Latest news with #TheLogoff
Vox
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Vox
The EPA gives up on climate change
This story appeared in The Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here. Welcome to The Logoff: President Donald Trump's Environmental Protection Agency said today that it plans to reverse its own legal justification for regulating emissions, potentially a major blow to efforts to combat climate change. Why does the EPA want to do this? EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has described the change, which follows a January executive order by Trump to reexamine the policy, as 'the largest deregulatory action in the history of America'; more generally, it's consistent with the Trump administration's focus on promoting fossil fuels. What is the agency actually proposing? In 2009, the EPA reached what is known as the 'endangerment finding' — a determination that greenhouse gases are dangerous to human health because of their role in climate change, on which the agency's efforts to regulate greenhouse gas emissions rests. Now, the EPA proposes rolling back that finding. What will the impact be? If the EPA proposal takes effect, it would spell the end of nearly all US climate regulations, including those governing emissions by vehicles, factories, power plants, and more. That change would come even as the US is beginning to face more severe effects of climate change and as the world struggles to fend off warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions. The Logoff The email you need to stay informed about Trump — without letting the news take over your life. Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Is this a done deal? No. The EPA announced its proposal on Tuesday, but before it can reverse the finding, the plan will go through a review process, including a public comment period. It's also all but certain to be challenged in court by environmental groups. And with that, it's time to log off… Katie Ledecky won her sixth world title in the 1,500-meter freestyle at the swimming world championships in Singapore on Tuesday, and as usual, her competition wasn't even in frame when she finished the race. As the Athletic points out, her split en route to the full 1,500 distance Tuesday would have been good for the 13th-fastest 800 meters ever swum, and with that win, she hasn't lost a 1,500-meter race since she was 13 (she's now 28).
Vox
a day ago
- Business
- Vox
Trump's new EU trade deal, briefly explained
President Donald Trump shakes hands with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as he announces a trade deal with the EU on July 27, 2025, in Turnberry, Scotland.This story appeared in The Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here. Welcome to The Logoff: The US and the European Union have arrived at a new trade deal, just days before President Donald Trump's threatened deadline to impose substantial new tariffs. What's in the agreement? Only the broad strokes of the deal have been announced so far, but it sets a new tariff rate of 15 percent on many imports from the EU, half the 30 percent rate that had been threatened. It also includes a promise of mutual tariff-free trade on some products, including aircraft and some generic drugs, and a European commitment to buy $750 billion in US energy over the next three years. Other points are still under negotiation, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, including whether European wine and other spirits will receive an exemption from the 15 percent tariff. How is Trump's trade war faring elsewhere? Earlier this month, Trump sent a new round of tariff demand letters to US trade partners, with a new deadline of August 1 (this Friday) to reach a trade deal and head off drastic tariffs. Since then, the US has reached a number of new agreements, including a deal with Japan last week — but many more are still outstanding. Among those is a deal with China, which negotiators met to discuss on Monday; a mutual suspension of tariffs between the two countries is set to expire on August 12, but is likely to be extended an additional 90 days as talks continue. The Logoff The email you need to stay informed about Trump — without letting the news take over your life. Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. What else should I know about the tariffs? Hovering over all Trump's tariff threats and trade deals is the question of whether any of this is legal. One court, the US Court of International Trade, already ruled against the tariffs in May; now, an appeals court will hear the case on Thursday, and it will likely wend its way to the Supreme Court after that. And with that, it's time to log off… I greatly enjoyed the latest entry in my colleague Benji Jones's unofficial 'wildlife motion cameras' series, about artificial watering holes in the jungles of Guatemala (and don't miss his earlier piece, about animals along the US-Mexico border, here).
Vox
4 days ago
- Politics
- Vox
The dire state of Gaza negotiations, briefly explained
Palestinians carrying pots and pans are seen on July 23, 2025, in Gaza City, where residents are struggling to access food due to the ongoing Israeli blockade and attacks. Khames Alrefi/Anadolu via Getty Images This story appeared in The Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here. Welcome to The Logoff: The Trump administration is stepping back from ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, even as a rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza adds to the urgency of reaching an agreement. What's the latest? The latest round of talks was cut short on Thursday after US and Israeli negotiating teams were recalled from Doha, Qatar. On Friday, President Donald Trump told reporters that 'Hamas didn't really want to make a deal' and would be 'hunted down.' What are the sticking points? The specifics are unclear, but US envoy Steve Witkoff accused Hamas of not 'acting in good faith' in negotiations. Previously, Hamas's desire for assurances about a permanent end to the conflict has been an issue for Israel. How have earlier negotiations gone? In January, shortly before Trump took office, Israel and Hamas agreed to a temporary ceasefire, which included the release of Israeli hostages and an increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza. The deal unraveled two months later, in March, and conditions in Gaza have only grown worse since then. The Logoff The email you need to stay informed about Trump — without letting the news take over your life. Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. What's happening in Gaza right now? Gaza is home to more than 2 million Palestinians living in the most dire circumstances imaginable; the World Food Program said this week that a third of the population has been unable to eat for multiple days in a row, and children are dying of starvation. More than 1,000 Palestinians have also been killed by Israeli troops while attempting to access food aid in recent months, according to the UN. What's the big picture? If the Trump administration so chose, there's almost certainly more the US could do to incentivize Israel to reach a ceasefire deal, or at least allow more aid to be distributed in a way that doesn't further endanger Palestinian lives. But the collapse of negotiations this week suggests no such effort is coming, even as Gaza totters on the brink of famine. And with that, it's time to log off… Hi readers — this was a bleak way to end the week, and it can be hard to know what to put here that doesn't feel grossly inadequate. But let's end with some straightforwardly good (and fluffy) conservation news.
