Politics

Politics, SAN News / /

National Parks Stay Open Amid Shutdown as Senate Cloture Vote Fails Read More »

Politics, SAN News

National Parks Stay Open Amid Shutdown as Senate Cloture Vote Fails

The U.S. Senate recently faced a critical vote on the Eliminate Shutdowns Act (S 2806), aimed at preventing government shutdowns in the future. The cloture vote, however, failed, leaving the country without the legislative fix that proponents had hoped for. Despite the setback, many of America’s national parks will remain largely open, thanks to plans

Climate, Our Youth, Politics, SAN News / /

Ten Years of Justice for Youth in Juliana v. United States Read More »

Climate, Our Youth, Politics, SAN News

Ten Years of Justice for Youth in Juliana v. United States

For over a decade, 21 courageous young people have stood at the forefront of a historic legal battle—Juliana v. United States—fighting for the most fundamental of rights: the right to live, breathe, and grow up in a safe, healthy climate. These youth were just children when they first sued the federal government, challenging decades of

SAN News, Politics, Private Prisons, Voting / /

Vermont’s Redistricting Crisis When Census Policy Undermines Democracy Read More »

SAN News, Politics, Private Prisons, Voting

Vermont’s Redistricting Crisis When Census Policy Undermines Democracy

Why Vermont’s Democracy is Being Distorted—And How Lawmakers Can Fix It Before 2030 In a nation that prides itself on “one person, one vote,” an obscure federal policy is quietly undermining democracy in Vermont—and across many parts of the country. The 2020 Census once again distorted Vermont’s legislative redistricting process, creating imbalanced voting districts due

Bears, Politics, Rescue Network / /

The Long Road to Ending Bear Bile Farming in Vietnam as Vietnam Nears the End of Bear Farming Read More »

Bears, Politics, Rescue Network

The Long Road to Ending Bear Bile Farming in Vietnam as Vietnam Nears the End of Bear Farming

For more than two decades, the heartbreaking reality of bear bile farming in Vietnam has cast a shadow over animal welfare. Bears, often confined to cramped cages and subjected to unimaginable cruelty, were kept alive only for the extraction of bile—a substance used in traditional medicine despite the existence of humane alternatives. Yet, amid the

Politics, Private Prisons, SAN News / /

Stop Illegal Entry Act of 2025: Private Prisons, Mass Incarceration, and the Human Cost of Immigration Legislation Read More »

Politics, Private Prisons, SAN News

Stop Illegal Entry Act of 2025: Private Prisons, Mass Incarceration, and the Human Cost of Immigration Legislation

The Stop Illegal Entry Act of 2025 (H.R. 3486), passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on September 11, 2025, represents a major shift in federal immigration enforcement and criminal justice policy. With a 226–197 vote, the legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration, carrying profound implications for immigrants, the criminal justice system, and

Politics, SAN News / /

Robert Law’s Nomination to DHS and What It Means for Climate Strategy Read More »

Politics, SAN News

Robert Law’s Nomination to DHS and What It Means for Climate Strategy

The U.S. Senate recently advanced the nomination of Robert Law to serve as Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). While the cloture vote on his nomination passed, the process highlighted the growing intersection between national security, climate change, and disaster response. For those of us focused on

Climate, Politics, SAN News / /

Climate Policy, Congressional Action, and FEMA’s Sobering Warning Read More »

Climate, Politics, SAN News

Climate Policy, Congressional Action, and FEMA’s Sobering Warning

As the climate crisis accelerates and the United States faces mounting challenges in disaster preparedness, two critical developments emerged last week that shine a spotlight on how America is—or isn’t—ready to respond. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 (H.R. 4553), a bill with major

Climate, Politics, SAN News, Wildlife & Racing Extinction / /

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026: What It Means for Climate, Wildlife, and Environmental Awareness Read More »

Climate, Politics, SAN News, Wildlife & Racing Extinction

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026: What It Means for Climate, Wildlife, and Environmental Awareness

The U.S. Senate recently passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (S.2296), a sweeping piece of legislation that, as always, shapes defense policy, military funding, and national security priorities. But buried within its hundreds of pages are provisions with potentially far-reaching implications for climate resilience, wildlife protection, and environmental accountability. For those

Climate, Politics, SAN News, Wildlife & Racing Extinction / /

Sustainable Action Now Report: States, Courts, and Communities Push Back Against Environmental Rollbacks Read More »

Climate, Politics, SAN News, Wildlife & Racing Extinction

Sustainable Action Now Report: States, Courts, and Communities Push Back Against Environmental Rollbacks

The shadow of Donald Trump’s environmental policies continues to loom large across America — from legal battles over renewable energy projects to funding disputes and even staff shortages at national parks. As lawsuits mount and communities struggle with the fallout of federal decisions, the broader fight for climate justice and sustainable action has never been

Politics, Private Prisons, SAN News / /

How Census Policy and Private Prisons Undermine Democracy in Kentucky — and Across America Read More »

Politics, Private Prisons, SAN News

How Census Policy and Private Prisons Undermine Democracy in Kentucky — and Across America

Kentucky’s democracy is once again under strain. Following the 2020 Census, redistricting data was skewed due to a federal Census policy that counts incarcerated people where they are imprisoned rather than in their home communities. This practice—known as prison gerrymandering—distorts political representation, siphons power away from urban and minority communities, and inflates the political influence