Yesterday, Thom Hartmann discussed Gutting the Weather Watchers: When Tyrants Rewrite the Forecast. This is no accident. It’s a coordinated attack on science, safety, and the truth—just in time for hurricane season…https://hartmannreport.com/p/gutting-the-weather-watchers-when-c03
My comment: This hits especially hard in Baghdad By the Sea. With the Atlantic Ocean to the east and a maximum elevation of 42 feet above sea level Miami's geography makes it highly vulnerable to hurricanes. This season, Florida is predicted to have the highest risk of being impacted by a hurricane among all U.S. states. Specifically, there's a 92% chance of a named storm impacting Florida and a 65% chance of a hurricane.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is located in Miami on the main campus of Florida International University. "Hurricane and climate researchers in Miami were hit in the latest wave of cuts from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. The mass layoffs from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — more than 600, according to the former agency head — include at least one high-profile meteorologist in Miami and another charged with integrating artificial intelligence into climate and weather predictions. “Every office in NOAA was hit by these indiscriminate, misguided, ill-intentioned reforms,” said Rick Spinrad, former director of NOAA.
"All requests for comment to NOAA, the National Hurricane Center and the Hurricane Research Division were unanswered. Instead, officials provided a statement saying the agency does not comment on internal personnel matters."
Meanwhile, hurricanes can be an opportunity for fraud. E.G. An investigation by the Associated Press in 2016 found little evidence that Wilma severely damaged Mar-a-Lago, despite Trump saying in a 2007 court deposition that he had been paid $17 million on an insurance claim after the storm.
How about 55,000 Americans died and hundreds of thousands disabled when he had fantasy bone spurs... so that Vietnam Approves $1.5 Billion Investment Plan by Trump Organization and Partner Kinhbac City to build golf courses, resorts, and residential properties.
Why It Matters: Trump is using the presidency to enrich himself. As he negotiates tariffs with Vietnam, his business is simultaneously profiting from deals with the Vietnamese government. It's a blatant conflict of interest and another example of Trump monetizing foreign policy for personal gain.
Great article - the value of weather services in the economy in the form of saving lives and property is huge. The administration just wants it to rot apparently.
I work at a state run campground with boating and island campsites and for years I’ve relied on weather forecasts to warn boaters about what’s coming and when. We have had some wild storms (hail, 60mph wind, inches of rain) and people have told me I may have saved their life by giving them a heads up on the weather. The federal weather offices covering this area have been cut back and we’ve been noticing how off the forecasts are. Well, yesterday the forecast was cloudy and no wind. But then in the afternoon thunder started rolling. No rain, just this constant thunder that went on and on. Then lightning. Then absolutely insane lighting and thunder that formed up right over us and just sat over us like god smiting the earth for an hour. We were in a 10x10 shack and it was terrifying but there were people in tents and rv’s! Lightning hit a tree about a hundred yards from us and fell in the road. People were screaming! Then there was a torrential downpour and gusty wind. That was NOT on the forecast. None of it was. The forecasts used to be pretty good. Last summer there were tornados in the forecast so I stayed home, then I got a tornado warning, got to my basement, and 2 big trees fell on my house and me and my pets were fine. Thank you feds for doing great in 2024.
Maybe you could go on KMOX with this same message to get your voice out to the public. It needs to be out there not just on a substak that Maybe only a few of us see!!!
Fred, first I'm extending my sympathy- I guess is an ok word, to you and to The People of St. Louis. It is heartbreaking to know of the disaster and plight you describe, this overnight tragedy in your city.
Your offering a more complete context regarding what has been, what is now, and, what the city can anticipate in terms of relief and recovery from the elected 'leaders' at state and federal levels increases our awareness, and, I hope, activate more immediate support. May that be so.
You know St. Louis is not alone. Regardless of problems within the system, Federal assistance in these times is so critical. Excellent weather monitoring IS possible. The devastating bottomline truth that We, The People, see more clearly every single day is: There is little to no advocacy for us from this craven administration, its inept cabinet, and fearful/ deceitful/ disinformed minions. This is fact beyond doubt, beyond disgrace - unconstitutional, immoral, and just disgustingly mean-spirited.
So many of us are standing up and speaking out because the democratic principle that every person matters - is assaulted at its foundations as never before, and, yes, because the facts hit us where we hurt.
The People must continue to act - in order to prevail, and to preserve the Constitution and the spirit it tries to embody. Let us each do what we can to stand for each other and our basic human rights, and for a More Perfect Union!
Mr Wellman, I am so sorry that this dreadful weather event has been visited upon your community.
I grew up in Tornado Alley Central Oklahoma and have no problem imagining the situation you are facing, having experienced the Summer 1974 Tulsa, OK destruction.
I am glad that you chose to warn the rest of the U.S. Public here in your Substack. That way no one can say that s/he was not advised, in no uncertain terms, what was being visited upon your community and will be visited upon any other community that does not wake up--talk about needing to be "woke"--and fight the people who are ready, willing, able, and in-the-process of crushing her/his community as we type.
