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Issue(s): Whether venue for challenges by small oil refineries seeking exemptions from the requirements of the Clean Air Act's Renewable Fuel Standard program lies exclusively in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit because the agency's denial actions are "nationally applicable" or, alternatively, are "based on a determination of nationwide scope or effect." ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
Issue(s): Whether a final action by the Environmental Protection Agency taken pursuant to its Clean Air Act authority with respect to a single state or region may be challenged only in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit because the agency published the action in the same Federal Register notice as actions affecting other states or regions and claimed to use a consistent analysis for all states. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
In today's episode continuing our eight-part series, we examine how nonprofits are effectively advocating for environmental justice. We'll analyze practical strategies for building awareness and securing advocacy funding while navigating the regulatory frameworks that govern nonprofit activism. Join us for a clear-eyed look at how organizations are making meaningful progress in environmental protection and climate action. Attorneys for this episode Tim Mooney Quyen Tu Susan Finkle Sourlis Shownotes Current Events / Executive Orders: • Trump Administration Environmental Rollbacks • Rescinded EPA's Environmental Justice Screening Tool (EJSCREEN) • Repealed Biden-era executive orders on Justice40, climate equity, and cumulative impacts assessments • Reinstated NEPA rules from 2019, reducing environmental review for pipelines, highways, and factories • Revoked protections for sacred Indigenous lands (e.g., Bears Ears downsizing, drilling leases on Chaco Canyon perimeter) • Impacts on Vulnerable Communities: • Halted all EPA funding for community air monitoring programs in EJ-designated census tracts • Suspended grants to community-based climate resilience projects • Cut FEMA's BRIC (Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities) equity prioritization language • Reopened refineries and power plants previously closed for Clean Air Act violations, especially in Black and Latino neighborhoods • EPA DEI cuts: • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced plans to cancel nearly 800 environmental justice grants, totaling over $1.5 billion, which were intended to support projects mitigating climate change impacts in vulnerable communities . • Additionally, the EPA is undergoing a reduction in force, affecting employees in its Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights, as part of a broader effort to realign the agency's mission · Non-Lobbying Advocacy o Nonpartisan Advocacy 101: 501(c)(3)s cannot support or oppose candidates for public office, but they can… o Educate the public about issues of importance to your organization. § Waterkeeper Alliance is holding EPA Admin Lee Zeldin accountable for cuts to PFAS research. o Hold a rally § Memphis Community Against Pollution rallied to celebrate a victory for clean water, while turning its attention to a clean air fight against an Elon Musk-owned company's proposed data center. o Initiate or participate in litigation § AFJ member Earthjustice has sued the Trump administration's improper withholding of IRA grant funds for projects that included Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants to install solar panels on small farms. o Fund Advocacy § Meyer Memorial Trust funded 41 organizations with EJ awards totaling $6.9 million in 2024 with a focus on frontline and indigenous communities · Lobbying o 501(c)(3) public charities are also allowed to use unrestricted funds to engage in some lobbying activities. o Tax Code Lobbying 101: Public charities can lobby, but they are limited in how much lobbying they may engage in. § Insubstantial part test vs. 501(h) expenditure test. § Under either test, lobbying includes attempts to influence legislation at any level of government. § Track your local, state, and federal lobbying, and stay within your lobbying limits. o State/local level lobbyist registration and reporting requirements may also apply when engaging in legislative and executive branch advocacy. o Ballot measure advocacy (direct lobbying) could also implicate state / local campaign finance and election laws. o Lobbying wins § Hawaii just passed a first-of-its-kind climate tax on short-term accommodations to fund defenses against climate change fueled disasters. Sierra Club of Hawaii has been actively lobbying on climate change legislation for years. § Ballot measure wins (h/t The Nature Conservancy) · California: $10 billion climate bond that funds climate resilience, protecting clean drinking water and preventing catastrophic wildfires. · Washington: An effort to roll back the state's Climate Commitment Act was defeated. The CCA provides millions for conservation, climate and wildfire funding, including funding for Tribal nations and at-risk communities. · Minnesota: Renewal of the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund for another 25 years. The fund will provide $2 billion ($80 million per year from state lottery proceeds) to protect water, land and wildlife across the state. Resources – · Earth & Equity: The Advocacy Playbook for Environmental Justice · Public Charities Can Lobby (Factsheet) · Practical Guidance: what your nonprofit needs to know about lobbying in your state · Investing in Change: A Funder's Guide to Supporting Advocacy · What is Advocacy? 2.0
Under the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to regulate emissions that “cause, or contribute to, air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare.” The Supreme Court held in Massachusetts v. EPA that greenhouse gases are considered pollutants under the Act, so whether they can be regulated depends on whether they endanger public health. The EPA issued the Endangerment Finding that greenhouse gas emissions cross this threshold in 2009. Any actual regulation of greenhouse gas emissions is issued by EPA separately, such as greenhouse gas emissions standards for vehicles. On March 12th, 2025, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that the EPA would be initiating “formal reconsideration of the 2009 Endangerment Finding in collaboration with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and other relevant agencies.” Join us Friday, May 9th, from 11am – 12pm EST, as our panel of legal experts discusses the various questions surrounding the proposed revisions, such as preemption, cost revision, and how these changes would be implemented. Featuring: Michael Buschbacher, Partner, Boyden Gray PLLC Richard Belzer, Independent Consultant Jonathan Adler, Johan Verheij Memorial Professor of Law and Director, Coleman P. Burke Center for Environmental Law, Case Western Reserve University School of Law (Moderator) Laura Stanley, Gibson Dunn, LLP
In Episode 95 of Brave New World, Palaeontologist Peter Ward returns to explore life's evolutionary journey and examine compelling possibilities for its future direction. Useful Resources: 1. Peter Ward on Wikipedia and The University Of Washington. 2. Stephen Jay Gould. 3. Wonderful Life: The Burgess Shale and Nature Of History – Stephen Jay Gould. 4. Cambrian Explosion. 5. Burgess Shale. 6. Nick Lane. 7. Oxygen: The Molecule That Made The World – Nick Lane. 8. Life Ascending: The Ten Great Inventions of Evolution – Nick Lane. 9. David Catling on Wikipedia and the University Of Washington. 10. Eukaryote. 11. Lynn Margulis. 12. Carl Sagan. 13. Chemoreceptors. 14. My Octopus Teacher. 15. Pippa Ehrlich On The Mysteries of The Sea – Episode 77 Of Brave New World. 16. Methuselah Foundation and Methuselah Mice. 17. CRISPR. 18. Future Evolution – Peter Ward. 19. After Man: A Zoology Of The Future - Dougal Dixon. 20. Future Evolution with Alexis Rockman 21. Rare Earth: Why Complex Life is Uncommon in the Universe – Peter Ward and Donald Brownlee. 22. Seth Shostak on Extraterrestrial Life – Episode 85 of Brave New World. 23. Drake Equation. 24. Endangered Species Act, Clean Air Act. 25. Daniel J. Evans. 26. David Battisti 27. Edward O. Wilson 28. Biophilia – Edward O. Wilson Check out Vasant Dhar's newsletter on Substack. The subscription is free!
“We did lots of infrastructure investments over the last handful of years to make sure our communities are in the best possible place they can be. And we complemented federal investment with workforce investment to ensure Michiganders are getting access to those kinds of roles, some of which didn't even exist previously. [This ensures] that Michigan communities could benefit from learning to be solar installers and get access to new economic income streams.” Hilary Doe on Electric Ladies Podcast The Justice Department is suing Michigan over its climate initiatives under the Clean Air Act. Michigan has the fastest-growing clean energy job sector in the U.S., with over 120,000 clean energy jobs. In addition, a recent study ranked Michigan at limited risk from climate change-related events, so it may attract millions of Americans who may relocate to escape extreme climate events. Listen to Hilary Doe, Michigan's first Chief Growth Officer (and the first in the country) on Electric Ladies Podcast with Joan Michelson. She describes how Michigan rapidly leveraged the Inflation Reduction Act to increase their climate resilience, economic growth and innovation. Now, Michigan is rated as one of the best places to live, work, raise a family and start a business. You'll hear about: Michigan's efforts to position itself as a climate-resilient and clean energy hub. The state's fast growing startup ecosystem and innovation centers, particularly in clean tech and mobility. The impact of climate change on businesses and the trend of "climate migration" to Michigan and the Midwest. Strategies for retaining and attracting talent, including new programs like "Make My Home". Plus, insightful career advice. “Many folks start to experience frustration because they have built such a wealth of expertise and have so much to offer, but they might feel just stuck. In my experience, when I've been able to jump off that ladder and pursue something, a different context, a different platform, that lets me get unstuck. It's risky, but sometimes it just unlocks so much passion in an individual that to do exactly what you're meant to do and share all your gifts and be more successful than maybe you could have been in the other context.” Hilary Doe on Electric Ladies Podcast You'll also like: Tensie Whelan, Founding Director of NYU Stern on why sustainable business is good business. Doreen Harris, President and CEO of NYSERDA, on how New York is leading the way to the clean energy future. Jennifer Granholm, 16th U.S. Secretary of Energy, gives three reasons why clean energy is here to stay. Sherri Goodman, former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense, on why climate change is an issue of national security. Joan Michelson's Forbes article on Communicating Creatively On Climate To Save Lives. Read more of Joan's Forbes articles here. More from Electric Ladies Podcast! JUST LAUNCHED: Join our global community at electric-ladies.mykajabi.com! For a limited time, be a member of the Electric Ladies Founders' Circle at an exclusive special rate. Elevate your career with expert coaching and ESG advisory with Electric Ladies Podcast. Unlock new opportunities, gain confidence, and achieve your career goals with the right guidance. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, articles, events and career advice – and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio and Spotify and leaving us a review! Don't forget to follow us on our socials Twitter: @joanmichelson LinkedIn: Electric Ladies Podcast with Joan Michelson Twitter: @joanmichelson Facebook: Green Connections Radio
Lisa Patel is a pediatrician and an expert in environmental health who says that pollution is taking an increasing toll on children's health. Pollution from wildfires, fossil fuels, and plastics can cause asthma, pneumonia, and risks dementia in the long-term. But, she says, all hope is not lost. Solutions range from DIY air filters to choosing induction stoves over gas, cutting down on meat consumption and plastics use, and pursuing clean energy, among other strategies. If we all take local action, we can solve this problem globally, Patel tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering's The Future of Everything podcast.Have a question for Russ? Send it our way in writing or via voice memo, and it might be featured on an upcoming episode. Please introduce yourself, let us know where you're listening from, and share your question. You can send questions to thefutureofeverything@stanford.edu.Episode Reference Links:Stanford Profile: Lisa PatelConnect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>> Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / FacebookChapters:(00:00:00) IntroductionRuss Altman introduces guest Lisa Patel, a professor of pediatrics at Stanford University.(00:03:39) Climate Advocacy JourneyThe personal events that drove Lisa's focus to environmental health.(00:04:53) Fossil Fuels and Clean Air ActHow fossil fuels and weakened regulations harm public health.(00:07:20 Long-Term Health ImpactsLinks between pollution to asthma, cancer, and early Alzheimer's.(00:10:12) Air Quality Guidance for FamiliesAdvising parents on air quality monitoring and precautions.(00:13:04) Indoor Cooking and Gas PollutionHow pollution from gas stoves impacts indoor air quality.(00:14:37) Lead in Water and Health RisksCurrent issues with lead exposure in water for children.(00:16:24) Microplastics and Early Health DamageEvidence showing widespread microplastics are harmful to health.(00:19:12) Clean Energy Progress and SetbacksBenefits of renewable energy and dangers of policy rollback.(00:21:22) Active Transport and Better AirThe environmental impact of increasing public transit.(00:22:44) Benefits of Electric VehiclesHow electric vehicles are linked to cleaner air and healthier kids.(00:23:51) Plant-Forward Diets for HealthWhether plant-forward diets aid personal and planetary health.(00:25:33) Kids Leading Dietary ChangesChildren's reactions and adaptations to plant-forward diets.(00:28:12) Taking Local ActionThe local actions that can offer real solutions for change.(00:31:01) Conclusion Connect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook
