This week felt like a great unravelling – of reality. It was the weirdest week of news I’ve seen so far, and that is saying something. From the whole Epstein saga to Saudi Arabia’s MBS visit to the White House, the AI bubble and economic turmoil (which is really only just getting started), to a peace proposal for Ukraine which will require massive trust in the US, to all of the other shenanigans inducing rage in so many… it was hard to see straight. But that’s what I’m here to do: to try and help you see straight, so here is what is really worth paying attention to.
While my hopes for Cop30 are very low, here’s two pieces of good news:
- Korea and Bahrain join coal-to-clean transition at COP30
- And this ‘COP of truth’: Countries commit to tackling climate disinformation at UN climate summit | Euronews
But right now, we are at this stage: COP30: UN climate summit drops mention of fossil fuels from draft deal.
The denial movement has shifted
The bigger story really getting my attention, which isn’t Cop related but part of the bigger story of this moment, is a sinister change across media and social media when it comes to the planetary crisis, and honestly, this matters more than all the bullshit we’re seeing right now.
To illustrate my point, I’m including an example and honestly, it’s one of those videos I could stop every 20 seconds and add comments about what he’s saying and counteract his arguments. It’s so obvious to me, but for many, it will sound very logical, because there ARE some truths in here (there always are, which is why it works), but this is a classic example of denial, delay and deflect.
To help, before you watch it, I want to share the three stages of denial, which is stopping action to ensure a habitable planet, but before that, let’s get to know Victor, who appears in the video example below.
Who is Victor Davis Hanson?
We all have to get better at knowing who we are listening to and their motivations, including any financial support, especially when it comes to such important matters. Because Victor hasn’t crossed my path (I’m sure the algorithms will feed him to me now), I looked him up. This is what I found.
Victor Davis Hanson is a 72-year-old American classicist, military historian, and conservative political commentator. He is currently the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, where he focuses on classics and military history.
No real red flags so far, he’s a historian and conservative, which doesn’t mean I can’t listen to his point of view. With that said, I can’t say I know the institution referenced (as well as the one’s below), as I’m not American, so could be missing red flags at this point.
His key positions and affiliations
- Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution (Stanford)
- Professor Emeritus of Classics at California State University, Fresno
- Wayne & Marcia Buske Distinguished Fellow in History at Hillsdale College
- Regular Fox News contributor and syndicated columnist+
- Author of over 20 books including “The Case for Trump“… getting interesting.
But still, a historian (I love history) and one held in high regard by all accounts.
Now let’s take a look at funding
This is another REALLY important piece to understand – funding. Victor’s primary institutional (i.e. not personal) funding comes through the Hoover Institution.
The Hoover Institution is widely described as a conservative or right-leaning public policy think tank, though it officially identifies as nonpartisan. Its mission emphasizes “personal and economic liberty, free enterprise, and limited government”, principles that align with conservative ideology.
According to SourceWatch, the Hoover Institution has received significant funding from major conservative foundations and donors.
Major historical donors to hoover institution
- John M. Olin Foundation: $5,190,660 (1985-2005)
- Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation: $4,841,000 (1986-2012)
- Smith Richardson Foundation: $3,868,451 (1997-2012)
- Shelby Cullom Davis Foundation: $3,200,000 (1998-2007)
Other notable donors
- Richard Mellon Scaife and Scaife Family Charitable Trusts
- Pew Memorial Trust
- David Packard
- Standard Oil of California
- Pacific Gas and Electric
The InfluenceWatch profile notes that while the Hoover Institution has an independent endowment, it operates as a division of Stanford University, though Stanford contributes less than 2% of Hoover’s budget according to director Condoleezza Rice.
Hanson also has affiliations with other conservative organizations like Young America’s Foundation and the Claremont Institute, which have their own funding networks from conservative donors and foundations.
In conclusion, Hanson isn’t directly funded by these sources, however, his institutional home at Hoover is supported by a network of major conservative foundations and wealthy donors that have historically funded right-wing think tanks and intellectual infrastructure. Essentially, he is linked to organisations pushing business-as-usual, in particular, the extractive economy, which scientists say is responsible for the planetary crisis.
What are the three stages of denial?
Let’s move onto the three stages of denial, when it comes to climate change. This is an area I keep a close eye on, and it’s also vey interesting to witness the transition between the three stages.
- Denial – “Climate change isn’t happening” – this stopped about 6-12 months ago, although stragglers prevail
- Delay – we’ve been here for about 12 months, and this is the stage of “It’s happening, but it’s not caused by humans” or “It’s too expensive to fix” or “Technology will solve it”. This stage is about trying to minimise and diminish the size of the problem, provide endless excuses for inaction, and argue about how, how much, who, and to what extent, all with a goal to delay progress
- Diversification/deflection – this is the new stage we’ve moved into and it’s a sinister stage, which is having a real impact. New stages disarm and leave people confused, however, when you know it and can see it, you can counter it. Regardless, it is the ultimate gaslighting stage, where scientists and activists cop the brunt of it, but it’s also the “It’s too late to do anything” or “Other countries should act first” or “What about the hypocrites buying beachside homes/flying on private jets/etc..” stage
We are now firmly moving into stage three, and while I’ve been in attendance for all stages, this is the worst one yet. To my fellow planet lovers, take note. It IS a very unsettling stage, but if you can see it, it can’t hold any power over you – promise. But get your boxing gloves on, the fight got meaner.
