Podcast
Sanity Check
Hosted by Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation · EN
Welcome to Sanity Check (formerly Created to Reign), a production of the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation. On this podcast, Dr. E. Calvin Beisner, Dr. David Legates, and experts in science, economics, theology, ethics, and public policy strive to think Biblically about creation care, global warming, and the world’s poor.
31episodes
Episodes
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Can We Buy More Sunshine?
6d ago00:13:06Tap to summarizeCan humanity turn night into day?In this episode, Dr. David Legates examines Reflect Orbital's ambitious proposal to place mirrors in space that would redirect sunlight onto Earth after sunset. Marketed as a breakthrough for renewable energy, disaster response, agriculture, and industry, the technology has also sparked concerns about light pollution, environmental impacts, space debris, and the commercialization of the night sky.Dr. Legates explores the science, economics, and policy questions surrounding this proposal, asking whether its promises outweigh its practical challenges. He also considers what the debate reveals about today's environmental priorities and the broader implications of attempting to engineer Earth's natural cycles.Join Dr. David Legates for a thoughtful discussion of one of the most unusual—and controversial—space technologies currently under development.Visit our podcast resource page: https://cornwallalliance.org/listen%20to%20our%20podcast%20created%20to%20reign/Our work is entirely supported by donations from people like you. If you benefit from our work and would like to partner with us, please visit www.cornwallalliance.org/donate.
Transcribe →Can America Find Its Way Home?
1w ago00:13:16Tap to summarizeEpisode DescriptionWhat can one of the most influential Christian thinkers of the past half-century teach us about the future of America?In this episode, Dr. E. Calvin Beisner pays tribute to Os Guinness following his receipt of the Wilberforce Award, reflecting on a lifetime of scholarship dedicated to the defense of truth, freedom, and the Christian worldview. Drawing from Guinness's many influential books, Dr. E. Calvin Beisner explores his insights on culture, liberty, leadership, and the spiritual foundations necessary for a flourishing society.As America approaches its 250th anniversary, this conversation examines why Guinness believes the nation's greatest challenges are ultimately spiritual rather than political, and why the renewal of churches, faithful preaching, and biblical conviction remain essential to America's future.Join Dr. E. Calvin Beisner for a thoughtful reflection on the legacy of Os Guinness and the enduring importance of Christian faith in shaping culture, preserving liberty, and renewing society.Visit our podcast resource page: https://cornwallalliance.org/listen%20to%20our%20podcast%20created%20to%20reign/Our work is entirely supported by donations from people like you. If you benefit from our work and would like to partner with us, please visit www.cornwallalliance.org/donate.
Transcribe →I Led the USGCRP. Here's What's Different Now.
2w ago00:09:06Tap to summarizeWhen the United States Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) was dissolved, many assumed its role in federal climate policy had come to an end. Now the program has returned under new leadership and with a different direction. In this episode of Sanity Check, David Legates draws on his own experience as a former Executive Director of the USGCRP to explain what the agency does, why it matters, and how its structure has changed. He reflects on the challenges he faced during his brief tenure and outlines three reasons he believes the reconstituted program has a stronger opportunity to reshape the next National Climate Assessment. Along the way, he discusses federal climate research, institutional reform, and the importance of scientific integrity in government reporting.Visit our podcast resource page: https://cornwallalliance.org/listen%20to%20our%20podcast%20created%20to%20reign/Our work is entirely supported by donations from people like you. If you benefit from our work and would like to partner with us, please visit www.cornwallalliance.org/donate.
Transcribe →Latin America Says No To Energy Poverty
3w ago00:07:43Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Created to Reign, Vijay Jayaraj discusses the oil, coal, and natural gas comeback in Latin America. Contrary to what some people say, this is not reneging on "creation care," but a Christian attitude toward earth stewardship and care for the poor. Visit our podcast resource page: https://cornwallalliance.org/listen%20to%20our%20podcast%20created%20to%20reign/Our work is entirely supported by donations from people like you. If you benefit from our work and would like to partner with us, please visit www.cornwallalliance.org/donate.
