The swirling winds, pounding rains and enveloping floods of hurricanes Irma in Florida and Harvey in Texas have left deep scars across two of the nation’s largest states. But it’s still unlikely that these irresistible forces will dislodge one of Washington’s most immovable objects: the steadfast resistance of President Donald […] Read more »
After Harvey, many Texans will think differently about hurricane risks
Interstate 69 in Humble, Texas is covered by floodwaters from Tropical Storm Harvey on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017. AP Photo/David J. Phillip Wanyun Shao, Auburn University and Siyuan Xian, Princeton University Hurricane Harvey was the most powerful hurricane to strike the U.S. mainland since Hurricane Wilma in 2005. It also […] Read more »
Hurricane Harvey likely to provoke polarizing fights
Local communities almost always pull together on the ground after natural disasters like the torrential flooding that has submerged Houston. … Yet, once the immediate danger has passed, the response to the storm will raise larger political questions on at least two major fronts: the cost of recovery and the […] Read more »
Could Hurricane Harvey Deal a Fatal Blow to Climate Change Skepticism?
… Trump has made no secret of his skepticism of man-made climate change, perhaps most famously with his assertion in 2012 that climate change was a hoax perpetrated by China. … But while the full-on embrace of climate skepticism may make political sense for the White House—only 25 percent of […] Read more »
Globally, People Point to ISIS and Climate Change as Leading Security Threats
People around the globe identify ISIS and climate change as the leading threats to national security, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. The survey asked about eight possible threats. While the level and focus of concern varies by region and country, ISIS and climate change clearly emerge as […] Read more »
Voters don’t like Obamacare repeal, but other issues may sway midterms
The bad news for Republicans: Their base doesn’t like their plan for repealing Obamacare, and they don’t think President Donald Trump’s planned tax overhaul will help them. The good news for Republicans: It might not matter when the 2018 midterms roll around. That’s a key takeaway from the latest POLITICO-Harvard […] Read more »