MTG thinks Democrats control the weather: Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Hurricane Helene conspiracy theory

Search, rescue, and recovery missions remain ongoing in North Carolina as communities across the broader southeast evaluate the damage done by Hurricane Helene. Georgia was one of the states hit by the devastating storm, and so far, it has claimed the lives of thirty residents.

For many climate scientists, the rapid intensification Helene underwent in the Gulf of Mexico, making landfall as a Category 4 hurricane, is a clear example of how climate change is creating more destructive natural disasters. Currently, temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico are much warmer than usual, allowing the storm to gain strength just before making landfall.

However, Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has offered another suggestion: weather manipulation. On October 4, the Congresswoman posted, “Yes, they can control the weather. It’s ridiculous for anyone to lie and say it can’t be done.”

The “they” being referred to by Rep. Greene is not specified, but one may be able to infer that she is talking about Democrats. This is not the first time the Georgia leader has invented an enemy to blame natural disasters on. In 2018, before being elected to Congress, Greene blamed the devastating wildfires in California on Jewish space lasers. These comments were widely condemned, and upon being elected to Congress, she was not able to sit on any committees during her first term.

It can be hard for a reporter to know how much coverage theories like those espoused by Rep. Greene should receive. However, it’s important to remember that ninety-nine percent of scientists agree that the way our climate has and will change is largely a result of human activity. This consensus challenges the current structure of the global economy and consumption patterns globally, but it’s a crucial step in addressing the climate crisis. The threat can only become greater if ignored, but with this scientific consensus, we can move forward with confidence in our understanding of the issue.

On the ground, the pushing of these theories and others about FEMA have GOP state leaders in North Carolina speaking out. State senator Kevin Corbin, who represents some of the hardest hit counties in the state, urged people to stop spreading misinformation online as it hampers the ability of first responders and government officials to dedicate their full attention to those most in need.

The impacts of climate change can no longer be ignored

These are experts who have studied the phenomena and are able to predict with varying levels of certainty the impacts of anthropogenic (i.e., human-caused) climate change. What theories like Rep. Greene’s indicate is that those impacts are here, and the devastation caused by climate change can no longer be ignored. However, instead of accepting the scientific explanation, another more nefarious rationale is needed. The ambiguous ‘they’ is deployed as if ‘they’ want people to suffer for some good that they will garner from triggering such a horrific event.

Communities across the Southeast have experienced horrors that no human should be forced to live through. Entire towns were washed away. Families were forced onto their roofs as the water kept rising, seeing their parents and children stolen too soon by raging waters. Some areas could be without running water for months, and there are towns where residents don’t know if they will be able to rebuild and return to their lives. This pain, this harm, this terror is demonstrative of the failure of the US government to respond to the climate crisis. It has failed to mitigate the impacts by reducing emissions and encouraging and supporting other countries to do the same. But the failure does not end there. Our leaders have known about the threat of climate change for decades. Yet, little has been invested in the country’s infrastructure to ensure that when those more violent storms materialize, the weaknesses under those conditions are addressed.