Roker Frets to Obama That Ukraine Is Distracting From Climate Agenda

During an interview with former President Obama conducted on Monday and aired on NBC’s TodayAl Roker was worried about the distractions caused by Ukraine’s war. Obama replied by trying to use the conflict as an excuse “to wean ourselves off fossil fuels.”

“Then, a walk in the park. Al has a one to one conversation with President Obama, talking about his new series on the importance of America’s national parks,” co-host Savannah Guthrie eagerly teased at the top of the 8:00 a.m. The softball exchange was summarised perfectly at the ET hour. Minutes later, fellow co-host Hoda Kotb similarly swooned: “We are back with The Climate Today and Al’s exclusive interview with former President Barack Obama. During his eight years in the White House, the 44th president built a legacy of protecting our planet.”

 

 

In a portion of the exchange only shown on NBC’s All Day Today streaming channel, Roker fretted: “…climate is one of those things that gets pushed down when things happen. For example, now we’ve got Ukraine and there’s talk about, ‘Let’s ramp up production of fossil fuels because, you know, inflation, higher gas prices.’ Do you worry that that’s gonna push back the initiative?”

Obama tried desperately to link the two topics:

Well, interestingly, when we see what’s happened with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it argues for us redoubling our efforts to wean ourselves off fossil fuels.Russia has been empowered and emboldened partly due to the fact that they believe we must purchase their oil and natural gas . Now we need to look at how to revamp our energy supply so we don’t rely on them for fuel. It’s not just that it is contributing to the heating of our planet, it’s also that it ends up empowering folks that we don’t want empowered.

Roker continued to ask a couple more questions about Ukraine that were more substantive, including whether Obama would have “done something differently” when Russia invaded Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula on his watch in 2014.

Later, the exchange aired. Today, Roker lectured: “In fact, we have younger kids, Sasha and Malia, the generation that demands us being better caretakers.”Obama was a co-signer “I think that the generation of our kids are more mindful of how we haven’t always taken care of the planet. And with climate change affecting everything, they are demanding action.”

A portion of the friendly conversation aired live on the Third Hour todayIn the 9:00 a.m. ET hour, Roker was shown wondering: Roker was seen wondering at ET hours “During your presidency, you protected more public lands, more waterways, than any previous administration. Now that you are a private citizen, is climate change and the environment one of your top priorities?” Obama declared: “I think it has to be one of the top priorities for all of us.”

The purpose of the interview wasn’t just to push the left’s radical climate agenda, it was also promote Obama’s latest project, as Roker explained: “Now, his new Netflix series, Our Great National Parks, showcases some of the world’s most spectacular settings….The former president serving as both executive producer and narrator.”

In fact, the entire exchange took place in Virginia’s Great Falls National Park, just outside Washington, D.C.

Beyond topics like climate change and the war in Ukraine, during a clip played on Tuesday’s NBC Nightly NewsRoker briefly tossed out a softball about the upcoming midterm elections, in which Democrats are widely expected to suffer significant losses: “What do you think’s gonna happen in this midterm election?” Obama offered this laughable response:

Well, it’s too early to say. It seems that the Biden administration has managed to overcome many extraordinary circumstances. COVID, Ukraine, and the economy. They have done a good job with the policy. The problem is that COVID makes people feel tired. That’s gonna dampen the mood of a country. Inflation is an issue.It has a lot to do COVID, supply chains and a lot more. And now, Putin’s gas tax, essentially, by virtue of his invasion of Ukraine. But the underlying economy, there’s a good story to tell. Democrats must tell their story.The voters will ultimately decide.

The evening newscast did an excellent job dismantling the excuses made by the Biden White House earlier in the broadcast.

Roker’s predictably softball exchange with Obama was brought to viewers by IHOP and Citi. This is your chance to fight back against advertisers sponsoring content like this.

The transcript below contains excerpts of the interview, which aired April 13.

