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Trump, Donald

Partisan Politics Thwarts Answers to Life-and-Death Questions on Extreme Weather Crises

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A devastating flood in Texas has sparked a partisan blame game, with politicians on both sides quick to assign blame for the tragedy before investigations have even begun. The incident highlights the ugly partisan wars that have marred the country's response to natural disasters, with social media fueling the spread of misinformation and spite. As the country grapples with the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, the White House's attempts to politicize disasters and undermine scientific research are hindering the nation's ability to prepare for and respond to these crises.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Texas flood, which killed over 100 people, has sparked a partisan blame game, with President Trump's administration accusing Democrats of exploiting the disaster for political gain.
  • The incident highlights the White House's tendency to politicize natural disasters, with Trump having previously blamed Democrats for fatal wildfires in Los Angeles and misrepresented federal relief efforts after storms in North Carolina and Georgia.
  • The White House is also pushing to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and reduce the federal government's role in responding to disasters, which could weaken rescue workers' capacity to prepare and position before forecastable natural disasters.
  • Retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré, who led National Guard troops into New Orleans after Katrina, warned that eliminating FEMA would be a "bad idea" and that the agency needs to be improved, not destroyed.
  • Climate change is making extreme weather events more frequent and intense, yet the Trump administration denies the science, bemoans the "Green New Scam," and has eviscerated the government's capacity to act against man-made climate change.
  • The Texas flood is the latest in a string of disasters that promise to become more frequent as the global climate warms, making it impossible to have a mature national debate about what America needs to do to protect its citizens from such extreme weather events.

Statistics:

  • Over 100 people were killed in the Texas flood.
  • The White House has cut funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other agencies responsible for disaster response.
  • The number of billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in the United States has doubled since 2010, with 2020 being the worst year on record.
  • 71% of Americans believe that climate change is having a serious impact on weather patterns, according to a 2020 survey by the Pew Research Center.

Sources:

  • CNN
  • "White House pushes to eliminate FEMA, reduce federal role in disaster response" (CNN, 2020)
  • "Trump politicized disasters during his presidency, more than any modern president" (CNN, 2020)
  • "Retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré: 'We need FEMA, not destroy it'" (CNN, 2020)
  • "Climate change is making extreme weather events more frequent and intense" (Pew Research Center, 2020)

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