Defying Reality

Climate leftists lashing out against (political) science

Yesterday was my third time experiencing the protest tactics of Climate Defiance, the billionaire-funded professional activists who attack moderate Democrats in staged events designed for Twitter virality.

I wrote about the group’s crossing-the-line intimidation of elected officials earlier this year in CNN:

These forces are not only sporadic volunteer activists but often professionals with a coherent strategy backed by megadonors and foundations. The explicit goal of the donor behind the group that “bird-dogged” Manchin, for example, is “not giving him any peace.”

It is not just the radicals who are at fault. They are being cheered on by people who should know better. You would think that other members of Congress would abhor the efforts of disruptive groups like the Manchin-harassing Climate Defiance. But Rep. Ro Khanna of California and “Squad” members including Reps. Jamaal Bowman of New York and Cori Bush of Missouri participate in swanky fundraising events with ultra-wealthy Climate Defiance supporters.

From Senators to Substackers

When I saw Climate Defiance disrupt an event with Senator Joe Manchin in New Hampshire, the protestors were largely aging radicals with a crazy hippie uncle vibe. At Harvard, they brought a physically aggressive in-your-face approach - and got their ass kicked (literally).

Now that the radicals have helped deliver Senate control to the GOP, they’re moving on. At the inaugural Abundance Conference (which was awesome!), they moved from targeting Senators to Substackers, disrupting a conversation between center-left faction piped piper

Matthew Yglesias

and fellow journalist Derek Thompson. Yglesias was remarkably chill and the whole thing did more to elevate the traction the “Abundance Agenda” is gaining than to further the reality denial of Climate Defiance. It does matter, though - research from Stanford political scientist Robb Willer shows how their actions backfire: extreme protests make people more supportive of the idea or person being protested. That matters for Trump - extreme anti-Trump protests make people more supportive of Trump, but moderate protests reduce support for Trump - and it matters for policy.

Ted Nordhaus of The Breakthrough Institute has a good run-down of the altercation here, which includes two important notes. First, that the path beaten by Climate Defiance broadens & increases the risk of political violence. And second, the group is advised by a columnist for The New York Times.