Topic: Interior Department

Nominees Doug Burgum and Lee Zeldin faced questioning from Democrats regarding their stances on climate change and environmental regulations. While Zeldin acknowledged that climate change is real, he emphasized the economic costs of current policies and the need for a balanced approach. The confirmation process highlights the tension between the incoming administration's deregulation goals and existing environmental protections.

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland issued an order to remove the word "Squaw" from federal land names, declaring it a derogatory slur. The discussion touches on the changing etymology of words like "brave" and "gay."

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland has issued an order to remove the word "squaw" from all federal land names, declaring it a derogatory slur. In international news, President Biden is considering a "diplomatic boycott" of the Beijing Winter Olympics, which would involve withholding government officials while still allowing American athletes to compete.

The hosts introduce a sexual harassment update with a clip from the 1960 film "Where the Boys Are" to contrast past and present social norms. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke recently announced the firing of four officials following a survey revealing widespread harassment within the Department of the Interior. Zinke vowed to end the "culture of intimidation" inherited by the administration.

A Department of Interior official reports that domestic oil production is at an eight-year high and gas production is at its highest level in recent memory. The administration highlights a 55% increase in operating rigs and a significant reduction in foreign oil imports, though the hosts suggest this information is being downplayed to appease the liberal base.

President Barack Obama held a second, less-publicized celebration for the healthcare bill at the Department of the Interior. During his remarks, he repeatedly used the phrase "law of the land," a term the hosts identify as a linguistic meme. This phrasing is viewed as a psychological effort to frame the legislation as having the same permanent, supreme status as the U.S. Constitution.