First Thing: Democrats ‘too polite’ in fight against fossil fuel giants, says senator

Sheldon Whitehouse has consistently criticized both political parties for their weak response to the climate crisis. Photograph: Tom Williams/Getty Images

Good morning.

Democrats and the environmental movement have been “too cautious and polite” and need to start loudly calling out the “huge denial operation” of fossil fuel companies, the US senator Sheldon Whitehouse has said.