Clean Wisconsin has been keeping track of the many attacks on bedrock environmental safeguards being carried out by the Trump Administration. Dozens of rules and regulations that protect our air, water, land, endangered species and more are being targeted. With so much happening in such a short time, how do you know what's important, what's just a lot of bluster, and what's even legal? Host: Amy Barrilleaux Guest: Brett Korte, Clean Wisconsin attorney Resources for You: Running list of attacks on environmental safeguards 1/20 Freeze All In-Progress Standards EO - Freezes in-progress climate, clean air, clean water (including proposed limits on PFAS in industrial wastewater) and consumer protections. 1/20 Energy Emergency Declaration EO - Authorizes federal government to expedite permitting and approval of fossil fuel, infrastructure, and mining projects and circumvent Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act requirements. 1/20 Withdrawal from Paris Climate Agreement EO - Reverses the US' international commitment to tackling climate change and reducing pollution. 1/20 Revokes Biden Climate Crisis and Environmental Justice Executive Actions EO - Reverses U.S. commitment to fight climate change and its impacts, and protect overburdened communities. 1/20 Attacks on Clean Car Standards EO - to stop clean car standards that required automakers to reduce tailpipe pollution from vehicles beginning in 2027. 1/20 Resumes LNG Permitting EO - Expedites Liquid Natural Gas export terminal approval over analysis finding exports raise energy costs for consumers. Attacks Climate and Clean Energy Investments from IRA and BIL EO - Freezes unspent funds from the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and directs agencies to reassess. 1/20 Attacks NEPA Protections EO - Rescinds order requiring White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to assess environmental and community impacts and allow community input into federal infrastructure projects. 1/21 Expands Offshore Oil Drilling EO - Reopens U.S. coastlines to offshore drilling. 1/21 Terminate American Climate Corps EO - Ends all programs of the American Climate Corps, which created thousands of jobs combatting climate change and protecting and restoring public lands. 1/21 Freezes New Wind Energy Leases EO - Withdraws wind energy leasing from U.S. waters and federal lands. 1/21 Open Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other Alaska Lands for Drilling EO - Reopens sensitive federal lands and waters in Alaska to drilling. 1/28 EPA's Science Advisory Panel Members Fired Memorandum - Acting EPA administrator James Payne dismisses members of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee and Science Advisory Board, which provides independent expertise to the agency on air quality standards and sources of air pollution. 1/28 EPA Suspends Solar For All Grants Memorandum - The EPA halted $7 billion in contractually obligated grants for Solar For All, an Inflation Reduction Act program that delivers clean energy and lower prices to vulnerable communities 1/31 Trump administration scrubs "climate change" from federal websites Memorandum - Mentions of climate change have been removed from federal websites such the Department of Agriculture, which includes the Forest Service and climate-smart agriculture programs, and the EPA. 2/3 Trump requires removal 10 existing rules for every new rule EO - The order requires that when an agency finalizes a new regulation or guidance they identify 10 existing rules to be cut. 2/3 Interior secretary weakens public lands protections in favor of fossil fuel development Sec Order - After Trump's "Unleashing American Energy" executive order, Interior Secretary Burgum ordered the reinstatement of fossil fuel leases, opened more land for drilling, and issued orders weakening protections of public lands, national monuments and endangered species, and overturned advanced clean energy and climate mitigation strategies. 2/5 Energy secretary announces review of appliance efficiency standards Sec Order - Energy Secretary Wright ordered a review of appliance standards following Trump's Day One order attacking rules improving the efficiency of household appliances such as toilets, showerheads, and lightbulbs as part of a secretarial order intended to increase the extraction and use of fossil fuels. 2/5 Army Corps of Engineers halts approval of renewables Guidance via DOD - The Army Corps of Engineers singled out 168 projects – those that focused on renewable energy projects – out of about 11,000 pending permits for projects on private land. Though the hold was lifted, it was not immediately clear if permitting had resumed. 2/6 Transportation Department orders freeze of EV charging infrastructure program Memorandum - A Transportation Department memo ordered the suspension of $5 billion in federal funding, authorized by Congress under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, for states to build electric vehicle chargers. 2/11 SEC starts process to kill climate disclosure rule Memorandum - The acting chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission paused the government's legal defense of a rule requiring companies to identify the impact of their business on climate in regulatory findings. The rule was challenged in court by 19 Republican state attorneys general and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright's Liberty Energy, among others. 2/14 EPA fires hundreds of staff Memorandum - The Trump administration's relentless assault on science and career expertise at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency continued today with the firing of almost 400 staff who had ‘probationary' status. 2/14 DOE issues the first LNG export authorization under new Trump administration DOE Secretary Wright issued an export authorization for the Commonwealth LNG project in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, despite a 2024 DOE report finding that unfettered LNG exports increase energy bills and climate pollution. 2/18 Trump issues order stripping independent agencies of independence EO - Trump signed an executive order stripping independent regulatory agencies, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of their independence, moving them to submit proposed rules and final regulations for review by the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) and granting the attorney general exclusive authority over legal interpretations of rules. The order is likely to be challenged as Congress created these agencies specifically to be insulated from White House interference. 2/19 Zeldin recommends striking endangerment finding Memorandum - After Trump's "Unleashing American Energy" executive order, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has told the White House he would recommend rescinding the bedrock justification defining six climate pollutants – carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride – as air pollution to be regulated by the Clean Air Act. 2/19 Trump administration moves to rescind all CEQ regulatory authority Rulemaking - The Trump administration has moved to rescind the Council on Environmental Quality's role in crafting and implementing environmental regulations, revoking all CEQ orders since 1977 that shape how federal agencies comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) which requires the government to consider and disclose environmental impacts of its actions. 2/19 Trump directs agencies to make deregulation recommendations to DOGE EO - Trump issues executive order directing agencies to work with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to make recommendations that will accelerate Trump's efforts to dismantle regulations across the federal government as part of his 10 out, 1 in policy. Among the protections likely to be in DOGE's crosshairs are those that keep polluters from ignoring environmental laws and protect clean air and water. 2/19 FEMA staff advised to scrub "changing climate" and other climate terms from documents Memorandum - A Federal Emergency Management Agency memo listed 10 climate-related words and phrases, including "changing climate," “climate resilience,” and “net zero," to be removed from FEMA documents. The memo comes after USDA workers were ordered to scrub mentions of climate change from websites. 2/21 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Director Placed on Administrative Leave Guidance - According to media reports, EPA administrator Lee Zeldin has put the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) director on administrative leave. The GGRF is a $27 billion federal financing program that addresses the climate crisis and is injecting billions of dollars in local economic development projects to lower energy prices and reduce pollution especially in the rural, urban, and Indigenous communities most impacted by climate change and frequently left behind by mainstream finance. 2/27 Hundreds fired as layoffs begin at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Guidance - On Thursday, February 27, about 800 employees at NOAA, the agency responsible for the nation's bedrock weather, climate, fisheries, and marine research, were fired in the latest round of Trump administration-led layoffs. The layoffs could jeopardize NOAA's ability to provide life-saving severe weather forecasts, long-term climate monitoring, deep-sea research and fisheries management, and other essential research and policy. 3/10 Energy secretary says climate change a worthwhile tradeoff for growth Announcement - Speaking at the CERAWeek conference, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the Trump administration sees climate change as “a side effect of building the modern world,” and pledged to “end the Biden administration's irrational, quasi-religious policies on climate change." 3/10 Zeldin, Musk Cut $1.7B in Environmental Justice Grants Guidance - EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the cancellation of 400 environmental justice-related grants, in violation of a court order barring the Trump administration from freezing "equity-based" grants and contracts. 3/11 EPA eliminates environmental justice offices, staff Memorandum - EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin ordered the closure of environmental justice offices at the agency's headquarters and at all 10 regional offices and eliminate all related staff positions "immediately." The reversal comes just days after the EPA reinstated environmental justice and civil rights employees put on leave in early February. 3/12 EPA Announcement to Revise "Waters of the United States" Rule Announcement - The EPA will redefine waters of the US, or WOTUS, to comply with the US Supreme Court's 2023 ruling in Sackett v. EPA, which lifted Clean Water Act jurisdiction on many wetlands, Administrator Lee Zeldin said 3/14 Zeldin releases 31-rollback ‘hit list' Memorandum (announced, not in effect as of 4/10) - EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced plans to dismantle federal air quality and carbon pollution regulations, identifying 31 actions ranging from from soot standards and power plant pollution rules to the endangerment finding – the scientific and legal underpinning of the Clean Air Act. 3/14 EPA halts enforcement of pollution rules at energy facilities Memorandum - According to a leaked memo, the EPA's compliance office has halted enforcement of pollution regulations on energy facilities and barred consideration of environmental justice concerns. The memo states: "Enforcement and compliance assurance actions shall not shut down any stage of energy production (from exploration to distribution) or power generation absent an imminent and substantial threat to human health or an express statutory or regulatory requirement to the contrary.” 3/14 Trump revokes order encouraging renewables EO - Trump signed an executive order rescinding a Biden-era proclamation encouraging the development of renewable energy. Biden's order under the Defense Production Act permitted the Department of Energy to direct funds to scale up domestic production of solar and other renewable technologies. 3/17 EPA plans to eliminate science staff Memorandum - Leaked documents describe plans to lay off as many as 1,155 scientists from labs across the country. These chemists, biologists, toxicologists and other scientists are among the experts who monitor air and water quality, cleanup of toxic waste, and more. 3/16 EPA invites waivers on mercury pollution and other hazardous pollutants Memorandum - The EPA invited coal- and oil-fired power plants to apply for exemptions to limits on mercury and other toxic pollutants under the Clean Air Act. Mercury is an extremely dangerous pollutant that causes brain damage to babies and fetuses; in addition to mercury, pollution from power plants includes hazardous chemicals that can lead to cancer, or damage to the lungs, kidneys, nervous system and cardiovascular system. 4/3 Trump administration adds "deregulation suggestion" website A new page on regulations.gov allows members of the public to submit "deregulation" ideas. The move is the latest in the Trump administration's efforts to slash public health, safety, and climate safeguards, and comes soon after the administration offered companies the opportunity to send the EPA an email if they wished to be exempted from Clean Air Act protections. 4/8 Series of four EOs to boost coal EO - Under the four orders, Trump uses his emergency authority to allow some older coal-fired power plants set for retirement to keep producing electricity to meet rising U.S. power demand amid growth in data centers, artificial intelligence and electric cars. Trump also directed federal agencies to identify coal resources on federal lands, lift barriers to coal mining and prioritize coal leasing on U.S. lands. In a related action, Trump also signed a proclamation offering coal-fired power plants a two-year exemption from federal requirements to reduce emissions of toxic chemicals such as mercury, arsenic and benzene. 4/9 Executive Order Attacking State Climate Laws EO - Directs the U.S. Attorney General to sue or block state climate policies deemed "burdensome" to fossil fuel interests — including laws addressing climate change, ESG investing, carbon taxes, and environmental justice. 4/9 New expiration dates on existing energy rules EO - The order directs ten agencies and subagencies to assign one-year expiration dates to existing energy regulations. If they are not extended, they will expire no later than September 30, 2026, according to a White House fact sheet on the order. The order also said any new regulations should include a five-year expiration, unless they are deregulatory. That means any future regulations would only last for five years unless they are extended. 4/17 Narrow Endangered Species Act to allow for habitat destruction The Trump administration is proposing to significantly limit the Endangered Species Act's power to preserve crucial habitats by changing the definition of one word: harm. The Endangered Species Act prohibits actions that “harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect” endangered plants and animals. The word “harm” has long been interpreted to mean not just the direct killing of a species, but also severe harm to their environment
In March of 2025, the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) released a major new publication, “Modernizing the EPA: A Blueprint for Congress.” This book explores numerous issues across the EPA and the statutes that it administers. The podcast discussion focuses primarily on how the EPA’s role has evolved, particularly as it relates to air regulation, including greenhouse gas regulation. In addition, the discussion highlights flaws and outdated aspects of the Clean Air Act and the need for Congress to reassert its lawmaking power. The lead author and co-editor of the book offers ideas on how Congress can refine the federal approach to environmental and climate policy. Listen in as Michael Buschbacher, Partner at Boyden Gray PLLC, interviews Daren Bakst, Director of CEI’s Center for Energy and Environment highlighting the key findings and recommendations in the publication.
The Clean Air Act has been an essential tool for reducing air pollution in the United States. But standard estimation methods may overstate its impact, according to a paper in the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy. Authors Lutz Sager and Gregor Singer reexamined the 2005 regulations targeting fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and found that improvements in air quality were closer to a 3 percent reduction in pollutants rather than the 10 percent suggested by conventional methods. However, they also found that the benefits from cleaner air may be larger than previous estimates suggested. Sager and Singer recently spoke with Tyler Smith about methods for properly estimating regulatory impacts that feature time trends and the implications for other measures based on estimates of air quality improvements.
Climate change and carbon dioxide came up regularly in ‘60s-era Congressional hearings, a team of Harvard historians has found. Learn more at https://www.yaleclimateconnections.org/
Frank Lobb, author of The Big Lie in My Healthcare Bill, is a retired Navy pilot, was DuPont Process Instruments GM, DuPont's Environmental Services GM, was a Principal Consultant at Monsanto, then Clean Air Engineering on regulatory law and compliance.That enabled Frank to force EPA to scrap 3 years of work on the Clean Air Act and rewrite the compliance section.Later, Frank was able to dissect the hidden contract provisions the healthcare insurance industry uses to deny care and coverage.Winning Business Radio is broadcast live Mondays at 4PM ET and Music on W4CY Radio (www.w4cy.com) part of Talk 4 Radio (www.talk4radio.com) on the Talk 4 Media Network (www.talk4media.com). Winning Business Radio is viewed on Talk 4 TV (www.talk4tv.com).Winning Business Radio Podcast is also available on Talk 4 Media (www.talk4media.com), Talk 4 Podcasting (www.talk4podcasting.com), iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, Audible, and over 100 other podcast outlets.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/winning-business-radio--3075598/support.
Earlier this week, the EPA rolled back some guidelines from the Clean Air Act that Arizona lawmakers from both sides of the aisle say were unfairly punishing efforts to keep emissions down. Nonprofits are bracing for higher demand for services on smaller budgets after tariffs and a rocky stock market close. A surge of demand of cannabis created an imminent need for a marijuana-specific trained workforce. Plus the latest tribal natural resources, health, Fronteras Desk and metro Phoenix news.
