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ben hulac

@benhulac

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reporter 📰 // roaming the halls of Congress for @NJSpotlightNews // hulacb(at)njspotlightnews(dot)org // born @ 355.68 ppm

The Capitol
Joined September 2009
Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.
@benhulac
ben hulac
10 days
I'm a reporter who covers New Jersey's delegation to Congress. Almost daily, I am on Capitol Hill, interviewing New Jersey lawmakers for the public. Despite many attempts, Tom Kean has never spoken with me. This video I took yesterday shows how things typically go.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
3 years
NEWS: A federal court in D.C. tonight invalidated a Biden administration decision to offer 80 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico for oil and gas leasing, saying the administration did not consider climate impacts.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
10 days
My name is Ben Hulac, and I cover New Jersey's members of Congress. Every single member, Republican or Democrat, talks with me. Except for @CongressmanKean . Lawmakers deny information to the public when they don't talk with the press. @NJSpotlightNews
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@benhulac
ben hulac
3 years
The House voted 229-191 to reinstate an Obama-era regulation on methane emissions. 12 Republicans voted for the resolution, which passed the Senate in April and heads now to Biden's desk.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
10 days
For a decade, I have covered Congress and federal news. I have interviewed hundreds of members of Congress. Today, I write about the people elected to serve New Jersey in Washington. None of them have every treated me like a ghost -- until @CongressmanKean . @NJSpotlightNews
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@benhulac
ben hulac
3 years
Joe Biden today on climate, disasters: "The past few days of Hurricane Ida and the wildfires in the West and the unprecedented flash floods in New York and New Jersey is yet another reminder that these extreme storms and the climate crisis are here."
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@benhulac
ben hulac
4 years
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a bulwark of conservatism and lobbying heft, comes out in support of the rejoining the Paris climate agreement. #climate #Inauguration2021
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@benhulac
ben hulac
8 days
Thank you to reporters with big readership like @chrislhayes , @JakeSherman & @JohnJHarwood for sharing my video. Julie's description, below, is perfect. I try to explain to New Jerseyans what their lawmakers are up to in Washington. All my articles are at @NJSpotlightNews .
@jkbjournalist
julie k. brown
10 days
ICYMI — worth understanding that this local reporter is representing you, he is asking questions of your elected officials and holding them accountable on behalf of you -/ the voter, constituent, resident, mother, father — everyone who lives in this guy’s district.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
2 years
Justice KAGAN with a memorable quote in her dissent in WV v. EPA, a case with massive climate implications: “Whatever else this Court may know about, it does not have a clue about how to address climate change. And let’s say the obvious: The stakes here are high.”
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@benhulac
ben hulac
10 days
Absolutely no idea, John. I have approached him 6-7 times in recent months and gotten absolutely no response. This was the first time I decided to film.
@JohnJHarwood
John Harwood
10 days
@benhulac why doesn't he?
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@benhulac
ben hulac
6 years
NEWS: Pres. Trump minutes ago rescinded an Obama-era executive order on protecting oceans, coasts & Great Lakes.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
3 years
The Senate just unanimously confirmed former Florida senator Bill Nelson to lead NASA.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
1 year
For the first time in about a decade, I am not a working journalist. On Friday, I was laid off from my job covering energy, the environment and Congress for CQ ( @CQnow ) and @rollcall , leaving me stunned. Surely, I will find a reporting gig, but CQ & Roll Call gave me a lot.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
10 days
Thanks, Mia! I am not the only reporter who covers New Jersey's members in Washington. @Reporter_Mia at Politico and @joeymdfox at the New Jersey are also here. As far as I know, neither has ever gotten an interview with @CongressmanKean either.
