On the identical day a warmth wave pressured Milwaukee, Wisconsin, public faculties to shut for the day, moderators on the first Republican presidential debate within the metropolis requested candidates in the event that they believed local weather change was attributable to human exercise. Their solutions ranged from avoidance to outright denial. “I believe this sums up the Republican Celebration at this level,” says John Nichols, nationwide affairs correspondent at The Nation. “The average place within the Republican Celebration is avoidance, however I believe a really … common place inside the social gathering is certainly one of precise denial.” Nichols added that the warmth index was 114 levels in Milwaukee on the day of the talk. “We noticed peak local weather denial in a Republican debate, and it’s form of superb at this late stage in historical past.”
It is a rush transcript. Copy is probably not in its closing kind.
AMY GOODMAN: Ultimately evening’s debate in Milwaukee, Republican presidential candidates had been additionally requested in regards to the local weather disaster. This was on a day when the warmth in Milwaukee pressured the closing of the Milwaukee faculties. Through the debate, Fox Information performed a query from Alexander Diaz, a pupil at Catholic College of America.
ALEXANDER DIAZ: Polls constantly present that younger folks’s primary challenge is local weather change. How will you, as each president of america and chief of the Republican Celebration, calm their fears that the Republican Celebration doesn’t care about local weather change?
MARTHA MacCALLUM: So, we wish to begin on this with a present of arms. Do you imagine in human conduct is inflicting local weather change? Increase your hand for those who do.
GOV. RON DESANTIS: Look, we’re not schoolchildren. Let’s have the talk. I imply, I’m blissful to take it to begin, Alexander.
MARTHA MacCALLUM: OK. what?
BRET BAIER: So, do you wish to elevate your hand or not?
GOV. RON DESANTIS: I don’t assume that’s the best way to do. So, let me simply say to Alexander this: To start with, one of many causes our nation’s decline is due to the best way the company media treats Republicans versus Democrats. Biden was on the seashore whereas these folks had been struggling. He was requested about it. He mentioned, “No remark.” Are you kidding me? As someone that’s dealt with disasters in Florida, you’ve received to be activated. You’ve received to be there. You’ve received to be current. You’ve received to be serving to people who find themselves doing this.
VIVEK RAMASWAMY: Can we cease the filibuster and reply the query?
MARTHA MacCALLUM: Yeah.
GOV. RON DESANTIS: And right here’s the deal —
VIVEK RAMASWAMY: Let’s simply reply the query, truly.
BRET BAIER: Is {that a} “sure”? Is {that a} “sure”? Is {that a} hand raised?
MARTHA MacCALLUM: You don’t —
VIVEK RAMASWAMY: I believe it was a hand raised for him. And it’s — my arms are in my pockets, as a result of the local weather change agenda is a hoax.
GOV. RON DESANTIS: No, I didn’t elevate a hand.
VIVEK RAMASWAMY: Allow us to be sincere as Republicans. I’m the one individual on the stage who isn’t purchased and paid for, so I can say this: The local weather change agenda is a hoax.
ASA HUTCHINSON: Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. That’s ridiculous.
VIVEK RAMASWAMY: The local weather change agenda is a hoax, and we’ve to declare independence from them. And the fact is, the anti-carbon agenda is the moist blanket on our economic system. And so, the fact is, extra individuals are dying of unhealthy local weather change insurance policies than they’re of precise local weather change.
BRET BAIER: Governor, Governor Haley, are you acquire and paid for?
VIVEK RAMASWAMY: The loss of life fee is down by 98% over the past century.
BRET BAIER: Maintain on. Maintain on. Hear. Hear. Hear.
CHRIS CHRISTIE: Look, I’ve had — no, no, no. I’ve had sufficient. I’ve had sufficient already tonight of a man who seems like ChatGPT standing up right here. And the final individual in certainly one of these debates, Bret, who stood in the midst of the stage and mentioned, “What’s a thin man with an odd final identify doing up right here?” was Barack Obama, and I’m afraid we’re coping with the identical kind of novice standing on stage tonight.
VIVEK RAMASWAMY: Properly, come over right here. Come over and provides me a hug. Give me a hug similar to you probably did to Obama.
CHRIS CHRISTIE: The identical — the identical kind of novice.
VIVEK RAMASWAMY: And also you’ll assist elect me similar to you probably did to Obama, too. Give me that bear hug, brother.
CHRIS CHRISTIE: The identical kind of novice.
BRET BAIER: Maintain on. Maintain on. Governor Haley, would you want to reply? Are you acquire and paid for?
NIKKI HALEY: So, Bret, what I wish to say is the truth that I believe that is precisely why Margaret Thatcher mentioned, “If you’d like one thing mentioned, ask a person. If you’d like one thing achieved, ask a lady.” To start with, we do care about clear air, clear water. We wish to see that taken care of. However there’s a proper method to do it. And the precise method to do it’s, to start with, sure, is local weather change actual? Sure, it’s. However if you wish to go and actually change the setting, then we have to begin telling China and India that they must decrease their emissions.
AMY GOODMAN: That was the previous U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, who was the South Carolina governor. John Nichols, in a short time, earlier than we transfer on to international coverage?
JOHN NICHOLS: Certain. Look, we noticed peak local weather denial in a Republican debate, and it’s form of superb at this late stage in historical past that it was, A, said and, B, even on the candidates who weren’t fairly as aggressive as Ramaswamy, there was avoidance. And also you seen that in that clip you performed, the candidates instantly tried to go off to different matters to speak about whether or not they had been purchased and paid for, to speak about China, to speak about Russia, somewhat than to focus in on the problem that was raised.
And I believe this sums up the Republican Celebration at this level. The average place within the Republican social gathering is avoidance. However I believe a really sturdy place is — , a very talked-about place inside the social gathering is certainly one of precise denial. And also you noticed a candidate on stage go full board on that, which was fairly outstanding, particularly on a day when, actually, the warmth index was 114 levels in Milwaukee.
As media corporations are downsizing, the world nonetheless desperately wants Truthout.
It’s no secret that it’s a troublesome time for impartial journalism. All over the place you look, media organizations are slicing prices and eliminating very important positions. From small, native publications to giant, well-known business giants, nobody is resistant to this sea change.
Truthout is one of some information publications that continues to be virtually fully funded by readers. Each single present to our group makes it doable to pay our unbelievable journalists and our small workforce of hardworking workers. Your help lets us report on local weather, labor, LGBTQ rights, policing, training, and extra – all from a place of true independence and with our signature concentrate on social justice.
Proper now, we’re conducting an essential fundraiser. We should elevate $45,000 within the subsequent 7 days. In case you can assist us make it by way of this tough time, please make a tax-deductible present right this moment.
