1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,400 Welcome back to Meteorology Matters, everyone. 2 00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:05,800 Today, we're gonna be looking into some unsettling stuff, 3 00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:09,760 potential cuts to the National Oceanic 4 00:00:09,760 --> 00:00:11,320 and Atmospheric Administration. 5 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:12,160 Ooh. 6 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:14,600 These are the folks that keep us up to date 7 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:16,240 on hurricanes, heat waves and all that. 8 00:00:16,240 --> 00:00:17,080 Right. 9 00:00:17,080 --> 00:00:18,480 And it looks like they might be facing 10 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:20,000 another round of downsizing. 11 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:21,240 Oh, wow. 12 00:00:21,240 --> 00:00:23,840 And we're gonna break down why this is a big deal, 13 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:26,040 especially with hurricane season coming up. 14 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:28,720 Yeah, that's a little concerning. 15 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:31,680 We really rely on the National Oceanic 16 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:34,640 and Atmospheric Administration for, you know. 17 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:35,480 Yeah. 18 00:00:35,480 --> 00:00:37,680 For all that stuff, especially during hurricane season. 19 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:41,000 These cuts could really have an impact on, you know, 20 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:43,120 their ability to keep us all safe. 21 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:44,600 Yeah, it's a lot to unpack. 22 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:46,360 So let's get started with what we know. 23 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:48,680 It seems like the Trump administration is considering 24 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:51,960 letting go of another 1,000 employees from NOAA. 25 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:52,800 Wow. 26 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:55,840 And that comes after about 1,300 people 27 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:57,400 have already left the agency. 28 00:00:57,400 --> 00:00:58,240 Oh, wow. 29 00:00:58,240 --> 00:00:59,680 So either by choice or... 30 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:00,520 Right. 31 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:01,360 Not by choice. 32 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:02,200 Yeah. 33 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:03,040 It's losing that many people. 34 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:04,960 Potentially 20% reduction in the workforce. 35 00:01:04,960 --> 00:01:06,120 That would be a major blow. 36 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:07,200 It would be huge. 37 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:08,840 I think about all the extreme weather 38 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:11,280 we've been seeing lately, you know. 39 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:12,120 Yeah. 40 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:14,400 And it's becoming more frequent and more intense. 41 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:15,240 Yeah. 42 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:17,440 NOAA needs all hands on deck to handle that, 43 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:19,240 not, you know, fewer people. 44 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:20,080 Right. 45 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:21,800 And it's not just the number of people either. 46 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:22,920 Yeah. 47 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:24,520 The administration hasn't really said 48 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:27,360 which programs might face these cuts. 49 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:29,960 So folks work at a NOAA. 50 00:01:29,960 --> 00:01:30,800 Right. 51 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:32,800 You know, they're probably on edge. 52 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:33,640 Totally. 53 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:35,960 Not knowing if their jobs or even their whole departments 54 00:01:35,960 --> 00:01:36,800 are gonna get cut. 55 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:37,640 Yeah. 56 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:39,320 That uncertainty can be really tough. 57 00:01:39,320 --> 00:01:42,160 You know, how do you focus on doing research, 58 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:44,520 gathering data and all that when you're worried about 59 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:46,040 if you'll have a job tomorrow. 60 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:46,880 Exactly. 61 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:48,040 That's gonna stifle innovation 62 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:49,200 and that's a big problem. 63 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:50,040 Yeah. 64 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:52,240 It really makes me wonder what's driving these cuts 65 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:53,360 in the first place. 66 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:55,520 I mean, we know that groups like the Heritage Foundation 67 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:56,560 have criticized NOAA. 68 00:01:56,560 --> 00:01:57,320 Right. 69 00:01:57,320 --> 00:01:58,920 Saying that they're, you know, 70 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:01,080 promoting what they call climate change alarm. 71 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:01,920 Yeah. 72 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:04,240 The Heritage Foundation being a conservative think tank 73 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:07,040 has definitely influenced the Trump administration 74 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:11,680 and their policies and how they view climate change and NOAA. 75 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:12,520 Right. 76 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:14,080 That's a big piece of this puzzle, I think. 77 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:16,640 But it's not just conservative groups raising concerns. 78 00:02:16,640 --> 00:02:17,480 Right. 79 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:18,800 The American Geophysical Union, 80 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:21,120 they represent a lot of earth and space scientists 81 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:22,960 and they're sounding the alarm too. 82 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:23,800 Yeah. 83 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:26,200 They're worried that if we undermine NOAA's work, 84 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:27,280 Yeah. 85 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:29,320 that could put the public at risk, 86 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:30,600 put the economy at risk. 87 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:31,560 Absolutely. 