Former Maryland governor and 2016 Democrat presidential candidate Martin O’Malley thinks the terrorist group ISIS exists because of climate change.

He said so in a recent interview in Iowa.

Here are his exact words, via Real Clear Politics:

MARTIN O’MALLEY: One of the things that preceded the failure of the nation state of Syria and the rise of ISIS, was the effect of climate change and the mega-drought that affected that nation, wiped out farmers, drove people to cities, created a humanitarian crisis that created the symptoms — or rather, the conditions — of extreme poverty that has now led to the rise of ISIS and this extreme violence.

Watch below, skip to the 3:40 mark.

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Progressive sites like The Atlantic and Salon are taking him seriously.

The liberal Huffington Post tried to spin the story and make it about Republicans:

Republicans Are Upset That Martin O’Malley Cited Actual Science On Climate Change And Conflict Republicans are outraged that Democratic presidential contender Martin O’Malley cited actual scientific research in comments about how climate change has contributed to internal conflicts in Syria.

Maybe Republicans were upset because it was such a stupid thing to say.

(Image: Source)