Time - USA (2022-02-28)

23

It’s tempting to cast the

Republican National Republican National

Committee’s censure of U.S. Committee’s censure of U.S.

Representatives Liz Cheney Representatives Liz Cheney

and Adam Kinzinger as a and Adam Kinzinger as a

one-off distraction from the one-off distraction from the

real GOP, but to do so would real GOP, but to do so would

require blindness to just how require blindness to just how

viselike former President viselike former President

Donald Trump’s hold over Donald Trump’s hold over

the party has become. the party has become.

In choosing to rebuke the In choosing to rebuke the

two Republicans helping two Republicans helping

to investigate the failed to investigate the failed

Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection

at the Capitol, the RNC said at the Capitol, the RNC said

the pair was contributing to the pair was contributing to

the “persecution of ordinary the “persecution of ordinary

citizens engaged in legitimate citizens engaged in legitimate

political discourse.” The political discourse.” The

RNC predictably tried to RNC predictably tried to

walk it back, but it was too walk it back, but it was too

late—and late—and the party’s base the party’s base

didn’t really want it to soften didn’t really want it to soften

that sting.that sting.

Polls show Republicans’ Polls show Republicans’

views on the Jan. 6 riots views on the Jan. 6 riots

and Trump’s role have and Trump’s role have

hardened. ABC News fi nds hardened. ABC News fi nds

52% of Republicans believe 52% of Republicans believe

the rioters were “protecting the rioters were “protecting

democracy,” and 61% of democracy,” and 61% of

Republicans told the AP that Republicans told the AP that

the day was “somewhat” the day was “somewhat”

violent or not violent at all.violent or not violent at all.

Humoring Trump and the Humoring Trump and the

Big Lie may animate enough Big Lie may animate enough

voters to give Republicans voters to give Republicans

wins in November. But it wins in November. But it

comes at a long-term cost comes at a long-term cost

for voters who never bought for voters who never bought

tickets for Trump’s show.tickets for Trump’s show.

The DThe D.C. B.C. Briefrief

By Philip Elliott

WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT

LAST YEAR, THE U.S. EXPERIENCED

20 weather and climate disasters that

each caused more than $1 billion in

damage, from tropical storms in Flor-

ida to drought in the West, according

to federal data. Those costs include

things like destroyed buildings, but

the economic implications of such di-

sasters extend much further. Beneath

the headlines about supply-chain

challenges, extreme weather events

tied to climate change are contrib-

uting to the most significant infla-

tion in decades. Across the world,

climate-linked disasters have killed

crops, disrupted energy supplies, and

snarled transportation—and in turn

driven up prices.

One of the clearest examples of

climate-related infl ation came in the

wake of a winter storm in Texas in

February 2021 that shut off power

for days for some in the state. Across

Texas, natural gas pipelines ill

equipped to handle winter weather

went offl ine. This forced Gulf Coast

petrochemical refi neries—which

produce three- quarters of the coun-

try’s basic chemicals—to temporar-

ily stop production. These chemicals

are used to make everything from

soda bottles to car bumpers. In the

wake of the freeze, the U.S. lost 28%

of its shipments of chemicals by rail-

car, and prices of basic chemicals rose

Climate Is Everything

By Justin Worland

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT

dramatically, according to the Dal-

las Fed. That chemical shortage in

turn contributed to shortages across

a range of industries, as well as price

increases that were passed along to

consumers. By mid-April, production

had recovered—but prices remained

high through the end of the year. The

list could go on and on: cold weather

harming orange crops in Florida, tor-

nadoes destroying grain and poultry

facilities, and lumber facilities shut

down amid wildfi res. All of these can

lead to higher prices for consumers.

The link between climate change

and infl ation doesn’t stop there. The

trillions of dollars in spending needed

to transition the world away from fossil

fuels is bound to shape future infl ation,

and a debate has emerged about the ef-

fects. A 2020 report from the European

Central Bank argues that central banks

can manage the eff ects of climate pol-

icy on infl ation—so long as the transi-

tion is “orderly.” The clock is ticking for

the policymakers to deliver.

A worker harvests oranges at a grove in Fort Meade, Fla., on Feb. 1

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