Latest news with #ScienceGuy
New York Post
10-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Bill Nye says US climate crisis is a reason deadly Texas floods were so destructive: ‘Exactly what was predicted'
Bill Nye 'The Science Guy' said Wednesday that fossil fuel companies and the U.S. Congress's neglect of the climate crisis are a big reason the flooding in central Texas was so destructive. During the latest episode of CNN's 'Inside Politics,' Nye argued that one of the main ways to prevent what host Dana Bash reported was an increasing frequency of 'once in 100-year' storms is to ban fossil fuels. Advertisement 'So, 'What are we going to do about it?' is the ancient question. And it would be to stop burning fossil fuels. When you're in a hole, stop digging, and so on,' he said. More than 100 people, including children and counselors at a girls' camp, were killed in central Texas in flash flooding that began last week. The National Weather Service (NWS) sent several flash flood warnings early Friday morning, followed by several flash flood emergency notices. Critics of President Donald Trump alleged that his federal staffing and budget cuts prevented the NWS from being adequately prepared for the disaster — an accusation that the White House and Trump allies have rejected. Advertisement 5 Fossil fuel companies and the U.S. Congress's neglect of the climate crisis are reasons the flooding in central Texas was so destructive, Bill Nye said. CNN 5 'So, 'What are we going to do about it?' is the ancient question. And it would be to stop burning fossil fuels. When you're in a hole, stop digging, and so on,' Nye said. CNN Other liberals have called out their own side for politicizing the tragedy and said NWS cuts weren't a factor. Nye blamed the government as well, saying that it has been convinced by fossil fuel companies to ignore climate change, which he believes has made these disasters worse. Advertisement 'But the fossil fuel industry has been very successful in getting organizations like the U.S. Congress to think that it's really not happening,' he said. 5 More than 100 people, including children and counselors at a girls' camp, were killed in central Texas in flash flooding that began last week. AP The media personality claimed earlier in the segment that, because of climate change, these natural disasters are going to keep happening. 'This is exactly what was predicted. It's very difficult to tie any one weather event to climate change. However, the warm weather events are actually easier to tie to climate change,' he said. 'But it will happen again, to your point.' Advertisement Follow The Post's coverage on the deadly Texas flooding Nye continued, noting that 'warning systems' to alert people about these disasters exist and can be implemented successfully. However, the real issue, he claimed, was getting the U.S. to take climate change seriously. Bash followed up by noting the Trump administration's efforts to eliminate cuts to fossil fuel production in the U.S., suggesting that this has contributed to the problem. 5 The National Weather Service (NWS) sent several flash flood warnings early Friday morning, followed by several flash flood emergency notices. AP 5 Damaged vehicles and debris are seen roped off near the banks of the Guadalupe River after flooding in Ingram, Texas, on July 4. AP Nye acknowledged her point and said the federal government needs to reverse course.' So, the opportunity still exists, but we do need to turn things around,' he declared.
