_{Profile image by Gage Skidmore [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons.}

Hugh Hewitt

Credentials

Background

Hugh Hewitt is a conservative radio commentator best known for the nationally syndicated The Hugh Hewitt Show radio show, which he has run since July 2000. A 2006 profile in The New Yorker described Hewitt as “the most influential conservative you have never heard of.”⁴ ⁵

Before working in radio, shortly after graduating college, Hewitt worked as an assistant to former Pres. Richard Nixon. After attending University of Michigan Law School, Hewitt worked in several positions in the Reagan Administration.⁶

Hewitt joined KCET as a radio host in 1992, but felt the environment was too Liberal. He then joined Salem Communications in 2001. “Hewitt is so deeply conservative that it’s almost impossible to get him to accept the liberal point of view on anything,” The New Yorker wrote of him. Hewitt also developed and hosted the 1996 PBS series, Searching for God in America.⁷

Hewitt is a frequent guest on CNN, Fox News Network, and MSNBC where he was named a political analyst in 2016. He also writes regularly at his blog at HughHewitt.com.⁸

Stance on Climate Change

November 2, 2015

Speaking on The Hugh Hewitt Show, Hewitt said he agreed with fellow climate change denier Steven F. Hayward—who has no credentials related to climate science—with regards to temperature increases:⁹

“I subscribe to the Hayward summary, Steven Hayward, great blogger at Powerline, says the temperature of the Earth’s gone up about one degree over a hundred years. No doubt mankind contributed to some of that. We don’t know how much. No doubt that it’s going to cause some effects. We don’t know what they are.”

June 4, 2011

Writing at his blog, Hewitt detailed what he described as the “responsible, conservative answer” to discussing climate change:¹⁰

“The responsible, conservative answer is to review the controversy over the climate change scandals, the majority opinion – that the planet is warming some but we don’t know how much, that humans contribute to the warming, but we don’t know by how much, and that we don’t know if it will be harmful or if there’s anything we can do about it – and a cautious preference for reducing greenhouse gases but not via a carbon tax or a cap-and-trade system that cannot work even if it was necessary because the world’s biggest emitters aren’t buying it nor should they.”

Key Quotes

June 2, 2017

Hewitt defended EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt on The Hugh Hewitt Show, claiming Pruitt was “not a climate denier”. Hewitt said:¹¹

“I know you are not a climate denier. I know you very well.”

September 7, 2016

As reported at Media Matters, on the September 7, 2016, edition of The Hugh Hewitt Show, Hewitt claimed that we wouldn’t have to worry about climate change until 500 years from now. Hewitt said:¹²

“I’m not a climate denier. Temperature has gone up. Might have some global raising of tidal, water might rise a little bit here and there. Could be a real problem over 500 years. All right. But they’re going to say that as a result of that, you can’t use Kleenex.”¹³

July 26, 2001

“The Bonn Codicil to the Kyoto Protocol ought to have been a Robert Ludlum title, though Ludlum novels are, on the whole, more plausible than any plot that has industrialized nations hitting their near-term emissions reduction targets,” Hewitt wrote at the corporate-funded Tech Central Station in 2001.¹⁴

“The Kyoto Protocol has always struck conservatives not just as horrible economics, but also as an anti-democratic exercise in jam-down politics pursued on the international stage.”¹⁵

Key Deeds

February 9, 2017

As reported by Media Matters, Hewitt proposed creating a “national commission led by men and women of impeccable credentials” to review climate science. Among names that Hewitt said he would “take very seriously” included Rush Limbaugh.¹⁶

“You get the picture: Diverse, smart non-scientists who are going to listen to the scientists — all of them — and report back on what ought to be done,” Hewitt wrote in an op-ed at The Washington Post.¹⁷

In the op-ed, Hewitt claimed that “we don’t know enough” about the cost of climate change, or “the nature of the risk.”¹⁸

December 11, 2016

Writing in a Washington Examiner op-ed, Hewitt described Scott Pruitt as a “brilliant” nominee for EPA administrator, and defended him against the “climate denier” label.¹⁹

