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The climate policy landscape in the US is in flux. Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency repealed its own power to regulate greenhouse gases. Two weeks later, the Supreme Court said it will hear a case which the city of Boulder, Colorado, brought against the oil companies ExxonMobil and Suncor that could determine the fate of lawsuits brought by cities and states against fossil fuel companies over damages from climate change. Since its adoption in 2009, EPA's endangerment finding — which says that greenhouse gases harm public health and welfare — had formed the legal foundation for major federal climate regulations. In announcing its rescission, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin called it the largest single deregulatory event in US history. But the repeal may be held up in courts for years, and it's just one piece of a complicated regulatory puzzle. Petitions for review challenging the EPA's rescission of the endangerment finding are due in just over a month. So how might these major policy swings play out in practical terms? What are the near- and long-term stakes at the federal and state levels? What are the reactions from and the preferences of industry? And how might all of this play out in terms of US greenhouse gas emissions? Today on the show, Bill Loveless speaks with Michael Gerrard and Jeff Holmstead about possible legal strategies and outcomes for challenges to both the endangerment finding rescission and the Boulder case. Michael is the founder and faculty director of the Columbia University Sabin Center for Climate Change Law. Before joining Columbia in 2009, he practiced environmental law in New York for three decades. Jeff is a partner and co-chair of the Environmental Strategies Group at Bracewell, LLP, an international law firm. From 2001 to 2005, he served as the assistant administrator for air and radiation in the EPA during the administration of President George W. Bush. Credits: Hosted by Jason Bordoff and Bill Loveless. Produced by Mary Catherine O'Connor, Caroline Pitman, and Kyu Lee. Engineering by Gregory Vilfranc.
Once a marvel of modern science, plastic has become so inextricably woven into our lives that imagining a world without it seems impossible. Over the last 75 years, says author and environmentalist Judith Enck, plastic has cradled our planet in a synthetic embrace. In her new book The Problem With Plastic, Enck critically examines the paradox of this material, first celebrated for its innovations and now recognized for its devastating environmental and public health impacts. A former regional administrator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Enck reveals how plastic pollution contributes to poisoned oceans, polluted air, and overwhelming waste, particularly affecting marginalized communities. Enck highlights the pervasive presence of microplastics in the environment and the human body, and she challenges the belief that recycling can solve the crisis. Enck emphasizes the urgent need for action against what she calls plastic's toxic legacy. Join us to hear her practical, actionable solutions, including a “household waste audit,” which people can use to track and reduce their own plastic consumption. Judith Enck is the founder and president of Beyond Plastics and a professor at Bennington College. She is a former regional administrator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and deputy secretary for the environment in the New York Governor's Office. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
She's back! For a third time, National Agriculrual Law Center Staff Attorney, Brigit Rollins, joins us to give us an update on Dicamba. You may be aware that the Environmental Protection Agency recently approved three over-the-top Dicamba products for use in cotton and soybeans. We talk about the history of the Dicamba registrations and litigation, what we restrictions are in place under the new labels, and what we know about the new litigation already filed challenging these registrations. Contact Info for Brigit (Email) brollins@uark.edu (Phone) 707-494-3138 Links to Other Topics Mentioned on the Show Prior episodes with Brigit Rollins National Agricultural Law Center NALC The Feed Newsletter Blog post about 2024 label revocation Blog post about 2020 label revocation EPA 2026 announcement approving three products Brigit article in Durnell v. Monsanto Brigit article on state pesticide liability limitation bills National Agricultural Law Center The Feed Newsletter Restaurant Recommendation Handshake (Fayetteville, AR) Ag Law News Source Recommendations Politico Agri-Pulse Sponsors
This Day in Legal History: Confederate States ConstitutionOn March 11, 1861, delegates of the newly formed Confederate States adopted the Constitution of the Confederate States of America in Montgomery, Alabama. The document closely resembled the United States Constitution in structure, language, and institutional design, reflecting the Confederacy's claim that it was preserving the original constitutional order rather than rebelling against it. But the similarities masked a fundamental and disturbing difference: the Confederate Constitution explicitly protected and entrenched slavery. Unlike the U.S. Constitution, which used indirect language around the institution, the Confederate document openly required that slavery be recognized and protected in Confederate territories. It also prohibited any law impairing the right of property in enslaved people, making the protection of slavery a central constitutional commitment rather than a political compromise.The constitution also attempted to limit certain federal powers, reflecting long-standing Southern arguments about states' rights and suspicion of centralized authority. For example, it restricted tariffs and internal improvements, policies many Southern leaders believed favored Northern industrial interests. The document also changed the structure of the executive branch by providing for a single six-year presidential term instead of allowing reelection. These provisions were intended to prevent what Confederate leaders viewed as excessive federal power or political manipulation. Despite these structural adjustments, the document largely replicated the American constitutional framework while placing slavery at its legal core.The legal significance of the Confederate Constitution lies in how clearly it reveals the central constitutional dispute of the Civil War era. While defenders of the Confederacy often framed secession as a fight over federalism or states' rights, the constitutional text itself makes clear that preserving slavery was a primary objective. By embedding the protection of slavery directly into its governing charter, the Confederacy transformed the defense of human bondage into a foundational legal principle. The document therefore stands as a stark example of how constitutional law can be used not only to secure liberty, but also to entrench injustice.Federal judicial officials announced plans to speed up development of a new electronic case management system after a major cyber breach exposed weaknesses in the courts' existing technology. The decision was discussed during a closed meeting of the Judicial Conference, the federal judiciary's main policymaking body, held at the U.S. Supreme Court building. Judge Michael Scudder, who leads the conference's information technology committee, said recent cyber intrusions made it clear that modernization can no longer proceed at its previous pace. The breach, disclosed in July 2025, raised concerns that foreign actors may have accessed sensitive materials, including sealed files and information about confidential informants. The incident followed an earlier cybersecurity breach involving the federal courts in 2020.In response, the judiciary plans to begin testing components of the upgraded system in six courts during 2026. Officials