Previous Legal and Political News 2025
The Shrub That Outperformed Congress 11-16-25
NYC’s Next Mayor Zohran Mamdani Has a Big Climate Policy To-do List 11-06-25
New Research Shows There’s a Simple Way to Protect Workers. Is OSHA Listening? 10-10-25
Some experts now fear that the agency, which ordinarily takes about seven years on average to establish new rules, will face further delays.
The Industry Ties Within Trump’s Food and Ag Leadership 10-07-25
Many of the president’s top officials at the USDA, EPA, HHS, and FDA have connections to chemical, agribusiness, or fossil fuel interests.
Even if Protests Don’t Hit 3.5%, the Resistance Can Topple Trump 09-25-25
You might have heard of the so-called 3.5% rule. Developed by Erica Chenoweth and colleagues at Harvard, it postulates that “no government has withstood a challenge of 3.5% of their population mobilized against it during a peak event.” Read more
Trump DOJ Seeks to Kill Vermont Law that Makes Big Oil Pay For Climate Harm 09-20-25
The Justice Department asked a judge to shut down the “Superfund” law that requires major polluters to pay for carbon emissions. Read more
Exxon Seeks US Political Help in Call to Quash EU Climate Law 09-18-25
Exxon Mobil (XOM.N) is stepping up attacks against a European Union corporate sustainability law and has taken its concerns directly to U.S. President Donald Trump, warning that the regulation will lead to more businesses leaving Europe. Read more
Trump Axes Climate Reporting Program, Ignoring International Courts and Frontline Communities 09-18-25
“There is an international responsibility here, even if the U.S. still tries to deny that there is one.” Read more
Republicans Are Using an Arcane Oversight Rule to Permanently Dismantle Federal Land Protections 09-15-25
Republican lawmakers want to use the Congressional Review Act to permanently erase federal land use plans in Alaska — and beyond. Read more
Why the US Government is Trying to Revive the Climate Change ‘debate’ 08-27-25The Department of Energy is calling for “honest dialogue.” It looks a lot like a playbook from the past. Read more
Illinois to Ban Polystyrene Containers by 2030 08-08-25
The Illinois General Assembly has passed the Disposable Food Service Container Act, a sweeping measure that will ban the sale and distribution of disposable food service containers made from polystyrene foam across the state starting January 1, 2030. Read more
West Virginia Families Sue EQT Over Fracking Pollution 08-07-25
According to the lawsuit, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been investigating EQT’s West Virginia operations.
Trump Administration Memo Urges Countries to Reject Plastic Production Caps in UN Treaty 08-06-25
The U.S. laid out its red lines for negotiations that put it in direct opposition to over 100 countries.
First-of-a-kind US Class-action Lawsuit Would Force EPA to Reinstate $3bn Climate Program 08-05-25
Coalition of non-profits, tribes and local governments sued EPA chief for halting climate justice grants Read more
‘Maddening’ Proof Plastics Industry Knew Recycling Was False Solution in 1974, New Document Shows 08-05-25
Exclusive finding by DeSmog shows high-level industry awareness that recycling plastic ‘not feasible’ as companies face lawsuits over alleged public deception campaign. Read more
A New Report Shows How Local Climate Activism Leads to ‘remarkable’ Gains 08-05-25
Efforts to pass laws and advance clean energy projects can significantly reduce emissions, and at a low cost. Read more
Enviros Are Reeling in Trump’s ‘scorched-earth’ Second Term 07-30-25
“We just lost a decade’s worth of work,” said one green group leader. It’s a rough time to be an environmentalist. Read more
Their Parents Are Fired Feds. They Want Senators to Listen to Them. 07-23-25
This summer, former federal workers and their kids have been hosting “Camp Democracy” in federal offices in an attempt to show lawmakers the cost of government cuts. Read more
UN’s Top Court Says Failing to Protect Planet From Climate Change Could Violate International Law 07-23-25
Notably, the court said a “clean, healthy and sustainable environment” is a human right.
Amid Fear of Retaliation, N.S.F. Workers Sign Letter of Dissent 07-22-25
In a public letter, employees of the National Science Foundation accused the administration of politicizing the agency and impeding scientific innovation.
