Iowa meteorologist resigns after death threats over climate crisis coverage

An Iowa meteorologist says he is resigning from the television station where he works because he developed post-traumatic stress disorder after threats over his climate change coverage.

On Wednesday, Chris Gloninger, the chief meteorologist at Des Moines’s CBS TV station affiliate KCCI, announced that he will be stepping down from his position and leaving his broadcast career in July.

Gloninger said in a statement on Twitter: “18 years. 7 stations. 5 states. I am bidding farewell to TV to embark on a new journey dedicated to helping solve the climate crisis.”

He added: “After a death threat stemming from my climate coverage last year and resulting PTSD, in addition to family issues, I’ve decide to begin this journey *now*”.

Last July, Gloninger, who has spent 18 years of his career covering climate change as well as the weather and became KCCI’s chief meteorologist in 2021, shared a series of disturbing emails he received regarding his coverage.

One message said: “I don’t watch your worthless weather forecast because your an idiot but someone else texted me and said you are still an idiot, go the hell back where you came from DOUCHEBAG.”

Another message said: “Science like FAUCI you dumb son of a bitch, go east and drown from the ice cap melting dumb fuck!!!” referring to President Joe Biden’s former chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci.

Another particularly distressing email said: “What’s your home address, we conservative Iowans would like to give you an Iowan welcome you will never forget, kinda like the libtards gave JUDGE KAVANAUGH,” referring to supreme court justice Brett Kavanaugh, whose house was surrounded by demonstrators last year to protest the elimination of federal abortion rights.

Alongside the email screenshots that he shared last year, Gloninger wrote: “My #climate coverage has garnered negative feedback. But last month I received the first threat, followed by a flow of harassing emails. Police are investigating. It’s mentally exhausting & at times I have NOT been OK. If you’re facing this & need someone to talk to, I’m here.

“The threat of course was concerning, but the stream of harassing emails is even more distressing. It means he is thinking about it constantly. He is angry about it and filled with hate.”

In September, the Iowa Capital Dispatch reported that 63-year-old Danny H Hancock of Lenox, Iowa, was fined $150 for sending a series of harassing emails to Gloninger. Hancock admitted to sending the emails and was charged with third-degree harassment, according to police.

Speaking to the Washington Post recently, Gloninger said: “I was not sleeping … I had bags under my eyes.

“I don’t want to be the news … I wanted to bring awareness to the fact that it’s not just me, it’s other climate scientists, scientists, journalists.”

cover photo:Chris Gloninger, chief meteorologist at KCCI in Des Moines, Iowa, announced he will be stepping down from his position and leaving his broadcast career in July, citing PTSD. Photograph: KCCI TV