Act Now
8:00 AM ET TEASE

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE : Next, a stroll in the park. Al goes one on one with President Obama, talking about his new series on the importance of America’s national parks and sharing his passion with a group of young explorers.

BARACK OBAMA: We’re going to learn something not just about how to maintain national parks but why it’s so important to deal with issues like climate change that threaten the entire planet.

(…)            

8:11 AM ET SEGMENT

HODA KOTB – We’re back The Climate Today and Al’s exclusive interview with former President Barack Obama. The legacy that the 44th president left behind was one of protection for our planet.

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Well, now he’s out with a new Netflix series showcasing iconic national parks, it’s also a call to action to preserve them for generations to come.

(…)

8:12 AM ET

AL ROKER: Now, his new Netflix series, Our Great National Parks, showcases some of the world’s most spectacular settings.

BARACK OBA: A journey through natural wonders that are part of our common birthright.

ROKER: Former president acting as both executive producer AND narrator.  

OBAMA: There’s nowhere else you’ll see a hippo in the Atlantic Ocean.

ROKER: This series is more than a visual feast. It’s a lesson in the need to protect the parks and the wild animals that live there.

OBAMA: I’m hoping that we’re going to learn something not just about how to maintain national parks but why it’s so important to deal with issues that – like climate change – that threaten the entire planet.

ROKER: We have two younger children, Sasha (our oldest) and Malia (our youngest), which means that we need to be better parents. Are people going to listen?

OBAMA: I think that the generation of our kids are more mindful of how we haven’t always taken care of the planet. Climate change is impacting everything. They demand action. We can make nature more resilient than what we imagine if we take action.

ROKER: In addition to spending his time out in nature, former President Obama’s been navigating the political terrain, returning to the White House for the very first time just last week.

What did it feel like?

OBAMA: I must say, it was wonderful seeing some of my old colleagues. It was also nice that I could go. [Laughter]

Vice President Biden, Vice President – [Laughter]

ROKER: When you made the “Vice President Biden” joke, were you a little surprised by people who were like, “Hey, what’s up with that”?

OBAMA: You know what? President Biden is a remarkable friend and a great professional partner.

(…)

8.14 am ET

ROKER – How have Michelle, Sasha, or Malia’s lives been after you became president?

OBAMA: There’s nothing that compares to the privilege and honor of serving the American people in the highest office in the land. There are moments when I feel like the work is not being done. I don’t miss the hoopla though. And, you know, we’re finding that we can be really productive, contributing citizens in all kinds of other ways.  

(…)

Third Hour today
9:00 AM ET

(…)

AL ROKER: You protected more public lands and more waterways than any other administration during your presidency. Are climate change, and the environment top of your list now that you are an individual citizen?

BARACK OBAMA – I believe it should be one of our top priorities. I don’t want to leave that kind of legacy for my kids and my grand kids. And I don’t think any of us do. And that means that we’ve got to get to work.

(…)

All Day Today
12:05 ET

(…)

AL ROKER: Speaking of being interconnected, I mean, we – climate is one of those things that gets pushed down when things happen. For example, now we’ve got Ukraine and there’s talk about, “Let’s ramp up production of fossil fuels because, you know, inflation, higher gas prices.” Do you worry that that’s gonna push back the initiative?

BARACK OBAMA: Well, interestingly, when we see what’s happened with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it argues for us redoubling our efforts to wean ourselves off fossil fuels. Russia feels empowered and emboldened partly because we think that oil and gas must be purchased from them. And one of the things I’ve been very encouraged by – because it’s not easy to do – is the Biden administration’s ability to mobilize Europe, countries like Asia and Korea [sic], to say not only that we’re gonna sanction Russia for this vicious and unjustified invasion of an independent country, but also that we now have to think about how do we revamp our energy so that we are no longer dependent on these fossil fuels. It’s not just that it is contributing to the heating of our planet, it’s also that it ends up empowering folks that we don’t want empowered.

(…)

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