Sanity Check

When the United States Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) was dissolved, many assumed its role in federal climate policy had come to an end. Now the program has returned under new leadership and with a different direction. In this episode of Sanity Check, David Legates draws on his own experience as a former Executive Director of the USGCRP to explain what the agency does, why it matters, and how its structure has changed. He reflects on the challenges he faced during his brief tenure and outlines three reasons he believes the reconstituted program has a stronger opportunity to reshape the next National Climate Assessment. Along the way, he discusses federal climate research, institutional reform, and the importance of scientific integrity in government reporting.
Visit our podcast resource page: https://cornwallalliance.org/listen%20to%20our%20podcast%20created%20to%20reign/

Our work is entirely supported by donations from people like you. If you benefit from our work and would like to partner with us, please visit www.cornwallalliance.org/donate.

In this episode of Created to Reign, Vijay Jayaraj discusses the oil, coal, and natural gas comeback in Latin America. Contrary to what some people say, this is not reneging on "creation care," but a Christian attitude toward earth stewardship and care for the poor. 
Visit our podcast resource page: https://cornwallalliance.org/listen%20to%20our%20podcast%20created%20to%20reign/

Our work is entirely supported by donations from people like you. If you benefit from our work and would like to partner with us, please visit www.cornwallalliance.org/donate.

When CNN declared that the July heat wave would have been "virtually impossible" without fossil fuel emissions, it pointed to a rapid-attribution study as proof. But does the evidence support such a sweeping claim?
In this episode of Sanity Check, Dr. David Legates examines the meteorology behind the heat wave, explains how attribution studies are conducted, and explores the assumptions driving claims that individual weather events can be linked to human-caused climate change. Along the way, he uncovers a curious twist: the original CNN article quietly disappeared and was replaced with a revised version that dramatically downplayed its headline claim.
Join us as we separate atmospheric science from media narrative and ask whether today's climate reporting is keeping pace with sound scientific reasoning.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/03/weather/heat-wave-nyc-dc-forecast-climate <Link now redirects elsewhere>

https://www.worldweatherattribution.org/fossil-fuels-are-heating-americas-250th-birthday/
https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/26/climate/european-heat-wave-impossible-global-warming

Visit our podcast resource page: https://cornwallalliance.org/listen%20to%20our%20podcast%20created%20to%20reign/

Our work is entirely supported by donations from people like you. If you benefit from our work and would like to partner with us, please visit www.cornwallalliance.org/donate.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent visit to India highlighted a growing area of agreement between two of the world’s largest democracies: the need for abundant, reliable energy. As India’s economy expands and hundreds of millions continue moving into the middle class, demand for electricity, transportation fuels, and industrial energy is set to rise dramatically in the decades ahead.
In this episode, Vijay Jayaraj, a Research Associate with the Cornwall Alliance, examines the prospects for a deeper U.S.-India energy partnership and argues that both nations are increasingly embracing an energy strategy rooted in realism rather than climate politics. From coal and natural gas to energy security and economic growth, Jayaraj explores why India continues to prioritize dependable power sources and how American energy exports could help meet that demand.
Visit our podcast resource page: https://cornwallalliance.org/listen%20to%20our%20podcast%20created%20to%20reign/

Our work is entirely supported by donations from people like you. If you benefit from our work and would like to partner with us, please visit www.cornwallalliance.org/donate.

In this episode of Sanity Check, David Legates examines a Guardian article claiming that U.S. immigration enforcement flights carry a "huge climate cost." Looking beyond the headline, he compares the reported emissions with total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, aviation emissions, and other major sources to ask whether the article's conclusions are supported by meaningful context. Along the way, he discusses media framing, statistical significance, selective comparisons, and how climate narratives are increasingly woven into debates over public policy. The episode argues that informed discussion requires proportion, historical perspective, and careful interpretation of the numbers—not simply dramatic headlines.
https://www.theGuardian.com/us-news/2026/may/26/us-immigration-flights-emissions
https://www.statista.com/statistics/183943/us-carbon-dioxide-emissions-from-1999/
https://cis.org/Report/Immigration-United-States-and-WorldWide-Greenhouse-Gas-Emissions

https://clivebest.com/blog/?p=11131

Visit our podcast resource page: https://cornwallalliance.org/listen%20to%20our%20podcast%20created%20to%20reign/

Our work is entirely supported by donations from people like you. If you benefit from our work and would like to partner with us, please visit www.cornwallalliance.org/donate.