Ari Plachta

Inside the Republican network behind big soda’s bid to pit Maga against Maha A Guardian investigation finds the US soda and snack-food industries, threatened by RFK Jr’s movement to change Americans’ eating habits, have turned to a group of well-connected strategists, shadowy ...

🚨New from me & @fieldnotes.co in @theguardian.com → Revealed: The network of GOP hired guns behind Big Soda’s bid to turn MAGA against MAHA www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

White House offers ‘concierge’ service to fossil fuel firms, official says Brittany Kelm, a senior policy adviser for the National Energy Dominance Council, detailed in a podcast how the council works to advance fossil fuel projects.

The Trump Regime's National Energy Dominance Council provides "concierge, white glove service" for the oil industry, while wind sand solar projects are blocked. And even with the hand holding, the oil ind is hemorrhaging jobs www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...

ICYMI yesterday, incredible reporting by @insideclimatenews.org and @propublica.org (with data from @oilfieldwitness.bsky.social) on the Texas oil & gas industry’s *massive* emissions from flaring and venting 👇

Exxon blames oil group exit on climate principles | Latest Market News ExxonMobil says it has ended its membership with the US oil lobbying group American Exploration and Production Council (AXPC) because of the group's "aggressive" opposition to environmental regulations, though oil industry leaders with knowledge of AXPC's advocacy question that justification.

🚨 from Argus Media: @exxonmobiloil.bsky.social ends its membership with AXPC b/c of the group's "aggressive" opposition to environmental regs.

This comes after @washingtonpost.com reported on internal docs obtained by @fieldnotes.co exposing AXPC 's efforts.

www.argusmedia.com/en/news-and-...

Trump Says America’s Oil Industry Is Cleaner Than Other Countries’. New Data Shows Massive Emissions From Texas Wells. The oil industry touts Texas as a success story in controlling climate-warming methane emissions. The state’s regulator, however, grants nearly every request to burn or vent gas into the atmosphere.

Bombshell reporting by @propublica.org & @insideclimatenews.org describes massive flaring and venting from Texas oil wells, discrediting the oil & gas industry’s claim that natural gas and LNG are “clean” energy. www.propublica.org/article/texa...

With methane rules on the chopping block, where does Big Oil stand? The Trump EPA could do away with methane regulations that major oil companies and their trade associations have strategically claimed to support.

Great piece on the current state of play on methane regulations in US by @emdashsanders.bsky.social. After years of foot dragging and obfuscation, oil corps admitted that regulation is necessary to reduce methane pollution. But with Trump in power, hypocrisy ensues www.exxonknews.org/p/with-metha...

Seeking clarification about the magical half pipe

We have now reached the moment of American history where our president is talking about how California has had "so much water for millions of years" and the state doesn't even need reservoirs because it has a long-unused "half pipe"

Seeking clarification about the magical half pipe

Here’s how a tiny fish became Trump’s favorite weapon in his crusade against California The functionally extinct delta smelt entered national politics in 2009, when Sean Hannity made it a symbol of environmentalism gone wrong.

Talked to esteemed delta smelt politics expert @calebscoville.bsky.social about why Trump remains fixated on this tiny fish when the facts don't add up
www.sacbee.com/news/politic...

How climate change worsened the most destructive wildfires in L.A. history The California fires erupted amid extremely dry conditions. UCLA scientists say extreme heat linked to climate change was a factor in the fires' intensity.

An extremely warm summer and fall. An unusually dry winter. Hillsides covered with dry vegetation. And strong Santa Ana winds. In the mix of conditions that have contributed to the L.A. fires, scientists say one significant ingredient is climate change. www.latimes.com/environment/... @latimes.com

California laws on home fire protection can work, LA showed. Will more homeowners take action? Northern California communities like Paradise that have experienced the worst of wildfire are the most prepared for the next one.

Some homes in Los Angeles survived the firestorms using defensive strategies that are already required by California law. Will more people start to follow them?

www.sacbee.com/news/califor...

Breaking news: California withdraws diesel truck ban, other clean-air rules as Trump prepares to take office Because Trump would be unlikely to approve them, California has no choice but to abandon its groundbreaking rules for zero-emission trucks and cleaner locomotives.

California backs away from key climate rules ahead of Trump 2.0. calmatters.org/environment/...

Edison Decision to Keep LA Power Lines Operating Draws Scrutiny Edison International’s decision to leave some Los Angeles power lines operating during a historic windstorm last week is under scrutiny as an investigation into the city’s devastating wildfires gather...