hope to begin rolling out parts of the new system to federal district courts nationwide next year. Appellate and bankruptcy courts would receive updates afterward. Judiciary leaders now expect that most of the modernization work could be completed within two to three years, a faster timeline than originally planned. The project also aims to improve the search tools used in PACER, the public database that allows users to access federal court filings. Despite long-standing criticism from lawmakers and transparency advocates, the judiciary does not currently plan to eliminate PACER's user fees. Court officials say those fees provide roughly 85 percent of the funding for the modernization effort.US judiciary to fast-track court records system upgrade after hacking | ReutersFederal and state lawmakers are considering measures that could reshape lawsuits involving the weedkiller Roundup as Bayer continues to face large-scale litigation over the product. In Kansas, legislators debated a bill supported by Bayer that would prevent individuals from suing pesticide manufacturers for failing to warn that their products might cause cancer or other illnesses. The proposal is part of a broader legislative strategy by the company, which has supported similar bills in roughly a dozen states. These efforts come as Bayer prepares a proposed $7.25 billion settlement aimed at resolving most of the roughly 65,000 remaining lawsuits alleging that Roundup caused non-Hodgkin lymphoma.Bayer inherited the litigation when it purchased Monsanto for $63 billion in 2018. Since then, the company has faced extensive legal costs and large verdicts, contributing to significant financial losses. Supporters of the Kansas bill argue that without such protections, pesticide manufacturers might remove widely used products from the market or raise prices, which could affect farmers and agricultural businesses. Critics, however, question the Environmental Protection Agency's conclusion that glyphosate—the main ingredient in Roundup—is unlikely to cause cancer and argue the legislation would shield companies from accountability.The debate is occurring alongside other legal developments. The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments in April about whether federal pesticide law requires Bayer to warn consumers about potential cancer risks. Meanwhile, members of Congress are considering a farm bill provision that would require uniform pesticide labels nationwide, preventing states or local governments from mandating warnings different from those approved by the EPA. A Missouri judge has also given preliminary approval to Bayer's proposed $7.25 billion class-action settlement, with a final decision expected later this year.Bayer takes its multi-front battle on pesticide liability to Kansas | ReutersA federal judge in Manhattan is set to review a proposed agreement that would end the U.S. government's criminal prosecution of Turkey's state-owned Halkbank. The case accused the bank of helping Iran bypass U.S. economic sanctions through financial transactions. Prosecutors and the bank reached a deferred prosecution agreement, which would pause the case while the bank demonstrates compliance with new restrictions. Under the proposal, Halkbank must avoid transactions benefiting Iran and hire an independent monitor to review its sanctions and anti-money-laundering controls.The agreement does not require the bank to pay a fine or admit wrongdoing. If Halkbank complies with the conditions, the criminal charges would likely be dismissed after the monitoring period. Prosecutors have asked the judge to pause the proceedings for 90 days so the bank can begin demonstrating compliance. Although judges generally have limited authority to reject deferred prosecution agreements, the court may still review the deal to ensure it follows established legal precedent.The resolution could ease tensions between the United States and Turkey, which had been strained by the case. U.S. officials indicated that resolving the prosecution also carried diplomatic importance during negotiations related to Turkey's role in securing a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in 2025. The announcement of the deal caused Halkbank's share price to rise sharply. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had previously criticized the case as politically motivated.Judge to weigh Halkbank, US prosecutors' resolution to criminal case | Reuters This is a public episode. 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OA1242 - Ever heard of the “major questions doctrine”? Most lawyers sure hadn't until a few years ago. So how did it get that important-sounding name? Where did it come from? What even is it? How can we call something a “doctrine” or a rule if we don't have a clear rule statement to cite to? (Hint: You can't). If you've been feeling like maybe this is all made up and the points don't matter, you can get your vindication here as we trace back the history of this ever-changing heavily-politicized increasingly-disputed amorphous blob. Jenessa read way too many cases and law review articles to tolerate this nonsense today. Timeline, each citing the one below it: 1. “Major questions doctrine” first appearance in any court case: West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency, 597 U.S. 697 (2022) 2. “Major question doctrine” [not plural] in an EPA statement on deregulations: Repeal of the Clean Power Plan, 84 Fed. Reg. 32520, 32529 (proposed Jul. 8, 2019) (to be codified at 40 C.F.R. pt. 60). 3. “Major rules doctrine”: U.S. Telecom Association v. F.C.C., 855 F.3d 381, 422-423 (D.C. Cir 2017), Kavanaugh dissent. (Note: There are many decisions by this name, including one from the D.C. Circuit in 2016, all of which are more prevalent online. Only this exact citation, minus the “422-23” pincite, will get you to the right case. Unfortunately I cannot find it outside the paywall to provide a link). 4. “Economic and political significance” allegedly the first unnamed use of the concept: F.D.A. v. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Co. 529 U.S. 120 (2000) 5. “Major questions” first appears in any legal scholarship… well those words appear in that order, at least: Stephen Breyer, Judicial Review of Questions of Law and Policy, 38 Admin. L. Rev. 363 (1986). Meanwhile, in another timeline: Cass R. Sunstein, There are two “Major Questions” Doctrines, 73 Admin. L. Rev. 475, (2021). First ever use of “major questions rule/exception” in a positive light in legal scholarship. Would become more mainstream around 2013-2016: Abigail Moncrieff, Reincarnating the "Major Questions" Exception to Chevron Deference as a Doctrine of Non-Interference as a Doctrine of Non-Interference (Or Why Massachusetts v. EPA Got It Wrong), 60 Admin L. Rev. 593 (2008). Moncrieff, above, cites this as the original coining of “major questions”, not Breyer's 1986 paper: Cass R. Sunstein, Chevron Step Zero, 92 VA. L. Rev. 187 (2006). Other definitions from legal scholarship: Allison Orr Larsen, Becoming a Doctrine, 76 Fla. L. Rev. 1 (2024). Austin Piatt & Damonta D. Morgan, The Three Major Questions Doctrines, Forward Wis. L. Rev. 19 (2024). Thomas B. Griffith & Haley N. Proctor, Deference, Delegation, and Divination: Justice Breyer and the Future of the Major Questions Doctrine, 132 Yale L.J. F. 693 (2022). Chad Squitieri, Who Determines Majorness?, 44 Harv. J.L. & Pub. Pol'y 463 (2021). Kevin O. Leske, Major Questions about the “Major Questions” Doctrine, 5 Michigan Journal of Environmental & Administrative Law 479 (2016). Jonas J. Monast, Major Questions About the Major Questions Doctrine, 68 Admin. L. Rev. 445 (2016). Other relevant cases: Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, 607 U.S --- (2026) Biden v. Nebraska, 600 U.S. 477 (2023) King v. Burwell, 576 U.S. 473 (2015) Utility Air Regulatory Group v. EPA, 573 U.S. 302 (2014) Check out the OA Linktree for all the places to go and things to do!
