Topic: Sierra Club

New York Times columnist David Brooks is criticized for making several historical errors during a PBS NewsHour segment regarding the "hollowing out" of American institutions. Brooks incorrectly attributed the founding of the NAACP, the Boys and Girls Club, and major labor unions to the 1890s. The segment deconstructs these claims, providing the actual founding dates to demonstrate a perceived lack of accuracy in mainstream commentary.

During a congressional inquiry, the President of the Sierra Club is questioned about "the pause"—a period of 18 years with no significant warming according to satellite data. The executive relies on staff for scientific specifics while citing the 97% consensus figure. Meanwhile, news reports cover a record-breaking heat wave in France, with scientists attributing the extreme weather to "wiggles" in a slowing jet stream.

The International Energy Agency predicts the United States will become the world's leading oil producer, surpassing Saudi Arabia and Russia by topping 10 million barrels a day. Reports suggest that Russia has been covertly financing anti-fracking environmental groups, such as the Sierra Club, to protect its own energy market share.

The hosts revisit a 1995 "60 Minutes" interview where George Soros described himself as "amoral" and focused on profit. They speculate on how Soros might be profiting from the current street protests and his influence over organizations like MoveOn.org and the Sierra Club.

Senator Ted Cruz questioned the president of the Sierra Club during a hearing, focusing on the 18-year "pause" in global warming shown by satellite data. The Sierra Club representative was unable to answer basic questions without consulting his lawyers and repeatedly fell back on the "97% consensus" statistic. Cruz argued that the data contradicts the computer models used by "alarmists."

Marc Morano of Climate Depot argues that 2013 was one of the least extreme weather years on record, citing a lack of major hurricanes and stable drought trends. He contrasts this with the "global cooling" scare of the 1970s. The segment notes unusual snowfall in Jerusalem, Damascus, and Istanbul, as well as a record low temperature of -93.2°C recorded in Antarctica.

The hosts highlight a conflict of interest regarding the Sierra Club, which reportedly accepted $26 million from the natural gas industry. While the organization claims the "science is settled" on climate change, skeptics point to peer-reviewed journals showing no significant long-term trends in floods or droughts. The discussion suggests that environmental groups use alarmism primarily for fundraising purposes.

The hosts discuss the hantavirus outbreak at Curry Village in Yosemite National Park. Dvorak suggests the story might be a "hit job" by environmental groups like the Sierra Club to shut down the historic log cabins as part of an "Agenda 21" style land-use restriction.