EPA JOINS PARLER

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced Wednesday on Twitter that he was joining the platform, though his first post appears to be from Tuesday.

Asked why the agency joined Parler, EPA spokesperson Molly Block said in an email that the reason was “to reach new audiences and promote the numerous environmental accomplishments made under the Trump Administration.”

The initial posts from the agency promoted its 50th anniversary, which was Wednesday, and touted the administration’s record on environmental issues.

Parler describes itself as a place where people can “speak freely … without fear of being ‘deplatformed’” and does not do fact-checking. Experts and journalists have found disinformation including climate change denial on the platform.

Its users include both traditional conservatives, including several lawmakers, and far-right groups.