Olivia of Troye - Saturday Morning Covfefe
It’s the holidays. The lights are on, the latkes are hot, and the country is pretending it’s on pause. It’s not. While we’re lighting candles, trimming trees, and chasing a little calm, some very consequential things are happening quietly, by design. So pour the coffee (or mulled wine–no judgment on what time it is when you read this), and let’s talk about five things that actually matter this week.
1. Trump Targets a Crown Jewel of Weather & Climate Science
The Trump administration is dismantling the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado, after accusing it of spreading “climate alarmism.” Budget director Russell Vought announced the move, claiming NCAR is a major source of “alarmism” and saying any “vital” work like weather research would be relocated. That framing is misleading.
NCAR isn’t just climate science, it’s public safety. Its models underpin forecasts for hurricanes, wildfires, floods, heat waves, and severe storms, feeding directly into emergency alerts, aviation safety, military planning, and disaster response nationwide. The center also flies research aircraft into storms and operates a federal supercomputing facility critical to real-time forecasting.
Even conservative experts pushed back. Roger Pielke Jr. called NCAR a “crown jewel” of U.S. science. Democratic Colorado Governor Jared Polis warned the move puts lives and property at risk.
https://www.livingitwitholiviatroye.com/p/saturday-morning-covfefe-5-things-377