5 chapters across the catalog
Florida Condo Collapse, Climate Change Infrastructure
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm suggests on CNN that the Surfside condominium collapse in Florida could be linked to rising sea levels and climate change. The hosts critique this as using a tragedy to push the Biden administration's infrastructure bill and electric vehicle initiatives.
Bill Cosby Release, Media Distraction Theories
The hosts debate whether the news of Bill Cosby's release from prison was used as a "distraction" from Donald Trump's visit to the U.S. border. They analyze the 3x3 morning show coverage, noting a heavy focus on entertainment news over substantive global events.
The discussion focuses on the Champlain Towers South collapse in Surfside, Florida. A theory is presented suggesting that 40-year-old Chinese copper piping with microscopic punctures caused long-term water damage to the concrete structure. This moisture allegedly led to rebar corrosion and "palling," where expanding metal cracks the concrete from within, eventually compromising the building's integrity.
Analysis of reports from Florida International University indicates the Surfside building was sinking at two millimeters per year. This total sinkage of approximately 2.3 inches over 30 years is compared to the Millennium Tower in San Francisco, which has sunk 16 inches. Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett describes the scene as a catastrophe resembling a bomb site.
Climate Change Narrative, Media Coverage of Surfside
Mainstream media outlets, including Fox Business and CBS, are criticized for attributing the Surfside collapse to climate change and rising sea levels. Former MTV VJ Kennedy is noted for repeating talking points regarding environmental factors and soil movement. The hosts argue that the 30-year sinkage data is being used inconsistently to fit a specific narrative.
