Why does it take six years to get a permit to prevent catastrophic wildfires? On this episode of 72 & Sunny, Congressman Scott Peters sits down with Matt Weiner, founder and CEO of Megafire Action and former head of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation.

They dive deep into the legislative gap between passing bills in the House and getting them through the Senate—focusing on the Save Our Sequoias Act and the Fix Our Forests Act. Together, they break down why 50-year-old environmental process laws are delaying urgent forest restoration, how mega fires undo decades of climate progress, and what needs to happen during the lame-duck session to protect our communities.

Plus, Congressman Peters answers Constituent Mailbag questions covering: 
How Congress can address the $40 Trillion national debt through bipartisan fiscal reform. 
The foreign policy and financial costs of unauthorized military actions. 
Protecting San Diego’s power grid, water supply, and utility rates from data center expansion.

 

Timestamps
00:00 - Intro: The Crisis Facing California's Giant Sequoias
01:03 - Welcome Matt Weiner (Megafire Action)
02:00 - Why Wildfire Bills Get Stuck in the Senate
05:07 - The Save Our Sequoias Act & Environmental Law Obstacles
08:00 - Timber History vs. Modern Fire Threats: Smoke & Carbon Emissions
10:44 - Forest Management vs. Chaparral Defensible Space in San Diego
11:48 - What Caused California’s Forest Management Crisis?
13:03 - Breaking Down the Fix Our Forests Act: Streamlining Permits & Planning
16:35 - How to Pass Fire Legislation in the Lame Duck Session
21:45 - Episode Takeaways: Actionable Bipartisan Governance
22:50 - Mailbag: Tackling the $40 Trillion National Debt & Fiscal Reform
24:30 - Mailbag: Military Strategy, Defense Budgets, and Foreign Policy
26:50 - Mailbag: Protecting the Energy Grid and Water Supply from Data Centers
28:15 - Constituent Services & Closing

Why does it take six years to get a permit to prevent catastrophic wildfires? On this episode of 72 &amp; Sunny, Congressman Scott Peters sits down with Matt Weiner, founder and CEO of Megafire Action and former head of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation.
They dive deep into the legislative gap between passing bills in the House and getting them through the Senate&mdash;focusing on the Save Our Sequoias Act and the Fix Our Forests Act. Together, they break down why 50-year-old environmental process laws are delaying urgent forest restoration, how mega fires undo decades of climate progress, and what needs to happen during the lame-duck session to protect our communities.
Plus, Congressman Peters answers Constituent Mailbag questions covering:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>How Congress can address the $40 Trillion national debt through bipartisan fiscal reform.&nbsp;</li>
<li>The foreign policy and financial costs of unauthorized military actions.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Protecting San Diego&rsquo;s power grid, water supply, and utility rates from data center expansion.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Timestamps
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">00:00 - Intro: The Crisis Facing California's Giant Sequoias</li>
<li aria-level="1">01:03 - Welcome Matt Weiner (Megafire Action)</li>
<li aria-level="1">02:00 - Why Wildfire Bills Get Stuck in the Senate</li>
<li aria-level="1">05:07 - The Save Our Sequoias Act &amp; Environmental Law Obstacles</li>
<li aria-level="1">08:00 - Timber History vs. Modern Fire Threats: Smoke &amp; Carbon Emissions</li>
<li aria-level="1">10:44 - Forest Management vs. Chaparral Defensible Space in San Diego</li>
<li aria-level="1">11:48 - What Caused California&rsquo;s Forest Management Crisis?</li>
<li aria-level="1">13:03 - Breaking Down the Fix Our Forests Act: Streamlining Permits &amp; Planning</li>
<li aria-level="1">16:35 - How to Pass Fire Legislation in the Lame Duck Session</li>
<li aria-level="1">21:45 - Episode Takeaways: Actionable Bipartisan Governance</li>
<li aria-level="1">22:50 - Mailbag: Tackling the $40 Trillion National Debt &amp; Fiscal Reform</li>
<li aria-level="1">24:30 - Mailbag: Military Strategy, Defense Budgets, and Foreign Policy</li>
<li aria-level="1">26:50 - Mailbag: Protecting the Energy Grid and Water Supply from Data Centers</li>
<li aria-level="1">28:15 - Constituent Services &amp; Closing</li>
</ul>

72 & Sunny is a podcast hosted by Congressman Scott Peters (CA-50) about the issues shaping San Diego and the country. The conversations are substantive, solutions-oriented, and grounded in facts and local impact. No partisan talking points. No abstract lectures. Just honest conversations about what’s happening, why it matters, and what we can do about it.

