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The Trump administration's assault on climate science rightfully gets the bulk of the coverage, but the last four years have been rough when it comes to basic, everyday weather forecasting.
The integrity of weather forecasts is on the ballot tomorrow.
Thread.
The integrity of weather forecasts is on the ballot tomorrow.
Thread.
The infamous "Sharpie map" was the ultimate example of how the president warps reality to suit his needs.
He scribbled on an outdated NHC forecast map to compensate for wrongly tweeting that Hurricane Dorian might hit Alabama "harder than expected." http://www.damweather.com/2019/09/weather-forecasts-were-under-attack.html
He scribbled on an outdated NHC forecast map to compensate for wrongly tweeting that Hurricane Dorian might hit Alabama "harder than expected." http://www.damweather.com/2019/09/weather-forecasts-were-under-attack.html
The fallout resulted in threats to fire NOAA leadership if they didn't toss meteorologists under the bus to protect Trump's personal image.
His recent order on civil service protections could endanger essential NOAA experts in a second term. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/09/climate/hurricane-dorian-trump-tweet.html
His recent order on civil service protections could endanger essential NOAA experts in a second term. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/09/climate/hurricane-dorian-trump-tweet.html
The entire Sharpie map debacle—mobilizing and upending the federal government to help the president save face over one mistaken tweet—directly foreshadowed the administration's atrocious handling of the still-raging coronavirus pandemic. http://www.damweather.com/2020/05/trumps-hurricane-sharpie-map-was.html
The admin recently filled top positions at NOAA with political appointees who, by all indications, were installed to advance partisan goals instead of science. It's seen as a last-ditch attempt to disrupt climate research efforts before time runs out. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/27/climate/trump-election-climate-noaa.html
NOAA's new Chief Scientist—known for his partisan scorn of climate study—defended the Sharpie map during an apparent long-arc effort to get Trump to notice him.
His rise is classic of the Trump era: an intelligent person who betrays their knowledge for a fleeting bite at power.
His rise is classic of the Trump era: an intelligent person who betrays their knowledge for a fleeting bite at power.
Trump's nomination of fmr AccuWeather CEO Barry Myers to lead NOAA sat in Congress for years.
His potential conflicts of interest and AW's (at times) adversarial relationship with the NWS made the nomination worrying, but he never got a Senate vote. http://www.damweather.com/2019/01/accuweather-ceos-nomination-to-run-noaa.html
His potential conflicts of interest and AW's (at times) adversarial relationship with the NWS made the nomination worrying, but he never got a Senate vote. http://www.damweather.com/2019/01/accuweather-ceos-nomination-to-run-noaa.html
The admin's failure to provide basic, timely help to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria is one of the greatest shames in our country's modern history.
He signaled aid to Puerto Rico was conditional upon his receiving the island's "appreciation" for him. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1113044765405315073
He signaled aid to Puerto Rico was conditional upon his receiving the island's "appreciation" for him. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1113044765405315073
Trump initially refused to approve fed disaster aid to CA after recent historic fires. Last week, he hinted he'd overlook Pennsylvanians in need because he doesn't like their governor.
It's unconscionable to threaten disaster aid based on electoral math. https://twitter.com/ddale8/status/1320751010168643592
It's unconscionable to threaten disaster aid based on electoral math. https://twitter.com/ddale8/status/1320751010168643592
Trump repeatedly shows blatant disregard for people in harm's way.
He issued a controversial pardon while category four Hurricane Harvey made landfall, diverting news coverage away from the storm because he "assumed the ratings would be far higher": https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/28/us/politics/trump-finland-harvey-arpaio-russia.html
He issued a controversial pardon while category four Hurricane Harvey made landfall, diverting news coverage away from the storm because he "assumed the ratings would be far higher": https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/28/us/politics/trump-finland-harvey-arpaio-russia.html
He recently complained that the news devoted more time to Hurricane Delta—which hit parts of Louisiana devastated weeks earlier by Hurricane Laura—than they devoted to his (unsuccessful) Nobel Prize nominations. https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1311485052111458307
And he reportedly asked officials why he couldn't stop a hurricane by nuking it, which is a fun thought game for grade school students but an utterly terrifying thing not to know when you singularly possess the ability to launch a large nuclear arsenal. http://www.damweather.com/2019/08/president-trump-allegedly-wants-to-know.html
Upending the federal government and threatening weather experts because he made a mistake in a tweet, threatening disaster aid in exchange for political support, getting jealous of weather's media coverage—this is all in just the last four of years. Four more would be disastrous.
Tomorrow's election is a decision about protecting the integrity of science as a whole—whether it's the virus, climate change, or basic weather forecasts.
We're living through the consequences of when leaders trash science to boost their personal standing.
Enough is enough.
We're living through the consequences of when leaders trash science to boost their personal standing.
Enough is enough.
