Photo: AP
On Tuesday, the executive branch’s apparent campaign to silence reality reached a disturbing new low when (objectively true) tweets by Badlands National Park referencing climate change were mysteriously deleted. It’s unclear whether this was done directly at the White House’s behest, but restrictive gag orders by the Trump administration have already leaked from several federal agencies, muzzling them online.
So far, the effort to keep the federal government from speaking to the public it serves has been remarkably successful. In fact, anxious officials could be scrolling through their social media accounts right now, searching for climate change facts that might be objectionable to our new commander-in-chief. Before they find them, however, we think the country that paid for them deserves a look.
So check these tweets out now and guess which one will be disappeared down the memory hole next. Hopefully, none of them will, but we’re saving backups either way.
1. This Tweet From Badlands National Park
#DYK deforestation & degradation account for up to 12% of global carbon emissions? #climate
— Badlands Nat’l Park (@BadlandsNPS) January 21, 2017
Odds of survival: Bad. Looks like they missed one.
2. This Tweet From Golden Gate National Park
2016 was the hottest year on record for the 3rd year in a row. Check out this @NASA & @NOAA report: https://t.co/rLJUC56xqi pic.twitter.com/AKhFzYw6l6
— Golden Gate NPS (@GoldenGateNPS) January 23, 2017
Odds of survival: Low. Get it while it’s hot!
3. This Tweet From NASA Climate
Dec 2016’s avg global temp was 3rd highest on record. Global avg atmospheric CO2 concentration was ~405 ppm. https://t.co/Q7xdVFTBf5
— NASA Climate (@NASAClimate) January 24, 2017
Odds of survival: Not great. One Trump advisor suggested killing the agency’s climate research entirely.
4. This Tweet From NOAA Climate
ICYMI: 2016 was the 3rd year in a row to break the global temp record. How did this happen and how unusual is it? https://t.co/Js5E4C0JsY pic.twitter.com/KR3mrnc7ac
— NOAA Climate.gov (@NOAAClimate) January 21, 2017
Odds of survival: High. There’s no way Trump knows that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration exists.
5. This Entire Goddamn Account
Breath easier knowing that over the past decade toxic air emissions across the U.S. decreased by 56%. https://t.co/7Qi8UpG6jh
— EPA Climate Center (@EPAclimatectr) January 17, 2017
Odds of survival: Good luck, baby, and god have mercy on us all.