Sagan, Carl
1934–1996
Sagan's framework — scientific literacy, climate-policy seriousness, opposition to nuclear escalation, defense of expertise against political interference — reads in 2026 as ERCOT grid-reliability seriousness, public-health expert deference (vaccines, COVID), and climate-policy seriousness. Abbott's initial mis-blame of wind turbines for Winter Storm Uri (contradicted by data), his Executive Order GA-40 opposing federal vaccine mandates, his hands-off posture on data-center grid load (which displaces residential capacity), and his READER Act book-rating mandate (a 'pervasively vulgar' standard publishers struggle to interpret) all run against Sagan. Hinojosa's grid-reliability listening-tour partnership, her data-center load critique grounded in $600/year ratepayer estimates, and her TRAIGA-style algorithmic-accountability framing align with Sagan. Hinojosa is the substantially closer fit.
Sources
- Erin Douglas and Mitchell Ferman, 'Greg Abbott took control of the state power grid. Here's how it has fared,' Texas Tribune, Dec. 28, 2021. (full list)
- '2021 Texas power crisis,' Wikipedia, accessed May 2026. (full list)
- E&E News, 'Spiraling energy costs may tighten Texas governor's race,' 2026. (full list)
- Brian Lopez, 'Texas House passes library book restrictions; Hinojosa and Talarico oppose in committee,' Texas Tribune, April 19, 2023. (full list)
- Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World (1995); Cosmos (1980); scientific-literacy advocacy. (full list)