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Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
We'd all breathe easier if U.S. lawmakers quit blowing smoke, helped clear the air
Opinion It's become something of an annual ritual now. As wildfire smoke drifts south across the Canada-U.S. border, turning skies orange and triggering air-quality alerts in major American cities, Republican lawmakers south of the line scramble for someone to blame. Lately, they've settled on Canada. The same tired talking points roll out like a script: that Canada isn't doing enough to manage its forests, that our fires are choking American lungs and that the federal and provincial governments here are somehow asleep at the wheel. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Smoke obscures Winnipeg's skyline on Aug. 1. It's a convenient narrative — and a complete dodge of responsibility. Wisconsin state Rep. Calvin Callahan joined forces with Republican state lawmakers from Iowa, Minnesota and North Dakota this week by filing a formal complaint against Canada to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the International Joint Commission. The Republican lawmakers are demanding an investigation into Canada's wildfire management practices. 'If Canada can't get these wildfires under control, they need to face real consequences,' Callahan said in a news release. 'We won't sit back while our air becomes a health hazard.' Premier Wab Kinew this week accused the group of pitching a 'timber tantrum.' Before U.S. politicians start wagging fingers north, though, they should take a long, hard look in the mirror. Because the wildfire smoke Americans are breathing isn't just a Canadian export. It's a symptom of a much larger problem — one that the United States, particularly under Republican leadership, has done far too little to address: human-caused climate change. Yes, Canada is experiencing another brutal wildfire season. Tens of thousands of square kilometres of forest have already burned this year. Towns have been evacuated, homes destroyed and firefighters pushed to the brink. And yes, that smoke doesn't stop at the border. But neither does the blame. The western and southern United States — including Republican-run states such as Texas and Idaho — have also been scorched by massive wildfires in recent years. California, in particular, has seen some of the most destructive and deadly fire seasons in its history. According to data from the U.S. National Interagency Fire Center, the number of acres burned annually in the U.S. has more than doubled since the 1990s. And like in Canada, the fires are getting hotter, they move faster and they're harder to control. The reason? Climate change. This isn't radical environmental rhetoric — it's scientific consensus. Hotter, drier conditions caused by a warming climate are fuelling more frequent and intense wildfires across North America, regardless of how the fires were ignited (most are started by humans, accidentally or deliberately). And here's where the U.S. — particularly under Republican leadership — has some serious soul-searching to do. President Donald Trump has cancelled plans to expand wind and solar power and doubled down on oil, gas and coal, falsely claiming renewable energy would 'wreck the economy.' Trump repeatedly calls climate change a 'hoax' and mocks the scientific reality even as wildfires devour entire U.S. towns and hurricanes batter coastal cities. The idea that Canada is single-handedly responsible for the smoke floating into Chicago or New York is not just dishonest — it's absurd. Both countries are burning. Both countries have forest management issues. Both countries need to adapt. Meanwhile, the U.S. is the second-largest carbon emitter in the world after China and has some of the highest per-person emissions globally. Canada has made some attempts to reduce carbon emissions, through carbon pricing, regulations and investments in clean energy. But it's not nearly enough. The Republican party, on the other hand, remains mired in climate denialism. Many of its most prominent figures reject basic climate science. They frame environmental regulations as government overreach and vilify green energy as part of a leftist plot to destroy American jobs. The irony is that American citizens — including many who vote Republican — are suffering the consequences. Wildfire smoke doesn't care about political affiliation. It's sending kids to emergency rooms, forcing schools to cancel recess and making life miserable for people with asthma and other respiratory issues. Instead of blaming Canada, maybe Republican lawmakers should ask why their own country continues to pump more carbon into the atmosphere year after year. Maybe they should ask why they're still subsidizing the fossil fuel industry to the tune of billions of dollars while attacking tax credits for solar panels and electric vehicles. Wednesdays What's next in arts, life and pop culture. Maybe they should stop calling climate change a hoax and start listening to the thousands of scientists — including those in their own country — who have been warning about this for decades. Climate change is a global issue. No single country can fix it on its own. But leadership matters. And so does honesty. So the next time Republican politicians in Washington or Texas start pointing fingers at Canada over wildfire smoke, they should remember: the smoke may have crossed the border, but much of the fuel for the fire is being pumped, mined and burned in their own backyard — often with their full support. It's time they owned up to that. Because as long as they keep treating climate change like a political game, everyone — on both sides of the border — will keep paying the price. Tom BrodbeckColumnist Tom Brodbeck is a columnist with the Free Press and has over 30 years experience in print media. He joined the Free Press in 2019. Born and raised in Montreal, Tom graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and commerce. Read more about Tom. Tom provides commentary and analysis on political and related issues at the municipal, provincial and federal level. His columns are built on research and coverage of local events. The Free Press's editing team reviews Tom's columns before they are posted online or published in print – part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Toronto Star
6 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Trump's redistricting fight mushrooms with Vance in Indiana and Florida joining the fray
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (AP) — As President Donald Trump ramps up pressure on Republican-run states to redraw congressional boundaries, he has dispatched Vice President JD Vance to Indiana and called for a new federal census — moves reflecting his intent to maximize the GOP's partisan advantages in coming elections. Separately, a top Republican leader in Florida announced plans Thursday to begin redistricting efforts in the president's adopted home state. And U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said FBI Director Kash Patel had granted his request for the agency to get involved in corralling Texas Democratic lawmakers who left the state to deny the Republican majority a quorum necessary to vote on a U.S. House redistricting plan at the forefront of Trump's initiative.
