The Jacki Daily Show

Should stars use concert stages and football fields as platforms for their politics or policy activism? John Cougar Mellencamp made news this week for leaving the stage after being challenged by his fans to “just play music!” rather than proselytizing his public policy views from the stage. Jacki is joined by Jeff Fisher of “Chewing the Fat with Jeff Fisher” to discuss. Jacki argues that the stage and field are not the *performer’s* platform, and that having to suffer through Mellencamp’s sermon should be a breach of contract for a ticket purchaser who thought they were exchanging big dollars for a performance of “Hurts So Good!”

Conservation: In an article by Nature titled, “Vultures Blind to the Dangers of Wind Farms; Collisions with Turbines a Result of Visual Adaptation for Foraging” we see an honest assessment of the danger wind farms pose to just one species. We learn why foragers actually have large blind spots - “despite having some of the sharpest eyes” of any animals. Unfortunately, the turbines are also deadly to an array of protected species including apex predators like the bald eagle, golden eagle, various hawks, and falcons. Jacki reviews the research.

As noted by the WSJ Editorial Board, the Texas grid is already running low on power – and Texas is only facing “not-so-sizzling” 80s temperatures. It’s April. What happens when temps spike above 100 in July and over 30 million Texans jack up the AC? The Journal cites surging population and energy-guzzling AI and data centers, urging readers to buy generators and to not plan on plugging in their EV in the afternoon peak period. Jacki adds the quiet part the WSJ left out.

Our friends at Energy Impact USA have profiled American attitudes on U.S. oil and gas production, and we were surprised to learn that only half of “energy voters” are conservative. Jacki breaks down the numbers on this surprising wedge issue. The numbers prove that a balanced energy and environment debate is getting through to Americans across the political spectrum. Jacki argues that Americans underestimate their own influence, especially on immediate family, friends, and co-workers.

Lee Bratcher, President of the Texas Blockchain Council, explains why Texas is the bitcoin mining capitol of the world and the industry’s plan to use off-grid natural gas to power bitcoin mining (gas that would otherwise be flared into the atmosphere, representing lost revenue for natural gas producers). Bratcher describes bitcoin as de-centralized, censorship resistant, and the opposite of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). He explains the plan for bitcoin miners to help balance demands on the Texas grid. Texas is the only state with its own grid.

Dr. Cal Beisner of the Cornwall Alliance gives an overview of his book, Climate and Energy: The Case for Realism, a collection of essays by climate scientists, economists, and other professionals.  Environmental goals can absolutely be met in a way that does not threaten the survival of billions of human beings (ending fossil fuels, nuclear, etc.). Bonus: This book gives proper credit to the elephant in the room or the climate change debate chamber: the sun, with its cycles, weather, storms, and earthward springing flares. Where does the sun figure into the dozens of widely varying climate change models cited by leading scientists?

Jacki interviews Craig Rucker of CFACT about their ongoing suit against the feds for violating the Endangered Species Act. The suit to prevent construction of a Virginia offshore wind farm that would be the biggest in the world, the size of Rhode Island and Connecticut – combined - claiming that the 176 turbines will have a devastating impact on the North Atlantic Right Whale, an endangered species with only about 70 female individuals remaining.  This project is one of 32 east coast areas leased to wind farms, creating a gauntlet of dangers that this and other whale species have to migrate through twice yearly. The seismic surveys, underwater explosions used to place the turbines, and ongoing noise from the turbines are all believed to interfere with the whales’ communication and navigation signals, causing the “unusual mortality event” the feds have declared for the whale beachings.  This suit is filed by the Heartland Institute, the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT), and the National Legal and Policy Center. Jacki predicts a court win given that the federal courts have uniformly held that the approach taken by the regulators in this case is illegal.

The solar eclipse path-of-totality spans from Eagle Pass, TX to Maine. Jacki shares how to prepare and what to expect based on The Jacki Daily Show four-state tour of the last major U.S. eclipse in 2017: purple skies, the insects and birds go quiet, and more.  Jacki urges listeners to BE VERY CAREFUL about where you buy your eclipse goggles. Only trust your eyesight to goggles manufactured by companies and from countries whose standards you trust.  Texas projects the eclipse will block between 83-99% of the sun’s rays that power the state’s solar energy, a real problem now that Texas has 20 times as much dependency on solar than the state did during the 2017 eclipse.  Jammed cellular signals are possible, and government actors are calling out National Guard and Coast Guard...for some reason.  Path-of-totality cities could see their populations triple; As all Jacki Daily Show listeners know already, you should always keep topped-off fuels tanks.

A I is a fossil fuel-guzzling technology. The International Energy Agency estimates that AI and cryptocurrency could cause data centers to double their energy (yes, fossil fuel) use in a just two years (D. Blackmon reports). - - - - - What a Billy Joel concert can teach you about fossil fuels, steel making, and other keys to winning a world war, …lessons still applicable for WW3. - - - - - What did we learn from RFK Jr.’s VP candidate reveal? Plenty. That he is serious about his war on U.S. energy, for one. Does he still stand by his 2014 article titled, “Jailing Climate Deniers”? - - - - - Biden urges Ukraine to stop attacking oil tankers and refineries. C’mon Man! Whose side is he on? Sure, a cessation would keep gas prices down until after the election, but don’t we have loftier goals? - - - - - Jacki’s upcoming appearances.

David Blackmon, Host of The Energy Question podcast, joins Jacki to give our conservation update. Federal filings prove that Big Wind is killing whales washing up on the Northeast coast, with a death count of at least 60 so far. The Feds admit that they do not have data on the harm to whales, nor do they appear to be hustling to learn the extent of it. What is clear is that wind farm surveys, underwater explosions (to set the towers), and sound waves from swirling wind blades can literally damage tissue, interfering with the whales’ ability to communicate with other whales to signal navigation or signs of danger, whether predators or boats. Likewise, Big Wind is now threatening the big cats of northeastern Brazil, decimating the region’s count of endangered pumas and jaguars. Finally, we discuss why RFK Jr. is not “as advertised.”