Administrative Law: Does the DC Circuit have exclusive jurisdiction over EPA decisions respecting state's implementation plans under the Clean Air Act? - Argued: Tue, 25 Mar 2025 8:38:43 EDT
Adminsitrative Law: Does the DC Circuit have exclusive jurisdiction over EPA decisions respecting exemptions from the Clean Air Act's Renewable Fuel Standard program? - Argued: Tue, 25 Mar 2025 8:35:58 EDT
The Supreme Court Tuesday heard arguments in a case about a procedural but important legal question: when the Environmental Protection Agency writes rules under the Clean Air Act and then a lawsuit is filed, where should that legal fight take place? POLITICO's Alex Guillén breaks down the case and how the high court's ruling could significantly impact future EPA regulations. Alex Guillén is an energy reporter for POLITICO Pro. Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy. Annie Rees is the managing producer for audio at POLITICO. Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for POLITICO. Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO. For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hosts: Erin Rider and Taylor Morgan Utah's involved in a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency over which courts can rule on disputes involving the Clean Air Act. Utah Attorney General Derek Brown and his team argued before the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday, saying that federal courts closer to the individual states should be able to rule on Clean Air Act disputes. Right now, those disputes go to a federal court in Washington, DC – something which some describe as giving a "home court advantage" to the EPA.
Hosts: Erin Rider and Taylor Morgan SCOTUS upholds Biden-era rules on ghost guns The United States Supreme Court has upheld another Biden-era rule. In a 7-2 decision, the Court upheld a lower court's ruling requiring background checks and other protective measures for ghost guns. As a result of the decision, ghost guns will continue to be treated the same as fully assembled firearms. The Inside Sources hosts break down the decision. The Atlantic releases all messages involved in “SignalGate” fiasco "SignalGate" isn't going away anytime soon. More Congressional hearings today as lawmakers try to figure out how the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic was included on an unsecured chat discussing military plans on the app Signal. The White House is blaming the whole fiasco on the journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg. Meanwhile National Security Advisor Mike Waltz says he takes full responsibility for the gaffe. Inside Sources digs into the latest, including a full release of all the messages in the chat. RFK Jr. Reportedly looking to ban pharmaceutical television ads Just turn on the TV for a bit, and you’re bound to see a drug advertisement that’s so common here in the United States. The U.S. and New Zealand are the only countries that allow drug companies to advertise directly to consumers, and it's a big business. But they could be going away... if Director of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gets his way. Inside Sources discusses this possibility. Utah A.G. taking part in lawsuit over the Clean Air Act Utah's involved in a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency over which courts can rule on disputes involving the Clean Air Act. Utah Attorney General Derek Brown and his team argued before the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday, saying that federal courts closer to the individual states should be able to rule on Clean Air Act disputes. Right now, those disputes go to a federal court in Washington, DC – something which some describe as giving a "home court advantage" to the EPA. Gov. Cox vetoes bill that would have changed the relationship between the judicial and the executive branches Governor Spencer Cox has vetoed his second bill of 2025. Senate Bill 296 would have changed how the Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court is chosen. Currently, the other justices on the State Supreme Court choose the Chief Justice. The bill -- which Cox vetoed yesterday -- would have given the selection power to the Governor himself, with confirmation from the State Senate. Erin Rider and Taylor Morgan discuss the Governor’s reasoning for vetoing the bill. Polling data released on Republicans in Utah New polling shows something most politicos in the state already know -- Republicans still dominate the political scene in Utah. But the data also shows that there are factions splitting the party... largely over President Donald Trump. Inside Sources host Taylor Morgan is a polling nerd; he breaks down the findings with co-host Erin Rider. Tensing relationships between Greenland and the U.S. Last weekend, the White House announced that Second Lady Usha Vance would head to Greenland. Now, Vice President JD Vance, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright have announced that they will go with her. It comes amid tense relations between the U.S., Greenland, and Denmark. Inside Sources discusses the latest on foreign policy. Washington, D.C. to become Washington, D.A.? Should Washington, DC become Washington, DA? Several Republican lawmakers have posited the idea of getting rid of the District of Columbia and replacing it with the District of America. Just yesterday, Colorado Representative Lauren Boebert warned other lawmakers to stop making fun of Trump's "Gulf of America,” saying that the "District of America" could be coming next.
A case in which the Court will decide whether challenges by small oil refineries seeking exemptions from the requirements of the Clean Air Act's Renewable Fuel Standard program should be heard exclusively in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit because the agency's denial actions are “nationally applicable” or “based on a determination of nationwide scope or effect.”
A case in which the Court will decide whether challenges by small oil refineries seeking exemptions from the requirements of the Clean Air Act's Renewable Fuel Standard program should be heard exclusively in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit because the agency's denial actions are “nationally applicable” or “based on a determination of nationwide scope or effect.”
Each month, a panel of constitutional experts convenes to discuss the Court’s upcoming docket sitting by sitting. The cases covered in this preview are listed below.Louisiana v. Callais (March 24) - Election law, Civil Rights; Issue(s): (1) Whether the majority of the three-judge district court in this case erred in finding that race predominated in the Louisiana legislature’s enactment of S.B. 8; (2) whether the majority erred in finding that S.B. 8 fails strict scrutiny; (3) whether the majority erred in subjecting S.B. 8 to the preconditions specified in Thornburg v. Gingles; and (4) whether this action is non-justiciable.Riley v. Bondi (March 24) - Immigration; Issue(s): (1) Whether 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(1)'s 30-day deadline is jurisdictional, or merely a mandatory claims-processing rule that can be waived or forfeited; and (2) whether a person can obtain review of the Board of Immigration Appeals' decision in a withholding-only proceeding by filing a petition within 30 days of that decision.Environmental Protection Agency v. Calumet Shreveport Refining (March 25) - Jurisdiction, Federalism & Separation of Powers; Issue(s): Whether venue for challenges by small oil refineries seeking exemptions from the requirements of the Clean Air Act’s Renewable Fuel Standard program lies exclusively in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit because the agency’s denial actions are “nationally applicable” or, alternatively, are “based on a determination of nationwide scope or effect.”Oklahoma v. Environmental Protection Agency (March 25) - Jurisdiction, Federalism & Separation of Powers; Issue(s): Whether a final action by the Environmental Protection Agency taken pursuant to its Clean Air Act authority with respect to a single state or region may be challenged only in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit because the agency published the action in the same Federal Register notice as actions affecting other states or regions and claimed to use a consistent analysis for all states.Federal Communications Commission v. Consumers’ Research (March 26) - Federalism & Separation of Powers; Issue(s): (1) Whether Congress violated the nondelegation doctrine by authorizing the Federal Communications Commission to determine, within the limits set forth in 47 U.S.C. § 254, the amount that providers must contribute to the Universal Service Fund; (2) whether the FCC violated the nondelegation doctrine by using the financial projections of the private company appointed as the fund's administrator in computing universal service contribution rates; (3) whether the combination of Congress’s conferral of authority on the FCC and the FCC’s delegation of administrative responsibilities to the administrator violates the nondelegation doctrine; and (4) whether this case is moot in light of the challengers' failure to seek preliminary relief before the 5th Circuit.Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin Labor & Industry Review Commission (March 31) - First Amendment, Religion; Issue(s): Whether a state violates the First Amendment’s religion clauses by denying a religious organization an otherwise-available tax exemption because the organization does not meet the state’s criteria for religious behavior.Rivers v. Guerrero (March 31) - Criminal Law & Procedure; Issue(s): Whether 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(2) applies only to habeas filings made after a prisoner has exhausted appellate review of his first petition, to all second-in-time habeas filings after final judgment, or to some second-in-time filings — depending on a prisoner’s success on appeal or ability to satisfy a seven-factor test.Fuld v. Palestine Liberation Organization (April 1) - Due Process, Fifth Amendment; Issue(s): Whether the Promoting Security and Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act violates the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment.Kerr v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic (April 2) - Medicare; Issue(s): Whether the Medicaid Act’s any-qualified-provider provision unambiguously confers a private right upon a Medicaid beneficiary to choose a specific provider. Featuring:Allison Daniel, Attorney, Pacific Legal FoundationErielle Davidson, Associate, Holtzman VogelJennifer B. Dickey, Deputy Chief Counsel, U.S. Chamber Litigation Center, U.S. Chamber of CommerceElizabeth A. Kiernan, Associate Attorney, Gibson, Dunn & CrutcherMorgan Ratner, Partner, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP(Moderator) Sarah Welch, Issues & Appeals Associate, Jones Day
Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found Click On Picture To See Larger Picture The new PM of Canada is going to try to attack Trumps Tariffs with a carbon tax, this is going to fail big time. Trump shutsdown more of the climate hoax. Trump is now countering the recession narrative. Tariffs when implemented will counter the [CB] inflation. Trump with all of his EO is now forcing the shadow government out into the open. The light is now shining on them and the people can see who they are. This will get worse for the [DS]. The D's are trying to defend the criminal activity and the message is backwards. The [DS] is losing the information war. Trump has moved the Declaration of Independence into the Oval office. Liberation day starts on April 2. (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:13499335648425062,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-7164-1323"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="//cdn2.customads.co/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); Economy D'oh Canada – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney Promises Industrial Carbon Taxes Will Stimulate Canadian Economic Sovereignty Mark Carney getting elected to run Canada would be the greatest benefit to MAGAnomics in the United States. The insufferable doofus is completely enthralled with the views, perspectives and ideologies of globalism. Prime Minister Carney outlined yesterday how he will increase the industrial carbon tax in order to align with U.K and EU trade partners on the issue of climate change. Taxing carbon, he says, is the key to unlocking excellent trade agreements with other ‘global trade partners' who can then fill the void created by disconnecting Canada from the USA economy. No, really, he said that. Carney believes it with all his heart. These economic comments come on the heels of Mark Carney telling French President Emmanuel Macron –in public– that Canada was the most European of countries outside the EU. WATCH THIS (prompted): Mark Carney's plan. As stated in his tariff policy, the prime minister will take income from the Canadian side of the tariff equation (countervailing duties) to subsidize the impacted export sector. Just like China and the EU did in '17, '18 and '19, the Canadian government plans to offset the difference to the U.S. consumer by subsidizing the exporter with import tariff income. All of this is done to retain access to USA consumers. The final outcome, the U.S. purchaser is back to the original price of $70, only now that same outcome is evident with an invisible $50 tariff. This is what China tried to do. This is what the EU tried to do. This is what Canada is now planning to do to retain access to the U.S. market while they look for alternatives. Source: theconservativetreehouse.com Trump EPA Pulls Massive Offshore Wind Boondoggle Permit Environmental Appeals Court Judge Mary Kay Lynch remanded a Clean Air Act permit back to the U.S. EPA, which was issued last September to Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind. The move closely follows President Donald Trump's Jan. 20 memo calling for a review of the federal government's “leasing and permitting practices for wind projects” and a temporary withdrawal of all areas on the outer continental shelf from offshore wind leasing. Source: dailycaller.com https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/1901786628995367222 -6% in 6 months -10% within 12 months. The maximum average drawdown in a downturn scenario has been 15% within 8 months. By comparison, the S&P 500 has rallied +10% within 6 months and +15% within a year on average if a recession was avoided. The Fed has a tough job ahead. https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/1902021769516503211 https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1901994037982220342
As much as liberals want to embarrass conservatives for questioning the "Clean Air Act" or the "Civil Rights Act," it might be time to ask liberals and the media why they are so opposed to Donald Trump and Elon Musk working on the goal of "Government Efficiency."
