Just One Thing: Trump selects Chris Wright as Secretary of Energy nominee
I mentioned on my Friday show that I took President-elect Donald Trump’s choice of Doug Burgum as Secretary of the Interior to mean that Trump had someone in particular in mind for Secretary of Energy because Burgum seemed a good fit for the Energy job. Then I said that I thought Trump’s best pick for Energy would be Chris Wright, CEO of Liberty Energy, based right here in Denver, and not just because Chris is a friend of mine. Chris is an MIT-educated engineer who can talk with deep understanding about any form of energy production. Not just oil and gas, but biomass, wind, solar, and nuclear. He will be the first Energy Secretary to come from the energy industry, and it’s about time. He’s also one of the smartest people I’ve ever met and he’ll be great for the United States of America.
Read this, by Chris: THE PODIUM | Will climate crusade eclipse the poor? | Opinion | coloradopolitics.com
I don't love the headline but the article is basically accurate: Trump’s Choice for Energy Secretary Is a Fracking Booster and Climate Skeptic
And to be clear, I'm a "climate skeptic" too, not in the sense that I think climate doesn't change (because it obviously does) or even that humans don't have an impact (we can) but rather that I think it's not an existential threat to humanity. It can actually bring benefits if the planet warms a bit, at least in some places. And most importantly, humans are very adaptable and can do fine in different climates. As far as policy goes, the so-called "solutions" are, in my opinion, far far more expensive than any likely cost.
Note that Doug Burgum will also have a higher-level job coordinating energy policy: Trump picks Doug Burgum for ‘energy czar’ — and Interior secretary - The Washington Post (may require subscription)
Doomberg knows: In Praise of Chris Wright - Doomberg
Today's guest, Robert Bryce, will have more to say about our mutual friend, Chris Wright.
Today's Guests
Tim Ritschard is President of the Middle Park Stockgrowers Association. We'll discuss the effort by many groups in Colorado -- an effort that I think is not likely to be successful in the short term -- to pause further reintroduction of wolves into Colorado.
26 key players petition Colorado to pause wolf reintroduction - The Colorado Sun
Update: Petition requests hiatus in $5M wolf release program | TheFencePost.com
Robert Bryce is one of the nation's (and world's) leading experts on electrical power generation, power grids, and more. He joins us to talk about our mutual friend Chris Wright being named as Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Energy.
Chris Wright, An Energy Humanist, Will Be Energy Secretary
I urge you to subscribe to Robert's fantastic Substack: Robert Bryce | Substack
Here's Robert's most recent long-form interview of Chris:
Other Stuff
Congrats to Bo Nix. During the Broncos 38-6 win over the Atlanta Falcons yesterday (I was at the game so Dragon can't blame me anymore!), quarterback Bo Nix became the first rookie in NFL history to complete at least 80 percent of his passes while throwing for four touchdowns and 300 yards in a game.
Another excellent choice by Trump: Trump taps FCC commissioner Brendan Carr to chair the agency
Brendan will go after big-tech censorship: FCC Commissioner Carr writes to Big Tech, accuses them of forming “censorship cartel” - The Economic Times
FCC Commissioner criticizes 4 big tech companies for censorship practices
Meanwhile, Trump is slowing down the process to choose a Treasury Secretary, which is smart: Who Will Be Donald Trump's Treasury Secretary? Four Potential Candidates - Newsweek
And Trump names the youngest White House Press Secretary in history: Trump names Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary | AP News
I told listeners to expect this as Biden tries to give Ukraine operating leeway that he expects Trump would not approve. For the record, I support Biden's doing this but he should have done it long ago, like so many other decisions he delayed making during the war. He's basically a coward. Biden lifts restriction on Ukraine's use of U.S.-provided weapons inside Russian territory - CBS News
BUT: The approval is only for within the Kursk region -- where it is expected that thousands of North Korean troops will deploy. Approval does not extend to, for example, striking military targets near Moscow: Biden lets Ukraine use U.S.-supplied long-range missiles in Russia's Kursk region
I have no idea what's true here but this stuff is a bad distraction and Hegseth already has serious "personal" skeletons in his closet. Trump defense secretary pick Pete Hegseth denies sexual assault allegation, acknowledges payment to accuser
Another good (international) energy story: Leeches out - Irina Slav on energy
Interesting data from Bruce Mehlman re “change” and 3 Congresses in a row with single-digit majority: Six-Chart Sunday (#43) – The New Gilded Age Revisited
One more dead terrorist: Hezbollah's chief propagandist eliminated in Beirut
Justine Bateman tells some truths: The Case of Justine Bateman—And Why Gen X Broke for Trump | The Free Press
Today’s hearing is a big deal in a case that’s taken way too long and that was wrongly decided by the first judge:
Crucial transparency case may be heard in secret
An unfortunate end to a stellar career: Ann Selzer ending election polling, moving on to other opportunities
J. Ann Selzer Is Ending Her Election Polling Career Following Iowa Fail
READ THIS: This wouldn’t surprise me one bit. There are entire industries and bureaucracies built around scaring people about climate change. Letter to Peter Kyle MP – Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology. | Tallbloke's Talkshop
I don’t know if it’s too late. It’s probably not too little, though; rather it’s exactly what most major newspapers need right now to have any chance to survive: LA Times editor addresses staff 'concerns' after owner suggests he wants to overhaul paper
Glass half-empty or half-full? Pentagon fails 7th audit in a row but says progress made
Interesting take on the dispirited "resistance": The Trump Bump Is Dead. Is the #Resistance Dead Too? - POLITICO
And an interesting take by classical liberal Andrew Sullivan: The Energizing Clarity Of Democracy - by Andrew Sullivan
The market is warning the Fed against rapid rate cuts and they may be listening: Exclusive | Boston Fed President Says December Rate Cut Isn’t a ‘Done Deal’ - WSJ
CBOE Interest Rate 10 Year T No (^TNX) Stock Price, News, Quote & History - Yahoo Finance
I don’t blame the migrants for wanting to be here. One of the great policy failures of any American president in modern history was Biden’s opening the border and literally inviting illegal aliens into the United States. Smugglers Tell Migrants to Rush to U.S. Before Trump Takes Power - WSJ
Crazy finance story: The $55 Billion Customer Exodus Rocking Franklin Templeton
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Today's Video
Congrats to CU Buffs junior Charlie Offerdahl on his first (college) touchdown: WATCH: Colorado's Charlie Offerdahl first career touchdown vs. Utah
Barbie wins Miss Universe?
A triumphant Donald Trump returns to Madison Square Garden
Accompanied by Elon Musk, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, UFC head Dana White, and others.