vox--2020-10-22--What we know about Iran and the threatening “Proud Boys” emails

What may be the clearest indication yet of foreign election interference came to light this week when people across the country reported receiving threatening emails ordering them to vote for President Trump .
Though many emails appeared to come from a violent group of Trump supporters , the FBI and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said in a Wednesday press conference that Iran was likely behind them .
But they offered few details as to how they came to this conclusion , and Iran has denied any involvement .
This comes as voter intimidation tactics , foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Russia is believed to have its own plans to disrupt the presidential election , according to the New York Times , including hacking into government computer systems .
Trump has encouraged his followers to serve as poll watchers , and there are reports that his supporters are congregating just outside buffer zones around polling locations .
All this comes on top of fears that disinformation spread across social media will proliferate in this election as it has in previous years .
What we know about the emails On Monday and Tuesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states , including but not limited to Alaska and Florida , received threatening emails ordering them to vote for Trump or “ we will come after you.
” Some of the emails contained the recipient ’ s personal information , and many came from an address that appeared to be linked to the Proud Boys , a far-right extremist group of so-called “ western chauvinists.
” The group recently received attention after Trump refused to disavow white supremacy during the first presidential debate and said , “ Proud Boys , stand back and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he didn ’ t know anything about the Proud Boys and that they should “ stand down.
” ) Threats of violence against Democrats wouldn ’ t be completely out of character for the Proud Boys .
According to reports , some members are currently engaged in a campaign to “ watch ” polling stations across America , which has caused concern that their presence will intimidate voters .
Meanwhile , Proud Boys chairman Enrique Tarrio has denied having anything to do with the recent voter intimidation email campaign .
The emails do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ else .
The email address that appears as the sender , “ info @ officialproudboys.com , ” was spoofed , and the emails themselves came from servers in Estonia , Saudi Arabia , and the United Arab Emirates .
This doesn ’ t mean the emails came from those countries , just that they were routed through servers in those countries — in which case it would indicate that the senders were trying to obscure their true origin .
Indeed , intelligence officials now blame foreign actors for the campaign .
FBI Director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John Ratcliffe announced on Wednesday that Iran and Russia had obtained voter registration information and would be using it to interfere with the upcoming presidential election .
They offered few details but appeared to reference the emails attributed to the Proud Boys , though not by name .
Ratcliffe said Iran was sending “ spoofed emails designed to intimidate voters ” as well as videos that purported to show how to cast fraudulent ballots — which Ratcliffe said were untrue .
He added , “ This is not a partisan issue.
” It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump appointee , would step in so aggressively here when , per his claim , the alleged foreign interference was an attempt to “ damage President Trump.
” Since 2016 , when election security and preventing foreign interference took on an even greater significance , Republicans have traditionally blocked most attempts to prevent it .
Ratcliffe himself stopped doing election security briefings in August .
Trump is an outspoken opponent of any claims that Russia interfered with the 2016 election and has said little about any Russian efforts to meddle in 2020 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump administration is downplaying the threat of Russian interference and exaggerating the threat from China and Iran , which are believed to favor Biden .
For whatever it ’ s worth , Iran has denied it interfered with or had any plans to interfere with the election , saying that “ the highest level ” of the country was already doing so with its “ desperate public attempts to question the outcome of its own elections ” — likely alluding to Trump ’ s frequent attempts to spread disinformation about mail-in voting .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ — for now While it ’ s always alarming when a country is accused of voter intimidation and election interference , the little that is known about this attempt — Ratcliffe and Wray offered few details — points to an unsophisticated campaign .
Spoofing email addresses is relatively easy and common , a technique often used by scammers in phishing campaigns .
Voter registration information is publicly available ; political campaigns , for example , routinely obtain and use such lists , and your details may be available online , depending on which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those behind the campaign used to cover their tracks , it seems , couldn ’ t stand up to even two days ’ of investigation from government agencies .
Several news organizations quickly sussed out that the emails were likely not from the Proud Boys .
But that doesn ’ t mean the emails didn ’ t have their intended effect .
A threat accompanied by identifying information and a home address would be an understandably scary email for anyone to receive , no matter how unlikely it is that the threat would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s briefing , Wray urged the American public to view disinformation about voting infrastructure “ with a healthy dose of skepticism ” and encouraged everyone “ to seek election and voting information from reliable sources ” — specifically , state election officials .
“ We are standing before you now to give you the confidence that we are on top of this , and providing you with the most powerful weapon we have to combat these efforts : the truth , information , ” Ratcliffe said .
“ We ask every American to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who wish us harm .
The way you do that is quite simple : Do not allow these efforts to have their intended effect .
If you receive an intimidating or manipulative email in your inbox , don ’ t be alarmed and do not spread it.
” It seems that , in 2020 , voter disinformation and suppression won ’ t be limited to social media sites .
Open Sourced is made possible by Omidyar Network .
All Open Sourced content is editorially independent and produced by our journalists .
Will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
The United States is in the middle of one of the most consequential presidential elections of our lifetimes .
It ’ s essential that all Americans are able to access clear , concise information on what the outcome of the election could mean for their lives , and the lives of their families and communities .
That is our mission at Vox .
But our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources .
Even when the economy and the news advertising market recovers , your support will be a critical part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have already contributed , thank you .
If you haven ’ t , please consider helping everyone understand this presidential election : Contribute today from as little as $ 3 .

What may be the clearest indication yet of foreign election interference came to light this week when people across the country reported receiving threatening emails ordering them to vote for President Trump. Though many emails appeared to come from a violent group of Trump supporters, the FBI and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said in a Wednesday press conference that Iran was likely behind them. But they offered few details as to how they came to this conclusion, and Iran has denied any involvement.
This comes as voter intimidation tactics, foreign and domestic, are of growing concern. Russia is believed to have its own plans to disrupt the presidential election, according to the New York Times, including hacking into government computer systems. Trump has encouraged his followers to serve as poll watchers, and there are reports that his supporters are congregating just outside buffer zones around polling locations. All this comes on top of fears that disinformation spread across social media will proliferate in this election as it has in previous years.
What we know about the emails
On Monday and Tuesday, reports emerged that registered Democrats in several states, including but not limited to Alaska and Florida, received threatening emails ordering them to vote for Trump or “we will come after you.” Some of the emails contained the recipient’s personal information, and many came from an address that appeared to be linked to the Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group of so-called “western chauvinists.” The group recently received attention after Trump refused to disavow white supremacy during the first presidential debate and said, “Proud Boys, stand back and stand by.” (Trump later said he didn’t know anything about the Proud Boys and that they should “stand down.”)
Threats of violence against Democrats wouldn’t be completely out of character for the Proud Boys. According to reports, some members are currently engaged in a campaign to “watch” polling stations across America, which has caused concern that their presence will intimidate voters. Meanwhile, Proud Boys chairman Enrique Tarrio has denied having anything to do with the recent voter intimidation email campaign.
The emails do appear to be the work of someone else. The email address that appears as the sender, “info@officialproudboys.com,” was spoofed, and the emails themselves came from servers in Estonia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. This doesn’t mean the emails came from those countries, just that they were routed through servers in those countries — in which case it would indicate that the senders were trying to obscure their true origin.
Indeed, intelligence officials now blame foreign actors for the campaign. FBI Director Christopher Wray and Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe announced on Wednesday that Iran and Russia had obtained voter registration information and would be using it to interfere with the upcoming presidential election.
They offered few details but appeared to reference the emails attributed to the Proud Boys, though not by name. Ratcliffe said Iran was sending “spoofed emails designed to intimidate voters” as well as videos that purported to show how to cast fraudulent ballots — which Ratcliffe said were untrue. He added, “This is not a partisan issue.”
It’s interesting that Ratcliffe, a Trump appointee, would step in so aggressively here when, per his claim, the alleged foreign interference was an attempt to “damage President Trump.” Since 2016, when election security and preventing foreign interference took on an even greater significance, Republicans have traditionally blocked most attempts to prevent it. Ratcliffe himself stopped doing election security briefings in August. Trump is an outspoken opponent of any claims that Russia interfered with the 2016 election and has said little about any Russian efforts to meddle in 2020. There have also been allegations that the Trump administration is downplaying the threat of Russian interference and exaggerating the threat from China and Iran, which are believed to favor Biden.
For whatever it’s worth, Iran has denied it interfered with or had any plans to interfere with the election, saying that “the highest level” of the country was already doing so with its “desperate public attempts to question the outcome of its own elections” — likely alluding to Trump’s frequent attempts to spread disinformation about mail-in voting.