88 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:33,560 And they have a right to be worried. 89 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:37,200 You know, a lot of private weather forecasting companies, 90 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:40,360 they depend on the data and research that comes from NOAA. 91 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:41,200 Right. 92 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:42,280 Like the apps that we check every day, 93 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:44,080 the businesses that, you know, 94 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:45,760 make decisions based on the weather. 95 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:46,600 Right. 96 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:47,440 They're relying on NOAA. 97 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:48,280 Exactly. 98 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:49,120 To all of that. 99 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:51,600 And let's not forget the human cost too. 100 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:52,440 Yeah. 101 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:54,440 You know, these are people's livelihoods. 102 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:57,000 Their passion for science getting disrupted. 103 00:02:57,000 --> 00:02:57,840 Yeah. 104 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:00,240 You know, just imagine your colleagues getting let go. 105 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:02,360 Suddenly your research put on hold 106 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:03,920 because your credit card is frozen. 107 00:03:03,920 --> 00:03:05,440 Yeah, that's awful. 108 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:07,920 It sends a chill throughout the whole scientific community. 109 00:03:07,920 --> 00:03:09,480 It's incredibly demoralizing. 110 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:12,200 When scientists are working under that kind of pressure, 111 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:13,520 you know, that fear. 112 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:14,360 Yeah. 113 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:17,800 It's almost impossible to attract good people 114 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:20,160 and to maintain a high level of research. 115 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:21,000 Right. 116 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:22,400 That's a problem that could have ripple effects 117 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:23,920 for years to come. 118 00:03:23,920 --> 00:03:24,760 Yeah. 119 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:25,680 And it's not just NOAA. 120 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:26,520 Oh. 121 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:30,280 The CIA, the Defense Department, even Veteran Affairs, 122 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:32,320 they're all facing similar staff cuts. 123 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:34,440 It seems like that's a broader goal 124 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:35,720 of the Trump administration, right? 125 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:37,960 Shrinking the sides of the federal government. 126 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:40,120 There's even been talk of eliminating diversity 127 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:42,200 and inclusion initiatives across the board. 128 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:45,040 That's interesting because, you know, on one hand, 129 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:46,960 they're cutting back in these areas, 130 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:49,240 but they're also, you know, initially it seemed like 131 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:52,280 they were really keen on expanding the Office of Space Commerce 132 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:53,200 within NOAA. 133 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:55,400 And this is the office that's responsible 134 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:58,560 for tracking satellites and preventing collisions, 135 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:00,800 which is getting more and more important 136 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:03,920 with a growing number of satellites out there. 137 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:05,600 It seems a little contradictory, right, 138 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:09,080 supporting space exploration while cutting funding 139 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:11,520 to essential agencies like NOAA. 140 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:14,640 The Office of Space Commerce, they play a vital role 141 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:18,200 in, you know, the safety and progress of space activities, 142 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:20,960 which is really crucial if the U.F. wants to remain 143 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:22,320 a leader in commercial space. 144 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:23,160 Right. 145 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:24,320 It's not just about bragging rights, either. 146 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:25,160 No. 147 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:28,120 The Office of Space Commerce, they impact our daily lives, 148 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:28,960 you know. 149 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:29,800 Right. 150 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:30,640 They're responsible for licensing 151 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:32,320 and regulating commercial spacecraft. 152 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:33,160 Yeah. 153 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:37,360 Which affects everything, GPS to satellite communication. 154 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:40,680 Cutting their funding could really have a domino effect 155 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:42,400 on the whole space industry. 156 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:43,240 Right. 157 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:45,160 Innovation could be stifled and the U.S. 158 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:47,520 might lose its edge, you know, on a global scale. 159 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:50,400 Yeah, it's like there's a disconnect between, you know, 160 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:52,360 the vision of space exploration. 161 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:53,200 Right. 162 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:54,480 And then the reality of these budget cuts. 163 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:55,080 Right. 