Interviews suggest that politics initially blinded the Obama administration on oil drilling.

Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu, who held President Obama's nomination for OMB director hostage over the deepwater drilling ban, has said she will now hold it hostage until she is satisfied with the pace at which drilling permits are granted.

"The Obama administration, under heavy pressure from the oil industry and others in the Gulf Coast, on Tuesday lifted the moratorium on deep water drilling that it imposed in the wake of the disastrous BP oil spill.

"With climate legislation stalled in Congress and U.S. EPA just months away from regulating greenhouse gases for the first time, 37 states have taken sides in a court battle that could end up steering U.S. climate policy for years."

In a hotly contested Maryland race for House of Representatives, incumbent Democrat Rep. Frank Kratovil plays up his environmental credentials in a a district where the livelihoods of farmers and watermen (plus a tourist industry) depend on the environment. His opponent, Republican Andy Harris, offers a stark contrast and is making a strong showing."

"BEIJING -- During her first official visit to China, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson today signed an agreement with Minister of Environmental Protection Zhou Shengxian that formalizes the partnership between the United States and China on environmental protection."

"In a newly unveiled campaign ad, the Democratic Senate candidate and current West Virginia governor, Joe Manchin, picks up a rifle and fires a bullet into a target labeled 'Cap and Trade Bill.'"

"Environmental campaigners planted trees, collected rubbish and rallied against pollution on Sunday for what organisers aimed to make the world's biggest day of climate-change activism."