There’s little cause for concern — for now
While it’s always alarming when a country is accused of voter intimidation and election interference, the little that is known about this attempt — Ratcliffe and Wray offered few details — points to an unsophisticated campaign.
Spoofing email addresses is relatively easy and common, a technique often used by scammers in phishing campaigns. Voter registration information is publicly available; political campaigns, for example, routinely obtain and use such lists, and your details may be available online, depending on which state you live in. Whatever techniques those behind the campaign used to cover their tracks, it seems, couldn’t stand up to even two days’ of investigation from government agencies. Several news organizations quickly sussed out that the emails were likely not from the Proud Boys.
But that doesn’t mean the emails didn’t have their intended effect. A threat accompanied by identifying information and a home address would be an understandably scary email for anyone to receive, no matter how unlikely it is that the threat would be carried out.
At Wednesday’s briefing, Wray urged the American public to view disinformation about voting infrastructure “with a healthy dose of skepticism” and encouraged everyone “to seek election and voting information from reliable sources” — specifically, state election officials.
“We are standing before you now to give you the confidence that we are on top of this, and providing you with the most powerful weapon we have to combat these efforts: the truth, information,” Ratcliffe said. “We ask every American to do their part, to defend against those who wish us harm. The way you do that is quite simple: Do not allow these efforts to have their intended effect. If you receive an intimidating or manipulative email in your inbox, don’t be alarmed and do not spread it.”
It seems that, in 2020, voter disinformation and suppression won’t be limited to social media sites.
Open Sourced is made possible by Omidyar Network. All Open Sourced content is editorially independent and produced by our journalists.


vox--2020-10-22--A stranded oil tanker at risk of spilling in the Caribbean looks to be safe — for now

A stranded oil tanker many feared was on the verge of spilling 1.3 million barrels of crude oil into the Caribbean no longer poses a major environmental risk , Trinidad and Tobago ’ s government said Wednesday .
But despite the positive assessment , environmental activists and local experts still want the dual-island nation ’ s government to take proactive measures in case the worst actually happens .
The precarious situation of the Venezuela-flagged oil tanker , the FSO Nabarima , has concerned environmental activists and governments around the world for months .
The ship has been stranded in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ island of Trinidad since January 2019 , when President Donald Trump sanctioned Venezuela ’ s state-owned oil company , Petróleos de Venezuela ( PDVSA ) .
While the measure cut off revenue Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro uses to wield influence and stay in power , it also led PDVSA to abandon operations aboard the ship .
That essentially left the tanker to rot , fueling fears the oil on board might eventually spill into the waters below .
And if it did , the entire marine environment of the Caribbean and the Trinidad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ danger .
How the stranded vessel became a matter of international concern Concern for the status of the Nabarima began accelerating in mid-August .
During a conversation with a PDVSA union representative , local environmental nonprofit group Fishermen and Friends of the Sea ( FFOS ) was alerted that the FSO Nabarima was dangerously tilting and needed to be inspected , FFOS program director Lisa Premchand told me .
At the time , PDVSA workers were protesting poor working conditions .
FFOS immediately brought the issue to the attention of Trinidad and Tobago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minister .
After receiving no response , the group started a social media campaign and gave interviews to local news outlets .
In September , the New York Times reported that the Nabarima was at risk of sinking due to poor maintenance .
Ten days later , Trinidad and Tobago ’ s government announced it was awaiting permission from Venezuela to have a delegation board the ship and assess the danger of an oil spill .
Then , on October 16 , FFOS corporate secretary Gary Aboud went to see the Nabarima for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ titled at a 25-degree angle , Aboud called for swift action in a YouTube video that quickly gained global attention , including that of prominent environmental activist Greta Thunberg .
It ’ s unclear what direct impact the notoriety had on the governments of Trinidad and Tobago or Venezuela .
But four days after Aboud posted his video , Trinidadian Foreign Minister Amery Browne and Energy Minister Franklin Khan confirmed their government could finally board the Nabarima .
Somewhat surprisingly , what the three-person team found wasn ’ t that dire .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no visible tilt and there is no imminent risk of tilting or sinking , ” Khan told the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian on Wednesday , adding that the vessel “ poses minimum risk of an oil spill at this time.
” So , problem solved , right ?
Not exactly .
On Tuesday , Argus Media reported that PDVSA had started pumping oil from the Nabarima into another one of its ships , the Icaro .
But Khan , Trinidad ’ s energy minister , also told the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nabarima ’ s 1.3 million barrels at a time .
That means it ’ ll require several trips to rid the ship of all the oil on board , keeping the chances of an oil spill higher than zero until much of the load is gone .
That ’ s a problem , as Frank Teelucksingh , a physical oceanographer and director of Coastal Dynamics , a company that oversees environmental projects across Trinidad and Tobago , determined while conducting an oil-spill analysis in September .
“ If the vessel does turn over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we do not know exactly how much will be spilled , ” Teelucksingh told me .
“ Some might lie on the surface and be transferred away by surface currents and winds , whereas some might get into the water column , if the vessel sinks .
That would constitute a different distribution , and the oil moves differently as well.
” Teelucksingh suggested the government of Trinidad and Tobago get an accurate model up and running to gain a better sense of what an oil spill would actually look like .
Having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response more effective ; for example , it would have a better idea of where to position cleanup crews .
Further , booms — floating curtains made of plastic or other materials that serve as barriers to contain oil — could be used to encircle the vessel before it sinks , he said .
But because the Nabarima is a Venezuelan ship , Teelucksingh pointed out that placing a boom would be Venezuela ’ s responsibility , not Trinidad and Tobago ’ s .
Being prepared for a potential massive oil spill , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is vital .
The toxicity from an oil spill can kill many species due to a lack of oxygen .
That would devastate Trinidad and Tobago ’ s economy , which relies heavily on fishing , particularly in the exact waters the Nabarima is currently floating in .
That ’ s why local activists , including FFOS , are calling upon CARICOM , a coalition of Caribbean countries , to hold an emergency meeting to determine a joint response to the looming crisis .
Since the entire Caribbean Sea could be severely harmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they say the problem is one the entire region needs to solve together — now .
“ Rather than taking a reactive approach , take a proactive approach , ” said FFOS ’ s Premchand .
The fate of the FSO Nabarima and its remaining oil have yet to be determined .
It ’ s also unclear whether CARICOM will act , or if the situation will be left to Trinidad to handle .
But one thing is for sure : The potential for danger remains while the ship holds oil in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free for all Millions turn to Vox each month to understand what ’ s happening in the news , from the coronavirus crisis to a racial reckoning to what is , quite possibly , the most consequential presidential election of our lifetimes .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
But our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources .
Even when the economy and the news advertising market recovers , your support will be a critical part of sustaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already contributed , thank you .
If you haven ’ t , please consider helping everyone make sense of an increasingly chaotic world : Contribute today from as little as $ 3 .

A stranded oil tanker many feared was on the verge of spilling 1.3 million barrels of crude oil into the Caribbean no longer poses a major environmental risk, Trinidad and Tobago’s government said Wednesday.
But despite the positive assessment, environmental activists and local experts still want the dual-island nation’s government to take proactive measures in case the worst actually happens.
The precarious situation of the Venezuela-flagged oil tanker, the FSO Nabarima, has concerned environmental activists and governments around the world for months. The ship has been stranded in the Gulf of Paria between Venezuela and the island of Trinidad since January 2019, when President Donald Trump sanctioned Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA).
While the measure cut off revenue Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro uses to wield influence and stay in power, it also led PDVSA to abandon operations aboard the ship.
That essentially left the tanker to rot, fueling fears the oil on board might eventually spill into the waters below. And if it did, the entire marine environment of the Caribbean and the Trinidad and Tobago fishing industry could be in danger.
How the stranded vessel became a matter of international concern
Concern for the status of the Nabarima began accelerating in mid-August.
During a conversation with a PDVSA union representative, local environmental nonprofit group Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) was alerted that the FSO Nabarima was dangerously tilting and needed to be inspected, FFOS program director Lisa Premchand told me. At the time, PDVSA workers were protesting poor working conditions.
FFOS immediately brought the issue to the attention of Trinidad and Tobago’s government, including the prime minister. After receiving no response, the group started a social media campaign and gave interviews to local news outlets.
Word of the distressed tanker spread.
In September, the New York Times reported that the Nabarima was at risk of sinking due to poor maintenance. Ten days later, Trinidad and Tobago’s government announced it was awaiting permission from Venezuela to have a delegation board the ship and assess the danger of an oil spill.