164 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:56,880 They can't really have one without the other. 165 00:04:56,880 --> 00:05:00,360 You need good scientific research and a dedicated workforce 166 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:03,920 to, you know, achieve great things in space. 167 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:04,800 Yeah. 168 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:07,280 The most worrisome part is that we're only starting 169 00:05:07,280 --> 00:05:10,360 to understand the potential long-term consequences 170 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:11,200 of these cuts. 171 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:12,040 Right. 172 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:15,640 It takes years, even decades, to build up expertise 173 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:17,920 and infrastructure, you know, for cutting edge 174 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:19,680 scientific research. 175 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:23,520 And these cuts could set us back significantly. 176 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:24,360 Yeah. 177 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:27,120 And in fact, our ability to understand and respond 178 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:30,360 to big challenges like climate change and emerging 179 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:32,280 technologies, all of that. 180 00:05:32,280 --> 00:05:34,360 And what about the people that are coming up, you know, 181 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:37,160 the next generation of scientists and researchers? 182 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:37,480 Right. 183 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:39,440 What kind of message does this send to them? 184 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:39,720 Yeah. 185 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:42,160 Why would they want to dedicate themselves to public service 186 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:44,280 when they see their colleagues being treated this way? 187 00:05:44,280 --> 00:05:44,800 Exactly. 188 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:46,320 You know, their work being devalued. 189 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:47,400 That's a crucial point. 190 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:47,760 Yeah. 191 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:50,400 We need to be encouraging young people to go into these fields. 192 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:50,880 Right. 193 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:53,680 These cuts send the opposite message. 194 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:56,000 We need to encourage these people to solve these complex 195 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:57,360 problems in the future. 196 00:05:57,360 --> 00:05:59,760 It really does make you think, huh? 197 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:00,680 It does. 198 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:02,400 One of the articles we read really 199 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:05,480 highlighted this potential contradiction. 200 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:07,720 Oh, you mean the one where they are supporting, 201 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:10,200 you know, American leadership in space, 202 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:12,920 but then at the same time, they're cutting funding? 203 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:15,480 Yeah, to the agencies that could actually, you know. 204 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:16,200 That make it happen. 205 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:17,040 They could happen. 206 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:19,600 It's like they are trying to reach for the stars 207 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:22,360 while sawing off the branch they're sitting on. 208 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:25,120 It really does make you wonder about their vision 209 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:26,200 for the future, doesn't it? 210 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:27,760 It feels very short-sighted. 211 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:31,480 Yeah, like prioritizing these budget cuts over investing 212 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:32,200 in our future. 213 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:33,360 Right. 214 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:35,040 And the article specifically talked 215 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:37,440 about the Office of Space Commerce, 216 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:39,960 which ironically, the Trump administration initially 217 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:41,560 really liked this. 218 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:43,440 Yeah, they were champions of it at first. 219 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:46,680 This is the office, you know, that tracks satellites and debris. 220 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:47,160 Right. 221 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:51,680 They are kind of like the air traffic controllers for space. 222 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:53,400 Yeah, making sure that things don't collide. 223 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:53,880 Right. 224 00:06:53,880 --> 00:06:55,520 And it's not just about, you know, 225 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:57,360 preventing satellites from crashing into each other. 226 00:06:57,360 --> 00:06:57,920 No, no, no. 227 00:06:57,920 --> 00:06:59,760 As we get more and more satellites up there, 228 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:01,440 the risk of collision goes up too. 229 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:02,440 Exponentially. 230 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:04,480 And we have companies like SpaceX launching 231 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:07,040 all these constellations of satellites, you know. 232 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:09,160 So the risk is just getting bigger and bigger. 233 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:12,520 And it's not just, you know, a couple pieces of broken machinery 234 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:13,840 if something crashes up there. 235 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:15,040 It could be way worse than that. 236 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:17,680 We could have a cascade of debris, you know. 237 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:20,520 One collision could set off a chain reaction. 238 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:21,160 Oh, wow. 239 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:23,640 And lead to something called the Kessler syndrome. 240 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:24,640 Kessler syndrome. 