Axios

Tropical Cyclone Fani is intensifying over the western Bay of Bengal, and it is forecast to hit somewhere between the Indian states of coastal Odisha and West Bengal as a potentially devastating Category 4 or greater storm as this weekend approaches.

Why it matters: Coastal India as well as neighboring Bangladesh are extraordinarily vulnerable to the range of hazards such storms bring, including high winds, storm surge flooding and inland flooding from heavy rainfall.

Steve Ballmer's USAFacts is out with its third annual report looking at the world through the eyes of government data. His nonprofit is founded on the belief that, armed with more details, voters will be able to make better decisions.

The bottom line: Rising federal deficits, soaring health care costs, lowering life expectancies, and rising fire suppression costs are among the report's main findings.

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett is getting involved in the high-stakes fight between Chevron and Occidental Petroleum to buy Anadarko Petroleum, CNBC reports.

Why it matters: The story notes that "Berkshire could make Occidental a more formidable suitor." Occidental is smaller than Chevron but is seeking to trump its bigger rival in the battle for Anadarko, which holds attractive acreage in the booming Permian Basin among other assets.

BP joined other oil giants in reporting lower Q1 profits as companies dealt with lower crude prices.

By the numbers: The U.K.-based multinational reported $2.36 billion in profits, down from $3.48 billion in the prior quarter and $2.59 billion during the same period last year.

Beto O'Rourke's first substantive policy plan is here, a $5 trillion proposal that aims for net-zero carbon emissions in the U.S. by 2050.

Why it matters: If plans are priorities, the hope and change candidate of 2020 has climate at the top of his list (He'll also need to ward off Pete Buttigieg). "It's also a sign that he wants to compete directly for the climate candidate mantle with Sen. Bernie Sanders as well as Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, who has made climate the centerpiece of his long-shot run," Axios' Ben Geman writes.

Cyclone Fani is growing in strength and moving slowly north toward the Bay of Bengal, where it threatens to turn into a fierce Category 3 or stronger storm before making landfall in northeastern India. After landfall, the storm may spread strong winds and heavy rains into neighboring Bangladesh.

Why it matters: The cyclone threatens to bring heavy rain, strong winds and storm surge flooding to the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal, and could parallel the coast for a time — making any wobble toward the east or west highly consequential for where it eventually comes ashore on or about May 3. The Bay of Bengal can support high intensity storms, and this region is extremely vulnerable to the range of hazards from tropical cyclones.

Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.), ranking member on the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, is tapping 2 veteran energy and climate officials to lead the GOP's work on the newly established panel, Axios has learned.

Driving the news: George David Banks, President Trump’s former international energy and climate adviser, will be chief strategist for Graves. Martin Hall, most recently a senior official at the trade group Business Roundtable and former executive with utility FirstEnergy Corp., will be staff director.

2020 Democratic candidate Beto O'Rourke revealed an ambitious $5 trillion climate change proposal Monday, and the former Texas congressman is taking an aggressive and detailed stance to aim for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Why it matters: This is O'Rourke's first major policy proposal, and it stakes out an aggressive position on tackling global warming through executive action and legislation. The plan is highly detailed and includes provisions related to making the country more resilient to extreme weather events.

President Trump told reporters on Friday that "gasoline prices are coming down. I called up OPEC. I said, 'You got to bring them down. You got to bring them down.' And gasoline is coming down.'"

• Later in the day Trump tweeted, "Spoke to Saudi Arabia and others about increasing oil flow."

But, but, but: The Wall Street Journal reports that Trump hasn't spoken with OPEC's secretary general or the oil minister with Saudi Arabia, OPEC's most powerful producer.

Anadarko Petroleum on Monday indicated that it may leave Chevron at the altar, and go with Occidental Petroleum's higher acquisition bid.

Why it matters: The multibillion dollar battle highlights how keen oil heavyweights are to bolster their position in booming Permian Basin, the lucrative shale region in Texas and New Mexico where all three companies are active.

SYDNEY, Australia — Technologies are proliferating here to enable renewables to provide energy long after the wind stopped blowing or the sun stopped shining.

Why it matters: Figuring out a way to store energy is essential to get huge amounts of electricity from wind and solar — a goal of the backers of the Green New Deal and a critical piece of the broader puzzle for tackling climate change.