@Reporter_Mia
Mia Camille McCarthy
10 days
Covering the NJ delegation, this has been pretty typical — normally members just tell me they don’t do hallway interviews (which is completely fine) but Kean has rarely acknowledged my presence when asking him questions Shoutout @benhulac for capturing what we see daily
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@benhulac
ben hulac
4 years
NEWS: DC is suing Exxon Mobil, BP, Chevron, and Shell, accusing them of "systematically" deceiving the public by lowballing the dangers of climate change.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
7 years
NEWS: #Trump admin's requests to stay and to appeal kids' climate case is denied. Case by @youthvgov proceeding in federal court.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
3 years
What do a liberal governor in Colorado and a conservative governor in West Virginia have in common? They are part of a group of American politicians who paid little to no tax in recent years. (per @propublica )
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@benhulac
ben hulac
6 years
BIG NEWS: The Supreme Court halts a potentially landmark climate change lawsuit, which was slated for trial Oct. 29
@chrisgeidner
Chris “Law Dork” Geidner
6 years
BREAKING: Chief Justice John Roberts temporarily halts discovery and the upcoming trial in the kids’ climate change case, pending a response to DOJ’s stay request, which is due by 3p Wednesday.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
4 years
Janet Yellen on climate change: “This is one of the most critical issues facing our country and the world, and it poses an existential threat.” “It will be a focus of president-elect Biden in his entire administration.”
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@benhulac
ben hulac
8 years
@GeorgeTakei Check out the archived Obama White House site, Mr. Takei. Climate, equality, health care still there:
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@benhulac
ben hulac
6 years
BIG NEWS: The Supreme Court has denied the Trump administration’s effort to block the kids’ climate case, formally Juliana v United States. This means the case moves forward.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
3 years
In a proclamation marking death of Madeleine Albright, President Biden notes she came to America as a refugee. "She was an immigrant fleeing persecution. A refugee in need of safe haven." She and her family fled Nazis during WWII. Flags lowered through Sunday.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
8 years
Asked if charges that #ExxonMobil withheld information on climate change, #Tillerson declines to answer twice. #SecretaryOfState
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@benhulac
ben hulac
2 years
well, this seems newsy. Donald Trump says FBI agents are searching his house in Florida.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
4 years
Elissa Slotkin ( @RepSlotkin ) says admin officials alarmed about what Trump does next. "I’ve heard from a number of senior Trump Administration officials this morning that he is increasingly unhinged, and they are concerned about the actions he could take in the next few weeks."
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@benhulac
ben hulac
3 years
I'm not writing on this, but @LFFriedman already has this story up on this big news about what was the largest lease sale in American history.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
3 years
NEWS: The Interior Department is moving the headquarters of the Bureau of Land Management back to Washington from Grand Junction, Colo., reversing a decision from the Trump administration. Grand Junction will remain BLM's hub in the American West.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
3 years
NEW, in non-SCOTUS news, the Interior Department is canceling two mining leases in northeast Minnesota near a wilderness area that borders Canada, dealing a blow to potential copper mining project.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
7 years
Reporters serving up that TWO SCOOP wish for POTUS: WaPo: NYT:
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@benhulac
ben hulac
4 years
it looks like you, @GernotWagner , have a fan in the first female Fed chair
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@benhulac
ben hulac
4 years
“Good people fall victim to doomism. I do too sometimes. It can be enabling and empowering as long as you don’t get stuck there. It is up to others to help ensure that experience can be cathartic.” interesting Q&A with @MichaelEMann
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@benhulac
ben hulac
10 days
What Gabby said --> For anyone curious about Nevada politics, she covers the state's federal policy/politics for the non-profit Nevada Independent ( @TheNVIndy ).