Then, on October 16, FFOS corporate secretary Gary Aboud went to see the Nabarima for himself. After noticing the ship was titled at a 25-degree angle, Aboud called for swift action in a YouTube video that quickly gained global attention, including that of prominent environmental activist Greta Thunberg.
It’s unclear what direct impact the notoriety had on the governments of Trinidad and Tobago or Venezuela. But four days after Aboud posted his video, Trinidadian Foreign Minister Amery Browne and Energy Minister Franklin Khan confirmed their government could finally board the Nabarima.
Somewhat surprisingly, what the three-person team found wasn’t that dire. The Nabarima “is upright and stable with no visible tilt and there is no imminent risk of tilting or sinking,” Khan told the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian on Wednesday, adding that the vessel “poses minimum risk of an oil spill at this time.”
So, problem solved, right? Not exactly.
Local activists and experts emphasize a proactive approach
On Tuesday, Argus Media reported that PDVSA had started pumping oil from the Nabarima into another one of its ships, the Icaro.
But Khan, Trinidad’s energy minister, also told the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian the Icaro could transfer only 25 percent of Nabarima’s 1.3 million barrels at a time. That means it’ll require several trips to rid the ship of all the oil on board, keeping the chances of an oil spill higher than zero until much of the load is gone.
That’s a problem, as Frank Teelucksingh, a physical oceanographer and director of Coastal Dynamics, a company that oversees environmental projects across Trinidad and Tobago, determined while conducting an oil-spill analysis in September.
“If the vessel does turn over or crack or spill its contents, we do not know exactly how much will be spilled,” Teelucksingh told me. “Some might lie on the surface and be transferred away by surface currents and winds, whereas some might get into the water column, if the vessel sinks. That would constitute a different distribution, and the oil moves differently as well.”
Teelucksingh suggested the government of Trinidad and Tobago get an accurate model up and running to gain a better sense of what an oil spill would actually look like. Having that would make the nation’s response more effective; for example, it would have a better idea of where to position cleanup crews. Further, booms — floating curtains made of plastic or other materials that serve as barriers to contain oil — could be used to encircle the vessel before it sinks, he said.
But because the Nabarima is a Venezuelan ship, Teelucksingh pointed out that placing a boom would be Venezuela’s responsibility, not Trinidad and Tobago’s.
Being prepared for a potential massive oil spill, no matter how little the risk, is vital. The toxicity from an oil spill can kill many species due to a lack of oxygen. That would devastate Trinidad and Tobago’s economy, which relies heavily on fishing, particularly in the exact waters the Nabarima is currently floating in.
That’s why local activists, including FFOS, are calling upon CARICOM, a coalition of Caribbean countries, to hold an emergency meeting to determine a joint response to the looming crisis. Since the entire Caribbean Sea could be severely harmed, impacting coastal communities and tourism, they say the problem is one the entire region needs to solve together — now.
“Rather than taking a reactive approach, take a proactive approach,” said FFOS’s Premchand.
The fate of the FSO Nabarima and its remaining oil have yet to be determined. It’s also unclear whether CARICOM will act, or if the situation will be left to Trinidad to handle. But one thing is for sure: The potential for danger remains while the ship holds oil in the Gulf of Paria.
ntribute today from as little as $3.


vox--2020-10-22--We asked Joe Biden’s campaign 6 key questions about his climate change plans

Election Day is closing in , and former Vice President Joe Biden has made climate change one of his signature issues .
His “ clean energy revolution and environmental justice ” plan would be the most ambitious and aggressive environmental agenda in US history if it were enacted .
Voters , especially young voters , also crave action on climate change .
Polling shows that a majority of Americans of all ages want all levels of government to address global warming , but it ’ s one of the highest priorities for young Democrats .
Last year , Vox asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to answer six questions about climate change .
Our questions stemmed from two key themes .
The first is that we wanted to know what candidates would do specifically with the powers of the presidency rather than their beliefs .
The second theme is that political power , not science , is the main limiting factor to action on climate change .
We wanted candidates to go beyond professing their belief in the science and talk about how they will shift the balance of power in government toward their positions .
( You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A lot has changed since then .
Biden is now the nominee , with California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate , and he has put out a more aggressive climate plan than what he had in 2019 .
The Covid-19 pandemic , meanwhile , continues to rage .
Millions are out of work .
More than 215,000 Americans are dead .
And Trump and Biden are slated to discuss climate change at the third presidential debate Thursday night .
With that in mind , we asked the Biden campaign to revisit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had shifted .
We posed a similar set of questions to the Trump campaign as well .
Courtney Parella , a spokesperson for the Trump campaign , didn ’ t answer the questions we sent but offered the following statement : 1 .
A president has only 100 days or so in which to pass a few key priorities .
Where does climate change fall on your list of priorities when you step into office ?
Because of President Trump ’ s failure to get control of the virus , we are in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump has no plan to combat the virus , and no plan to pull our economy out of a recession .
Biden has a plan for both , and his economic recovery agenda he will pursue immediately upon taking office is a plan to not only build back to the way things were before the virus or before President Trump — but back better .
“ Better ” means an economy designed to tackle the climate crisis .
When Trump thinks “ climate ” he thinks “ hoax.
” Biden thinks “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a jobs plan , at its core .
Last year , at the beginning of his campaign , he rolled out an ambitious plan to take immediate action on day one of his Administration to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement , lead the world in upping the ante of our climate ambitions , and put the U.S. an irreversible path to achieve net-zero emissions , economy-wide , by no later than 2050 .
This past summer , he released a second installment of his climate plan , scaled up to meet the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan will invest $ 2 trillion in clean energy and infrastructure over four years , creating millions of high-paying jobs with a choice to join a union .
He ’ ll put Americans back to work to accomplish important tasks such as manufacturing electric vehicles , plugging abandoned oil and gas wells , and retrofitting our offices and homes to be more energy efficient .
And he has set near-term sectoral targets , such as a carbon-free power sector by 2035 .
Biden recognizes that we are in a climate emergency and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the science demands by beginning to take action on day one of his Administration .
2 .
If Democrats win a narrow majority in the Senate , will you advocate for reforming or scrapping the filibuster ?
Vice President Biden is hopeful that he can get legislation passed without resorting to that .
3 .
If Republicans control one or both houses of Congress and legislation stalls , what executive actions are you prepared to take to reduce carbon emissions ?
On day one , President Biden will rejoin the Paris Climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world to meet the threat of climate change .
He will lead a major diplomatic effort to get every major country to ramp up the ambition of their domestic climate targets , including convening a climate world summit to directly engage the leaders of the major carbon-emitting nations of the world to persuade them to join the United States in making more ambitious national pledges , above and beyond the commitments they have already made .
He will make sure those commitments are transparent and enforceable , and stop countries from cheating by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power of example .
He will fully integrate climate change into our foreign policy and national security strategies , as well as our approach to trade .
Furthermore , President Biden will sign a series of new executive orders with unprecedented reach that put us on the right track to address our climate crisis .
These executive actions will focus on : • Requiring aggressive methane pollution limits for new oil and gas operations .
• Using the Federal government procurement system — which spends $ 500 billion every year — to drive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vehicles .
• Ensuring that all U.S. government installations , buildings , and facilities are more efficient and climate-ready , harnessing the purchasing power and supply chains to drive innovation .
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation — the fastest growing source of U.S. climate pollution — by preserving and implementing the existing Clean Air Act , and developing rigorous new fuel economy standards aimed at ensuring 100 % of new sales for light- and medium-duty vehicles will be electrified and annual improvements for heavy duty vehicles .
• Doubling down on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which make agriculture a key part of the solution to climate change .
Advanced biofuels are now closer than ever as we begin to build the first plants for biofuels , creating jobs and new solutions to reduce emissions in planes , ocean-going vessels , and more .
• Saving consumers money and reduce emissions through new , aggressive appliance- and building-efficiency standards .
• Committing that every federal infrastructure investment should reduce climate pollution , and require any federal permitting decision to consider the effects of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate risks and the greenhouse gas emissions in their operations and supply chains .
• Protecting biodiversity , slowing extinction rates and helping leverage natural climate solutions by conserving 30 % of America ’ s lands and waters by 2030 .
• Protecting America ’ s natural treasures by permanently protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other areas impacted by President Trump ’ s attack on federal lands and waters , establishing national parks and monuments that reflect America ’ s natural heritage , banning new oil and gas permitting on public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ account for climate costs , and establishing targeted programs to enhance reforestation and develop renewables on federal lands and waters with the goal of doubling offshore wind by 2030 .
