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While the Constitution of the United States enumerates responsibilities for the three branches of government, some of the most critical roles that have evolved through our centuries of democratic governance are implied rather than explicitly enumerated.  One of the most important ‘implied’ roles is Congressional (Legislative) oversight of the Executive Branch.  While the Judicial Branch […]

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Arev Yom Kippur … The eve of the Day of Atonement. After the period of reflection and engagement with others between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, this is a moment to turn to internal considerations and the relationship between the individual and G-d. As part of the prayers for the Day of Atonement, the Vidui, […]

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This is a guest post from a scientist who feels like FishOutOfWater when looking at America’s discourse over science issues, most notably climate change … We may be slipping into one of the greatest mass extinctions in the history of the earth, but just how worried should we be? The world’s oceans are turning acidic […]

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As part of the American Geophysical Union (AGU), self-described “snarky” Professor Laurel Whitney gave the following presentation about leveraging humor in climate communication. Professor Whitney’s DeSmogBlog’s bio provides a window on her self-deprecating alternative approach to communications. Rather than emphasizing that she teaches “climate change issues” or such to university students, she gets to depress […]

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Today, the President will be giving a speech at Georgetown University on climate change issues, with announcements of initiatives that will be taken leveraging the powers of the Administrative Branch because the Congress is unable (and, to a large extent, unwilling) to take meaningful action to address climate change: whether mitigation or adaptation. There are […]

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Organizing for America (OFA) is moving toward an ever-more aggressive positioning when it comes to clean energy and climate change issues. Added this past week to the website, “Call Out Climate Change Deniers“: Climate change is real, it’s caused largely by human activities, and it poses significant risks for our health. Some members of Congress […]

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According to the Commander of U.S. Forces Pacific (PACCOM), significant upheaval related to the warming planet “is probably the most likely thing that is going to happen . . . that will cripple the security environment, probably more likely than the other scenarios we all often talk about.’ Admiral Samuel Locklear had a meeting the other day […]

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This guest post comes from DWG. And, well, the Star-Ledger‘s editorial board is now my favorite editorial board in the nation. Thanks to damage from recent north Atlantic superstorms, a major New Jersey utility plans to spend $4 billion over the next ten years to make its grid less susceptible to storm damage. “It’s clear that […]

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As part of its responsibilities to support more informed Congressional decision making and inform members of Congress about key issues, since 1990 the Government Accounting Office (GAO) has provided a list of key high-risk areas. identified as high risk due to their greater vulnerability to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement or the need for transformation […]

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After several years of essentially ignoring Climate Change in the State of the Union address, President Obama spoke forcefully about climate change and clean energy in the speech. While there are some significant problems embedded in the discussion, such as praise for natural gas, there is significant material worth cheering, supporting, and building on. Amid […]

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