Political Guyentist

EPA repeals most of the 2024 carbon limits on coal and gas power plants

Environmental and public health groups sued the same day the final rule published (Sept. 17).

This is the fourth federal attempt at power plant carbon rules in 11 years: Obama's 2015 Clean Power Plan (stayed by the Supreme Court in 2016), Trump's 2019 replacement (vacated in 2021), the 2024 standards, and now this repeal. The Supreme Court's 2022 West Virginia v. EPA ruling barred EPA from basing power-plant rules on a shift away from coal and gas generation, limiting the agency to controls at the plants themselves. EPA's own filing says the repeal rests on “a reevaluation” of the legal and technical basis for the 2024 standards.

ContextThis is the fourth federal attempt at power plant carbon rules in 11 years: Obama's 2015 Clean Power Plan (stayed by the Supreme Court in 2016), Trump's 2019 replacement (vacated in 2021), the 2024 standards, and now this repeal. The Supreme Court's 2022 West Virginia v. EPA ruling barred EPA from basing power-plant rules on a shift away from coal and gas generation, limiting the agency to controls at the plants themselves. EPA's own filing says the repeal rests on “a reevaluation” of the legal and technical basis for the 2024 standards.

FEDERAL REGISTER1 source

2worldUpdateTariffs and trade

Carney accepts EU invitation for Canada to become the bloc's first associate member; Trump calls it a possible 'hostile act'

Trump threatened tariffs or a trade embargo on the EU if Canada joins as an associate member.

Sept. 11 — Trump, asked why he had not escalated the Iran conflict, pointed to the coming midterm elections. Sept. 14 — With U.S.-Canada trade talks collapsed, Carney began seeking associate-member status with the EU.

Context“Associate member” would sit beside the EU's existing tiers of closeness — Norway's EEA membership inside the single market, Switzerland's web of bilateral treaties, Ukraine's candidacy — but it is none of them; it is a status the EU would have to invent, which is why no treaty text, timetable or list of which single-market rules Canada would accept has been published. Carney called the alliance “a beacon for other democracies” and described the moment as a “ferocious storm” — he has been steering Canada away from reliance on the U.S. market since bilateral trade talks collapsed earlier this month.

THE HILL7 sources

3not newsusUpdate

Judge orders 30 days' written notice before any change to the Kennedy Center, including demolition, but refuses an emergency hearing on this week's closure

Joyce Beatty (Rep-D Ohio), an ex officio board member, had asked for the hearing after the Trump-aligned board voted to shut the building Tuesday, Sept. 15 for a two-year, $285 million rebuild.

- Sept. 4 — Part of the grand foyer ceiling collapsed during storms. No one was hurt. - Sept. 14 — Internal papers warned of "certain financial collapse" within weeks, saying putting Trump's name on the building might be the only way to avoid bankruptcy. - Sept. 16 — A judge voided the vote to rename the building. The board closed it anyway for two years, and Trump said the rebuild — now priced at $285 million, up from $250 million in May 2026 — waits for a court win on his name.

ContextThe Kennedy Center is a federal memorial to John F. Kennedy, run by a board the president appoints. Trump replaced its leadership and made himself chairman in February 2025. Cooper blocked an earlier version of the shutdown plan in May 2026, when the price tag was $250 million. The rebuild is now priced at $285 million against the $257 million Congress has appropriated for the work, and Trump has said it waits until a court clears the way for his name on the building.

THE HILL5 sources