Coastal Malibu from above, showing houses right on the water.

Musk and Newsom question California Coastal Commission’s wildfire rebuilding process

Elon Musk and Gov. Gavin Newsom are raising concerns about delays in rebuilding homes destroyed by California wildfires, focusing criticism on the California Coastal Commission.

Alex Nieves reports for POLITICO.

In short:

Elon Musk criticized the Coastal Commission, claiming it causes unnecessary permitting delays for wildfire recovery, though experts say his remarks misrepresent the process.
Gov. Newsom issued an executive order waiving certain permitting requirements under existing environmental laws to streamline rebuilding efforts.
However, the 1976 Coastal Act — the law that established the Coastal Commission — already exempts disaster recovery projects. Yet the commission still faces broader political scrutiny over housing construction versus environmental protections.

Key quote:

“For people who are in a very emotional state to have prominent figures spreading misinformation and lies about the permitting process and people’s ability to rebuild, it’s just counterproductive.”

— Justin Cummings, California Coastal Commission chair

Why this matters:

Wildfire recovery in California involves balancing urgent housing needs with coastal environmental protections. Misinformation about permitting can hinder rebuilding efforts and undermine trust in public agencies. High-profile criticism could shift state policies, impacting future housing and disaster recovery.

www.politico.com

Senator Whitehouse puts climate change on budget committee’s agenda

For more than a decade, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse gave daily warnings about the mounting threat of climate change. Now he has a powerful new perch.

a bridge that is lit up at night with wave breaking on a nearby lake shore in foreground.

Credit: Brad Switzer/Unsplash

Tribes exit pipeline negotiations in Michigan over lack of consultation

Seven Indigenous nations in Michigan have walked away from federal talks over a proposed oil pipeline tunnel, citing a lack of meaningful engagement and treaty violations.

Izzy Ross reports for Grist and Interlochen Public Radio.

In short:

The tribes oppose Enbridge’s Line 5 tunnel project, which would replace part of a 72-year-old pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac, a critical freshwater corridor between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.
Their withdrawal follows the Army Corps of Engineers’ move to fast-track permitting under President Trump’s energy emergency order, which tribes say dismisses their environmental and legal concerns.
Tribal leaders and legal advocates argue that the project threatens water resources and violates both U.S. treaty obligations and international law requiring Indigenous consent.

Key quote:

“Tribal Nations are no longer willing to expend their time and resources as Cooperating Agencies just so their participation may be used by the Corps to lend credibility to a flawed [Environmental Impact Statement] process and document.”

— Letter from seven Indigenous nations to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Why this matters:

Buried beneath the Straits of Mackinac, where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron converge, Line 5 has become a flashpoint in the battle over fossil fuel infrastructure, Indigenous sovereignty, and environmental protection. The aging oil and gas pipeline — operated by Canadian energy giant Enbridge — moves millions of gallons of crude and natural gas liquids daily through a region that holds 20% of the planet’s surface freshwater. A proposed tunnel to house a replacement segment beneath the lakebed has drawn fierce opposition from tribal nations, who warn it risks catastrophic spills and continued desecration of sacred territory.

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