Project 2025 began not with a bill in Congress, but with a 900‑plus page playbook assembled by the Heritage Foundation and allied conservative groups, billed as a roadmap for the next Republican president. Heritage calls it a plan to “take back our government from the deep state,” while critics describe it as a bid to, in the words of the National Federation of Federal Employees, “destroy the administrative state” and replace it with loyalists.At the heart of the project is a personnel revolution. The blueprint urges reinstating and vastly expanding “Schedule F,” a Trump‑era job category that would let presidents reclassify tens of thousands of career civil servants as at‑will employees. According to an analysis by the Center for American Progress, one architect of the original order, James Sherk, projected roughly 50,000 positions could lose civil service protections. Advocates argue this would “ensure the President's policies are faithfully executed.” Opponents warn it would allow mass firings based on ideology, undermining neutral expertise in law enforcement, public health, and regulation.The document does not stop at staffing. It zeroes in on independent agencies that Congress designed to be insulated from day‑to‑day political pressure. In Project 2025's own terms, these are “so‑called independent agencies.” Chapters urge giving the president power to remove commissioners at will and subject their rules to aggressive White House review. Analysts at the Center for American Progress note that this could let a future president pressure the Federal Communications Commission on media licenses or keep the Federal Trade Commission from issuing rules like its recent ban on most noncompete clauses.Concrete agency changes are spelled out in vivid detail. A chapter on the Department of Energy recommends outsourcing core analytical work of the Energy Information Administration to private contractors, a move Boston Review warns could turn basic energy data into an ideological battleground. At the Environmental Protection Agency, Project 2025 proposes ending the role of career staff in awarding hundreds of millions in grants and handing that power to a single political appointee. The Health and Human Services chapter calls for steering teen pregnancy prevention funds toward abstinence‑only programs, reversing a decade of evidence‑based grantmaking.Running through the plan is a view of presidential power sometimes called the “unitary executive theory.” According to the American Civil Liberties Union, Project 2025 would concentrate control of the Justice Department in the White House, prioritizing an attorney general “above all loyal to the President” and easing the removal of officials who resist politically driven investigations.Supporters frame these ideas as a long‑overdue correction to an unaccountable bureaucracy. Critics, including nonpartisan legal scholars, warn that neutral guardrails like Senate confirmation, independent data, and protected civil servants are what keep any president from becoming an “imperial” figure.With the next election cycle underway, Project 2025 now functions as both a governing manual and a political litmus test. Candidates are being pressed to endorse, amend, or reject its proposals. The real test, though, will come if a future administration tries to turn this blueprint into executive orders, agency reorganizations, and real‑world firings.Thanks for tuning in, and come back next week for more.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.aiThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
Our guest on The Voice Podcast is Congressman Paul Tonko, a Democrat who represents New York's 20th Congressional District. A longtime state Assembly member who was elected to Congress in 2008, Tonko has been a fighter for his constituents, for higher education and for organized labor. He's come out against the war in Iran, calling it reckless and unjustified. He's also called for the abolition of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, citing the death and destruction the agency has caused under President Trump's cruel immigration crackdown and the fatal shootings of two Minneapolis protesters—both U.S. citizens—by federal agents. As the ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, Tonko blasted the administration for its Feb. 12 decision to repeal the Environmental Protection Agency's “endangerment finding,” a long-standing, scientifically proven conclusion that greenhouse gases are dangerous to humans and the planet.He stood with United University Professions in our fight against the Trump administration's drastic 2025 cuts to federal research funding. In February 2025, Tonko joined with three other New York House Democrats to criticize the National Institutes of Health for drastically reducing grant funding for indirect costs. In our Lookback segment, Mike Lisi remembers the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire which took place on March 25, 1911 and the quirky, nearly two-month strike of San Francisco's KMPX-FM, America's first underground rock station, which started March 18, 1968. In Kowal's Coda, The Voice Podcast host Fred Kowal provides commentary on the war in Iran and why the this chaotic action - which came without a declaration of war by Congress - has occurred. Links to music from this episode: Metropolitan Klesmer: "Die Fire Korbunes (The Fire's Sacrifices)" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6OP6GRkSNoAce of Cups: "Feel Good" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KqPCFw-VHQ
Uisce Éireann has admitted it's embarrassed by instances of raw sewage discharge at Clare beaches. The water utility was fined €32,000 by the Environmental Protection Agency last October for offences relating to discharges in Lahinch and Miltown Malbay, Following his presentation to members of Clare County Council's Economic Development Strategic Policy Committee this week, Uisce Éireann's John Dempsey was asked by Lahinch Fine Gael Councillor Bill Slattery what measures are being taken to ensure water is of a sufficient quality going forward. The meeting also heard from Ennis Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat Daly who raised the long-running debacle of Noel O'Loughlin who's been trying to build additional needs accommodation in Ruan for over 20 years but is unable to do so due to insufficient wastewater capacity. Clare FM's Seán Lyons was at the meeting and first caught up with Councillor Slattery in relation to the issues in Lahinch. Photo (c) Andrei310 from Getty Images via Canva
The endangerment finding paved the way for federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from cars, trucks, and power plants. Now that the Environmental Protection Agency has repealed the finding, the future of U.S. climate policy is in limbo. Marketplace's Amy Scott joins Kimberly to explain what the repeal could mean for the auto industry, American consumers, and the United States' place in the global transition to clean energy.
The endangerment finding paved the way for federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from cars, trucks, and power plants. Now that the Environmental Protection Agency has repealed the finding, the future of U.S. climate policy is in limbo. Marketplace's Amy Scott joins Kimberly to explain what the repeal could mean for the auto industry, American consumers, and the United States' place in the global transition to clean energy.
