Did the White House bury worst-case BP spill estimates?
Obama's own commission suggests the White House blocked scientists from leveling with the public about how bad things could get. Is that view fair?
President Obama's commission on the BP oil spill didn't spare his administration in its first four draft reports evaluating the government response to the disaster. By publicly lowballing the size of the spill for the first month, the draft reports said, "the federal government created the impression that it was either not fully competent to handle the spill or not fully candid with the American people." One report said the White House quashed a request from government scientists at NOAA to release a worst-case scenario. Did the Obama team try to bury the truth? (Watch an AP report about the finding)
Science lost to politics: My take on the "rather incendiary revelation" that the White House buried NOAA's worst-case scenario, says John Hinderaker at PowerLine, is that "scientists and others at NOAA wanted to let it be known that they tried to level with the public, but were blocked by President Obama's political appointees." That sounds believable, given this administration's track record.
"What did the oil commission say?"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Team Obama was slow, not dishonest: The spill was not "the administration's finest hour," says Jeffrey Kluger in Time. But it's not fair to blame it for the "random, wheel-of-fortune quality" of the initial spill estimates. When the administration stopped relying on BP and created its own flow-rate panel in May, they got it right. Perhaps it is a measure of "how comparatively well the crisis was handled" that we're already arguing over the "post-mortem."
"Oil spill report hits White House. Is it fair?"
We will see what the final report says: Government officials are certainly arguing that they "sufficiently and repeatedly warned the public about worst-case scenarios," says Josh Duboff in New York. But it's pretty damning to be criticized by your own commission. This is just a draft, but don't be shocked if "a whole bunch of White House officials will be calling in sick" on Jan. 11, when the final report is due.
"Report criticizes administration for response to oil spill"
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Foreigners in Spain facing a 100% tax on homes as the country battles a housing crisis
Under the Radar The goal is to provide 'more housing, better regulation and greater aid,' said Spain's prime minister
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: January 22, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Codeword: January 22, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
US election: who the billionaires are backing
The Explainer More have endorsed Kamala Harris than Donald Trump, but among the 'ultra-rich' the split is more even
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK Published
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
1 of 6 'Trump Train' drivers liable in Biden bus blockade
Speed Read Only one of the accused was found liable in the case concerning the deliberate slowing of a 2020 Biden campaign bus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published