Vox
5 days ago
- Politics
- Vox
Columbia pays Trump's ransom
Columbia University has agreed to pay $200 million to the Trump administration over three years. Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images This story appeared in The Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here. Welcome to The Logoff: Columbia University has struck a deal with the Trump administration to restore federal research funding in exchange for a $200 million settlement and other concessions. What's the context? Columbia has been attempting to come to terms with the Trump administration since it canceled $400 million in research funding for the university in March, accusing Columbia of permitting antisemitism on campus. Columbia subsequently caved to a number of demands, but only now succeeded in regaining its federal funding. Why did Trump go after Columbia? The administration has targeted at least 60 universities for alleged antisemitism, but Columbia received particular focus. It was the site of high-profile pro-Palestinian protests in April 2024, which spurred similar demonstrations at universities across the country. And just one day after the administration froze Columbia's funding, student activist Mahmoud Khalil was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and detained for 104 days. What did Columbia agree to? The deal requires Columbia to pay $200 million to the Trump administration over three years to settle discrimination allegations, as well as $21 million over a separate investigation. It also includes provisions about diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at Columbia, international student admissions, and Title IX. The Logoff The email you need to stay informed about Trump — without letting the news take over your life. Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. What are the implications of the deal? Columbia's settlement might spell the end of the university's months-long clash with the Trump administration — but it almost certainly won't mark the end of President Donald Trump's efforts to attack American higher education. The administration's war with Harvard is ongoing, and a number of other research universities, including Princeton, Brown, Cornell, and Northwestern, have had research funding frozen. What's the big picture? Since returning to office, Trump has set out to break American institutions that don't cater to his demands — corporations like Disney and Paramount, universities like Columbia and UPenn, and white-shoe law firms like Paul Weiss. Frequently, he has succeeded, despite offering only thin pretenses of wrongdoing. It's a concerning pattern, one commonly found in authoritarian regimes. And with that, it's time to log off…
Vox
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Vox
Epstein breaks Congress
This story appeared in The Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here. Welcome to The Logoff: President Donald Trump's self-inflicted Jeffrey Epstein scandal has essentially paralyzed the House of Representatives, as Speaker Mike Johnson announced today that the chamber would recess early to avoid voting to disclose information about the deceased financier. What changed? The House had been scheduled to remain in session until Thursday, but will now recess tomorrow and remain out until September 2 after a new bipartisan bill to release files on Epstein gained traction. A long August recess is normal for Congress, but not the abrupt decision to head for the door early. Why does this matter? The Logoff hasn't covered the Epstein scandal yet because our mission is to highlight what matters most — not what's talked about most. But it's become clear that, at least for now, this isn't going away, and the lengths that Trump's Republican allies in the House are going to to avoid the issue are noteworthy. Outside Congress, it has real staying power within Trump's coalition. Like it or not, the conspiracy theory is playing an inescapable role in politics right now. What's the context? Trump, and by extension the Republican Party, have struggled to respond to a ballooning scandal around their refusal to disclose new information about clients of Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died by suicide in federal custody in 2019. Releasing additional information would go against standard DOJ procedure — but Trump and many of his allies promised to do so during the 2024 campaign, and Trump's attorney general, Pam Bondi, said in February that she was reviewing Epstein's alleged 'client list' for potential release. The Logoff The email you need to stay informed about Trump — without letting the news take over your life. Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. What's next? Johnson remains stuck between a Republican conference ready to vote in favor of releasing more information and Trump, who has aggressively resisted calls to do so. It's unclear if the August recess will give him any breathing room, but in the meantime, the DOJ is hoping to meet with Ghislaine Maxwell, a convicted Epstein associate, to seek new information about possible Epstein clients, and the House Oversight Committee voted Tuesday to subpoena Maxwell to testify. And with that, it's time to log off…
