Julia Verville

🎶 Orwellian in fact 🎶

Fear the Tree 🌲

Why a NASA satellite that scientists and farmers rely on may be destroyed on purpose The Trump administration has asked NASA staffers to draw up plans to end at least two satellite missions that measure carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, according to current and former NASA employees.

Trump administration takes aim at satellite that measures carbon dioxide and crops

This would be such a huge waste. Glad to see my @carnegiescience.bsky.social colleague @annamichalak.bsky.social quoted.

www.npr.org/2025/08/04/n...

The lower-right chyron showing the extreme-heat temperature is a real chef's-kiss touch.

Researchers quietly planned a test to dim sunlight. They wanted to ‘avoid scaring’ the public. Hundreds of documents show how researchers failed to notify officials in California about a test of technology to block the sun’s rays — while they planned a much huger sequel.

EXCLUSIVE: A team of researchers in California drew notoriety last year with an aborted test of a cloud-making machine.  

But behind the scenes, they were planning a larger and potentially riskier study of tech that could dim the sun's rays, internal documents show. www.politico.com/news/2025/07...

This is what I mean by the distribution problem: "Every night in San Francisco, more than 4,000 people sleep on the streets without any form of shelter. In the same city, tens of thousands of homes are vacant without a single person sleeping inside." www.kron4.com/news/bay-are...

California Catastrophe Response Council meeting today is going to be a banger.

And that's saying something.

Off to a good start with Tom Welsh's Executive Report.

Senate panel raises hopes that NSF will restore killed grants Republicans promise to work with Democrats to salvage defeated amendment

Breaking news: A Senate spending panel today offered a glimmer of hope to the more than 1600 scientists who had their grants terminated earlier this year by the National Science Foundation. scim.ag/46ctgwj

Both the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations have now passed funding for science agencies with moderate cuts and flat funding, respectively. Both bills are quite far from the president's budget request, which proposes massive cuts to science funding.

Oregon DOJ says public officials exploited nonprofit to cash in on Amazon data centers, reap millions for themselves “You have people in this situation who knew that this company was undervalued and sold it to themselves and misled folks for personal gain."

Oregon's DOJ says public officials exploited a rural broadband nonprofit to cash in on Amazon data centers, reaping millions for themselves

The agency's investigation began after @rogoway.bsky.social reported on the arrangement for @oregonian.com

NEW REPORT: Across the South, electric utilities are pursuing a massive expansion of new pipelines and gas plants in response to unprecedented projected power demand from data centers.

But new research shows that current demand projections are implausible: www.selc.org/press-releas...

2. The National Science Foundation's 15% Indirect Cost Rate and the Policy Notice: Implementation of Standard 15% Indirect Cost Rate, NSF 25-034 are VACATED. 3. The court DECLARES that the National Science Foundation's 15% Indirect Cost Rate and the Policy Notice: Implementation of Standard 15% Indirect Cost Rate, NSF 25-034 are invalid, arbitrary and capricious, and contrary to law. IT IS SO ORDERED. June 20, 2025 /s/Indira Talwani United States District Judge

I was having lunch with an NSF program manager when her cell phone lit up, all with messages about the overhead rate.

We won! The United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts said NSF can't reduce the overhead rate to 15% for universities! 🥳

cases.justia.com/federal/dist...

A Former California Utility Exec Explains Why Your Electricity Bills Are So High - Inside Climate News The former industry insider and amateur wrestler Mark Ellis is exposing the little-known factors that electricity bills and threaten the energy transition. People across the country are starting to li...

@dangearino.bsky.social on former Sempra executive Mark Ellis: "He keeps coming back to the same point: The complexity of utility regulation is obscuring a transfer of wealth from the general public to shareholders on a vast scale." insideclimatenews.org/news/1506202... 🔌💡

Australia gives $20m for key project designed to show Pilbara iron ore can be used for low carbon steel #energysky -- via Renew Economy: reneweconomy.com.au/...

State Farm accused of engaging in an “illegal scheme” that left wildfire survivors underinsured Attorneys for Los Angeles wildfire survivors allege State Farm misused reconstruction cost estimation programs to low-ball home rebuild costs.