Transcribe →The Heat Wave Headline That Didn't Last
Jul 1000:09:19Tap to summarizeWhen CNN declared that the July heat wave would have been "virtually impossible" without fossil fuel emissions, it pointed to a rapid-attribution study as proof. But does the evidence support such a sweeping claim?In this episode of Sanity Check, Dr. David Legates examines the meteorology behind the heat wave, explains how attribution studies are conducted, and explores the assumptions driving claims that individual weather events can be linked to human-caused climate change. Along the way, he uncovers a curious twist: the original CNN article quietly disappeared and was replaced with a revised version that dramatically downplayed its headline claim.Join us as we separate atmospheric science from media narrative and ask whether today's climate reporting is keeping pace with sound scientific reasoning.https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/03/weather/heat-wave-nyc-dc-forecast-climate <Link now redirects elsewhere>https://www.worldweatherattribution.org/fossil-fuels-are-heating-americas-250th-birthday/https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/26/climate/european-heat-wave-impossible-global-warmingVisit our podcast resource page: https://cornwallalliance.org/listen%20to%20our%20podcast%20created%20to%20reign/Our work is entirely supported by donations from people like you. If you benefit from our work and would like to partner with us, please visit www.cornwallalliance.org/donate.
Transcribe →US-India Big, Beautiful Deal?
Jun 2600:05:53Tap to summarizeSecretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent visit to India highlighted a growing area of agreement between two of the world’s largest democracies: the need for abundant, reliable energy. As India’s economy expands and hundreds of millions continue moving into the middle class, demand for electricity, transportation fuels, and industrial energy is set to rise dramatically in the decades ahead.In this episode, Vijay Jayaraj, a Research Associate with the Cornwall Alliance, examines the prospects for a deeper U.S.-India energy partnership and argues that both nations are increasingly embracing an energy strategy rooted in realism rather than climate politics. From coal and natural gas to energy security and economic growth, Jayaraj explores why India continues to prioritize dependable power sources and how American energy exports could help meet that demand.Visit our podcast resource page: https://cornwallalliance.org/listen%20to%20our%20podcast%20created%20to%20reign/Our work is entirely supported by donations from people like you. If you benefit from our work and would like to partner with us, please visit www.cornwallalliance.org/donate.
Transcribe →How to Manufacture a Climate Crisis
Jun 1900:11:18Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Sanity Check, David Legates examines a Guardian article claiming that U.S. immigration enforcement flights carry a "huge climate cost." Looking beyond the headline, he compares the reported emissions with total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, aviation emissions, and other major sources to ask whether the article's conclusions are supported by meaningful context. Along the way, he discusses media framing, statistical significance, selective comparisons, and how climate narratives are increasingly woven into debates over public policy. The episode argues that informed discussion requires proportion, historical perspective, and careful interpretation of the numbers—not simply dramatic headlines.https://www.theGuardian.com/us-news/2026/may/26/us-immigration-flights-emissionshttps://www.statista.com/statistics/183943/us-carbon-dioxide-emissions-from-1999/https://cis.org/Report/Immigration-United-States-and-WorldWide-Greenhouse-Gas-Emissionshttps://clivebest.com/blog/?p=11131Visit our podcast resource page: https://cornwallalliance.org/listen%20to%20our%20podcast%20created%20to%20reign/Our work is entirely supported by donations from people like you. If you benefit from our work and would like to partner with us, please visit www.cornwallalliance.org/donate.