Congress often passes major legislation setting out broad principles, and then lets the federal agencies sort out the details. But what should an agency do if Congress's instructions are ambiguous or silent? That was the question facing the Supreme Court 40 years ago, when the Reagan administration's Environmental Protection Agency adopted a business-friendly interpretation of key provisions of the Clean Air Act. After the Natural Resources Defense Council sued, the Supreme Court set out a principle that would define the extent of agency power for decades – until last year, when Loper Bright upended the way courts evaluate agency actions. This season on Uncommon Law, we'll explore the rise and fall of agency power, and what that could mean for the future of regulation in America. Plus: Will President Trump and his advisor Elon Musk be able to use the new legal landscape to eliminate the regulations they find too burdensome? Featuring: David Doniger, Senior Attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council Jennifer Hijazi, environment reporter for Bloomberg Industry Group
This Day in Legal History: Nuclear Non-Proliferation TreatyOn March 5, 1970, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) officially took effect, marking a major milestone in global efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. The treaty, first opened for signatures in 1968, was ratified by 43 nations and established a framework based on three core principles: non-proliferation, disarmament, and the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Under its terms, nuclear-armed states agreed not to transfer nuclear weapons or technology to non-nuclear states, while non-nuclear countries pledged not to pursue nuclear weapons. In return, signatories were guaranteed access to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, such as power generation and medical research. The treaty also called for eventual nuclear disarmament, though progress on this front has been slow and uneven. The NPT has since become one of the most widely adhered-to arms control agreements, with 191 countries now party to it. However, key states like India, Pakistan, and Israel never joined, while North Korea withdrew in 2003. The treaty's effectiveness has been challenged by nuclear programs in states like Iran and North Korea, as well as concerns over compliance by nuclear-armed signatories. Despite these challenges, the NPT is reviewed every five years at Review Conferences, where nations assess progress and negotiate future commitments. The treaty remains central to international non-proliferation efforts, balancing national security interests with the goal of reducing nuclear threats worldwide.In his primetime address to Congress, President Donald Trump defended his aggressive tariff policies, claiming they would generate significant revenue and restore economic balance. He downplayed concerns over rising consumer prices, characterizing them as a temporary inconvenience. While Trump briefly addressed inflation, blaming high costs on his predecessor, he provided few concrete solutions. Instead, he focused on politically charged topics like immigration and cultural issues, declaring an end to "wokeness." His speech coincided with growing economic concerns, including stagnating factory activity and declining consumer confidence, while markets reacted negatively to escalating trade tensions. New tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China sparked fears of inflation and economic slowdown, though his administration suggested potential relief for North American allies. Trump also called for the repeal of the Chips Act, arguing tariffs were more effective in boosting domestic industry. He promoted energy independence but proposed long-term projects unlikely to have an immediate impact. Meanwhile, his executive actions have rapidly reshaped government policies, sparking bipartisan concerns. The speech underscored Trump's efforts to push his economic agenda while navigating political and economic challenges.Trump Hails Tariffs as US Economy Barrels Into Trade WarsThe U.S. Tax Court ruled that a $3.1 million grant given to a Cantor Fitzgerald subsidiary after the Sept. 11 attacks is taxable income. The grant, provided in 2007 through New York City's World Trade Center Job Creation and Retention Program, was meant to help businesses recover, but the court determined it did not qualify as a tax-exempt gift or disaster aid. Despite this, the court waived $211,000 in penalties, acknowledging the complexity of tax laws at the time. Cantor Fitzgerald, which lost 658 employees in the World Trade Center attacks, had argued the funds should not be considered taxable, citing past Supreme Court rulings. However, Judge Kathleen M. Kerrigan found that the payments were not an act of disinterested generosity but an effort to stimulate economic recovery. The IRS had initially determined in 2007 that the company owed about $1.1 million in taxes for not reporting the grant on its tax returns. While Cantor Fitzgerald contested the classification, the court upheld the IRS's position, reinforcing that government aid programs do not automatically qualify for tax exemption.Cantor Fitzgerald's Sept. 11 Relief Grant Deemed Taxable IncomeFederal judges are facing an increase in threats as Elon Musk and Trump allies intensify their attacks on the judiciary over rulings that hinder White House policies. The U.S. Marshals Service has warned judges about heightened security risks, especially as Musk has repeatedly criticized judges on his social media platform, calling them “corrupt” and “evil.” Some judges have received anonymous deliveries, like pizzas, in what authorities see as intimidation tactics. Musk's posts, along with calls from Republican lawmakers to impeach certain judges, have coincided with a rise in violent threats, particularly against judges who have blocked parts of the administration's plans to cut government jobs and aid programs. One judge, Amir Ali, received death threats after ruling against a Trump executive order, with online users calling for his execution. The American Bar Association and the Federal Judges Association have condemned these attacks, warning that continued intimidation could undermine judicial independence. Since 2020, threats against federal judges have more than doubled, and legal experts caution that targeting judges for their rulings could destabilize the rule of law.Exclusive: Judges face rise in threats as Musk blasts them over rulings | ReutersTwo Trump EPA nominees are facing Senate scrutiny over the agency's possible plan to roll back the 2009 “endangerment finding,” which forms the legal basis for regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. The nominees, Aaron Szabo and David Fotouhi, would oversee efforts to reverse this finding, which has supported climate regulations on power plants and vehicle emissions. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has recommended reconsidering the finding to the White House, though details remain undisclosed. While the Supreme Court's 2007 ruling in Massachusetts v. EPA confirmed greenhouse gases as air pollutants, the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act further solidified the EPA's authority. However, the EPA under Trump previously avoided overturning the rule due to industry resistance. Some industry groups, like the Edison Electric Institute, have expressed reliance on EPA authority for emissions regulation, while automakers have yet to take a position. Zeldin acknowledged the EPA's authority to regulate greenhouse gases but suggested it is not obligated to do so, fueling debate over the agency's future climate policies.Top EPA nominees face Senate scrutiny over plan to undo key climate finding | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe
As I delved into the intricacies of Project 2025, I found myself navigating a complex web of policy proposals, ideological convictions, and far-reaching implications for American governance. This initiative, spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation and involving over 100 conservative groups, is more than just a policy guide; it is a blueprint for a radical transformation of the federal government.At its core, Project 2025 is a 900-plus page "Mandate for Leadership" authored by former Trump administration officials and other conservative stalwarts. The project is built around four pillars: a policy guide for the next presidential administration, a database of potential personnel, training for these candidates, and a playbook of actions to be taken within the first 180 days in office[4].One of the most striking aspects of Project 2025 is its vision for the redistribution of power within the federal government. The project advocates for a significant expansion of presidential powers, aiming to place the entire executive branch under direct presidential control. This includes eliminating the independence of agencies such as the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). According to Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, all federal employees should answer directly to the president, reflecting a unitary executive theory that centralizes greater control in the White House[2].This centralization of power is not limited to administrative restructuring. Project 2025 also proposes sweeping reforms in various federal agencies. For instance, the Department of Education is slated for dismantling, a move that would gut federal education funding and deny critical resources to vulnerable students. The National Education Association has warned that such changes would devastate public education, sanctioning discrimination against LGBTQ+ students and undermining the very fabric of the education system[3].In the realm of disaster response, Project 2025 suggests a drastic shift in the role of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The proposal recommends reforming FEMA emergency spending to shift the majority of preparedness and response costs to states and localities, rather than the federal government. This aligns with Trump's recent actions, where he established a review council to advise on FEMA's capabilities and suggested that states should take over disaster response management. The project's authors argue that FEMA is "overtasked" and "overcompensates for the lack of state and local preparedness," leading to deep debt and an unsustainable model[1].The project's stance on law enforcement is equally contentious. It calls for a thorough reform of the DOJ, criticizing it as a "bloated bureaucracy" infatuated with a "radical liberal agenda." The proposal suggests that the DOJ should combat "affirmative discrimination" or "anti-white racism," and that the Civil Rights Division should prosecute state and local governments, institutions of higher education, and private employers with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. This vision is starkly at odds with traditional civil rights protections and reflects a broader agenda to reverse decades of progress in civil rights[2].Project 2025's economic policies are no less radical. The plan includes proposals to cut overtime protections for over 4 million workers, stop efforts to lower prescription drug prices, and limit access to food assistance for millions of Americans. It also aims to eliminate funding for key public transportation projects, such as the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program, which has been crucial for awarding federal grants to local communities for infrastructure projects. These changes would make it significantly harder for Americans without cars to commute to work or travel around their communities[5].The environmental implications of Project 2025 are equally alarming. The plan seeks to undermine critical climate action by attacking the EPA's "Endangerment Finding," a cornerstone of federal efforts to curb emissions under the Clean Air Act. By 'updating' this finding, Project 2025 would make it harder for the EPA to take action against climate change, effectively rolling back hard-fought gains in environmental protection[5].Despite Trump's public disavowal of Project 2025, the initiative's architects and supporters have been nominated to key positions in his administration. This close alignment between Trump's policies and Project 2025's proposals has led critics to argue that the project is, in essence, a roadmap for Trump's second term. As CBS News noted, nearly two-thirds of Trump's executive actions in his second term mirror or partially mirror proposals from Project 2025[4].The broader themes of Project 2025—centralization of power, dismantling of social safety nets, and a radical shift in federal policies—paint a picture of an initiative that is both ambitious and deeply divisive. As the American public becomes more aware of these proposals, opposition grows, reflecting a deep-seated concern about the direction in which this project could steer the country.Looking forward, the implementation of Project 2025's policies will likely be a contentious and highly politicized process. With the project's architects now in key positions within the administration, the next few months will be crucial in determining how many of these proposals become reality. As the nation navigates this complex landscape, one thing is clear: Project 2025 represents a profound shift in American governance, one that could have far-reaching and lasting impacts on the lives of millions of Americans.
There's been a lot of talk about Executive Orders making deletes ok to buy, sell, and install. Lawyer Stewart Cables answers the question if the President can get rid of the Clean Air Act, EPA, and make deletes ok. We also ask why military vehicles come without emissions! Stewart D. Cables is a founding partner of Hassan + Cables. Stewart specializes in general business representation and a variety of trial work. Stewart's practice areas include complex civil litigation, employment law, criminal and DUI defense, transactional work for corporations and LLCs, and counsel for non-profit entities. Stewart Cables E: stewart@hassancables.com P: 303-625-1025 ext.2 https://www.hassancables.com/stewart-d-cables Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Summary The meeting featured Frank Lobb, a former Navy pilot, discussing healthcare insurance contracts and their impact on medical care. Lobb shared his personal experience of losing his wife after being denied healthcare coverage, despite offering to pay out of pocket. He explained how his investigation through legal proceedings revealed that healthcare insurance contracts are secret, state-approved documents that effectively allow insurance companies to ration healthcare. Lobb discovered that these contracts, standardized around 1990, contain provisions that prevent patients from paying for care when insurance denies coverage. He emphasized how the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's recent involvement has shifted the burden of proof for billing accuracy to healthcare providers. The discussion highlighted how the current system disadvantages both patients and healthcare providers, with Lobb suggesting that medical organizations like the AMA should push for contract reform. Chapters Introduction to Frank Lobb and His Healthcare Experience Frank Lobb introduced himself as a former Navy pilot who became involved in healthcare contract analysis after personal tragedy. He shared his experience with DuPont's Clean Air Act negotiations, demonstrating his ability to analyze complex legal situations despite not being an attorney. Personal Tragedy and Legal Investigation Lobb described how his wife's illness led to his investigation of healthcare contracts. Despite offering to pay, multiple hospitals denied care after his insurance company's denial. Through legal proceedings, he gained rare access to typically secret insurance contracts. Evolution of Healthcare Insurance System Lobb explained how healthcare insurance evolved from a simple fee-for-service model in 1929-1930 to the current complex system. He highlighted the Supreme Court's 1990 ruling that confirmed insurance companies' right to ration healthcare. Contract Structure and Patient Rights Lobb revealed that unlike other insurance types, health insurance operates on a single contract system. He emphasized that patients don't actually have contracts with their insurance companies, only providers do. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Impact Lobb discussed how the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's involvement has shifted the burden of proof for billing accuracy to healthcare providers, potentially creating leverage for system reform.
Landlord-tenant law governs the relationship between property owners and renters, with tenancies like tenancy for years, periodic tenancy, tenancy at will, and tenancy at sufferance. Landlord obligations include the implied warranty of habitability, covenant of quiet enjoyment, and prompt response to repairs, while tenant obligations include paying rent, maintaining the property, and avoiding illegal activities. Disputes often arise, and many jurisdictions provide additional protections for tenants. Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind and includes patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets. IP rights can be transferred or licensed, and enforcement often involves litigation. Emerging issues include AI's role in creation, globalization, digital rights management, and biotechnology patents. Environmental and natural resource law addresses the use and preservation of natural resources through regulatory frameworks like NEPA, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act. Natural resource management governs resource extraction, and policy debates focus on climate change, land use, and sustainable development. Property law evolves in response to societal changes, and key policy considerations include access to affordable housing, equity in property ownership, and technological innovations. Proposed reforms aim to expand tenant protections, encourage sustainable development, and strengthen anti-displacement policies.This lecture covers advanced property law topics, including mortgages and financing, landlord-tenant law, intellectual property, environmental and natural resource law, and policy considerations. Mortgages are legal agreements where borrowers pledge real property as security for loans. They include a promissory note and mortgage instrument and come in types like fixed-rate, adjustable-rate, and interest-only. Foreclosure occurs when a borrower defaults. Landlord-tenant law governs the relationship between property owners and renters, with different types of tenancies and obligations for both landlords and tenants. Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind and includes patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets. IP rights can be transferred or licensed. Environmental and natural resource law addresses the use and preservation of natural resources through regulatory frameworks and natural resource management. Property law evolves in response to societal changes, and key policy considerations include access to affordable housing, equity in property ownership, and technological innovations.
This lecture explores advanced topics in property law. Mortgages are legal agreements where borrowers pledge real property as security for loans. They include a promissory note and mortgage instrument, and come in types like fixed-rate, adjustable-rate, and interest-only. Foreclosure occurs when a borrower defaults, and key considerations include lien priority, deficiency judgments, and redemption rights Landlord-tenant law governs the relationship between property owners and renters, with tenancies like tenancy for years, periodic tenancy, tenancy at will, and tenancy at sufferance. Landlord obligations include the implied warranty of habitability, covenant of quiet enjoyment, and prompt response to repairs, while tenant obligations include paying rent, maintaining the property, and avoiding illegal activities. Disputes often arise, and many jurisdictions provide additional protections for tenants. Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind and includes patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets. IP rights can be transferred or licensed, and enforcement often involves litigation. Emerging issues include AI's role in creation, globalization, digital rights management, and biotechnology patents. Environmental and natural resource law addresses the use and preservation of natural resources through regulatory frameworks like NEPA, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act. Natural resource management governs resource extraction, and policy debates focus on climate change, land use, and sustainable development. Property law evolves in response to societal changes, and key policy considerations include access to affordable housing, equity in property ownership, and technological innovations. Proposed reforms aim to expand tenant protections, encourage sustainable development, and strengthen anti-displacement policies.