241 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:25,280 What is that? 242 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:29,880 Well, imagine that there are so many objects in low Earth orbit, 243 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:32,840 you know, that collisions are basically unavoidable. 244 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:36,160 And then you just have this chain reaction of destruction. 245 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:36,440 Wow. 246 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:39,320 It's a domino effect on a cosmic scale. 247 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:42,400 So space junk basically becomes this huge hazard. 248 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:43,000 Exactly. 249 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:45,280 It could totally mess up satellite communications, 250 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:50,400 GPS systems, and space travel would be incredibly dangerous. 251 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:53,160 It would be, you know, devastating for anything 252 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:54,160 we want to do in space. 253 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:56,320 And this office of space commerce, 254 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:58,400 they are supposed to be the ones that prevent this. 255 00:07:58,400 --> 00:07:58,760 Right. 256 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:02,720 They develop these systems for space traffic management, 257 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:05,320 you know, to make sure that everything up there 258 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:07,480 can coexist peacefully. 259 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:08,040 Right. 260 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:09,000 But it's a tough job. 261 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:11,840 It requires resources, expertise. 262 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:13,920 So cutting their budget seems kind of counterproductive. 263 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:15,200 It really does, especially if you're 264 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:20,080 trying to promote space commerce and be a leader in the field. 265 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:22,800 The article also said the cuts to the office of space 266 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:26,080 commerce could impact the licensing and regulation 267 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:27,760 of commercial spacecraft. 268 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:29,840 That's another important thing that could be affected. 269 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:32,560 They make sure that companies operating in space 270 00:08:32,560 --> 00:08:35,720 are, you know, doing things responsibly and safely. 271 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:36,040 Right. 272 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:38,080 So without that oversight, we could end up 273 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:40,760 with kind of a wild west situation. 274 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:42,160 It's a good way to put it, yeah. 275 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:44,640 You could have all these poorly designed or operated 276 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:47,600 satellites increasing the risk of collisions, interference 277 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:49,720 with other systems, even environmental damage. 278 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:51,760 And that could hurt the US base industry, right? 279 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:54,840 Of course, if companies don't have a stable regulatory 280 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:56,800 environment, they might just go somewhere else. 281 00:08:56,800 --> 00:08:57,280 Me too, Seth. 282 00:08:57,280 --> 00:09:00,440 It would be a big loss for American innovation 283 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:02,400 and leadership in space. 284 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:04,920 And that could affect a lot of other industries 285 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:06,920 that rely on space technology. 286 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:10,360 You know, reading all these articles, 287 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:13,160 I can't help but feel uneasy about the future. 288 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:14,600 And it sounds like a lot of people 289 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:16,000 at NOAA feel the same way. 290 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:16,360 Oh, yeah. 291 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:18,800 I bet with all the layoffs and the uncertainty. 292 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:19,240 Yeah. 293 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:22,280 Plus the feeling that they're not valued. 294 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:22,600 Yeah. 295 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:24,960 You know that their work isn't appreciated. 296 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:25,200 Right. 297 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:26,360 It's not a good environment. 298 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:27,080 No. 299 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:30,880 One article talked about how people would be let go 300 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:32,200 without any warning. 301 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:32,720 Oh, god. 302 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:35,200 Leaving everyone else wondering if they were next. 303 00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:35,960 Right. 304 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:38,720 And then some employees had their credit cards frozen, 305 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:40,960 so they couldn't buy stuff for their research. 306 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:41,880 Wow. 307 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:43,480 That's just demoralizing. 308 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:43,600 Yeah. 309 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:45,960 Imagine you're a scientist who loves your work. 310 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:46,440 Yeah. 311 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:48,560 And suddenly, you can't even get the basic materials 312 00:09:48,560 --> 00:09:49,200 you need. 313 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:49,600 Right. 314 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:51,040 Like, they don't respect you at all. 315 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:51,560 Yeah. 316 00:09:51,560 --> 00:09:54,480 It just feels like chaos and a lack of respect 317 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:56,480 for the people doing this important work. 318 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:56,840 Yeah. 319 00:09:56,840 --> 00:09:59,560 And it's a terrible message to send to the whole scientific 320 00:09:59,560 --> 00:10:00,560 community. 