72 &amp; Sunny is a podcast hosted by Congressman Scott Peters (CA-50) about the issues shaping San Diego and the country. The conversations are substantive, solutions-oriented, and grounded in facts and local impact. No partisan talking points. No abstract lectures. Just honest conversations about what&rsquo;s happening, why it matters, and what we can do about it.

72 and Sunny with Scott Peters

72 and Sunny

Mega Fires, $40T National Debt, & Foreign Policy Blunders

What happens when a president ignores the rule of law, and what can a coequal Congress still do to stop it? In this episode of 72 & Sunny, host Congressman Scott Peters (CA-50) sits down with his friend and colleague, Senator Adam Schiff, to unpack the massive systemic corruption, foreign emoluments violations, and conflicts of interest threatening American democracy.

As a former federal prosecutor, former Chair of the House Intelligence Committee, and author of the Protecting Our Democracy Act, Senator Schiff offers a clear-eyed legal and political analysis of how the Supreme Court's presidential immunity ruling completely reshaped executive power. Together, they expose the staggering scale of the grift and graft—from secret crypto ventures and multi-million dollar foreign aircraft to massive stock trades that dwarf all of Congress. They also dive into the breaking of institutional norms within the Department of Justice, partisan enablers in congressional leadership, and why the public pays the ultimate price for white-collar political crime.

Beyond executive oversight, Congressman Peters answers questions directly from the San Diego community. He provides crucial updates on local and national issues, including transitioning active-duty military veterans in Coronado, reforming the 340B prescription drug pricing program in Escondido, and accelerating small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) to provide clean energy and lower utility bills across California.

About 72 & Sunny with Scott Peters:72 & Sunny is a podcast hosted by Congressman Scott Peters (CA-50) about the critical issues shaping San Diego and the country. Grounded in facts, local impact, and bipartisan solutions, Scott cuts through partisan talking points to bring you honest conversations about what’s happening in Washington, why it matters to you, and what we can do about it.

Subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts to stay updated on congressional oversight, climate policies, national defense, and making government work!

Timestamps
00:00 – Explaining the Breathtaking Scale of Corruption in Trump 2.0
00:49 – The Framers' Vision: Preventing the Presidency from Becoming a Personal Property
01:34 – Welcome Senator Adam Schiff: From Prosecutor to Lead Impeachment Manager
02:12 – Fact-Checking the Grift & Graft: Staggering Billions in Personal Profit
03:18 – Blind Trusts vs. Overt Profiteering: Crypto, Jets, and Stock Trades
05:27 – How the Supreme Court’s Absolute Immunity Ruling Shielded Executive Corruption
07:36 – The Double Standard: Buying and Selling Pardons in a Cottage Industry
08:40 – The Hidden Public Cost of Corrupt Mergers and Fraudster Pardons
09:35 – The Breakdown of Norms Inside the Department of Justice
12:07 – The Striking Eric Adams Indictment & Profiles in Judicial Courage
13:33 – Partisan Enablers: Speaker Johnson and the Crisis of Congressional Oversight
15:00 – Restoring Institutional Honor: The Protecting Our Democracy Act
18:53 – Call to Action: How Everyday Americans Can Fight Back and Get Involved
21:46 – Scott Peters' Bipartisan Formula for Getting Things Done in the House
24:12 – San Diego Q&A: Transitioning Active Duty Service Members to Civilian Life in Coronado
26:11 – San Diego Q&A: Reforming the 340B Prescription Drug Program in Escondido
27:45 – San Diego Q&A: Accelerating Small Modular Nuclear Reactors to Replace Coal
29:38 – Closing Thoughts: The Restore Trust in Government Act & Keeping Democracy Alive

