Who Sabotaged the Nord Stream Pipelines?
Plus: Gov. Ron DeSantis gets accused of fair-weather fiscal responsibility, warrantless drone searches might be illegal, and Lizzo's flute playing sparks a fake controversy.
Natural Disasters
Feds Allow Single Foreign Ship To Deliver Fuel to Hurricane-Ravaged Puerto Rico
It’s only one vessel, but the U.S. domestic shipping cartel, protected by the awful Jones Act, is screaming about it.
Government Subsidies Encouraged Millions To Move Into Hurricane Ian's Destructive Path
Plus: Reason livestream on right-wing populism, the government can't solve the fentanyl crisis, and more...
In the Aftermath of Hurricane Fiona, the Jones Act Is Screwing Over Puerto Rico Again
The island is begging the Biden administration to allow foreign ships to bring fuel to help restore power. But entrenched maritime interests balk at competition.
Where Did Puerto Rico's Disaster Relief Go?
After a Category 1 hurricane made landfall Sunday, a million Puerto Rican households are still without power.
Embrace a Bit of Prepper Mindset for the Next Emergency—Even the Government Approves
A little readiness is a good hedge against the surprises the world just seems to keep throwing our way.
Weather Is Not Climate. Or Is It?
For years, experts warned that any given hurricane or heat wave cannot be attributed to long-term changes in average temperatures. But it turns out that climatologists and meteorologists sometimes can establish such causal relationships.
Weather and Climate Disasters Are Declining Globally
Increasing weather damage costs are not reliable evidence for climate change.
Rand Paul Isn't a Hypocrite on Disaster Relief
The senator's opposition to past disaster relief bills has always been on the grounds that congressional budgets should mean something.
If Government Is Good at One Thing, It's Making a Crisis Worse
The same institution that's unable to run the Postal Service or Amtrak orchestrated our invasion and withdrawal of Afghanistan.
Drown the Federal Flood Insurance Program
Why is the government encouraging people to live in dangerous, flood-prone areas?
Why Isn't California Safer From Wildfires?
An environmental law keeps public agencies from reducing wildfire fuel.
Did Anti-Price Gouging Laws Lead to More COVID-19 Deaths?
A new paper finds that the shortages produced by emergency price controls led to more social interactions as people searched for scarce goods. Additional COVID-19 deaths weren't far behind.
Joaquin Castro Accidentally Makes the Case for 'Price Gouging'
Texas officials' rush to enforce price gouging laws during that state's winter storms will only make residents worse off.
2020 Is in a Near Tie for Hottest Year in the Modern Temperature Record
The last seven years have been the warmest seven years on record.
Dozens Died in California Wildfires. Why Is the State Forcing Insurance Companies To Ignore Risks?
The state's insurance commissioner forbids the canceling of policies for homes in risky areas.
Businesses Prepared for Natural Disasters Are Surviving COVID-19 Better Than the Competition
A government survey finds that prepping for hard times can have wide benefits.
U.N. Reports 'Staggering Rise in Climate-Related Disasters'
And yet, fewer lives are being lost with no increase in proportional economic losses.
Can Fire Insurance Manage Wildfire Risks in California?
The state's wildfire conundrum: overgrown forests, climate change, and more people living in the woods
The Upside of a Blackout? People Take Care of Themselves and Each Other
Nobody can read the rule book in the dark.
The Global Environmental Apocalypse Has Been Canceled
"Environmental humanism will eventually triumph over apocalyptic environmentalism."
From the Cholera Riots to the Coronavirus Revolts
The more punitive the approach to public health, the fiercer the backlash.
Why the Government Is No Good at Fighting Coronavirus
The problems with the federal response to COVID-19 go far beyond Donald Trump and deep into bureaucratic inertia.
COVID-19: A National Problem With Local Solutions
Also: Chelsea Manning finally freed, coronavirus appropriations, and more...
To Avoid Charges of Price Gouging, eBay Bans Sale of Coronavirus Supplies
Attempts to impose low prices on emergency supplies often do far more harm than good.
Boat Company and Border Officials Tell Different Stories About Rejection of Dorian-Displaced Bahamians
Plus: Support for Sanders and Harris drops, Trump fears losing his fans to socialists, and more...
How 'Price Gouging' Can Help Floridians in Hurricane Dorian's Path
High prices can bring much-needed supplies into a disaster zone.
California Follows the Disastrous Flood Insurance Path to Fire Insurance Fiasco
If market-rate wildfire insurance is too expensive for homeowners, maybe that's telling us something about the risks of living amidst pretty tinder.
As Tropical Storm Barry Approaches, the GAO Highlights FEMA's Past Failings
Unclear and contradictory procedure guidelines slowed down relief efforts in Puerto Rico in 2017. Will it happen again this year? Probably.
Thomas Massie Catches Bipartisan Flak for Suggesting Congress Actually Vote on $19 Billion in Disaster Funding
Demanding that members of Congress be in town to vote on spending huge sums of money seems reasonable.
Congress Bickers Over Spending $13 or $14 Billion on Disaster Relief. They Should Spend Closer to $0.
The squabbling over federal disaster assistance reveals the bipartisan nature of wasteful spending.
The Jones Act Is an Antiquated, Protectionist Policy Failure. Mike Lee Is Aiming to Kill It.
The Utah senator wants a world where "Alaskans, Hawaiians, and Puerto Ricans aren't forced to pay higher prices for imported goods."
'Price Gouging' Is Supply and Demand at Work, Even in a Polar Vortex
Price signals ultimately mean more supplies for disaster-struck areas.
Natural Disasters Are Destroying a Lower Percentage of Humanity's Stuff Since 1990
Absolute losses increased, but the proportion of losses relative to global GDP has dropped
Community and Technology—Not Government—Take Lead in Hurricane Michael Recovery
A report from Florida's ravaged Panhandle.
State AGs in Michael's Path Agree to Stop the Flow of Needed Goods
Price gouging is not the evil many officials make it out to be.
North Carolina Woman Won't Be Punished for Sheltering Pets During Florence
But she never should have faced criminal charges in the first place.
Criminal Charges for North Carolina Woman Who Sheltered Pets During Hurricane Florence
Tammie Hedges is facing upward of a dozen charges related to the medical care she freely provided to the animals.
Locals Carry Out Life-Saving Animal Rescues After Hurricane Florence
If you need help during a disaster, look to the locals before the government.
FEMA May Not be Prepared for Hurricane Florence, but Waffle House Is
The "Waffle House Index" shows some differences between the private and public sector when it comes to emergency preparedness.
Tremendous Job: FEMA Left a Million Bottles of Water on a Puerto Rican Airstrip for a Year
But yeah, I'm sure FEMA is ready for Hurricane Florence.
FEMA Is Almost Certainly Not Ready for Hurricane Florence
If FEMA's prior record when it comes to disaster response is any indication, the agency is not going to handle this well.
Senate Votes to Extend Federal Flood Insurance Funding
It's a regressive, debt-ridden program that transfers wealth from regular Americans to the rich.
Study: Puerto Rico's Post-Hurricane Maria Death Rate At Least 70 Times Higher Than Official Figures
Disasters result from policies adopted and choices made before and after a natural hazard strikes.
Displaced by Hurricane Maria, Fully Trained Massage Therapists Can't Work Because They Lack Licenses
Blocked from jobs because they lack occupational licenses, they're turning to welfare instead.