“When Trump announced that he was sending Pruitt to the Environmental Protection Agency, the Left alternatively sputtered and swooned. The old ‘climate denier’ saw was immediately applied to Pruitt by the forces of bureaucratic government and their allies in the mainstream media, and the shrill attacks on Pruitt began and haven’t let up. But here’s the thing: Everyone knows the EPA has been acting lawlessly, has drawn rebuke after rebuke from courts, was run by secretive appointees who slink away in scandal and is populated with ideological extremists who reject the idea of congressional oversight. If there is a ‘swamp that needs draining’ it is the EPA, and Pruitt, the careful, sunny but strategic lawyer’s lawyer, is the administrator to do do it,” Hewitt wrote.²⁰

May 2016

Hewitt was named a political analyst for NBC News/MSNBC, Politico reported.²¹

Media Matters described Hewitt as “Sean Hannity in glasses,” describing his support of Donald Trump and later documenting Hewitt’s long history of climate change denial.²² ²³

September 21, 2015

Hewitt interviewed Donald Trump on his program. During the interview, Trump declared that he was “not a believer in man-made global warming.” View excerpts from the transcript below:²⁴

HUGH HEWITT: “Do you believe that the temperature of the Earth is increasing? And what would you do if you do believe that, vis-à-vis global climate change?”

DONALD TRUMP: “Well, first of all, I’m not a believer in global warming. And I’m not a believer in man-made global warming. It could be warming, and it’s going to start to cool at some point. And you know, in the early, in the 1920s, people talked about global cooling. I don’t know if you know that or not. They thought the Earth was cooling. Now, it’s global warming. And actually, we’ve had times where the weather wasn’t working out, so they changed it to extreme weather, and they have all different names, you know, so that it fits the bill. But the problem we have, and if you look at our energy costs, and all of the things that we’re doing to solve a problem that I don’t think in any major fashion exists. I mean, Obama thinks it’s the number one problem of the world today. And I think it’s very low on the list. So I am not a believer, and I will, unless somebody can prove something to me, I believe there’s weather. I believe there’s change, and I believe it goes up and it goes down, and it goes up again. And it changes depending on years and centuries, but I am not a believer, and we have much bigger problems.”²⁵

2014 – 2015

Hewitt hosted fellow conservative commentator Mark Steyn on his program multiple times including:

“Mark Steyn On Why The House Of Windsor More Transparent Than The House of Clinton,” April 24, 2015.
“Mark Steyn On Barack Obama’s Nuclear Straw Man,” April 3, 2015.
“Mark Steyn On The Serious Side Of The [Un]documented Mark Steyn,” October 27, 2014.
“The [Un]documented Mark Steyn,” October 21, 2014.

July 18, 2001

Writing at the corporate-funded Tech Central Station, Hewitt opposed Corporate Average Fuel Economy CAFE standards and argued that increasing the fuel economy of SUVs would result in safety hazards. Hewitt wrote:²⁶

“Of course, higher CAFE standards mean lighter SUVs. Lighter SUVs mean less safe SUVs. I haven’t heard many consumer safety groups arguing for that result. When the fatality rates rise, I doubt the sponsors behind the CAFE hike will be there to take a bow.”²⁷

Affiliations

@hughhewitt/@HughHewittShow on Twitter.
Hugh Hewitt on LinkedIn.

Publications

In addition to regularly publishing at his blog and a range of news outlets, Hugh Hewitt has published a number of books including:

The Queen: The Epic Ambition of Hillary and the Coming of a Second “Clinton Era” (2015)
The Happiest Life: Seven Gifts, Seven Givers, and the Secret to Genuine Success (2013)
The Brief Against Obama: The Rise, Fall & Epic Fail of the Hope & Change Presidency (2012)
A Mormon in the White House?: 10 Things Every American Should Know about Mitt Romney (2007)
A Guide to Christian Ambition: Using Career, Politics, and Culture to Influence the World (2006)
Painting the Map Red: The Fight to Create a Permanent Republican Majority (2006)
Blog: Understanding the Information Reformation That’s Changing Your World (2005)
If It’s Not Close, They Can’t Cheat: Crushing the Democrats in Every Election and Why Your Life Depends on It (2004)
In, But Not Of: A Guide to Christian Ambition (2003)
The Embarrassed Believer (1998)
Searching for God in America: The Companion Volume to the Acclaimed TV Series (1996)
First Principles: A Primer of Ideas for the College-Bound Student (1987)

