Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
Bears Ears monument must be greatly reduced, Ryan Zinke tells Trump
The Trump administration is poised to nip the Bears Ears National Monument, beginning a rollback of one of President Obama's most aggressive environmental moves. Published June 12, 2017
U.S. formally rejects Paris climate treaty at G-7 environmental meeting
Two weeks after President Trump announced he'd withdraw from the Paris climate accord, the U.S. on Monday took its first concrete step toward that end by formally rejecting the agreement on the world stage. Published June 12, 2017
Coal rebound under Donald Trump unlikely to last
Just five months into President Trump's tenure, signs show that the U.S. coal sector has begun a slight rebound from the historic lows reached during the Obama era -- but even the most ardent coal proponents say the revival will be short-lived. Published June 11, 2017
Interior Dept. to review sage grouse policy, reviving fight with environmentalists
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke late Wednesday ordered his department to begin a comprehensive review of federal policies protecting the greater sage grouse -- and reignited a battle with western conservationists and environmental groups in the process. Published June 8, 2017
Paris climate agreement shares nations’ wealth
For many that remain in the Paris Agreement, the demands for cash are fueling the argument that the Paris agreement, at its core, is as much about redistributing international wealth as it is about saving the planet from climate change. Published June 5, 2017
Trump administration won’t say whether president believes in climate change
A day after President Trump announced the U.S. would exit the Paris climate accord, top administration officials wouldn't say whether the president believes global warming is real. Published June 2, 2017
U.S. economy, world already locked into lower-emission model
Green groups blasted President Trump for withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement Thursday, but predicted the U.S. economy and much of the rest of the world are already locked into a lower-emission model, even without the U.S. government's involvement. Published June 1, 2017
Angela Merkel Emmanuel Macron exit from Paris climate deal irreversible
With President Trump pulling out of the Paris climate pact, European leaders on Thursday declared that such a move is final and that the U.S. will not be welcomed back into the deal. Published June 1, 2017
Donald Trump withdraws U.S. from Paris climate accord
President Trump's America-first mantra steamrolled over the objections of lawmakers, top CEOs, the Pentagon, the U.N. and even his own daughter, as he announced Thursday that he was withdrawing the U.S. from the landmark Paris climate accord to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Published June 1, 2017
Terry Branstad, new ambassador, sent in to smooth over Chinese ethanol crisis
Seeking to boost its own renewable fuel production and achieve energy independence, China has declared war on the U.S. ethanol industry by instituting harsh tariffs on American products -- and the Trump administration is sending to Beijing the man best positioned to broker peace between the two sides. Published May 29, 2017
Republicans warn Donald Trump: Staying in Paris deal will preserve Obama-era regulations
Republican senators on Thursday morning warned President Trump that remaining in the landmark Paris climate pact will essentially guarantee that a host of Obama-era environmental regulations remain on the books for good. Published May 25, 2017
Donald Trump faces G-7 Paris accord pressure
As he heads to the Group of Seven summit and weighs whether to pull the U.S. from the Paris climate accord, President Trump is facing renewed pressure at home and abroad and from the Holy Father to remain a part of the deal. Published May 24, 2017
Trump administration sues Fiat Chrysler, says vehicles used ‘defeat devices’ to fool emissions tests
The Trump administration on Tuesday filed a civil lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, charging that the company used "defeat devices" to skirt emissions testing in more than 100,000 of their diesel vehicles. Published May 23, 2017
Trump budget would cut Strategic Petroleum Reserve, slash drilling payments to Gulf states
President Trump's proposed budget would cut the country's Strategic Petroleum Reserve by half, slash oil drilling royalty payments to Gulf states and take other steps as part of a broader plan to bring down federal deficits. Published May 23, 2017
John McCain, Marco Rubio blast Donald Trump for not confronting Saudi Arabia on human rights
He may have been thousands of miles away in Saudi Arabia, but President Trump on Sunday still could not escape blistering criticism from leading figures in his own party. Published May 21, 2017
John McCain ‘speechless’ over Trump’s behavior, ‘cannot explain a lot of the president’s actions’
Sen. John McCain said Sunday he is "speechless" over President Trump's recent decision to allow top Russian officials into the Oval Office and is struggling to explain many of the commander in chief's actions. Published May 21, 2017
Donald Trump may avoid words ‘radical Islamic terrorism’ in speech Sunday, adviser says
After blasting President Obama and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton for avoiding the phrase "radical Islamic terrorism," President Trump may steer clear of those same words during a speech in Saudi Arabia. Published May 21, 2017
Marco Rubio, Florida Republican: ‘The American people deserve’ James Comey testimony
Marco Rubio said the coming testimony of James Comey will be a crucial moment for the investigation into Russian meddling in the U.S. election. Published May 21, 2017
Donald Trump to call terrorism fight a ‘battle between good and evil’ in speech to Muslim world
President Trump will cast the fight against terrorism as a "battle between good and evil" and will tell Muslim countries that it's up to them to decide what kind of future they want in the Middle East. Published May 21, 2017
Obama’s State Department made U.S. key to Paris climate accord
Newly released documents show just how badly the State Department wanted to get the U.S. into -- and now to remain a party to -- the Paris climate agreement that President Trump opposed in his campaign. Published May 18, 2017