A billion-dollar salmon fishery hangs in the balance as Pebble Mine resurfaces. The long-running fight over the proposed Bristol Bay mine is back in the national spotlight, and hunters and anglers should be paying attention. At the center of the debate is the Pebble Mine, a massive open-pit mining project slated for the headwaters of the world's largest wild sockeye salmon run. For decades, Bristol Bay has been a cornerstone of Alaska salmon fishing, supporting a billion-dollar commercial fishery and world-class sport fishing for wild sockeye. It's also vital habitat for trout fishing, bear hunting, and subsistence lifestyles that depend on intact salmon runs. The concern has always been simple: large-scale mining in the watershed could devastate spawning habitat and permanently damage one of the greatest fisheries on earth. After the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers denied a key permit in 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a rare veto in 2023 under Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act. Now, the Department of Justice has reinforced that veto in court, defending the decision to block the mine as proposed. For sportsmen and women who value sustainable fisheries, wild salmon conservation, and the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, this is a major moment. The outcome will shape how America balances resource development with the protection of critical hunting and fishing habitat for generations. Follow the show for more weekly hunting and fishing conversations. Get the FREE Sportsmen's Voice e-publication in your inbox every Monday: www.congressionalsportsmen.org/newsletter Follow The Sportsmen's Voice wherever you get your podcasts: https://podfollow.com/1705085498 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As the world contends with increasingly destructive and costly climate-fueled disasters, the Trump administration has announced that it is eliminating the government's ability to fight climate change.Trump's Environmental Protection Agency is erasing the scientific finding, known as the “endangerment clause,” that permits it to take action to protect public health and the environment.“Led by a president who refers to climate change as a ‘hoax,' the administration is essentially saying that the vast majority of scientists around the world are wrong and that a hotter planet is not the menace that decades of research shows it to be,” reported the New York Times.I turned to Bill McKibben to glean the significance and implications of this latest development. McKibben is arguably the world's foremost reporter and organizer on the climate crisis. His 1989 book The End of Nature was the first book for a general audience about climate change, and he has gone on to author over 20 other books.He is a regular contributor to The New Yorker, the New York Times, and to his Substack, The Crucial Years. He is the Schumann Distinguished Scholar in Environmental Studies at Middlebury College. McKibben is also the founder of Third Act, which organizes people over the age of 60 for progressive change.
When the world gets scary, investors are usually very hungry for bonds because they're safer bets than the stock market. But with the war in Iran, bond yields are going up, yet investors aren't as hungry for them. The reason? Inflation. And later in the program, the Environmental Protection Agency scrapped its “endangerment finding.” We'll discuss what that means for the auto industry and emissions standards.
When the world gets scary, investors are usually very hungry for bonds because they're safer bets than the stock market. But with the war in Iran, bond yields are going up, yet investors aren't as hungry for them. The reason? Inflation. And later in the program, the Environmental Protection Agency scrapped its “endangerment finding.” We'll discuss what that means for the auto industry and emissions standards.
Two Penn legal experts discuss the strategy behind EPA’s rescission of the Endangerment Finding and the court challenges ahead. --- On February 12, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency formally rescinded the endangerment finding, the 2009 determination that established the legal basis for federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions. For 16 years, that finding has underpinned EPA climate policy, reflecting the agency’s conclusion that greenhouse gases pose a threat to human health and that, under the law, it was required to regulate them. The move represents a major shift in federal climate policy. But agencies cannot simply reverse themselves without making a legal case that can withstand court review. Cary Coglianese of the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and Shelley Welton of the Kleinman Center and Penn Carey Law examine the legal rationale behind the rescission and how it draws on recent Supreme Court decisions that have narrowed federal agency authority. Rather than disputing climate science, the EPA’s argument rests on a more limited reading of its powers under the Clean Air Act. Welton and Coglianese explain how that argument fits within the Court’s evolving approach to administrative power, and what it could mean for the future of federal climate regulation. Cary Coglianese is Director of the Penn Program on Regulation at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. Shelley Welton is Presidential Distinguished Professor of Law and Energy Policy with the Kleinman Center and Penn Carey Law. Related Content Policy Design Issues for Border Carbon Adjustments https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/research/publications/policy-design-issues-for-border-carbon-adjustments/ Boomtowns in the Battery Belt: Risks and Opportunities of Clean Energy Investments in Small Towns of America https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/research/publications/boomtowns-in-the-battery-belt-risks-and-opportunities-of-clean-energy-investments-in-small-towns-of-america/ Energy Policy Now is produced by The Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. For all things energy policy, visit kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Environmental and health organizations around the country recently filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency for rolling back climate protections.
Environmental and health groups have filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency after the Trump administration moved to rescind the "endangerment finding," a 2009 determination that established that greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare. That simple conclusion became the foundation for nearly ever rule limiting pollution for the last seventeen years. Former Democratic Governor of Washington Jay Inslee, a national leader on climate action, joins the show from Portland, Oregon. Also on today's show: Famed filmmaker Werner Herzog and conservation biologist Steve Boyes discuss "Ghost Elephants"; former NYT opinion columnist David Brooks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) decision to rescind the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding is drawing sharp rebuke from scientists and environmental advocates, but the decision may not withstand challenges in the courts. That's the assessment offered by Jody Freeman, the Archibald Cox Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, in the newest episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.” The podcast is produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program. Read a transcript of the podcast: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/2026-03/jody-freeman-podcast-transcript-march-2026.pdf
On February 12, the Environmental Protection Agency dealt a major blow to the government's power to fight climate change by rescinding a key piece of research called the endangerment finding. The finding, issued in 2009, basically says: Greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and welfare—and because they're harmful, they must be regulated. It's the legal basis for the federal government's regulation of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. So what does it mean that this finding has been thrown out? Host Flora Lichtman digs into this question with Andy Miller, an original author on the endangerment finding who spent more than 30 years working for the EPA. Guest: Dr. Andy Miller worked on air pollution and climate change at the EPA for more than 30 years. He was an original author on Endangerment Finding. Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.
