Tom Steyer Says Climate Skeptics Are Still on the Run–Seriously, They Are

Every progressive or Democrat who invested heavily in the 2014 elections came out looking tarnished and bedraggled. No one came out so poorly as Tom Steyer, the hedge funder who galloped into Democratic politics just when the party needed a savior from the Koch network and the gathering armies of 501s and super-PACs. The California-based Steyer, who spent $57.6 million to build his NextGen Climate group into a swing-race player, came away with wins in Pennsylvania and Michigan but losses most everywhere else. Washington, which loves a good "rich outsider gets bilked" story, recorded all of this.

After the election, Steyer issued a sunny-side-up epistle of spin. "With the help of more than 2,000 staff and volunteers in 50 offices across the country," he said, "climate change emerged as a top-tier issue in our nine targeted states this November and our opponents were forced to go on the defense."