@birenbomb
Gabby Birenbaum
10 days
Ben’s a fellow regional reporter who does a great job informing readers in NJ about what their elected officials are up to in DC. As regional reporters, we serve the same people that representatives do — people in the state. Members who stonewall the press do us all a disservice
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@benhulac
ben hulac
8 years
BREAKING: Massachusetts county court orders #ExxonMobil to comply with Mass. AG investigation into its knowledge of climate change.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
8 years
Mr. #Tillerson 's opening statement 2100+ words long. Topic of climate change is not in it. #SecretaryOfState
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@benhulac
ben hulac
5 years
Cute moment leaving the Supreme Court this morning: Young-ish boy: "If you're a journalist, will you put me in your case?" Me: "Yep, I'm on it." Boy: "Oh, and thank you for your service." **awww shucks** 😁😁
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@benhulac
ben hulac
8 years
Sec. of State Tillerson used separate email w/ pseudonym "Wayne Tracker" to discuss #climate at #Exxon , per @AGSchneiderman office.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
7 years
I'm been reading about clever #climatechange lawsuits. These stick out: 1. Cases vs Exxon and Shell about sea levels 2. SF & Oakland suing Big Oil 3. @youthvgov case 4. What Dem AGs are doing ( @StateImpactCntr ) 5. Immig hardliners suing over CO2 6. RICO
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@benhulac
ben hulac
8 years
Tillerson: "Not to my knowledge" has #ExxonMobil lobbied against sanctions. POLITICO reported otherwise: #Tillerson
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@benhulac
ben hulac
7 years
This statement from a member of Congress in the Republican Senate leadership👇
@SenCoryGardner
Cory Gardner
7 years
Mr. President - we must call evil by its name. These were white supremacists and this was domestic terrorism.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
8 years
The #WayneTracker email account is already the subject of a federal lawsuit: ($) @OCTorg #climatechange
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@benhulac
ben hulac
4 years
The White House to unveil a slew of climate moves today, including: -- Freeze on oil/gas leasing -- Freeze on coal leasing -- National goal to protect 30% of land, waters by 2030 -- Depression-style conservation jobs effort -- "Scientific integrity" memo
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@benhulac
ben hulac
8 years
The most Joe Biden-esque event will happen tomorrow.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
8 years
Just to clarify: @POTUS 's "secret plan" to defeat ISIS is to ask the Pentagon for a plan to defeat ISIS.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
4 years
with Janet Yellen back in the news, everyone should remember that she interviewed herself for a column in her high school paper. it was tradition for the editor to interview the valedictorian -- and she was both. so... #Yellen #TreasurySecretary
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@benhulac
ben hulac
4 years
The White House just put out a summary of its first "national climate task force" meeting: #climate #ClimateCrisis
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@benhulac
ben hulac
1 year
Lindsey knows more about Congress than many members of Congress. She is a Capitol Hill fixture, tracking down lawmakers, cornering them and demanding answers. She's there night and day. Hire her before someone else does, fools!
@lindsemcpherson
@lindsemcpherson
1 year
Some unfortunate personal news: I was laid off from my job at CQ Roll Call on Friday after 8 years. My position of congressional leadership reporter was eliminated, along with others at FiscalNote. I'm in the market for a new congressional reporting gig, so please send leads
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@benhulac
ben hulac
4 years
White House readout of Biden's call with Putin.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
6 years
The Trump order -- officially "OCEAN POLICY TO ADVANCE THE ECONOMIC, SECURITY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERESTS OF THE UNITED STATES" -- does not mention climate change. Climate was key focus of Obama order. #climate #POTUS
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@benhulac
ben hulac
3 years
Court ruling, via Earthjustice,
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@benhulac
ben hulac
3 years
@samjmintz Plus the fact we're not on track for herd immunity and a whole chunk of the country doesn't show interest in getting vaccinated.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
6 years
I spent last Tuesday on Capitol Hill w/ people who want a carbon tax. Their advice: 1) "Talk about the risk" 2) "Propel innovation" 3) Be the "human face" 4) "We don't want it to be like health care." 5) Remind Congress voters will $$$ @citizensclimate
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@benhulac
ben hulac
5 months
New Jersey is on the brink of rolling back its public record law. My colleague @colleenodea is all over this issue and the bill that "decimates" the state open-records law. #OPRA @NJSpotlightNews
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@benhulac
ben hulac
6 years
NEWS: President Trump tonight rescinded an Obama-era rule that required agencies to set goals to cut carbon emissions, address climate change.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
9 months
A defendant named in the case against Bob Menendez is a longtime donor to the senator and the Democratic Party. Now, politicians who've gotten money from Menendez and his donor friend are giving it away. My first piece for @NJSpotlightNews :
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@benhulac
ben hulac
6 years
Pres. Trump's speech text tonight, by word count/theme: "American/s" -- 51 times "Border" -- 14 times "Wall/s" -- 10 times "trade" -- 7 times "infrastructure" -- 4 times "energy" -- 2 times "Climate" -- 0 times #SOTU #climate #StateOfTheUnion
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@benhulac
ben hulac
6 years
NEWS: Fishermen in California and Oregon today sued 30 fossil fuel companies over climate/warming the oceans. "...we’re demanding these companies pay for additional measures that will help mitigate future impacts." Defendants include: Exxon, Chevron, BP, Shell, more.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
4 months
This morning, NJ Republican Tom Kean said he would vote for Donald Trump. Tonight, Trump is officially a felon. Kean's district is one of 17 House districts Joe Biden carried in 2020.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
3 years
@samjmintz Also the variants that are on the move complicate things deeply.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
4 years
Michael Regan, Biden's pick to lead EPA, has a date for his confirmation hearing: -- Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2 p.m. before EPW read about his background in this piece I wrote w/ @JessicaWehrman
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@benhulac
ben hulac
3 years
NEWS: The @USFWS will soon have an official director after the Senate confirmed Martha Williams, who had been the acting head, by voice vote tonight before adjourning.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
7 years
@AmyAHarder @emilyhholden What topic did WH official want to talk about instead?