Southern California Edison's decision to keep some power lines operating during the start of the LA windstorm is drawing scrutiny. Story from me and @naurtorious.bsky.social. #EatonFire #EnergySky #GreenSky

🎁 Link www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

The L.A. City Council is taking up a bunch of brand new measures today in response to the wildfires. The first thing that happens is the paper copies are pinned to this bulletin board

Starting to look like electric powerlines/equipment may have started all three of the Eaton, Hurst, and Palisades Fires.

Snapshots of maps of California from early 2024 depicting anomalous wet conditions nearly statewide, then from late 2024 depicting anomalously dry conditions in southern California.

Snapshots of maps of California from early 2024 depicting anomalous wet conditions nearly statewide, then from late 2024 depicting anomalously dry conditions in southern California.

In 2024, Southern California experienced an exceptional episode of wet-to-dry hydroclimate whiplash. Very wet conditions in winters of 2023 and 2024 gave way to a record-dry start to 2025 wet season (with periods of record warmth and evaporative demand in between). #CAwx #CAfire

Watch Duty - Wildfire Maps & Alerts Watch Duty, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, alerts you of nearby wildfires and firefighting efforts in real-time.

Pretty amazing that nonprofit Watch Duty -- which says it has 150 volunteers working around the clock to track wildfires -- has become the most trusted source of information on LA fires. Operated by retired/volunteer firefighters, dispatchers, and reporters. Real people.

www.watchduty.org

The Lookout Independent wildfire and water-related reporting. Host Zeke Lunder has 25 years experience in wildland fire management and California water issues. During wildfire season we provide UNOFFICIAL updat...

Many great resources for SoCal #CAFires. I recommend:
1. WatchDuty app for evacs, shelter, etc
2. @weatherwest.bsky.social does regular zoom "office hours" and explainers
3. Ben @ai6yr.m.ai6yr.org.ap.brid.gy
4. TheLookout runs a fab explainer on his YT channel:

A huge insurance crisis is brewing, if it's not here already.

Trump blames the LA fires on Gov. Newsom for protecting Delta Smelt in Northern CA... which mostly makes no sense

Getty Villa Museum grounds catching fire, LAFD says The Getty Villa has caught fire in the wind-driven fire burning out of control in Pacific Palisades, according to Los Angeles Fire Department radio traffic.

Wow

www.latimes.com/california/s...

Inbox: Gov. Newsom appoints Berkeley rep Nancy Skinner to the CA Energy Commission

‘Forever Chemicals’ Reach Tap Water via Treated Sewage, Study Finds Wastewater, even after treatment to make it drinkable, contains high levels of PFAS, according to researchers.

PFAS chemicals are reaching tap water via treated wastewater, study finds www.nytimes.com/2025/01/06/c...

Pretty striking… southern CA is dangerously on fire today and northern CA is covered with prescribed burns

Wall Street declares war on the Associated Press Gannett and Reuters come for one of the final corners for legacy media that had resisted the financialization of journalism.

I wrote about Gannett’s plan to kill off one of the last pieces of American legacy media to resist financialization: The Associated Press.

mattdpearce.substack.com/p/wall-stree...

Refrigerators have gotten really freaking good. Thanks, Jimmy Carter. The underrated way energy efficiency has made life better, and climate progress possible.

one of my favorite stories I did at Vox was about Jimmy Carter and his role in energy efficiency standards at the DOE. Truly underappreciated legacy that tangibly improved everyday life www.vox.com/climate/2023...

SMUD’s plan for 500,000 Sacramento County solar panels is taking heat from environmentalists The $450 million project would power 45,000 households with clean energy. It could also damage an increasingly rare landscape.

A $450-million Northern California solar project is supposed to help the Sacramento area achieve 100% clean power by 2030. Some conservationists say it would destroy sensitive habitat: www.sacbee.com/news/califor... via @ariplachta.bsky.social

What comes after "pro-democracy journalism" Toward tomorrow's popular press.

What was “pro-democracy” journalism?

mattdpearce.substack.com/p/what-comes...

California’s PG&E secures $15B loan from Biden administration. Critics call it a ‘bailout’ The loan, made by The Department of Energy, aims to help the California company accommodate electricity demand and combat climate change.

“This loan is less a solution for California’s energy future and more a bailout for #PG&E,” said EWG Prez Ken Cook.

Reporting by the SacBee's @ariplachta.bsky.social