John Ryan
@heyjohnryan.bsky.social
KUOW Public Radio environment reporter. Seattle. Is this thing on? Tips, leaks--DM me, or email jryan@kuow.org, or Signal: @heyjohnryan.10
Young people may find it difficult to believe but, in my living memory, there was a broad consensus in US politics that air pollution -- not GHGs, just old fashioned particulates, NOx, etc. -- is bad & worth fighting. Now that concern is going overboard in the pursuit of AI.
Trump’s Push for More A.I. Data Centers Will Mean Major Air Pollution
nytimes.com
Today will likely be the peak of the smoke in #Seattle and the Puget Sound area with somewhat improving air quality starting late tonight. Get the de-smoking timeline in the ECWB: emeraldcityweather.com/seattle-puge... #wawx #wawildfire
There’s (sun)light at the end of this smoky tunnel for Seattle and Western Washington - Emerald City Weather Blog
(TL;DR – “Too Long; Didn’t Read”: Wednesday should remain the peak of the smoke in Western Washington with
emeraldcityweather.com
If you like the heat waves of 2026, you’re going to love the heat waves of 2036, especially if we keep burning fossil fuels at the current rate.
Extreme Temperatures Around the World@extremetemps.bsky.social · 10h agoMOST EXTREME DAY IN EUROPEAN HISTORY Thousands of records have been shattered with the hugest margins ever seen in European history from West to East. There has never been anything like this, not even last June. Wait for many updates later.
The proposed deal now under discussion would give Iran a 5-7% toll for traffic through Hormuz, making the war a massive victory for the Iranians and insuring them a long-term dominant position in the Gulf. It would reflect pretty much an unconditional surrender by Trump to Tehran.
Proposed Hormuz deal would give Iran control of inbound traffic, sources say
A proposed deal between Iran and Oman would give Tehran control over ships entering the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, a senior Iranian source and two regional officials told Reuters, in one of th...
reuters.com
Elon Musk thinks he knows the price of some things but he understands the true value of nothing.
Why are the devastating fires 🔥 in the Pacific NW so immense? Is it ‘just summer’? Land management issues? Climate change? In this short video we cover a ton of ground with an in-depth analysis on what the data shows. Stick around for a complete picture of the #science of these #wildfires #spokane
Sunrise reveals a Pacific Northwest overwhelmed with wildfire smoke. Combined with rising temperatures in the region, any outdoor activities should be limited as much as possible. weather.gov
If you think this year has been bad, 2027 could be worse.
Zeke Hausfather@zekehausfather.com · 3d agoI'm not sure folks have realized just how crazy the second half of 2026 and 2027 will be for global temperatures – on the back of a record-smashing El Niño event. Here is my latest estimate of where both years will end up compared to global temperatures since 1850.
Unfortunately, the next 10 days are not looking good for rainfall in the fire region of the Pacific NW. Rain in every direction, except the middle. Really probably the case for the next 2 weeks.
New: The US is enduring one of its worst wildfire seasons in years, with blazes scorching millions of acres. It’s part of a global pattern of hot, dry conditions that favor fires becoming more common with climate change. Free link. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Global Wildfire Surge Hits US, Propelled by Rising Temperatures
Blazes in the Western US and Europe point to a global shift: Climate change is making fire weather more extreme and more widespread.
bloomberg.com
You won't regret clicking on this beautifully told story by @lsommer.bsky.social about the Pacific Ocean and how the Trump regime is opening some marine monuments to commercial fishing.
These are some of the last pristine ocean ecosystems. Now, they're losing protections
The largest conservation areas in the U.S. are in the Pacific Ocean, where tiny islands are epicenters of biodiversity. The Trump administration is now opening their waters to commercial fishing, spar...
apps.npr.org
If you do the math* you discover that: One acre of macauba fruit = one hour of 737 flight Yeah, super sustainable, that. YOU CAN'T FLY JETS ON FRUIT *math below www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
Jet Fuel Made From Tropical Fruit Gets $3 Billion Backing
A Brazilian company owned by Mubadala Capital plans to make sustainable aviation fuel out of macauba fruit, which grows on palm trees.
bloomberg.com
How long would I have to leave a brick of Tillamook cheese outside before it gains a smoky flavor?
What a phenomenal example of using your platform to raise awareness of the risks of climate change and the need for action. 10 gold stars to Gary and his human! www.instagram.com/p/DblYgQUlGI...
Helpful piece from fire scientists Mojtaba Sadegh and John Abatzoglou on why the Spokane fires were so extreme and what can be done to reduce wildfire risk across the West.
