On environmental protection, Biden's election will mean a 180-degree turn from Trump policies
The Trump administration has used executive orders, deregulation and delays to reduce environmental regulation. Biden administration officials will use many of the same tools to undo their work.
Nov. 12, 2020 • ~6 min
donald-trump air-pollution water-pollution environmental-justice joe-biden donald-trump-administration regulation us-environmental-protection-agency clean-air-act clean-water-act cost-benefit-analysis us-environmental-policy 2020-us-elections science-advice executive-orders
Delinquent electric bills from the pandemic are coming due – who will pay them?
Many Americans have been unable to pay their electric bills during the COVID-19 pandemic, racking up billions of dollars in delinquent bills. Where will the money come from?
Nov. 6, 2020 • ~9 min
finance energy electricity regulation covid-19-pandemic consumers debt electric-utilities bonds consumer-protection debt-collection public-utility securities-markets
How tech firms have tried to stop disinformation and voter intimidation – and come up short
The major social media firms have taken a largely piecemeal and fractured approach to managing the problem.
Nov. 2, 2020 • ~9 min
social-media twitter google facebook disinformation regulations elections 2020-us-elections political-ads us-presidential-election voter-intimidation
There is a revolving door between industry and regulators, but does that really make for a 'cosy relationship'?
People often leave industry watchdogs to work for the very companies they were previously regulating.
Oct. 30, 2020 • ~6 min
regulation environment-agency regulators corporate-power
There's a 'revolving door' between industry and regulators, but its effects aren't as strong as you think
People often leave industry watchdogs to work for the very companies they were previously regulating.
Oct. 30, 2020 • ~6 min
regulation environment-agency regulators corporate-power
PFAS 'forever chemicals' are widespread and threaten human health – here's a strategy for protecting the public
PFAS chemicals are toxic, widespread and persistent in the environment, and the federal government has been slow to regulate them. A scientist explains why evaluating them one by one isn't working.
Oct. 9, 2020 • ~9 min
cancer pollution water-pollution regulation us-environmental-protection-agency environmental-health pfas teflon pfoa dupont
Looser standards for showerheads could send a lot of water and money down the drain
The Trump administration is trying to roll back a regulation that requires showerheads to conserve water and saves owners an average of $70 and nearly 3,000 gallons of water yearly per showerhead.
Sept. 2, 2020 • ~8 min
covid-19 water energy-efficiency deregulation drought regulation trump-administration water-conservation water-efficiency us-department-of-energy
Cyberspace is critical infrastructure – it will take effective government oversight to make it safe
Self-regulation by the technology industry has failed to keep people safe online. That's a job for government.
Aug. 10, 2020 • ~8 min
covid-19 coronavirus internet pandemic online data-protection regulation privacy online-privacy legislation data-protection-regulation cyberspace kirsten-gillibrand privacy-online data-protection-online
Routine gas flaring is wasteful, polluting and undermeasured
Flaring, or burning, waste gas from energy production has sharply increased over the past decade. It wastes usable fuel, pollutes the air, and helps drive climate change.
July 29, 2020 • ~9 min
air-pollution regulation oil us-energy-policy environmental-health natural-gas shale-gas nitrogen-oxide us-shale-oil
More people eat frog legs than you think – and humans are harvesting frogs at unsustainable rates
Frogs are harvested as food by the millions every year. A new study shows that uncontrolled frog hunting could drive some populations to extinction by midcentury.
June 12, 2020 • ~8 min
food extinction frogs regulation endangered-species amphibians hunting turkey
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