Newsweek
12-06-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
RFK Jr. Bombarded Bill Nye with Autism Texts, TV Scientist Says
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. TV scientist Bill Nye said he cut Robert F. Kennedy Jr. off after the now-health secretary bombarded him with text messages about autism. The host of Bill Nye the Science Guy, whose show has educated millions of viewers about science, spoke about Kennedy in a new interview with Men's Health. Newsweek has contacted the United States Department of Health and Human Services, via email, for a response. Why It Matters Kennedy has long faced backlash for some of his positions on health and medicine, especially vaccines. During his Senate confirmation in January, Kennedy insisted that he was not anti-vaccine, that he believes vaccines "play a critical role in healthcare." Critics say Kennedy's agenda undermines the scientific process and risks eroding decades of public trust in vaccines, while others argue that his new approach is what Americans voted for. (R) U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attends President Donald Trump's address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 04, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (L)... (R) U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attends President Donald Trump's address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 04, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (L) Bill Nye attends the arrivals of Sierra Club's 2025 Trail Blazers Ball at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, CA on April 2, 2025 More Win McNamee//Sipa via AP Images What To Know Nye, who met Kennedy before he became health secretary, through their mutual actor friend Ed Begley Jr., showed what Men's Health reporter Chantel Anderson described as "miles and miles of texts" from Kennedy with "few interruptions, screen after screen." "Just no self-awareness," Nye said. "And if you read these articles he sent, they're all this speculation about autism and just cause-and-effect, and mercury in vaccines, that maybe there's a connection." Nye said he replied to Kennedy, "Okay, I'll read your book. I think you've confused causation with correlation. Your friend, Bill." But, when Kennedy responded with "more miles of texts," Nye told him: "Okay, no more texts." "And he started again," Nye said, "so I cut him off." He added that Kennedy doesn't have "good judgement" and is "not suited" to be health secretary. Nye went on to speak about the measles outbreak in Texas, where 744 cases have been confirmed since late January, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Kennedy has faced criticism from both anti-vax activists and advocates of vaccines. In March, he sparked anger from anti-vax activists when he called on parents to "consult with their healthcare providers to understand their options to get the MMR vaccine," with one saying he is "no different than Fauci." But he has also faced backlash from those in favor of vaccines for some of his comments, including when he told Fox News: "When you and I were kids, everybody got measles, and measles gave you ... lifetime protection against measles infection. The vaccine doesn't do that. The vaccine is effective for some people for life, but for many people, it wanes." Director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Dr. Paul Offit, told HealthDay that this could not be true given that measles was declared eliminated in America in 2000. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., testifies before a Senate Committee on Appropriations subcommittee hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of Health and Human Services,... Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., testifies before a Senate Committee on Appropriations subcommittee hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of Health and Human Services, on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in Washington. More AP What People Are Saying Kennedy said during his confirmation hearing, while arguing that he is not anti-vaccine: "In my advocacy, I've often disturbed the status quo by asking uncomfortable questions. Well, I'm not going to apologize for that – we have massive health problems in this country that we must face honestly." Nye said in his interview with Men's Health: "I went to elementary school with a guy who had polio. You do not want polio! And the reason you don't get polio is because of a vaccine that was discovered that keeps you from getting polio! What is wrong with you, man?" What Happens Next Kennedy is yet to respond to Nye's comments about him. It comes as the health secretary announced eight new experts on a panel that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Buzz Feed
23-05-2025
- Science
- Buzz Feed
It's Not *Rocket* Science, But It's Still Science — Can You Match These Periodic Table Symbols To Their Elements?
Whether you grew up watching Bill Nye the Science Guy or learned it the old-fashioned way, memorizing the periodic table was a rite of passage in our high school lives. But with the burden of adulthood and time passing, how many elements do you remember? Could you pass a pop quiz on it today? Let's see!
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill Nye
Credit - Jamie McCarthy—Getty Images Bill Nye did not have much to do with politics during the 1990s, when he was making his celebrated Bill Nye the Science Guy TV series on PBS. But Nye has grown increasingly vocal in his objections to changes, budget cuts, and firings at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Institutes of Health, NASA, and elsewhere under the Trump Administration. Now he's using his millennial celebrity to speak out. 'If the U.S. is to lead the world, science cannot be suppressed,' he said at the Stand Up For Science rally in Washington, D.C., in March, where he urged people to make their feelings known to lawmakers. In addition to inspiring action, Nye has attracted the ire of the Administration's supporters, including Elon Musk, who criticized him on X. But Nye is not inclined to go quietly. 'Scientists are citizens, and science has always been political,' he tells TIME. 'Where do you apply your intellect and treasure? How do you make decisions on how to spend government resources? What do you require of private industry, of vaccine labs? You need informed policy makers, and they're going to get that information from scientists and engineers.' Write to Jeffrey Kluger at
