EDITOR’S NOTE: Welcome to The Heat Beat, a newsletter about climate change, politics, and taking action, written for non-experts by noted non-expert Dave Infante (it me.) If your friend forwarded you this and you’d like to subscribe, smash this here button.
I’m trying out an edition that highlights a few stories briefly, rather than going deep on a single topic. Let me know what you think: dave@dinfontay.com
TOPLINE
A live look at Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency! [via]
Stop The EPA’s “Secret Science” Chicanery
Under the Trump administration, the Environmental Protection Agency has been hard at work uh… not-protecting the environment. Its latest move is another baldfaced attempt to empower industry and erode federal safeguards for American air/water/life: a proposed ban on what it calls “secret science” in future rulemaking. Oy.
Why this matters: The agency says it’s advocating for transparency, which seems good! But watchdogs say that’s transparent deflection from the Trump administration’s real goal, which is to be able to legally ignore important studies on a technicality. Critics say the proposal, which has been on climate-denialist industry wishlists for years, is:
a bid to sideline the science that the EPA uses in regulations, because the agency wouldn’t be able to rely on epidemiological studies that often rely on private medical information.
The (lol) “Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science” proposal is currently up for review in the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee.
CALL: There are currently 39 members of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. Is one of them yours? Give ‘em a ring and tell them you oppose this transparently bad rule.
Environmental Justice Gets An #Election2020 Look
Six Democratic presidential candidates showed up for the first-ever (!) election forum on environmental justice, held at a South Carolina HBCU last Friday. Big shout to Tom Steyer, Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, John Delaney, Joe Sestak, and Marianne Williamson for taking this shit seriously.
Why this matters: Polling has consistently shown that the climate crisis is a winning issue in the Democratic electorate. That constituency is growing younger, poorer, and more nonwhite—all characteristics of communities that are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis.
>>>RELATED HEAT BEAT COVERAGE: Once The Destroy The Environment, They Won’t Be Able To Live Here Either
EJ isn’t just a moral imperative, it’s also a political necessity. It’s about time that mainstream Democratic leaders recognized that.
SIGN: This petition demanding that the Democratic National Committee hosts a presidential debate specifically focused on climate change (something they’ve been weirdly resistant to!)
John Oliver Dunks On Bankrupt Coal Baron (Again)
Remember Bob Murray, the climate-denialist coal baron whose over-leveraged company just went belly up? Of course you do! So does John Oliver. Back in 2017, the fossil-fuel executive sued the HBO host for mocking his cartoonishly evil business practices and general existence.
On Sunday, Oliver squared up to the coal boss again, eviscerating the legal muzzling tactic Murray has long wielded against journalists and celebrating HBO’s victory (on appeal!) in the suit.
Why this matters: Well first of all, Murray is a mega-ho, and watching him get clowned by one of the best in the biz is always a treat. But also, this is a great example of how ultra-wealthy fossil-fuel profiteers turn their hoarded wealth into powerful political influence. Oliver is a high-profile entertainer with a huge platform and HBO’s massive war chest. The company spent $200,000 successfully defeating Murray’s frivolous lawsuit, then the comedian turned it into more #content. But for rank-and-file journalists and community activists, a SLAPP lawsuit (from Murray or otherwise) could be catastrophic, which has a chilling effect on a free press. Not good!
DONATE: Consider sending some dough to the Reporters Committee For Freedom Of The Press, which advocates for journalists in SLAPP suits.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Heat Beat is a newsletter about climate change, politics, and taking action, written for non-experts by noted non-expert Dave Infante (it me.) If you enjoyed this story, please share it with someone you love. Or someone you hate, I guess. Whatever you’re into, really.