1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,400 Welcome back everybody to Meteorology Matters. 2 00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:04,560 We like to get into all kinds of cool weather topics, 3 00:00:04,560 --> 00:00:06,440 but this one today is, 4 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:07,880 I don't even know how to describe this one. 5 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:08,840 It's a- 6 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:10,080 Really, it's something else. 7 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:11,440 Yeah, kind of a strange intersection 8 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:14,120 between politics and technology and meteorology. 9 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:15,160 Absolutely. 10 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:17,840 But if you want to stay up to date on all things weather, 11 00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:21,320 you can follow meteorologist Rob Jones on Instagram 12 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:26,160 at meteorologist on TikTok, at TV meteorologist, 13 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:29,240 and on YouTube at Rob Jones' hurricane. 14 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:31,560 You can also find the Meteorology Matters playlist 15 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:32,400 there as well. 16 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:33,240 Very good. 17 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:35,680 So NOAA, that's the National Oceanic 18 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:37,000 and Atmospheric Administration. 19 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:37,840 Right. 20 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:39,080 Got slammed with a bunch of weird emails. 21 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:39,920 Right. 22 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:43,320 So imagine, you know, thousands of NOAA employees. 23 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:44,160 Right. 24 00:00:44,160 --> 00:00:45,960 You know, people who are tracking hurricanes 25 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:47,480 and studying climate change. 26 00:00:47,480 --> 00:00:48,320 Of course. 27 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:49,520 They open up their inboxes. 28 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:50,640 Yeah, what's waiting for them. 29 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:52,560 The interesting thing is to say the least. 30 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:55,480 Yeah, I think what's interesting here is how 31 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:57,880 this really kind of exposes the changes 32 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:00,400 that the Trump administration made to the federal communication 33 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:01,400 systems. 34 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:04,600 They put in this new system that allowed anyone to email 35 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:08,040 all 2.3 million federal employees from one address. 36 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:10,320 Wait, so you're telling me that anybody could just send out 37 00:01:10,320 --> 00:01:13,760 a mass email to the entire federal workforce. 38 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:14,240 Yeah. 39 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:16,280 That's got to be some kind of security nightmare. 40 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:18,840 Yeah, you would definitely be right to be concerned. 41 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:21,440 And in fact, some employees, they initially just 42 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:24,200 thought that these emails were just spam, you know? 43 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:24,440 Right. 44 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:26,280 But it quickly became clear that, you know, 45 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:28,760 this new system was vulnerable to misuse. 46 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:31,520 And there was actually this journalist, Ken Klippenstein, 47 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:34,120 who actually was able to send his newsletter 48 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:36,880 to all 13,000 NOAA employees. 49 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:40,440 So he just blasted his newsletter to everybody at NOAA. 50 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:43,120 That's pretty serious security breach. 51 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:43,840 Yeah. 52 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:46,440 Seems like maybe the Trump administration kind of overlooked 53 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:48,920 some pretty crucial security measures here. 54 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:51,760 Yeah, it definitely raises some questions about their approach 55 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:53,520 to cybersecurity for sure. 56 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:57,400 And the content of some of these emails to NOAA employees 57 00:01:57,400 --> 00:01:59,000 were pretty alarming. 58 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:01,720 Some were like urging employees to resign, 59 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:04,120 a lot of inappropriate language, even promoting things 60 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:05,560 like Scientology subscriptions. 61 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:06,800 Scientology subscriptions. 62 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:08,160 That's a new one. 63 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:10,160 Sounds like somebody was having a little too much 64 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:13,200 fun with their access to the entire federal workforce. 65 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:15,160 But this wasn't like a one-off thing, was it? 66 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:16,600 No, you're right. 67 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:20,120 This incident at NOAA is kind of part of a larger pattern 68 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:22,440 that we've seen where these internal federal emails have 69 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:24,520 been gaining attention, especially since the start 70 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:27,720 of the Trump administration, especially these emails related 71 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:30,080 to deferred resignation. 72 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:31,360 Deferred resignation. 73 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:32,040 What is that? 74 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:34,920 It's basically a way for federal employees 75 00:02:34,920 --> 00:02:37,680 to kind of signal that they plan to leave their position, 76 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:40,080 but they're going to delay their actual departure. 77 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:42,640 And it's become interesting because a lot of these emails, 78 00:02:42,640 --> 00:02:44,960 which were meant to be internal, of course, 79 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:46,600 have been leaked or shared publicly. 80 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:48,520 So it gives us a glimpse into kind of what 81 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:50,520 was happening within the government under the Trump 82 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:51,840 administration. 