On January 28, Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) released a statement in response to Media Matters' study detailing how the major broadcast networks covered climate change in 2014. The Media Matters analysis found that although the networks increased their coverage of climate change, the Sunday shows still underrepresented scientists and most of them provided a platform for climate science deniers.

Sen. Schatz stated that the networks' increase in climate coverage is “not enough,” and that he “remain[s] deeply concerned about both the lack and the quality of the coverage.” He concluded: “It is time for broadcasters to stop creating a false debate about the reality of climate change and engage in the real debate about how we can solve it.”

Sen. Schatz's full press release read:

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) today released the following statement in response to a new Media Matters report detailing how broadcast networks covered climate change in 2014:

“While I am pleased that broadcast media coverage of climate change has increased this year, it is not enough,” said Senator Schatz.  “I remain deeply concerned about both the lack and the quality of the coverage.  This new report shows that Sunday shows still aired segments that misled audiences and ignored the scientific consensus by framing the facts of climate change as a ”debate".  The debate is over.  Human-caused climate change is accepted by Fortune 500 companies, school-teachers, religious groups, the United States military, nurses and doctors, professional sports leagues, the majority of other countries, and over 97 percent of climate scientists.  It is time for broadcasters to stop creating a false debate about the reality of climate change and engage in the real debate about how we can solve it."