Fake News
By Angel Grippaldi
Recently, the state of Texas overcame severe weather conditions, including snowstorms, extreme rain, and over 30 weather related deaths. Natural News, a website known for its far right extremist stories and conspiracy theories, released an article describing how these climate patterns were deliberately engineered by President Joe Biden and his Department of Energy. The author of the article, Mike Adams, claims this scenario to be a ‘Ponzi Scheme’, which involves fraudulent investors and a promise of a large profit, which is never received. Natural News claims that these tragic winter storms were a genocide, and a form of population control across the state of Texas. The only way to assure that you do not feel the effects of a ‘global collapse’ again, such as the unfortunate power outages caused by the storms in Texas, is to completely remove yourself from complex systems and supply lines. Being self sufficient is the only way to survive, according to this article published by Natural News. After further research and investigation, one will find this article to be false, and a form of disinformation spreading across the internet.
A simple Google search regarding the responsibility of the Department of Energy will show you that they monitor and manage our use of energy and the power grid. Natural News set to claim that a call by Joe Biden blocked the increase of power necessary for Texas to function during their powerful storm.The order was predominantly for coal and natural gas. This has further been proven to be false, as the energy department actually did the opposite. During this winter storm, the state of Texas was granted this extra energy, not declined as so the article states.
Natural News published this article on February 22nd, 2020, only four days after the winter storm had ceased its damage in Texas. There are no cited sources at the bottom of this website, nor are there any reputable names as to where this information was received from. This story was also published by another media outlet known for fake news, InfoWars. Fake News pages such as Natural News and InfoWars, spread false, often hatred filled, news that escalate and spread disinformation for thousands to see even on apps such as Facebook, and Youtube.
These horrendous storms swept through Texas from February 13th until the 17th. Statements released by the White House Briefing Room announced on February 14th detail how President Joe Biden ordered additional federal assistance and local responders to be sent to Texas to aid in their devastation. In the article by Natural News, the author claims that the damage, and power outages, were so intense because the President limited the output by coal power plants. He even goes on to say that this was a ‘warm-up’ for an even further upcoming global collapse. Further research indicates that this event they are referring to of a limiting of coal power, referred to a temporary suspension on federal emissions in the state of Texas. This was done so that the power plants could operate and function at maximum capacity.
Many Americans may still be wondering, with all the extra power sources Texas was given during their storms, how did millions still end up without power? As stated by the Natural News article, this was due to a corrupt government scheme that is going to detrimentally get worse. With no sources to back up this information, further investigation will find that idea to be false. According to Rebecca Miller, a power research manager in Texas, the freezing weather was to blame. Chilling temperatures can often freeze instruments, making it more difficult to pump and transport the natural gas. These power plants in Texas are not weatherized for such conditions, and it did not help that natural-gas plants, which supply electricity, went offline as well.
It is important to avoid fake news websites, such as Natural News, that can cause public hysteria and confusion to those who read the information and do not realize the source is not reputable. With extra research and investigation, you can assure that the information you are reading from a website is proven, and true.
References
Adams, M. (2021, February 22). Situation update, Feb. 22 — to SURVIVE, disconnect from complex systems before the global Collapse strikes. Retrieved March 01, 2021, from https://www.naturalnews.com/2021-02-22-situation-update-feb-22-disconnecting-from-complex-systems.html#
Chen, J. (2021, January 28). Ponzi scheme. Retrieved March 01, 2021, from https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/ponzischeme.asp
News, V. (2021, February 26). Biden visits Texas to Survey storm damage. Retrieved March 01, 2021, from https://www.voanews.com/usa/biden-visits-texas-survey-storm-damage
Briefing Room. (2021, February 15). President Joseph R. BIDEN, JR. Approves Texas emergency declaration. Retrieved March 02, 2021, from https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/02/14/president-joseph-r-biden-jr-approves-texas-emergency-declaration/
Jones, B. (2021, February 18). Texas blackouts explained: ARCTIC weather shut down power plants as demand for HEAT surged, and the state’s grid is on its own. Retrieved March 02, 2021, from https://www.businessinsider.com/texas-blackouts-millions-lost-power-in-storm-went-wrong-2021-2#:~:text=Most%20of%20the%20supply%20that,and%20wind%20farms%2C%20ERCOT%20said.
