Topic: Polar Vortex

18 chapters across the catalog

Scop Christmas
Episode 1515

1515: Scop Christmas

Bomb Cyclone Weather Events, Texas Power Grid Reliability

Severe winter weather across 45 states prompts a discussion on the technical definition of a bomb cyclone, requiring a 24-millibar pressure drop within 24 hours. The 2021 Texas power grid failure is compared to current national grid struggles during extreme cold. Claims are made that recent flight cancellations attributed to weather were actually caused by pilot shortages and staff walkouts at Southwest Airlines.

Climate Crisis Special
Episode 1336 5:43 - 10:30

1336: Climate Crisis Special

Global Warming Records, Extraterrestrial Threats, and Economic Motors

News reports from 2015 and 2019 highlight record-breaking global temperatures and atmospheric carbon levels reaching 415 parts per million, a level not seen since the Pliocene period. One report details a Penn State study suggesting aliens might attack Earth due to greenhouse gas emissions, while others link the polar vortex to melting Arctic ice. George Soros argues that investing in green technology and a "new world order" is necessary to replace the American consumer as the motor of the world economy.

Climate Crisis Special
Episode 1336 1:17:39 - 1:20:52

1336: Climate Crisis Special

Climate Change Grief, Media Evolution, and Polar Vortex

A satirical segment featuring an Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonator explores "climate change grief" and the five stages of denial. Media analysts discuss how news organizations have evolved to connect individual weather events, like the polar vortex, directly to climate change. However, Fox News host Brian Kilmeade suggests the term "climate change" was adopted only after "global warming" failed to account for severe cold weather.

Dark Fate
Episode 1322

1322: Dark Fate

Texas Winter Storm, Personal Preparedness and Infrastructure Failures

A personal account of the February 2021 Texas power crisis describes maintaining a home above 50 degrees using gas appliances and insulation. The narrative highlights widespread infrastructure failures in Austin, specifically noting how tankless water heaters cracked due to electricity loss and freezing temperatures. Neighbors in the local cul-de-sac faced significant plumbing damage while local news and streaming services remained largely inaccessible.

Dark Fate
Episode 1322 49:53 - 53:09

1322: Dark Fate

Carbon Credits, John Holdren and the CO2 Narrative

The transition from "global cooling" to "global warming" is described as a financial maneuver to establish carbon credits and new valuation systems. John Holdren, an advisor in the Obama administration, is cited as a figure who previously promoted cooling theories before pivoting to warming. The term "carbon pollution" is criticized as a linguistic shift away from the scientific reality of CO2.

Sarcasm
Episode 1108 4:02 - 6:30

1108: Sarcasm

Polar Vortex, Global Warming Media Narrative

The discussion examines media coverage of the extreme cold in the American Midwest contrasted with record heat in Australia. NBC News reports suggest that the "breaking" of the jet stream like a dam is evidence of climate change, a claim the hosts view with skepticism. They analyze how weather experts at NOAA and various news outlets use the "polar vortex" terminology to link seasonal cold snaps to greenhouse gas warming.

Carbon Budget
Episode 1107 2:05:40 - 2:08:56

1107: Carbon Budget

Frigid Weather, Polar Vortex, Knighthood Ceremonies

Extreme cold weather across the US and Europe is discussed in contrast to global warming alarmism. A donor named "Dame J of the Angry Clouds" reached the $1,000 contribution level and requested cinnamon rolls and "VFR" (Visual Flight Rules) for her knighthood ceremony. Other donors, including Alan Hayes and Gerald Preston, were recognized for their support during the "frigid" start to the year.

Value Convo
Episode 1012

1012: Value Convo

European Winter Weather, Global Cooling Claims

Severe winter weather across Europe and the UK prompted warnings from the NHS regarding a "perfect storm" of freezing temperatures, norovirus, and flu. Reports of snow in Rome and Ireland are cited as evidence for a potential "little ice age" or global cooling trend.