Tech Central Station (TCS)

Hewitt has written a number of articles at the now-defunct Tech Central Station (later TCS Daily), a news outlet historically boasting corporate sponsors including AT&T, The Coca-Cola Company, ExxonMobil, General Motors Corporation, McDonalds, Merck, Microsoft, Nasdaq, and PhRMA. While in operation, TCS regularly published articles by climate change deniers.³⁴ ³⁵ ³⁶

“The Key To Homeland Defense – The States,” Tech Central Station, September 26, 2001.
“In Terror Aftermath, Put Hubris Aside And Focus On The Obvious,” Tech Central Station, September 19, 2001.
“No Time for Fake Passions in Fighting Real Tragedy,” Tech Central Station, September 12, 2001.
“Meet the West’s Multiple Land Use Sheriffs,” Tech Central Station, September 6, 2001.
“Cycling Towards Gridlock? Tackling the Traffic Problem California-Style,” Tech Central Station, August 30, 2001.
“Crawford, Authenticity-Envy, and the Newest Politics of Class,” Tech Central Station, August 22, 2001.
“Welcome to unGovernor’s Island,” Tech Central Station, August 16, 2001.
“Unseating the unGovernor No Longer Unthinkable,” Tech Central Station, August 8, 2001.
“Gray Davis’ Million-Dollar Consultants ‘Invest’ for the Future,” Tech Central Station, August 1, 2001.
“Common Cause Against the Global Administrative State,” Tech Central Station, July 26, 2001.
“The Posture Caucus Targets the SUV,” Tech Central Station, July 18, 2001.
“Gray Davis’ Texas-Sized Lies,” Tech Central Station, July 11, 2001.

Other Resources

“Hugh Hewitt,” Wikipedia.

