ROLL CALL 12/29/14 By Michael Shank and Rep Charles Rangel The causes and consequences of the hottest year on record, which is now shaping up to be 2014 according to the World Meteorological Organization and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, are likely to have a lasting impact on New […]
THE GUARDIAN 12/18/14 By Michael Shank and US Rep Mike Honda Holding out for winter rain or implementing short-term fixes won’t fix California’s water crisis. We need action on the state, federal and international level Between power outages, deluging rains, flash floods, mudslides and record droughts, California is quickly becoming […]
NATIONAL JOURNAL 12/16/14 By Clare Foran WHAT INSIDERS ARE SAYING WHAT DID LIMA ACHIEVE? The United Nations climate talks in Lima may have produced a rough road map for countries to outline carbon cuts, but leave several questions up in the air heading into the make-or-break negotiations in Paris. Were […]
DISCORS 12/09/14 By Michael Shank Before leaving office, President Barack Obama should seize every opportunity and lever at his disposal to propel the United States towards a more secure, sustainable future. America remains one of the top per-capita carbon emitters and unless we move aggressively we will miss our window […]
US NEWS & WORLD REPORT 12/09/14 By Michael Shank and Johann Saathoff With the German government’s reaffirmation this month of carbon emissions reduction goals of 40 percent by 2020, and its courageous commitment to phase out coal, the country is now leading the world with an aggressive and unparalleled climate […]
CFR 12/04/14 Top of the Agenda Yemeni Al-Qaeda Branch Threatens U.S. Hostage Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) released a video on Thursday threatening to kill (AP) Luke Somers, a photojournalist kidnapped more than a year ago in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital. AQAP claimed responsibility (WSJ) on Wednesday for a […]
HUFFINGTON POST 12/04/14 By Michael Shank and Rep Scott Peters This autumn was a significant time for climate action and raising awareness about climate change, featuring the massive People’s Climate March and the United Nations’ Climate Summit. Despite these events, Congress hasn’t acted. But there is an opportunity for Congress […]
NATIONAL JOURNAL 12/01/14 By Clare Foran WHAT INSIDERS ARE SAYING How far will prices have to drop for U.S. production to be significantly curtailed? Which drilling operations will start to feel the sting first? And how are companies with major investments in shale likely to respond? Does Washington have any […]
NPR 11/25/14 By Laura Sullivan For weeks, Ferguson police and local leaders met with community groups and activists to work out a plan for the aftermath of the grand jury’s decision whether to indict police officer Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown. But any results of that […]
OZY 11/22/14 By Laura Secorun “Buying partisan is a dangerous game that will divide America further,” says Michael Shank, associate director for legislative affairs at the Friends Committee on National Legislation in Washington D.C., who thinks gerrymandered districts and partisan cable news are doing enough harm. “We don’t need another […]