Apocalyptic Authoritarianism: Dr. Hanna Morris Discusses Climate Crisis News Coverage and Progressive Politics in the trump Era

Environmental communication scholar Dr. Hanna Morris shared her insights from "Apocalyptic Authoritarianism: Climate Crisis, Media, and Power," her 2025 book with Oxford Univ Press. This book meets the political moment in analyzing the way most mainstream news media actually lean moderate to right in climate coverage that "others" and villianizes the New Left activists and progressive politicians as too 'radical' or 'woke' (like A.O.C. and often other women of color or those proposing the Green New Deal) in favor of older American narratives of "order" and quick solutions via white male authorities and American exceptionalism, rather than exploring democratic coalitions of many  Americans who are proposing deeper climate justice and equity initiatives and new sustainable ways of living (going beyond simplified technological global warming fixes preferred by authorities).

But Morris has ideas for how more robust climate journalism --that challenges privileged authority figures, respects the wisdom of the public, and acknowledges the violences of the climate crisis -- could foster the kinds of democratic and holistic/deep responses the climate crisis warrants. We discuss current issues that the journalism profession is facing in this digital era and trump regime.

Dr. Morris and I begin this 50-minute In Tune to Nature podcast by chatting about our upcoming trips to Tasmania for the Conference on Communication and the Environment #COCE2025 as members of the International Environmental Communication Association that we volunteer for. We also contend with the ironies of using fossil fuels to fly to environmental conferences and how to offset the costs in some ways. I end the podcast with audio of an Australian (Tasmanian) animal species (nonhuman) and ask you to identify the species and email me your guess.

Hanna Morris, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the School of the Environment at University of Toronto. Her website has book information at https://hannamorris.com/ 

"In Tune to Nature" is a weekly radio show airing Wednesdays at 6pm Eastern Time on 89.3FM-Atlanta radio and streaming worldwide on wrfg.org (Radio Free Georgia, a nonprofit indie station) hosted by me, Carrie Freeman, or Melody Paris. The show's website and my contact info can be found at https://wrfg.org/intunetonature/  For the kind of robust climate journalism and progressive public affairs programming Dr. Morris is advocating, please support nonprofit indie media like our Radio Free Georgia station at https://wrfg.org/  Thank you!

Take care of yourself and others, including other species, like Tasmanian Devils.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on In Tune to Nature do not necessarily reflect those of WRFG, its board, staff or volunteers.