Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
Cabinet battle signals Democratic resistance to Trump
Senate business ground to a halt Wednesday as Democrats and Republicans turned to hardball tactics in the fight over President Trump's Cabinet nominees, signaling the wall of opposition the administration is likely to face for the foreseeable future. Published February 1, 2017
Democrats boycott vote on EPA nominee Scott Pruitt
Senate Democrats on Wednesday boycotted a committee vote on Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, President Trump's pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Published February 1, 2017
Rick Perry, Ryan Zinke clear Senate committee with bipartisan support
Two of President Trump's cabinet nominees advanced through a Senate committee Tuesday morning with bipartisan support, clearing the way for new leadership at the Energy and Interior departments. Published January 31, 2017
Republicans take aim at Obama’s Stream Protection Rule policy
Congressional Republicans have formally kicked off their campaign to roll back pieces of former President Obama's environmental agenda — but progressive activists are mounting fierce resistance to their efforts. Published January 30, 2017
Environmental groups launch social media war to fight Trump agenda
With their traditional political power diminished, environmental activists have launched an unprecedented guerrilla warfare campaign against President Trump -- and analysts say such efforts will only grow in intensity over the coming weeks and months. Published January 29, 2017
Donald Trump to set environmental agenda, not Cabinet or lawmakers
Top Republicans are shifting the climate change debate away from the human role and toward a more pragmatic discussion over what government can do about it -- but it's increasingly clear that President Trump, not his Cabinet nor lawmakers, will be setting the environmental agenda. Published January 25, 2017
National Park Service ‘resistance team’ launches anti-Trump Twitter account
A purported "resistance team" of National Park Service employees is battling it out with President Trump on his home turf: Twitter. Published January 25, 2017
Badlands National Park tweets on climate change deleted; messages defied Trump policy
Seemingly defying the Trump administration's new social media policy, the Badlands National Park went rogue on Tuesday and tweeted several scientific facts related to climate change -- but the tweets were deleted after a just a few hours as the White House apparently reeled in the wayward park. Published January 24, 2017
Donald Trump revives Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipeline projects, demands U.S. steel used
President Trump resurrected the Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipelines Tuesday, thrilling labor unions and advocates for domestic energy but outraging environmentalists and American Indians whose protests persuaded the Obama administration to kill both projects. Published January 24, 2017
Trump scrubs climate change from WhiteHouse.gov, replaces with ‘America first energy plan’
On Friday morning, WhiteHouse.gov included a section dedicated to President Obama's efforts to fight climate change. Published January 20, 2017
Trump vows massive infrastructure spending: ‘Off of welfare and back to work rebuilding our country’
Moments after he was sworn in as the nation's 45th commander in chief, President Donald Trump said he'll get Americans "off of welfare and back to work rebuilding our country," vowing to make massive investments in new roads, bridges, airports and other key pieces of infrastructure. Published January 20, 2017
Bernie Sanders: It’s ‘a tough day for millions of Americans, including myself’
Failed presidential candidate Sen. Bernard Sanders said the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on Friday represents "a tough day for millions of Americans," but he urged his progressive supporters to keep fighting for their values. Published January 20, 2017
Hillary Clinton says she’s at Trump inauguration ‘to honor our democracy’
Unlike many congressional Democrats, Hillary Clinton will attend Friday's inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, saying she's at the event to "honor our democracy." Published January 20, 2017
Hours before inauguration, ACLU files first legal action against Trump
Even before he takes the oath of office Friday, President-elect Donald Trump already is facing legal action. Published January 20, 2017
Rick Perry to Al Franken: ‘I hope you’re as much fun on that dais as you were on your couch’
In an exchange that might as well have been lifted from a late-night comedy sketch, former Gov. Rick Perry and Sen. Al Franken shared an uncomfortable laugh Thursday morning about the "fun" they recently had on the senator's couch. Published January 19, 2017
Rick Perry disavows Trump team questionnaire on climate change
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Thursday blasted a questionnaire from the Trump transition team to the Energy Department that sought information on which employees worked on federal climate change programs, saying he's not interested in singling out agency employees. Published January 19, 2017
Rick Perry: ‘I regret’ calling for the elimination of the Energy Department
As he tries to convince the Senate to put him in charge of the Energy Department, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry told lawmakers Thursday that he was wrong to recommend eliminating that same department and stressed that it plays a vital role in energy development, scientific research, nuclear security and in other areas. Published January 19, 2017
Protesters, Democrats open fire on EPA nominee Pruitt at Senate hearings
Amid scattered protests, Democrats on Wednesday morning turned their full fire on Scott Pruitt, seeking to derail the Oklahoma attorney general by zeroing in on his past legal clashes with the Environmental Protection Agency and his ties to the oil-and-gas industry. Published January 18, 2017
Ryan Zinke, Interior secretary nominee, tells Democrats climate change is real
Pushed by Democrats on whether he shares President-elect Donald Trump's skepticism on climate change, Rep. Ryan Zinke on Tuesday told a Senate panel that global warming is real and that man has contributed to it. Published January 17, 2017
Rick Perry, Energy Department nominee, champions renewable energy
He has come under fire for a cozy relationship with the oil and gas industry, but Rick Perry's record clearly shows that renewable energy thrives when he is in charge. Published January 16, 2017