Lee Zeldin, serving as the 17th administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency since January 29, 2025, joined us on the Guy Benson Show today to discuss Trump's State of the Union speech last night. Zeldin also brought updates on the DMV's sewage spill into the Potomac and Trump's massive push for environmental deregulation, and you can listen to the full interview below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Environmental Protection Agency recently announced it was rescinding the 2009 endangerment finding, the legal foundation for federal regulation of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. The administration has called the move the largest deregulatory action in U.S. history. What does it actually do? And what happens next? On this episode of Stanford Legal, Professor Deborah Sivas, an expert in environmental law, joins co-host Pam Karlan to unpack the legal strategy behind the repeal, the role of recent Supreme Court decisions, and what's likely to unfold in the courts. Among other ramifications, they also explore California's authority to adopt its own, more aggressive emissions standards and what this latest move by the Trump administration signals for the future of federal climate regulation. Links: Deborah Sivas >>> Stanford Law page Environmental Law Clinic >>> Stanford Law page Connect: Episode Transcripts >>> Stanford Legal Podcast Website Stanford Legal Podcast >>> LinkedIn Page Rich Ford >>> Twitter/X Pam Karlan >>> Stanford Law School Page Diego Zambrano >>> Stanford Law School Page Stanford Law School >>> Twitter/X Stanford Lawyer Magazine >>> Twitter/X (00:00:00): The EPA's rescission of the Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding (00:06:43): Climate science consensus and legal strategy (00:16:01): The litigation roadmap: process vs. substance (00:29:53): Wind power on the cusp (00:30:10): Solar economics and federal land authority Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The Environmental Protection Agency is moving to scale back limits on toxic emissions from coal-burning power plants, clearing the way for them to emit more hazardous pollutants, such as mercury. Advocates are warning that rolling back limits could harm human health and drive up health care costs. Stephanie Sy discussed more with John Walke of the Natural Resources Defense Council. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
The Environmental Protection Agency is moving to scale back limits on toxic emissions from coal-burning power plants, clearing the way for them to emit more hazardous pollutants, such as mercury. Advocates are warning that rolling back limits could harm human health and drive up health care costs. Stephanie Sy discussed more with John Walke of the Natural Resources Defense Council. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
The Navy is no longer required to meet with community members regarding the 2021 Red Hill fuel spill that contaminated drinking water for more than 90,000 Oahu residents, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Plus, a bill honoring a 16-year-old girl killed at the hands of a reckless, unlicensed driver now has another name to it: Koali Denning-Ring.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
More than a dozen health and environmental groups are suing the Environmental Protection Agency over its rollback of a rule that fought climate change. The “endangerment finding”, states that the buildup of heat-trapping pollution in the atmosphere endangers public health. The rollback is widely seen as a major setback to efforts to combat the climate crisis.
This Day in Legal History: Edison Receives Patent on PhonographOn February 19, 1878, Thomas Edison received a patent for one of his most transformative inventions: the phonograph. The device could record and reproduce sound, a breakthrough that stunned the public and reshaped the relationship between technology and creativity. Until that point, copyright law primarily protected written works such as books, maps, and sheet music. The phonograph introduced an entirely new category of expression—recorded sound—that did not fit neatly into existing statutes. Lawmakers and courts were soon confronted with a difficult question: who owns a performance once it is captured on a machine?Early copyright frameworks did not clearly account for performers' rights in recorded works. As the recording industry grew, pressure mounted to recognize both composers and performers as legal stakeholders. Congress responded incrementally, expanding federal copyright protections to cover sound recordings in the twentieth century. These changes reflected a broader shift toward adapting intellectual property law to technological innovation. Courts also played a role by interpreting statutes in ways that acknowledged the economic realities of recorded music. The phonograph's legacy thus extends far beyond its mechanical design. It forced the legal system to confront how creative labor should be valued in an age of reproduction. In doing so, Edison's invention helped lay the foundation for modern intellectual property law governing sound recording and broadcasting.A coalition of environmental and public health organizations has filed suit against the Trump administration over its decision to revoke the scientific “endangerment finding” that underpins federal climate regulations. The case was brought in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and also challenges the Environmental Protection Agency's move to repeal vehicle tailpipe emissions limits. The administration recently announced it would eliminate the 17-year-old finding and end greenhouse gas standards for model years 2012 through 2027.The endangerment finding, first adopted in 2009, concluded that greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare, triggering regulatory authority under the Clean Air Act. Its repeal would remove requirements for measuring and complying with federal vehicle emissions standards, though immediate effects on stationary sources like power plants remain uncertain. The administration characterized the rollback as a major cost-saving measure, estimating $1.3 trillion in taxpayer savings.By contrast, the Biden administration had previously argued the vehicle standards would produce net consumer benefits, including lower fuel and maintenance costs averaging thousands of dollars over a vehicle's lifetime. The lawsuit marks one of the most significant legal challenges yet to President Trump's broader effort to scale back climate policy, promote fossil fuel development, withdraw from the Paris Agreement, and dismantle clean energy incentives. Transportation and power generation each account for roughly a quarter of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, underscoring the stakes of the regulatory reversal.Environmental groups challenge Trump decision to revoke basis of US climate regulations | ReutersMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is scheduled to testify in a Los Angeles jury trial examining whether Instagram harms young users' mental health. The case centers on allegations that Meta designed its platform to keep children engaged despite knowing about potential psychological risks. A California woman who began using Instagram and YouTube as a child claims the platforms contributed to her depression and suicidal thoughts. She is seeking damages, arguing the companies prioritized profit over user well-being.Meta and Google deny the accusations and point to safety features they have implemented. Meta has also cited research suggesting that evidence does not conclusively show social media directly changes children's mental health. Defense attorneys argue the plaintiff's struggles stem from personal and family issues rather than her social media use.The lawsuit is part of a broader wave of litigation in the United States, where families, schools, and states have filed thousands of similar claims against major tech companies. Internationally, governments such as Australia have imposed age-based restrictions, and other countries are considering similar measures. The trial could test the tech industry's longstanding legal protections against liability for user harm. If the plaintiff prevails, the verdict may weaken those defenses and open the door to additional claims. Zuckerberg is expected to face questions about internal company research concerning Instagram's effects on teens.Meta's Zuckerberg faces questioning at youth addiction trial | ReutersA federal judge in San Francisco has ordered a lawyer representing passengers in sexual assault litigation against Uber to pay sanctions for violating a protective order. The ruling requires attorney Bret Stanley to pay $30,000 in legal fees to Uber after he disclosed confidential company information obtained during discovery. The case is part of consolidated litigation accusing Uber of failing to implement adequate safety measures and background checks for drivers, claims the company denies.U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisa Cisneros found that Stanley improperly shared the names of internal Uber policies in unrelated lawsuits and with other plaintiffs' attorneys. Uber argued that he used the confidential material as a roadmap to pursue evidence in other cases. The judge concluded that Stanley acted unreasonably by unilaterally deciding to disclose protected information. However, she rejected Uber's request for more than $168,000 in fees, finding that the company had not demonstrated significant harm from the disclosures.Stanley defended his actions, stating he intended to streamline discovery in related cases and accused Uber of delaying document production nationwide. The judge also indicated Stanley will owe additional fees tied to a separate sanctions request, after finding he searched case documents to assist another lawsuit. The decision comes shortly after a federal jury awarded $8.5 million to a woman who alleged she was sexually assaulted by an Uber driver.Uber wins sanctions against lawyer for sexual assault plaintiffs | 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
The Trump administration has revoked the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to regulate greenhouse gases, a major cause of climate change and millions of premature deaths from air pollution every year. Professor Richard Wolff and Brian Becker discuss why this is happening, and the even more dire level of air and water pollution in the United States before the EPA.Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work at rdwolff.com.Join the The Socialist Program community at http://www.patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.
