The Rubble of Empire
How can you tell when your empire is crumbling? Some signs are actually visible from my own front window here in San Francisco.
American politics
Washington State Considers Climate Impact of Major Petrochemical Plant With ‘Pattern of Influence Peddling’
In 2014, a company named Northwest Innovation Works (NWIW) proposed building a multi-billion-dollar petrochemical project in Kalama, Washington, a port town roughly 40 miles north of Portland, Oregon.
Climate Policy in the Biden Era: A Look Ahead to the Political Environment
Climate politics has taken a 180-degree turn in favor of federal action thanks to the voters of Georgia. The Democrats’ surprising double win in the Peach State’s runoff elections has turned the US Senate from red to blue—or more accurately blue-ish.
We Don’t Live in a World of Cartoon Villains
There are people at every part of that spectrum who care about building local resilience. The Strong Towns approach is radical, but not in a way that fits into ideologues’ narrative boxes.
2020: The Year Consensus Reality Fractured
In short, prior to the year now ending, consensus reality in the US was already starting to crumble. But 2020 delivered two sledgehammer blows: a pandemic and a polarizing presidential election.
Climate Policy in the Biden Era: A House Divided
The momentum of the 2018 Congressional midterm elections in which the Democrats gained 42 seats and regained their majority status in the House of Representatives lost steam in 2020.
Alaska Drilling Project Squashed By Court Decision Was Touted By Oil-Friendly Former Trump Official
This week, a federal court overturned the Trump administration’s approval for what would have been Alaska’s first drilling project in federal waters, citing faulty analyses of how the Arctic oil and gas facility would affect the climate and polar bears.
Climate Policy in the Biden Era: Georgia on My Mind
On January 5, 2021, Georgia voters will again be casting ballots to fill both of its US Senate seats. The outcome of the Peach State’s balloting is second in importance only to November’s presidential contest.
Climate Policy in the Biden Era: Divided They Are
President-Elect Biden ran as a unifier in a time of deep division. His job as president has been made all the more difficult by voters having denied the Democrats control of Congress.
Climate Policy in the Biden Era: Déjà vu All Over Again?
The 2020 elections are almost history. What’s left are the Georgia Senate runoff elections in January, and President Trump running out of brows to beat, and judges willing to indulge his unsubstantiated claims.
What Could Possibly Go Right?: Episode 24 Thom Hartmann
Thom Hartmann has been the nation’s #1 progressive talk show host for over a decade.
Recorded in the lead up to the US presidential election, Thom shares his thoughts on What Could Possibly Go Right?
Climate Policy in the Biden Era: On a Personnel Note
The transition from candidate to president provides critical clues as to how he is likely to rule. Above everything else, politics is a team sport.