How Shrinking the EPA Could Make Wildfire Smoke Even More Dangerous 06-24-25
“It will leave communities more vulnerable.” Read more
Your Favorite Campgrounds, Hiking Trails, and Forests Could Soon Be Up For Auction 06-18-25
Republicans want to make 250 million acres of public lands eligible for sale to housing developers. Read more
With New Senate Legislation, Congress is One Step Closer to Gutting the Inflation Reduction Act 06-17-25
The so-called Big Beautiful Bill targets the tax credits designed to put the U.S. on the path to net-zero carbon emissions. Read more
Trump’s EPA Accidentally Made the Case Against Passing the Big Beautiful Bill 06-13-25
GOP leaders claim that repealing power plant pollution rules and tax breaks for renewables will fuel an energy boom. Experts say they’re doing just the opposite. Read more
18 New Countries Ratify High Seas Treaty at 2025 UN Ocean Conference 06-10-25
The swell of support added momentum to what could end up being a historic sea change in how the open ocean is governed.
Trump Administration to Open Alaska Wilderness to Drilling and Mining 06-03-25
The Interior Department plans to repeal Biden-era protections across the state’s ecologically sensitive North Slope.
Puerto Rican Municipalities Take on Big Oil in Court Using a Law Made For the Mob 06-03-25
Lawyer Melissa Sims breaks down how she and a team of lawyers are trying to hold gas and oil companies accountable for the damages caused by climate-change-fueled storms like Hurricane Maria. Read more
Trump Cuts Hundreds of EPA Grants, Leaving Cities on the Hook For Climate Resiliency 06-02-25
Critics argue the projects losing funding aren’t “woke,” they’re essential. Read more
Mayors Are Making Climate Action Personal. It’s Working. 05-28-25
As the Trump administration boosts fossil fuels and rolls back regulations, mayors are greening their cities — in more ways than one. Read more
How Big Ag Thwarted Wetlands Protections in Illinois and Iowa 05-27-25
Two years ago, the Supreme Court made it easier to destroy swamps and marshes. Agricultural lobbyists want to keep it that way. Read more
Zeldin Slams Whitehouse in Heated Exchange: Americans ‘put President Trump in office because of people like you’ 05-21-25
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin got into a shouting match over agency grant cancellations during a Senate hearing Wednesday. Read more
Trump’s USDA Tried to Erase Climate Data. This Lawsuit Forced it Back Online. 05-15-25
The agency quietly removed web pages on rural energy, climate-smart agriculture, and federal loans — until farmers sued. Read more
White House Sparks Outrage After Fast-tracking Controversial Ocean Project: ‘Like lighting a match in a room full of dynamite’ 05-13-25
The White House released a statement in late April announcing an executive order to fast-track deep-sea mining for minerals such as nickel, cobalt, and titanium. Read more
Trump Administration Cuts Off Harvard University From Future Research Grant Funding 05-06-25
The institution “should no longer seek GRANTS from the federal government, since none will be provided,” U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon wrote. Read more
The Trump Administration Just Dismissed All 400 experts Working on America’s Official Climate Report 04-29-25
It’s not clear who will now write the Congressionally mandated National Climate Assessment — or whether it will be written at all. Read more
A Siege on Science: How Trump is Undoing an American Legacy 04-28-25
In its first 100 days, the Trump administration has slashed federal agencies, canceled national reports, and yanked funding from universities. The shockwaves will be felt worldwide. Read more
The Environmental Policy Backed By Free-market Republicans 04-18-25
The right to repair can reduce emissions and pollution. But for conservatives, it’s “a freedom and liberty issue.” Read more
Trump Administration Must Unfreeze Billions in Climate Funding, Judge Rules 04-15-25
Five government agencies must release billions of dollars in funding for climate and infrastructure-related projects that had been paused by the Trump administration, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.
Why Trump’s Executive Order Targeting State Climate Laws is Probably Illegal 04-09-25
President Trump continues dismantling climate policy with a move of questionable legality that benefits fossil fuels. States are sure to sue. Read more
Trump Axed a Rule Designed to Spare Taxpayers the Burden of Future Flooding 04-09-25
The change may speed up flood recovery, but it will leave communities — and taxpayers — facing the same problems over and over again. Read more
‘Hands off’: Protesters Rally Nationwide to Defend Democracy, Public Health, and Climate Action 04-07-25
Americans across all 50 states took to the streets to push back against what they see as a dismantling of democratic institutions and threats to public health.
Yellowstone’s Gateway Town Fears For Its Future Amid Trump Funding Cuts 04-01-25
“Gardiner is a company town and Yellowstone is the mill. If somebody starts screwing with the mill, we have no choice but to be concerned.” Read more
Why Did Cory Booker Spend the Night Speaking on the Senate Floor? 04-01-25
The New Jersey Democrat is speaking in protest of the Trump administration’s policies. He is not delaying the Senate from a vote, so it is not a filibuster.