Until people connect the dots that Republicans will destroy every vestige of support and assistance for the 90%...we'll continue to reenact Groundhog Day.
Missouri continually votes for Republican supermajorities, while overwhelmingly supporting progressive ballot measures.
Even if voters despise Democrats, at some point, will they connect the dots, or will they continue to make their votes irrelevant?
The shear ignorance of how government works to help people and how that affects everyone's quality of life, by the GOP's culture warriors and the billionaire owned major media talking heads is appalling. They are so fixated on unimportant matters of performative politics while their constituents are suffering from their inability to govern effectively and all the while they keep sending these culture warriors back to DC to work against their own interests. Sinclair Media and the Heritage Foundation is trying to set off the distopian prophecy that their sacred book has promised them and all the while on Earth one no matter how many times we warned them of the consequences they just keep making the same mistakes. We are in the midst of a hostile takeover of our government processes by people who think some magic man in the sky will come down to only rescue them from.
So far beyond anger and frustration this Republican party is lost, gone completely un-American, exactly why I quit the party. Any party that would knowingly suck up to the likes of un-American Donald trump, who is clearly out of synchronization of caring for anyone or anything. Except power and adulation.
I'm so sorry. Here in Indiana we are used to a trail of tornados. However, I have noticed beginning in late spring the warnings are sparse. I suspected orange weatherman was responsible. I knew there'd be no FEMA. That's horrible. The tornado was supposed to hit us last night, but stayed south. It really tore up towns in central Kentucky. There were 30 killed and more suspected once clean up starts. No help for those poor folks either. We don't have a government anymore, we have a tyranny. They still want more from those who have none to give to those who have everything.
I hope your recovery will go quickly and the damage manageable. Take care.
The first thing I thought of when I heard about your weather event was , I’ll bet FEMA won’t be there for them. This is all so tragic, cruel and predictable. I think we all got too comfortable, and distracted, to pay attention to who is running the show at home. Check out your local politicians! And school boards. We are about to lose public education.
Excellent Piece Fred. We were spared here in Vienna.
I've been preparing my mom's home for a disaster. In my lifetime I went through 3 major earthquakes, tornado and 2 major hurricanes. Bridge collapse and road blockage, power loss and home destroyed.
Get low. Duck and cover.
Yesterday, Thom Hartmann discussed Gutting the Weather Watchers: When Tyrants Rewrite the Forecast. This is no accident. It’s a coordinated attack on science, safety, and the truth—just in time for hurricane season…https://hartmannreport.com/p/gutting-the-weather-watchers-when-c03
My comment: This hits especially hard in Baghdad By the Sea. With the Atlantic Ocean to the east and a maximum elevation of 42 feet above sea level Miami's geography makes it highly vulnerable to hurricanes. This season, Florida is predicted to have the highest risk of being impacted by a hurricane among all U.S. states. Specifically, there's a 92% chance of a named storm impacting Florida and a 65% chance of a hurricane.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is located in Miami on the main campus of Florida International University. "Hurricane and climate researchers in Miami were hit in the latest wave of cuts from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. The mass layoffs from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — more than 600, according to the former agency head — include at least one high-profile meteorologist in Miami and another charged with integrating artificial intelligence into climate and weather predictions. “Every office in NOAA was hit by these indiscriminate, misguided, ill-intentioned reforms,” said Rick Spinrad, former director of NOAA.
"All requests for comment to NOAA, the National Hurricane Center and the Hurricane Research Division were unanswered. Instead, officials provided a statement saying the agency does not comment on internal personnel matters."
Read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/article301177914.html#storylink=cpy
Meanwhile, hurricanes can be an opportunity for fraud. E.G. An investigation by the Associated Press in 2016 found little evidence that Wilma severely damaged Mar-a-Lago, despite Trump saying in a 2007 court deposition that he had been paid $17 million on an insurance claim after the storm.
Of course he did! Price inflation is one of his favorite frauds 🤑
How about 55,000 Americans died and hundreds of thousands disabled when he had fantasy bone spurs... so that Vietnam Approves $1.5 Billion Investment Plan by Trump Organization and Partner Kinhbac City to build golf courses, resorts, and residential properties.
Why It Matters: Trump is using the presidency to enrich himself. As he negotiates tariffs with Vietnam, his business is simultaneously profiting from deals with the Vietnamese government. It's a blatant conflict of interest and another example of Trump monetizing foreign policy for personal gain.
Source: Reuters
Ii was an iron, not. golden triangle.
Great article - the value of weather services in the economy in the form of saving lives and property is huge. The administration just wants it to rot apparently.