Toronto Star
6 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
JD Vance visits Indiana as Trump mulls a new census and pushes for GOP-led redistricting
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (AP) — As President Donald Trump ramps up pressure on Republican-run states to redraw congressional boundaries, he has dispatched Vice President JD Vance to Indiana and called for a new federal census — moves reflecting his intent to maximize the GOP's partisan advantages in coming elections. Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Thursday that FBI Director Kash Patel had granted his request for the agency to get involved in corralling Democratic state lawmakers who left Texas to deny the Republican majority a quorum necessary to vote on a U.S. House redistricting plan advancing Trump's initiative.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
JD Vance visits Indiana as Trump mulls a new census and pushes for GOP-led redistricting
Election 2026 Redistricting Indiana INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (AP) — As President Donald Trump ramps up pressure on Republican-run states to redraw congressional boundaries, he has dispatched Vice President JD Vance to Indiana and called for a new federal census — moves reflecting his intent to maximize the GOP's partisan advantages in coming elections. Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Thursday that FBI Director Kash Patel had granted his request for the agency to get involved in corralling Democratic state lawmakers who left Texas to deny the Republican majority a quorum necessary to vote on a U.S. House redistricting plan advancing Trump's initiative. While the FBI did not immediately announce moves affirming Cornyn's statements and Indiana Gov. Mike Braun was mum after a private session with Vance on Thursday, the developments reflect rising tensions in a widening fight that began in GOP-dominated Texas, spread to Democratic-run California and threatens to mushroom nationally. The dynamics could embroil the 2026 midterm campaign in a web of legislative and court battles testing Trump's power over the Republican Party, Democrats' ability to mount opposition and the durability of the U.S. system of federalism that balances power between Washington and individual states. Texas has been the epicenter of Trump's push to gerrymander congressional maps to shore up Republicans' narrow House majority in 2026. At a time when competitive House districts number just several dozen, Democrats are three seats short of a House majority under the current maps. Trump wants five more seats out of Texas to potentially avoid a repeat of the 2018 midterms, when Democrats reclaimed the House and proceeded to thwart his agenda and impeach him twice. Braun on Tuesday seemingly affirmed Democrats' warnings that Texas is a test case for the GOP to scale nationally. 'It looks like it's going to happen across many Republican states,' he told reporters, though he's made no promises about his own state. Vance holds private meetings in Indianapolis Vance met privately with Braun and others at the Indiana Capitol on Thursday. He was expected to attend a GOP fundraiser Thursday evening. Afterward, Braun sidestepped redistricting — a notable contrast to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's enthusiastic embrace of Trump's demands. 'We discussed a number of issues, and I was pleased to highlight some of the great things happening in Indiana,' Braun said via his official social media account. Around 100 people gathered at the Capitol to express opposition to the GOP effort. 'I'm 75, and I never, never thought I had to worry about our democracy being taken apart from the inside,' said Linda Linn of Indianapolis, as she held a cardboard sign warning Braun not to disenfranchise her vote. Braun would have to call a special session if he chooses to start the redistricting process, but lawmakers have the sole power to draw new maps. Braun's office has not responded to requests seeking details about Vance's visit. Republican U.S. representatives outnumber Democrats in Indiana 7-2, limiting the possibilities of squeezing out another seat. Indiana lawmakers have avoided the national spotlight in recent years, especially after a 2022 special session that yielded a strict abortion ban. Former Vice President Mike Pence, a past Indiana governor, also holds sway over many state lawmakers and has a more measured approach to partisan politics compared to Trump. Nonetheless, Braun is a staunch Trump ally in a state with a strong base of loyalists to the president. Democratic U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, one of two Indiana Democrats in the U.S. House who could be targeted by redistricting, said the Trump administration is abusing the political process. 'They know that their only hope to maintain control is to pressure the Indiana General Assembly to violate the Indiana Constitution and redistrict U.S. House of Representative(s) seats mid-decade,' he said in a statement. Indiana's Republican legislative leaders were pleased with the existing maps when they were adopted four years ago. 