Host Dr. Davide Soldato and his guests Dr. Ann Wu and Dr. Alexa White discuss the article "Air Pollution and Breast Cancer Incidence in the Multiethnic Cohort Study" and the editorial "Growing Evidence for the Role of Air Pollution in Breast Cancer Development" TRANSCRIPT The guests on this podcast episode have no disclosures to declare. Dr. Davide Soldato: Hello and welcome to JCO After Hours, the podcast where we sit down with authors from some of the latest articles published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. I am your host, Dr. Davide Soldato, Medical Oncologist at Ospedale San Martino in Genoa, Italy. Today, we are joined by JCO authors Dr. Anna Wu and Dr. Alexander White. Dr. Wu is a professor of Population and Public Health Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of UCS, while Dr. White is an investigator in the Epidemiology branch of the Environment and Cancer Epidemiology Group at the National Institute of Health. Today, we will be discussing the article titled, “Air Pollution and Breast Cancer Incidence in the Multiethnic Cohort Study,” and the accompanying editorial. So, thank you for speaking with us, Dr. Wu, Dr. White. Dr. Anna Wu: Thank you for having us. Dr. Alexandra White: Yes, thank you so much for the invitation to be here. Dr. Davide Soldato: So before going in depth about the results of the study that was published in the JCO, I was wondering if you could give us like a brief introduction and a little bit of background about what was known about air pollution as a risk factor for breast cancer and what was the evidence before this study was conducted. Dr. Alexandra White: Okay. I can start with that question. So, there's been research for decades looking at the relationship between air pollution and breast cancer. And it's been a really challenging question to address for a number of reasons. One being that it can be really difficult to assess exposure to air pollution and many previous studies have had really limited information on people's residences over time. But in general, what we thought leading up to this study was that evidence was most consistent that exposure to traffic related pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide was more consistently related to a higher risk of breast cancer. The evidence for fine particulate matter or PM2.5 was less consistent. More recently, there have been a few large, well conducted studies that have supported a positive association. This new study in the multiethnic cohort led by Dr. Wu is really important because it really demonstrated that, in this large study of over 50,000 women in California, that they also do see an association with PM2.5. Dr. Davide Soldato: Thank you very much for the introduction. So, Dr. Wu, we just want to hear a little bit more about the results. So, what was the association that was observed for PM2.5? And specifically, the study that you ran was focused on a very diverse population, a multiethnic cohort, and so I was wondering if you observed any type of differences when you consider the different populations that were included in your study. And if you could also give us a little bit of what was the composition of the women that were enrolled in this cohort. Dr. Anna Wu: Thank you for the question. So, the multiethnic cohort study is a cohort of over 200,000 individuals who were enrolled when they lived in Hawaii or California. For the air pollution studies that we've been conducting, we have focused on primarily the California participants. And in this instance for the breast cancer study, it was based on roughly 56,000 individuals out of- there were about 100,000 because half of them were men and they were not included. Of the California participants, 75% of them were African Americans or Latinos and they were self-identified as these racial ethnic groups when they enrolled in the study. And this was a particularly important consideration for us because in most of the studies that have been published so far on-air pollution and breast cancer, as well as other cancer sites, most of those studies were conducted among whites in the US or whites in Europe. And even if they included non-white populations, the numbers tend to be small so that they were not able to conduct racial ethnic specific analysis. So, we were particularly interested in examining these other racial ethnic groups because we know from other studies that racial ethnic minority groups tend to live in communities of low socioeconomic status and those communities also tend to have higher levels of various types of environmental pollutants. And so, it was important for us to actually try to tease apart these various interrelated factors. So, what we found was that per 10 micrograms per cubic meter, we had a 28% increased risk overall in all participants combined that meet across the racial ethnic groups. We actually did not see any differences or significant differences in the hazard ratios by race ethnicity and they were in general quite compatible with each other. But we did see a stronger finding among the white participants in our study. Dr. Davide Soldato: Thank you, a lot, Dr. Wu. So, I think it's very interesting the fact that in the end you observed that air pollution is a significant risk factor across all the ethnicities that were included in the study. But I think that one very strong point of the manuscript and one very strong point of the analysis was that in the end you also corrected for a series of different factors because we know that the incidence of breast cancer can be modified, for example, by familial history or BMI or smoking habits or also alcohol consumption. And a lot of these risk factors were included in your analysis. And so, I was wondering if you could tell us a little bit whether you observed any significant differences when you observed or included also these risk factors in your analysis, or whether the association for air pollution as a risk factor stands even when we consider all of these other elements. Dr. Anna Wu: Yes. So, we considered all the well-established breast cancer risk factors. And in this situation, we were particularly interested in considering smoking, alcohol intake, use of menopausal hormones, history of diabetes, body mass index, family history, as well as physical activity, because many of these risk factors, such as, for example, diabetes and body mass index, they are risk factors for breast cancer, and air pollution, have also been found to increase risk of these factors. So, in our analysis, we first adjusted for all of these potential confounders in a mutually adjusted manner, so all of them were considered. In addition, we also conducted stratify analysis. So as an example, we stratified the analysis to examine whether the hazard ratio associated with PM2.5 provided comparable risk estimate or hazard ratio estimates for never smokers, former smokers, and current smokers. Although we did not see significant heterogeneity by these various subgroups, we did see a significantly stronger effect of PM2.5 among individuals who did not have a family history of breast cancer. Interestingly, our finding was also stronger among individuals who were never smokers and light alcohol drinkers, even though the results were not significantly different. So, we surmised that maybe individuals who already had a high risk because of other established risk factors for breast cancer, we were less likely to be able to observe the effect of air pollution. But it's important to note that other studies, such as the ones that Dr. White has conducted, have also looked at various subgroups, and I think part of the limitation that all of us have is that once you subdivide the study population, even if you start out with a large sample size, often the sample size gets cut in half or a third. And so, we still lack the statistical power to be able to observe significant differences. But I think it is important to note that, in fact, the hazard ratio estimates are actually quite comparable, but we did see a hint of stronger effects among never smokers, and people who were light alcohol drinkers. So, I think this is an area that we certainly need to continue to investigate since there are other subgroups, such as menopausal status, such as hormone receptor status of breast cancer, that we need to consider in future studies. There's still a lot of work we need to do to sort this out, to actually figure out who are the women who are the most susceptible to the exposures. Dr. Davide Soldato: Dr. White, I would really love a comment from you on this specific area and specifically on what still needs to be done. And related to this, a question actually, for both of you, because I think that from a methodological point of view, there is a lot of work that goes into deciding how we are going to assess the exposure to air pollution. So which type of data are we going to use? Which type of data are we currently using in the epidemiological studies that have been conducted and in the one that we are discussing right now in JCO? And what are the caveats for this data that we are using? Meaning, I think that we use mostly residential addresses, which means that we are looking at the exposure where people actually live, which might not be the place where they spend most of their time. For example, if someone is working, maybe they could be more exposed and have higher exposure when they are at work compared to when they are at home. So, I was wondering if you could give us a little bit of an overview as to what is the methodological standard of care right now in terms of this analysis and what can we do better to refine and understand this specific factor as Dr. Wu was mentioning? Dr. Alexandra White: Yeah, so I'm happy to take a first stab at that question. So, I think it's important to note just how far we've come. I think even a few years ago, air pollution was really not considered a risk factor for breast cancer. And a lot of the work that we've been doing and others have really moved this forward in terms of understanding this as a risk factor. And as I mentioned earlier, there have been a lot of challenges in exposure assessment. And to get to your question, I think that our studies in general are doing better at looking at exposure over more years, residences, more time. We know that cancer takes time to develop, and we can't rely on just a single snapshot of exposure. But as you mentioned, almost all of the studies published have really exclusively focused on residential estimates of exposure. And so, there's a real need to understand the exposures that people are experiencing in other aspects of their life, from their commute to their jobs, to really capture that totality of exposure. And then I think one of the points that Dr. Wu was alluding to as well as we know that breast cancer is a very heterogeneous disease, so risk factors for breast cancer vary by tumor subtypes, by menopausal status at diagnosis. And a lot of studies have really focused on considering breast cancer as a combined outcome, and that might be missing some really important signals where we might have a stronger effect for certain subtypes due to the fact that there's different biologic pathways that are underlying these subtypes or by menopausal status. And so having large study populations where, as we discussed earlier, would really give us the power to look among these smaller groups of women who might be more susceptible and those with younger women, we know that incidence of cancer is rising in young people, and we need to understand the risk factors for that. And most of our studies are really focused on older individuals, so I think that's one important gap, as well as having the power to really look at different differences by tumor subtypes. Dr. Davide Soldato: I think it's very interesting, and I think one point both of you made in the original article and in the accompanying editorial is also the fact that we tend to look at these risk factors in people who are actually aged, while we maybe should be looking at this in an earlier phase of development and potentially during puberty. Do you think that we should design studies that are more focused on this population even though I think that they will take a lot of time to produce significant results? Dr. Alexandra White: Yeah. I think that it is really important to consider how exposure during early life is related to breast cancer risk. We know that exposures during pregnancy or even as early as during puberty might be particularly relevant for breast cancer. And I think a lot of our studies have really been up against the challenge of the fact that exposure monitoring for air pollution really didn't start until the 1990s. And so, it's challenging, especially for these older cohorts, to get back at that time period that might be relevant. But I think that's something that definitely newer cohorts are going to be able to address, and I think it's going to be really important, and also will give us some clues to better understand the important windows of exposure, but also that might provide clues for the biologic pathways as well that are relevant. Dr. Davide Soldato: And just a related question, because I'm not aware of this, but are there right now cohorts that are specifically looking at this in the US or in other parts of the world? If you are aware of that, of course. Dr. Alexandra White: There have been some cohorts that have focused on exposure during these hypothesized windows of susceptibility, but I don't think they've been able to follow those women long enough to develop breast cancer. One of the things that we're working on in the sister study is trying to expand our assessment of air pollution exposure back in time to try to get at these earlier windows of exposure. So, I'm hoping that it's something we'll be able to comment on and at least for some of the women in our cohort who are younger. But I don't know, Dr. Wu, if you're familiar with any other populations that are doing this now? Dr. Anna Wu: Well, NCI funded several new cohorts in the last couple years that are really focused on trying to get a much more refined exposure assessment. So, I know colleagues at University of Michigan that are peers and also Dr. Wei Zheng at Vanderbilt, they are putting together newer cohorts that are younger and also trying to include a range of exposure, not just air pollution, but really environmental exposures. Those cohorts I think have the potential in the future to try to address some of these questions, but again, it will take at least another number of years before there are a sufficient number of endpoints so that they can actually do these types of studies. Another possibility is that there are a number of big cohort studies in Asia. The age of diagnosis tends to be earlier in Asia. I know that investigators in China are very interested and concerned with the air pollution effects in China. I think there are potentials that in other countries where the age of breast cancer diagnosis is actually younger than in the US and if they establish in a manner that allows them to assess air pollution that they may have opportunities. And I think the other way to try to address this question, whether there are studies where you can actually tap into either biomarkers or pathology samples so you won't be actually studying air pollution in a large population, but you're actually narrowing it down to try to see if you see any signals in a way that would give you some additional clues and insights as to the mechanism. So I think we're going to have to piece together various types of study to try to answer the questions because one type of study like these observational air pollution studies, will allow us to address one slice of the questions that we have and then we need to put together other studies so that we can address other aspects that we're interested in to put it together. Dr. Davide Soldato: Thank you very much both of you. That was very interesting. Coming back to the results of the manuscript, we really focused up until now on PM2.5. But it's true that inside of the study you evaluated different pollutants. So, I was wondering whether you saw a similar association for other pollutants that were included in the study or whether the association for higher risk was observed only for PM2.5. Dr. Anna Wu: The results for NO2, NOx, PM10, and carbon monoxide were actually very compatible with the risk estimates that other studies have published as well as from the meta-analysis. So, I would say that our results from the other pollutants are actually very consistent with other results. I think one difference is that our PM2.5 estimates were based on the satellite-based PM2.5 estimates, whereas all the other pollutants were based on monitoring station estimates from EPA sponsored air monitoring stations. So, they are not measured in the same way. And I think different studies over time have used either monitoring station type measures for other pollutants. And I think we were particularly interested in PM2.5 because the measurement of PM2.5 in the monitoring world didn't start until around 2000. So, studies up until that time were less able to actually provide the assessment of PM2.5 as good as we can for air pollution. There's always misclassification. So, I think it's a matter of how much misclassification in the assessment. But, again, we are really limited in really just having exposure over one part of adult life. Dr. Davide Soldato: Thank you very much. And one potentially related question. We are speaking in general about air pollution, but I think that since we are considering residential addresses, probably we are capturing more either traffic pollution or pollution that comes from probably industries or stuff like that, which is mostly related to residential areas or the place where people live. But I think that in the end we also think about air pollution as something that can come from different forms. And one very interesting point, Dr. White, that you made in your editorial is also that there is a global change also in the way we are faced with air pollution. For example, you made the example of wildfires in your editorial and how this might potentially change exposure to air pollution, maybe for limited times, but with concentrations that are fairly higher compared to what we generally observed. So, I was wondering if you could comment a little bit on that and also, if there is potentially a way to also consider this in future epidemiological studies. Dr. Alexandra White: Yeah, so when we talk about exposure to fine particulate matter, PM2.5, we're assessing exposure to particles that are based on the size of the particle, and we're really not evaluating the types of particles that people are experiencing exposure to. And we know that, in general, that PM2.5 composition really varies geographically due to differing sources of exposure. So, like you were saying, there might be a stronger contribution to industry or from agriculture or from traffic. And so that could really change the PM2.5 exposure profile that individuals experience. And so it could be that this is another really important area that this research needs to consider, which could really help us identify what sources of exposure are most relevant. Wildfires are a really important growing concern. We know that wildfires are increasing in both intensity and duration and frequency, and we really don't understand the long-term health impacts of wildfires. But we know that wildfire associated PM2.5 might be one of the most dominant contributors to PM2.5 moving forward. And although we've seen historic declines in PM2.5 in the US after the Clean Air Act, those declines have really stalled. PM2.5 itself is projected to increase over the next few decades, so understanding different PM2.5 composition profiles and the sources that drive them can really help us identify the most important targets for any potential interventions. And wildfire PM2.5 in particular may be of concern because it's a combustion byproduct, and so it's thought to have more of the components that might, we hypothesize, are most relevant for breast cancer, such as PAHs or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or metals. And so, these components are thought to act as endocrine disruptors, which may be particularly relevant for breast cancer. So, I think understanding this changing landscape of PM2.5 moving forward is going to be really important in understanding how PM2.5 contributes to cancers beyond just breast, but as well as other female hormone driven cancers and all of the cancers really. Dr. Davide Soldato: Thank you very much. So, one closing remark, because I think that in general, we have been really in a field of primary prevention for breast cancer where we were focusing on individual behaviors, for example, smoking cessation, reduction in alcohol intake, reduction of BMI, increase of physical activity. But I think that the evidence that is accumulating in the last three years or so is telling us more and more that we also need to shift the perspective on prevention going not only on individuals, but also as including environmental risk. So, I was wondering, how can we include this new evidence in the policies that we implement and how policymakers should act on the data that we have available right now? Dr. Anna Wu: I think it's really important that this new information is communicated to all the stakeholders, including our policymakers, so that they are, first of all, really aware that any changes and not actually adhering to current guidelines can have long lasting consequences, deleterious consequences. And I think it's important to also note that over 90% of the world actually live in areas where PM2.5 exceeds the limit. We have observed increases in breast cancer in many middle- and low-income countries, so I think it's particularly important to emphasize that this is really not just a western country issue, it is really a global issue. Dr. Alexandra White: I agree. And I would just add to that that air pollution is not something that an individual can really change on their own. There are things you can do, you can monitor air quality, you can try to live in a home that's far away from traffic. But really these are large scale problems that really require large scale solutions. And we know that policy changes can be effective here and that this is something that, in my opinion, is not something that we leave to the individual to change. This is something that we as a society should encourage change for the health of everyone. Dr. Davide Soldato: So, thank you very much again, Dr. Wu, Dr. White, for joining us today on the podcast. Dr. Anna Wu: Thank you. Dr. Alexandra White: Thank you so much for having us. Dr. Davide Soldato: So we appreciate you sharing more on your JCO article and accompanying editorial titled, “Air Pollution and Breast Cancer Incidents in the Multiethnic Cohort Study.” If you enjoy our show, please leave us a rating and review and be sure to come back for another episode. You can find all ASCO shows at asco.org/podcasts. The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. This is not a substitute for professional medical care and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions. Guests on this podcast express their own opinions, experience and conclusions. Guest statements on the podcast do not express the opinions of ASCO. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity or therapy should not be construed as an ASCO endorsement.
