Politics is never short of surprises, as seen recently when the gang at “Fox & Friends” referenced Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D-MN) call for Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to take action as he gets slammed by many over transportation disasters seen around the country.
Perhaps the most notable example of such was seen on Feb. 3 when the Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, causing a gigantic toxic chemical spill that has reportedly killed animals such as birds and fish, and even pets. Residents have additionally complained of coming down with illnesses after the event.
“East Palestine railroad derailment will have a significant negative impact on the health and well-being of the residents for decades, and there is almost zero national media attention,” wrote a frustrated Omar, before calling out the Biden Department of Transportation diversity hire. “We need Congressional inquiry and direct action from Pete Buttigieg to address this tragedy.”
Just a couple hours after Omar’s Twitter post, Buttigieg put up one of his own claiming that he and federal authorities are working on the issue. “Fox & Friends” co-host Brian Kilmeade seemed to doubt that, arguing there has not been a legitimate effort put forth to calm the devastation that has been brought upon the people of East Palestine.
He remarked, “You just hope this has nothing to do with the fact that Ohio is a red state.”
American journalist Mike Cernovich also reacted to Pete’s post on the situation, which came 11 days after the initial catastrophe, asking, “Continue to be, since when?”
Continue to be, since when?
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) February 14, 2023
Linked in Omar’s call-to-action was a clip that featured hazardous materials expert Sil Caggiano, who said that the controlled burn of the wreckage initiated after the crash could be compared with “basically nuk[ing] a town with chemicals so we could get a railroad open.” He added that other contents spilled in the train derailment pose a threat to humans.
The fires, which were intentionally set following the crash, reportedly leaked dangerous gasses such as phosgene and hydrogen chloride.
East Palestine railroad derailment will have a significant negative impact on the health and wellbeing of the residents for decades and there is almost zero national media attention.
We need Congressional inquiry and direct action from @PeteButtigieg to address this tragedy. https://t.co/I42g4fXWsz
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 13, 2023
Steve Doocy expressed his agreement with Omar, saying, “You know what? Ilhan Omar was right as well. This is gonna be something these people are gonna have to worry about for years.”
As BizPacReview wrote, there has been a myriad of issues in the transportation sector since Buttigieg was appointed to his high-ranking position:
Some of the greatest hits include Southwest Airlines’ Christmas flight fiasco, the Federal Aviation Administration grounding all flights due to a lapse in its communications system last month, a barely averted rail strike last fall, and ongoing problems with global supply chains that are causing food and medicine shortages.
Over a dozen train derailments have been reported this year alone.
Officials recently had to respond to another severe locomotive crash seen in Houston, Texas.
BREAKING: Officials are now responding to another deadly train derailment near Houston, TX. Over 16 rail cars carrying "hazardous materials" crashed.
First Ohio, then South Carolina, and now Texas.
pic.twitter.com/uFXu1p50a8— Antonio Sabato Jr (@AntonioSabatoJr) February 14, 2023
Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) reacted to the Ohio derailment, saying there is a “troubling trend of catastrophic infrastructure problems in our country.” He additionally asserted that numerous “questions remain unanswered” by the government surrounding how such a disaster could have taken place.
