"Get on the Bus, Greg" Wrangle

There's forty-nine more ways to get rid of Governor Helen Wheels.

BREAKING: Gov. Greg Abbott orders Texas to inspect vehicles at border, charter buses to ship migrants to D.C.
W/@MorrisReports. #txlege https://t.co/Y6QuiMjsVs

— Bob Garrett (@RobertTGarrett) April 6, 2022

What first seemed like forced trips has been clarified to be voluntary, Texas-paid bus rides and flights for migrants after they're released by federal officials (likely on asylum bonds).https://t.co/T6vjOrfCYI #immigration #title42 https://t.co/lk3CGUy2Gz

— Jolie McCullough (@jsmccullou) April 6, 2022

Greg Abbott’s “border announcement” is an unserious political stunt, and reporters who cover it straight do a disservice.

Operation Lonestar is a verified Potemkin military action; every political & media figure knows it. To cover today’s crap uncritically is embarrassing. https://t.co/5UiIXbZwk8

— rotkoff (@rotkof) April 6, 2022

Yes, our state media is waking up to the manipulation.  Performative actions designed to manufacture outrage among the white conservative base is a page out of Dan Patrick's playbook.

Always take Little Gov @DanPatrick seriously, no matter how much he diminishes his office and especially when he's proposing things that are bad for Texas #txlege pic.twitter.com/JNTqHUTKR7

— Scott Braddock (@scottbraddock) April 5, 2022

Poll: Here's what Texans view as top problem for state. It's not border security https://t.co/9GCAaqXfVt

— Laredo Morning Times (@lmtnews) April 5, 2022

Despite all of these stunts and the underlying hypocrisy, don't put your hopes on Beto no matter what that Texas Lyceum poll said.

New @TexHPF poll, likely voters:

Abbott 50
O’Rourke 42

Paxton 65
Bush 23

Collier 43
Beckley 31

Garza 46
Jaworski 31https://t.co/EOVYWraybv

— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) April 5, 2022

I am sorry to report that Texas Democrats are going to fail you miserably this cycle.

The race for Texas Democratic Party chair is being roiled by allegations that candidate Kim Olson pushed the party’s top staffer during a bus tour in 2018.

Olson denies the allegations. https://t.co/ppJV4L6btf

— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) April 4, 2022

“The revolving door is the most pernicious form of influence-peddling that we have not gotten control over yet.” https://t.co/O13erYUXhV

— Texas Observer (@TexasObserver) April 4, 2022

Even Blue Dog Kuff broke the Eleventh Commandment on Vela. The latest epic fails of Harris County elected and appointed officials?  Not so much.

WTH? --> Harris County board delays vote to start looking for replacement of elections chief, saying it has not yet accepted Longoria’s resignation https://t.co/hHysYdhE5n via @houstonchron #hounews

— Matt Schwartz (@SchwartzChron) April 6, 2022

Letter from criminal justice officials makes two things clear:
1. The problem was more widespread than the release of inmates. A 911 call center, for example, was down for at least 30 minutes.
2. They really don't like Rick Noriega, head of the county's Universal Services dept https://t.co/225oF2NNVx

— Matt Schwartz (@SchwartzChron) April 6, 2022

I'm so old I remember when Noriega was picked by Markos Moulitsas to be the Dems' candidate to post up against Cornyn in 2006.  He was still married to Melissa and just a lieutenant colonel in the Guard then.  So yeah, lotta things have changed.  Speaking of the troops:

The state will need to allocate over $500 million to continue funding the deployment of the Texas National Guard at the Mexico border to enforce state laws. #txlege #publicpolicy #politics #operationlonestar #Texashttps://t.co/9ePLoBTsbb

— PLCTexas (@PLC_Texas) April 6, 2022

I have a few more things to post about Abbott.

If the Governor of Texas is going to demonstrably lie - fact checked by his own office - his public statements are probably not suitable for live broadcast. #TxLege pic.twitter.com/KSGJpRSTmV

— Scott Braddock (@scottbraddock) April 6, 2022

I call @GovAbbott the Betrayer of the Cripples, because @GregAbbott_TX doesn't give a sh#t about the Disabled, or their need for medical marijuana.

He's on record as ignoring veteran families on this exact issue. #txlege https://t.co/j3j9igUOkQ

— Carl Mills (@cmills9261) April 5, 2022

"This exact issue" could get Beto -- and Democrats who run strongly on it -- elected.  There are lots of Republicans and Libertarians who would vote for a Democrat who was out, loud, and proud about legalization.  Or decriminalization.  Or just advancing medical cannabis.  O'Rourke and others have voiced support, but IMHO it's their most important campaign plank.  More than the power grid, more than women's reproductive rights, more even than voting rights.  No single issue has the potential of swinging more votes their way than legalizing cannabis.

But it doesn't matter to me; I won't be voting for him anyway.

This is why we need a green party governor! We have ballot access, we could win in Texas! Our priority is to protect people and planet.

The fossil fuel industry has put us in this mess, it's up to us to fix it. We can, but we need to work together!

