Australian Bushfires' Depletion Portends 'Race' Against Ozone Layer Recovery: Smoke from Australia's 2019-'20 bushfires measurably depleted the ozone layer, a study published in Nature finds. Chlorine molecules injected into the stratospheric ozone layer (roughly 9-18 miles above Earth's surface) temporarily reduced the ozone layer by about 3% to 5%. The ozone layer protects life on the Earth's surface from harmful solar radiation and as climate change makes extreme wildfires more frequent, scientists worry their ozone-depleting effects could overtake the slow (1% per year) recovery of the ozone layer enabled by international agreements to phase out chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs. Climate change increased the risk of the hot dry conditions that fueled the fires — which incinerated a total of 48 million acres (about the size of South Dakota) and created pyrocumulonimbus clouds triple the size of anything previously recorded — by at least 30%. The ozone layer will "recover if that’s the only year that it happens, but not if it keeps happening," Lead researcher and MIT atmospheric scientist Susan Solomon told The Guardian. “The question in my mind is: is the man-made chlorine going to get … diluted and destroyed out of the atmosphere faster than global climate change is going to increase the frequency and intensity of this kind of fire? I think it’s going to be a race.” (The Guardian, Axios, Australian Associated Press, The Conversation, New Scientist, AFP; Climate Signals background: 2019-2020 Australia bushfire season)

Gulf Activists Demand Equitable Energy Transition While Granholm Lauds Oil & Gas Execs at CERAWeek: Activists called for an end to fossil fuels in the Gulf and demanded a clean, respect for Indigenous rights, and an equitable energy transition outside of the annual CERAWeek conference in Houston on Wednesday. The protest, organized by the Permian Gulf Coast Coalition, came as Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm gave a conciliatory keynote address inside. The activists from Texas and Louisiana highlighted the harmful effects of the industry on their communities, particularly the Freeport LNG terminal, which is resuming operations after a massive explosion last June, "I was standing in my yard when this happened and there was no kind of warning systems…I live in a community where there's 15 petrochemical plants. There's no accountability, so we've been living like this for quite a long time." Across the street Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm once again struck a conciliatory tone in her keynote address at the oil industry conference. Granholm praised the packed room of fossil fuel executives for boosting oil and gas output and lauding the industry as “creative visionaries,” highlighted clean energy’s progress over the past year, and assured the crowd the U.S. would keep using fossil fuels into the middle of the century. Granholm's praise for the industry diverges from President Biden’s recent criticism of its “war profiteering,” in which he threatened to hit the industry with higher taxes and restrictions, and his more ambiguous take on a clean energy transition timeline during the State of the Union. (Protests: Houston Public Media, Houston Chronicle; Granholm: Bloomberg $)

Pilot Program To Help Rural Communities Access Federal Funds: A new pilot program is hoping to help rural communities get help from federal programs, NPR reports. More than 400 federal programs are designed to help rural communities with tranches of new funding coming from the Inflation Reduction Act and the bipartisan infrastructure law, but for small town mayors the process for obtaining those resources can evoke the stress of dating and filling out a health insurance reimbursement form. "This is kind of like our one shot probably in my lifetime of ever getting this much federal money to help us make improvements in the community," Jackson, Ky., Mayor Laura Thomas told NPR. Without experienced staff, she says, it's 'overwhelming' to navigate the various options, adding "We just get a different kind of answer each time you ask. … And then my fear is that I won't make the right decision." The new Rural Partners Network, housed within the USDA and made up of 60 "rural desk officers" from 20 federal agencies, knows this and is working to lower barriers to access. "I like to say that we're matchmakers when it comes to rural communities and our federal agencies that are at the table," said Rachel Chambers, one of the community liaisons in Kentucky. "We can help move projects forward, whether it's capacity building or technical assistance and different grant programs, or even if it's just making an introduction for a community." (NPR)