4 .
Some communities are more vulnerable to climate change than others .
Some communities depend on fossil fuel industries more than others .
What will you do to ensure that vulnerable communities are protected during the transition to clean energy ?
Vice President Biden will commit our country to fulfilling our obligation to all workers impacted by a shift in energy sources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including establishing a Task Force , as the Obama-Biden Administration did for Detroit when the auto industry was in turmoil .
Biden also understands how vulnerable communities — particularly communities of color , tribal lands , and low-income communities — are disproportionately impacted by the climate emergency and pollution .
Throughout every aspect of Biden ’ s plan to rebuild a resilient infrastructure and sustainable , clean energy economy , he will prioritize addressing historic , environmental injustice .
Biden has a comprehensive environmental justice plan , which includes : • Setting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of overall benefits of spending in the areas of clean energy and energy efficiency deployment ; clean transit and transportation ; affordable and sustainable housing ; training and workforce development ; remediation and reduction of legacy pollution ; and development of critical clean water infrastructure .
In addition , Biden will directly fund historic investments across federal agencies aimed at eliminating legacy pollution — especially in communities of color , rural and urban low-income communities , and tribal communities — and addressing common challenges faced by disadvantaged communities , such as funds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and lead paint in households , child care centers , and schools in order to ensure all communities have access to safe drinking water and wastewater infrastructure .
These investments will create good-paying jobs in frontline and fenceline communities .
• Creating a data-driven Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool to identify disadvantaged communities , from urban to rural to tribal communities – including those threatened by the cumulative stresses of climate change , economic distress , racial inequality , and multi-source environmental pollution .
With the power of data – combined with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pollutants , and toxics – Biden will enable agencies and the private sector to make investments in the rural , suburban , and urban communities that need them most .
In addition , Biden will instruct his Cabinet to prioritize climate change strategies and technologies that reduce traditional air pollution in the disadvantaged communities identified by the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool .
• Ensure that the Biden Administration prioritizes environmental justice issues and holds polluters accountable .
Biden will overhaul and update existing programs at the White House , the Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Agency in order to comprehensively address the most pressing , intersectional environmental justice issues and hold polluters accountable .
For example , Biden will ensure that frontline and fenceline communities are at the table when enforcement , remediation , and investment decisions affecting those communities are made .
Biden will ensure working groups on these issues report directly into the White House , so that communities facing the dual threat of environmental and economic burdens have access to the highest levels of the Biden Administration .
And , Biden will establish a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice Department , as proposed by Governor Inslee , to complement the work of the Environment and Natural Resources Division and hold polluters accountable .
5 .
Right now there ’ s a nationwide push to hold fossil fuel companies accountable via lawsuits , shareholder resolutions , and divestment for their contributions to climate change and campaigns to mislead the public .
Do you support these efforts ?
What do you see at the government ’ s role in holding polluters accountable ?
The Biden Administration will take action against fossil fuel companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people and knowingly harm our environment and poison our communities ’ air , land , and water , or conceal information regarding potential environmental and health risks .
As president , Biden will hold polluters accountable .
Plain and simple .
Under the Trump Administration , the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) has referred the fewest number of criminal anti-pollution cases to the Justice Department in 30 years .
Allowing corporations to continue to pollute – affecting the health and safety of both their workers and surrounding communities – without consequences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden will direct his EPA and Justice Department to pursue these cases to the fullest extent permitted by law and , when needed , seek additional legislation as needed to hold corporate executives personally accountable – including jail time where merited .
Biden will also hold companies accountable for the environmental damage of their operations , including by clawing back golden parachutes and executive bonuses for companies that shift the environmental burdens of their actions onto taxpayers .
Biden will overhaul and update existing programs at the White House , the Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in order to comprehensively address the most pressing , intersectional environmental justice issues and hold polluters accountable .
For example , Biden will ensure that frontline and fenceline communities are at the table when enforcement , remediation , and investment decisions affecting those communities are made .
Biden will ensure working groups on these issues report directly into the White House , so that communities facing the dual threat of environmental and economic burdens have access to the highest levels of the Biden Administration .
And , Biden will establish a new Environmental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department , as proposed by Governor Inslee , to complement the work of the Environment and Natural Resources Division and hold polluters accountable .
6 .
The Pentagon has called climate change a “ threat multiplier ” in international conflict .
At the same time , climate change stands to have the worst impacts on countries that contributed least to the problem .
How should the US brace for global climate chaos ?
And what will you do to help other countries prepare for the impending disruption ?
To address our defense and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate change poses to global stability and security , Biden will elevate climate change as a national security priority .
Specifically , he will : • Commission a National Intelligence Estimate on national and economic security impacts from climate change , including water scarcity , increased risks of conflict , impacts on state fragility , and the security implications of resulting large-scale migrations .
• Direct the Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to report to him annually on the impacts of climate change on defense posture , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as the Defense Department ’ s strategy to manage those impacts .
• Direct the National Security Advisor , working with the Secretaries of Defense , State , Homeland Security , and others , to develop a comprehensive strategy to address the security implications of climate change .
• Invest in the climate resilience of our military bases and critical security infrastructure across the U.S. and around the world , to deal with the risk of climate change effects , including extreme weather events that caused over $ 8 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in just the last year or two .
Biden will direct the Secretaries of Defense and Energy to develop specific inventories of the most acute vulnerabilities in our critical infrastructure due to climate change , and prioritize upgrades , hardening , and resilience investments to mitigate them .
In addition , Biden will recommit the United States to the Green Climate Fund , fulfilling America ’ s pledge and enhancing our security by helping developing countries better manage the adverse effects of climate change , including conflict , migration , and state fragility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international financial institutions to pursue shared debt relief for countries provided that they use those funds for climate-friendly development .
As president , Biden will rejoin the Paris Agreement .
But simply rejoining is not enough .
Biden will use every tool of American foreign policy to push the rest of the world to raise their ambitions alongside the United States .
Part of this effort includes providing “ green debt relief ” for developing countries that make climate commitments .
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The United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most consequential presidential elections of our lifetimes .
It ’ s essential that all Americans are able to access clear , concise information on what the outcome of the election could mean for their lives , and the lives of their families and communities .
That is our mission at Vox .
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Election Day is closing in, and former Vice President Joe Biden has made climate change one of his signature issues. His “clean energy revolution and environmental justice” plan would be the most ambitious and aggressive environmental agenda in US history if it were enacted.
Voters, especially young voters, also crave action on climate change. Polling shows that a majority of Americans of all ages want all levels of government to address global warming, but it’s one of the highest priorities for young Democrats.
The single best way to increase enthusiasm for Biden among young voters is to talk about his climate plan. 41% of less motivated voters said thy were much more motivated to vote after hearing about Biden's bold climate stance. https://t.co/qNwIz0BHSx — Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) October 14, 2020
Last year, Vox asked every Democratic presidential campaign at the time to answer six questions about climate change.
Our questions stemmed from two key themes. The first is that we wanted to know what candidates would do specifically with the powers of the presidency rather than their beliefs. The second theme is that political power, not science, is the main limiting factor to action on climate change. We wanted candidates to go beyond professing their belief in the science and talk about how they will shift the balance of power in government toward their positions. (You can see their responses here).
Related Joe Biden has a chance to make history on climate change
A lot has changed since then. Biden is now the nominee, with California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate, and he has put out a more aggressive climate plan than what he had in 2019. The Covid-19 pandemic, meanwhile, continues to rage. Millions are out of work. More than 215,000 Americans are dead. And Trump and Biden are slated to discuss climate change at the third presidential debate Thursday night.
With that in mind, we asked the Biden campaign to revisit their responses to see if any priorities had shifted. We posed a similar set of questions to the Trump campaign as well. Courtney Parella, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign, didn’t answer the questions we sent but offered the following statement:
“Unlike Joe Biden, who is willing to sacrifice millions of US energy jobs to appease the radical left, President Trump and his administration are promoting both energy independence and environmental health through innovation. As President Trump is restoring our economy, creating energy independence, pursuing policies that encourage environmental protection, and delivering the Great American Comeback, Joe Biden’s radical version of the costly Green New Deal threatens to decimate jobs, increase taxes, and heavily increase American reliance on foreign energy sources. We need a leader who will safely unleash our nation’s energy potential, not stifle America’s growth – that’s President Trump.”
The responses provided by Biden campaign’s press secretary, Jamal Brown, follow:
1. A president has only 100 days or so in which to pass a few key priorities. Where does climate change fall on your list of priorities when you step into office?