83 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:55,240 So you've got this new email system, which is basically 84 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:56,680 a free-for-all. 85 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:59,680 And then on top of that, you've got these government employees 86 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:03,240 sending out these deferred resignation emails, 87 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:06,160 which are then sometimes getting leaked to the public. 88 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:09,240 It paints a pretty chaotic picture of what's happening. 89 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:09,720 It does. 90 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:11,280 It definitely raises a lot of questions 91 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:15,520 about security and transparency and what exactly was happening 92 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:17,720 within the federal government at the time. 93 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:19,560 But maybe we can shift gears a little bit 94 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:22,200 and talk about another incident that shed some light 95 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:24,960 on the Trump administration's approach 96 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:26,640 to technology and personnel. 97 00:03:26,640 --> 00:03:28,440 Do you remember that story about Elon Musk 98 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:31,240 in the Office of Personnel Management or OPM? 99 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:32,280 Oh, yeah, I remember that. 100 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:34,040 That was a big story. 101 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:35,800 Wasn't there some kind of controversy there 102 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:38,440 about Elon Musk and his involvement with the OPM? 103 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:40,360 Yeah, there was definitely some controversy there. 104 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:43,200 According to a Wired report, Elon Musk basically 105 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:45,560 was able to replace a lot of the high-level staff 106 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:49,320 at the OPM with some younger, less experienced individuals 107 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:50,800 from his own companies. 108 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:52,440 So just to be clear, we're talking 109 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:54,520 to the Office of Personnel Management. 110 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:56,880 That's the agency that's in charge of managing 111 00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:00,680 the entire federal workforce, including NOAA. 112 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:02,600 That's a pretty important role, wouldn't you say? 113 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:03,480 Yeah, absolutely. 114 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:07,040 And one of the major changes that Musk pushed for 115 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:11,000 was this new in-house email server for OPM. 116 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:14,720 But the OPM's chief information officer, Melvin Brown, 117 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:16,960 the second she resisted this change, 118 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:18,480 citing security concerns. 119 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:19,320 Yeah. 120 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:20,400 And of course, he was fired. 121 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:23,480 Fired for trying to make sure that sensitive information 122 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:24,520 was secure. 123 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:25,640 That's not a good sign. 124 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:26,520 What happened after that? 125 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:29,160 Did they actually end up implementing that new server? 126 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:33,360 They did, despite the concerns, and not long after a class 127 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:36,240 action lawsuit was filed, alleging that the new server 128 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:39,200 didn't even meet the most basic cybersecurity standards 129 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:40,880 that were established back in the Bush era. 130 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:43,280 Wow, so we've got this vulnerable email system 131 00:04:43,280 --> 00:04:45,440 that we know has already been exploited, 132 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:48,120 some questionable personnel changes at a key agency. 133 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:51,160 And a complete disregard for established cybersecurity 134 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:52,320 practices. 135 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:54,000 Yeah. 136 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:56,120 It sounds like a recipe for disaster. 137 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:57,760 What were the implications of all this, 138 00:04:57,760 --> 00:04:59,720 especially for agencies like NOAA? 139 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:01,000 Well, one of the biggest concerns 140 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:02,760 was that this insecure server could 141 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:05,360 be used to gather information on government employees, 142 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:07,920 potentially even those working at NOAA. 143 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:09,800 And this fear was kind of heightened when 144 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:12,440 these fork in the road memos got sent out. 145 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:15,480 Wait, those memos were sent from that same unsecured server 146 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:18,760 at OPM, and what were these fork in the road memos anyway? 147 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:19,760 That's right. 148 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:21,720 These memos, they were meant to be internal, 149 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:23,720 but they accidentally revealed the involvement 150 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:26,480 of these two individuals who were not government employees. 151 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:27,000 Oh, wow. 152 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:29,520 But they were heavily involved in this project called Project 153 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:31,000 2025. 154 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:33,200 And this project, as we'll talk about later on, 155 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:35,040 has some pretty significant implications 156 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:36,840 for the future of the federal workforce, 157 00:05:36,840 --> 00:05:38,240 including those at NOAA. 158 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:41,080 So we have these email vulnerabilities, personnel 159 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:43,400 changes, potential data breaches, 160 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:47,560 and this mysterious Project 2025 looming in the background. 