Sources suggest the Environmental Protection Agency is expected to submit proposed biofuel blending quotas to the White House this week. The Trump administration hopes to finalize the measures by the end of March. Health and environmental groups are posing a legal challenge to the EPA's recission of the endangerment finding. The USDA's 102nd Outlook Forum begins tomorrow in Crystal City.
It’s been nearly 200 years since the founding of the first African Institute in the United States. Since that time, historically Black colleges and universities continue to influence society and impact diverse students of every race and cultural background. On Wednesday’s “Closer Look with Rose Scott,” we spoke to Chicago PBS News Anchor Brandis Friedman about her new documentary, “Opportunity, Access & Uplift: The Evolving Legacy of HBCUs.” Following the Trump Administration’s repeal of the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2009 Endangerment Finding, “Closer Look,” is joined by Diamond Spratling, the founder and executive director of Girl + Environment. Through her work, she raises awareness about what’s harming the environment, plus trains and teaches Black and Brown women to advocate for climate solutions. She shares how President Trump’s actions could harm vulnerable communities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Environmental Protection Agency rescinds its 2009 assertion that it can regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, because they "endanger" public health. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin says this means cheaper cars and no more EV mandates, but is it going next to the courts, and maybe the Supreme Court? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
John talks about the DOJ dropping charges against two immigrant men arrested and shot by ICE officers in Minneapolis last month after ZERO evidence backed up the agency's charges. Now, two of the officers are under investigation for lying about the incident. John also discusses Trump revoking a landmark ruling saying greenhouse gasses actually DON'T endanger the people on this planet. Then, he talks about this topic with Jeremy Symons who is a veteran environmental policy strategist and clean-air expert with decades of experience shaping U.S. climate and public-health protections in and around the Environmental Protection Agency. His work focuses on how regulatory decisions translate into real-world consequences—especially for children, older adults, and communities living near highways, power plants, and industrial sites. Next, John welcomes back Professor Corey Brettschneider to chat about President's Day his book "The Presidents and the People: Five Leaders Who Threatened Democracy and the Citizens Who Fought to Defend It". Then lastly, TV's Frank Conniff joins the fun to joke with listeners about pop culture and life in Trumpland.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Last week, President Trump announced he was overturning the Environmental Protection Agency’s "endangerment finding.” That finding is a scientific conclusion signed by the EPA in 2009. It determined that greenhouse gases are harmful to people and the environment, and it allowed the EPA to regulate heat trapping emissions like carbon dioxide and methane. The current Presidential administration says that climate change is a “hoax” and that environmental regulations hinder the economy. Current EPA head Lee Zeldin is praising the move by Trump. Environmental activists and democratic lawmakers took no time to denounce the decision, saying that it will harm public health and lead to intensifying climate change related catastrophes, such as wildfires, heatwaves, and flooding. And, of course, there’s a court challenge. California Governor Gavin Newsom stated that California intends to sue the federal government over this change – potentially leading to a drawn out, years long battle to determine what the EPA can and cannot do when it comes to greenhouse gas regulation. Washington attorney general Nick Brown has promised something similar. But how could its repeal change climate science and policy in the United States? And what does it mean for Washington? Guests: David Battisti - Professor of Atmospheric and Climate Science and Tamaki Endowed Chair at the University of Washington Former Washington State Governor Jay Inslee Related stories: As U.S. abandons climate fight, Washington state feels the heat to do more - KUOW Trump Administration Erases the Government’s Power to Fight Climate Change - NYT Future of Washington state’s climate-pollution fund up in the air - KUOW Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Trump administration has rescinded the Environmental Protection Agency's “endangerment finding,” the scientific finding that greenhouse gas emissions harm the public. We discuss what's behind the change and what it could mean for Americans.This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, climate correspondent Jeff Brady, and political correspondent Ashley Lopez.This podcast was produced by Bria Suggs and edited by Rachel Baye.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
By now, we know that our society has a problem with plastics. They seem to have made their way into every aspect of our lives. They're inescapable, but this is a problem that doesn't need to last forever. It is a problem we can solve, or at least, that's what the new book The Problem with Plastic argues. We've been told for decades that recycling would solve the plastic crisis — but it hasn't. The truth is, we can't recycle our way out of this problem. Plastic recycling has never worked at scale, and the real solution is far more straightforward: we have to stop making so much plastic in the first place. That change won't happen without policy, and when everyday people use their voices to push policymakers at every level to cut plastic production and address this crisis before it's too late. In episode 211 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we hear from the author of THE PROBLEM WITH PLASTIC, Judith Enck.Judith is the founder and president of Beyond Plastics, whose goal is eliminating plastic pollution everywhere. She was appointed by President Obama to serve as regional administrator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2009 and served as deputy secretary for the environment in the New York Governor's Office. She is currently a professor at Bennington College and lives in upstate New York.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/Website: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalistBuy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/outdoorminimalistListener Survey: https://forms.gle/jd8UCN2LL3AQst976------------------The Problem with Plastics: https://www.beyondplastics.org/publications/problem-with-plastic-bookBeyond Plastics: https://www.beyondplastics.org/Judith Enck: https://judithenck.com/
