The New York Times publishes two new articles highlighting rampant corruption and self-serving activities within the Trump administration, all to the detriment of the health and well-being of the American people.
Free pass for polluters
First, the article “How Trump Gave a Free Pass to the Worst Polluters” based on a 6-month investigation built on over 10,000 pages of FOIA records.
The article lays bare the administration’s gutting of the EPA and its regulations, all to benefit the pocketbooks of the nation’s worst polluters, who in turn showered Trump and his entourage with donations and rewards.
In total, since taking office again, Mr. Trump 202 exempt installations air quality regulations came into effect in 39 states and Puerto Rico. Some were part of the worst industrial polluters in the countryincluding chemical manufacturers, copper smelters and coal-fired power plants. About 3.3 million people live within three miles of at least one affected facility.
The exemptions represent the the biggest presidential intervention in enforcing the Clean Air Act in the half century since President Nixon signed the fundamental environmental law.
“These companies, with their campaign contributions and the revolving door of former lobbyists and executives that now operate in regulatory agencies – this is where the petrochemical industry gets its power.
Here are the locations of the 71 coal-fired power plants, 71 chemical plants, 40 sterilizers, 19 steel-related facilities and 1 copper smelter exempt from clean air regulations.
They are among the largest sources of carcinogenic pollution: chemical manufacturers, steel mills, medical device sterilization facilities.
In 2024, they had to take measures to reduce toxic emissions. Everything has changed when President Trump returned to power and gave them a pass.
Roll and Treat
The second story shows how a Russian energy giant secretly decided to acquire a position in a massive gas project in Alaska. This is part of the talks between Witkoff/Kushner and Putin to end the war in Ukraine.
Joel Riddle, who was CEO of Polar LNG, resigned in September; he said he was misled about the sources of the startup funding, which apparently came from a company in the United Arab Emirates.
Instead, Mr. Riddle said he learned that the real source of at least some of Polar LNG’s money was Novatek, a Russian energy giant subject to partial U.S. sanctions.
“It is not only illegal, but it is not in the interest of the United States for Russian technology to control the marketing of Arctic gas. in the North Slope,” Mr. Riddle said in a brief interview.
The sequence of events illustrates the unorthodox nature, opaque mixture of deal-making and high-stakes diplomacy it defined Mr. Trump’s attempts to end Europe’s bloodiest conflict since World War II.
Wait, there’s more
Trump’s “peace envoys” Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff for Europe have floated the idea that Europe should start buying more Russian gas again — a decision that would constitute an economic boon for Moscow and give it renewed influence in the region.
The idea was raised in discussions with Ukrainian and European officials, including with President Volodymyr Zelensky in kyiv last month.
Some European and Ukrainian officials expect the United States to seek a share in Russian gas exports. give American companies or the government a share of the profitsaccording to people familiar with the talks.
Epilogue
Corruption, self-dealing, fascism, kleptocracy, selling out America – these are the foundations of the Trump regime, which is nothing new to those who keep their eyes open. But many are unaware of the rotten core of this regime and its supporters within the Republican Party.
Will these stories shift some votes from Republicans to Democrats across the country? Let’s make sure they do. Let’s get these stories out there so people can see the truth and escape the bubble created by right-wing media. Let’s move on to GOTV.
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