President Trump has appointed fewer people with advanced science degrees to Senate-confirmable science and environment positions than his predecessor, according to an analysis by the AP. Just over 40% of Trump's nominees held advanced science degrees compared to more than 60% under Barack Obama.
A concern: Many of Trump's nominees that do have science degrees come from industry positions — for example in oil and gas companies — and are now embedded in the regulatory agencies that oversee those industries.
Another thing: Trump has left 23 Senate-confirmable positions — 35% of all science-related positions — vacant, including the post for the White House's top science advisor. At this point in his presidency, Barack Obama had filled 18 of those same vacancies.
Energy secretary Rick Perry tweeted the photo above from his weekend meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), the heir to the Saudi throne. Perry met Monday morning with King Salman.
His trip also included meetings with Energy minister Khalid al-Falih, Aramco CEO Amin Nasser Falih, and various U.S. companies operating in the region.
Why it matters: Perry's meeting and sunny photo op with the ascendant crown prince underscores the ongoing U.S.-Saudi alliance despite the competition between U.S. shale production and OPEC, which is grappling with how to respond to the reemergence of the U.S. as a global powerhouse in crude markets.