(ENVIRONMENTAL) RACISM: In Atlanta, proposed ‘Cop City’ stirs environmental justice concerns (Inside Climate News), Nooses at Exxon plant spark EEOC lawsuit (E&E $), The oil industry’s carbon capture plan won’t help Texas’ most polluted communities (The Verge)

CLIMATE DIPLOMACY: As UN members clinch historic high seas biodiversity treaty, what’s in it? (Mongabay), High Seas Treaty exempts deep-sea mining from stricter environmental rules (Climate Home), High Seas Treaty secured after marathon UN talks (Politico EU), The inside story of ‘the largest conservation agreement in the history of the world’ (EcoWatch), US and Europe angle for new deal to resolve climate spat (New York Times $), US, EU to start trade negotiations on minerals (Wall Street Journal $)

GOP vs. ESG: Business backlash pushing GOP to weaken anti-ESG proposals (AP), Texas is coming for 'woke' insurance companies next (Gizmodo), Utah AG sues his own organization over ESG investing (E&E $)

EXTREMELY UNSURPRISING: Women play leading role in climate action, UN agency says (The Hill)

INFLATION REDUCTION ACT: Oil companies line up for billions of dollars in subsidies under US climate law (FT $), VW puts European battery plant on hold as it seeks €10bn from US (FT $)

WILLOW OIL: Alaska Natives beg Biden to halt massive oil project (Mother Jones),TikTok push targets Biden on Alaska’s huge Willow oil plan (AP), The Willow Project would be a public health crisis for Alaska (Atmos), 22 lawmakers call on Biden to block Willow Project oil and gas development in Alaska (Democracy Now)

CERAWEEK: Big Oil on hydrogen: Forget the rainbow, just make it profitable (Reuters), NextEra CEO says offshore wind a bad bet (Reuters), US Energy Sec still sees global energy challenges from Ukraine war (Reuters), Granholm hopeful of future US energy permitting reform (S&P Global), US gas decarbonization role depends upon security, affordability (S&P Global)

9:37 🚂 TO THE PETROCHEMICAL DYSTOPIA: What the Ohio train derailment teaches us about poisoning public trust (Vox), What to watch in Thursday’s East Palestine hearing (The Hill), Rural communities like East Palestine, Ohio, are at outsized risk of train derailments and the ensuing fallout (Inside Climate News)

AGENCIES: No time to wait on climate risk, says CFTC commissioner (E&E $)

EPA: EPA proposes 'strongest ever' limits on coal plant discharges (E&E $), EPA proposes stricter limits on coal plant water pollution (AP), EPA proposes stricter wastewater discharge limits for coal-fired power plants (Utility Dive)

DOE: DOE pursues global standard to assess LNG climate impact (E&E $)

TREASURY: Treasury Secretary Yellen warns that losses tied to climate change could ‘cascade through the financial system’ (CNBC)

WHITE HOUSE: Biden administration pledges $25 million to bring bison back to tribal lands (Grist), Biden administration proposes tighter rule on coal plant wastewater (The Hill), Biden delays offshore oil plan. Nobody's happy. (E&E $), White House partners with states to buy greener materials (E&E $), At Florida climate change summit, Harris stresses optimism (AP)

HOUSE: Democrats plot amendment strategy for big GOP energy bill (E&E $), House Dems urge EPA to act on lead in drinking water (E&E $),  Energy and Commerce sets markup on 15 energy bills (E&E $), Natural Resources GOP eyes hearings on drought, offshore wind (E&E $), Former House Oversight Chairwoman breaks silence on Big Oil probe (Washington Post $)

SENATE:  ‘nOPEC’ anti-OPEC bill revived in congress despite dim chances (Bloomberg $), Senate chatter grows louder on carbon tariff (E&E $), Senate plans vote against Biden water rule next week (E&E $), Manchin opposes Biden IRS pick over climate law guidance (E&E $), Manchin slams Biden’s ‘radical climate agenda’ in delay of oil leasing (Washington Post $)

