Mike Johnson hints at linking wildfire aid to debt ceiling talks

House Speaker Mike Johnson said discussions are underway to make California wildfire relief conditional on a debt ceiling agreement, a move that has sparked Democratic opposition but gained traction among some Republicans facing disaster recovery pressure.

Meredith Lee Hill reports for POLITICO.

In short:

Johnson acknowledged that GOP members have discussed tying wildfire relief to a debt ceiling increase, following meetings with Donald Trump.
California Republicans, including Rep. Doug LaMalfa, say urgent wildfire recovery needs may necessitate linking the issues despite potential political risks.
Fiscal conservatives remain wary of any debt ceiling increase without significant budget cuts, while Trump appeared open to negotiation during a recent dinner at Mar-a-Lago.

Key quote:

“We’ll see where it goes,” acknowledging that he, personally, supported putting “conditions” on California wildfire aid.

— Mike Johnson, House Speaker

Why this matters:

With the U.S. nearing its borrowing limit, failure to raise the debt ceiling could lead to economic turmoil. Tying disaster relief to fiscal negotiations could delay recovery funds and deepen political divisions, particularly as natural disasters escalate.

Increased autism risk linked to exposure to wildfire smoke during pregnancy

In a first-of-its-kind study published in Environmental Science and Technology, researchers found that mothers who were exposed to wildlife smoke during the third trimester of pregnancy were more likely to have children diagnosed with autism by age 5.

In short:

More frequent exposure to wildlife smoke during pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of autism in children.
The study analyzed more than 200,000 mother-child pairs in Southern California between 2006 to 2014; nearly 60% of them were exposed to wildfire smoke for more than 5 days during pregnancy.
The authors also found that prenatal exposure to particulate matter air pollution from a variety of sources — not just wildfires — is associated with an increased risk of autism in children.

Key quote:

“As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of wildfires in many parts of the world, understanding their relationship with autism is important to being able to develop preventive policy and interventions that will protect pregnant women and their children.”

- Study co-author Mostafijur Rahman, via Tulane University’s accompanying press release

Why this matters:

As climate change continues to impact global weather patterns, wildfires have become increasingly intense and frequent. Their impact on air pollution is significant - in California, wildfires account for over 70% of the fine particulate matter exposure on days with poor air quality. Environmental hazards that affect the health of pregnant people and their children can have long-term and severe outcomes. The authors of this study underscore the need for policies that protect vulnerable populations from air pollution and reduce the inequality in its health impacts.

Related EHN coverage:

More resources:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Wildfire smoke and pregnancy
Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL): Resources on Air Quality

Luglio, David et al. for Environmental Science & Technology. Jan. 20, 2026

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