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ClimateQuiet 5d · day 11

Midterms could shift Trump's climate agenda if Democrats take House or Senate

Polls show potential blue wave that could give Democrats power to block anti-climate appointments and add climate provisions to budgets.

newest coverage 4d agosummary written 8d ago29 pieces255 likes & upvotes5 comments MastodonNewswiresRedditBluesky

What to know

  • Polls suggest potential Democratic gains in House, Senate, and up to four governorships, which could constrain Trump's "drill, baby, drill" agenda and climate deregulation.
  • Democratic House control would force budget compromises, allowing climate provisions in appropriations bills that presidents must pass; Democratic Senate control could block anti-climate judicial and cabinet appointments.
  • Even if Democrats gain power, they cannot overturn previous Republican actions like cuts to the Inflation Reduction Act or pass legislation Trump would veto; their leverage is defensive and procedural.
  • State-level races are also consequential for climate policy, with Democrats potentially gaining two to four additional governorships to pursue their own climate agendas.

“Often presidents sign appropriation bills that have provisions they don't like because they need to get the budget passed.”

Michael Gerrard, Sabin Center for Climate Change Law director · Guardian US ↗

Donald TrumpDonald Trump President pursuing anti-climate agendaMichael Gerrard Founder and director of Sabin Center for Climate Change LawDan Farber Law professor at UC Berkeley

Midterms could shift Trump's climate agenda if Democrats take House or Senate
theguardian.com

How it unfolded 3 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 6 pieces in 3h at Oct 30, 4 AM; 29 pieces over 11 days (11 articles · 18 posts) Oct 28, 4 AM — 2 pieces · 2 posts — Mastodon 2Oct 28, 7 AM — quietOct 28, 10 AM — quietOct 28, 1 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Oct 28, 4 PM — quietOct 28, 7 PM — quietOct 28, 10 PM — quietOct 29, 1 AM — quietOct 29, 4 AM — quietOct 29, 7 AM — quietOct 29, 10 AM — quietOct 29, 1 PM — quietOct 29, 4 PM — quietOct 29, 7 PM — quietOct 29, 10 PM — quietOct 30, 1 AM — quietOct 30, 4 AM — 6 pieces · 4 articles · 2 posts — Newswires 3, Mastodon 2, Bluesky 1Oct 30, 7 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Reddit 1Oct 30, 10 AM — 4 pieces · 1 article · 3 posts — Mastodon 2, Reddit 1, Newswires 1Oct 30, 1 PM — 3 pieces · 2 articles · 1 post — Bluesky 1, Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Oct 30, 4 PM — quietOct 30, 7 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Bluesky 1Oct 30, 10 PM — quietOct 31, 1 AM — 3 pieces · 3 posts — Mastodon 3Oct 31, 4 AM — quietOct 31, 7 AM — quietOct 31, 10 AM — quietOct 31, 1 PM — quietOct 31, 4 PM — quietOct 31, 7 PM — quietOct 31, 10 PM — quietNov 1, 1 AM — quietNov 1, 3 AM — quietNov 1, 6 AM — quietNov 1, 9 AM — quietNov 1, 12 PM — quietNov 1, 3 PM — quietNov 1, 6 PM — quietNov 1, 9 PM — quietNov 2, 12 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Nov 2, 3 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Nov 2, 6 AM — quietNov 2, 9 AM — quietNov 2, 12 PM — quietNov 2, 3 PM — quietNov 2, 6 PM — quietNov 2, 9 PM — quietNov 3, 12 AM — quietNov 3, 3 AM — quietNov 3, 6 AM — quietNov 3, 9 AM — quietNov 3, 12 PM — 6 pieces · 3 articles · 3 posts — Newswires 3, Mastodon 2, Bluesky 1Nov 3, 3 PM — quietNov 3, 6 PM — quietNov 3, 9 PM — quietNov 4, 12 AM — quietNov 4, 3 AM — quietNov 4, 6 AM — quietNov 4, 9 AM — quietNov 4, 12 PM — quietNov 4, 3 PM — quietNov 4, 6 PM — quietNov 4, 9 PM — quietNov 5, 12 AM — quietNov 5, 3 AM — quietNov 5, 6 AM — quietNov 5, 9 AM — quietNov 5, 12 PM — quietNov 5, 3 PM — quietNov 5, 6 PM — quietNov 5, 9 PM — quietNov 6, 12 AM — quietNov 6, 3 AM — quietNov 6, 6 AM — quietNov 6, 9 AM — quietNov 6, 12 PM — quietNov 6, 3 PM — quietNov 6, 6 PM — quietNov 6, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 3 AM — quietToday, 6 AM — quiet 1–3
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  1. 2

    Democratic control could reshape permitting bill negotiations on NEPA

    Gerrard indicates Democratic House and Senate control could alter negotiations on permitting legislation that would weaken the National Environmental Policy Act, potentially preventing provisions that would block courts from halting projects for NEPA violations.

    • us.theguardian.com

      Voters are feeling the pinch of Trump’s anti-climate agenda as energy costs rise, but a shakeup in Congress could shift things

      us.theguardian.comBluesky8d ago39▲view on Bluesky ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 6 posts in this stretch
    • CelloMomOnCars@mastodon.social

      “A system where you’re allowed to build the most economic energy resources with fewer encumbrances, fewer delays, and fewer restrictions is, almost by definition, a more affordable system,” Palken said. https://www. vox.com/politics/508196/permit ting-reform-baaja-democrats-climate

      CelloMomOnCars@mastodon.socialMastodon8d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    • hilarybeaumont.bsky.social

      US climate nerds: is there a midterms candidate you’re excited about on climate policy? Or a climate-related ballot measure you’re watching? Covering election results for the Guardian 🤓

      hilarybeaumont.bsky.socialBluesky4d ago17▲view on Bluesky ↗
    all of them →
  2. background

    Democratic Senate could block anti-climate judicial and cabinet appointments — UC Berkeley law professor Dan Farber notes that Democratic Senate control would allow opposition to judicial and cabinet confirmations, with long-term environmental consequences through judicial vacancy prevention, and potential leverage to extract concessions on other issues.

  3. 3

    Democratic House control would force budget compromises on climate provisions

    Michael Gerrard, director of Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, explains that Democratic control of the House could enable climate provisions in appropriations bills, since presidents often sign budget bills containing provisions they dislike to secure overall passage.

    “Many appropriations begin in the House, and these are huge bills that have to pass, so it's possible that some pro-climate provisions could be put in some of the appropriations legislation…”
    — Michael Gerrard
  4. 1

    Guardian analyzes midterm stakes for climate policy and energy costs

    Guardian publishes analysis of how midterm results could reshape Trump administration's climate agenda, with focus on energy affordability and voter response to tying climate to cost-of-living issues.

    “Voters are feeling the pinch of Trump's anti-climate agenda as energy costs rise, but a shake-up in Congress could shift things…”
    — Guardian
    1. 1 outlet For US Democrats, climate policy is now about energy bills

      first by Deutsche Welle EN, 6d ago

    2. 1 outlet The Key Climate Issues to Watch In The Midterm Elections

      first by Time, 8d ago

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 3 outlets The Election Day Edition

    first by NYT Science, 4d ago · also NYT Climate, NYT Politics

  2. 3 outlets Five reasons why the US midterms matter for the climate – and your energy bill

    first by Mastodon, 9d ago · also Guardian Environment, Guardian US

  3. 2 outlets A Democratic Wave In the Midterms Could Change How Companies Talk About Climate

    first by Mastodon, 8d ago · also Time

What people are saying 5 voices from 1 site · best of 9 · verbatim