Planet, national security at risk

The president of the United States, arguably the most powerful man on the planet, didn’t plan to attend the U.N. Climate Summit on Monday (Sept. 23), despite a desperate call to action by U.N. Secretary General António Guterres. If drastic measures aren’t taken to curb greenhouse gases, Guterres said, we’re headed for a climate breakdown.

The fact that Donald Trump “dropped by” the summit, for all of 15 minutes, is shameful but a clear representation of his environmental record. He’s already vowed to pull the United States out of the 2015 Paris agreement and has done seemingly everything in his power since his election to dismantle environmental measures across the country, including in California.

Trump’s actions Monday are yet another embarrassment for the United States on the world stage. Meanwhile, the hero of the day, 16-year-old Greta Thunberg from Sweden, gave an impassioned speech imploring the world’s leaders to look past money and greed and take steps to ensure the health of the planet for generations to come.

“We are in the beginning of a mass extinction and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth,” Thunberg said.

Like a schoolyard bully, Trump responded via Twitter: “She seems like a very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future. So nice to see!”

This is the leader of the free world, folks. Had enough? We hope so.

On Tuesday (Sept. 24), Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi finally launched an impeachment inquiry. The subject: a phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a former sitcom star, in which Trump allegedly urged him to investigate former VP and current presidential candidate Joe Biden. Russian meddling déjà vu, anyone?

Newsflash, Mr. President: Life is not a reality show. It’s time for you to go.