Biden's Order to NOAA, "Use Native American Wisdom"

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Now that President Biden is a lame duck, we're getting a preview of what a second Biden, or Harris, Administration would have been like. 

In addition to cruelly neglecting the southern Appalachian's plight after Helene -- while sending huge  amounts of money to the Ukraine -- President Biden has ordered the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to use "Indigenous Knowledge" when forecasting the climate. Really. 
Via MSN News
As Biden is a lame duck, I would have replied, "Thank you, Mr. President" and filed away the proposal as Biden only has 35 days left. Unfortunately, NOAA's Administrator, Dr. Rick Spinrad, said, 

“These knowledge systems are needed more than ever to inform NOAA,” said the NOAA administrator.

His comments get worse (you can read them here) but I can't bring myself to write more about them. 

As long-time readers know, I have been critical of Dr. Spinrad's treatment of the National Weather Service and its forecasts. I would now say that case is closed. For example, his agency's tornado forecasting gets worse and worse (a point he does not contest). In 2024, there were obvious, unwarned tornadoes from New York to California (literally). Under his tenure, the state of America's weather forecast computer modeling slipped from third to fourth. We were once the worldwide leader. He turned down overtures from Congress to fund desperately needed "gap filler" radars. 
Dr. Rick Spinrad
If interested, a list of Native American weather forecast lore is here. As a person who has professionally forecast weather for 56 years, I can state without qualification there is nothing there that would make forecasts of weather or climate more accurate. 

This is just another effort from those who wish to undermine our scientific culture. The fact the leader of America's public-sector weather forecasters treats this seriously is a step backward in both science and culture. 

There are many things that need to be done -- immediately -- to improve forecasts and warnings of extreme weather. I'm hoping President Trump will appoint a weather-oriented head of NOAA who takes seriously the responsibility of warning the American people when dangerous weather threatens.

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