Unearthed today: It’s controversial
Very quick one today – and most Wednesday’s!
I’m reading about.. the words people use
Often the best way to “spot” a big story is simply to listen to what people do, or don’t, say.
The New York Times today digs into the comments from likely new supreme court justice Amy Coney Barrett on climate change.
When asked if she believed it was a thing she answered that she wouldn’t comment on a “matter of public policy” which is “politically controversial”, noting – in a different exchange – that she is “certainly not a scientist”.
As Greta and others have observed, scientific realities are not actually “matters of public policy” and whilst some may be controversial – though not politically so – this one isn’t. Saying the reverse of these things gives us a pretty clear steer on where Amy would jump if the court had to rule on climate liabilities – for example.
Trump, of course, has never needed to be so nuanced, so at a rally recently, he just explained how political corruption works – reports Heated.
“Don’t forget, I’m not bad at that stuff anyway, and I’m president,” he said. “So I call some guy, the head of Exxon. I call the head of Exxon. I don’t know.” He speculated what this hypothetical conversation would look like—and it looks like a lot like bribery. “‘How are you doing? How’s energy coming? When are you doing the exploration? Oh, you need a couple of permits?’ When I call the head of Exxon, I say, ‘You know, I’d love [for you] to send me $25 million for the campaign.'” And what does the head of Exxon say? “‘Absolutely, sir.'”
He and Exxon added that he hadn’t actually done that, he just could – you understand. Oh, and now he’s had the hypothetical conversation, he really doesn’t have to.
Of course, Exxon doesn’t have to give money to politicians to get involved in politics – it can just do it itself. In These Times has a powerful report on Exxon’s Facebook ad spending, revealing how the firm is using front groups and huge amounts of cash to lobby for it’s continued license to operate. It’s even turning to techniques more commonly used by actual campaigners, like petitions and write-ins.
“Exxon has spent more than any other major corporation on ”social issues, elections, or politics” Facebook ads (outside of Facebook itself), and is the country’s ninth-largest buyer of such ads overall: $15.6 million from May 7, 2018, to October 8, 2020. Almost every other top spender is an organization related to presidential campaigning.”
Five things you need to know
Trump goes after Biden on fracking: Donald Trump claimed that Joe Biden would ban fracking and destroy energy jobs, as he campaigned in Pennsylvania in an effort to shore up his support in a swing state that is critical to his re-election chances.
EU seeks Amazon protections pledge from Bolsonaro in push to ratify trade deal: Talks are currently “informal” to which I read, not likely to add up to much more than a tin of beans.
EU gives up on reforming farming: The European Commission’s top agriculture official has urged the European Parliament to reconsider its position on proposed reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy, saying that a deal struck by its three largest groups is incompatible with the European Green Deal.
Poland’s largest utility announces pivot from coal to renewables: But it depends on passing responsibility for coal mines to another Polish state-owned entity.
Australian outback cattle station to house world’s largest solar farm, powering Singapore: A cattle station halfway between Alice Springs and Darwin is set to house the world’s largest solar farm, with energy generated from the project to ultimately power Singapore.