The brave government employees resist Trump's incredible statements about Hurricane Dorian and insist on the truth.
Trump repeatedly said that Alabama was in danger, while the state was not involved, and then insisted that he was right when he was wrong. Federal agencies felt the pressure to support his lies. And that's what makes this episode so disturbing and lasting. When people talk about a war on the truth, that's exactly what they are talking about.
But here's the good news: Agency staff do not stay silent.
Four new developments
In an email to the staff, NOAA Acting Chief Scientist Craig McLean said that the National Weather Office in Birmingham had corrected "any public misunderstanding in an expert and timely manner", ie disputing the incorrect information of the President. Per WaPo, McLean said that he "was pursuing potential violations of our NOAA administrative order relating to scientific integrity".
Also Monday, NWS director Louis Uccellini spoke at a conference to congratulate the Birmingham office and say "they did what any office would do". When he asked the local staff members to stand up and be recognized, there was a long standing ovation, by participants.
Later in the day, the NYT, citing three anonymous sources, said that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross "threatened to fire top employees" at NOAA via the hubbub of Birmingham. Ross denied the report. But the NYT said, very accurately, that Ross "telephoned Neil Jacobs, the acting NOAA administrator from Greece, where the secretary was going to meetings and instructed Dr. Jacobs to remedy the apparent contradiction of the president with the agency. " Later in the day, NOAA released a B.S. statement that tried to support Trump despite all the available evidence.
The statement "is currently being reviewed by the Office of the Inspector General of the Commerce Department," reported the NYT …
What is the delivery here?
"The issue," wrote the WaPo team, "is public confidence in weather forecasts and warnings aimed at saving lives and protecting property, while many leaders and meteorologists of NOAA, past and present – have expressed concern that this controversy will undermine the credibility of NWS. "
Facts of silence
Samantha Vinograd, National Security Analyst at CNN: "The work of a cabinet secretary – at least in a democracy – should not be the president's personal censor, especially when lives are in danger." The actions of Wilbur Ross could have real human and financial costs His job as a trade secretary is to make progress On the other hand, threatening anyone to NOAA who disapproves of the president's personal speech is quite the opposite of his goal: to be part of the NOAA mission. "Providing businesses and communities with reliable information about the environment and weather conditions so that they can protect themselves is undemocratic and endangers business interests and life".
Vinograd adds: "In the short term, the restrictions imposed on NOAA mean that real information – which could save lives when we talk about the weather – is not allowed." False information – which could cause panic – is underway. to percolate at the request of the President – it is state-sponsored censorship that entails real human and financial costs. "
Trump "crossed a line"
"Saying that out loud sounds ridiculous," Anderson concurred on Monday in "The AC360," but it's true: "Federal employees are being reprimanded for accurately disclosing scientific truths."
"We do," former W.H. ethics lawyer Richard Painter said. "And this is yet another example of the Trump administration distorting the facts in order to cover the president politically, by presenting" alternative facts "in Kellyanne Conway's language, and now that is affecting the weather."
NOAA's former general counsel, Monica Medina, added, "This is important because the President's change of weather map went against the sacredness of weather forecasts." It is important that NWS speak with one voice, in unison, because they communicate the meteorologists of the country … "
Notes and quotes
– Oliver Darcy
tweeted: "Trump's attempt to destroy the truth is the BIG story of his trustee.He repeatedly hits the system, hoping that he falls in line.It is Orwellian.It is a serious problem, it must not be lost sight of.a sharpie.It is an effort to destroy the truth … "
– Chris Cillizza, from CNN, in Monday's news letter, The Point: What is really insidious about Trump's disregard for the truth is "the culture created by contempt for truth." And how can telling the truth becomes incentive in a world upside down must be accepted only because it's trump. "
– David A. Graham, of Atlantic, said: "This is not the storm, it is the concealment …"
Monday night rally of Trump in one sentence
Jonathan Lemire and Alan Fram, both members of the AP, said: "Trying to prove his political weight by pushing a Republican to victory in a special election, President Donald Trump used a Monday's Rally in North Carolina to paint a dark picture of a nation alleged to be submerged by crime, poverty and immigrants if Democrats seized power in Washington. "
FOR THE RECORD
– "The Testaments" by Margaret Atwood is firmly at the top of Amazon's bestseller list before the release of her book Tuesday …
– "She Said" by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey is also in the top 10 …
– The launch of the Apple product will take place at 1 pm ET / 10 am Tuesday. Here's what to expect …
– Read more about Monday's "reliable sources" news letter … And subscribe here to receive future editions in your inbox …
– MSNBC is
celebrate the 11th anniversary of "The Rachel Maddow Show …" Maddow debuted on 8/8/2008 …
– Chris Cuomo, Maddow's rival at 9 pm on CNN,
tweeted: "We are in a tough business at a difficult time and it is rare to make a mark, make a mark is more rare, create a standard is almost impossible. @ Maddow is at the top for a reason. is very impressive # Congratulations
