JAKE TAPPER (HOST): You've said that it's a waste of taxpayer money to research and to fight climate change. NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has concluded that climate change is happening, that human activity is contributing to it and that the warming of the planet and ocean temperatures creates conditions that allow for storms to get bigger and stronger and more intense. Given all that, and given the havoc that we've seen, why is fighting it or trying to learn more about it a waste of money?

MICK MULVANEY: Jake, I'd be more than happy to have a longer discussion another day about climate change, man-made climate change. Keep in mind, what we are focusing on right now is taking care of the folks who have survived this disaster, the folks who need our immediate help. There's plenty of time later on to have those discussions and I know that we will because climate change clearly is a big topic for the media but we will continue to sort of focus our attention on the folks who need us right now.

TAPPER: Alright, it's a big topic for the world.

Related:

NOAA: Global Climate Change Indicators

Scientific American: What We Know about the Climate Change–Hurricane Connection

Previously:

Fox & Friends hosts Rush Limbaugh's “official climatologist” to cast doubt on climate science in wake of Irma

On The Bill Press Show, Media Matters' Cristina López explains how right-wing media “play with lives” by hyping hurricane conspiracy theories

Sunday shows largely fail to mention climate change in Hurricane Irma coverage