April 12, 2019 “The Kohen shall command…the house not be contaminated” Metzorah 14:36

The Republicans and Trump have been as tough on the environment as on journalism, only more effectively. Repealing laws that hold mining companies accountable for polluting water supplies, weakening restrictions against coal-ash pollution of rivers and rolling back power plant mercury emission limits, they have reciprocated to the Kochs, Murrays and their other coal baron patrons. Similarly, opening over 2 million acres, over half of National Monument lands in Utah, to mining, removing bans on carcinogenic pesticides (Chlorpyrifos) and TCE – a dangerous industrial solvent, and proposing rule changes that would restrict EPA access to various environmental impact studies all coincide with putting recent industry trade association executives in charge of EPA toxic chemical regulation and clean air research – as if conflict of interest is the new normal. The Kohen is instructed to disassemble stone by stone a hopelessly contaminated house. Let’s not give the Republican donor class the keys to our house.