Topic: Hurricane Sandy

President Biden cited statistics claiming the U.S. has 25% of the world's COVID-19 cases despite having only 4% of the population. He announced a new FEMA-led response model that assigns a federal liaison to each state, comparing it to the response for Hurricane Sandy. Critics noted the comparison was flawed as Sandy only impacted a few states, whereas COVID-19 is a national issue.

Activists with the Sunrise Movement protested at Senator Chuck Schumer's office, demanding he support the Green New Deal. A resident of Sunset Park, Brooklyn, cited the impact of Hurricane Sandy as the motivation for the protest. The hosts characterize the movement as a "monster created by the left" that is now disrupting commerce.

Reverend Manning delivers a fiery sermon claiming Hurricane Harvey is a precursor to the "tribulation" and predicting that Houston will never recover. The commentary compares Harvey's devastation to Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy, suggesting that political and economic instability will prevent the full rebuilding of the Texas coast.

John C. Dvorak presents a historical timeline of major hurricanes hitting New York City to counter claims that Superstorm Sandy was an unprecedented "new normal." He cites the 1821 hurricane, the 1938 "Long Island Express," and several mid-century storms that produced higher storm surges or more rainfall than Sandy. The data is used to argue against the narrative of human-accelerated climate change.

CNN reports on a record nine-year "hurricane drought" in the United States, noting that no Category 3 or higher storm has made landfall since 2005. Despite the lack of scientific explanation for the lull, the report emphasizes the need for continued fear and preparedness, while the hosts clarify that Sandy was a superstorm, not a hurricane.

New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman appears in the "Years of Living Dangerously" series, linking the Syrian revolution to climate-induced droughts. Friedman proposes the term "global weirding" as a more effective meme than "global warming." Expert Heidi Cullen also claims that Hurricane Sandy was made worse by a foot of sea level rise caused by global warming, a figure the hosts dispute as scientifically inaccurate.

The hosts analyze the media coverage of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, predicting a "Typhoon-a-thon" celebrity relief effort will soon follow. They discuss how the storm is being linked to global warming and compare it to Hurricane Sandy, noting that Sandy was reclassified as a hurricane in public vocabulary to affect insurance payouts.

Robert Redford appears in a promotional video advocating for aggressive climate change action and the reduction of carbon pollution. The discussion highlights President Barack Obama's pledge to use the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to bypass Congress and close coal-fired power plants. Claims are made that the current push for environmental regulation is timed to precede a potential reversal in global temperature trends.

Al Gore's Climate Reality project is promoting a "carbon conversation" to advocate for a price on carbon pollution. The campaign links extreme weather events like Hurricane Sandy and the Midwest drought to "climate disruption" caused by the burning of dirty energy.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee drew criticism for a floor speech attempting to link the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, with the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. She argued that both events demonstrate a need for increased government assistance and social programs. The hosts characterize her rhetoric as nonsensical and opportunistic.

A $60 billion relief package for Hurricane Sandy is criticized for containing "pork" unrelated to the storm. Items include $23 million for tree plantings, $2 million for the Smithsonian roof, and $4 million for the FBI to replace vehicles. Most notably, the bill reportedly includes funding for military bases as far away as Guantanamo Bay.

The 12-12-12 Concert for Sandy Relief is criticized as a "circle jerk" for wealthy elites rather than an effective charity event. Financial analysis of the Robin Hood Foundation's Form 990 reveals high executive salaries, including over $1.2 million for CEO David Saltzman, and millions spent on "entertainment" for the performers. The hosts argue that the $50 million raised is a rounding error for sponsor JPMorgan Chase and that the funds are often invested in limited partnerships rather than distributed directly to victims.

An email solicitation from Avery Jean, related to Wyclef Jean, is exposed as a potential scam targeting graphic designers for Hurricane Sandy relief. Investigation reveals that "Artists United for Haiti" had its non-profit status revoked by the IRS for failing to file tax returns for three years. The organization's website is currently a parked domain that redirects mobile users to adult content apps.

The hosts criticize the "12-12-12" concert for Hurricane Sandy relief, noting it primarily benefits the Robin Hood Foundation rather than victims directly. They highlight the foundation's ties to Jamie Dimon and Chase Bank, questioning the ethics of a charity with over $300 million in net assets and high executive salaries.

ABC News and Diane Sawyer are criticized for their reporting on the 2012 hurricane season, which they labeled the "third worst" based on the number of named storms. The hosts debunk the significance of having 19 named storms, noting that many were minor Atlantic depressions that never made landfall. They also mock the "sweetened" audio effects used in news packages to make weather events seem more dramatic.

A listener from New Jersey describes the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, noting that his family survived seven days without heat, water, or power. He credits the podcast as "hurricane relief for the soul" during the recovery. He also observes that local Chinese restaurants were the only businesses to remain open and serve food immediately following the storm.

Chris Matthews criticized voters who supported third-party candidates like Gary Johnson and Jill Stein, claiming they do not understand the American political system. Matthews faced backlash for referring to President Obama as having an "African guy" background and suggesting Hurricane Sandy was a positive political development.

An engineer in Munich describes the "Dilbert-like" atmosphere of a major chip company. A donor from Chattanooga requested karma for a grandfather suffering from dementia, leading to a brief discussion on the emotional toll of the disease on families.

The American Red Cross is criticized for soliciting blood donations for Hurricane Sandy victims while allegedly selling that blood to hospitals for $500 a unit. A discussion on organ donation suggests that "opt-out" systems, like those in the Netherlands, may create incentives for doctors to prioritize organ harvesting over patient care.

While US media focused on New York and New Jersey, Hurricane Sandy caused over 50 deaths and massive crop destruction in Haiti. The hosts report that rice prices in southern Haiti skyrocketed from $2.50 to $4.00 per cup following the storm. They highlight the ongoing cholera outbreak and the dire conditions for those still living in tents since the 2010 earthquake.