This Day in Legal History: First Year with No LynchingsOn December 30, 1952, the Tuskegee Institute released a landmark report marking the first recorded year without a lynching of African Americans in the United States since the institute began keeping records in 1881. The grim practice of lynching—extrajudicial killings often carried out by mobs to enforce racial subjugation—had claimed thousands of lives, becoming a chilling emblem of racial terror, particularly in the Southern United States. Tuskegee's data captured the scope of this violence, documenting nearly 4,000 lynchings of Black individuals over the prior seven decades.The significance of 1952 as a year without reported lynchings underscored the impact of growing civil rights activism, the waning influence of vigilante groups, and increasing legal accountability. This milestone also reflected shifts in public attitudes and the effectiveness of organizations like the NAACP, which tirelessly campaigned against lynching and for federal anti-lynching legislation. Despite this progress, racial violence and discrimination persisted in other forms, underscoring that the end of lynching did not mean the end of systemic racism."Strange Fruit," a haunting protest song famously recorded by Billie Holiday in 1939, had kept the horrors of lynching at the forefront of public consciousness. Its stark imagery of "black bodies swinging in the Southern breeze" served as a chilling reminder of the atrocities endured by Black Americans. While the 1952 milestone was a cause for solemn reflection, it was also a call to sustain the fight for racial justice and equality in a nation still grappling with deep-seated prejudices.Rupert Murdoch and other senior leaders of Fox Corporation will face claims from investors alleging personal responsibility for financial harm stemming from false election conspiracy theories aired by Fox News. Delaware Chancery Court's Vice Chancellor J. Travis Laster denied Fox's motion to dismiss the lawsuit, stating that the plaintiffs had sufficiently argued that Murdoch could likely be held liable for knowingly permitting defamatory content to be broadcast. The lawsuit follows Fox's record-breaking settlement with Dominion Voting Systems and comes as Smartmatic pursues a separate $2 billion defamation suit. The investors claim that the leadership's actions and decisions led to significant economic fallout, asserting that corporate governance failures allowed reputational and financial damage to occur. While the court's decision enables the case to proceed, it does not guarantee success for the plaintiffs, leaving the ultimate outcome of the claims to trial.Fox, Murdoch, Execs Must Face Election Defamation Payout SuitA federal appeals court upheld a $5 million verdict against Donald Trump in a case brought by E. Jean Carroll, a former magazine columnist, who accused him of sexual assault and defamation. The decision, issued by a three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, stems from a 2023 jury verdict that found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll in the 1990s and defaming her in a 2022 Truth Social post. While jurors did not find Trump guilty of rape, they awarded Carroll $2.02 million for sexual assault and $2.98 million for defamation.Carroll has also secured an $83.3 million defamation verdict from a separate jury in January 2024, which Trump is appealing. These legal battles persist despite Trump's return to the presidency following his 2024 election victory. Trump's defense argued that the trial judge improperly allowed testimony from two other women alleging past misconduct and included the infamous "Access Hollywood" tape as evidence. Both trials were overseen by U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan. This case continues to highlight the lack of immunity for sitting presidents in civil litigation unrelated to their official duties, following a precedent set during Bill Clinton's presidency.Trump loses appeal of E. Jean Carroll $5 million defamation verdict | ReutersThe oil and gas industry is facing increasing legal and legislative pressure over its role in climate change. States like New York and Vermont have enacted “climate Superfund” laws, with New York's targeting $75 billion from major polluters over 25 years to fund climate mitigation efforts. Meanwhile, multiple states and cities have filed lawsuits alleging misinformation campaigns by fossil fuel companies about climate change and plastic pollution. These efforts, while separate, are creating a coordinated front against the industry and building evidence to attribute emissions to specific companies.Experts suggest that legislative efforts like climate Superfund laws and lawsuits may bolster each other by generating an evidentiary record for liability. However, there are concerns about overstepping legal boundaries, as courts may reject overlapping claims for damages under federal laws like the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Fossil fuel companies argue that climate-specific laws conflict with existing federal laws such as the Clean Air Act and may face challenges in implementation.The American Petroleum Institute and energy companies have expressed resistance to these legal actions, with a preference for fighting rather than settling claims. While states hope to hold polluters accountable, the success of these strategies remains uncertain as courts, lawmakers, and the industry test the boundaries of new legal frameworks.Climate Liability Laws, Litigation Add to Oil Industry HeadacheThe legal industry is set for another wave of consolidation in 2025, with several major law firm mergers scheduled for January 1. Among these, Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders will merge with Locke Lord to create Troutman Pepper Locke, a firm with 1,600 attorneys and projected annual revenues exceeding $1.5 billion. Similarly, Womble Bond Dickinson is merging with Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie, combining to form a 1,300-lawyer firm with $742 million in revenues. Taft Stettinius & Hollister is joining with Sherman & Howard, projecting revenues of $810 million for the merged entity.Philadelphia-based Ballard Spahr will combine with Lane Powell, forming a 750-lawyer firm operating in 18 U.S. offices. These moves follow 41 law firm mergers in the first nine months of 2024, with industry analysts predicting continued activity next year. Firms are responding to client demand for broader services and geographic reach, as businesses increasingly consolidate their legal needs with fewer providers. Smaller and midsize firms are pursuing mergers to access new markets and clients, while the most profitable firms focus on lateral hires and internal growth. Rising costs, including attorney salaries and investment in generative AI technologies, are also pressuring firms to consolidate. Transatlantic mergers are gaining momentum as well, with U.K.-based firms like Allen & Overy and Herbert Smith Freehills expanding into the U.S. market through deals with Shearman & Sterling and Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel, respectively. These global mergers highlight the evolving competitive landscape in the legal sector.Law firms' quest for market share drives New Year's merger wave | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe
Back in December 1952, London experienced a fog like no other—it was thick, yellowish, and downright deadly. This wasn't just regular fog; it was smog, a toxic mix of fog and smoke from coal burning. For five days, the city was practically blinded, and people could barely see a few feet ahead. Breathing it in was even worse—it caused severe respiratory issues, and sadly, it's estimated that over 4,000 people died during the event, with thousands more falling sick. It was a wake-up call for environmental action, leading to laws like the Clean Air Act to prevent such disasters. The “Great Smog” showed how dangerous pollution could be and why we need to keep our air clean. Credit: CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... The main drainage: By Wellcome Images - https://wellcomecollection.org/search..., https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index... Animation is created by Bright Side. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Music from TheSoul Sound: https://thesoul-sound.com/ Check our Bright Side podcast on Spotify and leave a positive review! https://open.spotify.com/show/0hUkPxD... Subscribe to Bright Side: https://goo.gl/rQTJZz ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Our Social Media: Facebook: / brightside Instagram: / brightside.official TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brightside.of... Telegram: https://t.me/bright_side_official Stock materials (photos, footages and other): https://www.depositphotos.com https://www.shutterstock.com https://www.eastnews.ru ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For more videos and articles visit: http://www.brightside.me ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This video is made for entertainment purposes. We do not make any warranties about the completeness, safety and reliability. Any action you take upon the information in this video is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any damages or losses. It is the viewer's responsibility to use judgement, care and precaution if you plan to replicate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: A new academic study shows that Republicans are much more likely to spread information that they know to be false than Democrats are: https://www.ama.org/2024/12/09/study-republicans-respond-to-political-polarization-by-spreading-misinformation-democrats-dont/ A judgement of over $14 million against ExxonMobil for violations of the federal Clean Air Act at their Baytown facilities is upheld: https://environmentamerica.org/texas/media-center/release-fifth-circuit-court-of-appeals-rules-against-exxon-for-fourth-time-affirms-record-clean-air-act-penalty/ A medical student at UT Austin - a first generation immigrant herself - writes on the dilemma that new doctors face in taking the Hippocratic Oath to do no harm under Texas' requirement for hospitals to interrogate patients on their immigration status: https://www.statnews.com/2024/12/12/texas-hospitals-are-you-a-citizen-medical-school-physicians/ ...While Texas hospitals are part of a national trend of new mothers being reported to authorities when the drugs used to control pain during childbirth are found in the bloodstreams of their babies: https://www.themarshallproject.org/2024/12/11/pregnant-hospital-drug-test-medicine Submit your nominations for our annual rundown of The Best And Worst Texans of the year! Deadline is the end of the day Friday: https://progresstexas.org/blog/best-worst-texans-2024-help-us-decide Great to see everyone at our first holiday gathering in Austin! The second is in Dallas on December 16 - there are sponsorship opportunities available, and individual tickets are now on sale here: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024 Holiday shopping for your progressive pals is easy and fun at our web store! Grab your goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/. We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at @progresstexas.bsky.social. Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org.
Animal aquaculture, the farming of fish, has outpaced the amount of wild-caught fish by tens of millions of metric tons each year, bringing with it negative environmental impacts and enabling abuse, says Carl Safina, an ecologist and author. On this episode of Mongabay's podcast, Safina speaks with co-host Rachel Donald about his recent Science Advances essay describing the “moral reckoning” that's required for the industry, pointing to environmental laws in the United States, which put hard limits on pollution, as examples to follow. “In the 1970s in the U.S., we had this enormous burst of environmental legislation. We got the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act … all of these things were not because somebody invented something new. It's because we felt differently about what was important,” he says. The global fishing industry also contributes to forced labor and other worker abuses, as revealed by whistleblowers and media outlets, including Mongabay. Read our award-winning 2022 investigation, which revealed systemic abuse of foreign workers by China's offshore tuna fleet. Like this podcast? Share it with a friend, and please leave a review. Subscribe to or follow the Mongabay Newscast wherever you listen to podcasts, from Apple to Spotify, and you can also listen to all episodes here on the Mongabay website or download our free app for Apple and Android devices to gain instant access to our latest episodes and all of our previous ones. Image caption: An Atlantic salmon. In the U.S., the Washington state legislature banned farming of Atlantic salmon in 2018. A state official banned all commercial finfish aquaculture. Alaska and California have similar bans. Image by Hans-Petter Fjeld via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.5). --- Timecodes (00:00) Aquaculture and its impacts (15:32) How values shape environmental policy (32:56) The tragedy of the commons (35:52) Ecological empathy (45:07) Credits
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 8, 2024 is: galvanize GAL-vuh-nyze verb To galvanize people is to cause them to be so excited or concerned about something that they are driven to action. // The council's proposal to close the library has galvanized the town's residents. See the entry > Examples: “The original Earth Day was the product of a new environmental consciousness created by Rachel Carson's 1962 book, Silent Spring, and of public horror in 1969 that the Cuyahoga River in Ohio was so polluted it caught fire. … On April 22, 1970, some 20 million people attended thousands of events across America, and this galvanizing public demand led in short order to the creation, during Richard Nixon's presidency, of the Environmental Protection Agency (1970), the Clean Air Act (1970), the Clean Water Act (1972), and the Endangered Species Act (1973), and much more after that.” — Todd Stern, The Atlantic, 6 Oct. 2024 Did you know? Luigi Galvani was an Italian physician and physicist who, in the 1770s, studied the electrical nature of nerve impulses by applying electrical stimulation to frogs' leg muscles, causing them to contract. Although Galvani's theory that animal tissue contained an innate electrical impulse was disproven, the French word galvanisme came to refer to a current of electricity especially when produced by chemical action, while the verb galvaniser was used for the action of applying such a current (both words were apparently coined by German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt, who modeled them after the French equivalents of magnetism and magnetize). In English, these words came to life as galvanism and galvanize, respectively. Today their primary senses are figurative: to galvanize a person or group is to spur them into action as if they've been jolted with electricity.