Transcribe →Another Climate Case Falls Short
Jun 1300:10:27Tap to summarizeAfter a string of high-profile climate lawsuits, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has delivered a ruling that supporters of sound energy policy may have reason to celebrate.In this episode of Sanity Check, David Legates examines a lawsuit brought by twenty-three young activists challenging President Trump's executive orders aimed at expanding domestic energy production. The plaintiffs argued that policies supporting oil, gas, hydropower, and other energy resources violated their constitutional rights and threatened their future. Both the district court and the Ninth Circuit ultimately disagreed, concluding that the sweeping relief requested was beyond the proper role of the judiciary.David unpacks the legal arguments, the court's reasoning, and the broader strategy behind climate litigation campaigns led by organizations such as Our Children's Trust. He also argues that while constitutional and procedural challenges may continue to derail these cases, the long-term battle must be fought on scientific grounds. Courts may dismiss lawsuits for lack of standing or separation-of-powers concerns, but unless exaggerated claims about climate catastrophe are challenged directly, the underlying narrative remains intact.What does this ruling mean for future climate litigation? Why are activists increasingly turning to the courts to achieve policy goals? And why does David believe the scientific debate remains the most important front in the fight against climate alarmism?Join us as we take a closer look at a significant legal victory—and the larger challenges that still lie ahead.Sources: https://montanafreepress.org/2026/06/02/ninth-circuit-court-denies-young-americans-lawsuit-challenging-trumps-handling-of-climate-change/https://www.climatecasechart.com/documents/lighthiser-v-trump-memorandum_7eaeVisit our podcast resource page: https://cornwallalliance.org/listen%20to%20our%20podcast%20created%20to%20reign/Our work is entirely supported by donations from people like you. If you benefit from our work and would like to partner with us, please visit www.cornwallalliance.org/donate.
Transcribe →The Pacific's Climate Wild Card
Jun 500:11:03Tap to summarizeEl Niño may begin as a patch of unusually warm water in the Pacific Ocean, but its effects can be felt across the globe. In this episode of Sanity Check, David R. Legates explores one of the most powerful climate phenomena on Earth and explains why forecasters are closely watching the possibility of a particularly strong El Niño developing in the months ahead.What exactly is El Niño? Why are scientists watching the Pacific Ocean so closely this year? And how can changing ocean temperatures near South America influence rainfall in California, droughts in Australia, Atlantic hurricanes, agricultural production, wildfire risk, and even food prices around the world?Dr. Legates walks through the science behind the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), explains how El Niño differs from La Niña, and discusses what current forecasts may mean for weather patterns in the United States and beyond. Along the way, he offers a reminder that while climate models can provide valuable guidance, nature often retains a few surprises of its own.Whether you've heard the term for years or are encountering it for the first time, this episode provides a clear and accessible introduction to one of the most influential drivers of global weather.Show notes:https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-026-01921-6https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/european-forecast-super-el-nino-strongest-ever-ocean-pacific-atlantic-hurricane-seasonhttps://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/ninonina.htmlVisit our podcast resource page: https://cornwallalliance.org/listen%20to%20our%20podcast%20created%20to%20reign/Our work is entirely supported by donations from people like you. If you benefit from our work and would like to partner with us, please visit www.cornwallalliance.org/donate.
Transcribe →Why Science is Deadly Without Christ
May 2200:08:48Tap to summarizeThis episode of Sanity Check examines a question that sits at the heart of modern scientific culture: Can science remain ethical when divorced from a moral framework? Drawing from a standout presentation delivered at the recent Cornwall Alliance Spring Conference in Memphis, Daniel O’Malley argues that science can tell us what can be done, but not what should be done—and that without Christianity, science risks becoming untethered from truth, ethics, and human responsibility. In this episode, David R. Legates reflects on his own experiences facing skepticism as a Christian scientist, from university audiences to media interviews, and explores the deeper assumption behind those encounters: that secularism is objective while Christianity is inherently biased. The discussion challenges that premise directly, arguing that every scientific enterprise is ultimately guided by some moral vision, whether acknowledged or not.Visit our podcast resource page: https://cornwallalliance.org/listen%20to%20our%20podcast%20created%20to%20reign/Our work is entirely supported by donations from people like you. If you benefit from our work and would like to partner with us, please visit www.cornwallalliance.org/donate.
Transcribe →