Economist Podcasts In the line of fires: LA’s ashen suburbs one year on
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Jan 7, 2026 
Erin Braun, West Coast correspondent for The Economist, shares gripping accounts from LA’s wildfire survivors and reveals stark wealth divides in rebuilding efforts. Henry Trix, the US technology editor, discusses how AI is not just a job killer but a creator of new roles like data annotators and AI risk specialists. Alexandra Sewitch-Bass, the culture editor, analyzes the troubling trends in wine consumption, linking it to health concerns and changing demographics, while also exploring opportunities for fine-wine collectors amidst market shifts.
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Evacuation At 3 A.M. And Lost Home
- Audra Blunt described being woken at 3 a.m. and forced to flee her home as flames consumed Altadena.
- Her remodeled house is now an empty lot while neighbors rebuild at different paces.
Fires Reveal Long-Term Health And Recovery Costs
- The January fires killed 31 people and destroyed over 16,000 buildings, with serious ongoing health effects from smoke.
- Recovery will take years and reveals deeper climate risk and policy weaknesses for cities like Los Angeles.
Rebuilding Momentum Amid Permitting Gains
- Permitting for reconstruction progressed faster than expected, with about 15% of destroyed buildings approved for rebuild by December.
- A construction boom is expected after winter rains, shaping the post-fire urban landscape.