#IPCCReport #climate pic.twitter.com/zUKYxcP4v8

— DelilahForTexas💚☮🌻🌎 (@DelilahforTexas) April 6, 2022

That's my segue to a few climate updates (since Tuesday).

This happened most recently in February, 2022 as documented in "Winter Came With Loads of Pollution". Texas industrial facilities reported at least 77 separate pollution incidents during the last winter storm. https://t.co/je2i0CWTmg

— bryan parras (@HighTechAztec) April 6, 2022

“They got the problem to go away without having to fix the issue that they’re releasing a ton of pollution.” https://t.co/19qq5iHcEP

— Texas Observer (@TexasObserver) April 3, 2022

Come out to Discovery Green this Sunday 12 pm to 5 pm to learn about the Climate Movement, explore sustainable solutions for Houston, celebrate Earth Day!

We will be tabling with @htxclimstrike @XR_HOUSTON @SunriseMvmtHTX @TXClimateJobs

RSVP: https://t.co/3I4fEPU16C pic.twitter.com/m7jDJiIlNg

— Houston DSA (@HoustonDSA) April 5, 2022

I'll hold some of the social injustice tweets for tomorrow (they're unpleasant).  It will be another beautiful weekend across the state with lots of fun things to do outside, so go do some of them.  Today's Opening Day and I have baseball on my mind.  Here's a few blasts from the Astros' past.

4/4/94 Ken Caminiti hits a two-run walkoff double in the 12th inning to give the Astros a 6-5 Opening Day win against the Montreal Expos. It was the first managerial win for Terry Collins. The game debuted the new gold and midnight blue Astros uniforms. @BrownieTw on the call. pic.twitter.com/B6rgCSAqJy

— Mike Acosta (@AstrosTalk) April 5, 2022

Astrodome from high on the seating area.

Peter Whitney Photographs pic.twitter.com/JmFlKM9xXJ

— Astrodome Conservancy (@AstrodomeFans) March 30, 2022

Astrodome interior, circa 1965.

Photo from the Houston Post pic.twitter.com/vhzV39m0jz

— Astrodome Conservancy (@AstrodomeFans) March 31, 2022

4/3/18 The Astros receive their 2017 World Series championship rings in a pregame ceremony before beating the Orioles 10-6 at Minute Maid Park. @RealJoshReddick blasted a two-run homer and a grand slam in the game. Justin Verlander struck out nine over 5.2 innings. pic.twitter.com/Nu1LUnb1h9

— Mike Acosta (@AstrosTalk) April 4, 2022

'Time is Runnin' Out' Climate Wrangle

How it started/How it's going:

#OtD 1 Apr 1982 oil company Exxon made a private report on CO2. It showed that burning fossil fuels would cause global warming which may be irreversible and could be detectable by 1995. They then spent $31m to spread false propaganda claiming the opposite pic.twitter.com/ZxEvMSKvFf

— Working Class History (@wrkclasshistory) April 1, 2022

@KHayhoe spoke on the question climate scientists always get asked: “is it too late?” (Or alternatively “are we screwed?”)

She said that’s like asking the same question of a pack a day smoker with some spots in their lungs but doesn’t have emphysema and isn’t dead. #SEJ2022 pic.twitter.com/f9eXcrXhTz

— Erik Mebust ⚡️ (@ErikMebust) April 1, 2022

"Give me all the bad news first, PDid."

The evidence is clear: the time for action is now. We can halve emissions by 2030.

The #IPCC has just released its latest #ClimateReport on the mitigation of #climatechange.

Press Release ➡️ https://t.co/N9cLJFBbnA
Read the report ➡️ https://t.co/mIdBKgvokW pic.twitter.com/JbvFYy72qf

— IPCC (@IPCC_CH) April 4, 2022

"UN IPCC report can lead governments to the climate action door, but they must walk through" | My commentary with @MathaiWanjira on the just-published @IPCC_ch climate solutions report: https://t.co/jzrezbKabc#IPCC #AR6 #WG3 #Urgency #Agency

— Prof Michael E. Mann (@MichaelEMann) April 4, 2022

That's not the entirety of the bad news.  How much time do we have (for me to tell you just a bit of the worst of it)?

I wrote about this @guardian previously, but fossil fuel influence in the IPCC is a huge issue that pretty much gets ignored at the release of every report: https://t.co/f7A6Rv4wTR

— Amy Westervelt (@amywestervelt) April 4, 2022

NEW

Saudi Arabia dilutes fossil fuel phase out language with techno fixes in IPCC report

✍️ @ChloeFarand https://t.co/R54DYeGj5Q

— Climate Home News (@ClimateHome) April 4, 2022

The halt of the Keystone XL pipeline, which many Republicans have pointed to as a cause for rising prices, would've likely had a very miniscule impact on the global oil trade. The action also did not shut down any existing supply. https://t.co/lYWPZg2CUc

— PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) March 31, 2022

Biden's oil release will not do much for gasoline prices, and it will not answer the demands of the dictators and big corporations that sell oil. They want $100 a barrel oil. https://t.co/Y4u1Z0C1L5 @HoustonChron #txlege #energytwitter

