I just watched a NOVA show that was sponsored by the David H. Koch Foundation and to my surprise

[garybeck]

The show was titled "Extreme Ice" the entire program was about glaciers melting, human-caused global warming.... There were only university professors on the program, talking about real science, how the climate is changing, and how C02 levels are causing it. NO ONE disputing the facts or saying it is a conspiracy. All the scientists are saying there's an urgent cause for alarm. The footage is incredible, showing the ice melting from many perspectives. Very convincing to anyone watching.

The whole time I'm watching, I'm thinking, "finally a reality show on global warming." NOVA might not be mainstream, but at least it's on TV.

Then at the end it says "Funding for NOVA is provided by the David H. Koch Fund for Science, supporting NOVA and promoting public understanding of science." Even though it wasn't directly, it really seemed like a Koch endorsement of the show and its contents.

Then another program came on that followed, also NOVA and also about global warming and melting ice. This one is called "Secrets beneath the ice." Also NOVA, also funded by Koch.

I'm thinking, "WHAT? Is there more than one David H. Koch? Did I hit my head harder than I thought when I slipped on the ice in my driveway this morning? Is he just so stupid that he doesn't know where his money is going?"

This is the guy we've all learned to hate because of his support not only for republicans and tea partiers (who want to defund PBS), but also of anti-global warming propaganda, right?

Maybe everyone else here already knows Koch funds NOVA? It certainly hit me by surprise.

I thought maybe some folks here would also think this it's interesting or could shed some light on why the Koch brothers are funding NOVA which seems to be one of the only programs focusing on global warming science.

[Cleita]

1. Maybe sponsoring PBS programming for tax purposes doesn't mean they can

dictate to whom the grant money is distributed. I still think they do influence the programming a lot though, which is the reason the news programs have become so conservative in the last decade.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. None of the foundations have a say in the actual content of the programs

per programing director for KPBS San Diego.

They had a call in program and he was asked that particularly.

[garybeck]

4. right, but funding the programs is voluntary.

no one is forcing Koch to fund NOVA. I'm surprised he's funding NOVA, or PBS at all for that matter.

[PETRUS]

8. That's my understanding, too.

Various foundations and businesses have pulled their support from PBS in the past if they get pissed about the content often enough.

[WCGreen]

3. Koch funds a whole lot of science based stuff on PBS....

It is one of the more generous givers to Public broadcasting...

I noticed that right around the time of the Wisc stuff.

Hate his politics but like his philanthropic..

[garybeck]

6. don't you find it strange?

I mean he could be philanthropic to other organizations that are more aligned with his politics. in this case it's 180 degrees apart.

[WCGreen]

12. For people like him, I am sure it is easy to compartmentalize his actions...

Business is business is how a lot of people justify a lot of questionable stuff...

[joshcryer]

5. NOVA, Smithsonian, and Musuems of Natural History.

These seem like perfectly reasonable donations for someone who wants to still stay connected with the liberal wealthy.

Donations don't peddle as much sway as lobbying does, though.

[garybeck]

9. "perfectly reasonable donations for someone who wants to stay connected with the liberal wealthy"

couldn't have said it better.

[waddirum]

20. Don't forget the Lincoln Center and the NYC Ballet

The Koch Brothers don't just live in Kansas. They have places in NYC and associate with the cultural elite of all political persuasions.

Their money is shit in my opinion, and they should be socially shunned.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. Maybe he's doing it just to throw people off...

We're confused...

Maybe the average person will be confused too, as to his stand.

Dunno.

[garybeck]

10. perhaps post #5 is the answer. n/t

[hfojvt]

19. no, I think the answer is

that he has a Master's degree in chemical engineering from MIT, and that he likes science. The few shows they do on global warming will not be as significant as the anti-warming propaganda he funds. So he funds a science program with a couple of episodes that he does not like.

[virgogal]

11. The average person wouldn't even consider this worth discussing.

[cherokeeprogressive]

13. I guess you didn't notice the subliminal messaging...

Uh huh.

[xchrom]

14. Because the Koch's promote Stupidity on the one hand

Doesn't mean they believe it.

It means they find it expedient to exploit the Stupid.

They couldn't show their faces in Society if they actuallly believed the Woo they pitch in other formats.

Now you know how devious & cynical they are.

[Starry Messenger]

15. A tax break is a tax break.

[LiberalAndProud]

16. I wonder if he'll sponsor NOVA next year?

If one assumes that he doesn't get script approval, the fallout may be yet to come. I'll reserve judgment.

[friendly_iconoclast]

17. Compare Ford Foundation grantees to what Henry Ford himself believed.

It's a rather startling contrast when you take into account some of his more odious political views...

[Gore1FL]

18. Even Hitler painted roses. n/t

[Jurisrachel]

22. That's the best thing I've read all day. :)

[Mother Muckraker]

23. Documentary on Koch brothers that PBS tried to kill because of Koch sponsorship is now premiering

Citizen Koch: PBS Kills Koch Brothers-Critical Documentary For Fear Of Offending Them
http://www.policymic.com/articles/43793/citizen-koch-pbs-kills-koch-brothers-critical-documentary-for-fear-of-offending-them


Documentary: Citizen Koch - opens June 6 2014
http://watch.citizenkoch.com/

[all4justice]

24. Who are the Koch Brothers really?

Money in politics is a long term play. The fact that Koch or others support "liberal" programming only means that they are involved. Vigilance leading to votes is the only hope that those of us without big investments can attain. Education is the best defense.