Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), a noted proponent of environmental protection efforts, said that the Supreme Court vacancy left by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg could end up having dire consequences for the nation's fight against the climate crisis.
"It has enormous impact, both directly and indirectly," said Merkley, citing Supreme Court decisions that have disenfranchised voters, which he says ultimately helps fossil fuel companies.
"It is a very big deal, indeed, to lose a champion for civil rights and election integrity, as well as a champion for consumer interest over corporate interest because there is, of course, vast corporate interest in the fossil fuel world and they are winning case after case before the court," he added.
The fossil fuel industry already has an outsized impact on blocking climate regulations, using "dark money" extensively to sway votes that favor their businesses, the senator said.
In an effort to combat extreme weather affecting the U.S., Merkley and other Senate Democrats formed a special committee.
"I think we are now building tremendous political momentum to address this challenge," he said.
The committee, according to Merkley, wants to designate "$400 billion per year" to battle climate change, as well as "provide extensive subsidies" that would fast-track the transition to renewable energy.
He also said it would set 2035 as a target for the U.S. to completely stop selling fossil-fueled cars, vans, and pickup trucks.
However, in order to affect change, the group of Democrats currently needs to work with Republicans and President Donald Trump, who often downplays the reality of the climate crisis and the science backing it.
"It's a complete failure of leadership on, perhaps, the most important issue facing human civilization on this planet," Merkley said.
In order for the U.S. to reverse course on climate, according to the senator, the best option is to elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
"In other words, putting America back in a position of global dialogue, global leadership so we're not only getting our own house in order, we're working in partnership with the world. It's only through that kind of partnership that human civilization is going to be able to tackle this issue,"
Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, faced withering questions on Capitol Hill about the reports the social media app was aware of the severe mental health impacts it was having on teenage girls. Karen Kornbluh, the director of digital innovation and democracy for the German Marshall Fund, joined Cheddar to discuss the rare show of bipartisan outrage on display at the Senate hearing. "The senators came really loaded for bear on both sides of the aisle," she said. Kornbluh explained how senators like Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) set up fake Instagram accounts with teen girl profiles in order to research the effects firsthand.
The Biden administration will not send an official U.S. delegation to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing as a statement against China's "ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang." Weifeng Zhong, senior research fellow at George Mason University's Mercatus Center, joins Cheddar News to discuss the boycott.
Back in 2010, several large companies pledged to work towards stopping deforestation by 2020. Companies like Nestle and Carrefour even went further to say that they would eliminate deforestation from their supply chains altogether. However, fast forward to 2020, many of these companies have failed to reach that goal. Associate Director of Forest at the CDP Nadia Bishai, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Instagram Chief Executive Adam Mosseri is set to testify before Congress for the first time. Mosseri’s appearance follows reports that showed Facebook and Instagram are aware of the harms their apps and services cause, including to teen mental health. Nicole Gill, co-founder and executive director of Accountable Tech joins Cheddar News to preview the hearing.
Chamber of Progress CEO Adam Kovacevich joined Wake Up With Cheddar to break down what to expect from the cryptocurrency executives appearing on Capitol Hill and how it could impact future crypto regulation. "I think what most people want to see from regulation is essentially channeling the good and the potential and putting in place guardrails to minimize the bad," he said.
Markets opened higher as investors shrugged off weaker-than-expected job growth and Omicron fears. George Seay, CEO, Annandale Capital joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss.
Less than six months after making its public debut on the NYSE, Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi says it will delist in the U.S. and pivot to Hong Kong instead. Chinese regulators are citing cybersecurity and data concerns. Shehzad Qazi, Managing Director, China Beige Book International joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss.