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@benhulac
ben hulac
23 days
stunning stat in this story by @BriVannozziNJ ---> More first @FDNY first responders have died after 9/11 due to illness than on the day of the attack @NJSpotlightNews
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@benhulac
ben hulac
7 years
BREAKING: A federal judge in Manhattan has dismissed the lawsuit #Exxon filed against New York and Massachusetts AGs, both investigating the company about climate change and possible fraud. #climatechange #ExxonMobil
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@benhulac
ben hulac
3 years
NEWS: The chairwoman of the House Oversight committee has subpoenaed four oil companies and two trade groups for internal records about climate science and corporate planning. Companies/groups: --Exxon --Chevron --BP's America arm --Shell Oil --API --U.S. Chamber of Commerce
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@benhulac
ben hulac
8 years
Asked of U.N. climate change Paris accord, #Tillerson said "I think it's important that the United States maintain its seat at the table."
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@benhulac
ben hulac
6 years
Here is the Obama order (Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and the Great Lakes), signed in 2010, after the Deepwater Horizon disaster.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
1 year
P.S. This (losing your job) is a great reason to file FOIA requests with your own email address, rather than a work address, so you can still get your records no matter what. #FOIA
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@benhulac
ben hulac
2 years
NEW in @rollcall ---> With the midterms looming, 170+ Democrats in Congress want Biden to get more aggressive in pushing for a big climate bill. "...do everything in your power to reach a deal..."
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@benhulac
ben hulac
4 years
The Trump administration is weakening protections for birds, whose population has dropped by 3 billion since the 1970s.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
3 years
NEW: Climate Envoy John Kerry unveils U.S.-China agreement on climate change. "I think this is only a beginning," Kerry said. "We have agreed to a basic framework. Deal includes goals to cut methane, enforce deforestation laws. Says China would announce a methane plan in 2022.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
6 years
He replaced the Obama rule with his own order, which emphasizes the military, offshore drilling, national security and economic issues.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
1 year
If I don't make it back to wander the corridors of Congress, it's been a pleasure talking shop and looking for lawmakers with @nick_sobczyk , @ellengilmer , @Timothy_Cama , @ReporterCioffi , @kadiagoba , @kelseybrugger , @jcqlnwng and myriad other folks!
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@benhulac
ben hulac
6 years
NEWS: The Trump administration has again urged a federal appeals court to dismiss a federal climate lawsuit known as the "kids' climate case." Formal name of the case is Juliana v. United States.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
4 years
on behalf of all the climate/environment reporters out there, thanks @SusanPage for asking about climate
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@benhulac
ben hulac
2 years
The Senate confirmed Meg Whitman, former GOP candidate for CA governor and ex-CEO of eBay and HP, to be ambassador to Kenya.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
3 years
lovely writing in the @freep Carl Levin obit "Often disheveled and wearing a rumpled blue suit, with a signature comb-over and peering over glasses perched at the end of his nose, Levin’s unprepossessing looks masked a sharp wit and fierce intellect..."