This Day in Legal History: Pope Innocent VIII Launches Witch HuntOn December 5, 1484, Pope Innocent VIII issued the papal bull Summis desiderantes affectibus, which formally authorized investigations and prosecutions of witchcraft in Germany. This decree empowered Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger, Dominican inquisitors, to act against alleged witches, leading to heightened witch-hunting activities in the late 15th century. The bull emphasized the Church's role in combating heresy and supernatural practices deemed harmful to the Christian faith. The investigations authorized by this bull were pivotal in the creation of the infamous Malleus Maleficarum ("Hammer of the Witches") in 1486, a manual written by Kramer and Sprenger that advocated for the use of torture to extract confessions from accused witches.The bull and the subsequent witch hunts reflected prevailing fears of social and religious disorder, often targeting marginalized individuals, particularly women. These practices were underpinned by a blend of theological reasoning and pre-modern natural law principles, which were used to justify harsh measures to preserve the perceived divine order of society. The natural law theory, rooted in the belief that moral principles are derived from God's eternal law, was interpreted by medieval theologians to condemn witchcraft as a violation of natural harmony and divine will.However, the association between witchcraft and natural law theory also reveals its limitations when misapplied. Instead of promoting justice and fairness, the era's interpretation of natural law principles often rationalized coercion and systemic persecution. This misuse highlights a tension between the aspirational ideals of natural law—justice and the common good—and its historical implementation, which at times reflected societal prejudices rather than universal truths.The legacy of Summis desiderantes affectibus thus serves as a cautionary example of how appeals to divine and natural law can be manipulated to enforce moral panic and oppression, rather than genuine justice.The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit is set to hear West Virginia v. EPA on December 6, focusing on challenges to Biden administration emissions standards for coal-fired power plants. The case centers on whether the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can mandate carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technology under the Clean Air Act, a requirement contested by Republican-led states and industry groups as unproven and impractical. Opponents argue the rule is designed to phase out coal plants prematurely. Oral arguments will primarily address the feasibility of CCS, with additional discussions on natural gas co-firing, federalism, and the "major questions" doctrine. Although the Supreme Court recently declined to freeze the rule, the regulation is expected to face setbacks when the Trump administration returns in 2025, as incoming officials could pause or repeal the standards.The case has drawn significant attention due to its implications for federal climate authority and power sector regulation, with observers watching for signals from the court on the EPA's justification of CCS. Industry groups have already lobbied for a quick repeal, while legal experts predict the litigation will be delayed under new political leadership.EPA to Fight Industry, States Over Power Plant Rules on Thin IceThe Supreme Court appears poised to uphold state bans on gender-affirming care for minors, signaling support for laws like Tennessee's, which prohibit puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries for individuals under 18. During arguments in United States v. Skrmetti, conservative justices expressed skepticism about claims that such bans violate equal protection rights. Justice Brett Kavanaugh suggested the Constitution does not arbitrate medical debates, while Chief Justice John Roberts noted the court's lack of expertise in these matters, deferring to state lawmakers.The court's liberals sharply criticized this hands-off approach. Justice Sonia Sotomayor pointed out the heightened risks of suicide and addiction for transgender youth denied care, while Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson warned that the state's arguments could destabilize foundational equal protection rulings. Both justices underscored the challenges of relying on the democratic process to protect minority rights, particularly for groups comprising less than 1% of the population.Justice Samuel Alito probed whether European countries' decisions to curtail similar treatments for minors undermined arguments for their necessity, citing the UK's Cass Review. Alito's inquiry reflects a striking contradiction in judicial philosophy: while the court claims to merely interpret the Constitution, such references reveal its active role in shaping national policy, effectively constructing new legal norms rather than "discovering" inherent rights.This case carries immense implications for transgender rights nationwide, with the Court's ruling, expected by July, likely to affect laws in dozens of states. Critics argue the bans defy established medical guidelines and override parental authority, making the issue a focal point in the nation's broader cultural and legal battles over LGBTQ+ rights.Supreme Court Signals Support for Laws Curbing Trans Care (2)The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has found that the Memphis Police Department engages in systemic discrimination against Black residents and uses excessive force, as detailed in a report following a 17-month investigation. Prompted by the January 2023 death of Tyre Nichols, a Black motorist beaten by Memphis officers, the investigation revealed patterns of unlawful stops, searches, and arrests, as well as discriminatory treatment of children and individuals with behavioral health disabilities. While the DOJ acknowledged that some reforms had been implemented, it emphasized that significant changes are still required to protect residents' civil and constitutional rights. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke stated that the community deserves a police department that fosters trust and safety. City officials have yet to agree to negotiate reforms with the DOJ. Memphis City Attorney Tannera Gibson argued that the report's relatively short investigation period suggests a "rush to judgment." The city has not committed to a consent decree, a common tool for enforcing systemic reforms under independent oversight. The investigation follows federal trials of former officers involved in Nichols' death. Three officers were recently convicted of witness tampering, while others pleaded guilty to federal charges. A state murder trial for three of the officers is scheduled for April. Federal officials plan to engage with Memphis residents to address the report's findings and potential remedies.Memphis police discriminate against Black people, US DOJ finds | ReutersU.S. law firms are entering 2025 with optimism, driven by strong financial performance in 2024 and anticipated growth in key practice areas. According to a report by Citigroup's Citi Global Wealth at Work Law Firm Group and Hildebrandt Consulting, revenue rose by an average of 11.9% in 2024, fueled by increased demand and higher billing rates. Firms are well-positioned for continued success, particularly in areas like litigation, regulatory work, antitrust, private equity, and M&A, as interest rates ease and transactional activity rebounds.Key industries for expansion include technology, healthcare, life sciences, and energy, with firms expecting to invest further in U.S. hubs like New York, Washington, D.C., Texas, and Northern California. Internationally, London, Singapore, and the UAE are poised for growth, while less-profitable markets such as China have seen office closures. Generative AI is viewed as a transformative opportunity, with firms optimistic about its impact on legal services. However, questions remain about how to integrate AI cost-effectively and train junior lawyers as traditional tasks are automated. Current spending on AI has been minimal but is expected to rise substantially as firms adapt.Despite this positive outlook, challenges such as talent retention, geopolitical tensions, and macroeconomic pressures remain concerns. Nonetheless, law firms are confident in their ability to navigate these obstacles while leveraging AI and market opportunities for future growth.US law firms eye 2025 with optimism, report says | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe
In this case, the court considered this issue: should the Court stay the EPA's federal emissions reduction rule, the Good Neighbor Plan, and are the emissions controls imposed by the rule reasonable regardless of the number of states subject to the rule? The case was decided on June 27, 2024. The Supreme Court held that the EPA's enforcement of the Federal Implementation Plan against the applicant States is stayed pending disposition of the applicants' petition for review in the D-C Circuit and any petition for writ of certiorari, timely sought. Justice Neil Gorsuch authored the 5-4 majority opinion of the Court. There is a four-factor test for deciding whether to grant a stay: likelihood of success on the merits, irreparable harm, balance of equities, and public interest. The Court focused primarily on the first factor—likelihood of success on the merits—and concluded that the applicants (states and industry groups challenging the EPA's rule) were likely to succeed in arguing that the EPA's Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) was “arbitrary” or “capricious” under the Clean Air Act. The EPA failed to adequately explain why its emissions reduction requirements would remain appropriate if fewer states were covered by the plan than originally intended. Commenters had raised concerns during the rulemaking process about what would happen if some states dropped out of the plan, but the EPA did not sufficiently address these concerns. While the EPA did add a “severability” provision saying the rule would continue to apply even if some states dropped out, this did not actually address the underlying issue of whether the emissions requirements would still be justified with fewer states. Because the EPA likely “ignored an important aspect of the problem” by not explaining why its emissions reduction requirements would remain appropriate with fewer covered states, the applicants were likely to succeed in having the rule "reversed" as arbitrary and capricious, justifying the stay pending further review. Justice Amy Coney Barrett authored a dissenting opinion, in which Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson joined, arguing that the applicants are unlikely to succeed on the merits of their challenge to the EPA's rule. Justice Barrett rejected the Court's theory about EPA's failure to explain as underdeveloped, plagued by significant procedural obstacles, and contradicted by evidence in the record. Justice Barrett argued that the EPA's methodology for calculating emissions limits appears to be independent of the number of states covered, and that the Clean Air Act's stringent harmless-error rule would likely prevent the applicants from prevailing even if there were a procedural error. She also criticized the majority for granting emergency relief based on a theory that was not fully briefed or argued. The opinion is presented here in its entirety, but with citations omitted. If you appreciate this episode, please subscribe. Thank you. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scotus-opinions/support
Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found Click On Picture To See Larger PictureThe farmers are pushing back, they know the [WEF] and installed politicians are trying to take their land, this will fail. Trump is going to reverse the EV policies and he is most likely going to restart the XL pipeline. Ron Paul points out that are troubles began in 1913 and Elon says he hit the target. The [DS] is now throwing everything they have at Trump's picks, the wrap up smear campaign is in full swing. The [DS] is pushing war very hard, the Ukraine people want peace not war. Matt Gaetz dropped out of the running to be the AG. Trump and Gaetz said they had a little secret. Every pick Trump makes is to push confusion, most of these individuals are probably not the real picks. Game theory. (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:13499335648425062,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-7164-1323"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="//cdn2.customads.co/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); Economy French Farmers Dump Manure and Block Roads in Latest Round of Protests Against Mercosur Trade Agreement and ‘Green' Failed Policies The tragic situation of the European farmers is a by-product of the EU elites' obsession with their ‘Net-zero' fantasies, leading them to impose a whole host of crippling, failed agricultural policies, making farming in Europe difficult and expensive. Of course, these same heartless elites are more than happy to turn around and negotiate a free-trade agreement with South American countries that have great, much cheaper agricultural produce since in Mercosur there is no equivalent ‘green' legislation. So now European farmers are on a war footing. Farmers in southwestern France staged a blockade at the Port of Bordeaux today, demanding government action over unfair foreign competition. With the power of their tractors, they blocked all access roads to the a key grain terminal. No less than 82% of French citizens support farmers' strikes. All around France, farmers have dumped manure and blocked roads in their latest round of protests. Source: thegatewaypundit.com Ford to Cut 4,000 Jobs in Europe by 2027 Ford is set to cut 4,000 jobs across Europe by the end of 2027, primarily affecting Germany and the UK, as part of restructuring efforts due to weak electric vehicle (EV) sales and economic challenges. This reduction represents about 14% of Ford's European workforce, with approximately 2,900 jobs to be eliminated in Germany and 800 in the UK. The decision is driven by significant losses and the transition to electrified mobility, hindered by consumer reluctance and the removal of government incentives, particularly in Germany. Source: valuetainment.com Trump Could Make Biden's EV Mandates Obsolete, Revamp Auto Industry With One Move The incoming Trump administration could potentially scale back President Joe Biden's regulatory agenda to electrify vehicles, bolster auto manufacturers around the country and drastically increase tariffs on imported vehicles, One potential change that could effectively make the Biden Administration's current gas-powered vehicle regulations obsolete would be to determine that regulatory agencies do not have the legal authority to push the electrification of vehicles. “The Trump administration's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) could make a determination that the EPA has no authority under the Clean Air Act to mandate – to force – the electrification of the U.S. automobile fleet,” Marlo Lewis, senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, told the DCNF. “The Biden administration set greenhouse gas emission standards, which are really just de facto fuel economy standards,
In this episode, Rob welcomes back Mathew Todaro, a partner at Verrill Law who defends and negotiates on behalf of his clients under statutes such as the Clean Water Act, EPCRA, and FIFRA, with a particular focus on Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act. Today, Rob and Mat give listeners a crash course on the EPA's Risk Management Plan (RMP) Rule. They cover applicability, the three program levels, the components and requirements of RMP, and touch on some recent RMP rule changes. Be sure to check out Mat's previous appearances on our show at the links below: Episode 25 - After the EPA Inspector Leaves with Guest Mathew Todaro Episode 35 - Environmental Compliance Audits with Guest Mathew Todaro Episode 52 - EPA's General Duty Clause with Guest Mathew Todaro Episode 56 - Implementing EPA's General Duty Clause (GDC) (Does not feature Mat, but is a companion episode to #52) Episode 106 - EPA's National Enforcement and Compliance Initiatives with Guest Mathew Todaro Connect with Mat on LinkedIn here.
