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Obama's energy gambit: a call for less coal

None of the targets Obama offered in his State of the Union -- 80 percent clean energy, 80 percent access to high-speed rail, a million electric cars -- have any policy force. They are offered as signaling devices, attempts to frame political debates to come. In that context, I thought what he did on energy was quite a bit more interesting and significant than it's being given credit for.

Obama calls for clean energy and high-speed rail in State of the Union

In his State of the Union, Obama called for 80% of electricity to come from clean sources by 2035, and 80% of Americans to have access to high-speed rail within 25 years.

What's behind Newt Gingrich's proposal to abolish the EPA?

Everyone on the internets is busy mocking Newt Gingrich's call to abolish the EPA. And that is as it should be -- I would never ask anyone to stop mocking Newt Gingrich. Rarely has the universe mixed pomposity and dimwittery into such an exquisitely mockworthy package. I do want to note, however, that what Gingrich is trying to pull off is not just old-fashioned Republican-style "leave corporate polluters alooooone!" Don't get me wrong: Newt wants to remove constraints on polluters! But he knows (unlike his buddies in Congress) that such a baldly retrograde position will not be popular with the public, which actually likes clean air. So he needs some kind of alternative. That's why he's proposing to replace the EPA with something called the Environmental Solutions Agency.

Is Taco Bell's beef 'filler' the healthiest thing it sells?

As Grist's Tom Laskawy reported earlier today, an Alabama law firm is suing Taco Bell in order to force the company to stop labeling the contents of its Crunchy Tacos as "beef." The firm says their own tests revealed the tacos are only 35 percent beef -- the rest is filler! Not surprisingly, Taco Bell has called the firm a pack of lying liars, sort of. Here's the official response.

EPA: A human life is worth $7.9 million

Putting a dollar value on people is how the EPA figures out whether reducing pollution is a good idea. And the EPA thinks you're worth $7.9 million.

Taco Bell 'beef': mostly not beef [UPDATED]

A class-action lawsuit claims that Taco Bell puts too much filler in its beef products to legally call it beef.

California solar firms head to the not-so-sunny East Coast

California's biggest solar installers want homeowners in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic to shovel off their roofs and install photovoltaic panels.

Obama's regulatory reform will focus on fairness

Obama's executive order adds "human dignity" and "fairness" to the list of considerations.

If you're so happy in your car, why are you so mad at the people walking?

Next time you're driving, remember that pedestrians aren't trying to annoy you. They're trying to get across the street without getting killed -- and a lot of the time, the street isn't designed for them.

How Walmart execs fleeced the White House on 'healthy food'

Michelle Obama and Walmart announced a healthy food initiative last week. The media accepted the deal at face value. Here are some hard questions.