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
PBS, NPR hit with federal funding cuts as Trump cites alleged bias in executive order
The Brief Trump signs executive order cutting $500 million in federal funding for NPR and PBS. White House cites alleged bias, calling the outlets "radical, woke propaganda." Corporation for Public Broadcasting files lawsuit, challenging the cuts. WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump signed an executive order slashing federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), citing alleged bias in their reporting. NPR and PBS have long anticipated the cuts, as the administration has previously targeted programs the president opposes. What we know The White House, in a social media post, announced the signing, saying the outlets "receive millions from taxpayers to spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as 'news.'" The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), established in 1967, provides $500 million in federal funds to NPR and PBS. While federal dollars are a significant source of revenue, the organizations also rely on viewer donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and programming dues. PBS officials warn the funding cuts will disrupt their mission, affecting millions of children who benefit from educational programs such as Sesame Street, Clifford the Big Red Dog, and Bill Nye the Science Guy. Other PBS staples like Masterpiece Theatre and Antiques Roadshow have become cultural icons. The CPB filed a lawsuit this week, arguing the president lacks authority to remove board members. Further legal challenges to the executive order could follow. May 1, 2025 By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Purpose. National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) receive taxpayer funds through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). Unlike in 1967, when the CPB was established, today the media landscape is filled with abundant, diverse, and innovative news options. Government funding of news media in this environment is not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence. At the very least, Americans have the right to expect that if their tax dollars fund public broadcasting at all, they fund only fair, accurate, unbiased, and nonpartisan news coverage. No media outlet has a constitutional right to taxpayer subsidies, and the Government is entitled to determine which categories of activities to subsidize. The CPB's governing statute reflects principles of impartiality: the CPB may not "contribute to or otherwise support any political party." 47 U.S.C. 396(f)(3); see also id. 396(e)(2). The CPB fails to abide by these principles to the extent it subsidizes NPR and PBS. Which viewpoints NPR and PBS promote does not matter. What does matter is that neither entity presents a fair, accurate, or unbiased portrayal of current events to taxpaying citizens. I therefore instruct the CPB Board of Directors (CPB Board) and all executive departments and agencies (agencies) to cease Federal funding for NPR and PBS. Sec. 2. Instructions to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. (a) The CPB Board shall cease direct funding to NPR and PBS, consistent with my Administration's policy to ensure that Federal funding does not support biased and partisan news coverage. The CPB Board shall cancel existing direct funding to the maximum extent allowed by law and shall decline to provide future funding. (b) The CPB Board shall cease indirect funding to NPR and PBS, including by ensuring that licensees and permittees of public radio and television stations, as well as any other recipients of CPB funds, do not use Federal funds for NPR and PBS. To effectuate this directive, the CPB Board shall, before June 30, 2025, revise the 2025 Television Community Service Grants General Provisions and Eligibility Criteria and the 2025 Radio Community Service Grants General Provisions and Eligibility Criteria to prohibit direct or indirect funding of NPR and PBS. To the extent permitted by the 2024 Television Community Service Grants General Provisions and Eligibility Criteria, the 2024 Radio Community Service Grants General Provisions and Eligibility Criteria, and applicable law, the CPB Board shall also prohibit parties subject to these provisions from funding NPR or PBS after the date of this order. In addition, the CPB Board shall take all other necessary steps to minimize or eliminate its indirect funding of NPR and PBS. Sec. 3. Instructions to Other Agencies. (a) The heads of all agencies shall identify and terminate, to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law, any direct or indirect funding of NPR and PBS. (b) After taking the actions specified in subsection (a) of this section, the heads of all agencies shall identify any remaining grants, contracts, or other funding instruments entered into with NPR or PBS and shall determine whether NPR and PBS are in compliance with the terms of those instruments. In the event of a finding of noncompliance, the head of the relevant agency shall take appropriate steps under the terms of the instrument. (c) The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall determine whether "the Public Broadcasting Service and National Public Radio (or any successor organization)" are complying with the statutory mandate that "no person shall be subjected to discrimination in employment . . . on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex." 47 U.S.C. 397(15), 398(b). In the event of a finding of noncompliance, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall take appropriate corrective action. Sec. 4. Severability. If any provision of this order, or the application of any provision to any agency, person, or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this order and the application of its provisions to any other agencies, persons, or circumstances shall not be affected thereby. Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. The Source Information in this article comes from the White House and the Associated Press.