Why the Spokane wildfires became so catastrophic
Extreme fire conditions converged in suburban neighborhoods built into the forests, shrubland and grasslands and quickly spread.
theconversation.com
Smoke will cover half the US today from the devastating Pacific NW fires. Here’s where we stand: 2.4 Million Acres burned in Washington, Oregon, & Idaho - 16X the size of #Chicago. 700 structures lost. Countless lives changed forever. One unsustainably warming planet. 🌍 #smoke #fire #spokane
Jeff Berardelli @weatherprof.bsky.social · 2d agoThe wildfires in the Pacific NW are incredibly sad and devastating. We have to face the fact that a warming climate is unsustainable. As you can see, fires in the Pacific NW are getting much larger in recent decades. The largest fires (100K acres+) have increased by 10-15X since the 1980s. 1/
I did not work countless hours in an ICU full of proned patients and go back to my hotel crying because we lost more patients in a day than a typical week to hear a moron with a worm in his brain say that the ICU's were empty. I AM SO FUCKING ANGRY.
Dr. Lucky Tran@luckytran.com · 3d agoI worked for New York’s largest medical center at the start of the pandemic. There were morgue trucks on the streets. They set up emergency medical tents in Central Park. Healthcare worker colleagues died. It is horrific that RFK Jr is on national TV lying that ICUs were empty.
A wildfire smoke alert was issued Monday for most of the Puget Sound region, with air quality likely to deteriorate through the week before finally clearing Friday.
Smoke, heat headed for Western Washington, as wildfires grow to the east and north
A wildfire smoke alert was issued Monday for most of the Puget Sound region, with air quality likely to deteriorate through the week before finally clearing Friday.
kuow.org
July 1 from Politico: www.politico.com/news/2026/07... Aug. 3 from the Bulwark:
Whatever happened to Sean Duffy’s road trip series?
The Transportation secretary said episodes would drop in June. The group backing the trip said the series will arrive "in the coming weeks."
politico.com
Will Sommer@willsommer.bsky.social · 2d agoTransportation secretary Sean Duffy benefited from millions in corporate donations to make a show about road trips. But two months after Duffy said the show would premiere, it doesn't appear to exist at all. My latest False Flag @thebulwark.com: www.thebulwark.com/p/what-the-h...
The wildfires in the Pacific NW are incredibly sad and devastating. We have to face the fact that a warming climate is unsustainable. As you can see, fires in the Pacific NW are getting much larger in recent decades. The largest fires (100K acres+) have increased by 10-15X since the 1980s. 1/
As the air quality in Western Washington degrades due to wildfire smoke, a reminder of this helpful video from Seattle area public health officials on how to make your own air filter. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FoM...
Public Health Crafter’s Corner: 1-minute DIY Filter Fan
YouTube video by Public Health - Seattle & King County
youtube.com
I'm just going to keep screaming this until I'm hoarse, but until Trump the norm -- for 50 years -- was that sitting presidents had their taxes audited by the IRS and released to the public to show they were clean. But Trump refused repeatedly, and sued when his return was leaked, and now ... this
Kyle Griffin@kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 2d agoFLAG: Trump gets to keep tax immunity for himself, his sons, and the Trump Organization under the new 'deal' struck by Todd Blanche. The new order also reaffirms that Trump won't have to pay any taxes he might have owed the IRS.
Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown says nearly half of the city's neighborhoods have either been evacuated or are at risk as the fires remain uncontained. n.pr/4fJ5f32
Washington wildfires destroy homes, force thousands to evacuate
Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown says nearly half of the city's neighborhoods have either been evacuated or are at risk as the fires remain uncontained.
n.pr
As RFK Jr and Trump desperately try to gaslight us about the #COVID pandemic, remember that 1.2 million Americans died-- one of every 300 people in the country. The COVID-19 vaccine SAVED 3.2 million lives, prevented 18 million hospitalizations, & averted more than $1.15 trillion in medical costs.
Good story, though no mention of the fires and smoke now enveloping much of the district
NPR@npr.org · 3d agoThe primary to replace Rep. Dan Newhouse is a rare opportunity for Washington's Republicans to seek federal office. Candidates representing different wings of the party are testing Trump's influence. n.pr/4fPJ4rS
The primary to replace Rep. Dan Newhouse is a rare opportunity for Washington's Republicans to seek federal office. Candidates representing different wings of the party are testing Trump's influence. n.pr/4fPJ4rS
For Republicans planning post-Trump future, one race in Washington is worth watching
The primary to replace Rep. Dan Newhouse is a rare opportunity for Washington's Republicans to seek federal office. Candidates representing different wings of the party are testing Trump's influence.
n.pr
This should be taken seriously: wildfire smoke is 3-10x more toxic than PM2.5 particulates from tailpipes
Dr. Jeff Masters@drjeffmasters.bsky.social · 3d ago18Z HRRR-Smoke model predicts wildfire smoke to cause "Unhealthy" (red) to "Very Unhealthy" (purple) AQI in the major population centers of the Pacific NW and SW BC on Tuesday as a ridge of high pressure brings NE winds. Also a major heat risk for Portland, OR, with temps in the upper 90s .