New from me and @meganmunce.bsky.social: Wildfire survivors in LA have accused State Farm of orchestrating an “illegal scheme” that left them underinsured by as much as $2 million, leaving them unable to rebuild their homes. tinyurl.com/3j2av74e

Eaton fire damage costs could mean higher utility bills throughout California As officials scramble to shore up the state’s wildfire fund, they are considering extending the monthly surcharge imposed on customers of Edison and other utility companies.

More than 30 million Californians across the state could see their electric bills go up to pay for the devastating Eaton fire, as officials scramble to shore up a state wildfire fund that could be wiped out by damage claims.

Melody Petersen

www.latimes.com/environment/...

Louisiana stifles community air monitoring with threat of million-dollar fines, federal lawsuit says A coalition of Louisiana environmental groups is suing the state over a law they say violates their free speech rights by restricting them from sharing information about air quality.

Louisiana law targets local pollution monitors with harsh fines, spurring federal lawsuit - EHN apnews.com/article/canc...

Wildlife crime crackdown in jeopardy worldwide after US funding cuts In 2019, Malawi registered a massive win in the fight against the illegal wildlife trade. Intelligence-driven operations culminated in the arrest of more than a dozen members of the Chinese-led “Lin-Z...

A solid team effort from @mongabay.com examining the impact of the Trump's administration's cuts to USAID and conservation funding on the global illegal wildlife trade.

'The traffickers are going to have more space to operate, and it’s just going to put these species back on a path of extinction.'

Exclusive: US, Russia explore ways to restore Russian gas flows to Europe, sources say With a frost covering Europe's energy relations with Russia, officials from Washington and Moscow have held discussions about the U.S. helping to revive Russian gas sales to the continent, eight sources familiar with the talks have told Reuters.

This story requires a great deal more attention. The Trump administration is doing everything it can to get Russian gas back into Europe. This is Washington and Moscow now in full strategic alignment via a shared vision of a fossil fuel future.

The first boats carrying Chinese goods with 145% tariffs are arriving in LA. Shipments are cut in half. Expect shortages soon | CNN Business American consumers are on the cusp of tough choices because of President Donald Trump’s trade war.

update:

"That means, in a matter of weeks, consumers will face higher prices and shortages of certain items."

CNN not committing to a specific time period but relevant in any case

www.cnn.com/2025/05/06/b...

"the two most recent recessions... were both unusual. They were unusually rapid... What normally happens is a slow build and a slow roll. So those who are looking for everything to be resolved in the next month or two, you need to shake that habit."

Trump administration plans to end Energy Star program for home appliances Since 1992, the popular Energy Star program has helped American families and businesses save more than $500 billion in energy costs.

"Energy Star saves consumers and businesses more than $40 billion every year just by giving them clear information about the energy efficiency of products or buildings. And it does that at a cost of $32 million." - @usgbc.bsky.social's Ben Evans: wapo.st/3EYBwol via @maxinejoselow.bsky.social 🔌💡

NEWS: After canceling thousands of foreign students' immigration records — threatening their ability to study and live in the US — the Trump administration has reversed course and restored them all.

It follows intense pushback from courts across the country.

Details TK

EPA Administrator Zeldin's #EarthDay message: EPA to slash budget 65% starting with low income Americans, including communities of color who have borne the brunt of the environmental and public health harm EPA was designed to confront, targeting environmental justice & Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

Remember: POTUS' power is cabined by law. Knowing these orders will flout the rule of law, remember this too if Trump moves forward: He will run into a unified wall of seasoned civic organizations, many of whom are *purpose-built* to fight the transgressive use of power. #Solidarity #PackStrength

Howdy folks,
As the most of the data and tools used by the office are currently no longer available, services provided by the Office of the Texas State Climatologist will be drastically impacted to discontinued due to the laps of federal funding for the NOAA Regional Climate Centers.

Northwestern University to self-fund research despite Trump administration freeze While university officials said they’ve still not received official word of such action, they acknowledged receiving about 100 stop-work orders from the federal government on roughly 100 fede…

Northwestern just announced that the university will meet the funding needs of any research that is being impacted by stop orders. LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOO! #edusky #academicsky

wgntv.com/evanston/nor...

Electric trains are quieter, more reliable than diesel. New study finds they’re healthier, too. - Berkeley News A new study found that electrifying the San Francisco Bay Area’s Caltrain commuter rail line reduced riders’ exposure to carcinogenic black carbon by an average of 89%.