321 00:10:00,560 --> 00:10:01,040 Right. 322 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:02,960 Like, who would want to work for an organization that 323 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:04,360 treats its employees that way? 324 00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:04,840 Yeah. 325 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:05,600 Exactly. 326 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:08,240 Especially young scientists who are just starting out. 327 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:08,560 Yeah. 328 00:10:08,560 --> 00:10:09,440 You see this happening. 329 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:11,800 They might think twice about going into public service. 330 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:12,360 Right. 331 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:15,160 It's hard enough as it is to get good people into science, 332 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:16,760 and this just makes it worse. 333 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:19,600 But it's not all bad news, right? 334 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:22,920 The articles mention these stand-up for science rallies 335 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:24,480 that are happening all over the country. 336 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:25,760 Oh, that's good. 337 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:28,280 So it seems like people are paying attention 338 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:32,360 and they are concerned about the future of science. 339 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:33,120 That's encouraging. 340 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:34,680 It shows that people get it. 341 00:10:34,680 --> 00:10:35,120 You know? 342 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:35,360 Yeah. 343 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:37,840 They understand how important science is. 344 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:39,600 And they're willing to speak out against this. 345 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:40,280 Right. 346 00:10:40,280 --> 00:10:42,160 And it's not just scientists who are worried. 347 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:43,640 It's everyday people too. 348 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:43,960 Yeah. 349 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:46,280 We all benefit from scientific research. 350 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:46,640 Right. 351 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:49,000 When people see science being attacked, 352 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:51,200 discredited, defunded, it's alarming. 353 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:51,600 Yeah. 354 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:53,280 And it's not just happening now. 355 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:53,480 Right. 356 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:55,920 There have been these attempts to cut funding before. 357 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:56,240 Right. 358 00:10:56,240 --> 00:10:57,600 To the National Weather Service. 359 00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:01,120 And usually it's driven by some kind of agenda, 360 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:02,480 not good policy. 361 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:02,840 Right. 362 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:05,360 But what's scary now is how sudden it is. 363 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:05,880 Right. 364 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:08,000 And how they don't seem to care about the consequences. 365 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:08,480 Yeah. 366 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:12,320 It feels like they are gambling with our future. 367 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:12,680 Yeah. 368 00:11:12,680 --> 00:11:16,760 Our ability to deal with the challenges that we face. 369 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:19,440 It's like they don't care about facts and evidence anymore. 370 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:19,960 Yeah. 371 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:22,400 Like it's all about ideology and politics. 372 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:23,680 It's a worrying trend. 373 00:11:23,680 --> 00:11:25,560 And it's not just in science either. 374 00:11:25,560 --> 00:11:26,000 Right. 375 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:27,000 We see it everywhere. 376 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:29,120 It's tough to have a conversation based on facts 377 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:30,640 without it turning into a fight. 378 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:31,000 Right. 379 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:34,240 And that's dangerous for science and for society. 380 00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:34,440 Yeah. 381 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:36,840 When we lose sight of the truth, we can't make good decisions 382 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:37,680 about the future. 383 00:11:37,680 --> 00:11:38,120 Exactly. 384 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:39,600 But there's still hope, right? 385 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:40,000 Yeah. 386 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:42,360 There are people out there fighting for science, 387 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:44,400 advocating for facts and evidence. 388 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:45,440 Well, we need more of that. 389 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:47,400 Well, do we need to support these people? 390 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:47,760 Right. 391 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:49,640 We need to make our voices heard. 392 00:11:49,640 --> 00:11:50,920 Speak up for science. 393 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:52,720 Demand transparency from our leaders. 394 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:53,640 Hold them accountable. 395 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:54,400 Exactly. 396 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:56,200 The future of science depends on it. 397 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:58,040 The future of our planet even. 398 00:11:58,040 --> 00:11:58,480 Right. 399 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:00,360 We need to remember that science isn't just 400 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:02,000 about facts and figures. 401 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:03,520 It's a way of thinking. 402 00:12:03,520 --> 00:12:03,840 Right. 403 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:05,400 A process of discovery. 404 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:05,880 Yeah. 405 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:08,760 It's crucial to human progress. 