161 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:49,800 It sounds like the Trump administration's approach 162 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:52,080 to technology and personnel really 163 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:54,720 had a ripple effect across the whole entire federal government, 164 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:56,840 including the world of meteorology. 165 00:05:56,840 --> 00:05:58,520 You hit it right on the head. 166 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:00,560 These incidents, when you take them all together, 167 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:02,720 really suggest a pattern of disregard 168 00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:04,880 for established norms and procedures 169 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:07,440 with potentially serious consequences 170 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:09,560 for government agencies like NOAA. 171 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:11,080 This is definitely a lot to unpack. 172 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:12,920 It seems like we're just scratching the surface 173 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:14,160 of this whole thing. 174 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:16,520 But before we get too deep into the weeds here, 175 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:18,360 maybe we should take a step back and consider 176 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:20,720 the broader context. 177 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:24,160 What do these events tell us about the Trump administration's 178 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:27,640 efforts to try to reshape the federal workforce, especially 179 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:29,000 within agencies like NOAA? 180 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:30,040 That's a great question. 181 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:31,440 And to really understand the answer, 182 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:35,040 we have to delve into the details of Project 2025 183 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:37,320 and its potential impact on the very people who 184 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:39,240 are responsible for forecasting our weather 185 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:40,560 and protecting our planet. 186 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:43,840 And that is where things get really interesting 187 00:06:43,840 --> 00:06:45,200 and a little bit concerning. 188 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:48,120 Let's take a closer look at what this project is all about 189 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:50,960 and why it's causing so much controversy, especially 190 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:52,320 within the scientific community. 191 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:53,200 Yeah. 192 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:56,160 It really is amazing how all these seemingly unrelated 193 00:06:56,160 --> 00:07:00,120 events can connect to paint a bigger picture. 194 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:02,840 We started with strange emails at NOAA. 195 00:07:02,840 --> 00:07:04,920 And now we're talking about cybersecurity 196 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:08,280 and this mysterious Project 2025. 197 00:07:08,280 --> 00:07:10,840 It's like following a trail of digital breadcrumbs. 198 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:11,480 Yeah. 199 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:13,320 You start with something that seems small. 200 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:14,080 Right. 201 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:15,960 And it just leads to a much bigger story. 202 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:16,760 Absolutely. 203 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:18,840 So let's talk about Project 2025. 204 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:19,480 What is it? 205 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:21,640 And what are they trying to accomplish? 206 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:24,320 So basically, Project 2025 is this initiative 207 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:26,720 that's being led by these conservative think tanks 208 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:27,840 and advocacy groups. 209 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:28,400 OK. 210 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:31,200 And their goal is to fundamentally reshape 211 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:34,320 the federal government, especially the civil service. 212 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:35,400 Reshape the federal government. 213 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:36,600 That sounds like a pretty big goal. 214 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:37,880 What does that even mean? 215 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:38,380 Yeah. 216 00:07:38,380 --> 00:07:39,920 What kind of changes are they talking about? 217 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:41,280 Well, from what we know, it seems 218 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:44,400 like they want a much smaller, less powerful federal 219 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:45,600 government. 220 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:48,760 They want to make deep cuts to social programs, 221 00:07:48,760 --> 00:07:51,600 scale back environmental regulations, 222 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:54,400 and even reduce funding for scientific research. 223 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:55,040 Hold on. 224 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:56,720 They want to cut funding for NOAA. 225 00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:57,000 Yeah. 226 00:07:57,000 --> 00:07:59,920 The agency that's literally on the front lines 227 00:07:59,920 --> 00:08:03,760 of tracking hurricanes and monitoring climate change 228 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:05,760 and providing crucial weather data. 229 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:06,920 Right. 230 00:08:06,920 --> 00:08:08,480 That doesn't seem like a good idea, 231 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:10,480 especially considering the increasing threats we're 232 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:12,560 facing from extreme weather. 233 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:14,600 It might seem counterintuitive, but it 234 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:18,640 does align with their ideology of shrinking the government's 235 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:22,200 role in areas that they see as unnecessary or even harmful. 236 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:22,680 Right. 237 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:26,280 Project 2025 is really about dismantling or privatizing 238 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:28,760 a lot of government functions, including those that 239 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:30,240 have to do with scientific research 240 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:31,680 and environmental protection. 241 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:33,440 So it's not just about budget cuts. 242 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:33,960 No. 243 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:37,240 It's about completely changing the role of government 244 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:39,560 when it comes to things like science and environmental 245 00:08:39,560 --> 00:08:40,040 protection. 