Following the devastating flash floods in Texas that saw rivers rise 26 feet in under an hour, some political figures quickly seized on the event to blame climate change and President Donald Trump. One of the most vocal locally was Washington’s former Governor Jay Inslee.
Todd Myers, Vice President of Research at the Washington Policy Center and author of Time to Think Small joined The Ari Hoffman Show on Talk Radio 570 KVI, Myers criticized Inslee’s response to the tragedy, accusing him of exploiting a heartbreaking natural disaster for political gain. “This is typical Jay,” Myers said. “He covers all of his failures as a governor—and frankly sometimes as a human being—with really ugly political rhetoric.”
“Never Met a Goal He Set”
Inslee, who styled himself as a national climate leader during his time in office, repeatedly fell short of his own emissions targets, Myers pointed out. “He literally never hit a single climate goal he set for himself. And when it became too embarrassing, his administration just took down the website tracking them.”
Despite his record of failure, Time Magazine recently awarded Inslee an “Earth Award” for his supposed leadership on climate. “They clearly never looked at the data,” Myers said, referencing EPA numbers that show Washington’s CO2 emissions increased every year during Inslee’s tenure—except for 2020, when COVID lockdowns temporarily suppressed emissions.
A Lack of Self-Awareness
Inslee’s recent criticism of climate-related budget cuts under the Trump administration—paired with his insinuation that the Texas flood was climate-driven—was, in Myers’ view, both hypocritical and opportunistic.
“If this really was caused by climate change,” Myers argued, “then Jay Inslee contributed to it by failing to meet his own goals. The lack of self-awareness is stunning.”
He also questioned the logic of blaming recent disasters on climate change when current policies, including those Inslee championed, haven’t been in effect long enough to impact long-term trends. “They always tell us to judge climate policy on decades-long timelines, but when disaster strikes, it’s suddenly proof their agenda is working—or being sabotaged.”
Righteousness Over Results
When asked whether Inslee was profiting from green legislation like Washington’s controversial Climate Commitment Act, as some of his former Democratic colleagues like Reuben Carlyle are, Myers said, “I don’t think Jay is in it for profit—he does it because he feels righteous about it. That makes him more dangerous. People who act out of righteousness don’t stop, because they think they’re saving the world.”
While other lawmakers may have financially benefited from climate legislation, Myers argued that Inslee’s motivations are ideological. “It’s not just ‘follow the money.’ Some of the worst policy comes from those trying to prove their moral superiority.”
Real Solutions, Not Political Theater
Myers emphasized that there are things we can do to improve the environment, but they don’t come from grandstanding or failed government programs. His book, Time to Think Small, advocates for bottom-up environmental innovation that empowers individuals, not bureaucrats.
“Jay Inslee had twelve years to make a difference. He didn’t. He failed. And he hasn’t learned from it,” Myers said.
You can hear the full interview with Todd Myers on The Ari Hoffman Show, weekdays 3-6 PM Pacific on Talk Radio 570 KVI. To learn more about small-scale environmental innovation, pick up Todd Myers’ book, Time to Think Small.
