The U.S. Supreme Court has delivered a significant setback to California’s ambitious climate agenda, ruling 7-2 to permit energy producers to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This landmark decision targets California’s stringent green energy mandates, including the requirement for electric vehicles (EVs) to dominate the market by 2035, a cornerstone of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s “carbon neutrality” push. Writing for the majority, Justice Brett Kavanaugh emphasized that the government cannot shield itself from lawsuits by categorizing regulated industries as “unaffected bystanders,” and questioned the EPA’s shifting legal interpretations regarding the Clean Air Act’s authority over greenhouse gas regulations.
This judicial blow to green policies aligns with President Donald Trump’s broader strategy to dismantle environmental regulations. His EPA head Lee Zeldin announced plans for “the largest act of deregulation in the history of the United States,” specifically targeting the 2009 Endangerment Finding. This finding, initiated under President Barack Obama, designated greenhouse gases as a public health danger, leading to extensive regulations despite the Clean Air Act not originally addressing global warming. The Endangerment Finding subsequently influenced the Biden administration’s mandates for near-total EV adoption by 2032, a costly measure that circumvented public vote. Trump’s team asserts that repealing it would save thousands per car.
Concurrently, a dangerous escalation is unfolding in the Persian Gulf, with reports from Iranian television and international news agencies detailing alleged Iranian attacks on U.S. bases. Powerful explosions were reported in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), with the Al Dhafra air base reportedly struck by ballistic missiles. Smoke was observed in Manama, Bahrain, close to a U.S. Fifth Fleet base. Qatar’s Interior Ministry issued a shelter-in-place order after a Patriot missile system allegedly intercepted a missile targeting Al Udeid airbase, prompting Qatar and the UAE to close their airspace. Explosions were also heard in Kuwait, as authorities advised citizens to remain indoors amid rising tensions.
