One cannot help but notice that anytime this reporter brings up climate change and the negligence of the oil industry that something happens where he gets cut off.
Reporter cut off when informing about climate change and oil industry complicity
MSNBC cut off reporter as he tells climate change and oil industry truth? (VIDEO) pic.twitter.com/bRWkxCLIWd
— Egberto Willies, Politics Done Right host 🇺🇲🇵🇦 (@EgbertoWillies) September 2, 2017
MSNBC seemed to cut off reporter Shihab Rattamsi any time he begins revealing truths about the oil industry, climate change, and politicians. Many people do not think it is copacetic to get into the politics of a disaster as it is occurring. That may be true for those people immediately affected by the catastrophe because their immediate goal is survival and a quick return to some semblance of comfort.
The reality, however, is it is imperative that national networks give the rest of the country the full context of the disaster including causality when there is irrefutable evidence at the time of the event. The human psyche absorbs information best when there is an immediate relationship between words, theory, and an event in real time.
Hurricane Harvey hit Texas extremely hard. It was a flooding event of biblical proportions. It was not just another hurricane.
Reporter Shihab Rattamsi used his national TV airtime wisely to connect the storm, climate change, the lack of investment in infrastructure, greed, political malfeasance, and oil industry lying. It was not easy as it seemed MSNBC producers attempted to put boulders on his path to change the narrative in real time. Ali Velshi, a straight up journalist, appeared to give Rattansi more latitude than his producers would allow. The producers were not entirely effective as Rattansi got many points across.
Specifically,
- Even though the Golden Triangle region of Texas is awash in money, politicians have not invested in infrastructure, read they refuse to tax the oil companies relative to their impact on the area and more.
- The oil industry was covering up what they knew about climate change.
- The connection between climate change and the oil industry is clear.
- Oil and gas companies release many toxins in the environment and politicians allow them to get away with it.
- ProPublica pointed out that Hurricane Harvey type events are exactly the events one can expect going forward.
One hopes more reporters use their time as wisely as did Shihab Rattamsi. Yes, they may be cut off or even banned from national live TV access. But they would be doing their job. Climate change is not up for debate. It is a matter of survival, and all Americans must act as if those who are trying to dismiss it, are holding a gun to their heads and react accordingly.