EJToday: Top Environmental Politics Headlines

Trump Backs FCC Chief’s Threat To Broadcasters, Attacks Iran War Coverage [9]

"Brendan Carr warned media outlets to correct course or lose their licenses, as Trump escalated attacks on the media over Iran war coverage."

Environmental Politics [10]
Government [11]
Journalism & Media [12]
Laws & Regulations [13]
Public [14]
National (U.S.) [15]
Source: Washington Post [16], 03/16/2026
- Read more about Trump Backs FCC Chief’s Threat To Broadcasters, Attacks Iran War Coverage [9]
EPA Moves To Weaken Pollution Limits On Toxic Chemical Ethylene Oxide [17]

"The Environmental Protection Agency proposed Friday to weaken air pollution limits on a chemical used to sterilize medical equipment, a move that would reverse a Biden administration finding of high cancer risks at manufacturing facilities that use ethylene oxide to clean medical devices like catheters and syringes."

Air [18]
Chemicals [19]
Environmental Health [20]
Environmental Justice [21]
Environmental Politics [10]
Laws & Regulations [13]
Pollution [22]
Public [14]
National (U.S.) [15]
Source: AP [23], 03/16/2026
- Read more about EPA Moves To Weaken Pollution Limits On Toxic Chemical Ethylene Oxide [17]
"Trump Administration Approves Ultra-Deepwater Oil Drilling Plan" [24]

"The Trump administration on Friday approved a $5 billion oil drilling project in ultradeep waters of the Gulf of Mexico over protests from Democrats and environmental activists who said the venture posed significant risks to wildlife and communities."

Climate Change [25]
Disasters [26]
Energy & Fuel [27]
Environmental Politics [10]
Fish & Fisheries [28]
Infrastructure [29]
Laws & Regulations [13]
Pollution [22]
Water & Oceans [30]
Public [14]
National (U.S.) [15]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [31]
Source: NYTimes [32], 03/16/2026
- Read more about "Trump Administration Approves Ultra-Deepwater Oil Drilling Plan" [24]
First US Critical Minerals Mine Nears Approval in AZ Biodiversity Hotspot [33]

"The U.S. Forest Service said it plans to approve South32’s Hermosa project in Patagonia, Arizona, despite the water problems the mine is already causing."

Environmental Politics [10]
Environmental Studies [34]
Laws & Regulations [13]
Natural Resources [35]
Pollution [22]
Waste [36]
Water & Oceans [30]
Public [14]
National (U.S.) [15]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [37]
Source: Inside Climate News [38], 03/16/2026
- Read more about First US Critical Minerals Mine Nears Approval in AZ Biodiversity Hotspot [33]
"Eye Doctor Named to Air Pollution Advisory Board Draws Pushback" [39]

"The Trump administration has tapped an eye doctor with no background in air pollution science to advise the Environmental Protection Agency on what levels of air pollutants are safe to breathe."

Air [18]
Consumer [40]
Economy & Business [41]
Environmental Health [20]
Environmental Politics [10]
Health [42]
Laws & Regulations [13]
Pollution [22]
Public [14]
National (U.S.) [15]
Source: NYTimes [43], 03/13/2026
- Read more about "Eye Doctor Named to Air Pollution Advisory Board Draws Pushback" [39]
"Trump Admin Fires New Shot in Fight Over California Clean Car Rules" [44]

"The Trump administration on Thursday filed a new lawsuit against California over its strict limits on planet-warming pollution from cars, arguing that the restrictions would unlawfully force a rapid transition to electric vehicles in the state."

Air [18]
Climate Change [25]
Consumer [40]
Energy & Fuel [27]
Environmental Politics [10]
Laws & Regulations [13]
Pollution [22]
Technology [45]
Public [14]
National (U.S.) [15]
California [46]
Source: NYTimes [47], 03/13/2026
- Read more about "Trump Admin Fires New Shot in Fight Over California Clean Car Rules" [44]
"Big Bend Wall Opponents Ask Congress To Block Funds" [48]

"In a map update posted last month to U.S. Custom and Border Protection’s website, the agency charted a major expansion of the border wall. It included terrain belonging to one of America’s most iconic wild areas, Big Bend National Park, an 800,000-acre desert landscape that includes the entire Chisos mountain range and more than 100 miles of the Rio Grande."

Biodiversity [49]
Environmental Politics [10]
Infrastructure [29]
People & Population [50]
Water & Oceans [30]
Wildlife [51]
Public [14]
National (U.S.) [15]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [37]
Source: Public Domain [52], 03/13/2026
- Read more about "Big Bend Wall Opponents Ask Congress To Block Funds" [48]
"Illinois To Data Centers: Bring Your Own Renewables And Skip The Line" [53]

"Proposed legislation offers perks for data centers that invest in clean energy. A broad coalition supports the bill, but details still need to be hammered out."