I work at a state run campground with boating and island campsites and for years I’ve relied on weather forecasts to warn boaters about what’s coming and when. We have had some wild storms (hail, 60mph wind, inches of rain) and people have told me I may have saved their life by giving them a heads up on the weather. The federal weather offices covering this area have been cut back and we’ve been noticing how off the forecasts are. Well, yesterday the forecast was cloudy and no wind. But then in the afternoon thunder started rolling. No rain, just this constant thunder that went on and on. Then lightning. Then absolutely insane lighting and thunder that formed up right over us and just sat over us like god smiting the earth for an hour. We were in a 10x10 shack and it was terrifying but there were people in tents and rv’s! Lightning hit a tree about a hundred yards from us and fell in the road. People were screaming! Then there was a torrential downpour and gusty wind. That was NOT on the forecast. None of it was. The forecasts used to be pretty good. Last summer there were tornados in the forecast so I stayed home, then I got a tornado warning, got to my basement, and 2 big trees fell on my house and me and my pets were fine. Thank you feds for doing great in 2024.
Maybe you could go on KMOX with this same message to get your voice out to the public. It needs to be out there not just on a substak that Maybe only a few of us see!!!
They don’t know I exist
Fred, first I'm extending my sympathy- I guess is an ok word, to you and to The People of St. Louis. It is heartbreaking to know of the disaster and plight you describe, this overnight tragedy in your city.
Your offering a more complete context regarding what has been, what is now, and, what the city can anticipate in terms of relief and recovery from the elected 'leaders' at state and federal levels increases our awareness, and, I hope, activate more immediate support. May that be so.
You know St. Louis is not alone. Regardless of problems within the system, Federal assistance in these times is so critical. Excellent weather monitoring IS possible. The devastating bottomline truth that We, The People, see more clearly every single day is: There is little to no advocacy for us from this craven administration, its inept cabinet, and fearful/ deceitful/ disinformed minions. This is fact beyond doubt, beyond disgrace - unconstitutional, immoral, and just disgustingly mean-spirited.
So many of us are standing up and speaking out because the democratic principle that every person matters - is assaulted at its foundations as never before, and, yes, because the facts hit us where we hurt.
The People must continue to act - in order to prevail, and to preserve the Constitution and the spirit it tries to embody. Let us each do what we can to stand for each other and our basic human rights, and for a More Perfect Union!
ACT. 5 calls. Indivisible. Democracy forward. Democracy Docket. Chop wood,carry water....
Mr Wellman, I am so sorry that this dreadful weather event has been visited upon your community.
I grew up in Tornado Alley Central Oklahoma and have no problem imagining the situation you are facing, having experienced the Summer 1974 Tulsa, OK destruction.
I am glad that you chose to warn the rest of the U.S. Public here in your Substack. That way no one can say that s/he was not advised, in no uncertain terms, what was being visited upon your community and will be visited upon any other community that does not wake up--talk about needing to be "woke"--and fight the people who are ready, willing, able, and in-the-process of crushing her/his community as we type.
I live in Oregon. Terrified for the potential ‘fire season’ followed by the rains that could come.
We MUST take our country back from this ‘administration’.
Until people connect the dots that Republicans will destroy every vestige of support and assistance for the 90%...we'll continue to reenact Groundhog Day.
Missouri continually votes for Republican supermajorities, while overwhelmingly supporting progressive ballot measures.
Even if voters despise Democrats, at some point, will they connect the dots, or will they continue to make their votes irrelevant?
The shear ignorance of how government works to help people and how that affects everyone's quality of life, by the GOP's culture warriors and the billionaire owned major media talking heads is appalling. They are so fixated on unimportant matters of performative politics while their constituents are suffering from their inability to govern effectively and all the while they keep sending these culture warriors back to DC to work against their own interests. Sinclair Media and the Heritage Foundation is trying to set off the distopian prophecy that their sacred book has promised them and all the while on Earth one no matter how many times we warned them of the consequences they just keep making the same mistakes. We are in the midst of a hostile takeover of our government processes by people who think some magic man in the sky will come down to only rescue them from.
So far beyond anger and frustration this Republican party is lost, gone completely un-American, exactly why I quit the party. Any party that would knowingly suck up to the likes of un-American Donald trump, who is clearly out of synchronization of caring for anyone or anything. Except power and adulation.
I'm so sorry. Here in Indiana we are used to a trail of tornados. However, I have noticed beginning in late spring the warnings are sparse. I suspected orange weatherman was responsible. I knew there'd be no FEMA. That's horrible. The tornado was supposed to hit us last night, but stayed south. It really tore up towns in central Kentucky. There were 30 killed and more suspected once clean up starts. No help for those poor folks either. We don't have a government anymore, we have a tyranny. They still want more from those who have none to give to those who have everything.
I hope your recovery will go quickly and the damage manageable. Take care.
I am sorry for the circumstances you are in. Those repubs are horrid.
Thank you for this info.
The first thing I thought of when I heard about your weather event was , I’ll bet FEMA won’t be there for them. This is all so tragic, cruel and predictable. I think we all got too comfortable, and distracted, to pay attention to who is running the show at home. Check out your local politicians! And school boards. We are about to lose public education.
I’m so sorry.
Excellent Piece Fred. We were spared here in Vienna.
I've been preparing my mom's home for a disaster. In my lifetime I went through 3 major earthquakes, tornado and 2 major hurricanes. Bridge collapse and road blockage, power loss and home destroyed.
I'm now inspired to get into community planning.
It's all on us as individuals right now.