Welcome back to the Unify Brief, where we track the latest developments facing our nation.
Trump administration ends federal government’s legal authority to regulate greenhouse gases
On Thursday, Feb. 12, President Trump announced that he was reversing a landmark 2009 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ruling that found six planet-warming gases hazardous to human health: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, per-fluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride. This ruling has been key in allowing the EPA to regulate these greenhouse gases.
The president said that the ruling was “a disastrous Obama-era policy that severely damaged the American auto industry and massively drove up prices for American consumers.”
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said that by repealing this finding, the price of a car could be lowered by 2,300 dollars almost immediately.
According to the Environmental Defense Fund, the repeal of this finding is expected to increase the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent over the next 30 years.
National: President Trump and Administrator Zeldin Deliver Single Largest Deregulatory Action in U.S. History (EPA)
Local: As Trump reverses EPA’s ability to control greenhouse gases, Colorado environmental groups vow to “play the long game” (Colorado Sun)
What other college campuses have to say: The future of the EPA? Reflecting on climate policy in the Biden administration and beyond (University of Washington)
Trump criticizes Team U.S.A. Olympic skier
Hunter Hess, who is competing in freestyle skiing, said, “There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t,” when asked how he felt to be representing the U.S. at the Winter Olympics this year.
In the past year, the Trump administration has deployed federal troops to U.S. cities, which have sparked protests across the country. The president has also made bold declarations against long-standing U.S. allies while pursuing a chaotic foreign policy.
In a Truth Social post, President Trump called Hess “a real loser” and stated, “It’s too bad he’s on [the team].”
Hess responded to Trump in an Instagram statement.
“There is so much that is great about America, but there are always things that could be better,” Hess wrote, finishing the statement by saying how excited he was to be able to represent Team U.S.A. in his event.
As the Trump administration enters the second year of its second term, more Americans are skeptical of ICE’s actions in the past few months. One poll by CBS News reports that 52 percent of people said that ICE was making communities feel less safe.
“Amidst a nonstop, chaotic whirlwind of daily breaking news, court decisions and more, the Administration is abusing its power to turn back the clock on rights and protections for hundreds of millions of people,” writes the National Partnership for Women and Families on the decisions made by the president and his cabinet.
National: U.S. athletes say they have the right to speak up after Trump brands Olympic skier a ‘loser’ (Reuters)
Local: ‘There’s a lot of heartbreak’: Colorado Olympic athletes respond to representing the U.S. amid political tensions (Summit Daily)
What other college campuses have to say: Sidelines: Winter Olympics whirs to life for week 1 (The Lafayette)
The Justice Department files a new lawsuit against Harvard University
In a lawsuit filed on Friday, Feb. 13, the Department of Justice accused Harvard admissions of failing to comply with the government’s request to provide documents related to its “racial discrimination” investigation.
Harvard officials have stated that the university is committed to complying with the law and will not “relinquish its constitutional rights in response to unlawful government overreach.”
This is a new lawsuit the Trump administration has filed against Harvard in an almost year-long battle over federal funding to the institution. Harvard and the federal government have been in settlement talks for the past few months regarding restoring federal funds to the university. Harvard remains committed to upholding its values despite constant targeting by the administration.
National: Justice Department sues Harvard for data as it investigates how race factors into admissions (AP News)
Local: CU Colorado Springs among universities under federal investigation as part of Trump’s anti-DEI campaign (Denver Post)
What other college campuses have to say: Justice Department Sues Harvard Over Admissions Records (The Harvard Crimson)
Take Action:
At DU:
Attend a Club for Collective Liberation meeting
Attend a Plant Futures meeting
On Your Own:
Review ‘Know Your Rights’