246 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:40,400 Yes. 247 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:43,000 What does that mean for the people who actually work at NOAA? 248 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:45,960 Well, one of the most concerning things about Project 2025 249 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:48,960 is their focus on replacing career civil servants 250 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:51,720 with people who agree with their ideology. 251 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:55,280 And that could mean sidelining experienced scientists 252 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:58,400 and researchers and bringing in people who might not 253 00:08:58,400 --> 00:08:59,640 have the right expertise. 254 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:02,040 So you're saying it's ideology over experience. 255 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:03,000 Yeah. 256 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:04,520 That's a scary thought, especially when 257 00:09:04,520 --> 00:09:06,440 we're talking about something as important as weather 258 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:09,680 forecasting and climate research that could really 259 00:09:09,680 --> 00:09:11,480 hurt the scientific community at NOAA. 260 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:11,960 Yeah. 261 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:13,400 That's a valid concern. 262 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:15,160 If scientists and researchers feel 263 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:16,920 like their work is being undermined 264 00:09:16,920 --> 00:09:21,240 or their expertise isn't valued, it could really lower morale 265 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:23,200 and potentially prevent them from doing their jobs 266 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:23,920 effectively. 267 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:26,080 And that's not even taking into account the impact 268 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:27,040 on public safety. 269 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:29,840 We're having accurate weather forecasting and climate modeling 270 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:32,640 is essential for protecting lives and property. 271 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:33,720 Absolutely. 272 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:35,880 Undermining NOAA's work could have consequences 273 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:38,640 that reach far beyond the agency itself. 274 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:40,320 It could affect the whole country. 275 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:42,920 And it seems like the Trump administration was using Project 276 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:45,960 2025 as a guide for their actions, especially 277 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:47,920 those personnel changes at OPM. 278 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:50,920 And that push for a new email server. 279 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:52,480 It's all starting to come together now. 280 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:55,520 The email vulnerabilities, the strange personnel changes. 281 00:09:55,520 --> 00:09:59,080 Let's fork in the road memos and now this Project 2025. 282 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:01,320 It feels like there was a deliberate effort 283 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:04,880 to reshape the federal government, including NOAA, 284 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:07,920 in a way that fits a very specific ideology. 285 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:11,320 And it seems like they were willing to compromise security 286 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:14,920 and maybe even jeopardize vital scientific research to do it. 287 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:16,480 You're putting all the pieces together. 288 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:19,440 It really makes you wonder about the role of ideology 289 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:22,720 in shaping government policy and whether prioritizing 290 00:10:22,720 --> 00:10:25,840 political gen-was over scientific expertise 291 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:28,200 and well-established procedures is a good idea. 292 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:29,280 It's a sobering thought. 293 00:10:29,280 --> 00:10:31,280 We can't just sit here and worry about it, though, can we? 294 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:33,160 What can we do to fight back against this? 295 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:36,600 What can people do to protect NOAA and other government 296 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:39,720 agencies from these potentially harmful changes? 297 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:43,200 It's a tough challenge, but there are some things we can do. 298 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:45,200 The most important thing is to raise awareness 299 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:49,400 about Project 2025 and its potential impact on the government 300 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:50,680 and on our lives. 301 00:10:50,680 --> 00:10:53,440 So it's all about educating ourselves and others 302 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:54,920 about what's going on. 303 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:57,120 We can't fight something if we don't understand it. 304 00:10:57,120 --> 00:10:58,000 Exactly. 305 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:02,400 We need to really understand the details of Project 2025. 306 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:03,920 What are their goals? 307 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:05,000 What are their methods? 308 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:07,120 And what could the consequences be? 309 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:10,680 Once we understand that, then we can start to effectively 310 00:11:10,680 --> 00:11:12,280 counter their influence. 311 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:15,040 And once we understand it, we can start speaking out 312 00:11:15,040 --> 00:11:15,680 against it, right? 313 00:11:15,680 --> 00:11:16,280 Yes. 314 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:18,640 Contact our elected officials, talk to our communities 315 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:21,440 about it, and use our voices to try to make a change. 316 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:22,680 Exactly. 317 00:11:22,680 --> 00:11:25,360 We need to hold our elected officials accountable. 318 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:25,680 Yes. 319 00:11:25,680 --> 00:11:28,600 And demand that they protect our government institutions 320 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:31,480 from these partisan agendas that could make them less effective. 321 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:34,520 It's about reminding them that these agencies like NELA 322 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:35,880 are supposed to serve the public. 323 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:36,600 Yes. 324 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:38,760 Not a specific political party. 