What happens when a president ignores the rule of law, and what can a coequal Congress still do to stop it? In this episode of 72 &amp; Sunny, host Congressman Scott Peters (CA-50) sits down with his friend and colleague, Senator Adam Schiff, to unpack the massive systemic corruption, foreign emoluments violations, and conflicts of interest threatening American democracy.
As a former federal prosecutor, former Chair of the House Intelligence Committee, and author of the Protecting Our Democracy Act, Senator Schiff offers a clear-eyed legal and political analysis of how the Supreme Court's presidential immunity ruling completely reshaped executive power. Together, they expose the staggering scale of the grift and graft&mdash;from secret crypto ventures and multi-million dollar foreign aircraft to massive stock trades that dwarf all of Congress. They also dive into the breaking of institutional norms within the Department of Justice, partisan enablers in congressional leadership, and why the public pays the ultimate price for white-collar political crime.
Beyond executive oversight, Congressman Peters answers questions directly from the San Diego community. He provides crucial updates on local and national issues, including transitioning active-duty military veterans in Coronado, reforming the 340B prescription drug pricing program in Escondido, and accelerating small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) to provide clean energy and lower utility bills across California.
About 72 &amp; Sunny with Scott Peters: 72 &amp; Sunny is a podcast hosted by Congressman Scott Peters (CA-50) about the critical issues shaping San Diego and the country. Grounded in facts, local impact, and bipartisan solutions, Scott cuts through partisan talking points to bring you honest conversations about what&rsquo;s happening in Washington, why it matters to you, and what we can do about it.
Subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts to stay updated on congressional oversight, climate policies, national defense, and making government work!
Timestamps
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">00:00 &ndash; Explaining the Breathtaking Scale of Corruption in Trump 2.0</li>
<li aria-level="1">00:49 &ndash; The Framers' Vision: Preventing the Presidency from Becoming a Personal Property</li>
<li aria-level="1">01:34 &ndash; Welcome Senator Adam Schiff: From Prosecutor to Lead Impeachment Manager</li>
<li aria-level="1">02:12 &ndash; Fact-Checking the Grift &amp; Graft: Staggering Billions in Personal Profit</li>
<li aria-level="1">03:18 &ndash; Blind Trusts vs. Overt Profiteering: Crypto, Jets, and Stock Trades</li>
<li aria-level="1">05:27 &ndash; How the Supreme Court&rsquo;s Absolute Immunity Ruling Shielded Executive Corruption</li>
<li aria-level="1">07:36 &ndash; The Double Standard: Buying and Selling Pardons in a Cottage Industry</li>
<li aria-level="1">08:40 &ndash; The Hidden Public Cost of Corrupt Mergers and Fraudster Pardons</li>
<li aria-level="1">09:35 &ndash; The Breakdown of Norms Inside the Department of Justice</li>
<li aria-level="1">12:07 &ndash; The Striking Eric Adams Indictment &amp; Profiles in Judicial Courage</li>
<li aria-level="1">13:33 &ndash; Partisan Enablers: Speaker Johnson and the Crisis of Congressional Oversight</li>
<li aria-level="1">15:00 &ndash; Restoring Institutional Honor: The Protecting Our Democracy Act</li>
<li aria-level="1">18:53 &ndash; Call to Action: How Everyday Americans Can Fight Back and Get Involved</li>
<li aria-level="1">21:46 &ndash; Scott Peters' Bipartisan Formula for Getting Things Done in the House</li>
<li aria-level="1">24:12 &ndash; San Diego Q&amp;A: Transitioning Active Duty Service Members to Civilian Life in Coronado</li>
<li aria-level="1">26:11 &ndash; San Diego Q&amp;A: Reforming the 340B Prescription Drug Program in Escondido</li>
<li aria-level="1">27:45 &ndash; San Diego Q&amp;A: Accelerating Small Modular Nuclear Reactors to Replace Coal</li>
<li aria-level="1">29:38 &ndash; Closing Thoughts: The Restore Trust in Government Act &amp; Keeping Democracy Alive</li>
</ul>

Adam Schiff Exposes Executive Corruption & Supreme Court Immunity

Balboa Park is the largest cultural urban park in the United States, but beneath its historic beauty lies a ticking financial time bomb. In this episode of "72 and Sunny," Congressman Scott Peters sits down with Katie McDonald, President and CEO of Forever Balboa Park, to expose the $500 million to $1 billion deferred maintenance backlog threatening San Diego's crown jewel. 

From crumbling stucco and broken plumbing to the recent public backlash over city budget deficits and paid parking, Scott and Katie dive deep into why the 100-year-old general fund model is completely failing our public spaces. Learn how private-public partnerships, volunteer power, and lessons from New York’s Central Park and St. Louis’s Forest Park can rewrite the business model to save Balboa Park for future generations.

Plus, stick around for the second half of the episode where Rep. Scott Peters answers listener questions on the massive political and economic hurdles of upgrading America’s outdated, 150-year-old electric grid, the permitting reform bottleneck, and how the explosive rise of AI data centers is forcing us to double our national energy transmission capacity. 

👉 Learn more or become a member: https://www.foreverbalboapark.org

If you enjoyed this conversation, please SUBSCRIBE and click the notification bell so you never miss an episode!