Rats on a Plane
Episode 996 12:57 - 17:59

996: Rats on a Plane

Global Cooling History, Record Cold Temperatures 2018

Record low temperatures are recorded across the United States, with the average temperature in the continental U.S. dropping to 9.3 degrees. Chicago is on track to tie a 1936 record for consecutive days below 20 degrees, while Tallahassee, Florida, sees its first snow in decades. Historical references are made to 1970s "global cooling" fears promoted by scientists like John Holdren to contrast with current climate narratives.

3 Belts No Road
Episode 983 57:03 - 59:27

983: 3 Belts No Road

Polar Vortex Weather and Impersonation Grievances

Adam Curry expresses frustration over listeners sending emails to Senator Watson while impersonating him to request the senator co-host the show. This follows a discussion on the "polar vortex" being used as a disingenuous term for harsh winters. Curry also complains about being subscribed to dozens of unwanted newsletters, describing the practice as a form of "reverse doxing."

Cricket Flour
Episode 725 7:51 - 9:42

725: Cricket Flour

Weather Versus Climate Debate and Polar Vortex

A distinction is made between weather and climate, noting that proponents of climate change theory often conflate the two when extreme heat occurs but use terms like "polar vortex" to explain extreme cold. The naming of "Superstorm Sandy" is characterized as a tactic used by insurance companies to avoid payouts associated with hurricane designations.

Team Taylor
Episode 683 2:09:22 - 2:12:53

683: Team Taylor

Bill McKibben, 2014 Hottest Year Claims

Environmentalist Bill McKibben claims 2014 was the hottest calendar year on record, citing irreversible melts in the West Antarctic ice sheet. The hosts contrast this with the "Polar Vortex" news from the previous year and mock media portrayals of residents in Jasper, Alabama, struggling with extreme cold.

Strategic Patience
Episode 669 2:20 - 7:17

669: Strategic Patience

Bombogenesis, Cyclogenesis, and Weather Media Hysteria

Michio Kaku describes "Superstorm Nori" and uses the term "bombogenesis" to explain a rapid drop in barometric pressure. The hosts argue that this is merely a rebranding of "cyclogenesis" intended to create fear and link routine winter weather to man-made climate change. They mock predictions of massive transportation disruptions that failed to materialize.

Undesirable Nudity
Episode 596 0:04 - 2:54

596: Undesirable Nudity

Texas Weather Anomalies, Global Cooling Claims

Austin, Texas experienced a drastic temperature drop from 73 degrees to 28 degrees within a few hours on March 2, 2014. This weather event is cited as evidence for global cooling theories, specifically referencing the "polar vortex" affecting the region. Observations note that such extreme shifts are unusual for the month of March in Northern Silicon Valley and Central Texas.

Taser Taser Taser!
Episode 592 2:02:22 - 2:11:28

592: Taser Taser Taser!

Michio Kaku, Polar Vortex, and CBS Climate Reporting

Physicist Michio Kaku appeared on CBS with Charlie Rose to explain that the "polar vortex" and extreme winter weather are caused by global warming. The hosts mock Kaku's "Morning Zoo" energy and Rose's "programmed" responses. They argue that the explanation of a "weakening bucket" of cold air is unscientific and designed to reinforce climate change narratives regardless of the actual weather.

Eradicate Misery
Episode 582 2:06:49 - 2:11:55

582: Eradicate Misery

Global Cooling, Snowy Owls, Al Roker Polar Vortex Rant

The unusual migration of snowy owls 3,000 miles south of the Arctic Circle is cited as a potential indicator of global cooling. Meanwhile, NBC weatherman Al Roker delivered an aggressive on-air defense of the term "polar vortex," denying it is a "left-wing media conspiracy" linked to climate change. Roker offered $1,000 to charity if anyone could prove he linked the current cold snap to global warming, reflecting a defensive shift in the climate change debate.

Hiroshima Syndrome
Episode 580 1:38:04 - 1:43:13

580: Hiroshima Syndrome

Polar Vortex and Global Cooling Narrative

A severe "polar vortex" bringing record-breaking low temperatures to the Midwest and South is discussed as evidence of a global cooling trend. Media coverage is criticized for using "rainbow swirl" graphics to make the dangerous cold seem more palatable. A specific news clip from Jasper, Alabama, featuring a resident using kindling wood for heat, is mocked for its stereotypical portrayal of Southern poverty.