Competing for DOE’s $97 Billion Loan Allocation

TL/DR - The US Department of Energy (DOE) has allocated $67 billion for clean energy funding following the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), with $97 billion in total available for applicants including corporations, startups, and nonprofits. To be eligible for this funding, applicants must complete a…

US Court Prohibits Gender Care Exclusion in Arizona’s Health Plans

TL/DR - US District Court Judge Rosemary Marquez has affirmed a final consent decree in Toomey v. State of Arizona, prohibiting Arizona from denying gender-affirming care in state health insurance plans. The decree includes four provisions, such as the requirement for state health plans to evaluate requests for coverage for gender-affirming…

Matt Gaetz Challenges Kevin McCarthy’s Role as Speaker

TL/DR - Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz has introduced a motion to remove Kevin McCarthy from the House speakership, forcing a vote within two legislative days. Gaetz is critical of McCarthy's handling of budget and spending disputes and accuses him of breaking promises to conservatives about his leadership. The removal of a speaker has never been…

NYC’s Climate Change Volatility

TL/DR - New York City experienced the wettest day on record since 1948, months after the sky was covered by smoke from Canadian wildfires, highlighting the urgent need for the US to take meaningful climate action. The increasing occurrence of these severe weather events is a stark indication of the "new normal" that the climate crisis is…