| The EPA takes a pass on tightening soot standards; Nicolás Maduro wins control of the Venezuelan legislature after an election boycott. Tonight's Sentences was written by Cameron Peters. | | | | | | | EPA decision on soot standards could cost thousands of lives per year | | | | | | - On Monday, the Trump administration declined to impose a stricter standard on soot emissions going forward, despite mounting evidence of the severe health risks posed by particulate matter. [The Hill / Rachel Frazin]
- As David Roberts explained for Vox earlier this year, soot is "the No. 1 environmental health risk in the US," causing asthma, blood clots, heart problems, and even long-term cognitive issues. [Vox / David Roberts]
- In fact, a 2019 draft Environmental Protection Agency report found that tightening the standard could save more than 10,000 lives per year. Monday's decision means that the existing standard — set in 2012 — will remain in place for now. [NYT / Coral Davenport]
- Communities of color in the US are disproportionately affected by air pollution, including soot. Long-term exposure puts those communities at increased risk for cancer and respiratory diseases such as Covid-19. [Washington Post / Juliet Eilperin and Brady Dennis]
- Monday's soot standard may not be the only environmental regulation finalized before Trump's term expires on January 20. According to E&E News, proposals concerning ozone standards, the Endangered Species Act, and oil and gas leases are all in the works. [Science / E&E News]
- More broadly, the Trump administration appears to be on pace for a historic slew of "midnight regulations" in its last months. At least eight economic regulations have been finalized since November 1, according to CNN. [CNN / Maegan Vazquez, Ellie Kaufman, Katie Lobosco, Janie Boschma, and Marshall Cohen]
- At the EPA, some career employees are mounting an effort to prevent Trump political appointees from doing permanent damage on the way out the door. Their efforts could make it easier for Biden to roll back new rules come January. [NYT / Lisa Friedman]
- The incoming Biden administration is reportedly already preparing to move quickly on climate change and environmental priorities, such as new guidance on environmental justice, once the president-elect takes office. [Bloomberg / Stephen Lee and Bobby Magill]
| | | Maduro claims victory after Venezuelan opposition boycotts legislative elections | | - Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro won control of the country's legislature Sunday after the Venezuelan opposition, led by US-backed National Assembly leader Juan Guaidó, boycotted the election. [AP / Scott Smith]
- Voter turnout was low — just 31 percent, according to the election commission — and Maduro won more than 67 percent of the vote. [Guardian / Tom Phillips]
- A bloc of Latin American countries, including Colombia and Brazil, have already announced that they do not recognize Sunday's results as legitimate. The US and the European Union have done likewise. [Reuters / Vivian Sequera and Deisy Buitrago]
- Despite substantial international support for Guaidó, the opposition leader has had little success in pushing back against Maduro, whose 2018 reelection was widely considered fraudulent. [Washington Post / Ana Vanessa Herrero]
- As Vox's Alex Ward explains, Sunday isn't likely to help matters. Maduro's win, though many consider it illegitimate, will give him an opening to further consolidate power, and Guaidó will lose his previous power as National Assembly leader when a new parliament takes office in January. [Vox / Alex Ward]
| | | | | | | | | | | | | "I'm just astounded by the dysfunction, the willingness to just stay the course as hundreds of thousands of people die, and the unwillingness to innovate in literally any way. … It's just the most mind-bending, complete 'Twilight Zone' experience that makes you ask why the hell we even bother." | | | | | | | | | | |
It's often said that Joe Biden has an instinct for finding the political center — that of his party, and that of the country. To understand how Biden has changed, and how he might govern, we need to understand how the ideological context of American politics is changing, and why. [Spotify / Ezra Klein] | | | | | | | | |  | This email was sent to edwardlorilla1986.paxforex@blogger.com. Manage your email preferences, or unsubscribe to stop receiving all emails from Vox. If you value Vox's unique explanatory journalism, support our work with a one-time or recurring contribution. Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036.
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