Because of President Trump’s failure to get control of the virus, we are in the midst of a serious economic recession. Trump has no plan to combat the virus, and no plan to pull our economy out of a recession.
Biden has a plan for both, and his economic recovery agenda he will pursue immediately upon taking office is a plan to not only build back to the way things were before the virus or before President Trump — but back better. “Better” means an economy designed to tackle the climate crisis.
When Trump thinks “climate” he thinks “hoax.” Biden thinks “jobs.” Biden’s climate plan is a jobs plan, at its core. Last year, at the beginning of his campaign, he rolled out an ambitious plan to take immediate action on day one of his Administration to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement, lead the world in upping the ante of our climate ambitions, and put the U.S. an irreversible path to achieve net-zero emissions, economy-wide, by no later than 2050.
This past summer, he released a second installment of his climate plan, scaled up to meet the moment — an economic crisis. His plan will invest $2 trillion in clean energy and infrastructure over four years, creating millions of high-paying jobs with a choice to join a union. He’ll put Americans back to work to accomplish important tasks such as manufacturing electric vehicles, plugging abandoned oil and gas wells, and retrofitting our offices and homes to be more energy efficient. And he has set near-term sectoral targets, such as a carbon-free power sector by 2035.
Biden recognizes that we are in a climate emergency and he will meet the crisis with the urgency that the science demands by beginning to take action on day one of his Administration.
2. If Democrats win a narrow majority in the Senate, will you advocate for reforming or scrapping the filibuster?
Vice President Biden is hopeful that he can get legislation passed without resorting to that.
3. If Republicans control one or both houses of Congress and legislation stalls, what executive actions are you prepared to take to reduce carbon emissions?
On day one, President Biden will rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement and rally the rest of the world to meet the threat of climate change. He will lead a major diplomatic effort to get every major country to ramp up the ambition of their domestic climate targets, including convening a climate world summit to directly engage the leaders of the major carbon-emitting nations of the world to persuade them to join the United States in making more ambitious national pledges, above and beyond the commitments they have already made.
He will make sure those commitments are transparent and enforceable, and stop countries from cheating by using America’s economic leverage and power of example. He will fully integrate climate change into our foreign policy and national security strategies, as well as our approach to trade.
Furthermore, President Biden will sign a series of new executive orders with unprecedented reach that put us on the right track to address our climate crisis. These executive actions will focus on:
Requiring aggressive methane pollution limits for new oil and gas operations.
Using the Federal government procurement system — which spends $500 billion every year — to drive towards 100% clean energy and zero-emissions vehicles.
Ensuring that all U.S. government installations, buildings, and facilities are more efficient and climate-ready, harnessing the purchasing power and supply chains to drive innovation.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation — the fastest growing source of U.S. climate pollution — by preserving and implementing the existing Clean Air Act, and developing rigorous new fuel economy standards aimed at ensuring 100% of new sales for light- and medium-duty vehicles will be electrified and annual improvements for heavy duty vehicles.
Doubling down on the liquid fuels of the future, which make agriculture a key part of the solution to climate change. Advanced biofuels are now closer than ever as we begin to build the first plants for biofuels, creating jobs and new solutions to reduce emissions in planes, ocean-going vessels, and more.
Saving consumers money and reduce emissions through new, aggressive appliance- and building-efficiency standards.
Committing that every federal infrastructure investment should reduce climate pollution, and require any federal permitting decision to consider the effects of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
Requiring public companies to disclose climate risks and the greenhouse gas emissions in their operations and supply chains.
Protecting biodiversity, slowing extinction rates and helping leverage natural climate solutions by conserving 30% of America’s lands and waters by 2030.
Protecting America’s natural treasures by permanently protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other areas impacted by President Trump’s attack on federal lands and waters, establishing national parks and monuments that reflect America’s natural heritage, banning new oil and gas permitting on public lands and waters, modifying royalties to account for climate costs, and establishing targeted programs to enhance reforestation and develop renewables on federal lands and waters with the goal of doubling offshore wind by 2030.
4. Some communities are more vulnerable to climate change than others. Some communities depend on fossil fuel industries more than others. What will you do to ensure that vulnerable communities are protected during the transition to clean energy?
Vice President Biden will commit our country to fulfilling our obligation to all workers impacted by a shift in energy sources, like coal miners and their communities, including establishing a Task Force, as the Obama-Biden Administration did for Detroit when the auto industry was in turmoil.
Biden also understands how vulnerable communities — particularly communities of color, tribal lands, and low-income communities — are disproportionately impacted by the climate emergency and pollution.
Throughout every aspect of Biden’s plan to rebuild a resilient infrastructure and sustainable, clean energy economy, he will prioritize addressing historic, environmental injustice. Biden has a comprehensive environmental justice plan, which includes:
Setting a goal that disadvantaged communities receive 40% of overall benefits of spending in the areas of clean energy and energy efficiency deployment; clean transit and transportation; affordable and sustainable housing; training and workforce development; remediation and reduction of legacy pollution; and development of critical clean water infrastructure. In addition, Biden will directly fund historic investments across federal agencies aimed at eliminating legacy pollution — especially in communities of color, rural and urban low-income communities, and tribal communities — and addressing common challenges faced by disadvantaged communities, such as funds for replacing and remediating lead service lines and lead paint in households, child care centers, and schools in order to ensure all communities have access to safe drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. These investments will create good-paying jobs in frontline and fenceline communities.
Creating a data-driven Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool to identify disadvantaged communities, from urban to rural to tribal communities – including those threatened by the cumulative stresses of climate change, economic distress, racial inequality, and multi-source environmental pollution. With the power of data – combined with enhanced monitoring of climate emissions, criteria pollutants, and toxics – Biden will enable agencies and the private sector to make investments in the rural, suburban, and urban communities that need them most. In addition, Biden will instruct his Cabinet to prioritize climate change strategies and technologies that reduce traditional air pollution in the disadvantaged communities identified by the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool.
Ensure that the Biden Administration prioritizes environmental justice issues and holds polluters accountable. Biden will overhaul and update existing programs at the White House, the Department of Justice, and the Environmental Protection Agency in order to comprehensively address the most pressing, intersectional environmental justice issues and hold polluters accountable. For example, Biden will ensure that frontline and fenceline communities are at the table when enforcement, remediation, and investment decisions affecting those communities are made. Biden will ensure working groups on these issues report directly into the White House, so that communities facing the dual threat of environmental and economic burdens have access to the highest levels of the Biden Administration. And, Biden will establish a new Environmental and Climate Justice Division within the Justice Department, as proposed by Governor Inslee, to complement the work of the Environment and Natural Resources Division and hold polluters accountable.
5. Right now there’s a nationwide push to hold fossil fuel companies accountable via lawsuits, shareholder resolutions, and divestment for their contributions to climate change and campaigns to mislead the public. Do you support these efforts? What do you see at the government’s role in holding polluters accountable?
The Biden Administration will take action against fossil fuel companies and other polluters who put profit over people and knowingly harm our environment and poison our communities’ air, land, and water, or conceal information regarding potential environmental and health risks.
As president, Biden will hold polluters accountable. Plain and simple. Under the Trump Administration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has referred the fewest number of criminal anti-pollution cases to the Justice Department in 30 years. Allowing corporations to continue to pollute – affecting the health and safety of both their workers and surrounding communities – without consequences perpetuates an egregious abuse of power. Biden will direct his EPA and Justice Department to pursue these cases to the fullest extent permitted by law and, when needed, seek additional legislation as needed to hold corporate executives personally accountable – including jail time where merited.
Biden will also hold companies accountable for the environmental damage of their operations, including by clawing back golden parachutes and executive bonuses for companies that shift the environmental burdens of their actions onto taxpayers.
Biden will overhaul and update existing programs at the White House, the Department of Justice, and the Environmental Protection Agency in order to comprehensively address the most pressing, intersectional environmental justice issues and hold polluters accountable. For example, Biden will ensure that frontline and fenceline communities are at the table when enforcement, remediation, and investment decisions affecting those communities are made. Biden will ensure working groups on these issues report directly into the White House, so that communities facing the dual threat of environmental and economic burdens have access to the highest levels of the Biden Administration. And, Biden will establish a new Environmental and Climate Justice Division within the Justice Department, as proposed by Governor Inslee, to complement the work of the Environment and Natural Resources Division and hold polluters accountable.
6. The Pentagon has called climate change a “threat multiplier” in international conflict. At the same time, climate change stands to have the worst impacts on countries that contributed least to the problem. How should the US brace for global climate chaos? And what will you do to help other countries prepare for the impending disruption?
