By Jeremy Deaton •AUG. 28, 2017

The reality, however, is that climate and weather are connected, not only to each other, but also to larger issues of power, money, and politics. News outlets give an inordinate amount of attention to the horse race — the back and forth between Republicans and Democrats, the political shuffling to shore up support among voters, or the latest White House scandal. But major climate events are not divorced from that horse race. Reporters could discuss President Trump’s policies on climate change, Democratic alternatives, or public opinion on measures like the Paris Agreement.

If news outlets don’t make more of an effort to link extreme weather to climate change, the issue will continue to be what social scientists call a quiet crisis. Despite the overwhelming magnitude of climate change, the problem flies below the radar of most Americans. It ranks lower than issues like national security and the economy. That’s partly because the news events aren’t regularly tied to climate change.

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