CITIES AND STATES: Following California, Washington starts cap and trade market (Bloomberg $), WA greenhouse gas allowance auction raises estimated $300M (AP), New Mexico lawmakers seek assurances amid prescribed burns (AP)

IMPACTS: Atmospheric river comes for California as experts warn it ‘could get really ugly’ (The Guardian, Washington Post $), Red tide returns to Florida beaches earlier and stronger than normal (EcoWatch), Study shows the potential consequences of climate change for the ocean food web (NPR)  

HURRICANES: Freddy, "longest-lasting" tropical cyclone, lashes southeastern Africa (Axios)

HEALTH: 99% of people breathe dangerous particulate matter, study finds (EcoWatch), Allergies hitting early? Climate change may be to blame, report says. (Boston Globe $), Allergy season is getting longer in over 170 cities (ABC)

WINTER STORM URI: Former Enron trader claims gas companies manipulated market during 2021 freeze (Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES: How floating solar panels are being used to power electric grids (Bloomberg $), The impressive impact of clean energy projects on global emissions in 2022 (OilPrice), Geothermal's new momentum and old hurdles (Axios)

CYNICAL DISINFORMATION: The East Coast whale die-offs: Unraveling the causes (Yale Environment 360)

BATTERIES: Battery metal frenzy outshines recovery fears at mining show (Bloomberg $), The scientific breakthrough that could make batteries last longer (Wall Street Journal $)

BUILDINGS: Carbon offset pact will put solar on dozens of Habitat for Humanity homes (Energy News Network)

STORAGE: Energy storage made record gains in the US in 2022: Sustainable Energy in America Factbook (Utility Dive)

EFFICIENCY: In N.C.’s Orange County, an energy efficiency program advocates hope to replicate (Energy News Network)

OIL & GAS: Homes damaged after 'large explosion' in Lawrence County [Pennsylvania], police say (CBS), How the inflation reduction act will benefit the oil industry (OilPrice), Oil CEOs are doubling down on buybacks as Biden budget seeks to quadruple tax (CNBC), US shale boom shows signs of peaking as big oil wells disappear (Wall Street Journal $)

PLASTICS: There are 21,000 pieces of plastic in the ocean for each person on earth (Washington Post $) 

COAL: As coal disappears, mining states launch rescue efforts (E&E $), More coal plants could shut down under EPA’s new water pollution rule (Washington Post $)

GRID: DOE: Western grid could boost renewables, lower costs (E&E $), Researchers made a superconductivity breakthrough. take a look at how they achieved it (Wall Street Journal $)

EVs: Climate law's mineral mandates could impede EV adoption — study (E&E $), 

GM’s EV push stalls amid slow rollouts for GMC Hummer, Cadillac Lyriq (Wall Street Journal $), Japan’s Nissan slashing EV costs, cuts rare materials use (AP)

AGRICULTURE: Agricultural emissions to push world past 1.5°C of warming, new study warns (EcoWatch), Bill Gates: Asking people to stop eating meat won’t fix climate change (CNBC)

CARBON CAPTURE: How to make carbon capture way more efficient (Gizmodo)

CARS: Why cars running on e-fuel can’t replace EVs (The Verge)

WILDLIFE: Hope for threatened bee population and global food supply (CBS)

INTERNATIONAL: US clean energy 'carrots' could put Europe behind in decarbonization race, execs say (Reuters)

• Big Oil wants slower transition to clean energy so it can lead (Houston Chronicle, Chris Tomlinson column)
• Clean energy is suddenly less polarizing than you think (New York Times, David Wallace-Wells op-ed $)
• Stop depicting women as climate victims - we shaped the movement (Context, Eleonore Soubeyran op-ed)
• In the great EV race, clean supply chains are the winner (Energy Monitor, Justin Guay op-ed)
• President Biden should reapprove the Willow Project (CNN, Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan and Mary Peltola op-ed)
• Will the Senate ratify a landmark treaty to protect ocean life? (Washington Post, Maxine Joselow analysis $)
• Microplastics are filling the skies. Will they affect the climate? (Yale Environment 360, Nicola Jones op-ed)
• Moving the needle on supply chain sustainability (The Hill, Yossi Sheffi op-ed)

Steve Bannon's 'Populist Press' Now Points to 'Political Signal' (to Evade Google Ad Ban?) 

