Sanity Check

Are rising insurance costs really driven by climate change—or is that just the latest political narrative?
In this episode, Dr. David Legates takes apart the claim that extreme weather is driving a home insurance crisis. From hurricanes and droughts to wildfires in Maui and Los Angeles, he examines the data—and the stories behind the headlines.
The real drivers? Land-use changes, population growth, and poor policy decisions—not a surge in climate disasters.
This episode also explores how media narratives, rapid-response “attribution science,” and political incentives shape public perception before the facts are fully known.
If you’ve heard that “climate change is making everything worse,” this is a clear-eyed look at what the evidence actually shows—and what it doesn’t.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd9qy4knd8wo
https://rogerpielkejr.substack.com/p/disasters-cost-more-than-ever-but
https://abc30.com/post/broken-power-lines-caused-deadly-maui-wildfire-new-report-shows/15388308/
https://www.independent.org/article/2026/01/07/the-2025-los-angeles-wildfires-lessons-and-key-recommendations/

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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, Cal Beisner takes on a common claim at the heart of modern environmental debates: that capitalism is inherently harmful to the natural world. Engaging directly with leading environmental critiques—especially those of Gus Speth—he examines whether capitalism is truly indifferent to nature or dependent on endless, unsustainable growth.
Drawing on economic reasoning, historical evidence, and a Biblical framework, this episode challenges the assumption that markets and environmental stewardship are at odds. Instead, it explores how responsibility, incentives, and human behavior—not abstract systems—shape environmental outcomes.
This is the first installment in a series addressing some of the most serious criticisms of capitalism. Upcoming episodes will tackle questions of resource depletion, consumerism, and long-term sustainability.
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 special episode, producer Liza Claire introduces the Cornwall Alliance podcast’s new name: Sanity Check. After several years as Created to Reign, the show is relaunching with a clearer title and a renewed commitment to thoughtful, rational discussion about the environment, economics, and human flourishing.
What does a “sanity check” mean in science, engineering, and finance—and why is it a fitting name for this podcast? Liza Claire explains the reasoning behind the change, what listeners can expect moving forward, and what remains the same: careful analysis, sound economics, and a perspective grounded in Biblical principles.
Join us as we launch Sanity Check, a podcast dedicated to bringing clarity, reason, and intellectual honesty back to today’s environmental debates.
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.

Is eating beef really bad for the planet?
Environmental activists often claim cattle are a major driver of climate change, deforestation, water shortages, and biodiversity loss. From methane emissions to land use, the beef industry has become a central target in the modern environmental movement.
But how much of this narrative holds up under scrutiny?
In this episode, David R. Legates examines the scientific claims behind the war on beef—looking at methane emissions, land use, water consumption, and pollution. He also explores what critics often leave out: how livestock fit into natural carbon cycles, how modern agriculture has become far more efficient, and why ruminant animals may play an important role in global food systems. 
Along the way, he considers another overlooked dimension: nutrition. Beef remains one of the most nutrient-dense foods available, providing high-quality protein, iron, zinc, and essential vitamins that are difficult to obtain elsewhere.
So is beef really destroying the planet—or has the story been oversimplified?
In this episode, we take a closer look at the science behind the headlines.
https://www.beefresearch.ca/topics/environmental-footprint-of-beef-production/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/beef

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.

For more than fifteen years, the EPA’s 2009 Endangerment Finding has been the legal foundation for sweeping federal greenhouse gas regulations—impacting everything from your car to the power grid. But what if the ruling that launched trillions of dollars in climate policy wasn’t the purely scientific document we were told it was?
With repeal now back on the table in 2026, new scrutiny reveals troubling questions about how the original decision was made, who shaped it, and whether politics—not science—drove the process from the start 
Was the Endangerment Finding a neutral assessment of climate risk—or a “decision ready to go” before the evidence was fully considered?
In this episode, we unpack what’s really at stake, why this fight isn’t over science alone, and why the potential rollback could mark one of the most consequential regulatory reversals in modern U.S. history.
Is this finally the end of the Endangerment Finding—or just another false alarm?
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/2026/02/09/trump-set-to-repeal-landmark-climate-finding-in-major-regulatory-rollback/88600365007/

https://govoversight.org/the-evidence-is-in-endangerment-finding-was-pre-cooked/

https://eelp.law.harvard.edu/tracker/greenhouse-gas-endangerment-finding/

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.