Regulations

legal cannabis Dec. 24, 2019

California’s Legal Pot Industry Is StrugglingTaxes, regulations, local bans, and illegal competition have all hampered legal cannabis outlets.

By Ed Kilgore

vision 2020 May 8, 2019

Democrats Are Ignoring Their Party’s Strongest Issue for 2020Making it easier for corporations to poison children is unpopular. Trump has done so anyway. Democrats should make that a bigger issue.

By Eric Levitz

2018 midterms Dec. 2, 2018

Total GOP Control in Washington Is About to End. What Did They Get Out of It?For two years Republicans have theoretically had the power to remake the federal government. How did that work out for them? It was a mixed bag.

By Ed Kilgore

epa Oct. 3, 2018

EPA: Actually, a Little Radiation Might Be Good For YouThe Trump administration is moving to weaken rules related to radiation exposure.

By Adam K. Raymond

July 27, 2018

New EPA Chief Worries Trump’s Pro-Car-Pollution Plan Is IllegalBut other administration officials believe the plan is legal — because Brett Kavanaugh will say that it is, when the issue reaches the Supreme Court.

By Eric Levitz

July 6, 2018

The EPA Is Hiding Proof That a Widely Used Chemical Causes Leukemia: ReportTrump appointees are (reportedly) refusing to release a blockbuster EPA report — because industry lobbyists asked them not to.

By Eric Levitz

Dec. 17, 2017

The Right (and Wrong) Lessons to Take From Doug Jones’s Win in AlabamaBe careful of over-interpretation by partisans. But Jones’s win shouldn’t be under-interpreted, either.

By Ed Kilgore

Dec. 11, 2017

Too Lazy to Kill Regulations, Trump Is Ignoring Them InsteadThe president hasn’t eliminated all that many federal rules — but he has let the GOP’s friends run roughshod over them.

By Eric Levitz

Nov. 22, 2017

Trump Won’t Be Able to Defang the CFPB Without a FightThe president’s plan to put Mick Mulvaney in charge of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — without Senate confirmation — might be illegal.

By Eric Levitz

Nov. 15, 2017

Former Coal Executive With Shoddy Safety Record Will Lead Mine Safety AgencyDavid Zatezalo takes over the Mine Safety and Health Administration as mine fatalities are spiking.

By Adam K. Raymond

Oct. 5, 2017

The GOP Donor Class Is a Pack of Ungrateful BratsThe GOP has sacrificed its own political interests — and the public’s most basic regulatory protections — to advance its donors’ radical agenda.

By Eric Levitz

Aug. 18, 2017

Icahn Fired by Trump As Adviser, Then ResignsAnother Trump ally is gone.

By Ed Kigore

July 28, 2017

What If McCain Had Said ‘Yes’ to the ‘Skinny Repeal’?If the climactic vote on the “skinny repeal” had gone the other way, the result would have probably been the same: GOP failure, with much time lost.

By Ed Kilgore

July 3, 2017

Will Medicaid Cuts in Senate Health-Care Bill Ever Be Implemented?Mitch McConnell asked conservatives to accept short-term Medicaid concessions in exchange for long-term cuts. They now fear cuts will never happen.

By Ed Kilgore

uk June 25, 2017

As U.K. Races to Prevent Another High-Rise Disaster, Lax Regulation Draws BlameSixty British high-rises have already failed fire-safety tests following the devastating Grenfell Tower inferno. Hundreds more may still be at risk.

By Chas Danner

Mar. 31, 2017

The GOP Just Voted Against States’ Rights to Shield Wall Street From CompetitionRepublicans just a passed a bill that expands federal regulation, discourages saving, and restricts competition, for Wall Street’s sake.

By Eric Levitz

Mar. 23, 2017

GOP Hits a Dead End on Trumpcare, Cancels VoteAfter a “final offer” to House conservatives failed, Trump and Ryan may be back to square one with a divided GOP and no clear path forward.

By Ed Kilgore

Mar. 9, 2017

Trump Reportedly Said There Is a Second Health-Care Bill Coming SoonHe appears ready to move from one doomed bill to another.

By Ed Kilgore

Feb. 17, 2017

Senate Confirms Leading Opponent of Environmental Regulation As Head of the EPAScott Pruitt will spearhead the Trump administration’s efforts to increase water pollution and accelerate man-made climate change.

By Eric Levitz

Feb. 2, 2017

WATCH: Crash-Test Dummies Are Getting Pummeled by Drones NowFor science!

By Jared T. Miller

Jan. 23, 2017

Trump’s Economic Strategy Is Looking More and More Like a Right-wing Governor’sLowering business costs in exchange for jobs — and quality of life.

By Ed Kilgore

Dec. 1, 2016

Why Obama Is Writing a Flood of New Regulations for Trump to RepealThere are only so many hours in a legislative day.

By Eric Levitz

Nov. 15, 2016

Here’s How the GOP Will Swiftly Kill Obama’s Final RegulationsA little-known law will allow Republicans to repeal Obama’s expansion of overtime pay with a simple majority vote in the House and Senate.

By Eric Levitz

Jan. 22, 2016