To address our defense and intelligence leaders’ warnings about the threats climate change poses to global stability and security, Biden will elevate climate change as a national security priority. Specifically, he will:
Commission a National Intelligence Estimate on national and economic security impacts from climate change, including water scarcity, increased risks of conflict, impacts on state fragility, and the security implications of resulting large-scale migrations.
Direct the Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to report to him annually on the impacts of climate change on defense posture, readiness, infrastructure, and threat picture, as well as the Defense Department’s strategy to manage those impacts.
Direct the National Security Advisor, working with the Secretaries of Defense, State, Homeland Security, and others, to develop a comprehensive strategy to address the security implications of climate change.
Invest in the climate resilience of our military bases and critical security infrastructure across the U.S. and around the world, to deal with the risk of climate change effects, including extreme weather events that caused over $8 billion in damages to Department of Defense bases in just the last year or two. Biden will direct the Secretaries of Defense and Energy to develop specific inventories of the most acute vulnerabilities in our critical infrastructure due to climate change, and prioritize upgrades, hardening, and resilience investments to mitigate them.
In addition, Biden will recommit the United States to the Green Climate Fund, fulfilling America’s pledge and enhancing our security by helping developing countries better manage the adverse effects of climate change, including conflict, migration, and state fragility. The U.S. will also work with international financial institutions to pursue shared debt relief for countries provided that they use those funds for climate-friendly development.
As president, Biden will rejoin the Paris Agreement. But simply rejoining is not enough. Biden will use every tool of American foreign policy to push the rest of the world to raise their ambitions alongside the United States. Part of this effort includes providing “green debt relief” for developing countries that make climate commitments.


vox--2020-10-22--Why did Trump think publishing his 60 Minutes interview footage was a good idea?

On Thursday , President Donald Trump went ahead and preemptively published the footage of his interview with Lesley Stahl that will air on 60 Minutes this weekend .
It ’ s hard to imagine how he thought doing so would reflect positively upon him .
Trump posted the Stahl interview footage on Facebook below a caption that read , “ Look at the bias , hatred and rudeness on behalf of 60 Minutes and CBS.
” Oddly , he compared Stahl ’ s performance favorably with the moderator of the upcoming final presidential debate , Kristen Welker , writing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Welker , is far worse !
# MAGA ” ( Trump has spent the better part of a week preemptively attacking Welker ) .
But if the idea is supposed to be that Stahl was trying to do a hit job on Trump , the footage doesn ’ t bear that out .
The video Trump posted begins with Stahl asking him , “ You ’ re okay with some tough questions ?
” You ’ d probably expect the president of the United States to say that ’ s no problem , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No , I ’ m not.
” “ You ’ re not okay with tough questions ?
” Stahl replied , incredulously .
Nearly 40 minutes later , the interview ended on a similar note , with Trump whining to Stahl that “ your first question was , ‘ this is going to be tough questions ’ ... but when you set up the interview , you didn ’ t say that .
You said , ‘ oh , let ’ s have a lovely interview.
’ And here ’ s what I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ask Joe Biden [ tough questions ] .
” Stahl replied by pointing out she hasn ’ t recently interviewed Joe Biden , but Trump admonished her that her opening statement “ is no way to talk.
” Seconds later he walked away from the interview in a huff .
Given all this , you ’ d probably think Stahl grilled Trump with a series of hard-hitting questions .
But the content of the interview consisted of Trump getting offended when Stahl made a number of obvious ( albeit unflattering for him ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the most basic of questions Perhaps the most substantial exchange of the interview came when Stahl asked Trump about his administration ’ s effort to get the Supreme Court to repeal the Affordable Care Act during a pandemic that has made having access to health care more important than ever .
Stahl pointed out the obvious — that Trump has for years been promising a replacement plan for the ACA that still hasn ’ t materialized — but Trump replied by insisting that his plan is “ going to be announced very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soundbite , Trump admitted to Stahl that he hopes the Supreme Court overturns the ACA — a ruling that could cost more than 20 million people their health insurance .
“ I hope that they end it .
It ’ ll be so good if they end it , ” Trump said , in an exchange that seemed tailor-made for Joe Biden ads .
Perhaps in awareness that this part of the interview didn ’ t go well for him , on Wednesday the president tweeted photos of White House Press Secretary Kayleigh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meant to demonstrate “ the many things ” the administration has done on health care — as if the mere bulk of a stack of papers proves something rather than what ’ s actually written on it .
If Trump making stuff up to defend his ( lack of ) a health care plan was bad , his defense of holding pandemic rallies that make a mockery of basic public health guidelines was even worse .
When Stahl pointed out to him that many people at his rallies don ’ t wear masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked him about “ the message he is sending , ” Trump responded by insulting her and lying .
“ You know , you ’ re so negative ... these are the biggest rallies we have ever had , ” Trump said ( falsely ) , prompting Stahl to note , “ I can ’ t believe after what happened in the Rose Garden here at the announcement , with all of the people getting sick , that you are not being more strongly encouraging about wearing masks.
” “ What ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replied , trying to change the topic .
Perhaps Trump ’ s most brazen lie came when he insisted to Stahl that he hasn ’ t encouraged “ lock her up !
” chants at his recent rallies .
In fact , encouraging chants of that sort aimed at Hillary Clinton , Gretchen Whitmer , Ilhan Omar , and others has become a staple of Trump ’ s stump speeches .
Trump ’ s recent interviews with real journalists have uniformly been disasters The first indication the 60 Minutes interview didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , shortly after filming of it ended at the White House , when Trump posted a bizarre 5-second gotcha video to his Twitter account above a caption that read , “ Lesley Stahl of 60 Minutes not wearing a mask in the White House after her interview with me .
Much more to come.
” Shortly thereafter , news broke that Trump “ cut the interview short and then declined to participate in a ‘ walk and talk ’ segment with Ms. Stahl and Vice President Mike Pence , ” as the New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday , Trump tweeted , “ I am pleased to inform you that , for the sake of accuracy in reporting , I am considering posting my interview with Lesley Stahl of 60 Minutes , PRIOR TO AIRTIME !
This will be done so that everybody can get a glimpse of what a FAKE and BIASED interview is all about ... Everyone should compare this terrible Electoral Intrusion with the recent interviews of Sleepy Joe Biden !
” He also brought up the Stahl episode during a rally speech that night in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ echoes the president ’ s recent pattern of attacking debate moderators and other journalists for critical questions or coverage — some even before he ’ s interacted with them .
It also comes while Trump is making a concerted effort to discredit members of the media ranging from Stahl to Welker to Chris Wallace of Fox News .
He thinks any reporter he interacts with should fawn over him the way Sean Hannity or Brian Kilmeade does .
Whether we ’ re talking about his interactions with Jonathan Swan of Axios , Savannah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Fox News , Trump ’ s recent interviews with real journalists have uniformly been disasters .
He ’ s so immersed in the insular world of Fox News that he regards obvious truths ( “ why didn ’ t you develop a health plan ?
” ) as attacks on him .
For whatever reason , the session with Stahl seems to have sent Trump into an unusually drastic tailspin .
Some people will watch the footage he published and see a president who can ’ t deal with basic lines of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but Trump apparently views it as evidence that he ’ s beleaguered on all sides by people with an agenda who are out to get him .
Will you help keep Vox free for all ?
The United States is in the middle of one of the most consequential presidential elections of our lifetimes .
It ’ s essential that all Americans are able to access clear , concise information on what the outcome of the election could mean for their lives , and the lives of their families and communities .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources .
Even when the economy and the news advertising market recovers , your support will be a critical part of sustaining our resource-intensive work .
If you have already contributed , thank you .
If you haven ’ t , please consider helping everyone understand this presidential election : Contribute today from as little as $ 3 .

On Thursday, President Donald Trump went ahead and preemptively published the footage of his interview with Lesley Stahl that will air on 60 Minutes this weekend. It’s hard to imagine how he thought doing so would reflect positively upon him.
Trump posted the Stahl interview footage on Facebook below a caption that read, “Look at the bias, hatred and rudeness on behalf of 60 Minutes and CBS.” Oddly, he compared Stahl’s performance favorably with the moderator of the upcoming final presidential debate, Kristen Welker, writing, “Tonight’s anchor, Kristen Welker, is far worse! #MAGA” (Trump has spent the better part of a week preemptively attacking Welker).
