So it’s come to this.
On Wednesday, President Joe Biden was compelled to handle the bonkers right-wing conspiracy that the federal government is controlling the climate, steering catastrophic hurricanes into conservative communities in an effort to affect the 2024 election.
“Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene … is now saying the federal authorities is actually controlling the climate,” he stated throughout a briefing on the federal response to Hurricane Helene and preparations for Hurricane Milton. “We’re controlling the climate? It is past ridiculous. It’s bought to cease.”
Biden additionally debunked the far-right declare boosted by Donald Trump, his household, and his allies that the federal government redirected disaster-relief assist to migrants—unsuitable—and would supply solely $750 to the victims of Hurricane Helene—additionally unsuitable. To dispel these falsehoods, the Federal Emergency Administration Company needed to create a complete rumor-debunking part of its web site.
Is there something that the GOP gained’t politicize? Support? Politicized. Demise? Politicized. Acts of God? Attributable to the Democrats.
As Day by day Kos’ Markos Moulitsas not too long ago reported, the concept the federal government can management the climate began circulating as early as late September in right-wing social media circles. The conspiracy was popularized by conservative influencer Matt Wallace, who posted, “Don’t fear guys, climate modification isn’t actual! It’s only a coincidence that Hurricane Helene is likely one of the most devastating “inland injury storms” in historical past and that tons of of pro-Trump counties are being massively impacted throughout a very powerful election of our lifetimes.”
Quickly it took off on social media, the place fact-checking goes to die. (Although many media organizations have since stepped in to debunk the lie.)
Whereas many Republicans may even see Democrats as a gaggle of demonic, witchcraft-loving boogiemen, no one is highly effective sufficient to fabricate a hurricane. It’s one factor for tin-foil-hatted Republican voters to consider in these loopy conspiracies, however it’s one other for elected officers to hawk them.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene—or as my Day by day Kos colleague Walter Einenkel poignantly referred to as her, “the Georgia-based conspiracy theorist who moonlights as a congresswoman”—has spent a lot of the previous week peddling the weather-control lie.
“They’ll management the climate,” she posted on X final Thursday. “It’s ridiculous for anybody to lie and say it will possibly’t be carried out.”
The non secular far-right quickly adopted swimsuit. Christian nationalist Lance Wallnau, with whom Trump operating mate JD Vance not too long ago campaigned, posted on X, “Is the federal government attempting to discover ways to manipulate the climate?” he requested. “In the event that they succeeded, do you belief them to not use this potential to cease Trump (a menace who says he’ll expose them and prosecute) from being elected?”
After being rightfully criticized for her feedback, Greene doubled down on the lie on Tuesday and Wednesday, blaming the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the federal company chargeable for climate monitoring. In different phrases, the important thing company relaying data on Hurricane Milton because it bears down on Florida.
“Everybody retains asking, ‘who is that they?’” she posted on Wednesday, including that “a few of them are listed on NOAA.”
Not all Republicans, although, may get on board with this one. North Carolina Rep. Chuck Edwards referred to as it “outrageous” in a assertion.
“Hurricane Helene was NOT geoengineered by the federal government to grab and entry lithium deposits in Chimney Rock,” stated Edwards. “No one can management the climate. Charles Konrad, director of the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Southeast Regional Local weather Heart, has confirmed that nobody has the expertise or potential to geoengineer a hurricane.”
Nonetheless, different Republicans proceed to politicize a senseless storm. Chris LaCivita, Trump marketing campaign senior adviser, referred to as Fox Information’ determination to air Biden’s Hurricane Milton briefing “actually propaganda.”
Too many Republicans simply aren’t treating this devastating storm with the seriousness it deserves.