The Context of White Supremacy hosts the weekly Compensatory Call-In 02/14/25. We encourage non-white listeners to dial in with their codified concepts, new terms, observations, research findings, workplace problems or triumphs, and/or suggestions on how best to Replace White Supremacy With Justice ASAP. This weekly broadcast examines current events from across the globe to learn what's happening in all areas of people activity. We cultivate Counter-Racist Media Literacy by scrutinizing journalists' word choices and using logic to deconstruct what is reported as "news." We'll use these sessions to hone our use of terms as tools to reveal truth, neutralize Racists/White people. #ANTIBLACKNESS In the middle of Black History Month, Pres. Donald J. Trump refused to apology and acknowledged making no mistakes by posting a video of Michelle and Barack Obama's affixed to monkeys. The current president then proceeded to obliterate Obama-era greenhouse gas regulations at the Environmental Protection Agency. This continues a cesspool-ian pattern of polluting and toxifying the planet - especially regions where non-white people are forced to reside. We also hear a number of reports about Racist incidents in schools. Teachers re-enacting slave auctions and high school ball players being called racist insults during the contest. A number of black parents articulated frustration with having to talk to their very young children about the System of White Supremacy. #EndStageWhiteSupremacy #COINTELPRO #TheCOWS17Years INVEST in The COWS – http://paypal.me/TheCOWS Cash App: https://cash.app/$TheCOWS CALL IN NUMBER: 720.716.7300 CODE 564943#
The Trump administration strips the Environmental Protection Agency of much of its power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions -- revoking a ruling that said they pose a threat to public health. As the people of Tumbler Ridge, BC gather for a vigil, an Alberta father who lost his son in a school shooting also mourns their loss -- and tells us how he survived his. After student protests toppled the longtime leader of Bangladesh, the country elects a new government. One young voter tells us it was his first chance to vote for his future. Researchers discover that a nineteenth-century house-turned-museum in New York City was a stop on the Underground Railroad, after deciphering a cleverly hidden secret compartment. Scientists develop a wearable device to measure human flatulence -- with the noble goal of creating a complete flatus atlas. Italy's national broadcaster for airing an Olympics promo in which a famous male figure drawn by Leonardo da Vinci appears, with his genitals erased. As It Happens, the Friday Edition. Radio that thinks you've gotta draw the loin somewhere.
Federal immigration agents are pulling back from Minnesota after months of aggressive immigration enforcement that led to thousands of arrests, weeks of protests, and the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens. Congress is racing to fund the Department of Homeland Security before a shutdown, with Democrats demanding changes to immigration enforcement and negotiations still stalled. And the Environmental Protection Agency is scrapping the legal basis for regulating greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks.Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Eric Westervelt, Jason Breslow, Kara Platoni, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Alice Woelfle.It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.Our director is Christopher Thomas.We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor.(0:00) Introduction(01:55) ICE Leaving Minnesota(05:48) DHS Funding Deadline (09:31) EPA Vehicle EmissionsLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
The Environmental Protection Agency, under orders from President Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, has ended controversial Obama-era greenhouse regulations. Glenn applauds this effort and argues it puts America back on track to a free society. Glenn heads to the chalkboard to break down how more governmental regulations mean less personal freedom and open the door to a crippling, monopolistic society. Glenn discusses American society 100 years ago, when the car industry was booming as well as its downfall as environmental lobbyists took it over. Lee Zeldin joins to discuss how rolling back Obama- and Biden-era regulations was the “single largest deregulatory action in U.S. history.” Glenn and Jason discuss the latest updates in Cuba as Glenn explains why he believes we're on the edge of another Cuban Missile Crisis. Singer and songwriter Jeffrey Steele joins to discuss how Charlie Kirk's assassination inspired him to write “A Voice” and how he now sees it as a powerful way to empower those who feel politically or societally marginalized. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On Thursday, Feb. 12, the Environmental Protection Agency announced the revocation of the “endangerment finding,” a federal determination that planet-warming emissions harm human health. The Trump administration said the decision will save Americans $1.3 trillion in energy and transportation, but experts are pushing back on that claim. Plus: The rise of concierge medicine and a look into how AI modeling could play a role in your weather forecast.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.
On Thursday, Feb. 12, the Environmental Protection Agency announced the revocation of the “endangerment finding,” a federal determination that planet-warming emissions harm human health. The Trump administration said the decision will save Americans $1.3 trillion in energy and transportation, but experts are pushing back on that claim. Plus: The rise of concierge medicine and a look into how AI modeling could play a role in your weather forecast.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.
