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Climate desk

Climate

The measurements, methods, and public records behind claims about weather, climate, energy, and environmental change.

Verdict mix: 6 True · 1 Mostly True · 3 Misleading · 1 False

Follow climate by RSS →

Open source desk

Start with the record.

This desk separates a weather event, a long-term climate record, and a policy claim. Published checks appear below only after the relevant data and framing have been reviewed.

What this desk watches

  • Temperature, precipitation, and extreme-event records
  • Emissions, energy, and electricity data
  • Climate science and environmental indicators
  • Federal and state climate-policy claims
↗National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationFederal climate data, tools, and explanatory resources.↗NOAA Climate Data OnlineHistorical weather and climate observations with public downloads.↗U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyEnvironmental indicators, regulations, and program information.↗U.S. Energy Information AdministrationEnergy data, forecasts, and electricity and fuel statistics.
Across the press

What newsrooms are covering on climate right now

From our own wire · ranked by independent newsrooms · not verdicts
01
3 newsrooms3 hours ago

3M agrees to pay more than $7 billion to settle 'forever chemical' groundwater contamination claims ↗

  • The Hill
  • The Washington Times
  • Inside Climate News
02
2 newsrooms3 hours ago

Democrats’ Victory in Texas Raises Potential for Environmental Reform ↗

  • Inside Climate News
Published record

11 reviewed checks

No automated verdicts.
Energy

Trump said his administration is officially terminating Biden-era regulations that hold oil and gas companies accountable for large leaks of methane emissions

Verdict: True
At a campaign rally in Lubbock, Texas on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, Donald Trump said he was 'officially terminating' Biden-era methane emissions regulations that held oil and gas companies accountable for large methane leaks, framing it as a move to save consumers and energy producers money.The Baseline automated desk · Oct 29, 2026
Energy

More oil is now coming out of the Persian Gulf than before the Iran war.

Verdict: True
Data and reporting show that oil exports from the Persian Gulf have recently surpassed pre-war levels.The Baseline automated desk · Oct 22, 2026
Energy

Donald Trump signed an executive order waiving the off-road requirement for red-dye diesel, allowing farmers, truckers, and others to purchase diesel tax-free.

Verdict: True
Donald Trump signed an executive order waiving the off-road requirement for red-dye diesel to permit drivers, including farmers and truckers, to buy it tax-free.
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© 2026 The Baseline, published and edited by Cory Hepler. Every verdict cites its sources; automated checks are labeled until the editor has read them.Non-partisan in method · Press kit · RSS · Podcast RSS
  • Politico
    • 03
    2 newsrooms5 hours ago

    Elon Musk will face scrutiny from Democrats after midterms ↗

    • NPR
    • Politico
    04
    2 newsrooms3 days ago

    China Bets on Renewable Energy to Gain an AI Edge ↗

    • Politico
    • Inside Climate News

    Also on the wire

    1. Inside Climate NewsVoters Reject Industry-Backed Ballot Measures With Big Environmental StakesNov 5
    2. Inside Climate NewsAlabama Power Routinely Bills Ratepayers for Ads Promoting Its Goods and Services. State Regulators Want That Stopped.Nov 5
    3. Inside Climate NewsConley’s Victory in New York’s Lower Hudson Valley Opens Door to Renewed Climate ActionNov 4
    4. Inside Climate NewsInternational Coalition of Lawyers and Advocacy Groups Accuses JBS of Money LaunderingNov 4
    5. PoliticoOil prices fall on Vance's post-midterms Iran war repudiationNov 4
    6. PoliticoData centers are the midterms' other big loserNov 4
    7. The Guardian‘Discontent and distrust’: annual social cohesion checkup shows exactly what’s making Australia angryNov 4
    8. The GuardianFunding to help poorer countries cope with climate crisis has stalled, says UNNov 4
    9. The GuardianRogue UK energy bosses and brokers face crackdown on mis-sellingNov 4
    10. The GuardianHow penguin poo is making Antarctic snow melt fasterNov 4
    11. The HillBo French loses TX Railroad Commissioner raceNov 4
    12. The HillBig Tech, environmental groups in talks for potential data center frameworkNov 3

    Headlines link to the newsroom that wrote them. Appearing here is not an endorsement, and a story many outlets carry is corroborated, not necessarily true. Claims worth checking go to the desk and land in the record below.

    The Baseline automated desk · Oct 20, 2026
    Energy

    James Talarico recently stated, while wearing a large mask covering his face, that 'FOSSIL FUELS ARE DESTROYING THE PLANET.'

    Verdict: Misleading
    While James Talarico did make the remark about fossil fuels, it occurred years earlier in February 2022 rather than recently.The Baseline automated desk · Oct 16, 2026
    Energy

    Europe has agreed to immediately begin releasing a massive amount of their stocked diesel oil

    Verdict: True
    European and G7 leaders confirmed an agreement to immediately begin releasing up to 100 million barrels of reserves, front-loading a substantial release of diesel.The Baseline automated desk · Oct 2, 2026
    Energy

    He is considering a ban on diesel exports to ease high U.S. prices

    Verdict: True
    Donald Trump explicitly confirmed that his administration is very seriously considering a ban on diesel exports to help ease high domestic fuel prices.The Baseline automated desk · Sep 30, 2026
    Energy

    Surging gas costs are a 'very inexpensive price to pay' for the Iran war

    Verdict: True
    Donald Trump explicitly described rising gas prices as a 'very inexpensive price to pay' for the war in Iran during a campaign rally in North Carolina.The Baseline automated desk · Sep 19, 2026
    Climate

    "The United Nations top climate committee just admitted that its own projections were WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!"

    Verdict: Misleading
    A routine update narrowed the range of emissions scenarios, retiring an old worst-case path partly because the world shifted off coal toward renewables. It does not mean climate science was wrong, and researchers stress warming remains a serious, worsening problem.FactCheck.org, IPCC · Jun 4, 2026
    Energy

    "We are right now producing more oil than Saudi Arabia and Russia combined."

    Verdict: Mostly True
    True if you count all petroleum liquids: the U.S. produces more total liquids than Saudi Arabia and Russia combined. For crude oil alone, the U.S. leads each country but not their combined total.PolitiFact, U.S. Energy Information Administration · Apr 29, 2026
    Energy

    "If you look at gasoline, $1.99 a gallon."

    Verdict: False
    The national average was $2.90 a gallon the week of Feb. 9, 2026 - nearly a dollar higher than claimed. No state averaged under $2; the cheapest, Oklahoma, was about $2.36.FactCheck.org, U.S. Energy Information Administration · Feb 19, 2026
    Energy

    “Gas prices hit an all-time record high this year.”

    Verdict: Misleading
    May 21, 2026 did set a record — for the Trump presidencies, at $4.56 a gallon. It was not an all-time record: June 2022 averaged over $5.00 nominal, and adjusted for inflation 2012 gas cost about $5.07 in today’s dollars. Prices have since fallen back to about $3.84.EIA / AAA · Jul 2, 2026