Two-thirds of Americans say they are worried about the climate crisis, a figure that has held steady in Yale/George Mason Center polling even as media coverage has contracted and outlets including the Washington Post, NPR, and CBS have cut climate journalist roles. Anthony Leiserowitz, director of Yale’s climate communication program, said the 2024 election was not a referendum on the issue and that public concern “didn’t change before, during or after.” A mere 7% of voters support a candidate advocating decreased renewable use, and 14% favour one pushing more fossil fuels, even as the administration this month allocated $700m to prop up coal-fired power plants. Separate research found US households are paying an additional $400–$900 annually due to climate impacts. The media retreat has created what Leiserowitz calls a “spiral of climate silence” despite majority voter belief that rising costs are linked to the climate crisis.