Insanity | Grist

Garbage in, garbage out, journalists in between, all but useless

Treasury memo hysteria shows media incapable of screening out junk 0
Posted 1 month, 2 weeks ago
Is any piece of nonsense from right-wing opponents of clean energy policy too silly, too outrageous, to get its day in the national press spotlight? It would seem not.

Last week, CBS conservo-blogger Declan McCullagh breathlessly reported: "Obama Admin: Cap And Trade Could Cost Families $1,761 A Year." That figure spread like wildfire through right-wing blogs, then jumped to Glenn Beck, and eventually reached The Washington Post. Now Republican lawmakers are repeating it.

The number is completely and utterly misleading. At least in reference to current policy options, it's a lie. But now it's out there, forever part of conservative mythology and forever a "controversy" in the eyes of the establishment media. Is there any way it could have been stopped? Is there any way the next lie can be stopped?
Green Lantern can't save us now

Netroots Nation frustration and the impediments to progressive change 13
Posted 2 months, 3 weeks ago
I just returned from Netroots Nation, the yearly gathering of progressive bloggers, journalists, and activists. Last year, in Austin, the atmosphere was absolutely electric, with the election approaching and a clear sense of battle lines drawn, victory within reach. Also, lots of great parties. This year, at least from my limited perspective, the atmosphere was more muted, the panels less exciting, and the parties both fewer and less fun. The tone of the conference was, in part, related to a general frustration among progressives.
There is no above-it-all high enough to clear climate catastrophe

Gideon Rachman: Inability to prevent mass suffering and death a “dilemma for climate activists” 8
Posted 3 months, 1 week ago
I want to ask Rachman, and all the pundits who address climate politics: Do you believe the mainstream scientific consensus that climate change poses massive risks for humanity, and that urgent international action is necessary to reduce those risks? If not, say so, clearly. If so, then it's your fight too. You cannot stand on the sidelines.
Like splitting hairs with bald people

Sarah Palin, George Will, and Potemkin debates 21
Posted 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Debating climate policy with conservatives is a surreal exercise because, as a movement and as a party, conservatives do not believe anthropogenic climate change exists. But the mainstream media refuses to notice.
Congress is the problem 7
Posted 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Felix Salmon blogs at Reuters about the seeming exhaustion of Obama's political capital -- on both climate change and financial regulations, he just can't seem to get what he wants out of Congress.

I think Matt Yglesias and Ryan Avent both have the appropriate response: the problem here is not Obama, but Congress.
Who needs teeth when you've got cheap power?

West Virginia celebrates the blessings of a coal-based economy 27
Posted 5 months ago
West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin has declared coal the official state rock. Here are some suggestions of other ways he could celebrate the blessings coal brings.
Black Tide

Must-read new story on the Tennessee coal ash disaster and the myth of “clean coal” 4
Posted 5 months, 1 week ago
A blockbuster story in the new GQ takes a comprehensive look at the Tenn. coal ash disaster of last December and the mockery it makes of "clean coal." An early contender for Year's Best Journalism.
Contempt of Congress 0
Posted 5 months, 3 weeks ago
House GOP reveals its disdain for clean energy, livable climate with 450 planned amendments to Waxman-Markey and a more-of-the-same rehash of Cheney energy plan.
“A strong public consensus has emerged on the reality and severity of global warming, as well as on the need for federal action”

Mark Mellman must read on climate messaging: ecoAmerica “could hardly be more wrong” 0
Posted 5 months, 3 weeks ago
One of the world's top pollsters and messaging gurus bashes ecoAmerica's new survey results.
'Round the hamster wheel again

Cap-and-trade vs. carbon tax: a bird in hand is worth two on Alpha Centauri 8
Posted 6 months ago
The endless, fruitless debate over carbon pricing policies is back again. Herein, I settle it once and for all. Ahem.
Lowered expectations

Coal + CCS: not as expensive as other things! 1
Posted 6 months, 1 week ago
If I told you that my cross-over dribble was better than Stephen Hawking's, would you build an NBA franchise around me?
Pulp nonfiction ... ok I stole that headline from The Nation

U.S. government paying industry to pollute 2
Posted 7 months, 1 week ago
The U.S. government will pay the paper industry up to $8 billion this year to emit more carbon dioxide.
Notable quotable

Bachmann advocates revolution to save country from pricing externalities 0
Posted 7 months, 2 weeks ago
Coal is the enemy of the human remains 0
Posted 8 months ago
Lessons from cognitive dissonance theory for U.S. environmentalists 30
Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
Why cap-and-trade requires that Bangladesh evict radical Islamists 11
Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
Raising rates to afford cheap coal 0
Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
NYT breaks story on CO2 regulations ... after two years of Grist coverage 12
Posted 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Who will be the next victims? 6
Posted 10 months, 1 week ago
Up Shit Creek

Giant pond of coal ash escapes, floods Tennessee homes 5
Posted 10 months, 2 weeks ago