United States Geological Survey
Description
Event Involvements
Events with structured involvement data
The USGS provides the scientific report (via David Elsin) that converts physical observations into authoritative cause-and-effect claims; their data legitimizes the administration's need to act and frames the event as more than a local accident.
Through the cited scientist David Elsin and technical report language read aloud by Josh.
Scientific authority shapes political response; USGS is upstream of policy decisions but not in command of operations.
Elevates a local disaster to a national policy issue by tying observations to climate trends, forcing political actors to reconcile science and action.
Not depicted; functions as a unified expert voice in the scene.
The United States Geological Survey provides the scientific diagnosis (via David Elsin) that the glacial dam failure occurred; their technical authority legitimizes the emergency response and shapes what resources are requested.
Through David Elsin's report cited by Josh—a scientific briefing document and quoted field observations.
Expert authority advising political actors; does not issue orders but compels governmental action through evidentiary weight.
Positions scientific expertise as the factual foundation for executive decisions; pressures the administration to act on environmental consequences.
Standard scientific-to-policy handoff; no internal conflict shown in the scene.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) supplies the scientific report Josh cites; its data provides the factual backbone for the White House's emergency posture and justifies international assistance and rescue planning.
Through an expert report authored (David Elsin) and relayed by Josh.
Expert authority informing executive decision-makers; informational power rather than political control.
Reinforces science-driven rationale for emergency measures and international coordination.
Standard expert-reporting protocols; no internal conflict presented in this event.
The United States Geological Survey supplies the technical briefers and hydroclimatologist, providing the empirical backbone for the White House's situational awareness; USGS frames both the rescue logistics and the scientific attribution that turns the event political.
Through on-scene experts and briefers (Paul Hendricks, Hillary Toobin, and USGS personnel) delivering factual assessments directly to Leo.
Operationally authoritative on scientific facts but institutionally dependent on the White House for policy and resource decisions; exerts epistemic authority without direct political power.
USGS involvement forces the White House to reconcile scientific attribution with political messaging, highlighting tensions between empirical truth and political considerations.
Operating as a unified expert voice in the briefing; potential internal pressure to be candid versus concerns about political fallout when attribution implies policy failures.
The United States Geological Survey is the institutional source of both operational and scientific information: their personnel brief Leo, supply the hydroclimatologist who delivers the causal analysis, and thereby force the White House to treat the disaster as both a rescue operation and a climate-policy matter.
Through on-site personnel briefings and the presence of a named hydroclimatologist (Hillary Toobin) providing technical interpretation.
Holds epistemic authority in the room but not executive power; its factual claims compel political actors while remaining subordinate to the administration's decision-making.
Their blunt scientific framing elevates the incident from an operational emergency to a political issue about climate causation, pressuring the administration's messaging and potential policy responses.
Tension between presenting sober scientific conclusions and anticipating political consequences; reliance on specialists who may vary in how forcefully they state implications.