Say it with us: Weather isn’t climate | Monday Morning Coffee

Good Snowy Monday Morning, Fellow Seekers.

This weekend’s spate of snowy weather has us thinking about climate change – mainly, why are we even debating this any more? Just about every civilized nation on earth has recognized it. Yet us stubborn Yanks sit here, staring at the sun, arguing what’s clear as day before our eyes.

What kind of an outlier is the United States? We direct your attention to the map below, put together by the good folks at the Pew Research Center:

Yup, that’s right – nearly every major nation on Earth views climate change as an existential threat.

Yet, blame it on the WikiLeaks or fears about that story your mom shared on Facebook, we here in Los Estados Unidos are more hung on cyberattacks from other countries than we are about the credible threat posed by global climate change.

Granted, that whole 2016 thing might have added fuel to the fire, but still.

Just a little something to think about as you’re shoveling out this morning.

Our Stuff:
Elizabeth Hardison brings you the cautionary tale of what happens when you forget to fill some vacancies on a key state regulatory panel.
Sarah Anne Hughes field-tripped it to Coal Country for a John Fetterman marijuana town hall.
Hardison also has an indispensable cheat sheet on a bill that would crack down on fentanyl dealers.
From the weekend, ex-PoliticsPA guy Nick Field crunched the numbers on Gov. Tom Wolf’s wins in 2014 and 2018, and what that could portend for 2020.

Elsewhere:
Prosecutors in central Pennsylvania are leading the way in charging heroin dealers with killing their customers, PennLive reports.
The Inquirer explains why some Pa. counties are having a hard time upgrading their voting machines.
Pittsburgh’s United Methodists are having trouble dealing with the church’s schism over gay marriage and clergy, The Post-Gazette reports.
A proposed law could be the ‘death knell’ for cyber-charter schools, The Morning Call reports.
BillyPenn wants readers to tell them what to ask Philly’s 2019 candidates about poverty in Philly and how to fix it.
The Incline lets you in on the identity of the biggest property owner in Braddock, Pa. It’s not the guy you’re thinking of.

Here’s your #Harrisburg Instagram of the Day:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BukLkN2HwiR/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

City officials in Wilmington, Del., have taken over an agency that builds homes for the poor, WHYY-FM reports.
Republicans in Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District have tapped state Rep. Fred Keller to run for ex-U.S. Rep. Tom Marino’s seat, WITF-FM reports.
PoliticsPA has last week’s winners and losers in state politics.
Stateline.org takes a look at cities and towns where an unpaid water bill can mean losing your home.
Politico reminds us of why Congress is just like high school – with slightly better clothes.
Earmarks won’t be making a comeback in the U.S. House this year, Roll Call reports.

What Goes On.
Budget hearings roll on (weather permitting) in the state House and Senate.
The Dept. of Education goes before House Approps at 1 p.m.
In the Senate, starting at 10 a.m., DDAS, Life Sciences and the Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources each get their turn.

WolfWatch.
Gov. Tom Wolf has no public schedule today.

What Goes On (Nakedly Political Edition).
State Rep. Mary Isaacson holds a 5 p.m. reception at McGrath’s Pub on Locust St. Admission runs $250 to $1,000.

You Say It’s Your Birthday Dept.
Belated best wishes go out this morning for House Appropriations Committee Chairman Stan Saylor, R-York, who celebrated on Sunday.

Heavy Rotation.
Here’s one from Monaco, a New Order side project, It’s “What Do You Want From Me?”

Monday’s Gratuitous Hockey Link.
Winnipeg pulled one out over the Rangers, winning 3-2 in a shootout on Sunday.

And now you’re up to date.