This is stunning. On Tuesday, FEMA gave reporters a 15-minute notice that it was throwing a press conference about its response to the California fires. How it improved since Katrina. Because of the late notice, reporters called in to a conference pool, but there were also people in the audience who asked questions to the man at the podium, Deputy Administrator Harvey Johnson. Questions like, “Are you happy with FEMA’s response so far?” Turns out, the people in the audience were FEMA’s own public affairs personnel!
After getting ripped online for the stunt — even the White House had some choice words — FEMA apologized today, asking reporters not to focus on this massive breach of trust but on all the good work it’s doing in Southern California. So I have a question. Why should we believe anything you say now? (Thanks, Tim!)