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@benhulac
ben hulac
5 years
@samsanders This is super good:
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@benhulac
ben hulac
9 years
Hat tip to @voxdotcom for the @S_C_ ( #JayZ ) reference in tonight's Sentences letter http://t.co/dOBmVfflYG
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@benhulac
ben hulac
10 days
Good input from my fellow New Jersey beat reporter (of the @NJGlobe ) here in D.C. ----> But Kean doesn't give interviews to him either...
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@benhulac
ben hulac
6 years
We've known about it for longer than that. This U.S. gov't report was presented to LBJ in 1965. From conclusion: "The climatic changes that may be produced by the increased CO2 content could be deleterious from the point of view of human beings."
@RBrulle
Robert Brulle
6 years
For 30 years we've known about the dangers of climate change, and still CO2 emissions are not under control.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
7 years
@exxonmobil The work you're discussing (link below) was peer-reviewed by 3 outside experts: #Exxon #climate
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@benhulac
ben hulac
4 years
Joe Biden makes his climate/energy picks official, calling them his "climate" team: Deb Haaland -- Interior Jennifer Granholm -- Energy Michael Regan -- EPA Brenda Mallory -- CEQ Gina McCarthy -- national climate advisor Ali Zaidi -- deputy national climate advisor
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@benhulac
ben hulac
9 days
In other New York City mayoral news...
@kyledcheney
Kyle Cheney
9 days
JUST IN: Rudy Giuliani has been officially disbarred in Washington, D.C. He had been suspended since his disciplinary proceedings last year.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
3 years
NEWS: The Biden administration is restoring the boundaries of three national monuments shrunk during the Trump era, a move sure to spark a pitched legal fight.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
7 years
The Nixon presidential library getting in on the trolling act... #COMEY
@NixonLibrary
RichardNixonLibrary
7 years
FUN FACT: President Nixon never fired the Director of the FBI #FBIDirector #notNixonian
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@benhulac
ben hulac
6 years
JUST IN from @NRDems : Congress is holding a hearing on climate change denial next week.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
7 years
NEWS: The kids' climate case against #Trump admin going to trial. Court date set for Feb. 2018: #climate @youthvgov
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@benhulac
ben hulac
6 years
"People are standing with the youth across the country." 🔒 @youthvgov
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@benhulac
ben hulac
3 years
Some details on White House climate summit, per admin officials: --Will not include bilateral meetings or side "zoom rooms" -- All 40 invited heads of state are slated to appear --Will include plenty of Cabinet heads, including Sec. DEF, heads of Interior, State, CEQ, more
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@benhulac
ben hulac
6 years
Today in pitches, my new official title ---->
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@benhulac
ben hulac
4 years
@KingJames what do you think about congestion pricing or a carbon tax?
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@benhulac
ben hulac
3 years
NEW: Despite the pandemic, there's been a surge in drivers killing people with their vehicles. On Thursday, the Biden administration rolled out a plan on traffic fatalities. (by @JessicaWehrman )
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@benhulac
ben hulac
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@benhulac
ben hulac
7 years
NEWS: Federal appeals court will hear oral arguments in San Francisco on Dec. 11 in the landmark climate case between a group of kids and the #Trump admin. @youthvgov #climatechange
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@benhulac
ben hulac
6 years
"The truth will come out." // Government archives show presidents since JFK have known about climate change. 🔒
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@benhulac
ben hulac
3 years
For CQ readers, my story:
@benhulac
ben hulac
3 years
The House voted 229-191 to reinstate an Obama-era regulation on methane emissions. 12 Republicans voted for the resolution, which passed the Senate in April and heads now to Biden's desk.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
4 months
what a seismic loss for climate journalism. @ClimateNexus has long been a vital information lifeline for me and myriad environmental reporters.
@zcolman
Zack Colman
4 months
Influential climate communications firm Climate Nexus will shutter June 21. Staff was informed today.
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@benhulac
ben hulac
6 years
Federal judge blocks Trump admin's move to toss landmark climate lawsuit: @youthvgov #climate #climatechange #GHG
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