This week, as Trump’s FEMA struggles to answer questions about consequential budget cuts in the aftermath of Texas flooding, Rachel and Aaron look at how the Republican Party deliberately turned climate change into a conspiracy theory. It’s MAGA thought control. Plus, the FBI tries to go after thought crimes. And the Epstein Scandal threatens to unravel MAGA, despite Trump’s best efforts to move on. Which of his allies aren’t letting it go?

LINKS:

• The Cycle (Substack): The Big Ugly Cuts to Climate Science
• Nancy Pelosi & Newt Gingrich Climate PSA (2008)
• Frontline: Climate of Doubt
• New York Times: The F.B.I. Is Using Polygraphs to Test Officials’ Loyalty
• KOCO-TV (Oklahoma City): OSDE introduces 'America First Assessment' for teachers moving from certain states
• Megyn Kelly & Charlie Kirk on Epstein scandal
• The Hill: Bannon warns GOP could lose 40 House seats over Epstein files
• Vox: Why everyone runs for president these days
• Hit ‘Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game