325 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:41,440 Their focus should be on protecting people, not 326 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:43,680 advancing political agendas. 327 00:11:43,680 --> 00:11:44,800 Exactly. 328 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:46,880 And we can also support organizations 329 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:50,280 that are fighting to protect scientific integrity 330 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:52,400 and the work that government agencies do. 331 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:55,880 So donating to organizations that support 332 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:58,640 science-based policymaking, supporting groups 333 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:00,920 that are monitoring what the government's doing 334 00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:03,640 and amplifying the voices of scientists and researchers who 335 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:05,840 are speaking out against these changes. 336 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:06,720 You got it. 337 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:09,400 It's about using our collective voice and our resources 338 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:12,560 to push back against these changes that could be harmful 339 00:12:12,560 --> 00:12:15,280 and protect the institutions that are so important 340 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:16,200 for our well-being. 341 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:16,720 Yeah. 342 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:18,560 And remember, this isn't just about NOAA. 343 00:12:18,560 --> 00:12:18,760 Right. 344 00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:21,240 It's about protecting all federal employees 345 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:24,440 and making sure our government serves the needs of the people, 346 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:26,880 not the whims of a particular political party. 347 00:12:26,880 --> 00:12:28,440 It's a fight worth having. 348 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:30,320 And it reminds us that we as citizens 349 00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:33,240 have a role to play in shaping the future of our government. 350 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:36,000 We can't just sit back and hope everything turns out OK. 351 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:39,080 We have to be informed and engaged and active 352 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:40,720 in defending the institutions that 353 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:43,560 are vital for our democracy and our future. 354 00:12:43,560 --> 00:12:45,600 So we've been talking about Project 2025 355 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:48,480 and this whole idea of reshaping the federal government. 356 00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:50,720 But it's not just like a bunch of abstract ideas 357 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:54,400 where this project actually has a plan for how they want to do it. 358 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:55,280 Yeah, absolutely. 359 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:57,920 They have this whole roadmap for how 360 00:12:57,920 --> 00:13:00,880 they want to dismantle or privatize different parts 361 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:01,520 of the government. 362 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:04,200 And it's all written out in these policy papers 363 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:05,560 and strategic documents. 364 00:13:05,560 --> 00:13:06,520 So they're not just taught. 365 00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:08,440 They actually have a plan to make it happen. 366 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:09,480 That's kind of scary. 367 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:12,200 Can you give us some examples of what they're actually proposing? 368 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:15,160 What would a government that's been shaped by this Project 369 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:17,320 2025 actually look like? 370 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:19,760 Well, one of the big things is they want to make major cuts 371 00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:23,120 to social programs like Medicare and Social Security. 372 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:25,880 They say these programs are too expensive and not efficient 373 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:26,480 enough. 374 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:29,040 Wait, they want to cut Medicare and Social Security. 375 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:32,360 Those programs are so important for so many people. 376 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:33,200 Yeah. 377 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:34,280 That just seems crazy. 378 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:35,840 What else are they going after? 379 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:38,440 They also want to roll back environmental regulations, 380 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:41,280 you know, the protections that keep our air and water clean. 381 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:41,760 OK. 382 00:13:41,760 --> 00:13:44,040 They say these regulations are bad for businesses 383 00:13:44,040 --> 00:13:45,920 and that they're based on bad science. 384 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:48,720 So they're not only going after social safety nets, 385 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:52,000 but they're also targeting environmental protections. 386 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:54,760 It feels like they care more about businesses 387 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:57,000 than they do about people and the planet. 388 00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:59,040 Yeah, I can see why you'd say that. 389 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:02,160 And what they want to do to NOAA is especially worrying. 390 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:04,280 They want to slash the agency's budget 391 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:05,880 and limit what they do. 392 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:08,280 Basically, they're trying to stop them from monitoring 393 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:10,840 climate change, predicting extreme weather, 394 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:12,400 and protecting our oceans. 395 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:14,960 So they're trying to weaken the very agency that's 396 00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:18,320 supposed to be keeping us safe from climate change. 397 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:20,520 That just seems so backwards and dangerous, 398 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:22,960 especially with all the hurricanes and floods 399 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:26,160 and wildfires that are happening more and more these days. 400 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:28,080 It's definitely a risky move. 401 00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:30,600 They're basically gambling that we can just 402 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:32,160 ignore what the scientists are saying 403 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:34,760 and that climate change won't be as bad as they're predicting. 404 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:36,040 And what if they're wrong? 