Latest Articles

‘Environmental purists’ unhappy with House Dem energy bill

This is mostly water under the bridge now, but look, Dems got outmaneuvered this summer, as Republicans managed to successfully reframe the energy debate around drilling. They drummed up lots of public support and put Dems on the defensive. This is the fault not only of Dem lawmakers but also of everyone on the progressive […]

Senate Dems falter on energy compromise bill

Both The Hill and Politico have reported that the Gang of 20 will not introduce a bipartisan compromise energy bill before the election. This is a huge triumph for McCain and major political blunder by Congressional Democrats. As I wrote Monday, the original compromise bill by the Gang “is the best chance — indeed, the […]

Summer ice in the Arctic has recovered–Was the Arctic ice retreat a climate anomaly?

(Part of the How to Talk to a Climate Skeptic guide) Objection: Sea ice at the north pole recovered a whopping 9.4 percent from 2007 to 2008 despite the doom and gloom predictions of the alarmists. Yet another wheel falls off the global warming bandwagon. Answer: It is true that the minimum summer ice extent […]

Gallup polls indicate that Republicans are less likely to recognize global warming

Turns out you can fool some of the people all of the time — if those people are conservatives. I have previously argued as much here. Now Environment magazine has published an analysis that suggests the deniers are winning only with the GOP. This analysis should be especially alarming to scientists. Is global warming occurring? […]

Friday music blogging: Tilly & the Wall

Photo: Anders Jensen-Urstad, Wikipedia Teen rebellion was commodified long ago, and much of the music now geared toward it is either whiny emo or sugar-coated pop punk. Occasionally, though, a band outside the Big Label Bland Suburban Angst world comes crashing in with a little raw abandon and exuberance that can actually plug you back […]

A new We ad gets feisty

Al Gore’s We Can Solve It campaign has a new ad out. Watch it: They’re getting tougher and tougher! Me likey. They’re going to run this one on cable and, if they can raise enough money, “60 Minutes” and “20/20”.

New research shows that ethanol will continue to increase the cost of wheat

I, like most Americans, love bread. Crusty, warm, and fresh-baked bread is a carb overload I am willing to indulge in even if it means a few extra minutes of running. But the American love affair with all things baked might be at jeopardy. We all know that oil and water don’t mix, but it’s […]

Polar bears against Palin

A website to lighten your day. Don’t miss the hilarious point/counterpoint debate between Palin and a surprisingly articulate and snarky polar bear. This post was created for ClimateProgress.org, a project of the Center for American Progress Action Fund.

Snippets from the news

• Stephane Dion would give big money to green up Canadian farmers. • Permafrost may stay intact despite global warming. • Australia goes big with “clean coal.” • House passes bill that would triple funding for Great Lakes cleanup. • West Coast LNG terminal approved. • Sierra Club gives out awards. • Nature Conservancy buys […]

Senate settles on a grab bag of political favors in place of an energy policy

Next week, the Senate plans to consider the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008, a hodgepodge of subsidies and tax credits that reflects the vacuum of long-term strategic thinking in U.S. energy policy. The bill is a classic Senate Christmas Tree, bedecked with tax breaks and loopholes for just about every energy-related industry under […]