Balboa Park is the largest cultural urban park in the United States, but beneath its historic beauty lies a ticking financial time bomb. In this episode of "72 and Sunny," Congressman Scott Peters sits down with Katie McDonald, President and CEO of Forever Balboa Park, to expose the $500 million to $1 billion deferred maintenance backlog threatening San Diego's crown jewel.&nbsp;
From crumbling stucco and broken plumbing to the recent public backlash over city budget deficits and paid parking, Scott and Katie dive deep into why the 100-year-old general fund model is completely failing our public spaces. Learn how private-public partnerships, volunteer power, and lessons from New York&rsquo;s Central Park and St. Louis&rsquo;s Forest Park can rewrite the business model to save Balboa Park for future generations.
Plus, stick around for the second half of the episode where Rep. Scott Peters answers listener questions on the massive political and economic hurdles of upgrading America&rsquo;s outdated, 150-year-old electric grid, the permitting reform bottleneck, and how the explosive rise of AI data centers is forcing us to double our national energy transmission capacity.&nbsp;
👉 Learn more or become a member: https://www.foreverbalboapark.org
If you enjoyed this conversation, please SUBSCRIBE and click the notification bell so you never miss an episode!

The $1 BILLION CRISIS: How to Save Balboa Park’s Broken Funding Model

The Supreme Court just dismantled a core piece of the Voting Rights Act, while a controversial federal bill threatens to disenfranchise millions of eligible American voters. California Attorney General Rob Bonta joins Congressman Scott Peters to break down the legal battle lines, the reality behind voter fraud data, and the quiet effort to deploy the military to local polling stations. Watch to see what this means for your vote ahead of the November 2026 election.

Are our voting rights under the most severe legal threat in modern history, or are current legislative efforts a common-sense approach to secure our elections?

In this episode of 72 & Sunny, Congressman Scott Peters (CA-50) sits down with California Attorney General Rob Bonta to strip away the partisan talking points and dive deep into the legal warfare reshaping American democracy. Following the Supreme Court’s landmark 6-3 decision in Louisiana v. Calais, legal experts warn that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 has been rendered nearly powerless. At the same time, the federal SAVE Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act) has cleared the House, threatening to implement strict documentary proof of citizenship that could block millions of eligible, voting-age Americans from casting a ballot.

Attorney General Bonta shares exclusive, inside insights into how state attorneys general are acting as the nation’s institutional backbone—successfully blocking unconstitutional executive orders in court and running crisis simulations for potential Election Day disruptions, including the unlawful deployment of the National Guard and ICE monitors at local polling stations.

Beyond the voting rights battle, Congressman Peters answers hard-hitting questions from San Diego constituents. He addresses the root causes of the California housing crisis, explains why he identifies as a YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard), and breaks down his upcoming 2026 federal legislation, including the Build More Housing Near Transit Act and the Faith in Housing Act.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
The Truth About Voter Fraud: The concrete data from state audits (including Utah and Kansas) proving that documented noncitizen voting is virtually non-existent.
The Calais Decision Decoded: How the Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling functionally rewrote Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and what it means for racial minority voters.
The Disenfranchisement Math: Why the SAVE Act’s in-person proof of citizenship requirement disproportionately impacts married women, rural communities, and low-income Americans.
The Battle Over "Election Day": An inside look at the Watson Supreme Court case and whether mail-in ballots postmarked on time but received after Election Day will still count.
Solving the California Housing Crisis: How reforming the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and utilizing faith-based parking lots can drastically lower the cost of living.

WHO THIS IS FOR
Voters & Civil Rights Advocates looking for objective, legal breakdowns of changing election laws without the media sensationalism.
Policy Enthusiasts & Law Students eager to understand the intersection of state executive power, federalism, and constitutional law.
San Diego & California Residents wanting to know exactly what constitutional amendments will be on their November 2026 ballot and how local housing initiatives affect their communities.

Some notable moments from this episode:

00:00 - The Shocking Numbers Behind the SAVE Act

03:04 - Introducing California Attorney General Rob Bonta

05:01 - From Berkeley to Selma: The Bonta Family Legacy & United Farm Workers

10:00 - The Dangerous Resurgence of Political Hatred & Scapegoating

12:50 - Debunking the Myth of Widespread Voter Fraud (The Receipts)

16:04 - How the SAVE Act Disenfranchises Married Women & Rural Voters

18:52 - Louisiana v. Calais: Did the Supreme Court Kill the Voting Rights Act?

21:37 - Blocking Unconstitutional Executive Orders & The Watson Case

25:50 - Preparing for Armed Military & ICE Deployment at Local Polling Places

31:25 - Why Lower Court Judges Are Fighting Back Against Executive Lawlessness

33:50 - Action Item: How to Protect Your Vote This Week

38:53 - San Diego Q&A: The Intangible Culture of Collaboration

40:34 - YIMBY vs NIMBY: Reforming CEQA to Fix the California Housing Crisis

42:15 - Federal Solutions: The Build More Housing Near Transit Act

 

If you believe in substantive, solutions-oriented conversations grounded in facts rather than partisan talking points, please Subscribe to the channel and hit the notification bell.

