CNN’s Jake Tapper laughed at Vice President Mike Pence when he tried to claim that the US has the cleanest air and water in the world.
Mike Pence refused to admit that climate change is a threat
Tapper asked, Do you think human-induced climate emergency is a threat to the United States?”
Pence answered, “Well, what I will tell you is that we’ll always follow the science on that in this administration.”
Tapper pressed, “The science says it is.”
Pence accused the clean power plan of hamstringing energy in this country.
After more Republican talking points about natural gas and ‘clean coal,’ Tapper asked for the third time, “But what people are calling a climate emergency, is it a threat? Do you think man-made climate emergency is a threat?”
The vice president danced some more, “I think the answer to that is going to be based on the science.”
Tapper went for it again, “But the science says yes. I am asking you what you think.”
Pence responded, “Well, there’s many in the science.”
Tapper wouldn’t let up, “The science community in your own administration at NOAA, at the DNI, they’ve all said it’s a threat, but you won’t for some reason.”
Jake Tapper laughed at Pence when he tried to claim that the US has the cleanest air and water in the world
Pence said, “America has the cleanest air and water in the world. We’ll continue to use market forces….”
Jake Tapper laughed and stopped him, “That’s not true. We don’t have the cleanest air and water in the world. We don’t. You get back to me with some statistics that show it.”
Pence could only reply with, “But, we’re making progress…”
Video:
Vice President Mike Pence refuses to say whether the climate crisis is a threat, when asked repeatedly by CNN’s Jake Tapper. https://t.co/A93tGCzWMM #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/i7pEV6ywJ6
— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) June 23, 2019
Mike Pence tried to pull out one of Trump’s favorite lies about America having the cleanest air and water in the world, and Jake Tapper stopped him cold.
Tapper showed how to interview a member of the Trump administration. They are going to lie, so when they do, it is up to journalists to call them out. When the lie is so absurd that it should be laughed at, go ahead and laugh.
Taking this administration’s lies at face value is how they spread propaganda.
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Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
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