The Seattle Times ClimateLab stories are often sloppy and incorrect, with the article in today's paper a good example of poor journalism, with politicized, error-filled claims.
The headline on a front page story today asks whether "this story is a goodbye to the National Weather Service..."?
Then it describes a potentially last visit to the National Weather Service before Trump and MAGA
Haven't got the point yet? Then read into the story.
So the claim is that the Trump folks are closely following the Project 2025 document, which calls for ending NOAA and sending NWS forecast functions to the private sector.
Want it even clearer? The Seattle Times article then quotes an article in the Atlantic discussing "the MAGA plan to end free weather reports"
The essential problem with the story is that NONE OF IT IS TRUE.
False, unsupported claims, that are overtly pushing a partisan viewpoint.
Stronger words would be appropriate, but I will leave those to others.
Consider some facts.
Fact 2: No change in National Weather Service (NWS) products has been made or proposed.
Fact 3: President Trump explicitly denied that he follows Project 2020 plans and has explicitly rejected it.
Let me say this again....President Trump has explicitly stated he does not support Project 2025. He said it presents thoughts of the far right. NOT HIS.
Fact 4: The new head of the Department of Commerce (Howard Lutnick), the department to which NOAA and the NWS belong, has explicitly stated that he will not eliminate NOAA or the NWS.
Don't believe me? Check out this AXIOS article.
Lutnick stated he would maintain the NWS in his testimony in the U.S. Senate.
The Trump Administration Has Not Done Well So Far with NOAA/NWS
Cliff, Trump and Musk have clearly been cutting in an absolutely haphazard fashion, and much of it does follow the playbook of Project 2025, despite what Trump claimed before the election.
ReplyDeleteThat article is a nice profile of a bunch of folks at the NWS, championing the good work that they do, and a bit how they're understandably nervous about the cuts that they've been seeing elsewhere in the government, and if they're going to be next.
Nowhere does it say "last visit", as you italicized.
What actual portion of the article do you think is false? What specific quotes, that are actually in the article are wrong?
Chris...all of the Project 2025 material in the article is false. The administration has taken no action and has no plans to get rid of NOAA...facts matter..cliff
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DeleteTrump may have explicitly denied any connection to Project 2025, but he is following it like a playbook.
ReplyDeleteNana, your statement is demonstrably false. The administration is NOT following the Project 2025 playback regarding NOAA. Can you provide a SINGLE example of them doing so?...cliff
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DeleteThe Seattle Times - they're getting more and more like themselves all the time.
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ReplyDelete"Fact 2: No change in National Weather Service (NWS) products has been made or proposed."
ReplyDelete>Weather balloon launches have been reduced or suspended in several locations around the country, due to shortage of staffing.
"Fact 3: President Trump explicitly denied that he follows Project 2020 plans and has explicitly rejected it.
Let me say this again....President Trump has explicitly stated he does not support Project 2025. He said it presents thoughts of the far right. NOT HIS."
>Those were his words. His actions have shown that he lied about that.
Jerry...you are simply incorrect. The weather balloon program is not cancelled. Trump stated that he is not following 2025 and his action prove it. NOAA is still here. NWS is still here. Facts matter, Jerry....really...cliff
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DeleteCliff, as you pointed out to me, facts matter. So hopefully you'll post this factual comment. I did not say that the weather balloon program was "cancelled". I said that it is being reduced or suspended at several locations around the country, due to shortage of staffing. This is likely to reduce the quality of the products being offered. Here is the evidence:
Delete"NOUS41 KWBC 202035 PNSWSH Public Information Statement 25-18 National Weather Service Headquarters Silver Spring MD 435 PM EDT Thu March 20, 2025 To: Subscribers: -NOAA Weather Wire Service -Emergency Manager Weather Information Network -NOAAPort Other NWS Partners, Users and Employees From: Mike Hopkins, Director Surface and Upper Air Division Office of Observations Subject: Reduction of Radiosonde Observations (RAOB) to One Flight Per Day at Aberdeen, SD, Gaylord, MI, Grand Junction, CO, Green Bay, WI, North Platte, NE, and Riverton, WY, Effective March 20, 2025. Effective immediately, and until further notice, the National Weather Service (NWS) is temporarily reducing weather balloon launches to one flight per day at Aberdeen, SD, Grand Junction, CO, Green Bay, WI, Gaylord, MI, North Platte, NE, and Riverton, WY, due to a lack of Weather Forecast Office (WFO) staffing.
Jerry..you made an essential mistake. My point was:Fact 2: No change in National Weather Service (NWS) products has been made or proposed."
DeleteAnd that fact is completely correct. The radiosonde program is still in place. A few launches are temporarily reduced due to lack of personnel. NO CHANGE to NWS products have been proposed. Enough. ..cliff
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ReplyDeleteThis is another example of feeding liberals what they want to hear. The Times seems to be taking pages out of the MSNBC playbook.
ReplyDeleteThe Seattle Times gets paid by the Democrats in Olympia, who give them our tax dollars. Literally. So is what they write really trustworthy or is it propaganda paid for by the Democrats? Too often it looks like the latter, including this latest ST article.
ReplyDeleteLacitis is still there?
ReplyDeleteCliff, I appreciate your balanced articles. From years of following, I know you're far from a conservative and not a Trump supporter. However you're still able to present facts and science even when it goes counter to the Seattle narrative. I use you often as an example of how it's OK to have your own thoughts.
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ReplyDeleteClassic "leopards ate my face" material
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ReplyDeleteI too appreciate your balanced articles on this and other matters.
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ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your usual learned and fact based post Cliff. Inaccurate reporting/journalism needs to called out to the benefit of us all… irrespective of our politics.
ReplyDeleteThank you for shooting straight, Doc, inspiring for those who want to keep it Real 🙏🏻
ReplyDeleteThis seems to be an example of “governance by outcry” - do something stupid and if there is enough outcry then reverse yourself. This does not fill me with confidence: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/noaa-reverses-plan-to-defer-upkeep-of-key-weather-satellites/
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