David & Ed chat with University of Chicago's Michael Greenstone. Show Notes:(02:52) Engineering the Planet(03:25) The future of the Temperature–Mortality Relationship(04:48) Valuing the Global Mortality Consequences of Climate Change(07:36) Climate Damages and Adaptation Potential Across Sectors of the US(09:35) Heat Exposure & Poverty(11:30) Seasonality of Mortality Under Climate Change(13:59) Evaluating the 35°C Wet-Bulb Temperature Adaptability Threshold(15:30) Relationship Between Season of Birth, Temperature Exposure, & Wellbeing(17:35) Heat & Learning(20:14) Slow Burn: The Hidden Costs of a Warming World(22:06) Air Pollution on Life Expectancy from China's Huai River Policy(25:10) Introducing the Air Quality Life Index(26:52) The Clean Air Act of 1970 & Adult Mortality(26:58) US: Clean Air Act (1970)(28:34) China's War on Pollution(32:45) For Breathable Air(34:31) Social Cost of Carbon(40:48) The Social Cost of Carbon Is Now US$225 Per Tonne(42:07) Rising Temperatures, Melting Incomes(42:11) The Macroeconomic Impact of Climate ChangeProduced by Amit Tandon___Energy vs Climatewww.energyvsclimate.com Bluesky | YouTube | LinkedIn
Donald Trump has long had it in for California. He's threatened to withhold federal aid for wildfire recovery, tried to revoke the state's Clean Air Act waiver and referred to Reps. Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff as examples of the “enemy from within.” Now that Trump has secured another term, California officials are preparing for what CalMatters reporter Alexei Koseff calls the “return of the resistance state.” How would you like California to respond to a second Trump Administration? Guests: Melanie Mason, senior political correspondent, Politico Alexei Koseff, reporter, CalMatters Eleni Kounalakis, lieutenant governor for the state of California, chairs the California Advisory Council for International Trade and Investment Anita Chabria, columnist, Los Angeles Times
We know the climate fight specifically just got a whole lot harder. Trump's back in the White House, and with Republicans holding the Senate, we're facing a serious uphill battle. We're talking about a president who's called climate change a "hoax," pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement, and rolled back major environmental protections like the Clean Air Act. He's promised to open up more drilling, and he's even said he'll stop offshore wind energy projects on day one. Add to that his plan to gut the EPA and pull funding from clean energy programs... it's not looking good for the climate. But here's the thing—we can't afford to tap out. So, take a breath. Remember your why. Get outside, take in some fresh air, and give yourself space to process. Don't forget to check in on your people. Some folks might be struggling more than others right now, and that's where community comes in. We might not agree on everything, but we're in this together. And lastly, don't disengage. The fight isn't over—it's just going to look a little different right now. INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist ORDER THE BOOK: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/book LISTENER SURVEY: https://forms.gle/jd8UCN2LL3AQst976 ----------------- --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/outdoor-minimalist/support
In the 1960s, the urban air pollution crisis in America had reached a fever pitch: Cities were shrouded in smog, union steelworkers were demanding protections for their health, and the Department of Justice was mounting an antitrust lawsuit against the Detroit automakers for conspiracy to pollute.But all that changed when Richard Nixon signed the Clean Air Act of 1970. The law set national limits for six major pollutants, established stringent emissions standards for vehicles, and required the latest pollution-limiting technology for industrial facilities. It was widely recognized as innovative, landmark legislation because it was evidence-based, future-proofed, and it had teeth.Since the Clean Air Act took effect, emissions of the most common pollutants have fallen by around 80%. The law has saved millions of lives and trillions of dollars. An EPA analysis showed that the Clean Air Act's benefits outweigh its costs by a factor of 30. Thanks to this policy, the United States enjoys some of the cleanest air in the world.But five decades on, has the Clean Air Act protected everyone? And can a policy designed for the problems of urban, mid-century cities protect our health in the face of climate change?Read the full story at sciencefriday.com.Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.
GDP Script/ Top Stories for October 29th Publish Date: October 29th From The BG AD Group Studio, Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. Today is Tuesday, October 29th and Happy Birthday to Richard Dreyfuss ***10.29.23 BIRTHDAY - RICHARD DREYFUS 'ANOTHER STAKEOUT'*** I'm Keith Ippolito and here are your top stories presented by KIA Mall of Georgia 1. Mall of Georgia Announces New Additions 2. Gwinnett Ninth-Grader Wins 3M Young Scientist Challenge 3. Two Legendary Gwinnett Quarterbacks Join Georgia Hall of Fame All of this and more is coming up on the Gwinnett Daily Post podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen daily and subscribe! Break 1: Kia MOG (07.14.22 KIA MOG) STORY 1: Mall of Georgia Announces New Additions The Mall of Georgia, celebrating its 25th anniversary, announced new retailers, including an Italian restaurant, enhancing its shopping and lifestyle offerings. The newly expanded Apple Store and My Salon Suite are now open. Upcoming additions include Lululemon, offering athletic apparel, Fit2Run, a runner's superstore, and Vendetti's, an Italian eatery. These additions reflect the mall's commitment to providing a premier experience for families and shoppers. STORY 2: Gwinnett Ninth-Grader Wins 3M Young Scientist Challenge Sirish Subash, a ninth-grader from Gwinnett County, won the 2024 3M Young Scientist Challenge with his AI handheld pesticide detector, Pestiscand. This device uses spectrophotometry and machine learning to detect pesticide residues on produce, achieving over 85% accuracy. Subash, a student at the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology, received a $25,000 prize. Competing against nine finalists, he excelled in the final events at 3M's headquarters. The challenge pairs finalists with 3M scientists for mentorship, and Subash worked with Aditya Banerji to develop his prototype. STORY 3: Two Legendary Gwinnett Quarterbacks Join Georgia Hall of Fame David Greene and Terry Harvey, two standout athletes from Gwinnett County, were inducted into the Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame. Greene, a South Gwinnett graduate, transformed his team from winless to playoff contenders, later excelling at the University of Georgia. Harvey, a Dacula alum, was a versatile player, leading his team to a 46-7 record and excelling at N.C. State in both football and baseball. Both athletes were celebrated for their leadership and impact on their high school programs, contributing to their lasting legacies in Gwinnett County sports. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info. We'll be right back Break 2: Tom Wages (08.05.24 OBITS_FINAL) STORY 4: State yanks permit for South Georgia biomass plant Georgia environmental regulators revoked a permit for a wood pellet plant in Telfair County after a legal challenge by the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC). The permit, initially approved without required pollution controls, would have doubled emissions, violating the Clean Air Act. The revocation, requested by the company, led SELC to withdraw its legal challenge. Environmentalists criticized the initial approval, highlighting air quality concerns, while industry supporters argue that wood pellet plants provide jobs in rural areas. The biomass industry is significant in Georgia, with pellets exported for power generation in Europe and Asia. STORY 5: Region Champs: North Gwinnett Hangs On to Beat Norcross North Gwinnett secured the Region 7-AAAAAA championship with a 27-21 win over Norcross, ending a three-way tie from last season. Ryan Hall led the Bulldogs with three touchdown passes, helping them build a 27-0 lead. Despite a strong second-half rally by Norcross, North Gwinnett's defense held firm. Hall completed 8 of 17 passes for 138 yards and added 80 rushing yards. Norcross' Dillon Mohammed threw for 258 yards and three touchdowns, but their comeback fell short. North Gwinnett will host the first playoff round, while Norcross aims for the No. 2 seed. Break: ***Guide Weekly Health Minute*** 10.01.24 GUIDE HEALTH MINUTE_FINAL*** Break 4: Ingles Markets (Ingles Table Magazine) 2 Signoff – Thanks again for hanging out with us on today's Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.gwinnettdailypost.com Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Produced by the BG Podcast Network Show Sponsors: www.ingles-markets.com www.wagesfuneralhome.com www.kiamallofga.com #NewsPodcast #CurrentEvents #TopHeadlines #BreakingNews #PodcastDiscussion #PodcastNews #InDepthAnalysis #NewsAnalysis #PodcastTrending #WorldNews #LocalNews #GlobalNews #PodcastInsights #NewsBrief #PodcastUpdate #NewsRoundup #WeeklyNews #DailyNews #PodcastInterviews #HotTopics #PodcastOpinions #InvestigativeJournalism #BehindTheHeadlines #PodcastMedia #NewsStories #PodcastReports #JournalismMatters #PodcastPerspectives #NewsCommentary #PodcastListeners #NewsPodcastCommunity #NewsSource #PodcastCuration #WorldAffairs #PodcastUpdates #AudioNews #PodcastJournalism #EmergingStories #NewsFlash #PodcastConversationsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today: Early voting, reckless discharge of firearms, a Clean Air Act violation and a longtime Mobile news anchor's passing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
John Yoo hosts this week, and adds to his appalling hypocrisy with his admission that he is teaching a class this summer on the Law of the Sea treaty, even as he continues to embargo any and all discussion of the Clean Air Act! Otherwise the gang in is happy spirits because we’re resupplied with […]
John Yoo hosts this week, and adds to his appalling hypocrisy with his admission that he is teaching a class this summer on the Law of the Sea treaty, even as he continues to embargo any and all discussion of the Clean Air Act! Otherwise the gang in is happy spirits because we're resupplied with good spirits this week, as a fine whisky and wine outlet (Grapes and Grains—they don't even have a website up yet) has at last opened a superb branch nearby Steve's remote location. How fine? Steve has his eye on a 75-year-old single malt that is for sale at the mere price of $89,999. He decided to fill up his gas tank instead (this being California).The big news of Friday was RFK Jr's endorsement of Trump, about which we have some actual reporting to offer listeners, along with our evaluations of the Democratic convention, which was anything but nomos or physis. It was pure nemesis.Lucretia and Steve also smack John around a bit for his USA Today article on how the leftism of law schools threatens the survival of the Constitution was defective because it didn't go far enough!
In 2007, the Supreme Court ruled in Massachusetts vs. EPA that when the U.S. Congress passed the Clean Air Act in 1970, climate science was “in its infancy,” implying that government officials could never have intended for the legislation to cover the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions. In 2022, SCOTUS doubled down on that idea, ruling in West Virginia v EPA that since the Clean Air Act didn't explicitly talk about climate change, the EPA cannot regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Now, new historical evidence unearthed by a team of Harvard University researchers led by Naomi Oreskes calls the court's understanding of the history of climate science into question, which could have major implications for the government's ability to regulate climate-changing emissions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Friday, June 28th, 2024Today, still no ruling on immunity from the Supreme Court, and the decisions are now rolling over into next week; Felix Sater lost his money laundering trial to the tune of $32M; Roger Sollenberger from Daily Beast got a records request showing Jim Comer wrote over 2,000 emails using an alias; the former school police chief of Uvalde has been indicted for his role in the botched response to the Robb Elementary shooting; the Oklahoma state superintendent orders schools to teach the Bible in grades 5 through 12; CNN has banned White House press pool reporters from the debate; plus Allison delivers your Good News.John Fugelsanghttps://www.johnfugelsang.com/tmehttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-john-fugelsang-podcast/id1464094232The Sexy Liberal Save The World Comedy Tourhttps://sexyliberal.comTickets and LIVE show dates https://allisongill.comSubscribe for free to MuellerSheWrote on Substackhttps://muellershewrote.substack.com Former Uvalde school police chief Pete Arredondo criminally charged in Robb Elementary massacre (San Antonio Express-News)Ex-Trump Associate Felix Sater Loses Money-Laundering Trial (Bloomberg)Hypocrite James Comer's Unbelievable Number of Email Aliases Exposed (The New Republic)What it means for the Supreme Court to block enforcement of the EPA's ‘good neighbor' pollution rule (AP News)CNN bans White House pool reporters from debate room (Reuters)Oklahoma state superintendent orders schools to teach the Bible in grades 5 through 12 (AP News) Subscribe to Lawyers, Guns, And MoneyAd-free premium feed: https://lawyersgunsandmoney.supercast.comSubscribe for free everywhere else:https://lawyersgunsandmoney.simplecast.com/episodes/1-miami-1985Check out other MSW Media podcastshttps://mswmedia.com/shows/Follow AG and Dana on Social MediaDr. Allison Gill Follow Mueller, She Wrote on Posthttps://post.news/@/MuellerSheWrote?utm_source=TwitterAG&utm_medium=creator_organic&utm_campaign=muellershewrote&utm_content=FollowMehttps://muellershewrote.substack.comhttps://twitter.com/MuellerSheWrotehttps://www.threads.net/@muellershewrotehttps://www.tiktok.com/@muellershewrotehttps://instagram.com/muellershewroteDana Goldberghttps://twitter.com/DGComedyhttps://www.instagram.com/dgcomedyhttps://www.facebook.com/dgcomedyhttps://danagoldberg.comHave some good news; a confession; or a correction to share?Good News & Confessions - The Daily Beanshttps://www.dailybeanspod.com/confessional/From The Good NewsUS Department of Veterans Affairs (va.gov)Safe Hands Rescue (MN)Feline Rescue (MN)Social Security Administration (ssa.gov) Live Show Ticket Links:https://allisongill.com (for all tickets and show dates)Wednesday July 10th – Portland OR – Polaris Hall(with Dana!)Thursday July 11th – Seattle WA – The Triple Door(with Dana!)Thursday July 25th Milwaukee, WI https://tinyurl.com/Beans-MKESunday July 28th Nashville, TN - with Phil Williams https://tinyurl.com/Beans-TennWednesday July 31st St. Louis, MO https://tinyurl.com/Beans-STLFriday August 16th Washington, DC - with Andy McCabe, Pete Strzok, Glenn Kirschner https://tinyurl.com/Beans-in-DCSaturday August 24 San Francisco, CA https://tinyurl.com/Beans-SF Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:The Daily Beans on Apple PodcastsWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?Supercasthttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/OrPatreon https://patreon.com/thedailybeansOr subscribe on Apple Podcasts with our affiliate linkThe Daily Beans on Apple Podcasts