406 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:10,760 Science has brought us so many great things. 407 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:11,240 Yeah. 408 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:13,040 You know, in medicine technology. 409 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:13,560 Right. 410 00:12:13,560 --> 00:12:15,480 And it'll continue to do that if we let it. 411 00:12:15,480 --> 00:12:16,360 Exactly. 412 00:12:16,360 --> 00:12:20,600 We need to invest in science, education, support research, 413 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:23,160 create a good environment for scientists. 414 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:24,960 Because at the end of the day, we 415 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:27,680 need science to solve the big problems. 416 00:12:27,680 --> 00:12:28,560 Absolutely. 417 00:12:28,560 --> 00:12:32,800 Climate change, pandemics, sustainable energy, you know. 418 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:34,760 Science is the answer, not the enemy. 419 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:34,880 Yeah. 420 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:36,560 It's our best shot at a better future. 421 00:12:36,560 --> 00:12:37,920 And we need to defend it. 422 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:39,520 We do now more than ever. 423 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:42,680 Make some noise, let the world know that science matters. 424 00:12:42,680 --> 00:12:42,960 Yeah. 425 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:45,320 A society that ignores science is a society 426 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:46,520 that's doomed to fail. 427 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:47,280 That's powerful. 428 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:48,560 We need to keep saying that. 429 00:12:48,560 --> 00:12:49,960 We can't let apathy win. 430 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:52,400 So what can people do to make a difference, you know, 431 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:54,640 if they are feeling overwhelmed by all of this? 432 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:56,040 Well, stay engaged. 433 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:56,360 Yeah. 434 00:12:56,360 --> 00:12:58,040 Stay informed. 435 00:12:58,040 --> 00:12:59,440 Read articles. 436 00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:01,160 Listen to podcasts like this one. 437 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:03,120 Talk to your friends and family about it. 438 00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:05,240 Don't underestimate the power of your voice. 439 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:06,280 Exactly. 440 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:08,360 Contact your elected officials. 441 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:08,720 Right. 442 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:11,640 Tell them that you support science funding. 443 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:11,920 Yeah. 444 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:14,840 Support organizations that are promoting science, 445 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:17,800 literacy, STEM education. 446 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:20,240 And encourage kids to be curious and to learn. 447 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:20,520 Right. 448 00:13:20,520 --> 00:13:24,160 We need that next generation of scientists and engineers 449 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:24,960 and innovators. 450 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:26,280 Because they're the ones that are going 451 00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:27,520 to be dealing with all this. 452 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:28,040 Right. 453 00:13:28,040 --> 00:13:30,320 The future belongs to the curious. 454 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:31,600 That's a great way to put it. 455 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:31,800 Yeah. 456 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:35,040 The people who ask questions, the people who want to learn 457 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:36,360 and make the world a better place. 458 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:37,040 Exactly. 459 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:38,520 This whole thing with the tuts. 460 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:39,600 Yeah. 461 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:41,600 It makes you think about the bigger picture. 462 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:42,800 It really does. 463 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:44,640 What do we value as a society? 464 00:13:44,640 --> 00:13:46,040 What's the government's role? 465 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:46,840 Yeah. 466 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:49,880 What should the government be responsible for? 467 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:53,280 And what should be left to private companies? 468 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:53,880 Right. 469 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:54,920 It's a classic debate. 470 00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:57,080 Some people say that government should support 471 00:13:57,080 --> 00:13:58,600 scientific research. 472 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:00,880 Because some areas are just too risky or need 473 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:02,160 long-term investment. 474 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:03,360 That companies won't do. 475 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:06,840 And then others say, let the free market decide. 476 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:09,280 Let private companies take the lead. 477 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:12,400 So it sounds like it's all about finding the right balance. 478 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:12,920 Yeah. 479 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:13,600 I think so. 480 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:16,800 It's not about one side being right or wrong. 481 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:17,320 Right. 482 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:21,760 It's about understanding the pros and cons of each approach 483 00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:24,600 and figuring out how to make them work together. 484 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:27,240 So in your opinion, what does that balance look like? 485 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:30,000 Well, I think it depends on the specific field. 486 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:30,480 You know? 487 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:30,960 OK. 488 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:34,000 Like with basic research or early stage technology 489 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:34,600 development. 