Aarón Cantú
@aaroncantu.bsky.social
California climate accountability reporter @capitalandmain.bsky.social
Subscribe for updates: https://aaroncantu.ghost.io/
Signal: amc.213
Opinions mine
Subscribe for updates: https://aaroncantu.ghost.io/
Signal: amc.213
Opinions mine
Pinned
Aarón Cantú
@aaroncantu.bsky.social
· Oct 2
The Insatiable Energy Demands of Data Centers Could Increase Fossil Fuel Emissions in California
By 2030, the centers could consume the equivalent of adding another city the size of L.A. to the state’s power grid.
capitalandmain.com
NEW INVESTIGATION
California predicts data centers will consume as much power as adding another LA to grid by 2030
A utility anticipates additional emissions equal to 21 gas plants
Some environmentalists see reducing gas power as “a lot less likely” due to AI capitalandmain.com/the-insatiab...
California predicts data centers will consume as much power as adding another LA to grid by 2030
A utility anticipates additional emissions equal to 21 gas plants
Some environmentalists see reducing gas power as “a lot less likely” due to AI capitalandmain.com/the-insatiab...
Venezuelan oil’s flaring intensity, or the ratio of greenhouse gas pollution per barrel of oil produced, is the worst in the world: www.worldbank.org/en/programs/...
January 3, 2026 at 7:36 PM
Venezuelan oil’s flaring intensity, or the ratio of greenhouse gas pollution per barrel of oil produced, is the worst in the world: www.worldbank.org/en/programs/...
We used to be a country
January 1, 2026 at 10:10 PM
We used to be a country
Reposted by Aarón Cantú
A Post investigation found that kindergarten vaccination rates have dropped significantly since the pandemic, with many schools easing enforcement of mandates. https://wapo.st/49gqeHj
January 1, 2026 at 3:30 AM
A Post investigation found that kindergarten vaccination rates have dropped significantly since the pandemic, with many schools easing enforcement of mandates. https://wapo.st/49gqeHj
I wanted to post my 2025 work. But after a year of raising a baby and stressing about this country, I’m chilling right now.
I wrote eight stories I’m proud of, breaking news about data centers, oil refineries and climate impacts in California. Cheers to 2026.
capitalandmain.com/author/aaron...
I wrote eight stories I’m proud of, breaking news about data centers, oil refineries and climate impacts in California. Cheers to 2026.
capitalandmain.com/author/aaron...
December 31, 2025 at 7:28 PM
I wanted to post my 2025 work. But after a year of raising a baby and stressing about this country, I’m chilling right now.
I wrote eight stories I’m proud of, breaking news about data centers, oil refineries and climate impacts in California. Cheers to 2026.
capitalandmain.com/author/aaron...
I wrote eight stories I’m proud of, breaking news about data centers, oil refineries and climate impacts in California. Cheers to 2026.
capitalandmain.com/author/aaron...
“Many of our studies in 2025 focused on heavy rainfall events in the Global South…gaps in observational data and the reliance on climate models developed primarily for the Global North prevented us from drawing confident conclusions”
bsky.app/profile/fred...
bsky.app/profile/fred...
Looking back to @wwattribution.bsky.social studies in 2025 showed again, in stark terms, how unfairly the consequences of human-induced climate change are distributed. The world does not have to be like this, we have a lot of agency to make it better. www.worldweatherattribution.org/unequal-evid...
December 30, 2025 at 11:06 PM
“Many of our studies in 2025 focused on heavy rainfall events in the Global South…gaps in observational data and the reliance on climate models developed primarily for the Global North prevented us from drawing confident conclusions”
bsky.app/profile/fred...
bsky.app/profile/fred...
Reposted by Aarón Cantú
NEW: Climate change is worsening California’s suffocating living costs
I spoke with a woman made homeless by the Eaton Fire, & folks at a food pantry beaten down by high prices
Amid converging crises some want energy companies to foot a chunk of the climate bill
capitalandmain.com/the-poor-are...
I spoke with a woman made homeless by the Eaton Fire, & folks at a food pantry beaten down by high prices
Amid converging crises some want energy companies to foot a chunk of the climate bill
capitalandmain.com/the-poor-are...