The Supreme Court just dismantled a core piece of the Voting Rights Act, while a controversial federal bill threatens to disenfranchise millions of eligible American voters. California Attorney General Rob Bonta joins Congressman Scott Peters to break down the legal battle lines, the reality behind voter fraud data, and the quiet effort to deploy the military to local polling stations. Watch to see what this means for your vote ahead of the November 2026 election.
Are our voting rights under the most severe legal threat in modern history, or are current legislative efforts a common-sense approach to secure our elections?
In this episode of 72 &amp; Sunny, Congressman Scott Peters (CA-50) sits down with California Attorney General Rob Bonta to strip away the partisan talking points and dive deep into the legal warfare reshaping American democracy. Following the Supreme Court&rsquo;s landmark 6-3 decision in Louisiana v. Calais, legal experts warn that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 has been rendered nearly powerless. At the same time, the federal SAVE Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act) has cleared the House, threatening to implement strict documentary proof of citizenship that could block millions of eligible, voting-age Americans from casting a ballot.
Attorney General Bonta shares exclusive, inside insights into how state attorneys general are acting as the nation&rsquo;s institutional backbone&mdash;successfully blocking unconstitutional executive orders in court and running crisis simulations for potential Election Day disruptions, including the unlawful deployment of the National Guard and ICE monitors at local polling stations.
Beyond the voting rights battle, Congressman Peters answers hard-hitting questions from San Diego constituents. He addresses the root causes of the California housing crisis, explains why he identifies as a YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard), and breaks down his upcoming 2026 federal legislation, including the Build More Housing Near Transit Act and the Faith in Housing Act.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
<ul>
<li>The Truth About Voter Fraud: The concrete data from state audits (including Utah and Kansas) proving that documented noncitizen voting is virtually non-existent.</li>
<li>The Calais Decision Decoded: How the Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling functionally rewrote Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and what it means for racial minority voters.</li>
<li>The Disenfranchisement Math: Why the SAVE Act&rsquo;s in-person proof of citizenship requirement disproportionately impacts married women, rural communities, and low-income Americans.</li>
<li>The Battle Over "Election Day": An inside look at the Watson Supreme Court case and whether mail-in ballots postmarked on time but received after Election Day will still count.</li>
<li>Solving the California Housing Crisis: How reforming the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and utilizing faith-based parking lots can drastically lower the cost of living.</li>
</ul>
WHO THIS IS FOR
<ul>
<li>Voters &amp; Civil Rights Advocates looking for objective, legal breakdowns of changing election laws without the media sensationalism.</li>
<li>Policy Enthusiasts &amp; Law Students eager to understand the intersection of state executive power, federalism, and constitutional law.</li>
<li>San Diego &amp; California Residents wanting to know exactly what constitutional amendments will be on their November 2026 ballot and how local housing initiatives affect their communities.</li>
</ul>
Some notable moments from this episode:
00:00 - The Shocking Numbers Behind the SAVE Act
03:04 - Introducing California Attorney General Rob Bonta
05:01 - From Berkeley to Selma: The Bonta Family Legacy &amp; United Farm Workers
10:00 - The Dangerous Resurgence of Political Hatred &amp; Scapegoating
12:50 - Debunking the Myth of Widespread Voter Fraud (The Receipts)
16:04 - How the SAVE Act Disenfranchises Married Women &amp; Rural Voters
18:52 - Louisiana v. Calais: Did the Supreme Court Kill the Voting Rights Act?
21:37 - Blocking Unconstitutional Executive Orders &amp; The Watson Case
25:50 - Preparing for Armed Military &amp; ICE Deployment at Local Polling Places
31:25 - Why Lower Court Judges Are Fighting Back Against Executive Lawlessness
33:50 - Action Item: How to Protect Your Vote This Week
38:53 - San Diego Q&amp;A: The Intangible Culture of Collaboration
40:34 - YIMBY vs NIMBY: Reforming CEQA to Fix the California Housing Crisis
42:15 - Federal Solutions: The Build More Housing Near Transit Act
&nbsp;
If you believe in substantive, solutions-oriented conversations grounded in facts rather than partisan talking points, please Subscribe to the channel and hit the notification bell.

Mega Fires, $40T National Debt, & Foreign Policy Blunders

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