But if the idea is supposed to be that Stahl was trying to do a hit job on Trump, the footage doesn’t bear that out. The video Trump posted begins with Stahl asking him, “You’re okay with some tough questions?” You’d probably expect the president of the United States to say that’s no problem, but instead, Trump said, “No, I’m not.”
“You’re not okay with tough questions?” Stahl replied, incredulously.
LESLEY STAHL: "You're okay with some tough questions?"
TRUMP: "No, I'm not."
STAHL: "You're not okay with tough questions?"
Trump thinks this looks *good* for him!!! pic.twitter.com/fhfPUnpFwn — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 22, 2020
Nearly 40 minutes later, the interview ended on a similar note, with Trump whining to Stahl that “your first question was, ‘this is going to be tough questions’ ... but when you set up the interview, you didn’t say that. You said, ‘oh, let’s have a lovely interview.’ And here’s what I do say: You don’t ask Joe Biden [tough questions].”
Stahl replied by pointing out she hasn’t recently interviewed Joe Biden, but Trump admonished her that her opening statement “is no way to talk.” Seconds later he walked away from the interview in a huff.
Trump's 60 Minutes interview with Lesley Stahl ended with him whining about her asking him tough questions and storming out in a huff pic.twitter.com/zuiwYpKnFb — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 22, 2020
Given all this, you’d probably think Stahl grilled Trump with a series of hard-hitting questions. But the content of the interview consisted of Trump getting offended when Stahl made a number of obvious (albeit unflattering for him) observations.
Trump is ill-equipped to deal with the most basic of questions
Perhaps the most substantial exchange of the interview came when Stahl asked Trump about his administration’s effort to get the Supreme Court to repeal the Affordable Care Act during a pandemic that has made having access to health care more important than ever.
Stahl pointed out the obvious — that Trump has for years been promising a replacement plan for the ACA that still hasn’t materialized — but Trump replied by insisting that his plan is “going to be announced very soon.”
"It's going to be announced very soon" — Trump is still out here touting his fake health care plan that he said would be announced in 2 weeks 3 months ago. Completely beyond parody. pic.twitter.com/UJuVbVTjcm — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 22, 2020
Later, in an unfortunate soundbite, Trump admitted to Stahl that he hopes the Supreme Court overturns the ACA — a ruling that could cost more than 20 million people their health insurance.
“I hope that they end it. It’ll be so good if they end it,” Trump said, in an exchange that seemed tailor-made for Joe Biden ads.
"I hope that they end it. It'll be so good if they end it." — here's Trump saying he hopes SCOTUS strikes down the ACA during a pandemic pic.twitter.com/1bTonnA2YJ — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 22, 2020
Perhaps in awareness that this part of the interview didn’t go well for him, on Wednesday the president tweeted photos of White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany presenting Stahl with reams of paper meant to demonstrate “the many things” the administration has done on health care — as if the mere bulk of a stack of papers proves something rather than what’s actually written on it.
Kayleigh McEnany presenting Lesley Stahl (@60Minutes) with some of the many things we’ve done for Healthcare. Lesley had no idea! pic.twitter.com/8bfIxkFiXt — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 21, 2020
If Trump making stuff up to defend his (lack of) a health care plan was bad, his defense of holding pandemic rallies that make a mockery of basic public health guidelines was even worse. When Stahl pointed out to him that many people at his rallies don’t wear masks and aren’t social distancing and asked him about “the message he is sending,” Trump responded by insulting her and lying.
“You know, you’re so negative ... these are the biggest rallies we have ever had,” Trump said (falsely), prompting Stahl to note, “I can’t believe after what happened in the Rose Garden here at the announcement, with all of the people getting sick, that you are not being more strongly encouraging about wearing masks.”
“What’s your next question?” Trump eventually replied, trying to change the topic.
Grilled by Stahl about the irresponsibility of holding huge rallies that make a mockery of public health precautions during a pandemic, Trump has no defense other than insulting her and lying pic.twitter.com/UowM4rRrjE — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 22, 2020
Perhaps Trump’s most brazen lie came when he insisted to Stahl that he hasn’t encouraged “lock her up!” chants at his recent rallies. In fact, encouraging chants of that sort aimed at Hillary Clinton, Gretchen Whitmer, Ilhan Omar, and others has become a staple of Trump’s stump speeches.
Trump to Lesley Stahl: "I don't encourage them" to say lock her up (re Hillary Clinton).
Plus: "When they say 'lock her up,' it's not me. They say it. ... I don't encourage it."
Now watch.
Who you going to believe. Trump or your own lying eyes? https://t.co/4j5koxYrFR — Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw) October 22, 2020
Trump’s recent interviews with real journalists have uniformly been disasters
The first indication the 60 Minutes interview didn’t go well for Trump came on Tuesday, shortly after filming of it ended at the White House, when Trump posted a bizarre 5-second gotcha video to his Twitter account above a caption that read, “Lesley Stahl of 60 Minutes not wearing a mask in the White House after her interview with me. Much more to come.”
Lesley Stahl of 60 Minutes not wearing a mask in the White House after her interview with me. Much more to come. pic.twitter.com/0plZG6a4fH — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 20, 2020
Shortly thereafter, news broke that Trump “cut the interview short and then declined to participate in a ‘walk and talk’ segment with Ms. Stahl and Vice President Mike Pence,” as the New York Times put it.
Then, on Wednesday, Trump tweeted, “I am pleased to inform you that, for the sake of accuracy in reporting, I am considering posting my interview with Lesley Stahl of 60 Minutes, PRIOR TO AIRTIME! This will be done so that everybody can get a glimpse of what a FAKE and BIASED interview is all about ... Everyone should compare this terrible Electoral Intrusion with the recent interviews of Sleepy Joe Biden!” He also brought up the Stahl episode during a rally speech that night in Erie, Pennsylvania.
"You have to watch what we do to 60 Minutes. You'll get such a kick of it. You're gonna get a kick out of it. Lesley Stahl is not gonna be happy." -- Trump pic.twitter.com/EPUcAL7uiA — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 20, 2020
That preemptive framing echoes the president’s recent pattern of attacking debate moderators and other journalists for critical questions or coverage — some even before he’s interacted with them. It also comes while Trump is making a concerted effort to discredit members of the media ranging from Stahl to Welker to Chris Wallace of Fox News. He thinks any reporter he interacts with should fawn over him the way Sean Hannity or Brian Kilmeade does.
Whether we’re talking about his interactions with Jonathan Swan of Axios, Savannah Guthrie of NBC, or Chris Wallace of Fox News, Trump’s recent interviews with real journalists have uniformly been disasters. He’s so immersed in the insular world of Fox News that he regards obvious truths (“why didn’t you develop a health plan?”) as attacks on him.
For whatever reason, the session with Stahl seems to have sent Trump into an unusually drastic tailspin. Some people will watch the footage he published and see a president who can’t deal with basic lines of questioning and is a world-historical whiner, but Trump apparently views it as evidence that he’s beleaguered on all sides by people with an agenda who are out to get him.


vox--2020-10-22--Colorado is fighting its largest wildfire in history. Other massive blazes are close behind.

The Cameron Peak Fire near Rocky Mountain National Park has become the largest wildfire in Colorado history , growing to almost 207,000 acres this week .
The fire was 55 percent contained as of Wednesday afternoon .
It was quickly joined this week by the East Troublesome Fire to its southwest .
Over a period of 24 hours , the East Troublesome Fire grew six times in size to more than 125,000 acres as of Thursday .
The blaze , which is burning at an elevation of 9,000 feet and across both sides of the continental divide , forced Rocky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s now the fourth-largest fire in Colorado history .
The previous record-holder before Cameron Peak was the 137,000-acre Pine Gulch Fire near Grand Junction , Colorado .
That fire also ignited this year and was declared 100 percent contained in September .
It only held on to its record as Colorado ’ s largest wildfire for seven weeks .
Three of the four largest wildfires in state history have ignited just since July .
Yet another fast-moving wildfire ignited in Boulder County on Saturday and quickly spread across almost 10,000 acres , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Known as the CalWood Fire , it ’ s now the largest wildfire on record for Boulder County .
Then on Sunday , the Lefthand Canyon Fire started just outside of Boulder .
Beyond the threat from the flames , these various wildfires have sent dangerous , smoky air into cities like Denver and Fort Collins , triggering air quality alerts off and on for months .
Together , the recent blazes in Colorado add up to an unusually long , late , and severe wildfire season , and it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The current fire season , it ’ s definitely a crazy one , ” said Chad Hoffman , an associate professor of fire science at Colorado State University .
“ We still have dry , windy conditions pushing these fires.
