Fresh off promises from CNN boss Jeff Zucker that the channel will pursue more stories on global warming — whether their audience likes it or not — CNN anchor Carol Costello presided over a segment with two religious figures agreeing that to deny climate change is to sin against God.

But Costello did much more than just moderate the “debate,” railing against “deniers” and questioning whether they’re “reading the Bible.”

In the eye-popping intro to the segment — which aired during CNN’s “Newsroom”, not an opinion program — Costello pulls no punches while savaging those who dare to question the “settled science.”

“Climate change is real,” she began confidently, “but for many reasons, certain people keep debating this issue.”

She quoted a tweet from Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak:

I now believe global warming alarmists are unpatriotic racists knowingly misleading for their own ends. Good night. — Pat Sajak (@patsajak) May 20, 2014

“That statement is so ridiculous it’s easy to laugh it off,” Costello mused, “except we can’t, because powerful politicians like Florida Sen. Marco Rubio say, ‘I don’t not believe that human activity is causing these dramatic changes to our climate the way these scientists are portraying it, and I don’t not believe the laws will do anything about it except destroy our economy.'”

“Religious leaders are more than concerned about statements like that,” she declared earnestly. “They’re now battling climate change deniers on moral grounds.”

Costello introduced her two guests, an evangelical minister and global warming activist and a CNN commentator (and Catholic priest) who believes climate change is a sin.

“Can’t we just say it like it is?” she said. “Climate change deniers aren’t listening to scientists, or they’re not reading the Bible. They’re denying global warming for purely political reasons, right?”

“Well, that may be,” the reverend admitted, before going on to say the evidence of climate change is so obvious you “just have to look at the world around you” (but don’t believe him; his dad says it too).

In early April, Costello lashed out at the Supreme Court for loosening campaign finance rules, and later that month claimed she was “disappointed with women” who supported another court decision that denied a constitutional right to affirmative action.

Costello also famously tried — again, just last month — to paint RNC spokesman Sean Spicer into a corner as a racist after remarks made by Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy.

Follow Brendan on Twitter

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@ dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.