Climate Change [25]
Energy & Fuel [27]
Environmental Politics [10]
Infrastructure [29]
Laws & Regulations [13]
Technology [45]
Public [14]
National (U.S.) [15]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [54]
Source: Canary Media [55], 03/13/2026
- Read more about "Illinois To Data Centers: Bring Your Own Renewables And Skip The Line" [53]
As Iran War Shakes Energy System, Some See Strong Case For Renewable Energy [56]

"World leaders have tried and failed to curb climate change by appealing to nations to act for the common good. Now, the Iran war and its costly energy crunch have some experts wondering if selfishness and nationalism may be a more likely way to save the planet, by boosting support for homegrown renewables over imported fossil fuels."

Climate Change [25]
Energy & Fuel [27]
Environmental Politics [10]
Pollution [22]
Technology [45]
Public [14]
National (U.S.) [15]
International [57]
Source: AP [58], 03/13/2026
- Read more about As Iran War Shakes Energy System, Some See Strong Case For Renewable Energy [56]
EPA Chief Met With Bayer CEO Over Supreme Court Fight, Agency Records Show [59]

"Top US regulators met with Bayer’s CEO last year to discuss “litigation” issues – including “Supreme Court Action” over its glyphosate weed killer – just months before the Trump administration took a series of steps to boost Bayer’s case at the high court, internal government records show."

Agriculture [60]
Chemicals [19]
Environmental Health [20]
Environmental Politics [10]
Laws & Regulations [13]
Pollution [22]
Public [14]
National (U.S.) [15]
Source: The New Lede [61], 03/12/2026
- Read more about EPA Chief Met With Bayer CEO Over Supreme Court Fight, Agency Records Show [59]
"EPA Axes Union Contract" [62]

"EPA is canceling its collective bargaining agreement with its second-biggest union, a fierce critic of the Trump administration."

Environmental Health [20]
Environmental Justice [21]
Environmental Politics [10]
Government [11]
Laws & Regulations [13]
People & Population [50]
Public [14]
National (U.S.) [15]
Source: E&E News [63], 03/12/2026
- Read more about "EPA Axes Union Contract" [62]
"Civil Rights Case Probes Racism Behind Cancer Alley Pollution" [64]

"A major environmental justice case tying slavery’s legacy to Cancer Alley reached a new phase after a judge rejected defendants’ motion to dismiss last month."

Chemicals [19]
Environmental Health [20]
Environmental Justice [21]
Environmental Politics [10]
Laws & Regulations [13]
People & Population [50]
Pollution [22]
Public [14]
National (U.S.) [15]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [31]
Source: DeSmog [65], 03/12/2026
- Read more about "Civil Rights Case Probes Racism Behind Cancer Alley Pollution" [64]
"Zeldin Disciplined EPA Dissenters After Ethics Office Found No ‘Concern’" [66]

"Ethics staff at EPA found last summer that employees who signed an open dissent letter were within their rights to do so, internal emails show. Nevertheless, the agency suspended most and fired some, a controversial move seen as silencing their criticism and is now being challenged by litigation."

Activism [67]
Environmental Health [20]
Environmental Politics [10]
Government [11]
People & Population [50]
Public [14]
National (U.S.) [15]
Source: E&E News [68], 03/12/2026
- Read more about "Zeldin Disciplined EPA Dissenters After Ethics Office Found No ‘Concern’" [66]
“Report Card” Measures Congress Members’ Commitment To Wildlife Conservation [69]

"Defenders of Wildlife released its 2025 Conservation Report Card for the 119th Congress, measuring members’ commitment to upholding federal laws that protect wildlife conservation during its first session."

Biodiversity [49]
Environmental Politics [10]
Laws & Regulations [13]
People & Population [50]
Wildlife [51]
Public [14]
National (U.S.) [15]
Source: National Parks Traveler [70], 03/12/2026
- Read more about “Report Card” Measures Congress Members’ Commitment To Wildlife Conservation [69]
Iran War Unites Americans In Aggravation Over Sticker Shock At Gas Pump [71]

"Standing alongside his son’s Ford pickup truck at a central Iowa gas station off Interstate 80, Francisco Castillo was not happy."

Climate Change [25]
Economy & Business [41]
Energy & Fuel [27]
Environmental Politics [10]
People & Population [50]
Transportation [72]
Public [14]
National (U.S.) [15]
Source: AP [73], 03/11/2026
- Read more about Iran War Unites Americans In Aggravation Over Sticker Shock At Gas Pump [71]

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