'I believe these maps reflect feedback from the public and will serve Hoosiers well for the next decade,' Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray said at the time. Republicans hold a supermajority in the Indiana House and Senate, meaning Democrats could not thwart a special session by refusing to attend, as Texas Democrats are doing. Trump throws Census Bureau into the mix The president already is flouting U.S. political traditions with such a widespread, aggressive push for mid-decade redistricting. He added another variable with a social media post on Thursday calling for 'new and highly accurate CENSUS' that does not count U.S. residents who are not citizens, permanent residents or otherwise legal immigrants. He did not offer any timeline or details for such a massive undertaking, and his post raises constitutional questions about the once-a-decade process that is used to apportion the U.S. House of Representatives among the states and set distribution formulas for nearly $3 trillion in federal spending programs. The Constitution's 14th Amendment declares that House seats 'shall be' established based on 'the whole number of persons in each state,' and during Trump's first term, the Supreme Court effectively blocked him from adding a citizenship question to the 2020 census. Still, Trump's pattern in his second term has been to push the boundaries of executive action, even amid ongoing legal disputes or court orders, and the Census Bureau is under the direction of his Commerce Department, led by Secretary Howard Lutnick. Texas lawmakers still spread across other states Republicans, now including Cornyn, have ratcheted up the pressure on Texas Democrats — dozens of whom remain in other states and outside the jurisdiction of state civil warrants issued by the Republican legislative majority for their return. Under Texas legislative rules, they face the prospect of $500 daily fines that exceed their compensation and cannot be paid, legally, by their campaign accounts. Political contributions are being used to cover some costs of their travel, lodging and meals while they are outside the state. Texas Democrats hope to run out the clock on the current special session that would end Aug. 19. But Abbott could call another session, raising the prospects of an extended battle. While their minority status allows them only the leverage to delay, the Texas holdout has inspired Democrats and progressives around the country. California's Gavin Newsom is pushing for a Democratic gerrymandering effort in his state if Texas Republicans proceed, though he'd require voters to undo their previous approval of an independent redistricting commission. And Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, both of whom have appeared alongside Texas Democrats who relocated to their states, have also declared their intent to push new maps if they are necessary to neutralize Republican maneuvers. ___ Barrow reported from Atlanta. Volmert reported from Lansing, Michigan.
The Guardian
24-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Trump cracks down on homelessness with executive order enabling local governments
The federal government is seeking to crack down on homelessness in the US, with Donald Trump issuing an executive order to push local governments to remove unhoused people from the streets. The order the US president signed on Thursday will seek the 'reversal of federal or state judicial precedents and the termination of consent decrees' that restrict local governments' ability to respond to the crisis, and redirect funds to support rehabilitation and treatment. The order aims to 'restore public order', saying 'endemic vagrancy, disorderly behavior, sudden confrontations, and violent attacks have made our cities unsafe', according to the order. The action comes as the homelessness crisis in the US has significantly worsened in recent years driven by a widespread shortage of affordable housing. Last year, a single-day count, which is a rough estimate, recorded more than 770,000 people experiencing homelessness across the country, the highest figure ever documented. Cities and states have adopted an increasingly punitive approach to homelessness, seeking to push people out of parks and city streets, even when there is no shelter available. The supreme court ruled last year that cities can impose fines and even jail time for unhoused people for sleeping outside after local governments argued some protections for unhoused people prevented them from taking action to reduce homelessness. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, told USA Today, which first reported on the executive order, that the president was 'delivering on his commitment to Make America Safe Again' and end homelessness. 'By removing vagrant criminals from our streets and redirecting resources toward substance abuse programs, the Trump Administration will ensure that Americans feel safe in their own communities and that individuals suffering from addiction or mental health struggles are able to get the help they need,' she said. The president's order comes after last year's US supreme court ruling, which was one of the most consequential legal decisions on homelessness in decades in the US. That ruling held that it is not 'cruel and unusual punishment' to criminalize camping when there is no shelter available. The case originated in Grants Pass, a city in Oregon that was defending its efforts to prosecute people for sleeping in public. Unhoused people in the US have long faced crackdowns and sweeps, with policies and police practices that result in law enforcement harassment, tickets or jail time. But the ruling supercharged those kinds of aggressive responses, emboldening cities and states to punish encampment residents who have no other options for shelter. In a report last month, the American Civil Liberties Union found that cities across the US have introduced more than 320 bills criminalizing unhoused people, the majority of which have passed. The crackdowns have taken place in Democratic- and Republican-run states alike. Advocates for unhoused people's rights have long argued that criminalization only exacerbates the housing crisis, shuffling people in and out of jail or from one neighborhood to the next, as they lose their belongings and connections to providers, fall further into debt and wind up in increasingly unsafe conditions. During his campaign last year, Trump used dark rhetoric to talk about the humanitarian crisis, threatening to force people into 'tent cities', raising fears that some of the poorest, most vulnerable Americans could end up in remote locations in settings that resemble concentration camps.