— ChrisTomlinson (@cltomlinson) April 1, 2022

Upholding a Trump-era environmental policy, the Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday it will not regulate a drinking water contaminant that has been linked to brain damage in infants. https://t.co/7KP69MWeDf

— CBS Sunday Morning 🌞 (@CBSSunday) April 1, 2022

Toxic air tour today via @sejorg.#SEJ2022 Much clearer pic of what @TCEQ won't do when it can do. #SMH #ShipChannel #Manchester @tejasbarrios https://t.co/0iSgJugf59 pic.twitter.com/WaBK5YhZDJ

— COCO is attending #SEJ2022. (@cocohoustonnow) March 31, 2022

Another example is @sim_kern's white-hot essay about a notorious corporate polluter in Houston's East End and their vision for an environmental agency that works #forourcommunities. #SEJ2022https://t.co/urTv577XPi

— One Breath (@OneBreathHOU) April 1, 2022

Okay then.  Is there any hope?  Some good news, or suggestions for action?

We are not doomed. But we do need to act—swiftly and at massive scale. @Leahtommi, @ayanaeliza @DonCheadle and I reflect on what's needed for climate action, with @iamwellandgood https://t.co/0snXOuOBOH

— Prof. Katharine Hayhoe (@KHayhoe) April 1, 2022

Basic IPCC formula, in order
1) build massive amounts of (now cheap) sun and wind
2) Electrify everything to run on it
3) Conservation and efficiency
4) Research the hell out of the last hard stuff (planes, cement, etc)
5) Stop cutting down trees for cows (or anything else)

— Bill McKibben (@billmckibben) April 4, 2022

It's been a long week. This 🧵from @soopajane tearing into American Chemistry Council nonsense about plastics and so-called "chemical recycling" at #SEJ2022 is a nice Friday afternoon bright spot. Grateful to her and everyone else calling out toxic #Greenwashing BS. https://t.co/F0cj3KXDaB

— Kevin Budris (@kevin_budris) April 1, 2022

Friendly reminder: We can just cooperate. Get rid of 3-4 billion non-contributing #bullshitjobs and, potentially, halt #climatechange and #covid19. Caused by the traffic, CO2, energy demand, heat and virus exposure stemming from global nonsense employment.https://t.co/5fx7BA2wYM

— #bullshitjobs (@bullshitjobs) March 30, 2022

We partnered with @Earthjustice and activists, like TX-based @_SemaHernandez_, on a video about deadly Startup, Shutdown and Malfunction Loopholes that impact underserved folks near toxic facilities. Register for the launch party on April 6, at 6 p.m. CT. https://t.co/hM8yDIyD9n

— Texas Sierra Club (@TexasSierraClub) April 4, 2022

“It’s like a sword they can drop on your head whenever they want.” - journalist Joe Pappalardo https://t.co/ei6lkvxz1u

— Methane Hunter (@TXsharon) March 31, 2022

I’ve been at #SEJ2022 this week, where there’s been a strong focus on environmental justice and the importance of quantifying the impact of pollution in various communities. I thought I’d share a few @cleanaircatf resources here 👇

— Troy Shaheen (@troyshaheen) April 1, 2022

I'm not convinced that the grand opening later this week of Giga Texas is all good news, but it's probably more good than bad.

Just a few more images from a very busy 1 April 2022 Giga Texas! So much going on and final push for Cyber Rodeo next week. My upcoming video on YouTube today has a few surprises, so check that out! @JoeTegtmeyer pic.twitter.com/fIuJfr5LW1

— Joe Tegtmeyer 🚀 🌔🪐🇺🇦 (@JoeTegtmeyer) April 1, 2022

And Socratic Gadfly definitely supports wilderness designation for most of Big Bend National Park with a few addenda and observations about that.

With that, I'll wrap this Wrangle with some scenes from the field trips of the SEJ conventioneers, who seemed enthralled and enchanted by the natural wonders of Southeast Texas.  Enjoy.

Society of Environmental Journalists Conference: Lunch and birdwatching at the Boy Scout Woods Sanctuary in High Island, Texas #SEJ2022 #birding #Houston pic.twitter.com/7tsXRfZ8Ou

— Sergio Chapa (@SergioChapa) March 31, 2022

Thanks to everyone who joined the @sejorg field trip at Sandylands Preserve and @BigThicketNPS for a hike through Texas longleaf forest and discussions about prescribed fire, native plants and Indigenous traditions. Come back any time, y'all! #SEJ2022 pic.twitter.com/8itDe2t31q

— The Nature Conservancy in Texas (@nature_tx) April 1, 2022

We walked among the treetops today on #sej2022 field trip, from rookeries— abundant with egrets in full show, the blush of roseate spoonbills, glistening cormorants— on through a canopy that will soon be full of warblers & others on the move Thx, ⁦@HoustonAudubon⁩ & others! pic.twitter.com/jRDblxwRbl

— Meera Subramanian (@Meeratweets) April 1, 2022