Resources

1
“Nomination of Hugh Hewitt To Be Deputy Director of the Office of Personnel Management,” February 25, 1988. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. Archived December 28, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/TyJKj
2
“Hugh Hewitt,” LinkedIn. Accessed January 11, 2018. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
3
“Hugh Hewitt,” LinkedIn. Accessed January 11, 2018. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
4
“ABOUT HUGH HEWITT,” HughHewitt. Archived December 27, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/QpkMZ
5
Nicholas Lemann. “Right Hook,” The New Yorker, August 29, 2005. Archived December 28, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/qL0nD
6
Nicholas Lemann. “Right Hook,” The New Yorker, August 29, 2005. Archived December 28, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/qL0nD
7
Nicholas Lemann. “Right Hook,” The New Yorker, August 29, 2005. Archived December 28, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/qL0nD
8
“TRUMP TELLS Josh Green the GOP will be ‘a worker’s party’ – UNDERSTANDING TRUMP: Forecast sees ‘persistent wage stagnation and risk of further populist backlash’ – HUGH HEWITT gets NBC deal – B’DAY: Devon Spurgeon,” Politico, May 26, 2016. Archived December 27, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/O4ifN
9
“Washington Post Opinion Columnist Catherine Rampell Defends The CNBC Moderators And MSM Bias,” HughHewitt, November 2, 2015. Archived December 27, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/8Hcg0
10
Hugh Hewitt. “The GOP and Global Warming,” HughHewitt, June 4, 2011. Archived June 11, 2011. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/RgF9z
11
“EPA Administrator Pruitt On The Decision To Exit Paris Accord,” HughHewitt, June 2, 2017. Archived December 27, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/zN21b
12
Lia Hymas. “MSNBC’s newest host, Hugh Hewitt, has a years-long history of climate denial,” Media Matters for America, June 29, 2017. Archived December 27, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/act4V
13
Lia Hymas. “MSNBC’s newest host, Hugh Hewitt, has a years-long history of climate denial,” Media Matters for America, June 29, 2017. Archived December 27, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/act4V
14
Hugh Hewitt. “Common Cause Against the Global Administrative State,” Tech Central Station, July 26, 2001. Archived November 27, 2005. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/vzaWv
15
Hugh Hewitt. “Common Cause Against the Global Administrative State,” Tech Central Station, July 26, 2001. Archived November 27, 2005. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/vzaWv
16
“Hugh Hewitt Wants To Put Rush Limbaugh On A Commission To Study Climate Change,” Media Matters, February 10, 2017. Archived Decembe 27, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/N4ODr
17
Hugh Hewitt. “Want ‘climate change consensus’? Let’s form the McChrystal Commission,” The Washington Post, February 9, 2017. Archived December 27, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/fEZgy
18
“Hugh Hewitt Wants To Put Rush Limbaugh On A Commission To Study Climate Change,” Media Matters, February 10, 2017. Archived Decembe 27, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/N4ODr
19
“Pruitt and Puzder: A pair of brilliant nominees,” Washington Examiner, December 11, 2016. Archived December 27, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/vLSL2
20
“Pruitt and Puzder: A pair of brilliant nominees,” Washington Examiner, December 11, 2016. Archived December 27, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/vLSL2
21
“TRUMP TELLS Josh Green the GOP will be ‘a worker’s party’ – UNDERSTANDING TRUMP: Forecast sees ‘persistent wage stagnation and risk of further populist backlash’ – HUGH HEWITT gets NBC deal – B’DAY: Devon Spurgeon,” Politico, May 26, 2016. Archived December 27, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/O4ifN
22
Matt Gertz. “New MSNBC host Hugh Hewitt is Sean Hannity in glasses,” Media Matters for America, June 22, 2017. Archived December 27, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Crie5
23
Lia Hymas. “MSNBC’s newest host, Hugh Hewitt, has a years-long history of climate denial,” Media Matters for America, June 29, 2017. Archived December 27, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/act4V
24
“Donald Trump Returns,” HughHewitt, September 21, 2015. Archived December 28, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/eI2Ao
25
“Donald Trump Returns,” HughHewitt, September 21, 2015. Archived December 28, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/eI2Ao
26
Hugh Hewitt. “The Posture Caucus Targets the SUV,” Tech Central Station, July 18, 2001. Archived September 20, 2005. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/tCkIK
27
Hugh Hewitt. “The Posture Caucus Targets the SUV,” Tech Central Station, July 18, 2001. Archived September 20, 2005. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/tCkIK
28
“Hugh Hewitt joins The Washington Post as contributing opinion columnist,” The Washington Post, February 6, 2017. Archived December 28, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/vq2GJ
29
“Hugh Hewitt,” Townhall. Archived December 28, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/KSW7j
30
“About Hugh Hewitt,” Hugh Hewitt (Townhall blog). Archived July 10, 2008. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/yvuMC
31
“TRUMP TELLS Josh Green the GOP will be ‘a worker’s party’ – UNDERSTANDING TRUMP: Forecast sees ‘persistent wage stagnation and risk of further populist backlash’ – HUGH HEWITT gets NBC deal – B’DAY: Devon Spurgeon,” Politico, May 26, 2016. Archived December 27, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/O4ifN
32
“Nomination of Hugh Hewitt To Be Deputy Director of the Office of Personnel Management,” February 25, 1988. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. Archived December 28, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/TyJKj
33
“Hugh Hewitt,” Tech Central Station. Archived October 26, 2005. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/lUge0
34
“Archive Results,” Tech Central Station. Archived November 14, 2005. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/EGaru
35
“A Message from TCS Daily,” Ideas in Action, December 30, 2010. Archived December 28, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/EpcQe
36
“About TCS Daily,” Tech Central Station. Archived December 30, 2005. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/QCpUc

DeSmog

DeSmog

Hugh Hewitt

Hugh Hewitt

Credentials

Background

Stance on Climate Change

Key Quotes

Key Deeds

Affiliations

Publications

Tech Central Station (TCS)

Other Resources

Resources

Related Profiles

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DeSmog

DeSmog

Hugh Hewitt

Hugh Hewitt

Credentials

Background

Stance on Climate Change

Key Quotes

Key Deeds

Affiliations

Social Media

Publications

Tech Central Station (TCS)

Other Resources

Resources

Related Profiles

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