405 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:37,960 What if it's even worse than we think? 406 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:39,560 It's like they're playing with fire 407 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:41,120 when it comes to the future of the planet. 408 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:42,760 Yeah, it's a scary thought. 409 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:44,480 And it's not even just about the environment. 410 00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:48,680 Project 2025 also wants to reduce funding for scientific research 411 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:49,920 in general. 412 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:52,680 They're going after agencies like the National Institutes 413 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:55,560 of Health and the National Science Foundation. 414 00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:57,920 So basically, they want to stop scientific progress 415 00:14:57,920 --> 00:14:58,880 in all areas. 416 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:01,240 That's a really dangerous path to take. 417 00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:03,760 Scientific research is how we make new discoveries 418 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:05,400 and solve problems. 419 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:08,840 It's essential for dealing with all sorts of challenges, 420 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:12,280 from climate change to pandemics to national security. 421 00:15:12,280 --> 00:15:14,280 Yeah, it really shows a misunderstanding 422 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:16,400 of the role that science plays in society. 423 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:18,240 Science isn't just about learning things. 424 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:21,400 It's about solving problems, making people's lives better 425 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:22,920 and creating a better future. 426 00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:23,440 Exactly. 427 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:25,160 And when they undermine scientific research, 428 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:28,720 they're basically taking away our ability to do those things. 429 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:31,840 It's a recipe for things to get worse, not better. 430 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:34,560 Yeah, it's definitely a worrying trend. 431 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:36,560 And it's not only happening in the US either. 432 00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:39,720 We're seeing similar attacks on science and experts 433 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:41,160 all over the world. 434 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:42,720 So what can we do about this? 435 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:46,040 How do we fight back against all this anti-science sentiment 436 00:15:46,040 --> 00:15:48,840 and protect the role that science plays in our society? 437 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:51,200 Well, the first thing is we have to stand up for science. 438 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:53,560 We have to celebrate what science has accomplished, 439 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:55,360 teach ourselves and others about why 440 00:15:55,360 --> 00:15:58,240 scientific research is important, and challenge anyone 441 00:15:58,240 --> 00:15:59,640 who tries to undermine it. 442 00:15:59,640 --> 00:16:02,200 So it's about being vocal supporters of science. 443 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:04,480 We have to speak out against misinformation, 444 00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:07,600 support science education, and push for policies that 445 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:08,720 are based on evidence. 446 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:09,880 Exactly. 447 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:12,960 We have to make it clear that science isn't about politics. 448 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:16,080 It's about using reason, evidence, and critical thinking 449 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:18,200 to understand the world and solve problems. 450 00:16:18,200 --> 00:16:21,600 It's about making sure that our decisions based on facts, 451 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:24,960 not on ideology or what's politically convenient. 452 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:25,800 Exactly. 453 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:28,360 And we have to hold our elected officials accountable. 454 00:16:28,360 --> 00:16:30,720 We need to make sure they support scientific research, 455 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:32,480 that they listen to what the experts are saying, 456 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:33,800 and that they make decisions that 457 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:36,520 are in the best interests of the public and the planet. 458 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:38,920 That means voting for candidates who value 459 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:41,760 science and evidence, talking to our representatives 460 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:44,440 about our concerns, and advocating for policies that 461 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:46,520 prioritize scientific integrity. 462 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:47,640 Exactly. 463 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:50,200 It's about being active citizens, making sure 464 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:53,120 science has a voice, and working to create a society that 465 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:55,920 values knowledge, reason, and progress. 466 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:58,200 It's a fight that's worth fighting. 467 00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:01,160 And it reminds us that the future isn't set in stone. 468 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:03,760 It's shaped by the choices we make today. 469 00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:05,360 And if we choose to support science 470 00:17:05,360 --> 00:17:07,960 and make decisions based on evidence and demand 471 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:10,480 that our leaders care about the long-term well-being 472 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:12,680 of our planet and its people, then we 473 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:14,880 can create a future where science is guiding us 474 00:17:14,880 --> 00:17:16,680 towards a brighter tomorrow. 475 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:17,400 I like that. 476 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:19,200 That's a great point to end on. 477 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:21,560 Remember, the pursuit of knowledge never ends. 478 00:17:21,560 --> 00:17:25,240 Stay curious, stay informed, and never stop asking questions. 479 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:27,120 Thanks for joining us on this look 480 00:17:27,120 --> 00:17:29,000 at the intersection of politics, technology, 481 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:30,600 and the future of science. 482 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:33,200 Until next time, keep exploring, keep learning, 483 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:38,160 and keep those questions coming.