Howie Kurtz on the Trump Administration moving to strip the Environmental Protection Agency of its authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions tied to climate change, Catherine Ruhmer resigning as top attorney at Goldman Sachs over her ties to Jeffrey Epstein, and the ongoing FBI-led search for Savannah Guthrie's missing mother. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency is expected on Thursday to repeal a scientific finding that requires the federal government to fight global warming. The move is the latest push by the Trump administration to wipe out climate regulations in the United States.Lisa Friedman, a New York Times reporter who covers climate policy, has spent the past few weeks piecing together the inside story of how a small group of activists turned its goal of rolling back environmental protections into reality.Guest: Lisa Friedman, a reporter covering climate policy and politics at The New York Times.Background reading: President Trump's allies are near a “total victory” in wiping out a central U.S. climate regulation.Four Trump allies have been a driving force behind the administration's efforts to rollback the rule.Photo: Evelyn Hockstein/ReutersFor more information on today's episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The Environmental Protection Agency repealed its own landmark assessment that greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare. Until today's shift, the 'endangerment finding' had been the legal foundation for many of the federal government's climate regulations. William Brangham reports for our series, Tipping Point. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
Over the past year, the Trump administration has been eliminating policies aimed at slowing down climate change – and now, it may go even further. This week, the Environmental Protection Agency plans to repeal the “endangerment finding” that has been the scientific basis of rules limiting greenhouse gas emissions since 2009. To talk more about this endangerment finding and where the fight against climate change goes from here, we spoke to Leah Stokes. She's an associate professor at UC Santa Barbara where she works on climate and clean energy policy and co-host of the climate podcast, A Matter of Degrees. And in headlines, Department of Homeland Security officials testify before Congress, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick admits to lunching with his kids on Epstein Island, and the Trump administration takes down a rainbow flag at the Stonewall National Monument in New York City.Show Notes: Check out Leah's podcast – https://www.degreespod.com/ Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8 What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Washington, D.C., to weigh in on President Trump's negotiations with Iran. Jake Sullivan, former President Joe Biden's national security advisor, explains more.Then, the Environmental Protection Agency is rescinding a scientific finding that allows the federal government to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Science and sustainability professor Michael Mann details what this means for the fight against climate change.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
It's Wednesday, February 11th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Christians are leaving volatile Middle East The number of Christians in the Middle East is falling as religious freedom deteriorates in the region. Karmella Borashan of the Assyrian International Council addressed the International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, D.C. last week. She warned, “Christianity is fading from the Middle East and [Christians] are placed in the mercy of the perpetrators. Once we had 1.5 million Christians; now we have only less than 300,000 left.” Assyrian Christians, in particular, face persecution from Muslim Jihadists in Syria and Iraq. Hebrews 13:3 says, “Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.” U.S. and Hungary partner to advance religious freedom Speaking of the Middle East, the United States and Hungary signed an agreement last week to advance religious freedom in the region. The U.S. Department of State noted, “Christians are the most persecuted religious group worldwide, yet atrocities and attacks against them too often go unaddressed. Such persecution presents a threat to American security and undermines the values upon which our nation was built.” Hungary has already been supporting suffering believers for years through its office of Aid for Persecuted Christians. The new agreement is focused on aiding the church in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. More Gen Zers attending church in New Zealand Baptist churches in New Zealand are seeing increased interest from young people. Gen Z has reportedly been leading a rise in church attendance in the West, known as the “quiet revival.” The 2025 Annual Report for the Baptist Churches of New Zealand noted similar findings for its young people. Youth attendance in these churches increased 24% between 2022 and 2024. And people under the age of 25 accounted for nearly 60% of baptisms reported. Trump tosses Obama's global warming policy In the United States, the Trump administration is expected to repeal an Obama-era climate change policy this week. The policy is known as the Endangerment Finding. It claimed that greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, are a danger to public health. The finding has been the legal basis for regulating greenhouse gas emissions. The Environmental Protection Agency plans to rescind the rule, making it “the largest act of deregulation in the history of the United States.” Is social media addictive to kids? Major social media companies are facing landmark trials this year for how their platforms affect children. A case against Google-owned YouTube and Meta-owned Instagram begins this week. The companies face accusations that their platforms were designed to be addictive for kids. The platforms TikTok and Snap were initially named in the lawsuit, but settled for undisclosed amounts. Floridian Christian defended for objecting to pro-abort COVID shot Liberty Counsel recently filed an appeal on behalf of a Christian who lost his job for not getting the COVID-19 shot, reports LifeSiteNews.com. Christian Marin worked for Nemours Children's Hospital in Florida. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he refused to get the shot due to his pro-life beliefs. The hospital fired him in 2021. And the Florida Commission on Human Relations sided with the hospital in 2023. Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, “Nemours [Hospital] violated Marin's religious protections and should be held accountable.” RFK partners with Christian recovery programs for addicts & homeless The Trump administration is welcoming faith-based organizations to participate in a new recovery program for drug addiction and homelessness. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made the announcement last week at Prevention Day. It's the largest government-sponsored gathering dedicated to advancing the prevention of substance use. Listen to comments from Secretary Kennedy. KENNEDY: “This is a chronic disease. It's a physical disease. It's a mental disease. It's an emotional disease. But, above all, it's a spiritual disease. And we need to recognize that faith-based organizations play a critical role, helping people re-establish their connections to community.” Grandfather recorded entire Bible on audio for grandkids And finally, a grandfather went viral since December for giving his grandchildren a recording of him reading the entire Bible for Christmas. It took the grandfather over a year to complete. A video of him sharing the gift got more than a million views across social media. The video was originally posted by Tiffany Shabazz. She said, “We shared one video of Grandpa giving us such a personal meaningful gift and now everyone wants a copy. I can't believe how many people this has reached. God is definitely in this story. … We are up to needing 118 copies for people all over the world.” Psalm 78:4 says, “We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Wednesday, February 11th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.
Reuters reports that the Environmental Protection Agency will roll back its "endangerment finding" determination, which had been at the core of its regulation of gases linked to climate change and recognized greenhouse gases as a public health threat. Opponents of the rollback say it could encourage states to write new rules on emissions and allow for more pollution. Then, we'll learn how some states are choosing to conform to federal tax changes (or not) made in last summer's huge spending and tax law.
Reuters reports that the Environmental Protection Agency will roll back its "endangerment finding" determination, which had been at the core of its regulation of gases linked to climate change and recognized greenhouse gases as a public health threat. Opponents of the rollback say it could encourage states to write new rules on emissions and allow for more pollution. Then, we'll learn how some states are choosing to conform to federal tax changes (or not) made in last summer's huge spending and tax law.
Judith Enck, joins This Is Hell! to talk about the book that she recently co-authored of, "The Problem with Plastic: How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It's Too Late”, published by The New Press. https://thenewpress.org/books/the-problem-with-plastic/?v=eb65bcceaa5f Judith is the founder and president of Beyond Plastics, whose goal is eliminating plastic pollution everywhere. In 2009, she was appointed by President Obama to serve as regional administrator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and served as deputy secretary for the environment in the New York Governor's Office. She is currently a professor at Bennington College, where she teaches classes on plastic pollution. https://www.beyondplastics.org/ We will have new installments of Rotten History and Hangover Cure. We will also be sharing your answers to this week's Question from Hell! from Patreon. Help keep This Is Hell! completely listener supported and access bonus episodes by subscribing to our Patreon: www.patreon.com/thisishell