Sanity Check

In this episode of Created to Reign, Vijay Jayaraj discusses the oil, coal, and natural gas comeback in Latin America. Contrary to what some people say, this is not reneging on "creation care," but a Christian attitude toward earth stewardship and care for the poor. 
Visit our podcast resource page: https://cornwallalliance.org/listen%20to%20our%20podcast%20created%20to%20reign/

Our work is entirely supported by donations from people like you. If you benefit from our work and would like to partner with us, please visit www.cornwallalliance.org/donate.

When CNN declared that the July heat wave would have been "virtually impossible" without fossil fuel emissions, it pointed to a rapid-attribution study as proof. But does the evidence support such a sweeping claim?
In this episode of Sanity Check, Dr. David Legates examines the meteorology behind the heat wave, explains how attribution studies are conducted, and explores the assumptions driving claims that individual weather events can be linked to human-caused climate change. Along the way, he uncovers a curious twist: the original CNN article quietly disappeared and was replaced with a revised version that dramatically downplayed its headline claim.
Join us as we separate atmospheric science from media narrative and ask whether today's climate reporting is keeping pace with sound scientific reasoning.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/03/weather/heat-wave-nyc-dc-forecast-climate <Link now redirects elsewhere>

https://www.worldweatherattribution.org/fossil-fuels-are-heating-americas-250th-birthday/
https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/26/climate/european-heat-wave-impossible-global-warming

Visit our podcast resource page: https://cornwallalliance.org/listen%20to%20our%20podcast%20created%20to%20reign/

Our work is entirely supported by donations from people like you. If you benefit from our work and would like to partner with us, please visit www.cornwallalliance.org/donate.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent visit to India highlighted a growing area of agreement between two of the world’s largest democracies: the need for abundant, reliable energy. As India’s economy expands and hundreds of millions continue moving into the middle class, demand for electricity, transportation fuels, and industrial energy is set to rise dramatically in the decades ahead.
In this episode, Vijay Jayaraj, a Research Associate with the Cornwall Alliance, examines the prospects for a deeper U.S.-India energy partnership and argues that both nations are increasingly embracing an energy strategy rooted in realism rather than climate politics. From coal and natural gas to energy security and economic growth, Jayaraj explores why India continues to prioritize dependable power sources and how American energy exports could help meet that demand.
Visit our podcast resource page: https://cornwallalliance.org/listen%20to%20our%20podcast%20created%20to%20reign/

Our work is entirely supported by donations from people like you. If you benefit from our work and would like to partner with us, please visit www.cornwallalliance.org/donate.

In this episode of Sanity Check, David Legates examines a Guardian article claiming that U.S. immigration enforcement flights carry a "huge climate cost." Looking beyond the headline, he compares the reported emissions with total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, aviation emissions, and other major sources to ask whether the article's conclusions are supported by meaningful context. Along the way, he discusses media framing, statistical significance, selective comparisons, and how climate narratives are increasingly woven into debates over public policy. The episode argues that informed discussion requires proportion, historical perspective, and careful interpretation of the numbers—not simply dramatic headlines.
https://www.theGuardian.com/us-news/2026/may/26/us-immigration-flights-emissions
https://www.statista.com/statistics/183943/us-carbon-dioxide-emissions-from-1999/
https://cis.org/Report/Immigration-United-States-and-WorldWide-Greenhouse-Gas-Emissions

https://clivebest.com/blog/?p=11131

Visit our podcast resource page: https://cornwallalliance.org/listen%20to%20our%20podcast%20created%20to%20reign/

Our work is entirely supported by donations from people like you. If you benefit from our work and would like to partner with us, please visit www.cornwallalliance.org/donate.

After a string of high-profile climate lawsuits, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has delivered a ruling that supporters of sound energy policy may have reason to celebrate.
In this episode of Sanity Check, David Legates examines a lawsuit brought by twenty-three young activists challenging President Trump's executive orders aimed at expanding domestic energy production. The plaintiffs argued that policies supporting oil, gas, hydropower, and other energy resources violated their constitutional rights and threatened their future. Both the district court and the Ninth Circuit ultimately disagreed, concluding that the sweeping relief requested was beyond the proper role of the judiciary.
David unpacks the legal arguments, the court's reasoning, and the broader strategy behind climate litigation campaigns led by organizations such as Our Children's Trust. He also argues that while constitutional and procedural challenges may continue to derail these cases, the long-term battle must be fought on scientific grounds. Courts may dismiss lawsuits for lack of standing or separation-of-powers concerns, but unless exaggerated claims about climate catastrophe are challenged directly, the underlying narrative remains intact.
What does this ruling mean for future climate litigation? Why are activists increasingly turning to the courts to achieve policy goals? And why does David believe the scientific debate remains the most important front in the fight against climate alarmism?
Join us as we take a closer look at a significant legal victory—and the larger challenges that still lie ahead.
Sources: 
https://montanafreepress.org/2026/06/02/ninth-circuit-court-denies-young-americans-lawsuit-challenging-trumps-handling-of-climate-change/

https://www.climatecasechart.com/documents/lighthiser-v-trump-memorandum_7eae
Visit our podcast resource page: https://cornwallalliance.org/listen%20to%20our%20podcast%20created%20to%20reign/

Our work is entirely supported by donations from people like you. If you benefit from our work and would like to partner with us, please visit www.cornwallalliance.org/donate.