Unfortunately, I think this shift started with the Bill Gates memo, which is what made it so dangerous in the first place. It gave deniers permission to claim it as proof, even though Bill Gates followed up saying he never denied the climate crisis. Unfortunately, the damage was done.
Stage three is typified by
- Climate solutions won’t work – yawn yawn yawn, that’s what the Doomers have been saying
- Climate science and the climate movement are unreliable – I feel for the scientists, I really do! I also feel for young people. Did you see this story Far-right thugs attack ‘child-led’ climate march? Monsters.
- The impacts of global warming are beneficial or harmless – let’s check back in when the coral reefs collapse, hey? I’m estimating five years when we start to see the real impact of that collapse
How they go about it
- Attack climate scientists’ credibility and motives – I honestly wonder how this community keep going, it’s brutal and relentless, but give me a scientist any day! Please support them
- Claim climate action is economically harmful – to the petrostate for sure, while climate inaction is economically devastating
- Argue that climate advocates are hypocritical (in the video – Barrack Obama’s homes, John Kerry’s private jet)
- Suggesting natural climate variation explains current warming – because we have only 150 years of climate data. Ice cores and tree rings mentioned in the video, and then we have ocean sediment, fossils, stratigraphy, and on it goes – so a big Yeah Nah!
- Promoting fossil fuel production as beneficial – because it IS the paymaster remember?
I always dark laugh when they talk about how all the people fighting for a healthy planet are in it for the money. Honestly, I don’t know anyone making money here, not a one. Do you know who is making a lot of money? Bingo, the business-as-usual folk.
And you know what else, I reckon it’s time older people step back and shut it. Anyone 60+ or older (sorry, but it’s true and I’m not that far behind) are NOT going to face the worst impacts of environmental collapse, so it’s time they stepped out of the picture and let the younger generations lead the charge.
But the challenge is this new stage of climate denial is having a disastrous impact. Right at the moment many more people are facing their own experiences with a changing climate AND gaining the confidence to start speaking up about it, this shift in messaging started – the deflection stage.
It’s dangerous, because even though people can see what’s happening with their own eyes, and many thousands are directly suffering climate impacts, it’s so effective because it causes people to doubt themselves, which means they retreat back into their silence. So those of us not caught up in this, must speak louder and fight back harder. We must show them what they see with their own eyes is the truth.
With all that said, watch the video and see if you can catch all the twists and turns of deflection. It’s a masterclass in it.
Research worth knowing
I don’t usually write so much, so this week, I will leave you with some really important information that is worthy of your attention.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) Report has been released, millions of lives at risk – Millions of lives at risk, warn UN food agencies, as hunger crisis worsens | UN News.
What’s driving the crisis?
- Conflict and violence: the leading cause in 14 of the 16 hotspots.
- Economic shocks: fragile economies, high debt, and soaring food prices.
- Climate extremes: floods, droughts, and cyclones linked to La Niña conditions.
- Reduced humanitarian aid: funding shortfalls have forced ration cuts and limited malnutrition treatment.
The global methane report for 2025 has been released – Global Methane Status Report 2025 | UNEP – UN Environment Programme. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas able to warm the atmosphere about 30 times as much as the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide. Human-caused methane emissions come mostly from agriculture, livestock, natural gas, and landfills.
In this article: Global Methane Emissions Projected to Fall, According to United Nations Report – Eos the headline says, ‘projected to fall’, and in the article it says, “Though global methane emissions are still rising” and this contradiction just felt ironic. The global agreement to reduce emissions was signed in 2020, and nearly six years later, it’s still rising. We are not a serious species.
And we had AXA release its Future Risks Report 2025 – Future Risks Report | AXA. I have this printed out and ready to read in full, but you can also get a great summary here: The Fragmentation Factor: How Social Division in 2025 Is Amplifying Global Risks – Risk & Insurance : Risk & Insurance.
One sector I pay close attention to is the insurance and reinsurance sectors. They speak with absolute common sense and don’t turn lemons into lemonade. I like that. If you’re not paying attention to the insurance industry, start with this report.
The focus of the report is on fragmentation, and this is where our leaders are taking us right now. We need a new quality of leader for the future we face, because: fragmentation isn’t just a social concern – it’s a risk multiplier. Divided societies struggle to mount coordinated responses to threats, from climate adaptation to pandemic preparedness. Trust erosion undermines the collective action needed to prevent crises.
Visual storytelling
OK the Bubba story… and no I’m not going to repeat it if you don’t know it, because it wasn’t Bill Clinton – although putting that image in our heads for a few days – yuck!! It did deliver some funny memes.
Example One
Example Two
Example Three
Chortle
The age of consent is woke, at a minimum
I’m a GenX woman and I endorse this message
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Dig into the news
As always, there’s plenty more to read, listen to or watch, so do click through to the reads at the image below, and a reminder, this platform has articles going back weeks, so have a scan and read/watch/listen to whatever jumps out at you.
Let me know what caught your attention? Or share with me what has your attention now? There’s a lot going on, which means none of us can cover everything. Besides, it’s always great to get feedback so I know I’m delivering something of value.
Cheers
Andrea
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