‘The Poor Are in a Very Bad State’: Climate Change Accelerates California’s Cost-of-Living Crisis
In ways subtle and extreme, the warming climate is hitting those with the least the hardest.
capitalandmain.com
December 20, 2025 at 3:07 AM
NEW: Climate change is worsening California’s suffocating living costs
I spoke with a woman made homeless by the Eaton Fire, & folks at a food pantry beaten down by high prices
Amid converging crises some want energy companies to foot a chunk of the climate bill
capitalandmain.com/the-poor-are...
I spoke with a woman made homeless by the Eaton Fire, & folks at a food pantry beaten down by high prices
Amid converging crises some want energy companies to foot a chunk of the climate bill
capitalandmain.com/the-poor-are...
Reposted by Aarón Cantú
Who actually gets help after a climate disaster? As public recovery systems erode, access to rebuilding increasingly depends on wealth, connections — and a few private companies.
@vox.com via our partners @grist.org / @climatedesk.org: www.vox.com/climate/4735...
@vox.com via our partners @grist.org / @climatedesk.org: www.vox.com/climate/4735...
In America, surviving a disaster increasingly depends on what you can afford
Disaster capitalism isn’t theoretical anymore.
www.vox.com
December 30, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Who actually gets help after a climate disaster? As public recovery systems erode, access to rebuilding increasingly depends on wealth, connections — and a few private companies.
@vox.com via our partners @grist.org / @climatedesk.org: www.vox.com/climate/4735...
@vox.com via our partners @grist.org / @climatedesk.org: www.vox.com/climate/4735...
This account got bullied off bluesky after just a month or so bsky.app/profile/home...
December 28, 2025 at 9:58 PM
This account got bullied off bluesky after just a month or so bsky.app/profile/home...
Reposted by Aarón Cantú
The surge of AI slop, deceptive synthetic videos & images flooding our feeds, is driven in large part by Agentic AI Accounts (AAAs). aiforensics.org/work/agentic...
Key findings:
-Over 43,000 mostly AI-made posts generated 4.5 billion views
-More than 65% of accounts were created in early 2025
1/
Key findings:
-Over 43,000 mostly AI-made posts generated 4.5 billion views
-More than 65% of accounts were created in early 2025
1/
aiforensics.org
December 27, 2025 at 6:33 PM
The surge of AI slop, deceptive synthetic videos & images flooding our feeds, is driven in large part by Agentic AI Accounts (AAAs). aiforensics.org/work/agentic...
Key findings:
-Over 43,000 mostly AI-made posts generated 4.5 billion views
-More than 65% of accounts were created in early 2025
1/
Key findings:
-Over 43,000 mostly AI-made posts generated 4.5 billion views
-More than 65% of accounts were created in early 2025
1/
Leguizamo deserved an Oscar nomination for this delivery
December 27, 2025 at 5:09 AM
Leguizamo deserved an Oscar nomination for this delivery
Reposted by Aarón Cantú
2024 was the hottest year in modern history. There has never been a better—or more urgent—time for journalists to report on the actions, promises, & misconduct of the industry driving climate change.
So today, @gijn.org published the first of our seven-part Guide to Investigating Fossil Fuels.
So today, @gijn.org published the first of our seven-part Guide to Investigating Fossil Fuels.
Guide to Investigating Fossil Fuels: Introduction
The aim of this reporting guide is to provide key context and practical advice to enable better investigations of the fossil fuel industry.
gijn.org
February 10, 2025 at 5:12 PM
2024 was the hottest year in modern history. There has never been a better—or more urgent—time for journalists to report on the actions, promises, & misconduct of the industry driving climate change.
So today, @gijn.org published the first of our seven-part Guide to Investigating Fossil Fuels.
So today, @gijn.org published the first of our seven-part Guide to Investigating Fossil Fuels.
Well well well. Looks like Phillips 66 and the US EPA are settling a criminal case after P66 intentionally dumped 790,000 gallons of oil and wastewater into LA's sewer system. Filing uploaded today, the day after Christmas. No details on settlement yet.
December 26, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Well well well. Looks like Phillips 66 and the US EPA are settling a criminal case after P66 intentionally dumped 790,000 gallons of oil and wastewater into LA's sewer system. Filing uploaded today, the day after Christmas. No details on settlement yet.
