Get Energy Smart! NOW!

The climate crisis made a brief appearance in last evening’s Virginia gubernatorial debate (see here for commentary on other portions of the debate) An oddball question from NBC’s Chuck Todd sparked strong comments from Democrat Terry McAuliffe and shallow predatory-delay, deceptive climate-truthiness from Trump-wannabe Glenn Youngkin. In a southern state that, under Democratic Party leadership, […]

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Following guidance for ‘truth sandwiches’, a simple truth upfront: Scientists have concluded, based on multiple strands of evidence, that carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels (including in aviation operations) “damages the climate” system. This is NOT about belief. On the morning of New Year’s day, my heart went with excitement on turning to page […]

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Evidently enraptured by the glowing reviews that the New York Times hiring of (climate) science dissembler (amid other problems) columnist Bret Stephens generated, The Washington Post opinion section just added ‘both sides’ specialist Meghan McArdle to their pages.  McArdle often reads as if emergent from Koch Industries public relations. A few quick examples: About London’s Grenfell […]

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The Trump Administration’s decision to undermine America’s economy and future prospects by its announced intent to reverse the Clean Power Plan and expand its denial of that Chinese Hoax, climate change made headlines and created an imperative for serious news coverage.  Last evening, the PBS News Hour — often the gold standard when it comes […]

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Simply put, amid weather extremes occurring within a climate change(d) world, too many are not connecting the dots as to the relationship between climate change and the hottest year on record/North Pole warmth/Mississippi flooding/flowers in a DC garden on New Year’s day/…. This is a repost of a 2011 piece (that has a rich 290 comment discusion […]

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This guest post from Dean Baker provides a different perspective on inadequate media discussion and coverage of climate change issues.  In short, Dean reminds us that journalists do know how to dig to the bottom of a story and how to pressure politicians.  He asks media outlets and journalists to treat climate change with, at […]

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Shhh … there is nothing to be seen here. Even with perhaps the nation’s top political cartoonist on climate change, Tom Toles, and the excellent climate/energy/science reporting of the likes of Chris Mooney, article after article in The Washington Post discussing ‘weird weather’ in the DC area and elsewhere goes with nary a mention of […]

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When it comes to the use (and, more appropriately, misuse) of analysis, perhaps the most powerful phrase is “There are three kinds of lies: Lies, damn lies, and statistics“. a phrase describing the persuasive power of numbers, particularly the use of statistics to bolster weak arguments Today’s Washington Times provides an excellent example of this (ab)use of […]

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Bangor’s longest running news team — on a combination ABC and FOX affiliate — quit their jobs to the surprise of colleagues and viewers. Cindy Michaels and Tony Consiglio have been anchors at ABC affiliate WVII and Fox affiliate WFVX in Bangor for six years, but claimed that the owners and managers had been increasingly […]

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Two recent major Washington Post articles about urban planning and preparing for ‘Sandy-like’ events provided radically different views of the 21st century. While both 4 November’s “In a perfect storm” (Metro front page) and 5 November’s “In coast communities” (front page) highlighted the challenges for urban planners and politicians in expending (quite significant) resources to reduce […]

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