Topic: Bnsf

The "Delta Five" protesters, arrested for blocking oil trains at a BNSF rail yard, are granted the right to use the "necessity defense" in a Seattle court. This marks the first time an American court has allowed defendants to argue that their illegal actions were necessary to prevent the greater harm of climate change. The trial features testimony from rail safety experts and climatologists regarding the threats posed by fossil fuel transportation.

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak open the program from Austin, Texas and Northern California. An email from a BNSF Railway employee suggests that a slowdown in the transportation business is a leading indicator of an economic crash, mirroring patterns seen before the 2008 financial crisis.

BNSF Railway is reportedly furloughing staff as low energy prices and a strong dollar hamper U.S. exports. Australia is currently underbidding American coal suppliers in the Chinese market, while Warren Buffett's transport interests are linked to the cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline. The hosts also discuss "foamers," a term used by railroad employees for train enthusiasts.

The "Delta Five" protesters in Seattle are using the "necessity defense" in court after blocking oil trains. This legal strategy argues that breaking the law was necessary to prevent the greater harm of climate change. Critics worry this sets a dangerous precedent where any crime could be justified by claiming it was done to save the planet.

A discussion regarding the lack of cleanliness on BNSF Railway trains and the California Zephyr. The observation is made that the engines are filthy and the logos are obscured by dirt, contrasting this with a past facility in Oakland that featured a massive train wash. The decline in maintenance is attributed to cost-cutting or a general lack of corporate pride within Warren Buffett's company.

The rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline is linked to Warren Buffett's financial interests. The hosts argue that by blocking the pipeline, the Obama administration ensured that Canadian oil must be transported via Buffett's BNSF railway. They critique statements from Obama and John Kerry, labeling the environmental justification a "scam" that ignores the risks of transporting oil by rail.

A segment on the PBS NewsHour highlights the specific pronunciation of "Carnegie" used by professional announcers. While many people say "Car-neh-gee," the official funding credits for the Carnegie Corporation of New York use a different emphasis. The hosts note that high-level sponsors are very particular about how their names are pronounced in public media.

The DOT-111 rail cars used to transport Bakken crude are described as the "Ford Pinto of rail cars" due to their tendency to burst into flames during accidents. Despite these dangers, major railroads like BNSF continue to use them, and mainstream media outlets—many of which are sponsored by BNSF—rarely report on the risks. The segment concludes with a critique of PBS and other networks for suppressing information about the "pipelines on rails" to protect their corporate donors.

Senator Elizabeth Warren's opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline is analyzed as a potential favor to major Democratic donors Warren Buffett and Bill Gates. The hosts argue that blocking the pipeline forces Canadian oil onto Buffett's Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railway, creating a financial bonanza for the rail industry. They characterize Warren's "jobs and environment" rhetoric as a distraction from the underlying "money and power" dynamics.

The funding sources for *PBS NewsHour* are scrutinized, specifically the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and BNSF Railway (owned by Warren Buffett). The hosts argue that these "major funding" credits are essentially 30-second commercials that compromise the independence of the news program.

The hosts critique the increasing commercialization of PBS and the News Hour, noting the presence of 30-second spots from corporations like Chevron and BNSF. They argue that public broadcasting has moved away from its original mission and now operates similarly to network television with an underlying corporate agenda.

The BNSF Railway, recently acquired by Warren Buffett, is criticized for the rusty and unwashed appearance of its locomotives. The hosts compare this to historical pride in refinery maintenance and speculate that the railway is neglecting current equipment in anticipation of high-speed rail upgrades. They suggest new rail specs for double-decker cars are designed to accommodate large freight containers.

The hosts examine the "Big Three" corporate sponsors of the PBS NewsHour: Bank of America, Chevron, and BNSF Railway. They argue that such heavy reliance on corporate funding compromises the objectivity of public broadcasting.