Reposted by Aarón Cantú
Here's a fascinating post-outage non-apology from Waymo.
Autonomously navigating the real world: lessons from the PG&E outage
At Waymo, our mission is to be the world’s most trusted driver. We know trust is built through consistent behavior over time—earned through every mile we drive and every interaction we have with the c...
waymo.com
December 25, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Here's a fascinating post-outage non-apology from Waymo.
Reposted by Aarón Cantú
The full spiked 60 Minutes CECOT package, clean & subtitled. 1/5
December 23, 2025 at 1:28 AM
The full spiked 60 Minutes CECOT package, clean & subtitled. 1/5
Reposted by Aarón Cantú
CBS News correspondent accuses Bari Weiss of 'political' move in pulling '60 Minutes' piece
CBS News correspondent accuses Bari Weiss of 'political' move in pulling '60 Minutes' piece
A '60 Minutes' story on the imprisonment of Venezuelan deportees was scheduled to air Sunday.
www.latimes.com
December 22, 2025 at 6:23 AM
CBS News correspondent accuses Bari Weiss of 'political' move in pulling '60 Minutes' piece
December 22, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Reposted by Aarón Cantú
it is almost Christmas which means it’s Muppet Christmas Carol season and that, in turn, means it is time to revisit this delightful interview with Michael Caine, who loves everything about that movie even more than you do
Michael Caine Loves 'The Muppet Christmas Carol' as Much as You Do
God bless us, every one! But especially Michael Caine.
www.gq.com
December 20, 2025 at 5:31 PM
it is almost Christmas which means it’s Muppet Christmas Carol season and that, in turn, means it is time to revisit this delightful interview with Michael Caine, who loves everything about that movie even more than you do
NEW: Climate change is worsening California’s suffocating living costs
I spoke with a woman made homeless by the Eaton Fire, & folks at a food pantry beaten down by high prices
Amid converging crises some want energy companies to foot a chunk of the climate bill
capitalandmain.com/the-poor-are...
I spoke with a woman made homeless by the Eaton Fire, & folks at a food pantry beaten down by high prices
Amid converging crises some want energy companies to foot a chunk of the climate bill
capitalandmain.com/the-poor-are...
‘The Poor Are in a Very Bad State’: Climate Change Accelerates California’s Cost-of-Living Crisis
In ways subtle and extreme, the warming climate is hitting those with the least the hardest.
capitalandmain.com
December 20, 2025 at 3:07 AM
NEW: Climate change is worsening California’s suffocating living costs
I spoke with a woman made homeless by the Eaton Fire, & folks at a food pantry beaten down by high prices
Amid converging crises some want energy companies to foot a chunk of the climate bill
capitalandmain.com/the-poor-are...
I spoke with a woman made homeless by the Eaton Fire, & folks at a food pantry beaten down by high prices
Amid converging crises some want energy companies to foot a chunk of the climate bill
capitalandmain.com/the-poor-are...
Please donate to @capitalandmain.bsky.social! This quality of reporting without any paywall is truly a bargain, and depends on support from readers: bsky.app/profile/capi...
#GivingNewsDay is an opportunity to boost your impact and support paywall-free journalism: If we reach 100 new donors by Dec 31, we’ll receive extra funding through a generous NewsMatch contribution.
Can you help us reach our goal today by giving $1 or more?
secure.qgiv.com/for/capitala...
Can you help us reach our goal today by giving $1 or more?
secure.qgiv.com/for/capitala...
December 18, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Please donate to @capitalandmain.bsky.social! This quality of reporting without any paywall is truly a bargain, and depends on support from readers: bsky.app/profile/capi...
Reposted by Aarón Cantú
Once a pariah, Saudi Arabia is now Hollywood's hot cash source
Once a pariah, Saudi Arabia is now Hollywood's hot cash source
Saudi Arabia’s prominent role in some of the most consequential Hollywood deals in a generation is just the latest and perhaps the most audacious move by the kingdom to expand its footprint in the U.S. entertainment industry.
www.latimes.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Once a pariah, Saudi Arabia is now Hollywood's hot cash source
Reposted by Aarón Cantú
🎙️ON AIR:
We're talking to @wired.com's @mollytaft.com and @capitalandmain.bsky.social's @aaroncantu.bsky.social about what data center growth means for the environment — and for ratepayers — and how we're responding.