490 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:35,040 Yeah. 491 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:37,680 Those things might take years to pay off. 492 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:38,080 Right. 493 00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:39,880 So government funding is really important 494 00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:41,040 to get those things started. 495 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:43,760 It's like providing that initial boost to get things going. 496 00:14:43,760 --> 00:14:44,280 Exactly. 497 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:47,960 And then once those ideas have developed and show some promise, 498 00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:50,880 then private companies can step in and turn them 499 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:52,760 into actual products and services. 500 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:54,560 So it's more of a partnership than a competition. 501 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:54,960 Right. 502 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:56,560 It should be. 503 00:14:56,560 --> 00:14:59,040 We need a system where the government and industry 504 00:14:59,040 --> 00:14:59,920 can work together. 505 00:14:59,920 --> 00:15:00,280 Right. 506 00:15:00,280 --> 00:15:03,040 Each one playing its part in driving progress. 507 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:06,600 But it seems like these proposed cuts are, you know, 508 00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:08,800 tipping the scales too far in one direction. 509 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:09,240 Yeah. 510 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:10,360 That's my worry too. 511 00:15:10,360 --> 00:15:15,480 If we cut funding to these important scientific agencies, 512 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:18,000 it weakens that partnership, you know? 513 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:18,200 Right. 514 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:19,520 And the whole system suffers. 515 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:22,280 It's like neglecting the foundation of a house, 516 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:22,680 you know? 517 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:24,200 Eventually, it's going to fall apart. 518 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:26,960 And those problems can affect everyone, not just scientists. 519 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:27,240 Right. 520 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:29,920 Scientific progress doesn't happen in isolation. 521 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:30,080 Yeah. 522 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:31,920 It affects everything, health care technology, 523 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:33,360 even our understanding of the world. 524 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:34,120 Exactly. 525 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:36,800 So if we want to solve these big problems, 526 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:37,800 like climate change. 527 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:38,200 Right. 528 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:41,440 Climate change, pandemics, sustainable energy, all of it. 529 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:43,200 We need a strong scientific foundation. 530 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:44,000 We do. 531 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:45,880 And that means investing in it. 532 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:49,440 Both the government and private companies need to contribute. 533 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:49,680 Right. 534 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:54,160 We need to encourage curiosity, a love of learning. 535 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:54,560 Yeah. 536 00:15:54,560 --> 00:15:57,040 We have to recognize that science is essential. 537 00:15:57,040 --> 00:15:57,240 Right. 538 00:15:57,240 --> 00:15:58,120 It's not a luxury. 539 00:15:58,120 --> 00:15:59,120 No, it's a necessity. 540 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:01,080 So for our listeners out there who are feeling 541 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:03,080 a little concerned about all of this, 542 00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:04,840 what can they do to make a difference? 543 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:07,160 Stay engaged, stay informed. 544 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:10,400 Read articles, listen to podcasts like this one, 545 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:11,720 talk to people about it. 546 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:12,960 Don't be afraid to speak up. 547 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:13,800 Exactly. 548 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:16,040 Contact your elected officials. 549 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:18,600 Tell them you support science funding 550 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:21,280 advocate for policies that are based on evidence. 551 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:21,760 Right. 552 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:25,000 Support organizations that promote science literacy 553 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:26,480 and STEM education. 554 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:30,160 And encourage kids to be curious and to love learning. 555 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:31,200 Exactly. 556 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:34,200 We need to inspire the next generation of scientists 557 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:35,160 and engineers. 558 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:36,280 Because they're the ones who are going 559 00:16:36,280 --> 00:16:37,480 to inherit all these challenges. 560 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:38,720 They are. 561 00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:41,200 You know the future belongs to the curious. 562 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:42,480 That's a great way to put it. 563 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:44,360 The people who ask questions, who want to learn 564 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:45,320 and make the world better. 565 00:16:45,320 --> 00:16:46,560 That's what it's all about. 566 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:48,280 Well, thank you so much for joining us today 567 00:16:48,280 --> 00:16:49,440 and sharing your insights. 568 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:50,720 It was my pleasure. 569 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:51,880 And for our listeners out there, 570 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:55,160 you can find me, Rob Jones on Instagram and TikTok. 571 00:16:55,160 --> 00:16:57,400 And don't forget to subscribe to the Meteorology Matters 572 00:16:57,400 --> 00:16:59,120 playlist on YouTube. 573 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:02,960 Until next time, keep those minds curious.