” Some unique weather conditions this year set the stage for Colorado ’ s blazes , but the threat from wildfires is growing across the state due to human development and climate change .
It ’ s an increasingly familiar story .
Like the epic wildfires this year across California , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Colorado arose amid a year of extreme heat and dryness .
Heat waves baked the state this summer and persisted into the fall .
The high temperatures increased the evaporation of moisture from vegetation , leaving plants dry and ready to burn .
There was also less rainfall .
Over the past month , precipitation was less than 10 percent of what is typical .
“ By the end of September , nearly 100 % of the state was experiencing some level of drought , up from 51 % since the beginning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Colorado Climate Center ’ s Monthly State of the Climate report .
The state is on track to have its second-driest year on record .
That aridity has left almost every type of vegetation in the state primed to burn , as was evident in the Cameron Peak Fire .
“ It burned all the way from fir forest , ponderosa pine , mixed conifer .
It ’ s burned through some grasslands and shrublands as well , ” Hoffman said .
“ It ’ s burned through areas that have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fire .
It ’ s burned through bark-beetle-affected areas .
So a really big mix of fuels that this fire has burned through over the last 60 days.
” It ’ s also uncommon to see fires this late in the year in Colorado .
Typically , winter precipitation starts to set in and cap fire seasons in the autumn .
This fits within the trend of fire seasons in Colorado getting longer .
Wildfires are a natural part of the landscape in the state , as they are in places farther west @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with and benefit from periodic fires .
However , humans have been making fire risks worse .
That ’ s in part due to climate change , which is changing weather patterns and driving some of the aridity in Colorado ’ s forests .
“ Our 2020 wildfire season is showing us that climate change is here and now in Colorado , ” said Jennifer Balch , director of the Earth Lab and an associate professor of geography at the University of Colorado Boulder , in an email .
“ Warming is setting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across an extended fire season.
” In particular , there has been a growth in late-season fires in Colorado .
The area burned by October fires over the past decade has tripled compared to the area burned between 1980 and 2000 .
“ We do see fall fire events in Colorado , related to fast , downslope winds .
But to see multiple events start this late , in the middle of October , is very rare , ” Balch said .
It ’ s also a function of more people living in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Colorado means we have more people in the woods , which leads potentially to more ignitions , ” Hoffman said .
The vast majority of wildfires in the United States have human causes , though in Colorado about half of fires in the state are ignited by lightning strikes .
The growing fire risk is also a consequence of more than a century of suppression of natural wildfires .
By putting out blazes , vegetation in the state has accumulated , so during periods of extreme dryness , there is much more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had more fires been allowed to proceed .
There are now efforts to reintroduce fire to the landscape , but vast swaths of the state need fuel reduction treatments , and the window for safely conducting measures like prescribed burns is shrinking as the climate warms .
“ We love our beautiful mountain landscapes to live and to recreate , ” Balch said .
“ But these beautiful landscapes are also flammable , and more flammable with climate change .
We need proactive solutions that manage our fuels in places where it matters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep Vox free for all Millions turn to Vox each month to understand what ’ s happening in the news , from the coronavirus crisis to a racial reckoning to what is , quite possibly , the most consequential presidential election of our lifetimes .
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Snowfall over the weekend gave firefighters in Colorado some some desperately needed relief as they worked to contain the two largest blazes in state history burning just ten miles apart. The cold snowy weather helped limit the growth of the infernos, but it also prevented fire crews from making progress in containing them.
The Cameron Peak Fire near Rocky Mountain National Park is now the largest wildfire in Colorado history, at almost 208,000 acres in size. The fire was 64 percent contained as of Monday morning.
It’s followed closely by the East Troublesome Fire to its southwest, which has now burned more than 192,000 acres and was 10 percent contained as of Monday. The blaze stunned forecasters last week when, over a period of 24 hours, it grew six times in size to more than 125,000 acres. The fire is burning at an elevation of 9,000 feet and across both sides of the continental divide. forced Rocky Mountain National Park to close. It’s now the second-largest fire in Colorado history.
The previous record-holder before Cameron Peak was the 137,000-acre Pine Gulch Fire near Grand Junction, Colorado. That fire also ignited this year and was declared 100 percent contained in September. It only held on to its record as Colorado’s largest wildfire for seven weeks. Three of the four largest wildfires in state history have ignited just since July.
Smaller blazes this year have set records too. The CalWood Fire became the largest wildfire in the history of Boulder County after igniting earlier this month. The fire burned 10,000 acres and was 76 percent contained by Monday.
Beyond the threat from the flames, these various wildfires have sent dangerous, smoky air into cities like Denver and Fort Collins, triggering air quality alerts off and on for months. The smoke from Colorado’s wildfires has even reached Europe.
Together, the recent blazes in Colorado add up to an unusually long, late, and severe wildfire season, and it’s not likely to let up anytime soon. “The current fire season, it’s definitely a crazy one,” said Chad Hoffman, an associate professor of fire science at Colorado State University. “We still have dry, windy conditions pushing these fires.”
Some unique weather conditions this year set the stage for Colorado’s blazes, but the threat from wildfires is growing across the state due to human development and climate change.
What’s fueling Colorado’s fires this year
It’s an increasingly familiar story. Like the epic wildfires this year across California, Oregon, and Washington, the wildfires in Colorado arose amid a year of extreme heat and dryness.
Heat waves baked the state this summer and persisted into the fall. The high temperatures increased the evaporation of moisture from vegetation, leaving plants dry and ready to burn. There was also less rainfall. Over the past month, precipitation was less than 10 percent of what is typical.
“By the end of September, nearly 100% of the state was experiencing some level of drought, up from 51% since the beginning of the calendar year,” according to the Colorado Climate Center’s Monthly State of the Climate report. The state is on track to have its second-driest year on record.
That aridity has left almost every type of vegetation in the state primed to burn, as was evident in the Cameron Peak Fire. “It burned all the way from fir forest, ponderosa pine, mixed conifer. It’s burned through some grasslands and shrublands as well,” Hoffman said. “It’s burned through areas that have previously burned, like during the Bobcat Fire. It’s burned through bark-beetle-affected areas. So a really big mix of fuels that this fire has burned through over the last 60 days.”
This afternoon's view of widespread wildfire activity in the Colorado Rockies.
This includes the large hot spot of the #EastTroublesomeFire. pic.twitter.com/6uUBB5A21Z — CIRA (@CIRA_CSU) October 22, 2020
It’s also uncommon to see fires this late in the year in Colorado. Typically, winter precipitation starts to set in and cap fire seasons in the autumn.
This fits within the trend of fire seasons in Colorado getting longer. Wildfires are a natural part of the landscape in the state, as they are in places farther west. Many woodlands have evolved to deal with and benefit from periodic fires.
However, humans have been making fire risks worse. That’s in part due to climate change, which is changing weather patterns and driving some of the aridity in Colorado’s forests.
“Our 2020 wildfire season is showing us that climate change is here and now in Colorado,” said Jennifer Balch, director of the Earth Lab and an associate professor of geography at the University of Colorado Boulder, in an email. “Warming is setting the stage for a lot of burning across an extended fire season.”
In particular, there has been a growth in late-season fires in Colorado. The area burned by October fires over the past decade has tripled compared to the area burned between 1980 and 2000. “We do see fall fire events in Colorado, related to fast, downslope winds. But to see multiple events start this late, in the middle of October, is very rare,” Balch said.
It’s also a function of more people living in high-risk areas. “The growing population in Colorado means we have more people in the woods, which leads potentially to more ignitions,” Hoffman said. The vast majority of wildfires in the United States have human causes, though in Colorado about half of fires in the state are ignited by lightning strikes.
The growing fire risk is also a consequence of more than a century of suppression of natural wildfires. By putting out blazes, vegetation in the state has accumulated, so during periods of extreme dryness, there is much more fuel to burn than there would be had more fires been allowed to proceed.
There are now efforts to reintroduce fire to the landscape, but vast swaths of the state need fuel reduction treatments, and the window for safely conducting measures like prescribed burns is shrinking as the climate warms.
This video gives a quick look into the types of wind conditions us and other firefighters on Cameron Peak experienced and have been experiencing over the duration of the #cameronpeakfire #cofire pic.twitter.com/8WDfE1reTc — COFirePrev&Control (@COStateFire) October 19, 2020
“We love our beautiful mountain landscapes to live and to recreate,” Balch said. “But these beautiful landscapes are also flammable, and more flammable with climate change. We need proactive solutions that manage our fuels in places where it matters most for ecosystems and people.”