A new @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social study found that electrifying the San Francisco Bay Area’s @caltrain.com commuter rail line reduced riders’ exposure to carcinogenic black carbon by an average of 89%: news.berkeley.edu/2025/04/16/e... 🔌💡

Trump Officials Weigh Earth Day Move Against Green Groups White House officials are preparing executive orders that would strip some environmental nonprofits of their tax-exempt status, setting up a possible Earth Day strike against organizations seen as sta...

White House officials are preparing executive orders that would strip some enviro nonprofits of tax-exempt status for Earth Day, by @jendlouhy.bsky.social & @akshatrathi.bsky.social

🎁 Gift Link: Trump Officials Weigh Earth Day Move Against Green Groups www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CLIMATE UNITED FUND Plaintiff, v. CITIBANK, N.A., et al. Defendants. Civil Action No. 25-cv-698 (TSC) Civil Action No. 25-cv-735 (TSC) Civil Action No. 25-cv-762 (TSC) Civil Action No. 25-cv-820 (TSC) Civil Action No. 25-cv-938 (TSC) Civil Action No. 25-cv-948 (TSC) (Consolidated Cases) ORDER For the reasons set forth in the forthcoming Memorandum Opinion, Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction, ECF No. 33, is GRANTED. It is further ORDERED that EPA Defendants' Contingent Motion for Stay Pending Appeal, ECF No. 75, is DENIED without prejudice.' It is further ORDERED that Defendants the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"), Administrator Lee Zeldin, in his official capacity as Administrator of EPA, Deputy Administrator W.C. McIntosh, in his official capacity as Acting Deputy Administrator of EPA, (collectively, "EPA Defendants"), and others in active concert or participation therewith, are ENJOINED from effectuating EPA's March 11, 2025 "Notice of Termination"; it is further ' EPA Defendants filed their motion prematurely, filing a "contingent" motion before the court ruled on the pending motions for preliminary injunction. ECF No. 75. If after reviewing the court's Order and forthcoming Memorandum Opinion, EPA Defendants believe that a stay pending appeal is warranted, they may make a request consistent with Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 8. In consideration of EPA Defendants' position and Defendant Citibank's silence on the issue, Defendant Citibank is ORDERED to refrain from releasing any funding disbursements until Thursday, April 17, 2025, at 2:00PM EST.

ORDERED that EPA Defendants, and others in active concert or participation therewith, are ENJOINED from unlawfully suspending or terminating Plaintiffs' grant awards, including by issuing a Notice of Exclusive Control, effectuating a Notice of Termination, or limiting access to funds in accounts established in connection with Plaintiffs' grants, including funds in accounts established by Plaintiffs' subgrantees, except as permitted by the applicable Account Control Agreement ("ACA"), the grant award, the relevant regulations, and applicable law, including any administrative procedures mandated by the Administrative Procedure Act ("APA"); it is further ORDERED that EPA Defendants, and others in active concert or participation therewith, including officials at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, are ENJOINED from directly or indirectly impeding Defendant Citibank or from causing Defendant Citibank to deny, obstruct, delay, or otherwise limit access to funds in accounts established in connection with Plaintiffs' grants, including funds in accounts established by Plaintiffs' subgrantees, except as permitted by the applicable ACA, the grant award, the relevant regulations, and applicable law, including any administrative procedures mandated by the APA; it is further ORDERED that Defendant Citibank is ENJOINED from transferring or otherwise moving funds out of accounts established in connection with Plaintiffs' grants, including funds in accounts established by Plaintiffs' subgrantees, except as permitted by the applicable ACA, the grant award, the relevant regulations, and applicable law, including any administrative procedures mandated by the APA; it is further ORDERED that Defendant Citibank must disburse any funds properly incurred before the mid-February suspension of Plaintiffs' funds; ORDERED that the bond requirement of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65(c) is waived and that this preliminary injunction is effective upon service; it is further

ORDERED that Defendants shall file a status report with the court, within 24 hours of entry of this Order, confirming their compliance with the preliminary injunction; it is further ORDERED that this preliminary injunction remains in effect pending further orders from this Court. Memorandum Opinion to follow. Date: April 15, 2025 Tanya S. Chutkan TANYA S. CHUTKAN United States District Judge

BREAKING: Judge Chutkan GRANTS the preliminary injunction sought by the Climate United Fund over the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund monies held by Citibank via grants the Trump admin has sought to terminate.