❓Have you been impacted by data center growth? What are your concerns?
📻 Listen:
We're talking to @wired.com's @mollytaft.com and @capitalandmain.bsky.social's @aaroncantu.bsky.social about what data center growth means for the environment — and for ratepayers — and how we're responding.
❓Have you been impacted by data center growth? What are your concerns?
📻 Listen:
California’s AI Data Centers Taking Growing Environmental Toll | KQED
We talk about what data center growth means for the environment — and for ratepayers — and how lawmakers and communities are responding.
www.kqed.org
December 18, 2025 at 6:00 PM
🎙️ON AIR:
We're talking to @wired.com's @mollytaft.com and @capitalandmain.bsky.social's @aaroncantu.bsky.social about what data center growth means for the environment — and for ratepayers — and how we're responding.
❓Have you been impacted by data center growth? What are your concerns?
📻 Listen:
We're talking to @wired.com's @mollytaft.com and @capitalandmain.bsky.social's @aaroncantu.bsky.social about what data center growth means for the environment — and for ratepayers — and how we're responding.
❓Have you been impacted by data center growth? What are your concerns?
📻 Listen:
Reposted by Aarón Cantú
NEW STORY: Three nursing home residents died because employees of UnitedHealth Group helped delay or deny them critical hospital care, 2 pending lawsuits and a complaint to state authorities have alleged
🧵 on our 6,000 word story below:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
🧵 on our 6,000 word story below:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
UnitedHealth reduced hospitalizations for nursing home seniors. Now it faces wrongful death claims
The company says it is protecting nursing home residents by curbing unnecessary hospital transfers. Whistleblowers allege cost-cutting tactics have endangered the elderly
www.theguardian.com
December 17, 2025 at 6:24 PM
NEW STORY: Three nursing home residents died because employees of UnitedHealth Group helped delay or deny them critical hospital care, 2 pending lawsuits and a complaint to state authorities have alleged
🧵 on our 6,000 word story below:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
🧵 on our 6,000 word story below:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
Reposted by Aarón Cantú
🚨New from the @nytimes.com, with research from @fieldnotes.co: Energy Transfer is using an astroturf group run by a powerful DC shadow lobbying firm to block a first-of-its-kind countersuit in the Netherlands. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/c...
Greenpeace’s Fight With Pipeline Giant Exposes a Legal Loophole
www.nytimes.com
December 17, 2025 at 3:38 PM
🚨New from the @nytimes.com, with research from @fieldnotes.co: Energy Transfer is using an astroturf group run by a powerful DC shadow lobbying firm to block a first-of-its-kind countersuit in the Netherlands. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/c...
Most podcasters aren’t guided by accountability but attention and access. That’s why politicians go there instead of press www.latimes.com/california/s...
'Both sides botched it.' Bass, in unguarded moment, rips responses to Palisades, Eaton fires
Bass, in an interview with The Times, said she made her remarks during a "casual conversation" with a podcast host — after the program was over.
www.latimes.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Most podcasters aren’t guided by accountability but attention and access. That’s why politicians go there instead of press www.latimes.com/california/s...
Reposted by Aarón Cantú
Great article by Gaige on the impacts of LNG export facilities on local communities. The tax breaks are stunning in their scale as these communities deal with poverty and job loss.
“For all the money that is spent on [tax breaks], why is downtown looking like this? This is the heart of the city"
“For all the money that is spent on [tax breaks], why is downtown looking like this? This is the heart of the city"
Peering Into the Rio Grande Valley’s Fossil Fuel Future
As deep South Texas prepares for its first gas export facility, communities along the Gulf Coast offer cautionary tales.
www.texasobserver.org
December 16, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Great article by Gaige on the impacts of LNG export facilities on local communities. The tax breaks are stunning in their scale as these communities deal with poverty and job loss.
“For all the money that is spent on [tax breaks], why is downtown looking like this? This is the heart of the city"
“For all the money that is spent on [tax breaks], why is downtown looking like this? This is the heart of the city"