In 2020, Google demonetized Steve Bannon, removing him from YouTube and blocking ads on his War Room website after he fomented the Jan. 6 insurrection and called for Dr. Anthony Fauci to be beheaded. However, ProPublica revealed a year later that Bannon was still using Google's ad network, including on a then-recently-demonetised site called Populist Press, which had been revealed in 2020 to be part of a Facebook disinfo scam. 

We've kept an eye on Populist Press over the past couple years, as it provided an example of what non-Big-Oil-controlled right-wing disinformation looks like, as it tried to replicate the Drudge approach of aggregating a bunch of propaganda in one place and calling it news. 

And we say "provided” in past tense, because as of last week, the new text on the website reads, "Big Tech Has Shut Down Populist Press for Good! WE COULD NO LONGER RUN A FREE AND FAIR PRESS." 

Indeed, after years of trying and failing to evade Google's demonetization, it appears Bannon admitted defeat… and immediately started doing the exact same thing at a new URL. 

With all the subtlety you'd expect from Stevey Three-Shirts Bannon, AKA The HotTub Crime Machine, AKA Mr. Nazis Wrote My Website's Style Guide, the message on Populist Press turns from black and title-to-all-caps to red and random (MAGA-style) capitalization: “PLEASE go to www.PoliticalSignal.com They are the BEST aggregator alternative and run by patriots.”

In case readers didn't get it, the next line is an all-caps instruction to bookmark the link, and then, for good measure, the website lists "www.PoliticalSignal.com" four times in a column. The Internet Archive shows Populist Press up and running on 2/27, but a new splash with the shutdown message loads on March 2nd's save. 

We begrudgingly clicked over to Political Signal, and the unsecure HTTP site is basically indistinguishable from the old Populist Press in terms of layout and content: three columns of headlines, each linking to a page that summarizes/plagiarizes the original reporting that's linked out from that page. 

On the "About" page, though, the website claims its "mission is to bring together news from both the left and the right that we feel represents Americans in the middle." This, of course, is a lie, as there were zero "left" links, only a few innocuous mainstream news links, and a ton of links to right-wing disinformation and propaganda outlets including Breitbart—just like Populist Press!

Is Political Signal just Bannon's latest attempt to get Google ad revenue? Because it does carry Google-placed ads! The way the Populist Press statement is written, it sounds as though the entities are separate and independent though. 

But on Twitter, @PressPopulist is now going by "Political Signal," having switched seamlessly from posting links to Populist Press on Feb 28th, to linking to Political Signal on March 1st. It’s basically the same story at the Populist Press/Political Signal account on GETTR, and for the BannonWarRoom account on Gab. 

It's technically possible (though improbable) that Political Signal was set up independently of Bannon's efforts, and maybe the Populist Press shutdown has a simple explanation (like that Bannon needed money to pay his lawyers the nearly half-million dollars he owes for representing him in that whole 'refusing to comply with a congressional subpoena about how he tried to overthrow democracy' thing, as well as the whole 'scamming racists who donated to build a wall' issue). 

But if Populist Press didn't just rename itself in an attempt to bypass Google's ban, and the two entities are entirely separate, why are the Populist Press's social accounts now openly and exclusively linking to Political Signal?

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up to receive Hot News every morning!

Send updates or feedback to nkauffman@climatenexus.org
Submit events and other items for consideration for a First Look using this form
Some articles require logins or subscriptions ($)