More Than 1,900 Scientists Write Letter in ‘SOS’ Over Trump’s Attacks on Science 03-31-25
Members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine warned Americans of ‘real danger in this moment’
The World’s Biggest Youth Climate Lawsuit Lost in Court, But it ‘changed the world’ 03-27-25
The landmark Juliana v. United States sparked a global movement to defend children’s rights to a healthy climate, a campaign that’s already scored two wins. Read more
Can Cities Ban Natural Gas in New Buildings? A Federal Judge Just Said Yes. 03-25-25
After a string of discouraging rulings for other cities, a court upheld NYC’s efforts to decarbonize its buildings. Read more
The Doublespeak of Energy Secretary Chris Wright 03-24-25
In his confirmation hearing, the Liberty Energy founder pledged broad support for renewable energy. But when speaking to conservatives, he declared, “We don’t have replacements” for coal, oil and gas. Read more
Why a Tree-planting Nonprofit in Chicago is Suing the Trump Administration 03-20-25
Similar programs across the country are also struggling. Read more
‘Have you seen our congressman?’ Angry Voters Press GOP For Answers. 03-19-25
Republicans’ efforts to avoid heated protests are rallying the opposition in one battleground House district Read more
EPA Defends Freezing $20 Billion in Climate Grants Without New Evidence 03-19-25
“These claims are not only misleading and undermining a critical effort to drive American energy independence, local resilience, and job creation in communities…”
Greenpeace Ordered to Pay Dakota Access Pipeline Operator $667 Million in Case That Could Destroy the Group 03-19-25
A North Dakota jury awarded damages to the oil company that operates the pipeline in a case that environmentalists warn could chill free speech. Read more
In Trump’s New Purge of Climate Language, Even ‘resilience’ Isn’t Safe 03-11-25
“You really cannot address a problem that you can’t identify.” Read more
“I worked to the last minute of my federal employment”
Trump Signs Executive Order Handing U.S. Public Forests Over to Private Logging Industry 03-05-25
“This Trump executive order is the most blatant attempt in American history by a president to hand over federal public lands to the logging industry.”
US Forest Service Firings Decimate Already Understaffed Agency: ‘It’s catastrophic’ 02-27-25
“We are losing an entire generation of talent and passion.” Read more
How the Eaton Fire Destroyed a Delicate Truce Over Altadena’s Future 02-26-25
A plan to build badly needed housing — and prevent future fires — may soon go up in smoke. Read more
Republicans Once Embraced ‘green banks.’ Trump is Trying to Raid Them. 02-20-25
EPA chief Lee Zeldin has launched an attack on the agency’s $20 billion clean energy loan program. Read more
‘It’s about control’: Why Trump renamed Denali to Mount McKinley 02-18-25
America has always stripped the land of its original Indigenous names. It’s had surprising climate implications Read more
“We Feel Terrorized”: What EPA Employees Say About the Decision to Stay or Go Under Trump 02-06-25
More than 300 career employees at the Environmental Protection Agency have left.
Trump’s Agenda Won’t Let His Energy Secretary Achieve ‘energy abundance’ 02-04-25
Chris Wright is no hater of renewables, nuclear power, or transmission. But the Trump administration’s energy policy is a contradictory mess. Read more
‘Paranoia and distrust’: How Trump’s Mass Firing of Government Watchdogs Will Affect Climate Policy 01-29-25
Experts fear the president will replace the fired inspectors general with loyalists who will turn a blind eye to corruption. Read more
Trump Leaving the Paris Agreement is ‘mostly symbolic.’ What Does it Actually Mean? 01-23-25
The biggest impact on global emissions will be from the new president’s deregulatory agenda. Read more
Joe Biden Was America’s First Climate President. Did it Matter? 01-17-25
The outgoing Democrat’s climate agenda was a surprising success — and a cautionary tale. Read more
The American Climate Corps is Over. What Even Was It? 01-15-25
Biden’s green jobs program was never what it seemed. Now it’s shutting down before Trump takes office. Read more
Altadena Has Avoided California’s Fire Insurance Hell. That Won’t Last. 01-14-25
As they rebuild, residents of the middle-class enclave could face steep price hikes. Read more
California and Environmental Groups Sued Exxon Over Plastics. Now Exxon is Striking Back. 01-07-25
In a retaliatory lawsuit, Exxon says claims against it are motivated by “sordid for-profit incentives and outright greed.” Read more
House Republicans Pledge Drilling and Make It Easier to Shed Federal Land 01-03-25
The newly elected Speaker said the party would make it a priority to “restore America’s energy dominance. Read more
