The Point: Exhibit 9,172 that global warming is an urgent threat

View this email in your browser   January 15, 2020  | by Chris Cillizza and Lauren Dezenski Exhibit 9,172 that global warming is an urgent threat  Not only did 2019 barely miss out on being the hottest year ever recorded on planet Earth, but it brought to a close the hottest decade ever, according to statistics provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration on Wednesday.   The report from the two agencies notes that the past five years were the five hottest in the 140 years that we have been measuring the planetary temperature. The Earth's temperature is now 2 degrees warmer than it was, on mean, between 1951 and 1980 -- evidence of the relatively rapid heating and of the lack of efficacy of attempts to slow or curtail the temperature rise.   "We crossed over into more than 2 degrees Fahrenheit warming territory in 2015 and we are unlikely to go back. This shows that what's happening is persistent, not a fluke due to some weather phenomenon: we know that the long-term trends are being driven by the increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere," said NASA's Gavin Schmidt of the findings.   The starkness of the studies correlates with the rising number of people -- especially Democrats -- who see climate change as not just an issue but the issue of our times.   In the CNN/Des Moines Register poll of Iowa Democrats released last week, almost 7 in 10 (68%) said climate change was an "extremely important" issue in how they decided which candidate to support. (That tied it with health care in terms of issues people prioritized when picking a candidate.)   During Tuesday night's Democratic presidential debate, climate change was very much on the minds of the top contenders. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont called it "the greatest threat facing this planet." Businessman Tom Steyer warned that "we cannot put climate on the back seat all the time and say we're going to sign this one more deal, we're going to do one more thing without putting climate first."   Heck, even President Donald Trump, who has referred to climate change as a "Chinese hoax" and a "make-believe scandal" in the past, sounded a much more realistic note recently. Asked whether he still believed his past "hoax" comments, Trump responded: "No, no. Not at all. Nothing's a hoax. Nothing's a hoax about that. It's a very serious subject."   The Point: The numbers on climate change just keep getting worse. The question is whether politicians are willing to do anything about it.   -- Chris QUOTE OF THE DAY "You go into a shower, and I have this beautiful head of hair. I need a lot of water. You go into the shower, right? You turn on the water. Drip, drip, drip." -- President Donald Trump airing his latest grievances with water pressure at Tuesday night's MAGA rally in Wisconsin. Chris has more on Trump's latest vendetta. A VERY 🎇 LIT 🎇 FOURTH  President Donald Trump gave a preview of this year's super-charged Fourth of July plans Wednesday.   This year's Independence Day will feature a fireworks display atop Mount Rushmore, Trump said. He brushed aside environmental and wildfire concerns.    "What can burn? It's stone," Trump said of concerns over the environmental impacts that prevented previous fireworks.   But will the President make it to South Dakota for the special display this summer? Trump said he would "try" to attend. CHRIS' GOOD READS "A Very Stable Genius"   What the hell is going on with Rudy Giuliani?   Why voters are nervous about Amy Klobuchar   The 18 ways to sleep on a plane (side note: I can't sleep on a plane, no matter what)   How China saved a Maine paper mill   The remarkable life of Stuart Scott MUSICAL INTERLUDE Mitski performed at "Austin City Limits"! It's running this weekend on PBS. But here's a preview.     Today's episode: Inside Iowa's final debate LAUREN'S CAMPAIGN TRAIL LATEST     Andrew Yang: Supports impeachment, but thinks Democrats need to spend less time on getting the President out of office and more on what got him there in the first place. Tom Steyer: Is staying mum about what exactly he heard of the end-of-debate exchange between Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. Bernie Sanders: Says Warren sought to "raise a concern" with him in their post-debate exchange.  Michael Bloomberg: Wasn't on the debate stage, but his campaign grabbed attention by sending out zany tweets mid-debate.   ONE BIG IMPEACHMENT TRIAL 7 The number of impeachment managers House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (at last) named for the Senate's trial.   They are Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff of California, Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler of New York, Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Zoe Lofgren of California, Val Demings of Florida, Jason Crow of Colorado and Sylvia Garcia of Texas. Schiff, who led the House's Ukraine investigation, will serve as lead impeachment manager. You are receiving this message because you subscribed to CNN's The Point with Chris Cillizza newsletter. Unsubscribe from this list Check out other CNN Newsletters Share the Point Newsletter Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get The Point in your inbox. Send your tips and thoughts via email to Chris Cillizza and Lauren Dezenski. You can follow Chris and Lauren on Twitter and connect with The Point on: Our mailing address is: One CNN Center Atlanta, GA 30303 Copyright © 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., All rights reserved.