Politics and views in the United States

The EPA rescinds its long-standing authority to regulate greenhouse gases, Congress barrels toward a DHS shutdown and lawmakers clash with the DOJ over tracking of Epstein file searches. States consider ballot initiatives, license plate readers and youth violence.

TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to 2026 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

We're resetting the regulation to what the Clean Air Act specifically states.

And if Congress wants to change the Clean Air Act, then we'll follow what they change it to.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin calls rolling back the decision that greenhouse gases are a threat to health the largest deregulation in history.

The endangerment finding under the Clean Air Act has underpinned federal limits on tailpipe emissions and power plant pollution for nearly two decades.

President Donald Trump calls the Obama-era finding unlawful and economically harmful.

But environmental groups say it's the single most important U.S. climate policy, and they'll challenge the move in court.

Homeland Security's ending its enforcement surge in Minneapolis.

Border czar Tom Homan says more than 4,000 undocumented migrants were arrested, but agents killed two during widespread protests.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz says the feds need to pay for the extensive damage they've caused, and some Republicans are praising the de-escalation.

As expected, Senate Democrats have blocked two Homeland Security funding bills, demanding new restrictions on immigration agents.

Lawmakers in both parties are pressing the Justice Department for tracking their search activity when reviewing unredacted Epstein files.

At a hearing Wednesday, Attorney General Pam Bondi was photographed referring to one representative's search history, sparking outrage.

The DOJ contends the system logs protect sensitive victim information.

The North Dakota Supreme Court is reviewing whether state lawmakers can alter voter-approved term limits.

With multiple citizen-initiated questions on the ballot this year, Amy Jacobson at Prairie Action N.D. says officeholders are trying to get around the will of the public.

It is concerning when, you know, the will of the people is being usurped by elected politicians.

The New Mexico Senate has approved legislation limiting the use of automated license plate readers and how driver data is shared.

Supporters say the bill creates guardrails around AI-driven tools increasingly tied to immigration enforcement and data sharing partnerships.

Law enforcement groups counter that the readers help recover stolen vehicles and locate missing persons.

Danny Sendejas with Media Justice warns that the technology is expanding rapidly.

There are currently over 80,000 FLOC cameras installed across the country, with FLOC self-reporting that they are in 49 states.

And in Birmingham, Alabama, city leaders are investing in youth violence prevention via mentorships, workforce development, and family support.

Mayor Randall Woodfin says previous efforts have helped bring a sharp drop in homicides.

But he says they want to intervene earlier because they still have too many youth arrests.

The Brookings Institute did a study post-COVID, and it shared and stated that black boys not in school plus black men unemployed equals higher crime.

I'm Farah Siddiqui for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

Find our trust indicators at publicnewsservice.org.