Al Schmidt is the chief election official in the state of Pennsylvania. President Trump's insults put him in danger during the 2020 ballot count. Now Schmidt talks about preparing for the midterms.
Why local officials are feeling 'on edge' as election day approaches
Source: NPR Politics
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The Guardian
Burnham approves Jackdaw – and Labour’s unity on climate action is imperilled with the stroke of a pen | Zoe Williams
This foolish decision undermines hopes that this government will take the necessary steps the climate crisis demands When the news broke that the UK government had approved the Jackdaw gasfield , I was at a Guardian climate event at the Royal Geographical Society. Appropriately, the theme suggested by readers was what can the public actually do in the face of what feels like paralysing climate doom? There is so much going on that is hopeful: biodiversity tracking, river protection, rewilding. Shruti Suresh, from the independent watchdog Global Witness, told those in attendance that if they wanted to effect change, they should protest against Jackdaw and the Rosebank oilfield project. The message was so well understood that it didn’t need labouring. The mood in the room when the news came in was one of audible dismay. People had just watched the minister for climate transition declare tha
The Guardian
As Miatta ignites the speaker’s gas-fuelled inferno, Reform show up as snowflakes | John Crace
The energy secretary’s trip north provokes Hoyle’s futile rage, while ITV’s exposé leaves Zia Yusuf immensely sad When is a licence not a licence? When it’s a new licence that is an old licence. After months of faffing around – there were the small matters of a party conference and a byelection to negotiate first – the government finally gave the go-ahead to drilling in the Jackdaw gasfield in the North Sea. What swung it wasn’t so much the irresistible excitement of creating 27 new jobs and securing 2% of the UK’s gas supply for the next 10 years, it was the politics. If other countries were going to carry on drilling then we might as well do so, too. There would still be the same amount of greenhouse gases created and we wouldn’t have to rely on anyone else for our gas supply. Though we would for the other 98%. Small steps and all that. At a time of global insecurity and rising energy
BBC Politics
'Mindset shift' needed within government for No10 North to work, says deputy
Number 10 North deputy director Duncan Parish has told a conference he is still facing "institutional barriers".
The Guardian
Ben Jennings on Andy Burnham’s decision to approve the Jackdaw North Sea gasfield – cartoon
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The Guardian
UK politics: Reform UK claims racism exposé has left some members ‘psychologically damaged’ as it reports ITV to police – as it happened
Zia Yusuf claims undercover investigation broke the law as broadcaster stands by its journalism Here is an explainer by Jill Ambrose about the Jackdaw decision. But environmental groups have condemned the decision. Ami McCarthy, head of politics for Greenpeace UK , said: Approving Jackdaw shows the toxic grip fossil fuel lobbyists still hold over our energy policy. Andy Burnham promised pragmatism [see 8.40am ] , but there is nothing pragmatic about rubber-stamping a project that won’t lower energy bills, won’t boost energy security and will create just 27 full-time jobs … True pragmatism means severing our reliance on expensive oil and gas that leaves British households broke, supercharges extreme weather, and leaves our energy security at the mercy of petrostates. Is the prime minister living in a parallel universe? One where we haven’t just endured our hottest summer on record, with d
The Guardian
Reform UK fined for failing to declare it was publisher of campaigns material
Party given additional penalty by Electoral Commission for not paying original fine on time Reform UK has been fined more than £2,000 for failing to declare it was the publisher of campaign material seen by voters – including an additional penalty for failing to pay on time. Nigel Farage’s party was sanctioned by the Electoral Commission after four items of election material were missing an “imprint” – a declaration of the publisher so voters know who has paid for the promotional message. Continue reading...