Retiring Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said on the Senate floor Monday that he believes climate change is real and that human emissions of greenhouse gases are a major cause — but that Democrats' "Green New Deal" is "so far out in left field that no one is going to take it seriously."
Why it matters: Alexander proposed a plan of his own called "The New Manhattan Project for Clean Energy," which argues that the United States' "extraordinary capacity for basic research" should be used to combat "10 Grand Challenges" in the next five years. Alexander said that meeting these challenges "would create breakthroughs in advanced nuclear reactors, natural gas, carbon capture, better batteries, greener buildings, electric vehicles, cheaper solar and fusion."
Recently released polling brings fresh evidence that young adult Americans are more worried about climate change than the overall adult population.
By the numbers: A Pew Research Center survey shows that 79% of adults aged 18–29 are very or fairly worried about climate change when they think about the future of the country. That's compared to 69% for adults as a whole. There's also a sharp partisan divide.
Donald J. Trump has twice gone to war with Democrats and most of the American media — and won both times, dramatically and consequentially.
The big picture: The one-two gut punch to his critics — first, beating Hillary Clinton, and now, vindication from Robert Mueller — won't just define his first term in office. It'll shape and sharpen his argument for re-election — and his war against the anti-Trump media.
Politicians and activists aren’t letting facts or details get in the way of a political messaging fight over climate change.
Why it matters: Washington isn’t known for nuance these days, but the lack of substance in the debate over the Green New Deal is extraordinary. What will it really cost? Will it hurt poor people or help them? There's little substance to tell us — but that won't stop everyone from fighting about it anyway.
