Carolla Called It: Palisades Fire Anniversary Sees Little Rebuilding

Adam Carolla isn’t the Amazing Kreskin, the late mentalist who could “predict” the future.

The podcaster lives by a simple, Shakespearean rule: What’s past is prologue.

So when he became one of many Californians fleeing the Palisades fire this time last year, he made a simple, stark prediction.

He wouldn’t be watching his home being rebuilt a year later. Nor would many other fellow Californians.

And, as predicted, Carolla’s vision came true. The comic podcaster did a grim victory lap earlier this week, recalling how he knew L.A. Mayor Karen Bass wouldn’t be able to push past the endless paperwork to get things started in a timely fashion.

The Left-leaning Grist.org’s recent story on the subject offered this chilling subhead: 

The wildfires destroyed 13,000 homes. In Los Angeles County, just seven have been rebuilt.

It’s an angle late-night “truth tellers” have studiously ignored.

Not Carolla, who worked extensively in the carpentry field and knows a great deal about home construction and the bureaucratic nightmare within the Golden State.

This week, he reflected on predictions he made last January.

“Do not expect any rebuilding. You guys have no idea what the permitting process is. You have no idea how much red tape there is and regulation,” he said. “Oh, [local politicians are] gonna talk some kind of story about expediting things and making things easier and faster … it’s not gonna happen.

“This is Los Angeles. Karen Bass is the mayor. Nothing will be rebuilt.”

The podcaster then made a key political observation of a state with one-party rule.

“And then by the way, all you a** wipes that vote Democrat every year, when you don’t get your permit, maybe you should think about a different direction politically,” he added.

RELATED: CAROLLA CALLS OUT LEGACY MEDIA IN CRITICAL FASHION

It’s possible that part of his prediction may come true.

Reality-star-turned-politician Spencer Pratt, aghast at L.A.’s chronic mismanagement, announced he’s running for Mayor. Pratt was one of many residents who lost their homes in the 2025 blaze.

Steve Hilton, a British-born millionaire, is polling well in the state’s governor’s race.

Adam Carolla predicted a year ago there’d be no rebuilding after the LA fire!@adamcarolla “And then by the way, all you ass wipes that vote Democrat every year, when you don’t get your permit, maybe you should think about a different direction politically.

And that’s what I… pic.twitter.com/5FVUAaWWaJ

— jay plemons (@jayplemons) January 13, 2026

Carolla’s vlog noted that there is some modest construction now happening in the Palisades and Altadena, but other parts of the state aren’t so lucky.

“Zero in Malibu,” he said, adding that there’s far more fresh graffiti than new homes in sight.