01 / The carbon rule
EPA repealed the fourth
carbon rule in 11 years.
The final rule published Thursday, Sept. 17, repealing most of the 2024 Carbon Pollution Standards — the Biden-era limits that required coal and gas plants to cut carbon dioxide or shut down by set dates. EPA says it acted on "a reevaluation" of the legal and technical basis for those standards.
Environmental and public health groups sued the same day — arguing the agency cannot walk away from limits it already found achievable. The repeal took effect on publication.
September 18, 2026 · Six stories, illustrated
- The court frame
The Supreme Court's 2022 West Virginia v. EPA ruling barred the agency from basing power-plant rules on a shift away from coal and gas generation — limiting it to controls at the plants themselves.
- The stated basis
EPA says it is acting on "a reevaluation" of the legal and technical foundation for the 2024 standards.
- The answer
Environmental and public health organizations sued the same day the rule published, arguing EPA cannot walk away from limits it already found achievable.
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 the repeal, in effect since publication on Thursday, Sept. 17.
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Canada said yes to an EU status
that doesn't exist yet.
Prime Minister Mark Carney told the European Parliament on Thursday, Sept. 17 that Canada welcomes an invitation to join the EU as its first "associate member" — a status that would have to be built from scratch. "A Canada-EU alliance would create a beacon for other democracies," he said.
Trump, asked a day earlier, called the arrangement a possible "hostile act" and answered with a threat of tariffs or a trade embargo on the bloc. Carney said he is pressing ahead through what he called a "ferocious storm."
- NorwayEEA membership — inside the single market
- Switzerlanda web of bilateral treaties
- Ukrainea candidacy, still waiting
- Canada"associate member" — a status that does not exist yet
No EU treaty text, timetable or list of which single-market rules Canada would accept has been published — and any deal would need agreement from all 27 member states.
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"Reasonable grounds" the U.S.
committed war crimes in Iran.
The UN's fact-finding mission on Iran said Thursday, Sept. 17 it found reasonable grounds to believe U.S. forces committed war crimes in two February airstrikes — one on a primary school in Minab, the other on a sports complex in Lamerd.
- Minaba primary schoolFebruary
- Lamerda sports complexFebruary
- No acknowledgment
Washington has not acknowledged either strike.
- No charges
The mission reports to the UN Human Rights Council — it has no power to charge anyone.
- Both directions
The same report accuses Iran's government of crimes against humanity against Iranians.
“Reasonable grounds” is the mission's standard for believing the strikes were war crimes — reported Thursday, Sept. 17. The mission answers to the UN Human Rights Council.
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The U.S. granted Iran's president a UN visa
and refused the Palestinian Authority.
The U.S. granted visas to President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for the UN General Assembly in New York — admission limited to a "core delegation." Pezeshkian is listed to address the assembly Wednesday, Sept. 23.
- Visas granted
- Masoud PezeshkianPresident of Iran
listed to address the assembly Wednesday, Sept. 23
- Abbas AraghchiForeign Minister
admission limited to a “core delegation”
- Visas denied
- Mahmoud AbbasPalestinian Authority president
denied a visa for the second straight year
- The PLO delegationnon-member observer status, not full membership
whether the agreement covers them is the contested part
Admitting UN delegations is not discretionary — the 1947 UN Headquarters Agreement obliges the U.S. to let accredited delegations reach UN business. The Palestinian Authority and PLO hold non-member observer status at the UN, not full membership — whether the agreement covers them is the contested part.
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One House vote put India
under a 100% tariff threat.
India faces 100 percent tariffs over its purchases of Russian oil — a threat that squeezes both its energy strategy and its access to the US market.
- 01The vote
A House vote puts India at risk of 100 percent tariffs.
- 02The trigger
India's purchases of Russian oil.
- 03The squeeze
Both its energy strategy and its access to the US market.
The vote squeezes both India's energy strategy and its access to the US market — over its purchases of Russian oil.
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One senator's objection stopped
the House-passed data-center power bill.
Sen. Jon Husted tried to pass the Ratepayer Protection Act — a House-passed bill to make data centers cover their electricity price impact — by unanimous consent in the Senate. Sen. Martin Heinrich blocked him.
- 01The House
Passed the Ratepayer Protection Act — a bill to make data centers cover their electricity price impact.
- 02The ask
Sen. Jon Husted tried to pass it in the Senate by unanimous consent.
- 03The objection
Sen. Martin Heinrich blocked him — the bill stalls.
Sen. Martin Heinrich blocked Sen. Jon Husted's attempt to pass the Ratepayer Protection Act by unanimous consent — stalling a House-passed bill to make data centers cover their electricity price impact.