you're in the car or doing the dishes and want to feel energized and informed about how recovery is really unfolding, here are a couple of ways to listen in.
Fun, intimate and inspiring. I loved spending time with Ruth and Sandi on the Eaton Fire podcast Footprints from the Foothills. We chatted about what this year has been like and what survivors are building together.
https://youtu.be/zL3W6gB9gHA?feature=shared
“Chilling, heart-wrenching, and deeply affirming.” The MySafeLA podcast is taking a break from regular programming to replay our one-year press conference over two weeks. Here's Part 1.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2441905/episodes/18626394
Stronger Together
If this work matters to you and you'd like to help keep EFSN going, you can donate here: efsurvivors.net/donate
And if you know funders who may want to back a proven, technology-enabled, survivor-led recovery model that is already putting millions of dollars into survivor accounts at scale, please email me. I'd love to explore what's possible together.
This has been a devastating year. There's no way around that.
People often ask me how I find the strength to keep going. The answer is simple. It comes from you. From the generosity I see inside our Discord every day. From meeting you in webinars and in person. From your courage, and your commitment to a world where everyone gets to get back home.
I am strengthened by you. And I am continually amazed by what we are building together.
Thank you for walking this path with me, and with each other.
With love,
Joy
P.S. If this newsletter resonated with you, please share it. Every new survivor and ally strengthens us all.
The Eaton Fire Survivors Network (EFSN) is the nation's largest survivor recovery hub, connecting more than 10,000 Eaton, Palisades, and Malibu fire survivors and allies. Through survivor leadership and coordination, we work to remove barriers and unlock resources so that recovery is accessible to everyone. Learn more: efsurvivors.net.
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