The images from Texas have to prod the consciences of those in the House and Senate who have not fully prostituted themselves to the johns of the fossil-fuel industry. Americans who have been victimized by this historic storm are pleading for both short-term and long-term help: not only do they need immediate assistance to rebuild their lives, they also need Congressional leadership on the climate crisis.

It wasn’t that long ago when Republicans would grudgingly acknowledge that human-caused climate change is real. There’s no place for House and Senate Republicans to hide now. The evidence can’t be walled off anymore by the conservative-entertainment complex. They may not like it. They may not enjoy it. However, in the wake of Harvey–and the harm human-caused climate change is inflicting upon their own–they have to deal with it.